Ellon's ploughing champions

On Monday the 15th instant, the Competition of Ploughing of the Ellon District, took place in a field on Mr Gordon's farm at Eslemont-house; when fifty-five ploughs appeared on the ground by half-past nine o'clock, all of which started by half-past ten, and completed their tasks by half-past two o'clock; when the judges, Messrs Lumsden, Scott, and Mitchell, came on the ground, who, after a very minute and tedious examination of the work performed, adjudged the premiums as follows, viz. :-

1st Premium, 1l. 15s.  Alexr. Kemp, servant to Mr. Watson, Tipperty; a pair of oxen.
2d Premium, 1l. 10s.  Alexr. Brown, do. to Mr Robert Ruxton, Cairnhill, Eslemont.
3d Premium, 1l. 7s 6d.  Alexander Gray, do. to Mr Milne, Mains of Eslemont.
4th Premium, 1l. 5s.  James Wright, do. to Mr Wilson in Tarty.
5th Premium, 1l. 2s. 6d  James Clerk, do. to Mr Angus in Tillycorthy.
6th Premium, 1l.  Alexr. Cumine, do. to Mr Moir, in Knockhall.
7th Premium, 17s. 6d  David Read, do. to Mr Aberdein, Tillygreig.
8th Premium, 15s.  James Rae, do. to Mr Milne, Mains of Eslemont; a pair of oxen.
9th Premium, 12s 6d.  James Brand, do. to Mr Robertson, Meikle-mill of Eslemont.
10th Premium, 10s.  James Mutch, do. to Mr Hutcheon, in Crosstown of Eslemont.

There were fifty horse, and five oxen teams, most of which were of a very superior description, and in fine condition.  The judges found much difficulty in determining the premiums, from the superior excellence of the ploughing over the whole, which proved to them, and the gentlemen present, the benefit which arises from competitions of this kind.  The day proved a very favourable one, and the concourse of spectators may be calculated at above five hundred.  A very respectable party dined in Mr Cowie's Inn afterwards, and spent the evening with much conviviality and good humour.

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

Heavy hearts in Portsoy

On 25th September we remember four young Portsoy men who lost their lives in the battle of Loos.  

Alexander Kemp, Pte S/7739 served in the 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders.  Aged 30, he was the son of Mary Morrison, who lived at 11 Aird Street in Portsoy.

The remaining three casualties all belonged to the 6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders.  

Pte 11249 Andrew Gibson McKerrow, the son of Isabella Benzie, was just 20 years of age when he fell in action.  

William McKimmie, Pte 1466, who lived at 25 Church Street in Portsoy, was 22 years old.

Pte 952 John James Robertson was aged 28 and had lived at 58 Aird Street with his parents James & Margaret Robertson.

All are commemorated on the Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.