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

Monday 19 July 2010

Bayhead & North Bayhead, South Harris

This is an initial investigation into a pair of addresses that appear on the 1891 and 1901 censuses.

In 1891 each place was home to 5 households whilst by 1901 Bayhead had 5 and North Bayhead 9.
As far as I can ascertain, Bayhead is the place whose site record can be seen on Scotlands Places . It can be seen that there were between 7 and 9 buildings recorded and if you click on the map link you can see the location at Ceann a' Bhaigh, just North of Lingerbay, where today there is this Guest House .

I intend to examine the census records but, for the moment, am unable to locate North Bayhead. I should make it clear that the censuses locate it and Bayhead in the civil Parish of Harris so they are not to be confused with Bayhead on North Uist. If anyone can help, please give me a shout!

I have now examined the Heads of Households:

1891 (10)
NORTH BAYHEAD (5)
Ronald Ferguson, 65, Formerly Crofter, Crofter's House, b. Harris
Donald Ferguson, 36, Crofter, Crofter's House, b. Harris
Mary MacKinnon, 60, Wool Spinner, Private House, b. Harris
Margaret Martin, 65, Wool Spinner, Private House, b. Harris
Neil Morrison, 38, Fisherman, Private House, b. Harris

BAYHEAD (5)
Donald Maclean, 44, Fisherman, b. Harris
John Maclean, 42, Fisherman, b. Harris
Charles Macsween, 81, Crofter, b. Harris
Margaret Morrison, 65, General Servant, b. Harris
Alexander Morrison, 37, Ground Officer, b. Harris

1901 (14)
NORTH BAYHEAD (9)
Ronald Ferguson, 60, Retired Fisherman, Cottar's House, b. Harris
Donald Ferguson, 42, Crofter, Crofter's House, b. Harris
John Ferguson, 34, Fisherman, Fish House, b. Harris
Alex Martin, 36, Fisherman, Fisher house, b. Harris
Angus Martin, 36, Cofter, Crofter's, b. Harris
Murdo Martin, 32, Pupil Teacher, Crofter's House, b. Harris
Mary Mackinnon, 50, Skirt Dressmaker, Private House, b. Harris
Neil Morrison, 47, Crofter, Fish House, b. Harris
Murdo Morrison, 33, Fisherman, Fish House, b. Harris

BAYHEAD (5)
Christy Maclennan, 49, General Servant Domestic, b. Harris
Donald Maclean, 35, Fisherman, b. Harris
Marion Macsween, 37, General Servant Domestic, b. Harris
Margaret Morrison, 80, General Servant Domestic, b. Harris
Alexander Morrison, 46, Ground Officer, b. Harris

It should be mentioned that in 1871 and 1881 the Ground Officer at Lingerbay was John Morrison who's son Alex is shown as a 28 year-old Fisherman in 1881. It seems reasonable to assume that he succeeded his father in the role. In fact the 1871 census is the last to identify Lingerbay as an address and this leads me to conjecture that the Bayhead of 1881-1901 is in fact Lingerbay whilst the North Bayhead of 1881-1901 is the Bayhead as identified on the 1st Edition 6-inch map of 1882. I may be wrong, but the pieces, although somewhat hazy, do appear to create a picture that makes sense!

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