Pentland Road - 2

Armistice Day is nearly upon us, and I feel it is appropriate to post a reminder of my links that commemorate the Fallen from the Outer Hebrides in both World Wars. Centenary of Sacrifice is an on-going project, which will post the names of all the Fallen from these islands on the date, 100 years later, on which they died. Isle of Lewis Faces from the Lewis War Memorial A listing of the casualties from Lewis from WW1. Lewismen lost in the Great War A listing of the casualties from Lewis from WW1, including all available information (e.g. images of war graves, transcript of Stornoway Gazette tributes etc). Roll of Honour, Isle of Lewis 1914-1919 A transcript of Loyal Lewis, Roll of Honour, listing all from the island who served during WW1 Tributes for the War Memorial A transcript of tributes from the Stornoway Gazette to WW1 casualties from Lewis Tributes for the War Memorial (WW2) A transcript of tributes from the Stornoway Gazette to WW2 casualties from Lewis...

Completed the WW2 listings from the Southern Isles . Barra & Vatersay: 55 (51 served in the Merchant Navy). Benbecula: 6 Berneray: 4 Eriskay: 5 Grimsay: 3 Harris: 62 North Uist: 30 South Uist: 41 Total: 211 (there is a degree of cross-over between the islands) 1939: 4 1940: 44 1941: 36 1942: 25 1943: 19 1944: 20 1945: 11 and 4 died in 1946 and 1947 There are 48 casualties on whom I have very little information. Of the 211 casualties: 121 were in the Merchant Navy 55 were in the Army, of whom 28 in the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders 13 in the RAF 19 in the Royal Navy or Royal Naval Reserves 4 were women

Spent an hour or so in Stornoway Library today transcribing tributes to Harris men, who fell in 1917. There were only four tributes in the Stornoway Gazette of 1917, and one for a man from Berneray. The Tarbert War Memorial shows rather more, but details are rather scant. Nonetheless, I managed to fill in the details on one of them: John Morrison, who is listed on the Tarbert Memorial as being from Ard Slave [Ard Shleibhe]. Examination of his service record show that he came from "Beckrivig". A glance at the Ordnance Survey map translates that into Beacrabhaig, half a mile north of Ard Shleibhe on the road to Geocrab in the Bays area of Harris. John Morrison was killed in action on 17 July 1917 at the age of 34. He served with the 46th Australian Infantry, which he joined in November 1915. John was survived by his father Donald, I believe (although not with great certainty) that his mother's name was Mary.

Lachlan Campbell is found on the 1881 census aged 45, married to Catherine (30). He lives at the fish curer's house, he is marked as a fish curer. His children are Ann (5), John (3) and Malcolm (9 months). Rachel is also present, she was Lachlan's mother. Marg[are]t Macdonald (40), Ann Maclennan (25, born in Lochs Parish, Lewis) are domestic servants, with Niel Mackinnon (17) in the house as a herdsman. A decade later, Lachlan's address is clarified as 2 Scadabay, now a fisherman and crofter.  Although his eldest daughter is not listed, five younger children have appeared on the scene. Johan (8), Rachel (8), Effy (6), Marion (4) and Donald (2). Margaret (36), quoted on the census form as Lachlan's daughter, is a domestic servant. I rather think, as is borne out in the 1901 census, that she is Lachlan's sister. In 1901, we see the family progressing further, with only the twins Johan and Rachel (18), Euphea [Euphemia] (16), Marion (14) and Donald (12) remaining ...

Donald Macdonald , a crofter from Grosebay, had me searching from his death backwards in time. He died on 7 September 1886 at the age of 75. He was the widower of Effy, nee Macaulay, and the son of Kenneth Macdonald and Christy (or Chirsty), nee Macleod. He died after suffering from bronchitis for 5 months, and from senile decay for 6 months. His son Donald reported his death to the registrar. In 1871, we find Don[al]d and his wife Effy in a tenants' house in Harris, enumeration district 12. Also present are his son Neil (26, fisherman), Donald (20, fisherman), Roderick (17, ag labourer), Ann (14, gen servant)  and Murdo (12). Moving forward a decade, we find Donald (aged 70) and his daughter Ann (24), living in a crofter's house in enumeration district 2. In 1851, there is a Donald Macdonald, tenant at Grosebay (farmer of 4 acres, employing no servants) , with children Keneth (11), Niel (9), Isabella (7), Alexander (5) and Donald (3). We can link the Niel and the Donald to...

