I think my grandfather Robert May who was known as Bobby Borra was a son Jocky Borra.

He was also a fisherman - and was known as Bobby Borra.He died 1954 I think.

His fishing boat was FR147,Brackendale.

John Lawrence May, 1846-1923 & Jane Robertson, 1849-
1908
John Lawrence May was the eldest son of Andrew May,
fisherman of Inverallochy, parish of Rathen (1821-1885) and
Elizabeth Noble of Fraserburgh (1825-1889) who had 10
children. Andrew and Elizabeth are buried in the Old Kirkyard,
St. Combs.
John's baptism is recorded in the Old Parish Records of 20
October, 1846:
Andrew May, Seatown of Inverallochy, and his wife Elizabeth
Noble, had a son baptised and named John Lawrence May. Born
28 August.
He appears to have been named after the husband of his
grandaunt Elisabeth Masson. His byname was "Jocky Borra". A leading fisherman in the region,
he named one of his drifters the "Jeanie Robertson" (FR310, built 1908; painting by G.C.
Stephen) after his wife.
Jane (Jeanie) Robertson was a daughter of James
Robertson, a ship carpenter, and Ann Smith (marr.
Peterhead, 3 May, 1840 (?232/00-0003)). According to census
data she was born in Peterhead around 1849, and her family
is listed there in the 1851 census. Mother Ann was born in
Rathven parish, Banff.
No picture of Jeanie is available apart from the painting to the
left, but a watch fob made from her pleated auburn hair is in
the possession of Annie Cumine Whyte, one of her
granddaughters. She is also known to have been quite small
and to have had to stand on boxes to reach into the farlans
(large wooden troughs) to gut the fish.
May Craig Campbell remembers Jeanie being known as a very beautiful woman, the "Star of
Buckie" (also the name of another of John's drifters). Modern family knowledge about her is very
limited apart from a Buckie connection. If she lived there, however, it cannot have been for long.
Some of the Robertson family appear to have moved to the Buckie area (Portessie, Findochty)
from Peterhead between 1853 and 1861, but Jeanie's address on her marriage registration
(1867) is given as Kirk Street, Peterhead, and no documentation showing that she ever lived in
Buckie/Rathven parish has so far been uncovered.
John and Jane were married in Inverallochy, 1867 (235/00-0006):
Married 4th July, 1867, at the Manse, Inverallochy
after banns according to forms of the Church of Scotland.
John May, fisherman, bachelor, age 20,
47 Inverallochy,
F: Andrew May, fisherman
M: Elizabeth May (m/s Noble)
Jane Robertson, fisherwoman, spinster, age 17,
3/10/13 John Lawrence May & Jane Robertson
file:///D:/Fraserburgh/JohnLMay1846.html 2/3
Kirk Street, Peterhead
F: James Robertson, ship's carpenter
M: Anne Robertson (m/s Smith)
William Stephen and Andrew Noble, witnesses.
In the 1871 census John and Jane are listed at 12 Main Street, Inverallochy, the house they lived
in for the remainder of their lives. In the 1871 census, they are sharing the house with children
James, 2, and Jane, 6 mth, and John May, age 83, a "pauper fisherman widower", John's
grandfather. Grandfather John died March 5, 1875, at 13 Main Street (235/0-0013).
John and Jane had 14 children, 12 of whom survived to adulthood and marriage:
James May, born September 11, 1868, Fraserburgh
Jane May, born September 7, 1870, Fraserburgh
Ann May, born August 26, 1872, Fraserburgh
Elizabeth May, born September 6, 1874, Fraserburgh, died August 4, 1882
Mary Jane May, born August 31, 1876, Fraserburgh
Margaret May, born November 7, 1878, Rathen
Andrew May, born May 1, 1880, Rathen
John May, born June 3, 1882
Elizabeth May (Betsy), born May 9, 1884, Rathen
Joan May, born May 16, 1886, Rathen
Robert May, born August 16, 1888, Fraserburgh
May Tait May, born October 12, 1890, Rathen, Aberdeen
George May, born May 12, 1893, died September 4, 1893
Georgina May, born June 5, 1895, Rathen
Records of family births, marriages, and deaths have been documented in a May family bible.
There is some evidence that John may have had an early illegitimate child: Alexander Buchan,
born in 1867, mother Elizabeth (Betsy) Buchan, 42 Inverallochy (235/00-0005). See Alexander's file
for more information.
In the censuses of 1881, 1891 and 1901, the May family members living at 12 Main Street, with
recorded ages, are listed as follows:
1881 1891 1901
John May 54
Jane May 30 40 50
James May 12
Jane May 10
Ann May 8
Mary Jane May 4 14
Margaret May 2 12 20
Andrew May 11 mth 10 16
John May 8
Betsy May 6 16
Joan May 4 14
Robert May 2 12
Mary Tait May 6 mth 10
Georgina May 6
3/10/13 John Lawrence May & Jane Robertson
file:///D:/Fraserburgh/JohnLMay1846.html 3/3
Father John is not listed in either the 1881 or 1891 census, being in Shetland with his fishing
crew. Brothers James and Andrew are with him in Lerwick, 1881. Daughter Annie and son
James are with him in Northmavine in 1891.
