Although it is now commonplace for weddings to take place in all manner of locations in England, and the tradition of them being held in the bride's home long-established in Scotland, this one remains unusual.
It is the 22nd Nov 1875 and we are at The Observatory, Dunecht, Parish of Echt in Aberdeenshire.
The groom is 25 year-old William Milne, a Commercial Traveller (in 1881 an Agent with the Singer Machine Company), from the Parish of St Nicholas, Aberdeen and his bride is 22 year-old Jeannie Cairns, a Domestic Servant, from the Observatory.
The location of the observatory appears to have been here and here is some information on Dunecht House .
A brief history of the Observatory is given below:
Lord Lindsay's new Observatory at Dun Echt, which was 12 miles from Aberdeen.
David Gill was invited to became directory of the observatory in 1872. Gill was given the task to equip and supervise the construction of this new Observatory, which Lindsay insisted on being the very best possible.
Dun Echt Observatory flourished for almost twenty years but, in 1888, on learning that Scotland’s modest Royal Observatory in the city of Edinburgh was under threat of closure Lindsay, now 26th Earl of Crawford, saved the day by magnanimously donating the entire contents of his observatory including its by now priceless library to the nation.
The whole was housed in a new Royal Observatory building, completed in 1896, which remains the home of Edinburgh astronomy with Edinburgh University’s IfA (Institute for Astronomy) and, the UKATC (United Kingdom Astronomy Technology Centre).
Sources:
Brück, H.A., 1992. Lord Crawford’s Observatory at Dun Echt 1872-1892. Vistas in Astronomy 35: 81-138.
Lindsay, [Lord] and Gill, David, 1877. Dun Echt Observatory Publications, Volume 2. Dun Echt Observatory.
Dun Echt Observatory Publications (Vol 1, 1876 Vol 2, 1877 Vol 3, 1885) at http://cdsads.u-strasbg.fr/
In addition, a year before the nuptials, Lord Lindsay organised an expedition to Mauritius to observe the 1874 Transit of Venus, a vital observation in accurately calculating the distance from the Earth to the Sun:
Transit of Venus
I do not know whether Jeannie lived in accommodation associated with the Observatory or in Dunecht House; whether she was employed wholly in household duties or also assisted with the instruments and associated astronomical paraphernalia; but I do know that the location was an unusual one...
...and that the young couple were my father's maternal grandparents.
Saturday, 13 March 2010
What Was A Web Maker?
I cannot recall the precise circumstances that led me to happen upon the term 'Web Maker' in the 19th Century census returns but here are the five occurrences of the term in Harris:
1891
Marion Macdonald, 52, North Harris, Web Maker Wool, Wife
Kate, 22, Web Maker Wool, Daughter
Bella, 18, Web Maker Wool, Daughter
Flora Macdonald, 36, No 3 Derisgil, Web Maker, Wife
Angus, 9
Donald, 7
Margaret, 4
Murdo, 3
Mary, 4 months
John Macdonald, 88, Retired Fisherman, Boarder
Mary Macdonald, 40, General Servant Domestic
John Macdonald, 15, Farm Labourer
1901
Marion Mackay, 60, No 37 North Harris, Web Maker
Malcolm, 55(?), Shopkeeper Draper Grocer, Son
Annie, 29, Housekeeper, Daughter
Catherine, 23, Cook, Daughter
Malcolm Macleod, 9, Nephew
Jane Macleod, 21, General Domestic Servant
James Wilson, 37, Commercial Agent, Boarder
I have searched elsewhere in the UK censuses for other appearances of the occupation but it appears to have sprung-up in Harris by 1891 and is limited to these three particular households.
Searching the internet for the term 'Web Maker' in the context of weaving is exceedingly difficult as the phrase has a completely different widespread usage in the 21st Century!
Why it suddenly appears in Harris at this time and whether it refers to preparing the Warp for weaving, or the actual production of a 'Web' of woven cloth, is unknown.
In 1891 Flora Macdonald had a neighbour at No 2 who is described as a 'Weaveress' which suggests that a 'Web Maker' played a different role?
The presence in 1901 of the Web Maker Marion with her Draper son might indicate that she was involved in some post-weaving process?
The mystery remains but the release of the 1911 census next year will show whether the term 'caught-on' once Harris Tweed had become a specific, protected product or whether these three households will remain an unexplained anomaly.
Update: Scotland's People have a very handy list of Occupations and the term 'Webster' equates to that of Weaver. There is no specific reference to 'Web-Maker' so it appears reasonable to equate Web-Maker, Webster & Weaver - for the moment!
Ref: http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/content/help/index.aspx?r=551&1002
1891
Marion Macdonald, 52, North Harris, Web Maker Wool, Wife
Kate, 22, Web Maker Wool, Daughter
Bella, 18, Web Maker Wool, Daughter
Flora Macdonald, 36, No 3 Derisgil, Web Maker, Wife
Angus, 9
Donald, 7
Margaret, 4
Murdo, 3
Mary, 4 months
John Macdonald, 88, Retired Fisherman, Boarder
Mary Macdonald, 40, General Servant Domestic
John Macdonald, 15, Farm Labourer
1901
Marion Mackay, 60, No 37 North Harris, Web Maker
Malcolm, 55(?), Shopkeeper Draper Grocer, Son
Annie, 29, Housekeeper, Daughter
Catherine, 23, Cook, Daughter
Malcolm Macleod, 9, Nephew
Jane Macleod, 21, General Domestic Servant
James Wilson, 37, Commercial Agent, Boarder
I have searched elsewhere in the UK censuses for other appearances of the occupation but it appears to have sprung-up in Harris by 1891 and is limited to these three particular households.
Searching the internet for the term 'Web Maker' in the context of weaving is exceedingly difficult as the phrase has a completely different widespread usage in the 21st Century!
Why it suddenly appears in Harris at this time and whether it refers to preparing the Warp for weaving, or the actual production of a 'Web' of woven cloth, is unknown.
In 1891 Flora Macdonald had a neighbour at No 2 who is described as a 'Weaveress' which suggests that a 'Web Maker' played a different role?
The presence in 1901 of the Web Maker Marion with her Draper son might indicate that she was involved in some post-weaving process?
The mystery remains but the release of the 1911 census next year will show whether the term 'caught-on' once Harris Tweed had become a specific, protected product or whether these three households will remain an unexplained anomaly.
