Orinsay 1841

The clearance of Orinsay in 1843 is perhaps one of the best documented such events on the Isle of Lewis. The Angus Macleod archive includes an impassioned description from the Inverness Courier and the role of the Factor, Donald Munro, is detailed by James Shaw Grant in 'A Shilling For Your Scowl'.

The excellent Hebridean Connections site provides a database of the people of Orinsay but I believe this to be the first time that a complete list of the population of the township from the transcribed 1841 Census has been compiled.

I have listed the households alphabetically by each Head's family name, then first name.

Within two years all that remained in Orinsay from the lives of these 147 people in 21 households were 14 or 15 roofless houses...

Dorothy Gillies – Widow, 55, Small Tenant
Roderick Gillies, 20
Ann Gillies, 14
Donald Finlayson,20
Peggy Finlayson, 25
Isabella Mackenzie, 5

Alexander Macdonald, 55, Small Tenant
Annabella Macdonald, 45
Ann Macdonald, 25
Catherine Macdonald, 22
Mary Macdonald, 20
William Macdonald, 17
Donald, Macdonald, 15
Isabella Macdonald, 11
Duncan Macdonald, 9
John Macdonald, 6
Kenneth Macdonald, 3
Chirsty Macdonald, 1

Donald Macdonald,35 Widower, Small Tenant
Isabella Macdonald, 14
Ann Macdonald, 12
Kenneth Macdonald, 10
Duncan Macdonald, 8
Mary Macdonald, 6
Catherine Macdonald, 4
Murdo Mackenzie, 40
Catherine Mackenzie, 40
Peggy Mackenzie, 15
Ann Mackenzie, 15
John Mackenzie, 11
Duncan Mackenzie, 9
Kenneth Mackenzie, 5
Donald Mackenzie, 2

John Macdonald, 50, Hand Loom Weaver, Small Tenant
Kenny Macdonald,50
Donald Macdonald, 25, Fisher
John Macdonald, 22, Fisher
Alexander Macdonald, 20, Fisher
Catherine Macdonald, 15
Roderick Macdonald, 12

Murdo Macdonald, 30, Small Tenant
Annabella Macdonald, 30
Alexander Macdonald, 8
Margaret Macdonald, 5
Donald Macdonald, 2
Chirsty MacRitchie, 20, Female Servant

Murdo Macinnes, 75, Small Tenant
Flora Macinnes, 75
Alexander Macinnes, 28, fisher
Margaret Macinnes, 25
Isabella Macinnes, 4
Murdo Macinnes, 2
Murdo Nicholson, 12
Alexander Smith, 15

Chirsty Mackenzie, 55, Pauper
Murdo Mackenzie, 60, Fisher and Small Tenant
Ann Mackenzie, 50
Murdo Mackenzie, 27, Fisher
Donald Mackenzie, 25
Alexander Mackenzie, 17
Ann Mackenzie, 15
Annabella Mackenzie, 13
Margaret Mackenzie, 11

Donald Mackenzie, 35, Fisher and Small Tenant
Chirsty Mackenzie, 30
Alexander Mackenzie, 12
Margaret Mackenzie, 10
Ann Mackenzie, 7
Roderick Mackenzie, 5
Kenneth Mackenzie, 3
Donald Mackenzie, 1

John Mackenzie, 50, Fisher
Catherine Mackenzie, 18

John Mackenzie, 65, Small Tenant
Isabella Mackenzie, 60
Roderick Mackenzie, 24, Fisher
Donald Mackenzie, 20, Fisher
Ann Mackenzie, 25

Murdo Mackenzie, 35, Fisher and Small Tenant
Margaret Mackenzie, 30
Margaret Mackenzie, 15
Roderick Mackenzie, 10
Donald Mackenzie, 8
Annabella Mackenzie, 5
Alexander Mackenzie, 2

Donald Maclennan, 25, Fisher
Marion Maclennan, 50
Ann Maclennan, 95

Catherine Macleod, 90, Pauper

Donald Macleod, 50, Fisher and Small Tenant
Catherine Macleod, 45
Flora Macleod, 20
Norman Macleod, 16
Catherine Macleod, 14
Murdo Macleod, 9
Donald Macleod, 7
Catherine Campbell, 2

John Macleod, 35, Fisher and Small Tenant
Catherine Macleod, 35
Margaret Macleod, 7
John Macleod, 5
Norman Macleod, 4
Alexander Macleod, 1

Malcolm Macleod, 40, fisher and Small Tenant
Ann Macleod, 35
Ann Macleod, 12
Catherine, 10
John, 1?
Donald, 5
Norman, 2