Ronald Macdonald is the brother of the tacksman for Taransay, and the second of the witnesses from that island. We find him in the 1881 census as a farmer's son on Taransay. Other family members include Mary Macdonald (80), farmer's widow, Kimber.  Rodrica (39) is her daughter. Listed alongside the Macdonalds are John Morrison (32), a sheepherd (sic); Mary Macaskill (22, general serv, domestic); Mary Mackay (16, general serv, domestic) and Archibald Macdonald (16), a herdboy. Whether he is related to the family is not mentioned on the census. A decade earlier, we find the Macdonalds at Paible House, Taransay. Mary (63) is a farmer's wife with her sons Donald (43), Ronald (34), Roderica (28), Catherine Mary (24) and Donalda (20). In addition, we find Mary Morrison (22, born at Ardhasaig), a farm servant; Christy Macaskill (30, born at Berneray), a farm servant; and Johny Morrison (16), born at Kendulavig (near Obbe), a cattle herd. In 1861, Ronald's father John ap...

Angus Ferguson was one of two witnesses from the island of Taransay, heard at Tarbert. The entry in the 1881 census for him would be the last from anyone from that island, as its population was zero from 1891 onwards. Angus was a fisherman, aged 48, married to Rachel (born Macleod). He had four children, Mary (20), John (16, also a fisherman), Donald (14) and Ronald (12). The 1871 census specifies his residence as Paible in Taransay. Twenty years previous, Angus is shown as a farm labourer's son, mother's name being Margaret. He lives at Nigh House with his siblings Rachel (23), Christina (12) and Ranald (14). The earliest census, 1841, shows Angus as a 12-year old boy with his parents Niel (40) and Margret (36). Angus's siblings are listed as Etty (14), Ranald (6) and Chersty (2).  After leaving Taransay, Angus (60) and his wife Rachel (52) can be located in 1891 in a private house in South Harris, with their children Mary (28) and Donald (23). Donald has two of h...

John Mcleod can be found at Tarbert in the 1881 census, as a 68-year old merchant, wilks, residing at 19 East Tarbert. He lives with his wife Ann, two years his junior, and their 16-year old niece Ann Macleod. I am not able to single out with any certainty a John Macleod in Pabbay in the 1841 census. Several are listed, some under the misspelt surname Maclead. In 1871, John Macleod is in a house at Tarbert, with his wife Ann and a 'stranger' tennant Murdo Macleod and fisherman Donald Macleod. Ann Morrison is there as a housekeeper. I am not confident about this piece of research; I am not able to trace him by death record either.

Angus Campbell , a crofter at Plocropol, can be found in the 1881 census with his wife Margaret, four years his junior. Their son Alex[ande]r (26) is a general merchant. His other children include Chirsty (24), Murdo (22, fisherman), John (19, fisherman), Angus (17), and two daughters named Cathrine (aged 10 and 7). Ten years before, the family is picked up in the census of 1871, but their ages appear to be 3 or 4 years younger than you would have anticipated. Angus is at that time a crofter and fisherman, still in the Bays area of Harris.  I have not been able to locate Angus Campbell with any certainty in the censuses for 1851 or 1841. EDIT : Direcleit has kindly added the census entry for 1861 in the comments section.  Going forward, the family is still in Plocropol (no 7) in 1891, although Angus (65) is marked as being born in Lewis, Ross-shire. That is an obvious mistake; he remarked in his evidence that he was a young man around Obbe, South Harris. Of the family, we...

Closing the series on islands in the Sound of Harris (Boreray and Pabbay went before), I am now focusing on Killegray and Ensay. In the census returns from 1841 until 1901, the two islands cannot always be easily distinguished. Killegray only features as a separate enumeration district in 1841. In 1881, '91 and 1901, it is featured as a separate household schedule under enumeration district 1. It should be noted that in 1881 and 1901, this conclusion is only justified when comparing it to the 1891 census, where schedule 2 is clearly marked as Killegray House. The same people are still there in 1901, ten years older, but no longer separately marked. In 1881, it would seem that schedules 2 and 3 both refer to Killegray House; in 1901, this is schedule 2. In 1841, there are 7 people on Killegray, 40-year old shepherd Kenneth Macrae with a 25-year old Mary Macrae. With them are 4 children under the age of 10. The seventh person is 62-year old Dorothy Ross. As far as Ensay is co...