Update: Scotland's People have a very handy list of Occupations and the term 'Webster' equates to that of Weaver. There is no specific reference to 'Web-Maker' so it appears reasonable to equate Web-Maker, Webster & Weaver - for the moment!
Ref: http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/content/help/index.aspx?r=551&1002
Saturday, 6 March 2010
From Paupers to Very Poor...
Paupers recorded on censuses taken in Harris
1861 18 49 67
1871 07 21 28
1881 09 20 29
1891 00 03 03
1901 03 11 14
I was about to begin pontificating upon these figures when I came upon a record from 1851:
Kenneth Morrison, 80, a Hearach was living in Widows Row, Stornoway with his wife, Catherine.
Occupation – Very Poor...
Very Poor – What levels of despair and destitution do those two small words define?
There are seven Paupers recorded in Stornoway in 1851 but only Kenneth has his occupation described as 'Very Poor'.
Perhaps not poor enough to qualify for State Aid and hence become a Pauper (or too proud to do so, or in some other manner denied access?) but sufficiently so for the Enumerator to use the word 'Very' to describe his and Mrs Morrison's plight.
On this very night, elsewhere in Stornoway, John McNeil, Chairman of the Board of Supervison for the Relief of the Poor in Scotland, was in the newly-built Lews Castle on one of his many information-gathering exercises.
His circumstances were certainly not 'Very Poor'...
Note: I have so far been unable to locate 'Widows Row' in Stornoway but in 1901 it appears as 'Newvalley widows Row'. Since first composing this piece, I have discovered the location of this 1851 Widow's Row in this very interesting letter: http://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/letters-to-the-editor/Information-on-Widows39-Row.1177076.jp
Year Male Female Total
1851 21 52 731861 18 49 67
1871 07 21 28
1881 09 20 29
1891 00 03 03
1901 03 11 14
I was about to begin pontificating upon these figures when I came upon a record from 1851:
Kenneth Morrison, 80, a Hearach was living in Widows Row, Stornoway with his wife, Catherine.
Occupation – Very Poor...
Very Poor – What levels of despair and destitution do those two small words define?
There are seven Paupers recorded in Stornoway in 1851 but only Kenneth has his occupation described as 'Very Poor'.
Perhaps not poor enough to qualify for State Aid and hence become a Pauper (or too proud to do so, or in some other manner denied access?) but sufficiently so for the Enumerator to use the word 'Very' to describe his and Mrs Morrison's plight.
On this very night, elsewhere in Stornoway, John McNeil, Chairman of the Board of Supervison for the Relief of the Poor in Scotland, was in the newly-built Lews Castle on one of his many information-gathering exercises.
His circumstances were certainly not 'Very Poor'...
Note: I have so far been unable to locate 'Widows Row' in Stornoway but in 1901 it appears as 'Newvalley widows Row'. Since first composing this piece, I have discovered the location of this 1851 Widow's Row in this very interesting letter: http://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/letters-to-the-editor/Information-on-Widows39-Row.1177076.jp
Condition of the cottar population in Lewis 1881
Condition of the cottar population in Lewis.
Report to Her Majesty's Secretary for Scotland.
Accounts and Papers, 1888.
Vol. LXXX, 43p., maps. [C. 5265]
Meetings of parochial boards were held in Lewis and it was discovered that some destitution did exist.
A previous inquiry into destitution on the island had been held in 1851, following the collapse of the kelp industry between 1844 and 1849 and the failure of the potato crop in 1846.
The expansion of the herring industry had soon relieved the situation.
By 1888, however, over-production and foreign competition had affected the herring fishery and it became increasingly difficult for the cottars of Lewis to obtain credit from local merchants between the fishing seasons.
In addition, an epidemic of measles had afflicted most of the population.
Mr. Fraser and Mr. McNeill visited 108 houses in the parishes of Lochs and Stornoway. Tabulated results of their inquiries are included in the appendix.
They found that the soil was of poor quality, there was a shortage of food and "a listless apathy is everywhere apparent."
They predicted starvation on the island and recommended that some of the surplus population should be removed.
Source: http://gdl.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/haynin/haynin1403.htm#p290
Report to Her Majesty's Secretary for Scotland.
Accounts and Papers, 1888.
Vol. LXXX, 43p., maps. [C. 5265]
Meetings of parochial boards were held in Lewis and it was discovered that some destitution did exist.
A previous inquiry into destitution on the island had been held in 1851, following the collapse of the kelp industry between 1844 and 1849 and the failure of the potato crop in 1846.
The expansion of the herring industry had soon relieved the situation.
By 1888, however, over-production and foreign competition had affected the herring fishery and it became increasingly difficult for the cottars of Lewis to obtain credit from local merchants between the fishing seasons.
In addition, an epidemic of measles had afflicted most of the population.
Mr. Fraser and Mr. McNeill visited 108 houses in the parishes of Lochs and Stornoway. Tabulated results of their inquiries are included in the appendix.
They found that the soil was of poor quality, there was a shortage of food and "a listless apathy is everywhere apparent."
They predicted starvation on the island and recommended that some of the surplus population should be removed.
Source: http://gdl.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/haynin/haynin1403.htm#p290
SS Dunara Castle 1901 – Port Tarbert, Harris, Sunday 31st March
List of souls on board:
John McDougall, 48, Master, b. Jura
George Macdonald, 36, Mate, b. Coll
William Anderson, 59, Chief Engineer, Cathcart, Lanarkshire
Daniel Currie, 32, Assistant Engineer, b. Glasgow
John Maclean, 30, Boatswain, b. Coll
Duncan Turney, 42, Able Seaman, Kilmoran, Argyll
Neil Mackenzie, 23, Able Seaman, b. Harris
Kenneth Macaulay, 35, Able Seaman, b. Harris
Alexander Campbell, 48, Able Seaman, b. Durnish, Inverness
William McCormack, 26, Able Seaman, Ross of Mull
Dougal Mckinnon, 31, Able Seaman, b. Tiree
Archibald Campbell, 44, Steam Winch Driver, b. Tiree
Henry Cunningham, 25, Fireman, b. Glasgow
Edwin McPhee, 46, Fireman, b. Glasgow
John Hartley, 28, Fireman, b. Glasgow
Donald Mcfarlane, 39, Steward, Waternish, Inverness
Kenneth Campbell, 21, Steward, b. Harris
Jessie MacGregor, 35, Stewardess, b. Kilmorrock, Inverness
John Graham, 32, Cook, b. Glasgow
William Donald, 58, Super Cargo, b. Dalrymple, Ayr
Neil McKay, 50, Crofter and Fisherman, Passenger, b. Harris
Margaret Macleod, 26, Domestic Servant, Passenger, b. North West, Inverness
The final instalment in my tracking of the SS Dunara Castle may lack the notable passengers of previous voyages but Alex Campbell, Able Seaman, remains with us.
