Accidental death of Alexander Crocket

Shocking Accident. - On Wednesday afternoon last, as a Country-man was coming down the Gallowgate, he was met, at the corner forming the entry to the Broad Street, by a cart loaded with timber; when, slipping his foot on the pavement, he unfortunately fell before the cart, one of the wheels of which passing over his head, fractured his skull in a shocking manner, so that he almost immediately expired.  The unfortunate sufferer was a man of the name of Alexander Crocket, well known for many years as a Carrier from Nether Banchory, and has left a Widow to lament his loss.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 3rd November 1819.

Deaths at sea off Auchmithie

On the evening of Friday last, Mr Robert Barclay, ship-owner, and Mr George Simpson, merchant, went on board the brigantine Fortune, in the bay of Arbroath.  Off Auchmithie, they left the vessel to land there; but had not proceeded far, when the boat, from some accident, unfortunately upset, and both perished in the deceitful element.  The vital spark was not quite extinct in the body of Mr Barclay when brought on shore, but in a few moments disappeared.  That of Mr Simpson has never since been seen: he has left a wife and family to lament his premature and melancholy fate.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 1st September 1819.

Accidental death of Stonehaven child

Stonehaven, 1st June, 1819. - A most distressing accident happened here yesterday afternoon.  Just as the Mail Coach was descending from the Bridge of Cowie, and making the quick turn into the Bridge-street, a child of between 3 and 4 years of age, belonging to Mr David Henderson, merchant here, unfortunately chanced to be then nearly in the way of the Coach, and but a very little distance ahead of her, when running to get out of the road, it fell just before the horses, and altho' every possible exertion was made by the driver to stop the horses, and by some people near at the time to save the child, one of the wheels passed over the poor infant's head, and part of the breast, and crushed it to death.

At the instance of the Procurator Fiscal, a precognition was taken to-day, in regard to the way and manner in which the accident happened - and all who were eye witnesses of it declare, that no blame whatever rests with the guard or driver; that altho' the child had belonged to either of them, they could not possibly have saved its life.  The whole blame lies in the abominable bridge over the Cowie water - its excessive narrowness and steepness, besides the acute turn which it causes in coming into the town of Stonehaven.

It is much to be wished that a new bridge were put up, of the proper breadth, and higher up the water, for no person can be safe to pass the present one on foot, at any time, but particularly at night.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 2nd June 1819.

The child may have been Anne Henderson, daughter of David Henderson and Sarah Hutcheon, whose baptism was recorded in the Fetteresso parochial register on 28th November 1815.

John Paton drowned off Usan

On Monday last, John Paton, a youth, 14 years of age, and the son of a poor old fisher in Usan, was unfortunately lost at sea, about four miles off that village.  He went, in company with his brother and three pilots, to bring back the boat, after putting the men on board of different vessels bound for Montrose; and had left the last man on board of a smack, and just swung away with a rope fast to the vessel, when the boat was suddenly pulled to one side, filled with water, and the young man was thus plunged into a watery grave, as no assistance could be rendered him, from the velocity with which the vessel was sailing.  The elder brother was saved by promptly lashing himself to the boat.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 24th March 1819.

Accidental death of William Stirling

On Friday evening, the 29th ult. William Stirling, a well known Ellon carrier, on his return home, fell from his loaded cart, - and one of the wheels passing over his head, he was killed on the spot.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 10th February 1819.

Accidental death of Alexander Hay

On Wednesday morning last, the body of a man, of the name of Alexander Hay, was found at the foot of the retaining wall near Union Bridge.  This old man, 72 years of age, had, early that morning, it is supposed, in going out for his horse, in order to prepare for his wonted journey to Inverury with the mail, missed his way and fallen over the parapet and retaining wall near the end of Belmont Street, a height of about 25 feet; thus unfortunately losing his life, having, as it appeared by some branches being broken off, struck a tree in his fall, which in all probability proved fatal.  He had for some years rode with the mail to and from Inverury, in which employment, and as a Chaise-driver, he was well known and respected for his faithful services, during a period of considerably upwards of 50 years, and the manner of his death is much regretted.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 4th November 1818.

Accidental deaths of Peterhead quarriers

On Thursday last, Alexander Watson and John Mann, quarriers, were unfortunately killed by the explosion of a stone, while charging it, in the intended Graving Dock, at the North Harbour of Peterhead.  Both have left widows to deplore their loss.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 23rd September 1818.

Tragedy at Finglenny

On the morning of 19th inst. the wife of John Spence, farmer, Finglenny, parish of Rhynie, whilst in the act of taking down a gridiron from the top of the house, where a loaded gun had been laid, was shot through the left side, and expired in about an hour thereafter.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 26th November 1817.

This may refer to Clementina Gordon, whose marriage to John Spence was recorded in the Gartly old parish register on 17th June 1797 (GROS 198/20/165).

Margaret Birnie, a girl ten years old, was on Wednesday night burnt to death, in consequence of a quantity of tow, which was wrapped round her waist, having caught fire, while she was trimming her lamp.  The neighbours heard the shrieks of the girl; but took it for granted that her mother was administering parental chastisement, till they were alarmed by the smell of the burning.  The mother had gone out a short time for work - leaving two younger children in bed, and the charge of the house to the unfortunate sufferer.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 26th February 1817.

