Old Photograph Main Street Fochabers Scotland

Old photograph of houses, trees and people on Main Street in Fochabers, Moray, Scotland. This village is in the Parish of Bellie, 10 miles east of the cathedral city of Elgin and located on the east bank of the River Spey. The village owes its existence to Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon, born 1743, died 1827. During the late 18th century, during the Scottish Enlightenment, it was fashionable for landowners to found new towns and villages, and these can be found all over Scotland because unlike their predecessors they all have straight, wide streets in mainly rectangular layouts, a central square, and the houses built with their main elevations parallel to the street. Alexander Milne, born 1742, died 1838, was a Scottish American entrepreneur and philanthropist who was born in Fochabers. He was employed as a footman by the Duke of Richmond and Gordon and when ordered by the duke to powder his red hair, Milne declined, left his employment and emigrated to the American colonies. By 1776, Milne had moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, America, where, after doing well in the hardware business, he set up a brick making company using mainly slave labour, by the late 18th century most of the brick used in New Orleans was made at his works. Of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day.



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