Good morning everyone, In searching an Elgin Film (990799) recently, I becames just a little confused with the use of the word "Mort". The time span was about the 1730s and the word was cosistently used after the father's name in baptism records. As it was used more than once for the sames father, it could not have referred to him being dead. It was like a occupation or address. It has intrigued me. My forbears, in Moray, from about 1750 and well into the 1800s were regularily listed as Gardeners. I would be interested in knowing what the full scope of such an occupation would have been in those times in Moray. Regards Scott Matthews (Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia)

Hello Scott, I am not an expert on the meaning of the occupation "Gardener", but I believe from my own research into a member of my English ancestry who was also a gardener that it was a well regarded occupation. I suspect that it more closely resembled the more recent "horticulturalist" than to a market gardener. Having said that, I note that the Scottish Documents site describes a Gardener as "one employed to tend a garden." Variants of the spelling are "gardiner", "gardner", "gairdner" and "gairner". So, while not solving your question, I have perhaps given you some food for thought, which may bring a response from a Scottish person who can more accurately explain the situation there. Regards from Denise Thompson, Sydney, Australia ----- Original Message ----- From: "Scott Matthews" <scottmm@squirrel.com.au> To: <MORAY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, April 25, 2005 10:57 AM Subject: Mort; Gardener. > Good morning everyone, > > In searching an Elgin Film (990799) recently, I becames just a little > confused with the use of the word "Mort". The time span was about the > 1730s > and the word was cosistently used after the father's name in baptism > records. As it was used more than once for the sames father, it could not > have referred to him being dead. It was like a occupation or address. It > has intrigued me. > > My forbears, in Moray, from about 1750 and well into the 1800s were > regularily listed as Gardeners. I would be interested in knowing what the > full scope of such an occupation would have been in those times in Moray. > > Regards > > Scott Matthews > (Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia) >