Brechin is a small, but ancient, city on the Eastern side of Scotland. For tourists, I suggest they stop and enjoy this ancient city, just off the A90 and contribute to the local economy. I have Brechin connections through my STEVEN/STEPHEN/STEPHENSON, ARNOTT/ARNOT/ARNET, NEISH, KINNEAR, FAWNS and SHIRESS ancestral families.

 

My ancestor, William STEVEN (with no “s” at the end) came from there in 1864 and went to Brooklyn, New York, USA to work for his uncle, David Shiress ARNOTT. His son William Arnott Stevens came to St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. 

Note that the church is under repair. A man is shown working on the section entrance projecting out below the square tower. Lumber (?) is leaning against the church in places and at the left are the ruins of the Choir. The projecting transceptal chapels were destroyed in 1806 and replaced with vestigal chapels.  “Published by L. Hooper (?) July 18 1790. Artist’s name appears to be “J. N. Sulp” – From the Colin MacGregor Stevens’ Collection. Purchased in Oct. 2006.

 

PHOTOS TAKEN IN BRECHIN IN 1912 BY MY GRANDFATHER WILLIAM ARNOTT STEVENS

  

 

 

 

Hard to read from photo:

ERECTED 

BY

ALEXANDER ARNOTT

…

And of the said 

A______ ARNOTT

Who died ______ 1875?

Also of 

JAMES MITCHELL____ ANN MITCHELL

AND ____ MITCHELL GRANDCHILDREN OF 

THE ABOVE ____

…

WHO DIED IN INFANCY

…

AND MARY ANN ARNOTT WIFE OF THE ABOVE

WILLIAM MITCHELL DIED 20TH MARCH 1907.

 

Tablet on outside wall of Brechin Cathedral:

“TO THE BELOVED MEMORY 

OF

WILLIAM SHIRESS

For 52 years Solicitor in Brechin.

Born in Falkirk 1st January 1804.

Died in Brechin, 21st January 1881.

And of MARY WILL his Wife

Born in Jamaica, 18th February 1809

Died in Brechin 9th April 1847.

———————

“The sweet remembrances of the just

Shall flourish when he sleeps in dust.”

 

Brechin downtown streets

Lower Tenements (also known as Nether Tenements), now called River Street, where some of my ancestors lived

 

 

Brechin Cathedral, the Round Tower

The present Brechin Cathedral building was built in the 1200s (13th Century) and there may have been a church there since the 700s (8th Century). The round tower is of the Irish style and was built circa 1,000 AD. Some of my ancestors are buried there in the Cathedral Cemetery. For more information on the Cathedral and Tower, these web sites offer information:

The new “Brechin Cemetery”  – Operated by the Angus District Council Brechin Cemetery. Some of my ancestors are buried there, including some STEVEN and ARNOTT members.

 

 

 

The same intersection in May 2005, but looking in the opposite direction.

Looking from entry road to new cemetery back into town.

 

 

 

 

River Street from the opposite end (i.e. Bridge end)n in the early 1900s on a colourized post card, and a photo that I took in May 2005. 

 

 

 

 

Brechin Cathedral from High Street. Valentine’s company Post-card from early 1900s # B 1219.  – Colin Stevens’ Collection (Purchased 2003)

 

An old church called St. Columba (not Colum, in South Esk Street, just outside the gates of the new cemetery. The church was closed up when this photo was taken in May 2005 and was still closed in February 2008 according to a correspondent in Brechin.

 

 

An old school taken in May 2005.

Steven (Stevens) family heirloom. A pocket watch winding key with the business name of G. A. MOIR, BRECHIN. – In possession of Colin M. Stevens.

 

Steven (Stevens) family heirloom souvenir of Brechin. This French Ivory (?) item is called a Stanhope and is less than 2″ high. If one looks through the hole, one will see a microdot with four (4 !!!) post card views of Brechin. In possession of Colin MacGregor Stevens. History of Stanhopes – The Stanhope was invented by Charles, 3rd Earl Stanhope (1753-1816) and microphotography was invented in 1839. The combination of the two was patented in 1859. A book “Stanhopes: A Closer View” by Jean Scott gives much more history. Search the Internet for stanhopes.info and who_made_stanhopes

 

 

Marriage record of William Steven and Margaret Arnott.  They were living in the Upper Tenements (now Montrose Street – see photos above taken in May 2005) at the time. By trade he was a Slater (i.e. a roofer). QUOTE:

“Steven and Arnott    

16 January 1841. William Steven, Slater,

Nether Tenements, and Margaret Arnott also

residing there – both of this parish, were con=

tracted in order to marriage, and having

been regularly proclaimed, were married on

the 22nd said January.”

Found by Colin Stevens 2003 via Latter Day Saints’ microfilm.

 

 

Birth record from the Parish of Brechin in Angus County, Scotland of the birth and baptism of the three children of William Steven (sometimes misspelled as Stephen in the register on the same page!) His occupation is given as “Slater” i.e. He worked on slate rooves.His wife was Margaret Arnott. This is in the 1849 section of the register, and all of the children were registered at the same time.

EXTRACTED INFORMATION:

Isabella Kinnear Born   8th December 1841 and baptized on the 12th December 1841.

Mary Arnott– Born 7th April 1844 and baptized 14th April 1844.

William– Born 25 August 1846 and baptized 2nd September 1846.

Found by Colin Stevens 2003 via Latter Day Saints’ microfilm.

 

Thank you to Pam Atwell for some corrections and additional information. She was formerly of Montrose Street, Brechin and in 2011 was living in Kansas, USA.

• Stevens Genealogy

  • Brechin, Angus, Scotland (this page)

  • St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

  • W. A. Stevens’ Large Photo Album

  • W. A Stevens’ Small Photo Album

  • Letters from William Arnott Stevens to his Grandsons

  • A. H. “Pete” Stevens

    • Arctic Mercy Mission, November 1960

  • Robert Duncan Stevens

    • Eulogy for Robert Duncan Stevens

    • Palliative Care by St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, B.C.

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