Our Cruickshank family tree dates back to 1590. The earliest document we have is the baptism of John Cruickshank in 1730, below. Old Machar is a parish in south eastern Aberdeenshire. Parents were George Cruickshank, a 'shoomaker' and Jean Traile.

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This John Cruickshank married Elspet Milne who was born March 27, 1731, in Cathill, Belhelvie, Aberdeenshire. They had a son, William who was born June 10, 1763 and christened in Old Machar, Aberdeenshire. William became a crofter, and married Elizabeth Lucas (B1776 - D 1840). William and Elizabeth had a son named George (born 1794), in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.

This George Cruickshank (born 1794) married Elizabeth Jack on May 12, 1818, in Longside, Aberdeenshire. George was a farmer and a crofter. He died at Grassiehill, in the parish of New Deer in Aberdeenshire on November 16, 1868. This is the first reference to Grassiehill, (alternately spelled Greciehill, Gracyhill) which remained the home of the Cruickshank family for at least another two generations. It is at this farm my grandfather grew up. The death register below shows George's parents names. The son who was the informant of this death was James Adams Cruickshank, my great-grandfather.

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Elizabeth Cruickshank (nee Jack) died November 16, 1867 at Greciehill, New Deer. The death register below gives the names of her parents. The son who was the informant of her death was James Adams Cruickshank.

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Elizabeth Jack was the daughter of George Jack and Margaret King. George Jack was born September 24, 1778. Margaret was born in 1753. George Jack and Margaret King married May 8, 1784 in Old Meldrum Parish. George Jack died March 17, 1831, in Longside, Aberdeenshire.

The ancestry of George Jack has been very well researched by my distant cousin Kathleen.