Murdo Macleod, 30
Isabella Macleod, 40
Murdo Macleod, 15
Ann Macleod, 12
Catherine Macleod ,9
Duncan Macleod, 7
Donald Macleod, 4
Mary Maclennan, 20

Norman Macleod, 75, Small Tenant
Chirsty Macleod, 60
Catherine Macleod, 50
Ann Macleod, 30

Norman Macleod, 80, Small Tenant
Betsy Macleod, 40
Isabell Macdonald, 14, Female Servant
Donald Martin, 60, Small Tenant
Margaret Martin, 35
Donald Martin, 20, Fisher
John Macleod, 9
Chirsty MacRae, 20, Female Servant

John Martin, 35, Fisher and Small Tenant
Henny Martin, 35
Chirsty Martin, 12
Angus Martin, 8
Flora Martin, 6mths
Ewan Maclennan, 14
Marion Macdonald, 80

Mary Montgomery, 80, Pauper

Alexander Morrison, 40, Fisher and Small Tenant
Catherine Morrison, 35
Isabella Morrison, 20
Ann Morrison, 11
Catherine Morrison, 9
John Morrison, 6
Chirsty Morrison, 3

Stornoway Gas Light Company

Stornoway Gas Light Company

As the days begin their slow stretch towards Summer, I thought I'd do some introductory investigations into Stornoway's first forays into town gas.

As usual, the results are presented as found, with the residence following the job title:

1851
Robert Wilson, 33, Manager of Stornoway Gas Works, Imorsligach(!), (b.Auchtermuchty, Fife)
John McPhail, 30, Labourer at Gas Works, Keith Street (b.Barvas)
James McDonald, 31, Plumber and Gas Fitter – Master, Enaclete, (b.Perth)

1861
Robert Wilson, 43, Gas Manager, Gas House, (b.Fife)
John Wilson, 18, Plumber and Tinsmith, Son, Gas House, b. Fifeshire
John McPhail, 40, Fireman at Gas Works, South Beach Street (b.Bragar)



1871
Robert Wilson, 53, Gas and Water Manager, Gas Works, (b.Auchtermuchty, Fife)

John McPhail, 50, Gasman, 16 South Beach Street (b. Stornoway)

1881
John McPhail, 58, Gas Manager, Gas House (b.Stornoway)
Donald McPhail, 25, Engine Fitter, Gas House (b. Stornoway)

1891
Daniel Macallum, 42, Gas Manager, 19 Bells Road (b. Barrhead, Renfrewshire)
John MacPhail, 70, Gas Works Labourer, 1 Newton Street (b. Barvas)

1901
William Miller, 27, Gas Manager, Gas Manager's House (b. Ireland)
Murdo Mcleod, 34, Gas Stoker, 85 Cromwell Stree (b. Stornoway)

John McPhail, 82, Retired Gas Manager, 1 Newton Street, (b. Barvas)


Although these records give us little information regarding the development of gas provision in the town, they do stand as testament to one man, John McPhail, who clearly rose from the ranks to manage the Gas Works and then remained in a more lowly role before his retirement after a lifetime's service to the Stornoway Gas Light Company.

Blacksmiths of Harris

This is another preliminary investigation into an occupational group on the Isle of Harris.

I have an interest in this particular craft due to my mother being descended from several generations of blacksmiths & ironmongers in South London & Kent.

I have listed Harris-born smiths working elsewhere in the Western Isles.

The majority of those working in Harris were Hearachs.

1841
Neil Morrison, Nishishee(!), 35
Neil Macaskill, Borve, 35
Kenneth Morrison, Geocrab, 60
John Morrison, Obb, 45
Malcolm Morrison, Tarbert, 45

John Morrison (1790-1852) was a Gaelic poet and this song-smith is buried in St Clement's Church, Rodel.

1851
Angus Morrison, Obb, 26, Blacksmith & Miller (Son of John Morrison above)
Malcolm Morrison, Tarbert, 50, Master Blacksmith
John Macleod, Kyles Scalpay, 35

Harris-born Blacksmiths:
Neil Macaskill, Bernera, 46
Neil Morrison, Breanish, Uig, 40
Norman Macleod, Enaclete, Stornoway, 44
William Macaskill, Stornoway, 24
Murdo Maclennan, North Uist, 54

(John Morrison, 55, Free Church Catechist, Leac a Li, b. Harris - The Blacksmith/Hymn-Writer)

