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 10 October 2010

Hugh Matheson's of Stornoway

A comment from a friend regarding 'the Fortum & Mason's of Stornoway' led me to explore the early years of Hugh Matheson & his family. For reasons that will become clear, I have started in 1901:

1901
Hugh Matheson, 57, Baker & Grocer, 2 Francis St, b. Stornoway
Marion Matheson, 43, Wife, b. Dunvegan, Inverness-shire
(7 children, ages 3 to 16)

1891
Hugh Matheson, 47, Baker, 41 Cromwell St, b. Stornoway
Marion Matheson, 32, Wife, b. Durinish, Inverness-shire
(3 children)

1881
Hugh Matheson, 37, Baker, 25 North Beach St, b. Stornoway
Marian Matheson, 21, Wife, b. Durnish, Inverness-shire
(2 children ages 4 months and 5 years)

1871
Hugh Matheson, 27, Baker, Son, 48 Keith St, b. Stornoway
(Malcolm Matheson, 56, Shoemaker, b. Stornoway)
(Mary Matheson, 50, Wife, b. Stornoway)

1861
Hugh Matheson, 17, Baker Apprentice, 13 Cromwell St, b. Stornoway
(Ann Macdonald, 58, Shop Keeper (Baker's), b. Stornoway
(Malcolm Macdonald, 33, Baker (Master employing 2 boys), b. Stornoway

1851
Hughina Matheson, 7, Daughter, Keith St, b. Stornoway
(Malcolm Matheson, 36, Shoemaker, b. Stornoway)
(Mary Matheson, 31, Wife, b. Stornoway)
(3 more children ages 2 to 9)

1844 27th January Hugh Matheson b. Stornoway

1841
(Malcolm Matheson, 26, Shoe M, b. Ross & Cromarty)
(Mary Matheson, 20, b. Ross & Cromarty)

I am reasonably confident that these records display Hugh's location at the time of each census with the exception of that taken in 1851. There are no other Ross-shire born Hugh Matheson's who appear to 'fit' yet the person in the census of 1851 is female but of precisely the same age.
Possibly, Hugh and Hughina were twins, but the Old Parish Register only records Hugh Matheson, born on the 27th of January 1844 in Stornoway, and there are no records of a Hughina Matheson born anywhere in Scotland between 1842 and 1846. A further complication occurs because the 7 year-old Hughina is listed at the head of the children despite having an older sibling. It is a bit of a mystery but, whilst interesting in itself, need not distract us from the 'story' of Shoemaker's son Hugh Matheson who became the founder of, according to my source, Stornoway's finest emporium!

A photograph of the shop in Francis Street may be seen here .

(With thanks to Angela for inadvertently inspiring this entry!)

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