Death Certificates

[Graeme]

I thought that this might be the Simon Cameron from Boleskine I was looking for. But it isn't and as there are two Lochgarthside deaths on the page here it is.
http://i11.tinypic.com/29pytep.gif

[Graeme]

Having said he's not my ancestor, just looking at the page on screen it occurred to me that if he was a Chelsea Pensioner that means he was a soldier and that means he may have married and had chidren late in life.
The above Simon Cameron was born in 1787 and my ancestor Donald Cameron was born in either 1832 or 1837. So it is possible he's the father. I'm off to have a look.

[cathy]

Where did you get the death certificate??? A strong possbility that this is the father I would think. You know, Boleskine was never a metropolis, I have to believe that all of our ancestors knew each other, wouldn't you think?
Cathy

[Graeme]

Actually these are extracts from the death registers not proper death certificates and I got the page from scotlandspeople.gov.uk and it cost me ?6 to search for and download five pages - not too bad.

I'm not convinced it's the right Simon though. On Donald's death certificate his father is given as Symon and although it's not much of a difference I wonder why they would be so sure of the spelling as the normal thing to do would be to spell it with an I if they were at all uncertain about his parents (and there is no mother named). Also Donald's son is named Simon with an I.
The best man at his wedding was his brother Alexander Cameron and I can find nobody that fits either in Boleskine or Aberdeenshire where Donald had moved to. I'm going to have to go back to the death certificates and see if a sibling has a better entry.

This is the extract from the 1841 Boleskine census Simon Cameron's family then living in Foyers - the next household on the census is in Glenlea. Ages on this census were rounded up to the nearest 5 years.

CAMERON Simon M 50 Ag Lab & Pensioner Army Inverness-shire
CAMERON Jane F 35 Inverness-shire
CAMERON Donald M 15 Inverness-shire
CAMERON Janet F 10 Inverness-shire
CAMERON Betty F 5 Inverness-shire
CAMERON James M 2 Inverness-shire
CAMERON Ann F 10m Inverness-shire


Here's (http://www.clan-cameron.org.au/getperson.php?personID=I64182&tree=cameron1) what the Clan Cameron Society in Australia has on them.

Now I have found Camerons living in Garthbeg in the 1841 census so I am getting closer to you all. But if my family does come from Foyers I'm really an interloper and may have to leave this board. :( Just as I became an advanced member. :)

Finally just in case you don't have this here's the Garthbeg etc entries for the same census - a new line for each household and one empty building. Why are there so many poor people living there? Anybody know.

S Migovie
MACTAVISH Ann F 60 Poor Inverness-shire

MCPHERSON Mary F 70 Poor Inverness-shire

MCDONALD Donald M 80 Poor Inverness-shire
MCDONALD Ann F 55 Inverness-shire
FRASER Janet F 11 Female Servant Inverness-shire

FRASER Alexander M 25 Ag Lab Inverness-shire
FRASER Sally F 20 Inverness-shire
KENNEDY Justena F 14 Female Servant Inverness-shire

N Migovie
MCTAVISH Alexander M 40 Lab & Farmer Inverness-shire occ: partly obscured by thick line
MCTAVISH Williamina F 20 Outside Census County (1841)
MCTAVISH Mary F 2 Inverness-shire
MCTAVISH Catharine F 1 Inverness-shire
MCKENSIE Maria F 15 Outside Census County (1841)
FRASER Catherine F 30 Female Servant Inverness-shire
MORRISON Eppy F 40 Female Servant Outside Census County (1841)
PATERSON Mary F 15 Female Servant Inverness-shire

Garthbeg
Empty Building

CAMERON Donald M 30 Ag Lab Outside Census County (1841)
CAMERON Mary F 30 Inverness-shire
CAMERON Hugh M 1 Inverness-shire
FRASER Mary F 7 Female Servant Inverness-shire
FRASER Katharine F 35 Female Servant Inverness-shire

MCKINSIE William M 20 Ag Lab Inverness-shire
CAMERON Simon M 20 Ag Lab Inverness-shire
GOOLDY Hugh M 25 Ag Lab Inverness-shire

MCTAVISH Duncan M 40 Carpenter Inverness-shire
MCTAVISH Jane F 35 Inverness-shire
MCTAVISH Donald M 6 Inverness-shire
MCTAVISH Cathurine F 4 Inverness-shire
MCTAVISH Ann F 2 Inverness-shire
MCTAVISH Alexander M 6m Inverness-shire
ROBERTSON Ket F 15 Female Servant Outside Census County (1841)

