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

Sunday 18 July 2010

Malcolm Kerr 1822-1898

This is my grandfather's grandfather who was born in Direcleit, Harris and died aboard his son's ship in the Horseshoe Sound, Kerrera, Near Oban.

The original is in the possession of my cousin in Stornoway. The frame contains the writing 'Norrie 28 Cross Street, Fraserburgh' and the Fraserburgh Heritage Centre includes a file on William Norrie, Photographer. The 1901 census records the 39 year-old at that address whilst his father, at No 26, is a Picture Frame Maker which occupation he also records in 1891. In 1881 the son was a Cabinet Maker and the father a Merchant Draper. This suggests that the photo was taken after 1881 making Malcolm at least 60 years-old? We know that the picture is of Malcolm because my cousin's father, another grandson of Malcolm's, told her it was him. There appears to be a figure to Malcolm's left and this leads me to conjecture that the photograph was cut to fit the frame to which it was later entrusted. I think it is a wonderful image of a 19thC Seaman whose soulful eyes are as deep and mysterious as the seas he sailed upon...

No comments:

Post a Comment