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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Inverness => Topic started by: Betty Boo on Tuesday 02 January 07 02:03 GMT (UK)
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Hi Everyone,
Can anyone tell me which area Fort Augustus comes under if searching a death on Scotlands People.
I am trying to help a friend who's great grandfather died in Fort Augustus while working up there. His was buried there and we are unable to find his death on Scotlands People although we have tried for several months.
The story goes he was buried beside a Benedictine Abbey with the monks who had died in previous years. We have been unable to find his death, can anyone who maybe lives in this area help please.
Elizabeth
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Hi Elizabeth !
I can't answer your question I'm afraid ... but thought you might be interested in this as background !! :)
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06146a.htm
Annie :)
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Hi Elizabeth
There is a PDF file that I have (downloaded from a scottish site that I will have to refind) which has all the parishes for Scotland & associated RDs
This is what it gives for Fort Augustus
Name County From To Rd Numer Current RD Ref
Fort Augustus Inverness 1892 1970 Old RD 92 a2 Today's RD 235
Fort Augustus Inverness 1971 1971 Old RD 92 Today's RD 235
Fort Augustus Inverness 1972 Today's RD 235
Fort Augustus or Abertarff Inverness 1855 1891 Old RD 92 2 Today's RD 235
(removed the pre 1855 as presumably you are searching post 1855 for a death)
I'll post the link for the file when I find it
Fort Augustus is a district within Inverness - as is Abertarff - so perhaps you search both of these - depending on the dates
There is probably a file somewhere that equates RD numbers to names!
Trish
PS Hello Annie :) :)
Edit: I had a slightly better look at my file & discovered it is not a parish list - but a District list! so you have both the district number and name - sometimes I worry myself - and I still can't find it online
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Eventually found it!! Called a list of parishes AND registration districts
http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/famrec/hlpsrch/list-of-parishes-registration-districts.html
Trish
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Hi Annie and Trish,
Thanks for you reply re Fort Augustus we have tried everything to find this death and I thought it may be Inverness but still can't find the death.
I have been on various website and found out where the monks were buried but find with a name like John Fox its so difficult to find him.
We together have searched fro 1900 up to 1914, then 1924 which was when his wife died and she was listed as a widow.
I will give it another go but it looks like we will be going over old ground again.
Elizabeth
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Hi Trish,
I will go and have a look at this link you gave me parishes AND registration districts and see if I can find anything there.
Many thanks for all your help.
Elizabeth
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Hi again Trish,
It looks like Fort Augustus cames under Fort Augustus or Abertarff (Boleskine and Abertarff).
Thanks so much for your help, maybe now we will be able to find the death.
You wonderful people!!!.
Elizabeth
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Well Annie and Trish,
Just had another look on Scotlands people and still can't find this death. Its strange that we have been unable to find it even with the district etc.
Elizabeth
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Just to keep your spirits up here's a couple of pictures that may be of interest !! ....
A thought occured to me .... I wonder if an email or letter to the abbey would yield any results ?? ...... they may have a book or list somewhere of the burials !
http://travel.webshots.com/photo/1037274492016242948frHuxC
http://travel.webshots.com/photo/1037273914016242948rjdqxo
Annie :)
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Hi Annie,
I have been on a few website and founf out the Abbey closed in 1998 and is up for sale just now, who knows what could happen to the graves there if someone does buy the abbey.
I will take a look at the website information you have given me after I post this message.
Elizabeth
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Hi Elizabeth
I have found so many of my family myths - have in fact been myths - that I tend to ignore that side of the story & concentrate on what is known.
If he died at Fort Augustus while working there - was it an accident? Did he go to Hospital? Is it possible that a inquest/autopsy was required. This may have meant his birth was recorded perhaps somewhere else.
My mum lived in a country town but when she became ill was flown to a hospital 400 miles away - hence her death is recorded somewhere very different to where she lived.
When was he born? Can age at death help the search.
Are there any known problems with the death records of this time? Did the war impact record recording.
If you are checking from 1900 - Is he on the 1901 Census?
Then again, Annie's suggestion may resolve it very quickly :)
Trish
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Hi again Annie,
Just had a look at both the website, there are quite a few graves there from what I can see and Abbey it is a very large buiding.
Great pictures though, thanks very much for the web addresses, I will pass them onto my friend so she can see the area.
Elizabeth
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Hi Trish,
Well the story goes he was working up in this area and was attacked and died, we are not sure if he was killed during the attack or maybe later of the injuries he had.
All this is information from my old school friend whom I am trying to help. This information was passed down by word on mouth of course from her other uncles and aunts etc.
Elizabeth
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Wonder if there was an inquest or Coroner's report by any chance ??!!
or a newspaper report ?
