Hi Anne. Thanks for that, really helpful; in fact you have helped towards identifying Elspet GEDDES. Therefore, a follow-up. It looks like the COWIE family were long-time farmers at Wyllieholes (today's spelling). George COWIE and Anne GEDDES moved there about 1756 from Badenspink which was and is the adjacent farm. They had children baptised from 1751 to 1766, so they must have married 1750/51, but I haven't found a record of their marriage - is there one hiding in the Fordyce OPR? Secondly, the following are the children of George COWIE and Ann GEDDES. I thought Listers in general might be interested in all the witnesses and places, and even may recognise some. Tillynaught, Badenspink, Wyllieholes, Baronsmill and are all adjacent, with Newmills (of Boyne) not far away. Boyndie is quite a way away, comparatively. Auchmore is just outside Portsoy. Taking all into account, I believe this family must be connected to the Auchmore Geddeses of John Geddes & Margaret Tulloch, but it's not easy to see how Ann Geddes fits in. As always, trying to fathom whether and how they might connect into my own Fordyce Geddeses over at Birkenbog. Anything on Auchmore Farm in early 1700s would be helpful, too. Another place with GEDDES in early 1700s is Wellheads: the gradual migration south from Portsoy during the 1700s is obvious. First line is the IGI entry (which is accurate). Then an abbreviated version of the OPR itself: the father's surname and location; the witnesses; my comments. 1. Helen CUIE - Christening: Jun 1751 Fordyce, Banff Cuie in Badenspink. Mrs Helen Ruddach, Wm Thomson in Barons Mill & Wm Geddes in Auchmore. Wm Geddes is almost certainly William Geddes h/o Isobel Morrison. 2. James COWIE - Christening: 17 Jun 1753 Fordyce, Banff Cowie in Badenspink. Mr James Lawtie Min'r & James Peterkin in Newmills. 3. Anne COWIE - Christening: 8 May 1755 Fordyce, Banff Cowie in Badenspink. William Thomson, Wm Clerk in Badenspink & Anne Johnson in Fordyce. 4. Janet COWIE - Christening: 7 Mar 1757 Fordyce, Banff Cowie in Wyllieholes. Janet Aven in Tillinaught & Janet Geddes in Boyndie. Might Janet Geddes be the one bpt 1-4-1724 in Boyndie to James Geddes? Who is James Geddes? 5. George COWIE - Christening: 4 Apr 1759 Fordyce, Banff, Scotland Cowie in Wyllieholes. George Clerk, George Reid at Mill of Tillinaught. 6. Isobel COWIE - Christening: 14 Feb 1761 Fordyce, Banff Cowie in Wyllieholes. Isobel Cowie, Isobel Morison, John Geddes, Alexr Donald. Isobel Morrison is almost certainly Isobel Morrison w/o William Geddes. Like Ann Geddes, John Geddes could be a hitherto unknown child of John Geddes h/o Margaret Tulloch m abt 1719. 7. Margaret COWIE - Christening: 2 Nov 1762 Fordyce, Banff Cowie in Wyllieholes. William Thomson in Barrons Mill, William Geddes, Alexander Donald. William Geddes is almost certainly William Geddes h/o Isobel Morrison. 8. Mary COWIE - Christening: 29 Jan 1766 Fordyce, Banff Cowie in Wyllieholes. George Gray in Banff, James Wilson in Boyndie. Regards Howard Geddes