Accidental death of John Smith

We are extremely concerned, to state, that on Tuesday morning, the 12th instant, Mr JOHN SMITH, a man of the most respectable character, who has for many years acted as Manager of the Printing Works of Messrs. Gordon, Barron, & Co. lost his life, by falling in to one of the Canals on their premises at Woodside.  He had risen very early, and after having been employed for some time in the Counting House, had gone to draw some water, for the purpose, as is supposed, of washing himself.  By the extreme force of the current acting powerfully on the vessel he had used, together with the slippery state of the ground, he must have been instantaneously dragged into the Canal, and from thence, most unfortunately carried to the River. The strictest search has been made, and is still making, for the body, but as yet without success.  - The above account differs in some respects from that given in a contemporary print; but we are authorised to say, this statement is correct.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 20th November 1816.

Melancholy Accident in Gartly

We are sorry to learn, that on the night of Monday the 18th, during a tremendous storm of rain, wind, and snow, Mr Cruickshank, schoolmaster of Gartly, lost his way within a mile of his own house, and perished from the rigour of the night.  He has left a large family to bewail his premature death.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 27th March 1816.

Fatal accident: George Allardyce, shipmaster

On Friday the 29th ult. a party of four men went from Macduff, to have some sport in shooting sea fowls among the rocks about three miles distant, when one of them, Mr George Allardyce, shipmaster, while in the act of loading his gun on the top of a tremendous cliff, slipping his foot, fell some hundred feet to the foot of the rock.  His companions hastened to the spot to render their friend any possible assistance, but they found him speechless, and his skull fractured in a shocking manner; he was immediately placed on the back of one of the party, but life was extinct before the bearer could reach the summit of the awful precipice, which he accomplished with difficulty.  Captain Allardyce has left a widow and eight children to deplore his melancholy fate, and that premature death which he had, in the course of his maritime life, three times escaped, having as often suffered shipwreck.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 10th January 1816.

Drowning at Grandholm

A boy, of the name of Monro, last week fell into the Mill-lead at Grandholm Mill, which was full of water, owing to a sluice being left open, and he was in consequence unfortunately drowned.  His body, notwithstanding diligent search, has not been found.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 21st December 1814.

Eliza F. Cruden

We insert with painful regret a melancholy accident which took place in the vicinity of Cupar of Angus on Thursday the 8th instant.  As ELIZA FARQUHARSON CRUDEN, a child of five years old, and daughter of William Cruden, Esq. was travelling northward, the door of the carriage, by some unhappy circumstance flew open, whereby the child was precipitated with violence on the road, when the back of the head pitching on the ground, deprived her immediately of life.  Her body was brought to this place, and interred on Sunday last, in the burying ground here.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 14th December 1814.

George Stronach, master of sloop Mariner

On the 19th inst. a coroner's inquest was held at Newcastle, on the body of Geo. Stronach, master of the sloop Mariner, of Garmouth, who was unfortunately killed by falling off an arched foot road, leading down the south shore, Gateshead.  He had been at the sign of the Lion (which is not twenty yards from the place) the Wednesday night preceding, and left the house about nine o'clock, to go on board of his sloop then lying in the river, and though almost immediately taken back to the Lion, and the assistance of a surgeon very soon obtained, he only survived a few hours.  - Verdict accidental death.  This dangerous pass is immediately to be buttressed, and put in such a state as to prevent similar accidents in future.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 7th December 1814.

Margaret Fraser, accidental drowning

Yesterday afternoon, the body of Margaret Fraser was found in the Canal, near Hadagain.  She was a poor woman, and dealt in gingerbread and confections; and is supposed to have fallen in on her way from some of the country markets.  She had been amissing for a week or two.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 7th December 1814.

Accidental death of Stonehaven slater

On Saturday last, a Man, in coming from a visit to a friend near Persley, fell on the road near the Canal, and being much bruised, afterwards stumbled into the Canal itself, from which he was immediately taken out in life, but was so much injured, that he soon after expired. - We understand, he was a slater at Stonehaven, of the name of Thomson, and has left a wife and family to lament his loss.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 27th January 1813.

David Edwards, carter

On Thursday evening last, as David Edwards, carter, was returning home with his cart, loaded with potatoes, past the Trinity Muir toll bar, in attempting to leap up upon the shaft, his foot slipped, and he fell before the wheel, which went over his right leg, and injured it so greatly, as to bring to a locked jaw, which occasioned his death on Wednesday morning.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 16th December 1812.

Wilkie: tragic death in Forfar

DREADFUL EFFECTS OF PASSION – A melancholy accident happened last week at Forfar.  A young woman, of the name of Wilkie, who had been with a few of her companions looking at some marriage people returning from the church, was, upon her going home, challenged by her father for being so long out, when, after some altercation, her father, in a gust of passion, took up a pair of kitchen-tongs and threw them at the girl, whereby her skull was fractured, which caused her almost instant death.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 8th April, 1812.

Accidental death of William Deans, cartwright

On Thursday afternoon, William Deans, cartwright in the new road to Bridge of Dee, was unfortunately killed by the following melancholy accident.  While crossing the road from his own door, a little dog run out of a neighbouring house; and fastening on the leg of a horse at that time passing, the animal became restive; and the unfortunate man laying hold of his head to stop him, the horse reared and threw him down among his feet; where he kicked and plunged most furiously; and before he could be extricated from his situation, he was so lacerated and bruised, that he died in the greatest agony in little more than an hour.  By this melancholy event, a widow and two children are left to deplore the death of an affectionate husband and father, and a worthy man.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 22nd January, 1812.