William was born in the Parish of Rathen – I have no farm information – and married Elizabeth Mitchell who was born at Aberdour in 1814 and died at Mains of Pitfour (Old Deer) on 2 January 1885. He seems to be the first Penny to farm at Nether Kinmundy.
The first connection I have with “within living memory” is my father talking about his grandfather i.e. William’s son James 1839 to 1928; the first in the Penny family line I feel I can directly relate to, not least as I believe my middle name is James after him.
William Penny with branches and up-to-date connection between myself and Charles and Helen Penny.
When I met Jennifer Bain the current owner of Home Farm, Nether Kinmundy I found she had been tracing back the Penny connection in the 1800s from Census records in Ellon library. In June 2020 she sent me extracts from the 1851, 1871, 1881 and 1891 records which have enabled me to add some more family history. Jennifer’s extracts plus my notes are in these PDFs. It looks as if the first Penny’s came to the farm in the 1840s. These census extracts include William (my great, great grandfather) and his son James (my great grandfather).
1851 and 1871 Census Extracts and Notes
1881 and 1891 Census Extracts and Notes
Norman J Penny - Family 