Two of his fellows are from Harris, as is one of the Stewards, and the only passengers are a pair of Hearachs too.
I have searched in vain for any missing passengers, for the ship had room for forty-four, but it would appear that there are none.
We now leave the 25 year-old SS Dunara Castle, safely at harbour in Tarbert, in the knowledge that 29 years hence she will be carrying the last inhabitants of St Kilda on their final journey away from home...
John McDougall, 48, Master, b. Jura
George Macdonald, 36, Mate, b. Coll
William Anderson, 59, Chief Engineer, Cathcart, Lanarkshire
Daniel Currie, 32, Assistant Engineer, b. Glasgow
John Maclean, 30, Boatswain, b. Coll
Duncan Turney, 42, Able Seaman, Kilmoran, Argyll
Neil Mackenzie, 23, Able Seaman, b. Harris
Kenneth Macaulay, 35, Able Seaman, b. Harris
Alexander Campbell, 48, Able Seaman, b. Durnish, Inverness
William McCormack, 26, Able Seaman, Ross of Mull
Dougal Mckinnon, 31, Able Seaman, b. Tiree
Archibald Campbell, 44, Steam Winch Driver, b. Tiree
Henry Cunningham, 25, Fireman, b. Glasgow
Edwin McPhee, 46, Fireman, b. Glasgow
John Hartley, 28, Fireman, b. Glasgow
Donald Mcfarlane, 39, Steward, Waternish, Inverness
Kenneth Campbell, 21, Steward, b. Harris
Jessie MacGregor, 35, Stewardess, b. Kilmorrock, Inverness
John Graham, 32, Cook, b. Glasgow
William Donald, 58, Super Cargo, b. Dalrymple, Ayr
Neil McKay, 50, Crofter and Fisherman, Passenger, b. Harris
Margaret Macleod, 26, Domestic Servant, Passenger, b. North West, Inverness
The final instalment in my tracking of the SS Dunara Castle may lack the notable passengers of previous voyages but Alex Campbell, Able Seaman, remains with us.
Two of his fellows are from Harris, as is one of the Stewards, and the only passengers are a pair of Hearachs too.
I have searched in vain for any missing passengers, for the ship had room for forty-four, but it would appear that there are none.
We now leave the 25 year-old SS Dunara Castle, safely at harbour in Tarbert, in the knowledge that 29 years hence she will be carrying the last inhabitants of St Kilda on their final journey away from home...
SS Dunara Castle - 1891
I mentioned earlier that this vessel appeared thrice in the censuses and have pleasure in presenting the second tidbit for your delectation:
Charles Mckinnon, 45, Master, b. Coll, Argyll
Donald Maclean, 36, Mate, b. Iona, Argyll
Peter Mcgilip, 48, Boatswain, b. Crinan, Argyll
Alex Campbell, 37, Able Seaman, b. Mull, Argyll
Neil Mcinnis, 43, Able Seaman, b. Skye
John Mcdougall, 24, Able Seaman, b. Mull, Argyll
George Macdonald, 25, Able Seaman, b. Coll, Argyll
Archibald Macdonald, 48, Able Seaman, b. Islay, Argyll
Murdo Mcneill, 50, Donkey Engine Driver, b. Barra
John Maclean, 21, Ordinary Seaman, b. Skye
William Donald, 48, Shipping Clerk, b. Dalrymple, Ayr
John Marshall, 33, Chief Engineer, b. Glasgow
Donald Cameron, 34, 2nd Engineer, b. Glasgow
Charles Hume, 30, Fireman, b. Glasgow
Alex Mcalman, 35, Fireman, b. Mull, Argyll
Bernard Mcnamee, 36, Fireman, b. Tyrone, Ireland
John McConnel, 17, Trimmer, b. Glasgow
Alex Kay, 52, Chief Steward, b. Paisley
Charles Macintosh, 29, Steward's Assistant, b. Portree, Skye
William Allan, 21, Steward's Assistant, b. Glasgow
John Macintyre, 31, Cook, b. Oban
An McPhie, 26, Domestic Servant, Passenger
John Maclean, 15,
Sir John Carstairs McNeil, 60, Major-General, Equerry to the Queen, Passenger, b. Colonsay
Malcolm McNeil, 51, Visiting Officer Board of Supervision, Passenger
Neil Archibald McNeil, 13, Scholar, Passenger
Susan Carruthers McNeil, 45, Passenger
Ena Erskine McNeil, 16, Scholar, Passenger
Amy Sophia Chancellor, 14, Scholar, Passenger
The avid reader of this blog (should one exist!) will recognise several of the crewmen from 1881.
Although the address is only given as 'North Harris' the 1891 Enumerator was rather lacking in precision and we can be sure that the vessel was docked at Tarbert on Sunday 5th April 1891.
Two of the passengers are of particular interest:
Sir John Carstairs McNeil was a holder of the Victoria Cross and his story can be read here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Carstairs_McNeill
Malcolm McNeil played a pivotal role in the treatment of poverty in the Highlands and Islands including writing this paper on St Kilda:
'Alleged destitution in the island of St. Kilda in October 1885. Report of Malcolm McNeill, Inspecting Officer of the Board of Supervision.
He also inspected conditions on Lewis as a result of the Park Deer Raid of 1887, the full story of which event can be found in the Angus Macleod Archive.
His presence on the SS Dunara Castle (the very vessel that would evacuate the last inhabitants of St Kilda nearly 40 years later) at the time of the 1891 census is another of those serendipitous events that makes perusing the past so pleasant.
