Commercial Travellers in Stornoway

I have grouped these gentlemen by residence and highlighted their goods, where specified:

1861
Duncan Macpherson, 27, Wine and Spirit, Visitor, 1 North Beach Street, b. Appen, Argyllshire

1871
Francis Adam, 23, Boarder, 10 North Beach Street, b. Ballater, Aberdeen
James Campbell, 34, Boarder, 10 North Beach Street, b. Little Dunkeld, Perth
Alexander Robertson, 38, Boarder, 10 North Beach Street, b. Blairgowrie, Perth

Murdo Mackenzie, 36, Boarder, 3&5 North Beach Street (Temperance Hotel), b. Lochbroom, Ross

1881
William Mair, Spirits, Boarder, Lewis Hotel North Beach Street, b. Glasgow
George Reid, 34, Spirits, Boarder, Lewis Hotel North Beach Street, b. County Down, Ireland
William C Swan, 25, Grain, Boarder, Lewis Hotel North Beach Street, b. Muckairn, Argylleshire
John Laird, 27, Leather, Boarder, Lewis Hotel North Beach Street, b. Firth, Orkney
David Dalziell, 36, Fancy Goods, Boarder, Lewis Hotel North Beach Street, b. Kirkconnel, Dumfriess-shire

William Macintosh, 48, Visitor, Imperial Hotel, b. Weasdale(?), Sutherland-shire

1891
John Gordon, 26, Boarder, 8,9,10 North Beach Street, b. Fodderty, Ross-shire
Donald Murchison, 44, Boarder, 8,9,10 North Beach Street, b. Applecross, Ross-shire

John Annal, 33, Boarder, Royal Hotel (Cromwell St), b. Orkney, South Ronaldsay
Dugald Macfaden, 39, Boarder, Royal Hotel (Cromwell St), b. Kilfinichan, Argyll

1901
William Harper, 23, Drapery, Boarder, 8,9,10 North Beach Street, b. Birse, Aberdeen
Archibald Smith, 46, Drapery, Boarder, 8,9,10 North Beach Street, b. Glassary, Argyllshire
David G Morrison, 55, Woollens, Boarder, 8,9,10 North Beach Street, b. Brechin, Forfar

William Hume, 35, Visitor, 76 Cromwell Street, b. Chirnside, Berwickshire

D G Maclennan, Boarder, 25 South Beach Street, b. Campbeltown, Argyllshire

Clearly, regardless of whether one was in Wines and Spirits, Grain, Leather, Fancy Goods, Drapery, Woollens or whatever, North Beach Street was the location of choice for the 19thC Commercial Traveller visiting Stornoway.

Ground Officers of Harris

These were the men who kept an eye to see that the tenants, and others, were obeying the Estate’s rules regarding the land they occupied. I have indicated their locations but should point out that John Morrison of Lingerbay was the South Harris Estate Officer.

1841
NORTH
John Macaulay, 60, Ardhasaig, b. Inverness

1851
SOUTH
John Macleod, 49, Port Esgein, b. Harris

1861
NORTH
John Macaulay, 84, Ardhasaig, b. Harris
BAYS
John Morrison, 40, Lingerbay, b. Harris
SOUTH
Catherine Macleod, 60, Ground Officer’s Widow, Strond, b. Harris

1871
NORTH
Malcolm Macualay, 57, b. Harris
BAYS
John Morrison, 60, Lingerbay, b. Harris

1881
NORTH
Malcolm Macaulay, 70, Ardhasaig 64, b. Harris
SOUTH
John Morrison, 74, South Harris, b. Harris

1891
NORTH
Malcolm Macaulay, 79, No 19 Ardhasaig, b. Harris
SOUTH
Alexander Morrison, 37, Bayhead, b. Harris


1901
SOUTH
Alexander Morrison, 46, Bayhead, b. Harris

Ploughmen of Harris in 1861

It struck me, whilst reading of feannagan cultivation, that a reasonably reliable indicator of the fertile farms of Harris could be had by seeking those who ploughed them:

1861
Angus Mclean, 30, Island of Ensay, b. North Uist
Angus Kerr, 33, Rodil House, b. Harris
John Macuspal(?), 33, Scarista Veg, b. Harris
John Morrison, 52, Big Borve, b. Harris
Neil McCuish, 36, Luskintyre, b. Uist
Norman Macaskill, 48, ??? House, Island of Tarrinsay, b. Harris

John Macdonald, 20, West Tarbert, b. Harris

So there we have them, from Ensay in the Sound, via Rodel, then up the West Coat Machair to Taransay, the farms of Harris in 1861. For some reason no other census records more than a couple of ploughmen – perhaps in later years it had become more commonplace for those working on the farms to share that particular duty? – I do not know, but in 1861 those were the ploughmen of Harris.

