The Peter family had farmed at Fernieflatt, south of Catterline and near Stonehaven, and at Mains of Hall Green. They were relatively prosperous. In 1881, Alexander and Elsie were farming 105 acres at South Bradieston, Garvock, employing two men, a girl and a boy. Alexander is said also to have been very polite, and to have shaken hands with those beside him at his death, aged 90.
Alexander and Elspet Peter had six children:
1 JANE PETER (1838-1868), baptized at Kinneff and Catterline, Kincardineshire, on 5 February 1838. She is said to have been only 19 when she died, so her dates are uncertain.
2 FORBES PETER (1839-19??), baptized at Kinneff on 20 January 1840. She was born at Fernieflatt. It is said she got the name because her pregnant mother was walking with her father beside a rich man's house when a horse reared. Elspet was frightened, and the owner of the house took her in and treated her so kindly that she called the child after the man's name.
Sheila Dodds has a sampler of hers, dated 1849. In 1861, she and her future spouse were servants at Kennerty in Peterculter. She married James Valentine at Garvock on Boxing Day 1861. She was still alive in 1901.
3 ANN PETER (1842-??), baptized at Kinneff on 20 May 1842. She is said to have emigrated to Austin, Texas, and to have married a Mr Edgar. They had a daughter:
4 ALEXANDER PETER (1845-??), baptized at Kinneff on 14 September 1845. He married Sarah King, at Torthorwald in Dumfries, on 19 June 1874. In 1881, he was working for his father in Garvock. They had issue:
4.1 AGNES PETER (1868-?), born illegitimately at Torthorwald on 13 December 1868, aged 12 in 1881. She may not have been Alexander's daughter.
4.2 ALEXANDER PETER (1875?-?), born at St Cyrus, aged 5 in 1881.
4.3 ELSPETH C PETER (1877?-?), born at Garvock, aged 3 in 1881.
4.4 JANE PETER (1879?-?), born at Garvock, aged 1 in 1881.
5 SUSANNA GLENNIE PETER (1848-??), baptized at Kinneff on 12 January 1848.
6 MARY PETER (1855-??), born at Kinneff on 12 October 1855 and aged 25 in 1881.