Cartwrights, Wheelwrights & a Coachwright of Stornoway

The impetus for this was two-fold, namely the occupations of residents of 20 Bayhead and especially the Macfarquhar family who once lived there. So, here are the men found in the 1841-1901 censuses who would have provided Lewis with its wheeled transport. It is particularly nice to have a 'Blacksmith and Wheelwright' as a reminder that in the days of wooden wheels with iron rims, the construction of these items was, just as is the case with Coopering, a combination of precision carpentry with the skills of the men who moulded metal...

1841

Alexander Macfarquhar, 40, Cart Wright, Bayhead Street, b. Ross and Cromarty

Kenneth Fraser, 20, Cart Wright (Apprentice), Bayhead Street, b. Ross and Cromarty

Kenneth Mclennan, 50, Wright, Bayhead Street, b. Ross and Cromarty

Donald Macrae, 65, Wheelwright, Mill Street, b. Ross and Cromarty

John Macrae, 40, Wheelwright, Mill Street, b. Ross and Cromarty

Donald Macrae, 30, Wheelwright, Mill Street, b. Ross and Cromarty

1851

John Campbell, 37, Cartwright (journeyman), Cromwell St, b. Reay, Cathness

Kenneth Fraser, 33, Cartwright, New Street, b. Gairloch

Duncan Macdonald, 23, Cart Wright Journeyman, Keith Street, b. Stornoway

Alexander Macfarquhar, 55, Cartwright, Bayhead St, b. Stornoway

John Munro, 55, Cart wright, Bayhead, b. Urquhart, Ross-shire

George Sheill, 41, Cartwright, Scotland St, b. Inveresk, Haddington

John Shiell, 33, Cartwright (Master employing 4 men), South Beach, b. Spot, Haddington

Donald Macrae, 77, Wheelwright, Bayhead, b. Redcastle, Ross-shire

John Macrae, 54, Wheelwright, Keith St, b. Stornoway

Archibald Macrae, 20, Wheelwright, Bayhead, b. Stornoway

1861

Kenneth Macleod, 18, Cartwright, 33 Keith St, b. Inverness-shire

John Macrae, 60, Wheelwright, 51 Keith St, b. Stornoway

Donald Mackenzie, 34, Coachwright, 24 Mossend Rd or Stewart Filed, b. Kincardine

(Farenhar(?) Murray, 31, Cartwright, North Dell, Barvas, b. Stornoway)

1871

Kenneth Fraser, 54, Cart Wright, 17 Cromwell St, b. Gairloch

Duncan Mackay, 32, Cartwright, 37 Bayhead St, b. Stornoway

Murdo Macleod, 35, Cartwright and Crofter, Guershader Road, b. Stornoway

John Macfarquhar, 62, Cartwright Master (Employ 4 Apprentices), 13 Bayhead ST, b. Stornoway

Donald Macfarquhar, 16, Cartwright and Apprentice, 13 Bathead St, b. Stornoway

Donald Mackenzie, 45, Cartwright, Stewartfield, b. Kincardine

1881

Kenneth Fraser, 66, Cartwright, Cromwell St, b. Stornoway

William Fraser, 29, Cartwright, Cromwell St, b. Stornoway

Lachlan Maclean, 17, Cartwright (Apprentice), Porter's Lodge, b. Stornoway

Murdo Macleod, 45, Cartwright, Guershader, b. Stornoway

Duncan Mckay, 40, Cartwright, 35 Bayhead St, b. Stornoway

Angus Nicolson, 23, Cartwright, 56 Cromwell St, b. Barvas

Donald Macdonald, 57, Wheelwright, 19 Bayhead St, b. Stornoway

Colin Macdonald, 19, Wheelwright, 19 Bayhead St, b. Stornoway

1891

(Kenneth Fraser, 80, Cart Wright (Retired), 44 Keith St, b. Gairloch

William Fraser, 43, Cart Wright, 44 Keith St, b. Stornoway

Duncan Mckay, 50, Cartwright, 50 Bayhead St, b. Stornoway

Donald Macfarquhar, 37, Smith and Wright, 21 Bayhead St, b. Stornoway

Murdo Macleod, 40, Crofter and Cartwright, Laxdale, b. Stornoway

Murdo Morison, 24, Wheelwright, 4 New St, b. Sandwick

1901

Duncan Mackay, 60, Cartwright, 50 Bayhead St, b. Stornoway

Norman Mckay, 24, Cartwright, 2 Point St (North Side), b. Barvas

Murdo Morrison, 36, Cartwright and Crofter, 20 Sanwick North Street, b. Stornoway