Some other references to Malcolm McNeil that may be of interest:
http://gdl.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/haynin/haynin1403.htm
http://gdl.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/haynin/haynin1401.htm
http://www.jstor.org/pss/25530487
Charles Mckinnon, 45, Master, b. Coll, Argyll
Donald Maclean, 36, Mate, b. Iona, Argyll
Peter Mcgilip, 48, Boatswain, b. Crinan, Argyll
Alex Campbell, 37, Able Seaman, b. Mull, Argyll
Neil Mcinnis, 43, Able Seaman, b. Skye
John Mcdougall, 24, Able Seaman, b. Mull, Argyll
George Macdonald, 25, Able Seaman, b. Coll, Argyll
Archibald Macdonald, 48, Able Seaman, b. Islay, Argyll
Murdo Mcneill, 50, Donkey Engine Driver, b. Barra
John Maclean, 21, Ordinary Seaman, b. Skye
William Donald, 48, Shipping Clerk, b. Dalrymple, Ayr
John Marshall, 33, Chief Engineer, b. Glasgow
Donald Cameron, 34, 2nd Engineer, b. Glasgow
Charles Hume, 30, Fireman, b. Glasgow
Alex Mcalman, 35, Fireman, b. Mull, Argyll
Bernard Mcnamee, 36, Fireman, b. Tyrone, Ireland
John McConnel, 17, Trimmer, b. Glasgow
Alex Kay, 52, Chief Steward, b. Paisley
Charles Macintosh, 29, Steward's Assistant, b. Portree, Skye
William Allan, 21, Steward's Assistant, b. Glasgow
John Macintyre, 31, Cook, b. Oban
An McPhie, 26, Domestic Servant, Passenger
John Maclean, 15,
Sir John Carstairs McNeil, 60, Major-General, Equerry to the Queen, Passenger, b. Colonsay
Malcolm McNeil, 51, Visiting Officer Board of Supervision, Passenger
Neil Archibald McNeil, 13, Scholar, Passenger
Susan Carruthers McNeil, 45, Passenger
Ena Erskine McNeil, 16, Scholar, Passenger
Amy Sophia Chancellor, 14, Scholar, Passenger
The avid reader of this blog (should one exist!) will recognise several of the crewmen from 1881.
Although the address is only given as 'North Harris' the 1891 Enumerator was rather lacking in precision and we can be sure that the vessel was docked at Tarbert on Sunday 5th April 1891.
Two of the passengers are of particular interest:
Sir John Carstairs McNeil was a holder of the Victoria Cross and his story can be read here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Carstairs_McNeill
Malcolm McNeil played a pivotal role in the treatment of poverty in the Highlands and Islands including writing this paper on St Kilda:
'Alleged destitution in the island of St. Kilda in October 1885. Report of Malcolm McNeill, Inspecting Officer of the Board of Supervision.
He also inspected conditions on Lewis as a result of the Park Deer Raid of 1887, the full story of which event can be found in the Angus Macleod Archive.
His presence on the SS Dunara Castle (the very vessel that would evacuate the last inhabitants of St Kilda nearly 40 years later) at the time of the 1891 census is another of those serendipitous events that makes perusing the past so pleasant.
Some other references to Malcolm McNeil that may be of interest:
http://gdl.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/haynin/haynin1403.htm
http://gdl.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/haynin/haynin1401.htm
http://www.jstor.org/pss/25530487
Friday, 5 March 2010
James Shaw Grant (22 May 1910 - 28 July 1999)
I have been intending writing about James Shaw Grant (JSG) and what he means to me for a considerable period of time. Unfortunately, every time I start putting fingers to keyboard I turn to a page of his writing seeking clarification and become immersed in re-reading his wonderful prose and hence distracted from my task.
I first came across JSG as a result of his book 'Discovering Lewis and Harris' being one of the very few titles that appeared when I was looking for books on the 'Hebrides' to loan from my local library.
I was totally absorbed by the book. He wrote in a style both erudite and entertaining, combining his insider's experience with the ability to place the islands within a larger landscape of both time and place. That is a very, very rare skill.
Today (and I do mean today), I happened upon a lodging house in Keith Street, Stornoway.
In truth, it was the family home of the Crichton family but in 1901 within its walls were also a couple of twenty-something male lodgers.
One of these was a gentleman called William Grant, a native of Inverness who was working as a ' Newspaper Reporter Teacher Of G Hand & Typewriting'. He was the son of a baker, James Grant and his wife Isabella Shaw and a decade earlier had been an apprentice Printer's Compositor in Inverness giving him a grounding quite literally as a 'hands-on' journalist.
This William Grant was JSG's father and the man who co-founded the Stornoway Gazette in 1917. JSG became it's editor in 1932, following-on from his father. The story is told in article from that same publication that can be found here: Stornoway Gazette
'Discovering Lewis and Harris' has coloured all my thoughts and words on the islands ever since I first read it. I may look at the isles with my own eyes but it is always with the filter of JSG held firmly before them.
I am sure that William, as an 'incomer' to Lewis, was instrumental in helping his son hone his very particular approach to the islands and their place in Scotland, Britain and the World, as well as through their past, present and future.
There is an optimism in JSG that is typical of left-leaning writers of his generation. When he drifts towards sentimentality it is not syrupy but strong. When the going gets tough he discourages gloom with a witty and pithy observation. It is humane writing at its very best.
Philanthropists and politicians may come and go but the spirit of JSG, a true distillation of that rich, peaty, rocky, windswept, heady Hebridean brew, will outlast them all...
Books
Highland Villages, 1977, Hale, ISBN 0709158866
The Gaelic Vikings, 1984, James Thin, ISBN 0950837121
Discovering Lewis & Harris, 1987, John Donald, ISBN 0859761851
The Enchanted Island, 1989, J. S. Grant, ISBN 0950837148
A Shilling for Your Scowl: The History of a Scottish Legal Mafia, 1991, Acair, ISBN 0861528980
Morrison of the Bounty: A Scotsman - Famous But Unknown, 1997, Acair, ISBN 0861521978
I first came across JSG as a result of his book 'Discovering Lewis and Harris' being one of the very few titles that appeared when I was looking for books on the 'Hebrides' to loan from my local library.
I was totally absorbed by the book. He wrote in a style both erudite and entertaining, combining his insider's experience with the ability to place the islands within a larger landscape of both time and place. That is a very, very rare skill.
Today (and I do mean today), I happened upon a lodging house in Keith Street, Stornoway.
In truth, it was the family home of the Crichton family but in 1901 within its walls were also a couple of twenty-something male lodgers.
One of these was a gentleman called William Grant, a native of Inverness who was working as a ' Newspaper Reporter Teacher Of G Hand & Typewriting'. He was the son of a baker, James Grant and his wife Isabella Shaw and a decade earlier had been an apprentice Printer's Compositor in Inverness giving him a grounding quite literally as a 'hands-on' journalist.
