George Ritchie (1827-1890) and Janet Ritchie – nee Walker (1829-1912)

George Ritchie was Water Bailiff at his home village of Newburgh where he looked after the mussel beds at the mouth of the River Ythan.  After his marriage to Janet Walker, the couple set up home in Janet’s home village of Collieston and raised a family of five sons and three daughters.

John Walker Ritchie, their eldest son, is well remembered as the author of the poem, ‘Geordie Tough’s Squeel’, which he wrote to commemorate his time spent at Collieston’s Adventure School in the 1860s.

Prior to the building of Collieston School in 1877, many local children received the elements of a sound education at the Adventure School, run by schoolmaster Geordie Tough.  Several gifted members of the community also assisted Geordie by willingly passing on their skills and enthusiasm for learning to their young charges. 

John Walker Ritchie gained much from his early school years and he was the first member of his family to move from Collieston in search of a career.  He became a very successful businessman in Manchester and married an English woman, Mary Southern.  Although settled in Manchester, John and Mary and their four children returned frequently to spend holidays with John’s parents in Collieston. Sadly, during one of those holidays in the summer of 1890, a dreadful tragedy occurred.

George Ritchie (aged 62), John Walker Ritchie (aged 36), and Alexander Stott, a local lad aged 15, drowned when their pleasure boat sank near the entrance to Collieston Harbour.  According to the crew of two local yawls who witnessed the tragedy, the boat had been sailing along, with full sail set about half a mile off Collieston and heading for shore, when it suddenly disappeared.  The fishermen quickly manned their boats and set off to the spot where the craft had gone down, but they found no sign of survivors or wreckage.

The fruitless search continued all day, but it was not until two days later that the body of John Walker Ritchie was recovered from the sea.  John’s body was laid to rest in Slains Kirkyard. The bodies of George Ritchie and young Alexander Stott were never found.

Members of the Ritchie Family still live in the house in Collieston that John Walker Ritchie built for his parents in the early 1880s.

Thanks to Sarah Wood for sending in the photograph of her great-great grandparents, George and Janet Ritchie. Thanks also to Steve Ritchie for providing information about the Ritchie Family.

COMMENTS

Any further information about the tragedy, or those involved, would be most welcome.

If you are able to help or wish to have any of your photos featured in the months ahead please e-mail colliestononline@yahoo.co.uk

To view past photos and information just click here