Rev Roderick Mackenzie was the Free Church minister at Tarbert, Harris at the time of the Napier Commission's visit. His place of birth is quoted as Assynt, Sutherland. Including himself, the minister's household comprises of 12 people in 1881. At that time, he was aged 43. His wife Marjory, aged 40, came from Kilmallie, Argyll. Her mother's name was Jessie Martin (66), who is living with her daughter. Roderick and Marjory have five children, Hugh (10), Alexander M (8), Mackintosh M (6), Martin D (4) and Annabella (2). Marjory's sister Mary (41) lives with the family and works as a governess. Other members of the household include cook Helen Macaskill (23), Peggy Morison (17), a nurse and Margaret Macleod, a 23-year old dairy-maid. By 1891, the Rev Mackenzie has moved to the Scottish mainland and is a Free Church minister living in Fodderty, a village between Dingwall and Strathpeffer in Easter Ross. By that time, his children (left at home) are Annabella (12), Nic...

Pabbay is located on the left of this map This is a transcript of part of the census return for the island of Pabbay, Harris, for 1841. Please do not confuse this Pabbay with the island off Broadford, Isle of Skye, which is under the parish of Strath. There is also a Pabay Mor off the coast of Uig, Isle of Lewis, and another Pabbay can be found among the Bishops Isles south of Barra. The population of Pabbay was cleared in 1846 to make way for sheep.  Further information can be found on this excellent page of the Papar project. Registered on Pabbay in 1841 Nora Mcleod 30 Ag Lab [agricultural labourer] Cathrine Mcleod 30 Hord Mcleod 12 Finla Mcleod 10 Niel Mcleod 7 Anne Mcleod 4 Margt Mcleod 70 John Morison 40 Ag Lab Mary Morison 40 Ag Lab Janet Morison 15 Anne Morison 15 Murdh Morison 13 Donald Morison 10 Effy Morison 8 John Morison 5 William Morison 2 Rodh Mcleod 30 Ag Lab John Mckay 13 Nord Mccaskill 40 Ag Lab Rachel Mccaskill...

Murdo Morrison is shown as a 50-year old crofter at 46 Kyles Scalpay in the 1881 census. He is shown as married to Lexy. John is their 1-year old son. Dolina Morrison (not certain if she is related) is a 21-year old servant. William Macleod is visiting, he is a fisherman. Twenty years before, we find a Murdo Morrison as a 32-year old tenant's son in Scalpa (Harris), son of Hector (63) and Margaret Morrison (62). His siblings were Ewen (26) and Mary (28). It is not useful to go back too far in the censuses, when looking for this man. Murdo Morrison clearly states in his evidence that the original people of Kyles Scalpay were cleared from their township, and replaced by those removed from Pabbay and Berneray. A census record from 1841 shows the population of Pabbay, Harris. It includes a Murdh Morrison, aged 13. His parents, both aged 40, are John and Mary, who have 7 children: Janet and Anne (15), Donald (10), Effy (8), John (5) and William (2) in addition to "Murdh"....

John Mcdiarmid is 88 when he appears in front of Lord Napier in June 1883. Tracing someone with a surname like "Mcdiarmid" presents a few challenges. There are quite a few possible permutations in the spelling of that name, certainly on the census forms. What this piece of research also showed was the inconsistency in ages. Are the death certificates any more reliable than the census forms? However, reading the evidence yields a few clues, the most important one being that he spent a great deal of his lifetime around "Strain" (Strond?) in South Harris, and the census of 1841 does pick him up there. In 1841, John Mcdearmid is in Strond, Harris, aged 40. He lives with his wife Mary (35), who we will next encounter 40 years later. Their family consists of Marrion (20), Donald (15), Marrion (10), Christina (8), Mary (5) and Ann (2). In 1871, a John Mcdermid is quoted as a lodger in Strond, aged 70, living with a family of Shaws. I have my doubts about the 1871 ce...

John Mcleod was a fisherman at Ardhasaig at the time he was interviewed by Lord Napier in Tarbert. We find him in the 1881 census at 77 Ardhasaig, aged 62 by then. He is married to Christina (58), a wool weaver. Four adult children are mentioned at the same address, namely two sons who are seamen: Murdo (34) and John (32); and two daughters, both general servants: Christina (22) and Maggy (24). EDIT: Thanks to Direcleit for filling in the gaps before and after 1881:  1871 and the family were in Ardhasaig, John, Murdo & Donald were Fishermen whilst Christy was a Weaveress. Daughters Christy, 11 (Scholar)and Mary ,2 (Servant!) are there too. An 1861 family in Ardhasaig, comprising John & Chirsty with children Murdoch, John, Duncan, Donald and Chirsty Ann appears to be them. In 1851, John had been a Road Labourer in Ardhasaig and the boys Murdoch,5, John,2 & Duncan, 6 months, are shown. Following the Napier commission in 1883, we find John in 1891 as a Retir...