Murdo Maleod, 68, Crofter and Cartwright, 4 Guershader, b. Stornoway

Donald Macfarquhar, 47, B smith and Wheel Wright, 20 Bayhead St, b. Stornoway

List of Scottish Gaelic Surnames

Found this useful list http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Scottish_Gaelic_surnames which cites Iain mac an Tailleir as a principle source.

An 1855 Death Certificate from Harris

I have previously mentioned the excellent guide to Registration in Scotland produced by the University of Glasgow and the page here is relevant to the current piece.

On the 24th May 1855 at 4:30 in the morning, my great, great, grandaunt Catherine Kerr died at the age of 18 in Direcleit where she had been born and lived since infancy. She was a General Servant and her parents were the Tailor, John Kerr, and Margaret Kerr whose Maiden Name was Martin. She died of Consumption although No Medial Attendant had been present to confirm this. Catherine was laid to rest at Luskintyre according to the Informant, who was her father and who put his 'Mark', an 'X' which was countersigned by Rod McDonald, Obe (next word unreadable). The Registrar, James Stewart, signs the Register on the 28th May.

All this information (apart from my personal connection!) is contained in this very early example of a Death Certificate from Harris (Registration was only introduced in the year of Catherine's death). The piece that excites me is one which was later dropped from the certificates, namely the place of Burial.

Catherine is the first of my relatives, or of anyone in Harris whose Certificates I have seen, for whom I know the site of her interment. Catherine lies at Luskintyre, overlooking the sandy beaches of the West coast and opposite the island of Taransay. I can imagine the scene of her coffin being loaded onto a boat on the shore of Ob Liceasto just yards from her home at Direcleit and being taken to the second Ob Liceasto at Liceasto before being born along the Coffin Road and thence to Luskintyre. (An alternative would have been possible via a portage at Tarbert and followed by a second voyage via the Atlantic coast but my leanings are towards the traditional route). We know that her funeral took place within five days of her death, between the 24th and 28th of May when John the Tailor wrote that 'X' upon the certificate.

Oh, and had Catherine had any children then their names and ages would have been recorded too along with the name of her spouse- what a great shame it is that such details (apart from the name of the spouse) were soon dropped for they would have provided us with so many genealogical treasures, albeit gained under such sad circumstances...

When did the 6th Earl of Dunmore assume control over his Estates?

Note: I am offering this in the hope that others will be able to offer some clarification!

At some point between his 16th Birthday on the 24th March 1857 and his 21st in 1862 the Earl's lands would have ceased to be under the control of his 'Tutors'. He, like any other Scot of the time, could have married at the age of 14 but discovering precisely at what age he became legally recognised as controlling his inheritance is a little complicated.

Within the Age of Legal Capacity (Scotland) Act 1991 are clarifications from previous legislation as can be read here http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1991/ukpga_19910050_en_2

It would appear that 16 was the age at which he became able to exercise control, although he would not achieve the Age of Majority, termed 'Full Age' until he was 21. What, if any, additional rights and responsibilities might have accrued at 18 is unclear but as far as I can tell the introduction of these is a later invention designed to 'fill' the five-year gap between 16 and 21?

Looking into this, which I am doing because it has obvious significance regarding the manner in which Harris was treated and the correct identification of those responsible, was a reminder of the current situation in Britain whereby, for example, a 16 year-old can sign to serve in the armed forces but will not be entitled to vote for those in control of those services until they are 18...

To return to 19thC Harris, between 1857 and 1862 the Countess of Dunmore would have passed control to her son, years which, coincidentally, were those during which the Maritime Surveys of Captains Otter and Thomas were being undertaken.