This William Grant was JSG's father and the man who co-founded the Stornoway Gazette in 1917. JSG became it's editor in 1932, following-on from his father. The story is told in article from that same publication that can be found here: Stornoway Gazette
'Discovering Lewis and Harris' has coloured all my thoughts and words on the islands ever since I first read it. I may look at the isles with my own eyes but it is always with the filter of JSG held firmly before them.
I am sure that William, as an 'incomer' to Lewis, was instrumental in helping his son hone his very particular approach to the islands and their place in Scotland, Britain and the World, as well as through their past, present and future.
There is an optimism in JSG that is typical of left-leaning writers of his generation. When he drifts towards sentimentality it is not syrupy but strong. When the going gets tough he discourages gloom with a witty and pithy observation. It is humane writing at its very best.
Philanthropists and politicians may come and go but the spirit of JSG, a true distillation of that rich, peaty, rocky, windswept, heady Hebridean brew, will outlast them all...
Books
Highland Villages, 1977, Hale, ISBN 0709158866
The Gaelic Vikings, 1984, James Thin, ISBN 0950837121
Discovering Lewis & Harris, 1987, John Donald, ISBN 0859761851
The Enchanted Island, 1989, J. S. Grant, ISBN 0950837148
A Shilling for Your Scowl: The History of a Scottish Legal Mafia, 1991, Acair, ISBN 0861528980
Morrison of the Bounty: A Scotsman - Famous But Unknown, 1997, Acair, ISBN 0861521978
SS Dunara Castle
The S.S. Dunara Castle, named after a ruined castle on the north west coast of Mull, was built by Martin Orme. Her maiden voyage was on 21st July 1875.
As well as carrying cargo the Dunara Castle had accommodation for 44 cabin class passengers.
She sailed weekly between Glasgow and the Hebrides in the summer months, and during the high season the trips were extended to St. Kilda.
She was used in the evacuation of St Kilda residents in 1930.
Most of the crew were Gaelic speakers from the highlands and islands, with three generations of one family serving on the steamer.
(Source: http://www.ambaile.org.uk/en/item/item_photograph.jsp?item_id=13917 )
On the evening of Sunday 3rd April 1881 she was docked in East Tarbert, Harris with the following crew and passengers aboard:
Archibald McEwen, 46, Master, b. Craignish, Arygll
Duncan Baxter, 47, Mate, b. Argyllshire
Dougald McQuicken, 29, Boatswain, b. Argyllshire
William Reid, 44, Chief Engineer, b. St Johnstone
William Galbraith, 23, 2nd Engineer, b. Stranraer
Malcolm Macfaden, 36, Seaman, b. Tiree
Donald Lamont, 32, Seaman, b. Skye
John Macarthur, 29, Seaman, b. Iona
Alexander Campbell, 29, Seaman, b. Bunessan(?), Argyll
Norman McCaskill, 32, Seaman, b. Durinish
Alexander Mcrae, 34, Seaman, b. South Uist
Donald Mcfaden, 28, Seaman, b. Tiree
Donald McArthur, 20, Seaman, b. Tiree
William Hazzeen, 45, Winchdriver, b. Holland
John Brown, 56, Fireman, b. Glasgow
John Dunlop, 28, Fireman, b. Ireland
William Beattie, 25, Fireman, b. Ireland
John Brown, 20, Fireman, b. Kirkintilloch
Alexander Kay, 44, Steward, b. Paisley
Charles Macintosh, 22, Steward, b. Portree
Alexander Smart 19, Steward, b. Glasgow
Alexander Roberts, 14, Steward, b. Port Glasgow
Agnes Donaldson, 22, Stewardess, b. Glasgow
John Mckinnon, 25, Cook, Oban
William Donald, 28, Clerk, Dalrymple
Angus Maclean, 41, Seaman Passenger, b. North Uist
Donald Nicolson, 35, Minister Free Church Passenger, b. Barras, Ross-shire
Mary Macaskill, 38, Servant Passenger, b. Durinish
Ann Campbell, 19, Servant Passenger, b. Durinish
Malcolm C Campbell, 21, Divinity Student Passenger, b. Durinish
(By chance, she was also in Harris at the time of the following two censuses in 1891 and 1901)
Actually, it transpires that her presence was a direct consequence of Sir E Scott's purchase of the north Harris Estate.
Update: A 14 minute film from 1937 of the ship visiting St Kilda may be watched here
As well as carrying cargo the Dunara Castle had accommodation for 44 cabin class passengers.
She sailed weekly between Glasgow and the Hebrides in the summer months, and during the high season the trips were extended to St. Kilda.
She was used in the evacuation of St Kilda residents in 1930.
Most of the crew were Gaelic speakers from the highlands and islands, with three generations of one family serving on the steamer.
(Source: http://www.ambaile.org.uk/en/item/item_photograph.jsp?item_id=13917 )
On the evening of Sunday 3rd April 1881 she was docked in East Tarbert, Harris with the following crew and passengers aboard:
Archibald McEwen, 46, Master, b. Craignish, Arygll
Duncan Baxter, 47, Mate, b. Argyllshire
Dougald McQuicken, 29, Boatswain, b. Argyllshire
William Reid, 44, Chief Engineer, b. St Johnstone
William Galbraith, 23, 2nd Engineer, b. Stranraer
Malcolm Macfaden, 36, Seaman, b. Tiree
Donald Lamont, 32, Seaman, b. Skye
John Macarthur, 29, Seaman, b. Iona
Alexander Campbell, 29, Seaman, b. Bunessan(?), Argyll
Norman McCaskill, 32, Seaman, b. Durinish
Alexander Mcrae, 34, Seaman, b. South Uist
Donald Mcfaden, 28, Seaman, b. Tiree
Donald McArthur, 20, Seaman, b. Tiree
William Hazzeen, 45, Winchdriver, b. Holland
John Brown, 56, Fireman, b. Glasgow
John Dunlop, 28, Fireman, b. Ireland
William Beattie, 25, Fireman, b. Ireland
John Brown, 20, Fireman, b. Kirkintilloch
Alexander Kay, 44, Steward, b. Paisley
Charles Macintosh, 22, Steward, b. Portree
Alexander Smart 19, Steward, b. Glasgow
Alexander Roberts, 14, Steward, b. Port Glasgow
Agnes Donaldson, 22, Stewardess, b. Glasgow
John Mckinnon, 25, Cook, Oban
William Donald, 28, Clerk, Dalrymple
Angus Maclean, 41, Seaman Passenger, b. North Uist
Donald Nicolson, 35, Minister Free Church Passenger, b. Barras, Ross-shire
Mary Macaskill, 38, Servant Passenger, b. Durinish
Ann Campbell, 19, Servant Passenger, b. Durinish
Malcolm C Campbell, 21, Divinity Student Passenger, b. Durinish
(By chance, she was also in Harris at the time of the following two censuses in 1891 and 1901)
Actually, it transpires that her presence was a direct consequence of Sir E Scott's purchase of the north Harris Estate.