MCDONALD Duncan M 25 Ag Lab Inverness-shire
MCDONALD Ann F 25 Inverness-shire
MCDONALD Roderick M 5 Inverness-shire
MCDONALD Alexander M 3 Inverness-shire
MCDONALD Duncan M 4m Inverness-shire
CHISHOLM Mary F 15 Female Servant Inverness-shire

MCTAVISH Duncan M 35 Farmer Inverness-shire
MCTAVISH Helen F 25 Outside Census County (1841)
MCTAVISH Ann F 6 Inverness-shire
MCTAVISH Archibald M 5 Inverness-shire
MCTAVISH Helen F 4 Inverness-shire
MCTAVISH Alexander M 2 Inverness-shire
MCTAVISH Robert M 1 Inverness-shire
FRASER Margaret F 25 Female Servant Inverness-shire
SMITH Mary F 25 Female Servant Inverness-shire
FRASER Esabella F 30 Female Servant Inverness-shire
KENNEDY Ann F 20 Female Servant Inverness-shire
FRASER - F 45 Inverness-shire

[cathy]

you can not leave.....once we got you, we got you! Foyers is just down the road. In fact one of my Mctavish ancestors was one of many illegitimate children of the first Hugh Fraser of Foyers, who was also illegitimate! My those people were busy those days! so you are one of us, whether you like it or not!
We were neighbors.

On the 1841 Census data you gave us (thank you very much), Duncan and Helen are my Aunt and Uncle, my 2nd-great-grandfather, Donald (Duncan's brother) having just left for Canada.

Why so many poor people, it was a very poor area. A lot of history, but in the statistical accounts, it was very poor. And this was the time of the clearances, and while the Fraser Chiefs did not participate in the clearances and were pretty good to their people, it was a very poor time in history.

So Graeme, by the powers invested in me, "by me", I annoint you a Garthbeg resident for life!

Translation, you have to stay with this board, we enjoy you way too much and are learning from you also!
Cathy

[Graeme]

Garthbeg resident for life[/b]

When I spent my holidays with my Grannie I used to look over the loch at Garthbeg every day. I never thought I'd be an honorary resident though.

Can anyone tell me which regiments were recruiting in Stratherrick in the early 1800s?
I did know once but I've forgotten now.

[REALMACTAVISH]

I CAN SAY FOR CERTAIN THAT THE BLACK WATCH WERE.THE AREA COMES INTO THEIR ENLISTMENT CACHE. AND THE REG. BEGAN IN 1735. THE CAMERONS TOO I SHOULD THINK DREW FROM THAT AREA.

[Graeme]

I should have guessed you would know RealMacT. I'm getting old - I used to work at the Public Record Office in Kew (now National Archives) and when I was there I photocopied all the Camerons I could find from the Boleskine soldiers and they were mostly in the Camerons - what else?
Now I have to find the papers in the attic, not an easy job.

[cathy]

Now Graeme what exactly is old???? My younger, though not as beautiful sister would tell you that I am old, but what does she know?? Fight old, with every breathe you own, fight it! And see you next fall!

Cathy

[Graeme]

58 - I think.

[REALMACTAVISH]

youre as old as the woman you feel graeme. mines half my age so im doing fine well.

[cathy]

at 58 you are still a puppy Graeme! Have a wonderful week!
Cathy

[rhona]

hiya cousins----Im just returned from a lovely week in Stratherrick, and even tho I sadly didnt manage to bump into Graeme I found all the locals very friendly and the weather was beautiful t-shirt temp.for most of the time---so still and clear at the tops of the hills overlooking Foyers--I couldve stayed there for ever!-
I paid respects to all the ancestors at rest in Boleskine ,Dunlichity and anywhere else I managed to sneak off to without having a revolution on my hands!
Ive come to the conclusion that my folk must've left Stratherrick earlier than 1788 as thats when Duncan sen. married Isabella MacPherson at PETTY then went on to live right by Culloden moor-----I suppose theres a chance they became affiliated to Clan Chattan in that neck of the woods, but I discovered that most of the Macphersons of Petty hailed from Brin which is right near Dunlichity------and its interesting to see an elderly Mary MacPherson living at N Migovie on Graemes extract of the 1841 census.
If its of any help to anyone out there---I now have most of the MI books for Invernesshire;Dores.Croy,Petty
Chapel yard (Inverness)BrachlichAdersier and Alness---but no Boleskine unfortunately.
Ive explored lots of fascinating old ruins where Mctavii resided and taken lots of pics but using my sooooo last century camera-----therfore it'll take ma a while to work out the system for sharing them on the forum
Hope alls well with everyone ; how went your speech Packer? --well--' hopefully you can all make it over next October--- its truly the most gorgeous time of year with the vast range of autumn colours in such a stunning location---cheery bye for now

