Jessie's birth is recorded as illegitimate, even though her parents married one month later.

She had two children by Charles Shewan, Horse and Cattle Dealer:

1. Charles Shewan, born 19 April 1888 at Mill of Kingoodie, in the parish of Bourtie
2. Mary Shewan Mutch, born 5 April 1889, at Cottage Kingoodie, in the parish of Bourtie.

In both cases Jessie went to the Sheriffs court to have Charles officially recorded as the father.

I am very pleased to say that he married Elsie Bruce Knowles, born 18 February 1872 at Cowhill in the parish of Fyvie - died 15 December 1936 in the parish of Aberdeen, on 12 July 1889 in the parish of Old Meldrum, otherwise my grandfather Harry James Mutch, their fifth child, may never have been born.

Her parents were Peter Knowles and Mary Melvin.

Details of their children are:

1. William Mutch born 8 February 1890 at Baikehow in the parish of Meldrum.

   He married Helen Montgomery on 12 January 1918 at 16 Broad Street, Aberdeen. Children were:

   1. Harry Smith born 1925 in the parish of Foveran.
   2. Maggie born 1925 in the parish of Foveran.
   3. Annie born 1927 in the parish of Foveran.
   4. Gordon born 1930 in the parish of Udny.
2. Alexander Mutch born 29 January 1891 in the parish of Fyvie.
3. John (Jake) Mutch born 31 August 1892 at Tillygreig in the parish of Udny.
4. Elsie Mutch born 18 June 1894 at Nether Kirkton, Barthol Chapel in the parish of Tarves.

   She married John Emslie on 25 December 1915 in the parish of Ellon. They had four children:

   1. Eveline Anne Emslie born 5 April 1917 at Pluscarden House in the parish of Ellen
   2. Annabella Emslie born 13 April 1918 at Keir in the parish of Belhelvie
   3. Alexander (Sandy) Knowles Emslie born 12 September 1920 at Fountainbleau in the parish of Foveran
   4. David Emslie born 9 June 1922 at Fountainbleau in the parish of Foveran
5. Harry James Mutch born 16 December 1895 at Keilyford in the parish of Tarves, died 20 March 1973 at 43 Park Road in the parish of Aberdeen.

   He married Isabella Jane Montgomery, (1896-1930) 24 December 1918 in the parish of Aberdeen. They had two children:

   1. Isabella (Bunty) born 27 May 1919 in the parish of Aberdeen
   2. Harry James born 10 May 1922 in the parish of Aberdeen

   He then married Ellen Fisher, (1900-1980) 10 October 1936 in the parish of Aberdeen. They had one child:

   1. Ellen Fisher born 19 February 1940 in the parish of Aberdeen
6. George Mutch born 30 June 1899 at Northside in the parish of Rayne.

   He married Janet Smith Robertson, (1897-) 15 January 1921 in the parish of Ellon. They had three children:

   1. Christina Angus Johnston born 14 June1921 at Bilbo in the parish of Cruden.
   2. Maggie born 6 February 1923 in the parish of Cruden.
   3. Elsie Bruce Knowles born 1927 in the parish of Foveran.

   George and Janet also fostered a family of three girls after their daughters had left home.

7. Annie (Nan) Henderson Mutch born 25 November 1901 at Boghouse in the parish of Tarves. Died 1992 in the USA.

   She married ? Stewart, (-). They had one daughter.

8. Maggie (Meg) Mutch born 19 November 1905 at Mill of Allathan in the parish of Udny. Died 1995 in the USA.

   She married John Diack, (-). Details of family not known.

9. Jessie (Jess) Mutch born 24 February 1908 at Thistlyhill in the parish of Foveran. Died 1952 in the USA.

   She married Andrew Findlay Smith, (-) 24 June 1933 at the BonAccord Hotel, Market Street in the parish of Aberdeen. There children were:

   1. Francis Smith
   2. Bently Smith

This family photo must have been taken around 1898 and that is my Grandfather standing in front of his mother.

Here you see William and Eslie with their family in approx. 1922 - my Grandfather is standing on the extreme right.

He married a Lizzie Jaffrey, born 1879 who died 6 June 1902 aged 23.

They had a daughter:

1. Jessie Smith Mutch born May 1902 who died 10 June 1902 aged 3 weeks.

These details come from a stone in Ellon churchyard.