Update: A 14 minute film from 1937 of the ship visiting St Kilda may be watched here
Lewis Chemical Works
Sir James Matheson pursued a scheme to turn Peat into Paraffin.
It began in 1852 and lasted 22 years before closing due to embezzlement in 1874.
Searching for evidence in the censuses of 1861 and 1871 reveals the following:
1861
Paragen Works No 1
John Makay, 30, Pargine Labourer
Mary, 25, Wife
Christina, 5
Mary, 4
? , 2
Ann, 4 months
Paragen Works No 2
Donald Morrison, 32, Mason
Effy Morrison, 27, Wife
Angus, 6
James, 1
Donald, 3 months
David Lewis, 70, Tinsmith
David ? , 54, Engineer Smith
Were these people part of the peat to paraffin process?
1871
Millboon Cottage
Henry Carter, 62, Manager of Lewis Chemical Works and Fire Works Jardine James Matheson
Annabella Macleod, 42, General Servant
Donald Macleod, 16, Servant
Creed Chemical Works Bothy
Donald Mckennan, 25, Labourer at Chemical Works
John Smith, 24, Labourer at Chemical Works
Christina Morrison, 54, Working at the Chemical Works
Happily, the results from 1871 are rather more reliable and give us the names of the Manager and three of his employees.
Whether Henry Carter was directly involved in the events that led to the demise of the Lewis Chemical and Fire Works remains unknown.
Links:
http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/4325/details/lewis+stornoway+paraffin+works/
http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/features/featurefirst18471.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/coast/programmes2/07-outer-hebrides.shtml
It began in 1852 and lasted 22 years before closing due to embezzlement in 1874.
Searching for evidence in the censuses of 1861 and 1871 reveals the following:
1861
Paragen Works No 1
John Makay, 30, Pargine Labourer
Mary, 25, Wife
Christina, 5
Mary, 4
? , 2
Ann, 4 months
Paragen Works No 2
Donald Morrison, 32, Mason
Effy Morrison, 27, Wife
Angus, 6
James, 1
Donald, 3 months
David Lewis, 70, Tinsmith
David ? , 54, Engineer Smith
Were these people part of the peat to paraffin process?
1871
Millboon Cottage
Henry Carter, 62, Manager of Lewis Chemical Works and Fire Works Jardine James Matheson
Annabella Macleod, 42, General Servant
Donald Macleod, 16, Servant
Creed Chemical Works Bothy
Donald Mckennan, 25, Labourer at Chemical Works
John Smith, 24, Labourer at Chemical Works
Christina Morrison, 54, Working at the Chemical Works
Happily, the results from 1871 are rather more reliable and give us the names of the Manager and three of his employees.
Whether Henry Carter was directly involved in the events that led to the demise of the Lewis Chemical and Fire Works remains unknown.
Links:
http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/4325/details/lewis+stornoway+paraffin+works/
http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/features/featurefirst18471.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/coast/programmes2/07-outer-hebrides.shtml
The Poverty Party - Stornoway Distillery & Lews Castle in 1851
Sir James Matheson had bought Lewis in 1844 and three years later began the construction of Lewis Castle which was completed in 1854 at a cost of £60,000 – a staggering £40Million today!
Slap bang in the middle of this drug-financed construction project (Matheson was knighted for his role in the 'Opium Wars' in China) was the 1851 census and it is the evidence of that record that is presented here.
Sir James, a confirmed teetotaller, chose as the site for Lews Castle the only distillery in Stornoway and this explains why the 'Town' part of these addresses are 'Stornoway Distillery'.
Address: Lewis Castle, Stornoway Distillery
John MacNeil, 55,Chairman of the Board of Supervison for the Relief of the Poor in Scotland, Visitor
William A Peterkin, 27, Secretary Clerk Board of Supervision, Visitor
John Fraser, 28, Servant of John MacNeil
Elizabeth Watson, 42, Housekeeper Lewis Castle
Betsy Watson, 11
Ann Macdonald, 25, House Servant
Ann Grant, 27, House Servant
Jane Maclennan, 30, House Servant
Agnes Nelson, 23, House Servant
The Poor Law(Scotland) Act 1845 saw the appointment of a surgeon and diplomat, John MacNeil, to oversea its implementation and he remained Chairman of the Board until 1878.
Colonsay born MacNeil visited no less than 27 of the worst afflicted Parishes during the years of the Potato Famine which explains his presence in Stornoway at this time.
It does not explain the serendipity that finds him residing at the partly constructed castle on the particular night of the 1851 census along with his Secretary, William Arthur Peterkin.
I believe this may be the first time that this particular fact has been noted.
The irony of this poverty party being housed in the owner of the isle's palatial palace; whilst all over Lewis and Harris displaced and destitute families were scavenging the shores for limpets to cling onto their bare existence, is also noteworthy.
Address: Gardener's Lodge, Stornoway Distillery
Alexander Macrae, 55, Gardener Lewis Castle
Mary, 46, Wife
James, 14
Alexander, 12
Catherine Ann, 9
John, 7
Catherine Lewis, 5
Address: Distillery, Stornoway Distillery
Alexander Bowie, 36, Farm Overseer (Lewis Castle)
Isabella, 36, Wife
Jessie, 13 ,Scholar
Eliza, 9, Scholar
Ann, 6
Alexander, 2
William Macleod Bowie, 2 months
Peggy Macleod, 23, House Servant
Christina Macleod, 19, Small Tenants Daughter, Visitor
John Macleod, 22, Ag Lab
Roderick Macleod, 20, Ag Lab
Angus Mackenzie, 20, Ag Lab
John Macleod, 20, Ag Lab
Malcolm Maclean, 16, Cow Herd
Marion Maclean, 23, House Servant
William Mackay, 29, Coachman Lewis Castle
Alexanderina, 28, Wife
Malcolm Macdonald, 16, Stable Servant
Mary Macelod, 27, Seamstress, Visitor
Mary Bowie, 4, Scholar, Visitor
George Munro, 27, Joiner Journeyman
Marion Macdonald, 22, House Servant
Peter Stoddart, 26, Gardener Lewis Castle
Ann Stoddart, 16, House Servant, Sister
Refs:
John MacNeil
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McNeill_(diplomat)
William Arthur Peterkin http://gdl.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/haynin/haynin1401.htm
Slap bang in the middle of this drug-financed construction project (Matheson was knighted for his role in the 'Opium Wars' in China) was the 1851 census and it is the evidence of that record that is presented here.
