Soap and opium

For the next few weeks, this blog will publish the (nearly) daily Remembering Today postings, which have been scheduled in advance. Your blogger is taking a leave of absence until July 1st. Looking back over the past five months or so, I have worked my way through some very interesting aspects of local history, using a subscription to the websites of Ancestry and Scotlandspeople. It has certainly served to bear out my standpoint that you should view historical events through the eyes of the time. We may not understand, with our 21st century eyes, the subservience shown by the ordinary soldiers and sailors of the First World War, who answered the call to arms without question. The term shell-shock was common parlance during the First War; we would describe it as post-traumatic stress disorder. But in those days, you had to "do your bit", and trying to get out, even after suffering injury and horrendous experiences, could earn you a "white feather" - the sign given t...

The Hull Pack and East Riding Times of 12 January 1863 reports: Sad news continues to be received from the north-west coast of Scotland. The following letter from Ullapool, dated on Christmas day, largely increases the calculation of the boats and men lost in the storm of December 18 and 19: "Our shores are literally strewed with wrecks, and day after day adds to the number. From Ullapool to Ru More it is said that the debris of no less than 14 or 15 boats have been washed on shore. In one place, which I have seen, there are the materials of at least three boats, with about 20 oars, broken and whole, four rudders and five cod and ling. In another place, which I have also seen, there are the wrecks of one or two boats, a number of oars, and a mast. A bonnet has been washed ashore in another place. The boats all appear to have come from Lewis, and from one parish in that island. I have been told that two boats with their crews managed to gain land in Assynt, and another further to t...

Rev Ewen Campbell was the minister for Lochs from 1864 onwards. He appears in the 1881 census, marked as being born in Skye; the 1871 census adds Bracadale to those details, and the manse as being at Keose. In 1861, Ewen Campbell is minister at Rhuavrach, Benbecula. Rev Ewen Campbell passed away on 9 February 1889 at Keose, aged 74, having suffered old age, and gastritis for 21 days. His father's name is given as farmer Gillespie Campbell, but his mother's name is left blank.

Roderick Ross , who is referred to as Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Edinburgh, gave evidence to the Napier Commission at Keose on 12 June 1883. At the time of the 1881 census, he is aged 40 and living at 33 Kenneth Street, Stornoway. Roderick is married to Isabella (32) and has a child, Annabella, aged 1. The census lists Roderick as a physician and surgeon. In 1891, we find Roderick Ross at the Doctor's House in Borve (Barvas), with a 9-year old son, John Mcdonald Ross. He remains at Borve in 1901, with his daughter Anna Bell Ross (26). In 1871, Roderick Ross is lodging at 8 Finnieston Street in Glasgow, a student of medicine. He is lodging with a family of Mcdonalds (two parents and five children). His place of birth is not transcribed well "Leeks, Rosshire", but it matches with the "Lochs" we find in the later census returns.

Donald Mackenzie was the witness for Crossbost at the Napier Commission's hearings at Keose on 12 June 1883. The witness is listed as aged 68. Unfortunately, I have been unable to locate anyone by that name at Crossbost in any of the censuses. Further information welcome.

George Macrae was the witness from Grimshader, who gave evidence to the Napier Commission at Keose on 12 June 1883. The 1881 census shows him as a fisherman, married to Margaret, a year younger than himself and six children, Donald (21), Mary (19), John (14), Alexander (12), Angus (9) and Donald (7). In 1861, George is 27, and living with his parents John and Mary (aged 53). Also there are his siblings Catherine (23), Kenneth (10) and nephew Donald (1). In 1851, George is 17, and staying with his parents in Grimshader. His siblings are Evander (19), Catharine (13), Kenneth (3) and Christiana (23). The last reference in the currently available censuses is in the 1901 census, which shows George and Margaret aged 66, a daughter in-law and three grand-children.  George Macrae died on 14 November 1919 at 5 Grimshader, aged 86. His cause of death is quoted as arterio sclerosis and rheumatism. George is the widower of Margaret (nee Macdonald), who had died in 1903, aged 69.

