Lews Castle 1881

Mary Jane Matheson, 60, Baronet's Widow and Proprietrix, Lewis Castle, b. Quebec, Spencer Wood
Honourable Florence Murray, 27, Peer's Daughter, Visitor, b. Darnduff, Peebles-shire
Honourable Blanche Murray, 22, Peer's Daughter, Visitor, b. Paris

Catherine Mackay, 40, Housekeeper, b. Durness, Sutherlandshire
Mary Cameron, 29, Cook, b. Genhie, Inverness-shire

Mary Ann Cunnignham, 35, Lady's Maid, b. Essex
Helen Pockberger, 19, Lady's Maid, b. Pyrmont, Germany

Mary Jane Autchins, 24, Housemaid, b. Sunderland
Mary Macsween, 23, Housemaid, b. Stornoway
Jessie Calder, 20, Housemaid, b. Uig

Margaret Mackay, 52, Laundry Maid, b. Durness, Sutherlandshire
Elizabeth Jarrold, 24, Kitchen Maid, b. Suffolk

Thomas Dickens, 38, Butler, b. Herefordshire
William R J Danley, 18, Footman, b. Kent
John Macleod, 28, Groom, b. Barvas

Sir James Matheson had died less than two-and-a-half years previously and here we catch a glimpse of his widow on the evening of Sunday 3rd April 1881.

Her companions were two daughters of Alexander Oliphant Murray, 9th Lord Elibank, and his wife Emily Maria Montgomery. The Honourable ladies had been orphaned on the death of their mother in 1879. This Murray family later became the Erskine-Murray family.

Supporting the three ladies are an assortment of servants, a dozen in number, half of whom were born in Scotland but only three of these were from Lewis, although they do 'represent' 3 of the 4 Parishes!

Ref: http://www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk/online/content/index322.htm