Fàilte! (Welcome!)

Fàilte! (Welcome!)
This blog is the result of my ongoing research into the people, places and events that have shaped the Western Isles of Scotland and, in particular, the 'Siamese-twins' of Harris and Lewis.
My interest stems from the fact that my Grandfather was a Stornowegian and, until about four years ago, that was the sum total of my knowledge, both of him and of the land of his birth.
I cannot guarantee the accuracy of everything that I have written (not least because parts are, perhaps, pioneering) but I have done my best to check for any errors.
My family mainly lived along the shore of the Sound of Harris, from An-t-Ob and Srannda to Roghadal, but one family 'moved' to Direcleit in the Baighs...

©Copyright 2011 Peter Kerr All rights reserved

Thursday 27 May 2010

HM Customs (plus Excise) Personnel of Stornoway

Here we have those charged with the duty of ensuring that all the appropriate revenue was collected at the Port of Stornoway:

1841
Malcolm Magilvray, 55, Comptroller Of Customs, South Beach Street, b. Scotland
Alexander Mckay, 45, Collector Of Customs, Francis Street, b. England

William Lee, 40, Supervisor Of Excise, Francis Street, b. England
Charles Macgregor, 45, Excise Officer, Francis Street, b. Scotland
George Duncan, 30, Excise Officer, Barvas Street, b. Scotland
Donald Sutherland, 45, Officer of Excise, South Beach Street, b. Scotland

1851
Michael B Pithie, 39, Comptroller Of Customs, Francis Street, b. Kirkaldy, Fifeshire
William Thomas Jeffreys, 56, Collector Of Customs, Kenneth Street, b. England

(There are also 12 'Board of Customs Pensioners' listed, not a group I know anything about)

1861
James Bishop, 30, Comptroller Of Customs, 14 Kenneth Street, b. England
M B Pithie, 49, Collector of Customs, 6 Kenneth Street, b. Kirkaldy, Fifeshire
James Beaton, 36, Customs Boat Man, Imarsligoch Street, b. Stornoway
(Mary Clark, 59, Customs Boatman's Wife, Imarsligoch Street, b. Stornoway)

1871
Alex M Maciver, 33, Officer Of Customs, Son, 2 Kenneth Street, b. Stornoway
John Macrae, 27, Out Door Office Of Customs, Nursery Cottage, b. Stonoway
(Mary Clark, 63, Customs Officer's Wife, 12 Invers(?) Beach, b. Stornoway)

James Somerville, 44, Supervisor of Inland Revenue (Excise), 18 Kenneth Street, b. Haddington, N Berwick

1881
Alexander Maciver, 43, Examining Officer HM Customs, 2 Kenneth Street, b. Stornoway
John Macrae, 37, Officer House Customs, Nursery Cottage, b. Stornoway
James Ritchie, 54, Collector HM Customs, Esplanade House, b. Elgin, Morayshire
Margaret Ritchie, 53, Collector HM Customs, Esplanade House, b. Glasgow

(Daniel Metcher, 64, Excise Pensioner, Lewis Street, b. England)

1891
William M Callander, 56, Superintendent Customs, Esplanade Road, b. Falkirk
Alexander M Maciver, 53, Officer Of HM Customs, 3 Kenneth Street, b. Stonoway
Arthur Curtin, 33, Customs Officer, Garden Road, b. Ireland
John Ross, 28, Customs Officer, Garden Road, b. Portree

1901
William G E H Evans, 36, Clerk In Charge Of HM Customs, Esplanade House, b. England
Alexander Macdonald, 40, Preventive Officer HM Customs, Park View House(Scotland St), b. N Uist
Walter C Burton, 19, Assistant Collector Of Customs, 5 North Beach Street, b. Glasgow

I was quite surprised at how few they were in number, even at the height of the Herring Industry?

An interesting insight into smuggling from 1700-1855 is to be found here: Smuggling – not that I'm suggesting for a moment that those 'in the coasting trade off the West Coast of Scotland' took part in such activities!

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