Kenneth Mcdonald was the witness for Leurbost, giving evidence to the Napier Commission during its session at Keose on 12 June 1883. He appears on the Report and on the census as a merchant in Leurbost, married to Colina who is 18 years younger than him. In 1881, he has two young children, Catherine (3) and Donald (10 months). By 1891, the family extends to Kenneth and Ann Jane, although Donald no longer features in the census. Their residence is Trantom Cottage. Kenneth Mcdonald died on 13 August 1894, aged 60, as the result of an accident. He had lost consciousness after his head was struck by a cartshaft. The matter was reported to the Procurator Fiscal, and entered in the death register on 19 September. The name of Kenneth's wife is not recorded.

Roderick Finlayson gave evidence to the Napier Commission at Keose on 12 June 1883, on behalf of the people of Maravaig [Marvig]. We find him in the 1881 census, aged 55, married to Jane (nee Munro). Their son Peter (23) is also present in the house. Hebridean Connections tells us that Jane was originally from Melvich, Sutherland. The census of 1861 shows us more of Roderick's family, Mary (7), Peggy [Margaret] (5), Peter (3) and John (1). Hebridean Connections note that there was a fifth child, Johnina, who died after choking on a fishbone. In 1871, Roderick is a carpenter, but in 1881 his occupation is noted as crofter and fisherman.  In 1901, the couple live at the schoolhouse in Marvig.

Murdo Mcmillan gave evidence on behalf of the crofters of Gravir at the Napier Commission's hearing at Keose on 12 June 1883. He shows up in the 1881 census aged 57, married to Chirsty (53) with their five children Cate (32), Isabella (30), Chirsty (22), Donald (15) and Bess (12). The 1871 census also shows Margret and Robert, ages between Isabella and Chirsty. The family is also shown in the censuses for 1861 and 1851. The 1891 census puts Murdo and family at 2 Gravir. We also see Chirsty's husband Kenneth Mcphail, and their child Catherine (3). In 1901, Murdo and Chirsty (aged 74 and 73) remain in Gravir, with some of their children and grandchildren. Murdo Mcmillan passed away on 10 December 1907 at the age of 83, having suffered from mitral valve heart disease. His parents are named as Murdo and Euphemia (nee Mckenzie). His wife Christina (nee Macleod)  died in 1910 at the age of 83.

George Mackenzie was a witness from Laxay, who gave evidence at the Napier Commission at Keose on 12 June 1883. We find him as a 50-year old fisherman on the 1871 census married to Catherine (same age), and with seven children. They vary in ages from 4 to 26. The 1861 census shows Catherine to be 20 years older than George, which is a mistake; their youngest child at that time is only 10 months old. George Mackenzie died on 29 May 1888 aged 69 of bronchitis. His parents are named as Colin and Catherine, and he is noted as being married to Catherine Mckay. His eldest son John reported the death to the registrar at Keose; he was unable to write his name.

John Mcleod is noted as a witness from Kershader, giving evidence to the Napier Commission during its session at Keose on 12 June 1883. The censuses point at a John Mcleod living in a private house at Garryavard [Garyvard], a mile or so east of Kershader. In 1881, he is aged 49, married to Margaret (40) and having 5 children, Kenneth (14), John (12), Isabella (10), Catherine (8) and Finlay (4). Also present are John's brothers Donald and Murdo. The family, minus the children aged below 10 in 1881, is also shown in the 1871 census. In 1891, John is shown at 12 Garyvard with his wife Peggy (a contraction of Margaret) and children Finlay (15), Isabella (20), Kate (18), Mary A (9), as well as the two brothers.

John Smith was a 75-year old witness from Balallan, who gave evidence to the Napier Commission at Keose on 12 June 1883. We find him on the 1861 census in the parish of Lochs, born at Eskin [Eishken, the Park district] in 1807. He is married to Flora, and has 6 children, John (28), Anne (21), Roderick (24), Marrion (22), Kenneth (12) and Malcolm (6). The 1851 census shows the couple again at Balallan, also with David and Murdo amongst their offspring. I have been unable to locate this John Smith in later censuses.