Liceasto revisited

I have touched upon Gaelic placenames and of my outsider's tenuous (but hopefully developing) grip upon the significance of them within Gaelic, and especially island, culture on a few occasions. I hope it is clear that I make no claims to be an 'expert' in any of the themes that I have explored in this blog (which is one reason why I am only too pleased to receive feedback from readers) so with that gentle reminder I wish to take another brief look at Liceasto in the Bays of Harris.

Liceasto, according to Iain Mac an Tailleir, comes from the Norse meaning “Body Harbour”, and he adds, “possibly a place from which bodies were ferried for burial”. It lies on the shore of Ob Liceasto at the head of which is Ceann a Baigh which is where the path leading through Bealach Eorabhat begins. In other words, the ancient pathway known as the 'Coffin Road' starts within a half-mile of a place called “Body Harbour”.

It seems plausible then that Liceasto, rather than being “possibly a place from which bodies were ferried for burial”, was the place where those bodies were landed before being carried to the burial grounds on the West Coast. Did the Vikings call it thus because the indigenous inhabitants used the bay in that manner? Or did they themselves introduce the practice? As far as I am aware the Bays, unlike the West Coast, is not renowned for Norse placenames but it is rich in the safe harbours that the West totally lacks. It would seem to me that anyone wanting to harvest the sea around Harris would have used the Bays, even if only during parts of the year, as the bases from which to launch their assault and hence it is plausible that small fishing settlements were dotted around the region. If this were not the case, why in Viking times would there have been any requirement for funeral processions to originate there? Even if it wasn't until the arrival of the Norsemen that this ritual began, it must certainly date from at least their occupation for the name to be derived from their language.

Interestingly, there is another Ob Liceasto in the Bays but this one lies at the northernmost extremity just beyond East Loch Tarbert. It is a bay that I am familiar with for it is the one upon whose shore the settlement of Direcleit is found. I have long-puzzled over the name of this bay but having now learnt that it comes from the Norse for “Body Harbour”, just as Direcleit comes from the Norse for “Deer Cliff”, I have another conundrum to consider. Were people landing bodies here too, or was this where they embarked upon their final sea journey?

There is nowhere to bury people near Direcleit and if one were wanting to utilise the burial grounds of the West then surely it would be easier, safer and faster to take the body to Tarbert rather than making land within a couple of miles of that portage place? It appears far more likely that this Ob Liceasto was where the sea passage began and that Liceasto marked its destination. This is all highly conjectural and perhaps someone with knowledge of Viking funeral rites, especially as performed where there appears to have been a reasonable degree of cultural assimilation and settlement (with the emphasis upon the 'settle' component of that word) can assist here?

One final thought, although there is, as I mentioned, commonly held to be a a lack of Norse names for settlements generally in the Bays, we do have Horsacleit, “Horse Cliff”, just a mile away from Direcleit along with Miabhaig, “Narrow Bay”, and even Plocrapol, “? Farm” and many more places bearing testament to the Norse presence. Is it too fanciful to suggest that a ritual sea journey developed at this time whose past presence remains marked on the landscape in the names of these two Ob Liceastos?

Update: Looking at the 1878 OS 6" Map Sheet XVIII, it appears that the Coffin Road did lead directly from Ceann a Baigh at the head of Ob Liceasto, adding weight to the scenario that I have described. The feint path, which marks the start of the Coffin Road, can be seen adjacent to the final 'e' of 'Kennavay-vore' in this view.

Togail Tir – Marking Time

My copy of this marvellous book arrived today and what a joy it is! I say that not just because the essays on Bald's 1805/5 Map of Harris and the Maritime Surveys of Captains Otter and Thomas each confirm (and provide additional information upon) my own meagre explorations, but because, as Finlay Macleod says in the Preface:

“my only wish is to illustrate in this one publication the wealth of topics and personalities associated with the history of marking time in the Western Isles. (Or togail tir if you prefer: raising land, depicting land, uplifted by land.)”

And that his book does with a worth far beyond the ridiculously reasonable £7.99 cover-price.