Fishers of Harris

Another somewhat crude interrogation of the censuses, this time looking at males recording ‘fisher’ or ‘fisherman’, but removing those who were a fisher or fisherman’s son.

1841                 49
1851 230-56=174
1861 340-66=274
1871 517-44=473
1881 630-64=566
1891 492-06=486
1901 498-12=484

1841, it should be remembered, is unreliable in recording all the occupations of occupants at an address so we can only properly examine the second-half of the century.


The numbers of fishermen increased by 57% from 1851-1861 and by a staggering 73% in the following decade. Growth slows to a more serene 20% during the 1870s but the result is that for every 4 fishermen in 1851 there were 13 by 1881.


The 14% decline from this peak to the figures of 1891 and 1901 (which is the only decade to demonstrate stability) might reflect, in part, the effects of re-crofting on Harris but I cannot be sure of the importance of this factor. If nothing else, these figures echo the phrase from the evidence to the Napier Commission of men ‘turning their backs on the land to face the sea’…

Mackae’s Buildings, Plantation Street, Stornoway 1901

This address appears in the 1901 census as home to 37 people in these 7 households:

George Donald, 36, Postman, Head, b. Stornoway
Alexander J Kerr, 44, Seaman, Head, b. Stornoway
Alexander Lamont, 40, Woollen Weaver, Head, b. Portree
Malcolm Macdonald, 31, Insurance Agent, Head, b. Uig, Ross-shire
(Alexanderina, 38, Sick Nurse (Formerly), Wife, b. Kinlochbervie, Sutherlandshire)
William Maciver, 57, Brewer’s Agent and Dealer, Head, b. Stornoway
John Mackenzie, 45, Mason (Contractor), Head, b. Stornoway
Murdo Macleod, 49, Mason Contractor, Head, b. Uig, Ross-shire

A varied group that includes one of only two references to brewing in Stornoway ,the other being the 19 year-old Brewer’s Apprentice Malcolm MacIntyre, son of the Hotel Keeper at 25 South Beach Street’s Imperial hotel.


Obviously it was the presence of Alexander J Kerr that first led me here, but I have no idea where ‘Mackae’s Buildings’ were on ‘Plantation St’ in 1901. Plantation Road appears on the 1881-1901 censuses as ‘Plantation St’ so I presume that the name was changed at some time during the 20thC?


If anyone knows of Mackae’s Buldings (or when the street became a road) please get in touch.

Sewing Mistresses of Harris

These are the ladies as recorded in the 1841-1901 censuses. I have made comments following each census:

1861

SOUTH

Mary Galbraith, 37, Teacher of Embroidery, Wife, b. Ireland

Mary, who lived at the house built by the Countess of Dunmore for the Gardener (Henry Galbraith) is not strictly a ‘Sewing Mistress’ but I have included her for the sake of completeness.

1871

SOUTH

Jessie E Macrae, 24, Embroidery School Mistress, Head, b. Thurso, Caithness-shire

(Mary Galbraith, 47, Teacher of Embroidery, Wife, b. Ireland)

?

Mary Macaulay, 21, School Mistress, Industrial School, b. Stornoway

It would be interesting to know when Mary Galbraith first had an assistant but I presume that Jessie’s presence is indicative of the success of the Emroidery School at this time.

Mary Macaulay has been included because this is the only reference I have found specifically to an ‘Industrial School’ in Harris. There were 34 people at the address ‘Industrial School’ in 5 households but the precise location is unknown to me.

1881

SOUTH

Jessie Brunton, 32, Sewing Mistress ‘Elm School’, Wife, b. Meigle, Perthshire

Mary Mackinnon Jnr, 32, Sewing Mistress (School), Sister, Crofter’s Dwelling House, b. Harris

Bella Macrae, 30, Housemaid and Sewing Mistress, South Harris Niece, b. Lochalsh, Ross

NORTH

Mary Morrison, 37, Sewing Mistress, Daughter, East Tarbert 32, b. Harris

Isabella Macaskill, 25, Sewing Mistress, Sister-in-Law, Missionary’s House, b. Lochs

We do not see our first Sewing Mistresses until 1881 following the introduction of the the Education Act (Scotland) 1872. Was ‘Elm School’ a name, or merely shorthand for ‘Elementary’? It might even be ‘Embroidery’… Our one precise location is East Tarbert but I would like to know where in North Harris the ‘missionary’s House’ was.