[rhona]

hello again Graeme------I was wondrin if you know anything 'bout the Elspet /Elisabeth Cameron
living in Dores around the mid-1700's---she married Angus McTavish in 1759 and had quite a few bairns but the names can be mis-leading on the IGI???
Also ---do you have any idea where Soullengary might be??? A McTavish of Soullengary was mentioned in the 45 muster roll.
Here 's a few more good sites for all of us genie anoraks in the meantime!
www.ambaile.org.uk
www.libindx.moray.gov.uk
www.lineone.net/~indexer/suter01.html (you may find it easier to type;" memorabilia of inverness j suter" into google coz it really is worth a look)

chow fir now dearies!

[Graeme]

You'll not find me in Stratherrick, I'm afraid. I live in Surrey just outside London!
And sorry the answer is No. I've nothing on Elspeth Cameron and I've never heard to Soullengary.
I remember there were some MacPhersons living on the right hand side of the road going up to Killin. I can't remember their names though - maybe Jimmy and Henry. My grandfather used to go shooting deer with them before the war. They were never short of winter food in Stratherrick! They're buried in the Catholic cemetery. And when the toffs came up they ghillied for them as well. My job there was to lead the sheep into the pens so they could be dipped. And at shearing time I had to collect all the fleeces and store them in the shed.

General Wade's road is still visible in Stratherrick in it's original form although it's a bit overgrown in places. The bit I like runs from the river up along The Vennell and through North Muirnich Farm. Good stuff this history!

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/6527/muirnich1mt6.jpg

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/1011/muirnich2ns8.jpg

[rhona]

Thanks anyway Graeme and --- truly sorry to hear you're in Sassenachsville!---only kiddin !--but hope you manage to escape occassionally!
CHEERS

[migovie]

this census may show what ive thought for some time...the farms of migovie and nth migovie are , in fact the same home.
however records show around 1750s there were 2 mactavish homes named migovie and nth migovie yet the 1841 census shows they inspected the nth migovie home and made no note of the 'migovie" home being vacant . so , i suggest the original migovie home was abandoned and the newer home of "nth migovie "was est and the "tacksman of nth migovie " sub let whatever farms nearby were attached to that lease. GOOD WORK GRAEME....
IMPORTANT to note that at the time the 1841 census was conducted....
alexr mactavish of migovie was IN FACT the "solicitor magistrate for inverness " having taken over this position in 1832....so the fact he actually signs the 1841 census as "farmer" of migovie ...shows a conflict...
i also noted an earlier census signed by the same man....BUT he signed orginally as "solicitor" then xsed it out and placed "farmer"....
this perhaps shows the moral turmoil at that time in history when this man was undecided if it better to show himself as a "solicitor" and divorce himself from his roots or simply state "famer" and reattach his name to the soil his family blood lay on for centuries.
A SEEMINGLY INSIGNIFICANT POINT BUT CARRYING FAR MORE WEIGHT THAN AT FIRST IMAGINED EH.

[Graeme]

You can find the rest of the census for 1841 here - along with some census returns for almost all UK parishes - but not all of either I don't think. You may find something else of interest.
http://freecen.rootsweb.com/cgi/search.pl

[cathy]

Thanks Graeme!
"Free" is what we all like to hear. Most of the Scotland information has to be purchased!!!
Thanks!
Cathy

[Graeme]

All this time and I had him in front of me all along. This is the correct Simon Cameron and he lived with his family at 9 Foyers Farmhouse. The Australian Clan Cameron site has recently updated the page on him to include some of this if you want to have a look. There was also a Cameron family who had Glenlia Farm, maybe still do for all I know, which is on the road out of Foyers going towards Stratherrick. So my Camerons are definitely not the Muirnich ones or maybe they were and moved to Foyers to distance themselves from all these coorse MacTavishes. ;)

http://www.clan-cameron.org.au/getperson.php?personID=I94495

[cathy]

That is a pretty cool website Graeme! And frankly I think your ancestors loved hanging out with those Coarse MacTavish families. :D