1861
Malcolm Morrison, East Tarbert, 56
Ewen Morrison, East Tarbert, 39 (Eldest Son of John Morrison)

Donald Maclennan, North Uist, 20

1871
Ewen Morrison, 49, Black Smith, Smithey Tarbert, b. Harris (Son of John Morrison)

Harris-born Blacksmiths:
John Morrison, Stornoway, 22
Norman Macleod, Stornoway, 66
John Macaskill, Stornoway, 21, Apprentice Blacksmith

1881
Donald Morrison, Gardener's House, North Harris, 29
Ewen Morrison, East Tarbert, 57 (Son of John Morrison)
Alexander Morrison, East Tarbert, 23
John Morrison, East Tarbert,10, Apprentice Blacksmith
Norman Macleod, Finsbay, 27
Angus Morrison, Obb, 54

Harris-born Blacksmiths:
Neil Morrison, Breanish, Uig, 75, Master Blacksmith
John Macaskill, Stornoway, 30
Norman Macleod, Stornoway, 75

1891
Donald Morrison, North Harris, 39
Norman Macleod, North Harris, 38
John Morrison, East Tarbert, 39
Donald Morrison, Obb, 27

(Ewen Morrison, 68, Retired Black Smith, No 29 East Tarbert, b. Harris - John Morrison's Son)

Harris-born Blacksmiths:
John Macaskill, Stornoway, 38

1901
Norman Macleod, North Harris, 41
Donald Morrison, North Harris, 49
John Angus Morrison, North Harris, 16, Apprentice Blacksmith (Donald's Son)
Murdo Morrison, North Harris, 16, Apprentice Blacksmith (Donald's Son)
John Morrison, North Harris, 35
Donald Morrison, Obb, 38

(Ewen Morrison, 80, Retired Blacksmith, No45, North Harris, b. Harris - John Morrison's Son)

Harris-born Blacksmiths:
John Macaskill, Stornoway, 49
Donald Macmillan, Bernera, 30

It is clear that this specialised occupation was restricted to a very few families with those bearing the name Morrison dominating the field.

It would be interesting to investigate this further...

A House

I find the history of buildings, whether they be monumental statements of public and private pride or the humblest of constructions, fascinating.

I came upon this reference to a house in Stornoway:

20 Bayhead
18th century
A lone survivor, albeit altered, of the old settlement around Bayhead.
The building's age is indicated by its roof pitch, low entrance and the disposition of windows, which are well set back into their reveals.


(Ref: "Western Seaboard: An Illustrated Architectural Guide", by Mary Miers, 2008.Rutland Press)

It is also a British listed Building and can be seen here: 20 Bayhead

It is particularly awkward to accurately trace the occupancy of a specific building when interrogating a database of census transcriptions.

In England, it is possible to view original images of the census returns and page back and forth, thus retracing the steps taken by each enumerator and this is particularly useful in rural areas where roads and houses often lack precision in naming and numbering.

The Scottish records cannot be researched in this manner and one has to resort to a number of tricks to locate the information that is being sort. But that's part of the fun!

1821 - The Town Plan of 1821 should enable identification of the owner of the building.it also shows the extent of the bay that lay North of it, in contrast to the present day situation near the head of the bay. I think it was the property of a Mr D McDonald in 1821, the 6th site down from New Street.

1841-1861 Insufficient address data to identify occupants

1871
Norman Mciver, Shoemaker, 56, b. Stornoway, wife Catherine and 5 children
Murdo Mackenzie, Cooper, 55, b. Stornoway, wife Isabella and 3 children
Total 12 people

1881
Norman Mciver, Shoemaker, 65, wife Catherine and 9 children including Norman, Apprentice Blacksmith, 26 and Duncan, General Labourer, 18.
Alexander Morrison, Seaman, 58, b. Barvas, wife Mary
Margaret Maciver, 60, Margaret Morrison, 59 b. Aberdeen
Total 15 people

1891 – Address not listed

1901
Donald MacFarquar 47, b. Stornoway, Blacksmith & Wheelwright, wife Catherine and 6 children including Janet, Dairy Keeper, 19 plus Annie Macleod, Domestic Servant, 19.
Total 9 people

1911
Donald Macfarquhar dies at No 22 but the Informant is his Brother-in-Law, Archibald Munro of No 20.
Archibald was the Town Clerk and Harbour Master and husband of Donald's sister, Mary.

1927
John Kerr, Blacksmith, 27, b. Stornoway and wife Mary Ann Macdonald 26
 (According to Marriage Certificate, at time of his Death in 1957 he was a Motor Mechanic)

1935
Ronald MacFarquhar, but I think it was Donald!
(According to Death Certificate of Donald Kerr, 51, Building Contractor, of 10 Bayhead Street)

1945
Donald MacFarquhar, Grain Merchant, son of the 1901 Blacksmith & Wheelwright
(According to his wife Mary Kerr's Death Certificate - she was the third child of Alexander John Kerr and his first wife, Margaret Macarthur)

2010 – Veterinary Surgery

Stornoway Harbour Masters

News that CnES, the local authority of the Western Isles, are considering taking-over the Stornoway Port Authority led me to look at 19thC Harbour Masters.