Sir James, a confirmed teetotaller, chose as the site for Lews Castle the only distillery in Stornoway and this explains why the 'Town' part of these addresses are 'Stornoway Distillery'.
Address: Lewis Castle, Stornoway Distillery
John MacNeil, 55,Chairman of the Board of Supervison for the Relief of the Poor in Scotland, Visitor
William A Peterkin, 27, Secretary Clerk Board of Supervision, Visitor
John Fraser, 28, Servant of John MacNeil
Elizabeth Watson, 42, Housekeeper Lewis Castle
Betsy Watson, 11
Ann Macdonald, 25, House Servant
Ann Grant, 27, House Servant
Jane Maclennan, 30, House Servant
Agnes Nelson, 23, House Servant
The Poor Law(Scotland) Act 1845 saw the appointment of a surgeon and diplomat, John MacNeil, to oversea its implementation and he remained Chairman of the Board until 1878.
Colonsay born MacNeil visited no less than 27 of the worst afflicted Parishes during the years of the Potato Famine which explains his presence in Stornoway at this time.
It does not explain the serendipity that finds him residing at the partly constructed castle on the particular night of the 1851 census along with his Secretary, William Arthur Peterkin.
I believe this may be the first time that this particular fact has been noted.
The irony of this poverty party being housed in the owner of the isle's palatial palace; whilst all over Lewis and Harris displaced and destitute families were scavenging the shores for limpets to cling onto their bare existence, is also noteworthy.
Address: Gardener's Lodge, Stornoway Distillery
Alexander Macrae, 55, Gardener Lewis Castle
Mary, 46, Wife
James, 14
Alexander, 12
Catherine Ann, 9
John, 7
Catherine Lewis, 5
Address: Distillery, Stornoway Distillery
Alexander Bowie, 36, Farm Overseer (Lewis Castle)
Isabella, 36, Wife
Jessie, 13 ,Scholar
Eliza, 9, Scholar
Ann, 6
Alexander, 2
William Macleod Bowie, 2 months
Peggy Macleod, 23, House Servant
Christina Macleod, 19, Small Tenants Daughter, Visitor
John Macleod, 22, Ag Lab
Roderick Macleod, 20, Ag Lab
Angus Mackenzie, 20, Ag Lab
John Macleod, 20, Ag Lab
Malcolm Maclean, 16, Cow Herd
Marion Maclean, 23, House Servant
William Mackay, 29, Coachman Lewis Castle
Alexanderina, 28, Wife
Malcolm Macdonald, 16, Stable Servant
Mary Macelod, 27, Seamstress, Visitor
Mary Bowie, 4, Scholar, Visitor
George Munro, 27, Joiner Journeyman
Marion Macdonald, 22, House Servant
Peter Stoddart, 26, Gardener Lewis Castle
Ann Stoddart, 16, House Servant, Sister
Refs:
John MacNeil
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McNeill_(diplomat)
William Arthur Peterkin http://gdl.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/haynin/haynin1401.htm
Thursday, 4 March 2010
Lews Castle 1861
It is the evening of Sunday 7th April 1861 and we are observing Sir James Nicolas Sutherland Matheson, 64 and his considerably younger wife, Dame Mary Jane Matheson, through the eyes of their Butler, 28 year-old William Edward Martin.
William has been keeping a close eye on the table-clearing activities of the two Housemaids, Isabella Maciver(19) and Jessie Fraser(28)
He found himself paying particularly close attention to the young Isabella.
Cook Alexandrina Mackay (a somewhat formidable figure approaching her 40th birthday) had already been stood-down for the night but Christina Matheson, the 19 year-old Scullery Maid ,still has several tasks to complete and Christina Macleod is tut-tutting over the state of the napkins that she will be laundering in the morning.
Mary Milne, the matronly mid-forties Dairy Maid, accompanies Cook to their sparse accommodation somewhere in the distant draughty heights of the castle. Simultaneously, but in somewhat more sumptuous surroundings, early-thirties Lady's Maid Sophia Ann Chatfield is ensuring that her Lady's boudoir is just as it should be.
Servant Alan John Cerus (a 21 year-old couth-lacking upstart in the mind of William) has just returned from a pointless errand, the point of which was to keep him as far away from Isabella as possible.
William presents the Census form to his master on a silver tray and Sir James, having checked that all his titles and positions are correctly recorded, signs it, sighs slightly and then tells William to deal with 'That damn man' (the Enumerator) when he collects it in the morning.
All is good in the world of the Mathesons and the nine people who serve their every whim can take a brief break now that their duties are done.
After all, it is a Sunday on Lewis...
PS I should mention that in nearby Creed Cottage, the Watcher of the Grounds, 73 year-old Malcolm Macdonald, was dozing in his chair whilst his daughter, 23 year-old Isabella, attended to her duties as Teacher of Ayrshire Needle Work.
Notes:
1)The players in this scene are each as recorded on the 1861 Census return for Lews Castle, the precise details as described, however, are not...
2) All Scotland's censuses recorded those present on a Sunday evening and were supposed to be completed on that day, a fact that may not have gone down to well, perhaps?
Ref: http://thecroft.wordpress.com/2009/04/29/top-trumps-2/
William has been keeping a close eye on the table-clearing activities of the two Housemaids, Isabella Maciver(19) and Jessie Fraser(28)
He found himself paying particularly close attention to the young Isabella.
Cook Alexandrina Mackay (a somewhat formidable figure approaching her 40th birthday) had already been stood-down for the night but Christina Matheson, the 19 year-old Scullery Maid ,still has several tasks to complete and Christina Macleod is tut-tutting over the state of the napkins that she will be laundering in the morning.