In the 1881 census, the first Elizabeth, or Betsey, May (b. 1874) is listed at 13 Main Street with
Elisabeth Lawrence (or Lawrance), a seaman's widow age 78, and Ann Strachan, age 13, her
granddaughter. Betsey is described as being a "relative" of Elisabeth Lawrence m/s Masson:
she was, in fact, Elisabeth's greatgrandniece.
James, Jane, Ann and Mary Jane had all married by 1901 and had left the family home. Son
John is listed in the 1901 census as living with sister Jane and her husband Andrew Ritchie.
Jane Robertson died at 12 Main Street of a cerebral haemorrhage, March 6, 1908 (235/2-0006).
Son James May, 71 Cairnbulg, was the informant. John May died there on November 1, 1923,
of what appears to have been complications following surgery for colon cancer (235/02-0019). Son
Robert May, May Villa, Inverallochy, was the informant. An obituary appeared in the Fraserburgh
Herald.
One of the earliest recollections of John May Buchan, his grandson, is John's funeral, during
which the coffin was placed outside the house at 12 Main Street, supported between two chairs,
while hymns were sung over it.
John and Jeanie are buried in the Old Kirkyard at St. Combs, along with children George and
Elizabeth. Their gravestone is next to that of Andrew and Elizabeth May's. The inscription
includes a quotation from one of John Wesley's hymns.

John Lawrence May, 1846-1923 & Jane Robertson, 1849-
1908
John Lawrence May was the eldest son of Andrew May,
fisherman of Inverallochy, parish of Rathen (1821-1885) and
Elizabeth Noble of Fraserburgh (1825-1889) who had 10
children. Andrew and Elizabeth are buried in the Old Kirkyard,
St. Combs.
John's baptism is recorded in the Old Parish Records of 20
October, 1846:
Andrew May, Seatown of Inverallochy, and his wife Elizabeth
Noble, had a son baptised and named John Lawrence May. Born
28 August.
He appears to have been named after the husband of his
grandaunt Elisabeth Masson. His byname was "Jocky Borra". A leading fisherman in the region,
he named one of his drifters the "Jeanie Robertson" (FR310, built 1908; painting by G.C.
Stephen) after his wife.
Jane (Jeanie) Robertson was a daughter of James
Robertson, a ship carpenter, and Ann Smith (marr.
Peterhead, 3 May, 1840 (?232/00-0003)). According to census
data she was born in Peterhead around 1849, and her family
is listed there in the 1851 census. Mother Ann was born in
Rathven parish, Banff.
No picture of Jeanie is available apart from the painting to the
left, but a watch fob made from her pleated auburn hair is in
the possession of Annie Cumine Whyte, one of her
granddaughters. She is also known to have been quite small
and to have had to stand on boxes to reach into the farlans
(large wooden troughs) to gut the fish.
May Craig Campbell remembers Jeanie being known as a very beautiful woman, the "Star of
Buckie" (also the name of another of John's drifters). Modern family knowledge about her is very
limited apart from a Buckie connection. If she lived there, however, it cannot have been for long.
Some of the Robertson family appear to have moved to the Buckie area (Portessie, Findochty)
from Peterhead between 1853 and 1861, but Jeanie's address on her marriage registration
(1867) is given as Kirk Street, Peterhead, and no documentation showing that she ever lived in
Buckie/Rathven parish has so far been uncovered.
John and Jane were married in Inverallochy, 1867 (235/00-0006):
Married 4th July, 1867, at the Manse, Inverallochy
after banns according to forms of the Church of Scotland.
John May, fisherman, bachelor, age 20,
47 Inverallochy,
F: Andrew May, fisherman
M: Elizabeth May (m/s Noble)
Jane Robertson, fisherwoman, spinster, age 17,
3/10/13 John Lawrence May & Jane Robertson
file:///D:/Fraserburgh/JohnLMay1846.html 2/3
Kirk Street, Peterhead
F: James Robertson, ship's carpenter
M: Anne Robertson (m/s Smith)
William Stephen and Andrew Noble, witnesses.
In the 1871 census John and Jane are listed at 12 Main Street, Inverallochy, the house they lived
in for the remainder of their lives. In the 1871 census, they are sharing the house with children
James, 2, and Jane, 6 mth, and John May, age 83, a "pauper fisherman widower", John's
grandfather. Grandfather John died March 5, 1875, at 13 Main Street (235/0-0013).