This timeline lists them from 1861-1901, interspersed with notes on material factors & developments that took place:

1861 – Peter Macfarlane, 52, b. Stornoway,wife and 2 daughters – 1 Kenneth Street

1863/4 – Legal wrangles over ownership & rights of the foreshore resulting from their earlier sale to Sir James Matheson by the Crown

1865 – Stornoway Pier and Harbour Commission legally constituted

1871 – William Lees, 48, b. Stornoway, wife and 1 daughter – Garrabost
(Retired Peter Macfarlane, wife and 1 daughter – 21 Inaclete Street)

1879 - Death of sir James Matheson

1881 – William Lees, 58 b. Greenock, wife and 2 daughters – 16 Keith Street

1891 – Thomas Morrison, 54, b. Stornoway, wife – 54 Francis Street

1892 – Commissioners increased from 7 to 10.
Construction of the Cromwell St, North Beach & South Beach solid Quays authorised

1896 – Death of Lady Matheson

1901 -Thomas Morrison, 65, b. Stornoway, wife & daughter - 49 ?


The rights and responsibilities of those who own and are in control of the foreshore and its attendant facilities are manifold and complex.

There are differences between the law in Scotland and that in England, but each involves tidal limits, the welfare of seaware and the health and safety of those using our beaches, harbours and the sea beyond.

It will be indeed be interesting to see how the proposed take-over proceeds...

An Old Photograph From Stornoway

This family portrait was taken by Mcleod's of Stornoway.

It is of the family of a tailor, Norman Montgomery (1853-1899), his wife Marion Maciver (1853-1951) and includes seven of their eight children.

The youngest two, Johanna and Donald, were born in 1887 and 1889 respectively. I think this dates the photo to circa 1897, a couple of years before Norman's early death in Glasgow.

My interest in the photograph is that Norman Montgomery was my grandfather's father.

Norman married Marion Maciver on the 30th June 1875, my grandfather John Kerr having been born less than four months earlier on the 5th March 1875.

On the 13th July of that year, the Sheriff's Court in Stornoway ruled that Norman's name be added to the records as the illegitimate John's father.

His mother, Annie Kerr, a dressmaker, went on to have seven more children after marrying her cousin William Maciver, a baker, on the 21st April 1881.

They left 6 year-old John to be raised by his grandparents which was not unusual in cases where births out of wedlock were being concealed but seems somewhat strange given Annie's pursing of Norman in the courts?

Note: Until a few years ago I knew nothing about my grandfather other than his name and that he was born in Stornoway. It was a phone call from an historian in Edinburgh in 2006 that informed me of his father's details. As a result of that information, and a bit of 'Googling', I came upon someone seeking information on a Norman Montgomery of Stornoway. I composed a rather delicate email to this fellow descendant who was totally unaware of Norman's first venture into fatherhood. Three years ago we met at her home on Skye and a couple of days later her brother gave me a whistle-stop tour of Lewis. Annie & Norman were united again...

Harris Schoolteachers

Another delve into 19thC occupations on Harris. I have left the transcribed spellings as found!

This time, I have examined teachers living on Harris & Scholars in the whole Parish:

1841 Female 0 Male 1 Total 1
Tarbert

1851 2 Female 4 Male Total 6
Tarbert, Leeclea, Rhenigingdale, Bernara (3!)
276 scholars

1861 1 Female 1 Male Total 2
433 scholars
Tarbert, Direcleit

1871 2 Female 3 Male Total 5
108 scholars in the whole Parish.

Geocrab, Kyles Scalpay

1881 1 Female 6 Male Total 7
142 scholars in the whole Parish.

North Harris, Drinishader, South Harris, Strond, Scalpay

1891 4 Female 14 Male Total 18
1193 scholars in the Parish
Where the teachers lived: Ardsleigh, Borve, Carrigrich, Drinishader, E Tarbert, Finsbay, Geocrab, Grosebay Kyles Scalpay, Luachies, Manish, Meavig, Rushgary, Scalpay, Scaristavore, N Harris, S Harris

1901 10 Female 15 Male total 25
1160 scholars
Where the teachers lived: Big Borve, Drinishader, Finsbay, Geocrab, Kyles Scalpay, Manish, North Bayhead, Obbe, Scalpay, Stockinish, N Harris, S Harris

The 1841 Census reveals itself as little more than a head-count, useful in other ways but not in the context of occupations other than those of the Head of each household.

