Glenbuchat Heritage

114 Jean Farquharson at Badenyon

Jean Farquharson at Badenyon

Pictures above:
1. Estate map of 1864 with details of Badenyon
2. Photo of about 1900 of Badenyon
From L-R, Badenyon Steading, Begg's House, Small 'shop' in front of house,, next steading now demolished, 'Jeans House' with steading behind, Jean's Mothers House to right of Jean's house not in photo
3 Modern Picture of Badenyon. Note Jean's mothers House with red tin roof, and lime kiln far right.

Click for details of Jean’s family history

Jean’s father, James, had moved the family to Glenbuchat by the time of the 1901 Census. He lived in a cottage beside the main farm buildings at Badenyon, Glenbuchat, known locally as Begg’s house as the Begg family had lived there for many years. Jeans mother eventually lived a small cottage next to Jeans at Badenyon. Even though she died in 1934 the empty cottage is still known as Jean’s mother’s cottage.

Click for details on Jean’s mother’s cottage

Click for newspaper from Jean’s mother’s cottage

Jean’s mother died in 1930 and her death was remembered in the paper four years later, possibly following the events noted below.

In Memoriam
FARQUHARSON.
In loving memory of my dear Mother, who died 5th September 1930 also my dear sister, Lillie, who died 20th August, 1934.
Ever remembered.
Badenyon, Glenbuchat.
Aberdeen Press and Journal - Saturday 05 September 1936

Jean’s mother was buried in the Glenbuchat Kirkyard. However, this led to a dispute that she had been buried in the wrong lair with the result that she had to be exhumed and reburied. The facts are recorded in the Press & Journal of 9th January 1934

EXHUMATION WILL BE MADE.
Sequel to Dispute About Burial Lairs.
STRATHDON WOMAN'S CLAIM PREVAILS.
The exhumation and transference another grave of a body that has been buried in Strathdon Churchyard for eleven years is the result that will attend the close of three years' dispute in which Alford District Council has been engaged. The facts of this unusual story, as ascertained a Press and Journal representative, are that Miss J. Farquharson. Badenyon, Glenbuchat, had a right to lairs 33 and 14 in Strathdon Churchyard. Her father was buried in lair number 13 in 1912, and when her mother died September, 1930, Miss Farquharson found that lair number 14, in which she wished her mother to buried, was occupied by the remains of Mrs Don, a former resident in the parish of Strathdon.

It was alleged that her interment that lair was due to a mistake at the time of her burial about 1923. In 1930, when Miss Farquharson's mother died, she had to buried in another part of the churchyard, but Miss Farquharson intimated her claim to the District Council for lair number 14, which, she maintained, was hers by right.

The Council offered Miss Farquharson lair number 12, but Miss Farquharson refused the offer and adhered her claim for lair number 14. After protracted dispute among the parties, including relatives of the late Mrs Don, the case has been settled the District Council agreeing to let Miss Farquharson have lair number 14, and the County Council undertaking to bear the expense of the transference of the body which lies there to another part of the churchyard. At yesterday's meeting of Alford District Council was agreed to make application to the Sheriff for sanction to have the transference carried out.
Aberdeen Press and Journal - Tuesday 09 January 1934

Jean Farquharson was a well-known character in the glen as recalled in the following comments by Alan Cameron, grandson of Walter C. Davidson of the general merchant’s shop at Craigton Glenbuchat.

I remember Jean Farquharson from my childhood holidays in the Glen as she was so "very different from other women in the way she behaved, she looks smart in the picture above but she normally wore trousers, an old jacket and a flat cap. Jean was well spoken and I believe well educated but she used a lot of swear words and in her working clothes could have easily passed as a man. Her motor bike was a J.A.P. with a flat petrol tank and a belt driven rear wheel. It had a carbide gas headlight and despite being very old it rarely broke down as Grandfather Davidson once said she was a “dab hand” with anything mechanical’ When she came down from Badenyon to collect supplies from the shop, I was told she. always had everyone in fits of laughter with her rude stories. She was very strong and would lift a. large bag of meal on to the motor bike with ease, before setting off, wobbling up the Glen road. I sometimes wonder if she was related in any way to the Ann Farquharson who married William Chree and I hope to find out more of her background if at. all possible.

Riding a motor bike around the narrow unmade up roads of Glenbuchat would have been a risky business and in 1938 the Press & Journal of the 13th of June reported the following accident involving Jean.

BELLABEG COLLISION
Miss Jean Farquharson, Badenyon, Glenbuchat, was seriously injured in a motor cycle accident at Bellabeg, Strathdon, last night. Miss Farquharson was driving her solo motor cycle along the Glenbuchat- Bellabeg road. Rounding the bend at the foot of Nochtyside, her machine was involved in a collision with another motor cycle driven by Mr Cecil Moir, Mill of Conrie, Strathdon, who had Mr J. Riach, Towie, as pillion rider.
THROWN FROM MACHINES
All three were thrown from their machines. It was at once seen that Miss Farquharson had received very severe head injuries. Mr Moir had wound on the head, and several of Mr Riach's teeth were knocked out. Dr Mackay was summoned, and after attending to Miss Farquharson, had her taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. After attention by Dr Mackay, both Mr Moir and Mr Riach were able to go home. Both motor cycles were badly damaged.

As shown in the newspaper cuttings Jean was an active farmer and showed her livestock at the Strathdon show. She was also involved with the WRI (Women’s Rural Institute)

GLENBUCHAT W.R.I.—At a meeting of W.R.I. Mrs Milne of president, was in the chair. A cookery demonstration was given by Miss Adams, organiser, N.E. Area In competition for the best green gooseberry jelly, the prize was won by Mrs J. Thomson, Mains. Miss Matthew contributed solo, and piano and violin selections were given by Misses Farquharson and Webster. The delegates to the County Federation meetings are Mrs Couper, Mrs and Mrs Barclay Milne. The hostesses were Miss Farquharson, Badenyon, and assistants.

Jean died in 1972 and hear death as recorded in the paper.

Suddenly, at Badenyon. Glenbuchat on February 12. 1972. Jeannie Ann Farquharson. aged 82, daughter of the late Mrs James Farquharson. Badenyon. Glenbuchat
In Strathdon Church on Tuesday. February 1 pm interment thereafter. in Churchyard
All respectfully Invited

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