From 1805 to 1826

John Blaikie came to Aberdeen from Perth in around 1785, and founded the plumbing company of John Blaikie and Sons, based in Littlejohn Street. The company's success continued after his death, being run by his sons. By 1833 - 4 it was known for plumbing, brass founding, gas fitting and coppersmithing. By 1846 they were additionally pewterers and gas meter makers.

James Lord Provost of Aberdeen 1786 - 1836 (illustrated at right, statue in the Town House, Aberdeen)

It is not presently known which of the Blaikies' children, other than Helen, stayed at Outseats rather than at Littlejohn Street in the centre of Aberdeen, as this was, being 1.5 miles outside Aberdeen regarded as John Blaikies country home. However, in the Aberdeen Directory for 1827-8, David Blaikie, then a wine merchant had the business address 15 Marishall Street, and the home address Pitmuxton, the early name, now unused, for the area in which Outseats is located.

John Blaikie died 29 October 1826. His death is recorded in the Aberdeen Journal of 8 November 1826, but unfortunately no other details are given.

John Blaikie's testament (his will) gives much information about the times in which he lived...and about his bequests to his wife, Helen and to his10 children. His wife appears to have preferred to stay at Outseats rather than in town, and the will dictates that although ownership would be transferred to the eldest son who was prepared to pay for the house out of his share of the will, Helen would have a life rent of the property. The beneficiaries were to ensure that she had household furniture of every description there and a supply of bed and table linen was to be delivered from Aberdeen. She was also to have possession of the cow and of the farming implements at Outseats.

John Blaikie is buried in St Nicholas churchyard, Aberdeen. Helen Blaikie and two of their children, the third son, Dr Patrick Blaikie and second daughter Helen Blaikie are buried in the same lair. A published transcription of the gravestone describes Helen Blaikie as the fourth daughter, the error probably as the horizontal grave stone has suffered from wear over the years.

A detailed genealogy of the Blaikies has been published on the web by members of the family.

In addition the book "Blaikie of Aberdeen" by Amy Blaikie in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa gives a great deal of information on the family, although, not surprisingly, it tends to concentrate on the South African part of the family. It does give information on John Blaikie's descendents but very little information on the man himself. In addition, the book Memorials of the Provosts of Aberdeen 1272 - 1895 gives biographies for two of James Blaikies sons who both became Provosts of Aberdeen: James Blaikie in 1833 - 35 and Sir Thomas Blaikie in 1839 - 46.

Name	Sex	Age	Occupation	Where Born
Helen Blaikie	F	75	Independent	Outside County
Helen Blaikie	F	40	Independent	Aberdeenshire
Elizabeth Blaikie	F	15	Independent	Aberdeenshire
Patrick Keith	M	15	Banking Apprentice	Outside County
Thomas Keith	M	14		Outside County
David Keith	M	12		Outside County
Helen Keith	F	9		Outside County
Ann Strachan	F	20	Female Servant	Aberdeenshire
Margaret Buchan	F	15	Female Servant	Aberdeenshire

(Source FreeCen search). Note that in the 1841 census ages were rounded down to the nearest 5 for people aged 15 or over.

The Elizabeth Blaikie resident in 1841 is likely to be Elizabeth Livingstone Blaikie born 2 March 1822. She later married John Manson, produced her own family, and lived on till 1905. She was daughter to Patrick Blaikie 1791 - 1830 (Third son of John Blaikie) by his marriage to Elizabeth Livingstone 1798 - 1839. Given that in 1841 her father was dead and her mother had recently died, it would not be unexpected to find Elizabeth Livingstone Blaikie 1822 - 1905 living with her grandmother. Thanks to Charles Hillman, the Blaikie Genealogist, for this suggestion.

Patrick, Thomas, David and Helen Keith are Jane Blaikies' last four children. She had died on 2 February 1837, and perhaps it was felt better that the children should stay with their grandmother rather than with their father, the Rev Alexander Keith DD of St Cyrus Manse. Much more detail of their family is given in the genealogy

Note that the Enumeration District was different for Outseats House and the Cottage at least for the period 1841 to 1861. This I believe is as the entrance to the house was then to the North, in what was then variously described as Ruthrieston Road in 1861 or just as Outseats in 1841. The cottage was consistently in Hardgate. The boundary of the Enumeration District was along Hardgate from Duthies Brewery to Ruthrieston Burn near Fords of Dee. Thus the cottage being on Hardgate was in one district but the house being behind Hardgate, and with an entry into another road behind Hardgate was in a different district.

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