Nonetheless, the 1851 & 1861 figures indicate an increase in schooling on Harris (the teacher numbers are obviously inaccurate) and we can see the effect of the1872 Education Act (Scotland) which made schooling compulsory in the explosion of provision and uptake.

As number of scholars had not increased by 1901, what is interesting is the rise in the number of teachers from 18 to 25. Whether this was due to curriculum changes or an increase in the number of schools is something to be investigated further.

It is also worth noting that virtually the whole of this change is accounted for by female teachers and I presume we are seeing here the process towards teaching becoming a predominantly female profession, particularly at Primary level?

Update: My research rarely progresses in a linear fashion and an example is that I have just realised that the single teacher of 1841, and one of the 4 male teachers of 1851, was the father of the wife of my cousin Angus Kerr whose career at Rodel is a the subject of several entries. Donald Morrison had been born in Harris circa 1796 and married Christina McKinnon who had died prior to her daughter Lexy's marriage in 1870. The Morrison's lived in Tarbert and then Kyles Scalpay in 1841 & 1851 and Donald had retired to East Tarbert by 1861. His final appearance, in the census of 1871, places him in West Tarbert with his older, unmarried daughter, Bella. I think he possibly taught English.

Harris Weavers in the 19th Century

I interrogated the Census data in order to see what it might be able to inform us regarding weaving in Harris:

1841 1 Female 4 Males Total 5

1851 103 Females 16 Males Total 119

1861 84 Females 15 Males Total 96?

1871 61 Females 3 Males Total 64

1881 121 Females 1 Males Total 122

1891 247 Females 2 Males Total 248?

1901 204 Females 14 Males Total 216?

Firstly, the 1841 Census often only recorded the occupation of the 'Head' of each household so it is neither a true reflection of the numbers working as weavers nor particularly helpful in distinguishing people sharing the same name and range of birth dates.

The later censuses are much improved in these regards but are not without their own problems. It is entirely conceivable that a man employed in some other capacity, whether it be tenant, fisher, shepherd or whatever would also weave as an additional occupation.

Nevertheless, the figures are useful and, so long as not taken as painting the full picture, these snapshots across time do tell a story.

It is clear that weaving on Harris was overwhelmingly undertaken by women throughout the 19th Century.

Taking 1851 as a first reasonably accurate starting point, we perceive a dip by 1861, a dramatic decline by 1871, recovery by 1881 and then a meteoric rise of 150% to the all-time high of 1891.

There are at least two competing stories regarding the timing and other aspects of Lady Dunmore's involvement in the early days of the marketing of Harris Tweed.

Unfortunately, written records, if they ever existed, have not survived and in her excellent book 'Islanders and the Orb'', Janet Hunter writes eloquently on what is known or can be deduced from other extant sources but does not explore the census data which, I believe, holds important clues.

It is clear that the third-quarter of the 19th Century, a period that one might have expected to see the number of weavers remaining reasonably constant (notwithstanding other factors such as famine, destitution, clearances and emigration) in fact saw a serious decline.

Equally, it was the final quarter of that Century that shows the clearest evidence of significant growth in weaving, and Catherine Murray, Countess of Dunmore died in the middle of this period on the 12th February 1886.

Thus, although she played a vital role in spotting the potential of the islanders' Clo Mor, and no doubt encouraging others to export the product to a wider Mainland market, it was those who came upon the scene nearly half a century later who saw the potential of marketing this unique product.

It is perhaps no accident, therefore, that the famous 'Orb Mark' bears no relationship to the heraldry of the Countess's family and the origins of that mark remain a mystery yet to be solved.

A Lewis Lighthouse Keeper

In 1871, the Butt of Lewis lighthouse's two-storey house was home to its 53 year-old keeper, George Edgar with his wife Grace and four of their children.

George had been born in Portpatrick, Kincardineshire in about 1818 and his lightkeeping days can be traced by the exploring the birthplace of his 8 children and the censuses:

1843 James, Portpatrick, Wigtownshire

1847 Elizabeth, Dunnet Head, Caithness-shire

1848 Alexander, Girdleness, Aberdeenshire
1850 George, Girdleness, Aberdeenshire

1851 Ardnamurchan Point Lighthouse
1853 Archibald, Ardnamurchan, Argyll

1856 William & John, Sanday, Orkney

1858 Isabella, Barvas, Lewis This is particularly significant as the light at Ness wasn't completed until 1862 and suggests that George possibly played a part in the construction process.