John and Jane had 14 children, 12 of whom survived to adulthood and marriage:
James May, born September 11, 1868, Fraserburgh
Jane May, born September 7, 1870, Fraserburgh
Ann May, born August 26, 1872, Fraserburgh
Elizabeth May, born September 6, 1874, Fraserburgh, died August 4, 1882
Mary Jane May, born August 31, 1876, Fraserburgh
Margaret May, born November 7, 1878, Rathen
Andrew May, born May 1, 1880, Rathen
John May, born June 3, 1882
Elizabeth May (Betsy), born May 9, 1884, Rathen
Joan May, born May 16, 1886, Rathen
Robert May, born August 16, 1888, Fraserburgh
May Tait May, born October 12, 1890, Rathen, Aberdeen
George May, born May 12, 1893, died September 4, 1893
Georgina May, born June 5, 1895, Rathen
Records of family births, marriages, and deaths have been documented in a May family bible.
There is some evidence that John may have had an early illegitimate child: Alexander Buchan,
born in 1867, mother Elizabeth (Betsy) Buchan, 42 Inverallochy (235/00-0005). See Alexander's file
for more information.
In the censuses of 1881, 1891 and 1901, the May family members living at 12 Main Street, with
recorded ages, are listed as follows:
1881 1891 1901
John May 54
Jane May 30 40 50
James May 12
Jane May 10
Ann May 8
Mary Jane May 4 14
Margaret May 2 12 20
Andrew May 11 mth 10 16
John May 8
Betsy May 6 16
Joan May 4 14
Robert May 2 12
Mary Tait May 6 mth 10
Georgina May 6
3/10/13 John Lawrence May & Jane Robertson
file:///D:/Fraserburgh/JohnLMay1846.html 3/3
Father John is not listed in either the 1881 or 1891 census, being in Shetland with his fishing
crew. Brothers James and Andrew are with him in Lerwick, 1881. Daughter Annie and son
James are with him in Northmavine in 1891.
In the 1881 census, the first Elizabeth, or Betsey, May (b. 1874) is listed at 13 Main Street with
Elisabeth Lawrence (or Lawrance), a seaman's widow age 78, and Ann Strachan, age 13, her
granddaughter. Betsey is described as being a "relative" of Elisabeth Lawrence m/s Masson:
she was, in fact, Elisabeth's greatgrandniece.
James, Jane, Ann and Mary Jane had all married by 1901 and had left the family home. Son
John is listed in the 1901 census as living with sister Jane and her husband Andrew Ritchie.
Jane Robertson died at 12 Main Street of a cerebral haemorrhage, March 6, 1908 (235/2-0006).
Son James May, 71 Cairnbulg, was the informant. John May died there on November 1, 1923,
of what appears to have been complications following surgery for colon cancer (235/02-0019). Son
Robert May, May Villa, Inverallochy, was the informant. An obituary appeared in the Fraserburgh
Herald.
One of the earliest recollections of John May Buchan, his grandson, is John's funeral, during
which the coffin was placed outside the house at 12 Main Street, supported between two chairs,
while hymns were sung over it.
John and Jeanie are buried in the Old Kirkyard at St. Combs, along with children George and
Elizabeth. Their gravestone is next to that of Andrew and Elizabeth May's. The inscription
includes a quotation from one of John Wesley's hymns.

John Lawrence May, 1846-1923 & Jane Robertson, 1849-
1908
John Lawrence May was the eldest son of Andrew May,
fisherman of Inverallochy, parish of Rathen (1821-1885) and
Elizabeth Noble of Fraserburgh (1825-1889) who had 10
children. Andrew and Elizabeth are buried in the Old Kirkyard,
St. Combs.
John's baptism is recorded in the Old Parish Records of 20
October, 1846:
Andrew May, Seatown of Inverallochy, and his wife Elizabeth
Noble, had a son baptised and named John Lawrence May. Born
28 August.
He appears to have been named after the husband of his
grandaunt Elisabeth Masson. His byname was "Jocky Borra". A leading fisherman in the region,
he named one of his drifters the "Jeanie Robertson" (FR310, built 1908; painting by G.C.
Stephen) after his wife.
Jane (Jeanie) Robertson was a daughter of James
Robertson, a ship carpenter, and Ann Smith (marr.
Peterhead, 3 May, 1840 (?232/00-0003)). According to census
data she was born in Peterhead around 1849, and her family
is listed there in the 1851 census. Mother Ann was born in
Rathven parish, Banff.
No picture of Jeanie is available apart from the painting to the
left, but a watch fob made from her pleated auburn hair is in
the possession of Annie Cumine Whyte, one of her
granddaughters. She is also known to have been quite small
and to have had to stand on boxes to reach into the farlans
(large wooden troughs) to gut the fish.
