Alexander WHYTE and Janet WALKER Married in 1788

 George SIM > John W. SIM > Elizabeth GRUER-SIM > Magdalane WHYTE-GRUER > Alexander WHYTE and Janet WALKER

Alexander Whyte and Janet Walker were the parents of Magdalane Whyte, who was born September 6, 1807, and married William Gruer.  The birth certificates of Magdalane's twins stated Alexander and Janet Whyte were from Denhead, County of Perth, Scotland,

Alexander was born about 1750 in Newtyle, Angus, Scotland.  Janet Walker was also born in Newtyle around 1763.  Her father was James Walker and her mother is unknown.

Alexander and Janet were married in Newtyle on January 27, 1788.  They had 10 children which included Margaret, Jane, Isobel, Agnes, Christian, Adam, Elisabeth, Magdalane and two children whose names were not recorded on the baptism certificates.

The Whyte Family was associated with clans MacGregor and Lamont.  The Walker Family was associated with clans MacGregor, MacMillon, Stewart of Appin and Wallace.

MACGREGOR tartan from www.scotclans.com

For now, this will conclude our research on the Whyte and Walker families.

Magdalane WHYTE (WHITE)-GRUER (1807-1893)

George SIM > John Wm SIM > Elizabeth GRUER-SIM > Magdalane WHYTE-GRUER

BIRTH - Magdalane Whyte was born September 6, 1807 in Forfarshire, Angus, Scotland.  Her father was Alexander Whyte and her mother was Janet Walker.

On the early documents she was listed as Whyte.  After her marriage, Whyte changed to White on the records of her children's births.  Her first name has been recorded with several different spellings on various documents.  However, her birth record stated Magdalane.

MARRIAGE - Magdalane married William Grewer (Gruer) on October 27, 1829 in Dundee, Angus, Scotland.  They had at least 11 children which included Flora, twins: Elizabeth and Mary Ann, William, Jesse Magdalen, Isabella, John, Alexander, Daniel, David and James.

England, Wales, Scotland Census Reports:

1841    Age 32     Living with husband and 6 children on Grant Street, Moray, Duffus,
                            Scotland
1851    Age 43     Living with husband and 7 children and one grandchild on Nether Mill
                            Street, Aberdeenshire, Aberdour, Scotland
1861                    Not listed on census that included her husband, 2 children and one
                            grand child living on Church Street, Banffshire, Rathven, Scotland
1871    Age 63     Magdalane is living with her husband who is retired and her daughter,
                            Isabella Stuart,  who is 26 and unmarried in Moray, Drainie, Scotland
1881    Age 73     Widow, living at 27 King Street, Moray, Drainie, Scotland
1891    Age 83     Widow, annuitant, living on King Street, Moray, Drainie, Scotland

On September 9, 1888, Magdalane wrote the following in the Sim Scrapbook:

Maggie Gruer      Mount Forest, Ont     Arrived from Scotland

Signature from the Sim Scrapbook

DEATH - Magdalane Whyte Gruer died on April 3, 1893, age 85, in Branderburgh, Lossiemouth, Scotland.

Obituary from the Sim Scrapbook



William GRUER (GREWER) (1802-1878)

George SIM > John Wm SIM > Elizabeth GRUER-SIM > William GRUER

BIRTH - On August 2, 1802, William Alexander Grewer was born in Dundee, Angus, Scotland.  His parents were Alexander Grewer and Flora Paterson.  His baptism and marriage records recorded his surname as Grewer.  All later documents, including his head stone and children, are listed as Gruer.

MARRIAGE - William Grewer married Magdalane Whyte on October 27, 1829 in Dundee, Angus, Scotland.  They had at least 10 children.  They have been recorded as Flora, twins:  Elizabeth and Mary Ann, William, David, Isabella, John, Alexander, Daniel and James.

APPEARANCE - A seaman's ticket recorded William as 5' 9 1/2" tall, with fair complexion, light hair and blue eyes.  He had the mark "WG" on his left hand.  It also listed that he was able to write.

OCCUPATION - All records found showed he was in the Royal Coast Guard.  The family moved around due to his job in the coast guard.

1832-1834    - He was in the County of Sussex, Hastings, England.  Three of his children
                        were born in England.                              
1841 Census -  He was in Duffus, Haddingtonshire Cty.,  Scotland.
1844              - His daughter, Isabella, is born in Aberdeenshire, Aberdour, Scotland.
1851 Census - Listed as living in Aberdeenshire, Aberdour, Scotland.
1861 Census - He was in Banffshire, Rathven, Scotland.
1871 Census - He was retired and lived at Moray, Branderburg, Scotland.

HONORS - On December 19, 1855, he was awarded the silver medal from the National Lifeboat Institution for his gallant conduct in swimming to the rescue of the master of the schooner, Thor, that had shipwrecked.

From January 1, 1856, The Illustrated London News, Vol. 27

“Preservation of Life from Shipwreck – On Thursday a meeting of the Royal National Life boat Institution was held at the society’s house, John-street, Adelphi, Thomas CHAPMAN, Esq. in the chair.  Mr. LEWIS, the secretary, having read the minutes of the previous meeting, the silver medal of the institution was voted to Mr. William GRUER, of Lossiemouth Coast-guard Station, in testimony of his gallant conduct in swimming to the rescue of the master of the schooner THOR, when he found, notwithstanding that his vessel was going to pieces, in a state of incredulity having locked himself in his cabin.”

This is what the medal looked like:

ORGANIZATIONS -  He was a charter member of the Braemer Royal Highland Society.  This society raised funds to help members during times of sickness, pay for funerals and set up annuities for widows.  He was, also, a member of the Braemer Club of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club.  This curling club still exists today.

RETIREMENT - William Gruer was discharged from the coast guard on February 28, 1863 from the Buckie Station.  He was the Chief Boatman in Charge.  The reason was listed as "super" which means superannuation, a way to save for retirement.

DEATH - William Gruer died in Lossiemouth, Morayshire, Scotland on September 3, 1878
at the age of 77.  He was buried in Kinneddar Cemetery in Lossiemouth, Scotland.

The inscription on his tombstone reads:

Sacred

To the Memory

OF

              WILLIAM GRUER                

COAST GUARD BRANDERBURGH

WHO DIED

THE 3rd DAY OF SEPTEMBER 1878

 Aged 77 years

Universally respected

and deeply regretted

Photo courtesy of GariochGraver on www.findagrave.com

Visit his on-line memorial:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=153019977