Mary Milne, the matronly mid-forties Dairy Maid, accompanies Cook to their sparse accommodation somewhere in the distant draughty heights of the castle. Simultaneously, but in somewhat more sumptuous surroundings, early-thirties Lady's Maid Sophia Ann Chatfield is ensuring that her Lady's boudoir is just as it should be.
Servant Alan John Cerus (a 21 year-old couth-lacking upstart in the mind of William) has just returned from a pointless errand, the point of which was to keep him as far away from Isabella as possible.
William presents the Census form to his master on a silver tray and Sir James, having checked that all his titles and positions are correctly recorded, signs it, sighs slightly and then tells William to deal with 'That damn man' (the Enumerator) when he collects it in the morning.
All is good in the world of the Mathesons and the nine people who serve their every whim can take a brief break now that their duties are done.
After all, it is a Sunday on Lewis...
PS I should mention that in nearby Creed Cottage, the Watcher of the Grounds, 73 year-old Malcolm Macdonald, was dozing in his chair whilst his daughter, 23 year-old Isabella, attended to her duties as Teacher of Ayrshire Needle Work.
Notes:
1)The players in this scene are each as recorded on the 1861 Census return for Lews Castle, the precise details as described, however, are not...
2) All Scotland's censuses recorded those present on a Sunday evening and were supposed to be completed on that day, a fact that may not have gone down to well, perhaps?
Ref: http://thecroft.wordpress.com/2009/04/29/top-trumps-2/
Stornoway Butchers
A trail through the census records in search of the Marag-makers of old has proved pretty patchy.
It was, of course, inspired by this recent plea to assist a most noble cause:
Help Keep Stornoway Black Pudding
1841
Murdo Maciver, 70, Inacete Street
Kenneth Morrison, 35, Bayhead Street
Malcolm Young, 40, Cromwell Street
1851 Not found
1861
Donald Maclennan, 57, South Beach Street
1871
Malcolm Young, 70, Outhouse
1881 Not found
1891
Murdo Macleod, 36, 20 Kenneth Street
Murdo Morrison, 48, 51 Lewis Street
Farqhuar Maclean, 71, 24 Bayhead Street, Retired Butcher
1901
Malcolm Campbell, 48, 3 Pringle's Court, Cromwell Street
Donald Macdonald, 44, 55 Keith Street
Malcolm Macleod, 62, 20 Bells Road
Kenneth Macrae, 19, 62 Kenneth Street
Alexander Park, 26, 73 Keith Street
Roddy Macritchie, 16, 18 New Street, Apprentice Butcher
It was, of course, inspired by this recent plea to assist a most noble cause:
Help Keep Stornoway Black Pudding
1841
Murdo Maciver, 70, Inacete Street
Kenneth Morrison, 35, Bayhead Street
Malcolm Young, 40, Cromwell Street
1851 Not found
1861
Donald Maclennan, 57, South Beach Street
1871
Malcolm Young, 70, Outhouse
1881 Not found
1891
Murdo Macleod, 36, 20 Kenneth Street
Murdo Morrison, 48, 51 Lewis Street
Farqhuar Maclean, 71, 24 Bayhead Street, Retired Butcher
1901
Malcolm Campbell, 48, 3 Pringle's Court, Cromwell Street
Donald Macdonald, 44, 55 Keith Street
Malcolm Macleod, 62, 20 Bells Road
Kenneth Macrae, 19, 62 Kenneth Street
Alexander Park, 26, 73 Keith Street
Roddy Macritchie, 16, 18 New Street, Apprentice Butcher
Lewis Combination Poor House
On the night of the 1901 census, the Lewis Combination Poor House returned 24 residents.
There were the 48 year-old Governor and his wife, who was employed as Matron.
A 23 year-old General Servant and a visiting 34 year-old ex schoolmistress (the need for whose presence will become clearer) completed the household.
The remaining 20 people, an equal number of males and females, were present because the Poor Law Act (Scotland) 1845, followed by the introduction of fully-elected Parish Councils in 1894, led to the rise of 'Poor Law Unions' or 'Combinations'.
The Lewis Combination, whose history I have yet to explore, established a Poor House and thus 20 people found themselves incarcerated within its walls, forced to follow the harsh regime demanded in such institutions.
Six of those souls were children aged 12 or under.
30% of the inmates
No doubt some of whom were orphans
Seven of them were over 60 years-old.
35% - and four of these seven were over 70.
Nearly two-thirds, therefore, were from the most vulnerable extremes, those of childhood and old age.
The law that dictated this inhuman, humiliating treatment was only repealed in 1948 with the introduction of the modern system of Social Security.
Refs:
http://ica-atom.tasglann.org.uk/index.php/lewis-combination-poorhouse-coulregrein-house-lewis-scotland;isad
http://www.scan.org.uk/knowledgebase/topics/poorlaw2.htm
http://www.scan.org.uk/knowledgebase/topics/poorhouses_topic.htm
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Lews/
/https://historic-hospitals.com/gazetteer/western-isles/
There were the 48 year-old Governor and his wife, who was employed as Matron.
A 23 year-old General Servant and a visiting 34 year-old ex schoolmistress (the need for whose presence will become clearer) completed the household.
The remaining 20 people, an equal number of males and females, were present because the Poor Law Act (Scotland) 1845, followed by the introduction of fully-elected Parish Councils in 1894, led to the rise of 'Poor Law Unions' or 'Combinations'.
The Lewis Combination, whose history I have yet to explore, established a Poor House and thus 20 people found themselves incarcerated within its walls, forced to follow the harsh regime demanded in such institutions.
Six of those souls were children aged 12 or under.
30% of the inmates
No doubt some of whom were orphans
Seven of them were over 60 years-old.
35% - and four of these seven were over 70.
Nearly two-thirds, therefore, were from the most vulnerable extremes, those of childhood and old age.
The law that dictated this inhuman, humiliating treatment was only repealed in 1948 with the introduction of the modern system of Social Security.
Refs:
http://ica-atom.tasglann.org.uk/index.php/lewis-combination-poorhouse-coulregrein-house-lewis-scotland;isad
http://www.scan.org.uk/knowledgebase/topics/poorlaw2.htm
http://www.scan.org.uk/knowledgebase/topics/poorhouses_topic.htm
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Lews/
/https://historic-hospitals.com/gazetteer/western-isles/
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