1891

BAYS

Margaret Macrae, 39, Sewing Mistress, Wife, Finsbay, b.Uig, Lewis

Christy Gillanders, 29, Sewing Mistress, Daughter, Private House, Geocrab, b. Lewis

Jane Brown, 37, Sewing Mistress, Wife, Public Schoolhouse, Kyles Stockinish, b. Loudon, Ayrshire

Jessie Young, 21, Teacher’s Wife Sewing Mistress, Wife, 19 Drinishader, b. Harris

NORTH

Marion Duncan, 36, Sewing Mistress, Wife, Public School, North Harris, b. Harris

Mary Morrison, 47, Sewing Mistress, Daughter, No 10 East Tarbert, b. Harris

SCALPAY

Peggy Morrison, 22, Sewing Mistress, Daughter, Scalpay No 74, b. Harris

Bessie Mackinnon, 53, Sewing Mistress, Sister, Scalpay No 56, b. Harris

Catherine S Smith, 30, Sewing Mistress, Sister, Scalpay No 25, b. Kilfinan, Argyll

A very noticeable shift has taken place with the appearance of the four ladies in the Bays from Finsbay, via Geocrab and Kyles Stockinish, to Drinishader. Mary Morrison is still in East Tarbert and Scalpay makes a significant, and intriguing, appearance.

1901

BAYS

Catherine Campbell, 26, Sewing Mistress, Daughter, 7 Plocrapool, b. Harris

Maggie Simpson, 33, Sewing Mistress ‘Occasional’, Wife, School house, Drinishader, b. Glasgow

What we can say is that, for a brief time in the late 19thC, there were several ladies working specifically as Sewing Mistresses and that their numbers and distribution again reflect the general trend away from the South as the home of innovation.

There are several obvious gaps here such as where are the Sewing Mistresses for the Schools in the South after 1881?, or of Tarbert in 1901? It may be that several of those teaching Sewing are ‘hidden’ amongst those not specifying a subject on the census returns.

Whatever the reason, at least we have these recorded Sewing Mistresses of Harris.

The Case for State Medical Services for the Poor The Highlands & Islands 1850 by Dr Morrice McCrae

A fascinating piece from the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh that can be seen here: RCPE

British Listed Buildings

I mentioned this excellent site in my piece on Stornoway’s Builders but it is so good (the site, not my piece!) that I thought I’d make this brief entry to bring it to your attention: http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/ Enjoy!

North Harris Demographics

This is a somewhat crude (but careful!) look at the population of North Harris (as defined for census purposes) from 1881 onwards.


Please not that these are the results of a fairly rough interrogation of a database so the figures are meant for indicative purposes only.

1881
2929 people, 1469 (50%) male, 1463 (50%) female
551Households 447 (81%) male, 104 (19%) female

1891
3120 people, 1479 (47%) male, 1656 (53%) female
555 Households 425 (77%) male, 132 (23%) females

1901
3312 people, 1543 (47%) male, 1788 (53%) female
679 Households 511(75%) male, (25%) 171 female

Three things strike me:


1)The growth in the population of North Harris of 22%.
2)The decline in the proportion of men in the first decade.
3)The increase in the proportion of households headed by women is surely of significance.


It would take a far more detailed analysis to reveal precisely what was taking place over these two decades but clearly ‘something’ led to the changes that I have described.

South Harris Demographics

This is a somewhat crude (but careful!) look at the population of South Harris (as defined for census purposes) from 1881 onwards.


Please not that these are the results of a fairly rough interrogation of a database so the figures are meant for indicative purposes only.

1881
1495 people, 748 (50%) male, 749 (50%) female
303 Households 228 (75%) male, 75 (25%) female

1891
1563 people, 748 (48%) male, 822 (52%) female
305 Households 226 (74%( male, (26%) 81 female

1901
1509 people, 691 (46%) male, (54%) 831 female
331 Households 234 (71%) male, 97 (29%) female

Three things strike me:


1)The relatively stable population of South Harris, averaging 1527 people.
2)The decline in the proportion of men – 0.2% per annum is remarkable
3)The increase in the proportion of households headed by women is surely of significance.


It would take a far more detailed analysis to reveal precisely what was taking place over these two decades but clearly ‘something’ led to the changes that I have described.