1861 Start Point Lighthouse, Orkney

1871 Butt of Lewis Lighthouse

1881 1 Europie – Principal Lighthouse Keeper, Butt of Lewis

1891 73 year-old Retired Lighthouse Keeper George is back in his hometown of Portpatrick with his unmarried daughter Isabella Beattie. Son James, 48, is Keeper at the lighthouse in Killkorran, Argyll whilst his younger brother John is one of three keepers on Scotland's most Northerly light, that on the island of Muckle Hugga in the Shetlands.

1901 – George and his daughter are still enjoying his retirement in Portpatrick but son John is Principal Light Keeper at Whalesay Skerries, Shetland whilst his eldest brother James is the keeping the light at Holy Isle, Bute.

The Edgar family, led by father George, shone lights to sea for over half a century, during which time they served the Stevenson family,the Northern Lighthouse Board and countless sailors in aiding the process of safer seafaring.

Note: The bold locations indicate lighthouses served by the Edgar family.

Registrars & a variation in the anglicisation of one Gaelic name

The Statutory Registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths began in Scotland in 1855. In Stornoway, Colin Leitch from Dingwall became the first Registrar. In 1851 this (circa) 65 year-old Sheriff Clerk Depute was living with his two adult daughters in South Beach, Stornoway.

A decade later the (circa) 69 year-old gives his occupation as Sheriff Clerk Depute AND Registrar,
the latter having being added in 1855. His two maiden, middle-aged daughters remain with him in South Beach Street.

Following Leitch's retirement/death sometime before 1871, the role of Registrar passed to John Macfarlane who performed it for the whole of the 1870s and 1880s. Barvas born 56 year-old 'Registrar & Inspector of Poor' Macfarlane was living with his large family at 55 Keith Street in 1871.

My interest in these two gentlemen stems from how they anglicised my family name from the Gaelic original, Cearr.

Macfarlane, in line with all the Census enumerators from 1841 onwards, uses the form 'Kerr' which is perhaps phonetically closer but contains the letter 'K' which does not exist in the Gaelic alphabet. It is of course the form utilised by the Border clan of the same name:

Leitch, however, consistently wrote 'Carr' on every Certificate that was produced during his tenure.
Apart, that is, from the very first one on the 13th July 1855. As none of the relatives registering the events spoke any English, it must have been his decision.

A clue as to why this transformation took place, and was then reversed, is to be found by looking at his immediate superior, the 'Examiner' for the Isles, Alexander Grigor. Grigor was put forward for the role by Sir James Matheson and performed in this role, making annual inspections of the Registrars, until his resignation in 1874. I suspect that Grigor's time spent in Perth and then England influenced him and I can well imagine him pouring over Leitch's first batch of records, tut-tutting, and instructing his minion to use Carr henceforth.

Unfortunately, there is a flaw in this explanation because, if it was indeed Grigor who influenced the decision, it was studiously ignored by the Registrars on Harris who were 100% consistent in never using Carr.

Whatever the true cause, Leitch's use of Carr avoids the inclusion of the foreign letter, and is indeed only an 'e' away from the Gaelic spelling, it is also an English name, predominant in North-Eastern England and with a totally unconnected etymology.

The insistence on this seemingly minor variation explained why there appeared to be no Statutory records of certain births, marriages and deaths that I was expecting to find in Stornoway. Eventually I found them.

Refs:

http://www.nationaltrustnames.org - a site that allows you to compare the 1881 & 1981 geographical distribution of a family name.

http://www.gla.ac.uk/departments/scottishwayofbirthanddeath/leadingactors/examiners/#Alexander Grigor (1805-1884) - the entry for Alexander Grigor in this useful guide to Scottish records.

James Shaw Grant – A Shilling for Your Scowl – the Story of a Scottish Legal Mafia – Acair 1991

I first came across the work of late James Shaw Grant (22 May 1910 – 28 July 1999) when reading his 1987 book 'Discovering Lewis and Harris'.

I was given 'A Shilling for Your Scowl' as a leaving present following my first visit to the isles three years ago. The lady who presented it to me said, with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, “I think you'll enjoy this.”

The story told is that of the multi-tasking Donald Munro, a man who used and abused the Rule of Law to bring terror to the inhabitants of Lewis for most of the second-half of the 19th Century.

In holding several incompatible public and private offices simultaneously, he was able to act as if he was above the law rather than being a part of it.

It would make a great courtroom drama, with the proceedings of his final denouement being interspersed with flashbacks to the multitude of dreadful deeds that he carried out under his cloak of many roles.

Perhaps there was local knowledge at play when Munro's 1881 address, 24 Kenneth Street, was chosen for the site of the 2005 An Lanntair Arts Centre for if ever it was necessary for a man's dark deeds to have a lantern shone upon them, it was those of Donald Munro, Factor.