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Hi Trish and Annie,
I don't know all the details but he was in the 1901 census, it was later he moved up to Fort Augustus. Someone told my friend some years ago they made a trip up to the Abbey to find the grave, they said there was a John Fox buried beside monks graves but they didn't think it was their John Fox as it was really all monks graves there.
We think this is his grave because in those days you couldn't bring a body back to their home town to be buried as they didn't have the money.
So we think this is John Fox's grave in the grounds of the Abbey.
Elizabeth
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One more thing ... just a thought ...... any chance this priest could give any information or at least head you in the right direction ?? ::)
The Diocese of Aberdeen has appointed Father Paul Bonnici as its new press and media officer.
Father Bonnici, 35, was born in Malta and has been working as a priest in Aberdeen Diocese since 1995. A writer in the national Catholic media, and a broadcaster for the last ten years, Father Bonnici served as press and media officer at Fort Augustus Abbey on the shores of Loch Ness between 1995 and 1998
When Fort Augustus Abbey closed down in 1998 Fr Bonnici became parish priest at Fort Augustus. He has recently moved to Lerwick as Parish Priest of all of Shetland. Bishop Peter Moran of Aberdeen welcomed Father Bonnici to his new job. He said: “We have decided as a Diocese to re-establish our Diocesan Press Office. Father Bonnici comes to his new post with wide experience of national and international communications and with varied pastoral experience as a Parish Priest. We wish him well in his new
ministry
Annie :)
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Well Annie,
Now there's a thought, good idea, just maybe what we are looking for, will give it a try anyway, nothing ventured as they say.
I just wonder why his death isn't on Scotlands people though, maybe with this I will get some answers.
Many thanks for all your help.
Elizabeth
p.s. I have put a message on Genes Reunited asking if someone who lives in that area can have a look at the graves in the Abbey for me.
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Hi Trish,
I would also like to thank you for all you time and help with this too.
Trish you and Annie have been a great help, sometimes other people see things that you don't if you know what I mean, can't see the woods for the trees sort of thing.
Thanks again.
Elizabeth
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Hi Elizabeth,
I just stumbled on this series of exchanges you hav been having.
My Grandfather grew up in Fort Augustus and was educated by the monks at the Abbey school.
The Abbey itself was sold some years ago and has now been converted into smart holiday appartments. I'm pretty sure the burial ground there is undisturbed.
I shall be in that neighbourhood with my family in late July so if you haven't already found what you want I would be happy to have a quick look for you.
Just let me know any details that might be relevant.
All the best
Alastair Chisholm
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Hi Alastair,
Thank you so much for your reply but, we found out John Fox actually died in Dundee after all. the Story of my friend got from her parents about John Fox being buried in Fort Augustus was wrong. He did in fact die in his home town of Dundee as stated earlier in the thread. Your offer was very much appreciated though.
Elizabeth
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Ok Elizabeth - Glad you found what you were looking for.
All the best
Alastair
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The old parish is Cille-Chuimein / Kilchuimin
CANMORE
(NH 3781 0801) Cille-Chuimein (Burial Ground) (NAT)
OS 6"map, Inverness-shire, 2nd ed., (1904)
A grave yard, about 200 years old; people are still interred in it. The oldest tomb stone in it is about 170 years old. There was never a church in or nearer it than the Church of Fort Augustus (about 1 mile away). Its name originated from a chief of the Cummin or Comyns being buried there.
Name Book 1871
This grave yard is still in use, and contains grave stones dating back to the early 18th century. There are no traces of a church.
Visited by OS (N K B) 28 April 1964
This burial ground bears a name which suggests the former existence of a church dedicated to Cummein, Abbot of Iona, who died in 669. His 'seat', 'Suidhe Chuimein' lies at NH 449 105. (W J Watson 1926)
The nearby village, now Fort Augustus, and the parish were both formerly named Kilchuimin, obviously from this site.
Until 1614 Kilchuimin was an independent parish (H Scott 1926), presumably with a parish church, but about 1630 there was no trace of a church in this graveyard, although the site is referred to as "ane Church toune". This, together with the finding of medieval cists at NH 379 089 (NH 30 NE 7), could suggest the moving of the church and graveyard to a more convenient spot in the medieval period, but with the old graveyard not falling completely out of use, and still retaining its former name.
W Macfarlane 1907
Martin
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Hi Elizabeth
I haven't been researching my family tree for the past 2 years but i noticed your post after joining the site tonight.
I live by the Abbey and the monks graveyard is still there.... can I be of any help?
Kim
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Ok... i should read the whole thread !! I hadn't noticed you had found out it was the wrong area, just ignore me ;D
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Easy done ;D ;D Welcome to RootsChat ReaganMac ;)
Sarah
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Have just found this query. There is a Fr John Lane-Fox buried at Fort Augustus 1880 - 1974.