It is a treasure to read, to delight in dwelling over the copious lavish illustrations, and I would suggest it is a 'must have' publication for anyone with an interest in the place we call the Western Isles.

Although the book is Out of Print, new copies are available: 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Togail-Tir-Marking-Time-Western/dp/0861528425

(I must record my thanks to Mary Ferguson at Stornoway Library for bringing Togail Tir to my attention)

Serenity...

Boat resting at An-t-Ob/Srannda

Modern Architecture in Harris

This lovely house is sited in Srannda overlooking the Sound of Harris

Eilean nam Bridianach & Cairminis peninsular

Panorama from plaque commemorating the Paisley Sisters

Eilean Chairminis & Cairminis

Panorama from Strond Road, An-t-Ob

Lewis War Memorial - Concrete & Carpenter Work

As can be seen in this article from the Stornoway Historical Society , when the Lewis War Memorial was constructed the Concrete and Carpenter work was performed by
'Messrs Kerr and Macfarlane of Stornoway'.
The manner in which this is recorded suggests that Kerr and Macfarlane were business partners in the building trade and this raises the question as to precisely who they were.

Neither name is very common on the island - in 1901 there were 13 male Macfarlane's and 7 men called Kerr in Stornoway - hence if the contractors of the early 1920s were sons of the town then there's a good chance that they are to be found amongst these twenty individuals. The census provides little assistance in terms of occupations and so the Macfarlane side will be left for now. Amongst the Kerr men we have the three sons of Alexander John (who were born in 1884, 1897 and 1904) and the three sons of Malcolm (who were born in 1897, 1901 and 1902).

From these six, the one that seems the most likely to me is Donald who was born in 1884, who's trade was that of a Carpenter, who survived WWI having served with the CORCC, and who died in Stornoway in 1935. He would have been in his mid-thirties at the time of the construction (the others at most in their early-to-mid-twenties) and his death in 1935 meant he wasn't around to tell the story to his nieces and nephews.

I could be totally wrong (and unless I can find the records of the Memorial's construction that remains a strong possibility!) but IF Messrs Kerr and Macfarlane of Stornoway included a Stornoway-born Kerr then Donald's definitely in the running.

Update: Donald's death certificate show that he was a 'Building Contractor' living at 10 Bayhead Street, Stornoway as of the 14th December 1935. This supports the hypothesis that it was indeed he who helped provide the 'Concrete and Carpenter Work'.

Gardener's Cottage, Stornoway

Lews Castle was built during the years 1847-54. At the same time a cottage was constructed for the Gardeners and these are the census records for the men who appear to have occupied it:

(1841 - Alexander Macrae, 49, Seaforth Lodge, b. Ross & Cromarty)

1847 - Castle construction begins

1851
Alexander Mcrae, 55, Gardener's Lodge, b. Fodderty, Ross
Peter Stoddart, 26, Distillery, b. Dunse, Berwick (Address reminds us that the teetotal Sir James Matheson built Lews Castle where the Stornoway Distillery had stood)

1854 - Castle complete

1861
Peter Liddle, 27, Gardener's Cottage, b. Carnwath, Lanarkshire
Revere(?) Black, 25, Gardener's Cottage, b.Ireland
Alexander Macrae, 65, Gardener's House No 1, b. Kinloch Ussle(?), Ross-shire

1871
John Smith, 35, Gardener's Cottage, b. Haddington
Alexander Macrae, Nursery Cottage, b. Fodderty, Ross-shire (see Nursery Cottage )

1881
George Macdonald, 45, Gardener's Cottage, b. Uig, Ross-shire
Alexander Macrae, 86, Nursery Cottage, b. Fodderty, Ross-shire

1891
David Conning, 37, Gardener's Cottage, b. Haddington

1901
David Conning, 47,Gardener's Cottage,  b. Haddington

Note: I have included Alexander Macrae because, despite never giving his address as the Gardener's Cottage, he served as a Gardener, Forester and Head Nurseryman for at least 40 years!

An-t-Ob and Loch Steisebhat, Isle of Harris