Donald Munro's Census Locations

1814ish – Birth, Tain
1841 – (Not Located)
1851 – Procurator – South Beach, Stornoway
1861 – Chamberlain of Lews – South Beach Street, Stornoway
1871 – Solicitor & I P – 13 South Beach Street (The Star Inn)
1881 – Solicitor & N P - 24 Kenneth Street, Stornoway (An Lanntair)
1890 -Death

Update: 'A Scotch Eviction Scandal' recounting Munro's behaviour in Ullapool  from the Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 62, 10 September 1887, Page 2

Ceard, Ceardannan & Carrach – Possible Origins of the Cearr/Kerr families of Harris

The 'Kerr's of Harris', as I call my island ancestors, are totally separate from the Lowland Clan of the same name.

Bill Lawson, in 'Harris Families and How to Trace Them' writes:

There were several families of Kerrs on the machair and around Strond, though these have now virtually disappeared. It is hard to say what their name was originally. It could have been from the nick-name Carrach (left-handed) or even from Ceard, now translated as tinker, but originally meaning any type of metal worker. There is a “ni'n na Ceard” (Ceard's daughter) in a rental of Scarista in 1724, who might have been an early member of this family.

Elsewhere in the book Lawson concludes that, as the name is common in Harris (a slight contradiction!) and elsewhere in the North-West but separate from the Ayrshire clan, that being descended from some famous left-hander is the most likely derivation.

(I will resist the temptation to get diverted into the 'cack-handed' & 'corrie-fisted', the genetic studies into the left-handed mainland Kerrs and the possible connection with alleged spiral staircases at Ferniehurst Castle being wound the 'wrong-way' to favour their defenders.)

Now, my earliest traceable ancestors on Harris are Malcolm Kerr (Calum Cearr) and his wife Effie Shaw who had at least two sons, Angus (4) & John (9). (The numbers refer to the households listed below). Harris-born Peter (10) is the only other male of this generation who's parents I have discovered. They were Donald Kerr, a farmer, and his wife, Sarah Ferguson.

Rather more is known about the origins of the Shaw families and in particular of Donald mac Iomhair (son of Ivander) who came to Strond (via Berneray) from Skye and whose family settled in Strond, Geocrab and Leaclee. It is likely that Effie Shaw was descended from this Donald.

The earliest publicly available written record is that of the 1841 Census and that for Harris records the following families & individuals (with 1851 annotations for continuity, other notes for illumination):

1841 – Kerr Head of Household & Occupations (Ancestry.co.uk transcript spellings!)

1) Angus, Strond, Shoemaker 1791

Marion (1851, Farm of Strond, Port Esgien, formerly Shoemaker's Wife)
Donald, Strond, Shoemaker (Angus' Son) (1851 Farm of Strond, Shoemaker)
John (1851, Farm of Strond, Port Esgein, Shoemaker)

2) Rock, Strond, Tenant 1800

3) John, Obb, Tenant 1796 (1851, Obb, Farmer)
Malcolm, Obb, Ag Lab 1821

4) Angus, Obb, Tenant 1801 (1851 Farm of Strond, Port Esgein, Ag Lab)

5) Marrion, Scarrista, Weaveress 1786
John, Scarista, Carpenter (1851 Laskintyre, Joiner)
Rodk, Scarrista, Carpenter (1851, Bowes, Farm Labourer & Joiner) 'Ayatollah's' Father!)

6) Chersty, Tarrinsay, Hand Loom Weaver 1761

7) Rodrick, Rha, Ind 1800 (Raa was one of Taransay's 3 settlements)
The 4 Kerrs were 25% 0f Rha's residents in 1841

8) Alexr, Tarbert, Fisher 1796
Malcolm, Tarbert, Fisher (Alexr's Son)

9) John, Dirachte, Tenant 1801 (1851, Direcleit, Tailor)
Malcolm, Dirachte, Ag Lab 1821 (Moved to Stornoway to pursue his seafaring career)

10) Peter, Glendsiluvaig, Tenant 1796 (1851 – Kentulavick, Dry Mason)

What strikes me in this very small population is the preponderance of people whose occupations (in 1841 and 1851) are those of skilled craftsman or woman. All that is needed to house, feed and clothe us are, somewhat surprisingly, present!

Incidentally, the nearest Boat Builders that I have found in 1841 are on South Uist so I wonder whether the Carpenters and Joiners were involved in that essential trade too?

By way of contrast, the 12 Shaw families headed by a male of that name show 9 working the land, 2 Tailors and a Dyker. They are also, as Lawson states, slightly more scattered within South Harris.