View Larger Map   Get Directions   View Bird's Eye Two very outlandish names to start a blogpost with, and the fact that these were townships, situated on the shores of Loch Resort will probably not surprise you. Neither are inhabited today. At the time of the 1891 census, they definitely were. Derisgil had 19 residents, Luachair 24. The RCAHMS Canmore record for Luachair describes: A farmstead comprising two unroofed buildings and four enclosures is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Inverness-shire, Isle of Harris 1881, sheet iii). Two unroofed buildings, two enclosures and a sheepfold are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1973). The RCAHMS Canmore record for Derisgal describes A small township comprising seven unroofed buildings, one of which is a long building, and two enclosures is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Inverness-shire, Isle of Harris 1881, sheet iii). Five unroofed buildings are shown on the curre...

Norman Macdonald was heard at Tarbert on 13 June 1883. He is quoted as being a 50-year old crofter from the island of Scarp, which lies just off the northwest coast of Harris. Unfortunately, none of the 19th century censuses for Scotland mention anyone as being specifically from this island. It appears to be grouped under North Harris. Looking for a nearby township on mainland Harris, Govig, shows this to be included in enumeration district 6. Only the 1901 census gives a break-down of the population of Scarp (172 people), and thus we can locate a Norman Macdonald who appears to match the description of the witness giving evidence to Lord Napier's Commission 18 years before. For reference, Scarp is listed as enumeration district 7 under registration district 111/1, with 200 residents. He is listed as a cottar at 3 Scarp, aged 72. Norman is married to Ann, aged 60 in 1901, with four children: two sons who are fishermen: Kenneth, (25) and Donald John (22); and two daughters, bot...

Duncan Morrison made a brief appearance in front of the Napier Commission. He was a 73-year old tailor from Finsbay, South Harris. In 1881 he is shown as living with his wife Christina, a few years his junior, and children Margaret (37), Christina (33), John (27, a Royal Naval Reservist), and Isabella (25). We also find three grand children, Marion Mclennan (11), John Mcdonald (7), Alexr Mckenzie (5) and Ann Mckenzie (3). Going back through the decades, we also find Catherin and Margret as an additional children to Duncan and Christina. By 1851, Duncan can be found at Quidinish, as a farmer of 7 acres employing no labourers. His account to Lord Napier mentions being cleared out of that township to go to Finsbay, which must have happened between 1851 and 1861. Although Duncan has three daughters, he only says to be supported by his son (whom we know to be John) who is in the RNR in Stornoway, borne out by the 1881 census data. In 1891, we meet Duncan for the last time, now at Strum...

Thomas Brydone had been in the job of factor for Lord Dunmore for only six months (i.e. since late 1882) when he was questioned by Lord Napier and his Royal Commission. I once more refer to Direcleit for an appreciation of his work in Harris, which appears to have lasted from 1882 until 1891-1897. It requires us therefore to look to censes after 1881 to get an idea of Mr Brydone's family history. In 1891, we find him as factor and farmer at Farmhouse Luskentyre, with the town mentioned as Leachilce. This sounds to me like a corruption of Leac-a-Li, which is a township on the eastern side of Harris. Thomas Brydone is quoted as being born at Dunblane, Perthshire and married to Isabella, a few years his junior. The Brydones have five children in 1891, James (8), Archibald (6), Thomas (4), Isabella (2) and Alexander (10 months). Christina Macleod and Catherine Macleod are listed as domestic and farm helpers. Upon tracing Thomas Brydone back through the years, we locate him in 1881...

Kenneth Macdonald was farmer at Scarista, and according to this article by Direcleit , had relinquished the factorship over South Harris by 1883. The fact that Kenneth was born in Applecross helped me to trace him on the census records. Kenneth Macdonald's wife is named as Mary Macrae by Direcleit, but the 1881 census record names her as Jane. The census transcript on Ancestry quotes Kenneth's occupation as "Farmer & Factor No Of Acres Unknown Employing". In 1881, we find Kenneth, aged 64, with his much younger wife Jane, aged 36, at Big Borve. They have 3 three children, Emilie P S (4), Alexander (2) and John (9 months). Kenneth's sister Catherine (50) is there, together with a handful of farm- and house servants: John Mckinnon, William Campbell, Marion Mckinnon, Marion MacCuspaiz [Maccusbic?] and Mary Mckinnon. A decade earlier, Kenneth is shown in the company of Rebecca Macrae, his sister-in-law, but his wife Margaret [edited] does not appear on any of t...