May Craig Campbell remembers Jeanie being known as a very beautiful woman, the "Star of
Buckie" (also the name of another of John's drifters). Modern family knowledge about her is very
limited apart from a Buckie connection. If she lived there, however, it cannot have been for long.
Some of the Robertson family appear to have moved to the Buckie area (Portessie, Findochty)
from Peterhead between 1853 and 1861, but Jeanie's address on her marriage registration
(1867) is given as Kirk Street, Peterhead, and no documentation showing that she ever lived in
Buckie/Rathven parish has so far been uncovered.
John and Jane were married in Inverallochy, 1867 (235/00-0006):
Married 4th July, 1867, at the Manse, Inverallochy
after banns according to forms of the Church of Scotland.
John May, fisherman, bachelor, age 20,
47 Inverallochy,
F: Andrew May, fisherman
M: Elizabeth May (m/s Noble)
Jane Robertson, fisherwoman, spinster, age 17,
3/10/13 John Lawrence May & Jane Robertson
file:///D:/Fraserburgh/JohnLMay1846.html 2/3
Kirk Street, Peterhead
F: James Robertson, ship's carpenter
M: Anne Robertson (m/s Smith)
William Stephen and Andrew Noble, witnesses.
In the 1871 census John and Jane are listed at 12 Main Street, Inverallochy, the house they lived
in for the remainder of their lives. In the 1871 census, they are sharing the house with children
James, 2, and Jane, 6 mth, and John May, age 83, a "pauper fisherman widower", John's
grandfather. Grandfather John died March 5, 1875, at 13 Main Street (235/0-0013).
John and Jane had 14 children, 12 of whom survived to adulthood and marriage:
James May, born September 11, 1868, Fraserburgh
Jane May, born September 7, 1870, Fraserburgh
Ann May, born August 26, 1872, Fraserburgh
Elizabeth May, born September 6, 1874, Fraserburgh, died August 4, 1882
Mary Jane May, born August 31, 1876, Fraserburgh
Margaret May, born November 7, 1878, Rathen
Andrew May, born May 1, 1880, Rathen
John May, born June 3, 1882
Elizabeth May (Betsy), born May 9, 1884, Rathen
Joan May, born May 16, 1886, Rathen
Robert May, born August 16, 1888, Fraserburgh
May Tait May, born October 12, 1890, Rathen, Aberdeen
George May, born May 12, 1893, died September 4, 1893
Georgina May, born June 5, 1895, Rathen
Records of family births, marriages, and deaths have been documented in a May family bible.
There is some evidence that John may have had an early illegitimate child: Alexander Buchan,
born in 1867, mother Elizabeth (Betsy) Buchan, 42 Inverallochy (235/00-0005). See Alexander's file
for more information.
In the censuses of 1881, 1891 and 1901, the May family members living at 12 Main Street, with
recorded ages, are listed as follows:
1881 1891 1901
John May 54
Jane May 30 40 50
James May 12
Jane May 10
Ann May 8
Mary Jane May 4 14
Margaret May 2 12 20
Andrew May 11 mth 10 16
John May 8
Betsy May 6 16
Joan May 4 14
Robert May 2 12
Mary Tait May 6 mth 10
Georgina May 6
3/10/13 John Lawrence May & Jane Robertson
file:///D:/Fraserburgh/JohnLMay1846.html 3/3
Father John is not listed in either the 1881 or 1891 census, being in Shetland with his fishing
crew. Brothers James and Andrew are with him in Lerwick, 1881. Daughter Annie and son
James are with him in Northmavine in 1891.
In the 1881 census, the first Elizabeth, or Betsey, May (b. 1874) is listed at 13 Main Street with
Elisabeth Lawrence (or Lawrance), a seaman's widow age 78, and Ann Strachan, age 13, her
granddaughter. Betsey is described as being a "relative" of Elisabeth Lawrence m/s Masson:
she was, in fact, Elisabeth's greatgrandniece.
James, Jane, Ann and Mary Jane had all married by 1901 and had left the family home. Son
John is listed in the 1901 census as living with sister Jane and her husband Andrew Ritchie.
Jane Robertson died at 12 Main Street of a cerebral haemorrhage, March 6, 1908 (235/2-0006).
Son James May, 71 Cairnbulg, was the informant. John May died there on November 1, 1923,
of what appears to have been complications following surgery for colon cancer (235/02-0019). Son
Robert May, May Villa, Inverallochy, was the informant. An obituary appeared in the Fraserburgh
Herald.
One of the earliest recollections of John May Buchan, his grandson, is John's funeral, during
which the coffin was placed outside the house at 12 Main Street, supported between two chairs,
while hymns were sung over it.
John and Jeanie are buried in the Old Kirkyard at St. Combs, along with children George and
Elizabeth. Their gravestone is next to that of Andrew and Elizabeth May's. The inscription
includes a quotation from one of John Wesley's hymns.