Chillas Family of Birse

The surname Chillas appears in the parish records for Birse, Aberdeenshire, from 1783 - 1808

In January 1783 Mary Chillas was a witness at the baptism of Ann Jaffrey, daughter of William Jaffrey in Waulkmill.

In April 1790 Mary Chillas married John McHardie in Birse, "both of this parish".

This is probably Mary Chillas b 1751 Alford, to Robert Chillas. She is the only "unaccounted for" Mary Chillas in the Old Parish Records. There are no recorded children from this marriage in the OPRs and this may be due to Mary's age on marriage. Mary's witnessing the baptism of Ann Jaffrey in 1783 suggests she was a mature woman then.

In a list of the inhabitants of Birse in 1791/2 living in Muir & Torquhunlochy, the following group appears:

JAFFRAY Will
MIDDLETON Helen
JAFFRAY Christ
JAFFRAY Jean
JAFFRAY Ann (non compos)
McHARDY John (RC)
CHILLIS Mary

In a similar list for the parish of Birse in 1794/5, the following family group appears:

1794-95 Lists - Living at Finzean
CHILLIS Will
 MILN Jean
CHILLIS Will
CHILLIS Christy

This is William Chillas who married Jean Milne in the parish of Strachan in 1790, son William baptised 1791 Birse and daughter Christian, baptised 1793 Birse. William is probably the brother, b 1756 Alford , of Mary Chillas above. This could be the same William Chillas that appears in the OPRs for Drumoak at Quhobs where he had a child baptised called Margaret, no wife's name given.

1797/98 List - Still at Finzean
CHILLIS Wm
MILN Jean
CHILLIS Wm (under 7)
CHILLIS Christn (under 7)
CHILLIS Archd (under 7)

Archibald Chillas was baptised 1797 Birse.

1801 List - Finzean
CHILLAS Wm
MILN Jean
CHILLIS Wm Jnr
CHILLIS Archd

1808 List - Finzean
Will Chillas
Jean Mill
Archd Chillis
Robt Chillis (under 7)


Robert Chillas was baptised 1804 Birse.

Wm Chillis Jnr appears on the list for 1808 working as a servant at Wester Clune with James Findlay and family.

By the time of the 1841 census there were no Chillas families living in Birse. A William Chillis aged 80 appears in the 1841 census for Fettercairn at Biggin, not born in county of Kincardineshire, this would appear to be William Snr..  A Walter Chellas was baptised 1821 in Fettercairn, Kincardinshire, son of William Chellas and Mary Thom who married 1819 in Fordoun, Kincardineshire. This may be William Chillas Jnr..