All of the 12 Ferguson families on Harris, headed by a male of that name, worked the land.

Intrigued, I expanded my search further afield:

In 1841, the census shows 93 Kerr's in Inverness-shire with the mainland/Skye ones listing these occupations:

Ag Lab,
Blacksmith (2),
Carpenter (2),
Merchant,
MS,
Sawyer,
Seaman,
Seamstress,
Shepherd,
Shoemaker (2),

Whilst the 27 in on the Ross-shire mainland gives us:

Crofter,
FS,
MS,
Sailor,
Tailor,
Tenant.

It seems too much of a coincidence that many of the Mainland/Skye Inverness-shire Kerrs and those of Ross-shire reflect the island bias towards Smiths/Tailors/Joiners & Carpenters – an interesting set of occupations for a 'cack-handed' clan to pursue!

By contrast, a quick perusal of the Sutherland Kerrs reveals a predominance of Agricultural Labourers and Tenants.

It is my conjecture that these Kerrs of Harris are either:

a) island representatives of a North-Western group of settled travellers whose name indeed relates to their handiness rather than their handedness, and I write these words as a proud left-hander myself!

b) descended from a distant 'famous' left-hander, whether of Harris, Skye or elsewhere in Gaeldom, as Lawson suggests.

c) descendants of an indigenous metal-working family who 'lost' their original clan affiliation (perhaps for good reason in the bloody feuds of the past?) and adopted their occupational skills as their 'tag' instead.

Whatever the truth of their origin, the male line on Harris certainly faded fast through a mixture of famine, 'Clearance', and emigration, to Lewis as well as further abroad.

The last male to bear the name was born in South Harris in 1961.
He was the first Kerr of either sex born on the island since the 1930s.
I believe he died, unmarried, in Fort William in 1991.
RIP, Ian Roderick Kerr...

A Stornoway Wedding...

A Stornoway Wedding

The year is 1883 and on the 22nd March the marriage takes place at 9 Lewis Street (now home to Stornoway Sheriff Clerk) of 25 year-old Domestic Servant Margaret (Peggy) McArthur and 27 year-old Seaman Alexander John Kerr of 28 Bayhead, Stornoway.

Originally from Cro Mor, Lochs, the MacArthur family of the retired Fisherman Donald and his wife Mary (MacLeod), are all living at the home of their son, Alexander, who is a General Merchant in Stornoway.

This, briefly, is his story:

Born in Cro Mor in 1854, Alexander was the eldest of four children.

In 1861, Alexander, his sister Peggy and their parents were living in Cro Mor but a decade later he had left to seek his fortune in Stornoway and Malcolm, aged 3, and 6-month old Annabella had completed the family who were now in Entresgein(sp?) in Stornoway.

The teenager Alexander began his merchandising career in as an Apprentice Shopkeeper to Hector Ross of 47 Cromwell Street (now the Bank of Scotland) where he was part of the household in 1871.

Tragedy struck on the 4th October 1872 when 2 year-old Annabella succumbed to a 3-month illness.
Alexander, who spoke and wrote English, was the informant.

A decade later, 27 year-old Alexander and his wife Isabella had established themselves in 9 Lewis Street with his retired parents and his 12 year-old brother Malcolm.

By 1891, the family, including 5 children, have moved to 64 Lewis Street along with Alexander's brother Malcolm and the Donalds Maclean & Mciver, all 3 of whom are Salesman. A General domestic Servant, Christina Macleod, completes the household.

The new Century finds Alexander's family, including 8 of their children, still residing at 64 Lewis Street along with his now tailoring brother Malcolm, Domestic Servant Christina and a 'Nurse Domestic'.

Alexander MacArthur, General Merchant, died on the 14th July 1912 at 48 Lewis Street, Stornoway. He was 56 years old. The cause was Disseminated Sclerosis, which we know today by the more frequently used term Multiple Sclerosis.

He was thus spared what befell his youngest son 4 years later:

Seaman ALEX MACARTHUR


Last address in Lewis: 48 Lewis Street, Stornoway
Son of Isabella Macarthur, of 48, Lewis St., Stornoway, Ross-shire, and the late Alexander Macarthur.
Service unit: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Defence
Service number: Clyde Z/3622
Date of death: 31 May 1916 at the age of 26
Lost at the Battle of Jutland.
Memorial: Portsmouth Naval, panel 24,
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial
Came from ranching in USA to do his bit. Transferred from RND to RN after 6 months' training.

Source: http://facesmemorial.blogspot.com/2007/07/stornoway-steornabhagh.html