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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Tephra on Tuesday 11 June 13 10:17 BST (UK)
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Welcome to Alastair Chisholm's Scavenger Hunt, and this one will certainly get the grey matter working overtime.
Good Luck and Good Hunting
Barbara
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My hunt is for Alexander Chisholm who was born in the parish of Kilmorack, Invernessshire c.1813 He first comes into my radar in 1847 where his marriage is recorded in the Kilmorack OPR.
His residence was at Guisachan (the estate still owned at that time by Fraser of Culbokie) where I believe he was employed as a gamekeeper.
He married Sarah MacDonald, daughter of the innkeeper at Cannich - William MacDonald, and sister of the Roman Catholic bishop of Aberdeen - John MacDonald (1818-1889).
Alexander and Sarah's first son, John was born at Guisachan in 1848 [Roman Catholic Archives] - he later became a priest.
Their second son, William, was born in 1850 and by the 1851 census the family had moved to the small farm of Carnoch, between Invercannich and Struy in Strathglass.
Alexander is now listed as a farmer, age 38, born in Kilmorack, (Sara, age 30 - John, age 3 & William age 9 months) ... then he drops suddenly off the radar.
In 1861 we see Sarah, a widow, living with her parents in Cannich and her young children, now including a daughter, Anne age 8.
I have been unable to find a death certificate for Alexander who I presume died between his daughter's conception (1852/1853?) and the start of Statutory records in 1855.
I have trudged around the Roman Catholic burial grounds in the area with no sign of him ... although he might be among the damaged or indecipherable stones in Clachan Comar.
His widow, Sarah died in 1896 in Glendoe near Fort Augustus where she was living with her daughter and son-in-law. I couldn't find a burial place for her either and fear that she may have been interred with her husband in what may now be an unrecognisable grave ...?
Her death certificate states that she was the widow of Alexander Chisholm, Guisachan, Strathglass - gamekeeper.
I am trying to find clues to the circumstances of Alexander's death and the final resting place(s) of both of them.
In my hunt over the years I have built up a substantial family tree and been able to help other Chisholms with their "brick walls" but never breached my own!
There is some evidence from correspondence of the period that he was the brother of a William Chisholm (c.1797-1869) and that their parents were John Chisholm. farmer and Anne Macrae.
The names of Alex and Sarah's first son and daughter would support this but I've no other proof to date.
A positive identification in the 1841 census, which I've failed to make so far, might also provide clues to his family.
Not much to go on, and I'm not expecting miracles - but hoping for one nevertheless!
Thanks,
Alastair
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Hello Everyone,
I think this one may require some local knowledge - after several years of looking I feel I may have exhausted online resources as a source of information.
The link to John Chisholm and Anne MacRae comes from a letter written by a Colin Chisholm at the time of the 1890 wedding of my great grandfather William Chisholm (Alexander's second son).
He says that William was the first cousin of Rev Archibald Chisholm, a Roman Catholic priest whose parents were William Chisholm and Catherine Chisholm and whose family is well documented.
This William's parents were John Chisholm and Anne MacRae.
But it is really the death and burial of Alexander I'm trying to discover as well as his widow's burial.
Fingers crossed!
Alastair
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Hi Alastair and Barbara :)
I'm sure there's a lot of info that Scottish members might have - I'll have a look tomorrow but will also put a link on the Scotland board.
Gadget
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Hi Alastair
I've found a possible burial in the Inverness RC burial records for 1 Jan 1858 but SP is linking me to the wrong page. I'll get back to you when I get more info.
Gadget
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Hi Alastair
I've found a possible burial in the Inverness RC burial records for 1 Jan 1858 but SP is linking me to the wrong page. I'll get back to you when I get more info.
Gadget
Hi Gadget,
Thanks for picking this one up.
I pulled up that erroneous page from SP a while ago, when the CPRs first came online - I don't think I ever got the correct record from them. ???
For a burial on 1 Jan 1858 you'd expect to find a record in the Statutory Deaths late Dec 1857 - but there's nothing ...
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Hello again Alastair
They've promised to get back to me in 3 days - as normal. I've found them very good and I usually get info back within the day :)
I've alerted one of our members, Ghostwhisperer, who has a large database of MIs for the Highlands.
I assume that you've seen the baptism on 15th Sept 1814 in Kilmorack parish:
John Chisholm, Wright, and his spouse Ann Noble at Breachacky had a child baptised called Alexander
Children to the same parents, baptised Kilmorack
20 Nov 1809 - Janet
20 Mar 1812 - Mary
23 Feb 1818 - (no first name)
12 Sept 1820 - Helen
Sorry if I'm repeating things that you know but it might help others in the search.
Gadget
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Possibly Sarah's parents
Clachan Comar
34. Pray for the souls of William MacDonald who died at Cannich 12th Oct 1866 aged 78 years and his wife Harriet Fraser who predeceased him 2nd Feb 1864 aged 70 years. And also of their son James who died at Cannich 3rd June 1900 and his wife Margaret Chisholm who died 16th Sep 1899. And their sons William Joseph who died at sea 26th Aug 1904. Thomas MacDonald died 2nd Aug 1927. His sons William Joseph died 5th Dec 1921. James John (Hamish) died Feb 19??. Isabella MacGillivray died 21st ….. Wife of Thomas MacDonald.
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Just got the correct page from SP.It doesn't have any details. I've attached a snip. If you'd like the full page, PM me your e-mail and will send.
Gadget
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Thanks Ghostwhisperer - yes those are Sarah's parents and family. It's quite a grand headstone at Clachan Comar. Do you collect photos for your database? I have a few from Clachan Comar & St. Mary's Eskadale.
Gadget - thanks. Pity it's not very informative in the end! :-\ ...I do wonder where & when this Alex died as he doesn't appear in the stat records for late 1857 ...
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It could be any time in 1858/late 1857 Alastair. As I see it, it's just a list so the date of 1-1-1858 is just arbitrary :(
I've not found him in the SRs so far, though - like you.
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I assume that you've seen the baptism on 15th Sept 1814 in Kilmorack parish:
John Chisholm, Wright, and his spouse Ann Noble at Breachacky had a child baptised called Alexander
Hi Gadget,
Yes, I've a pretty large collection of Kilmorack/Kiltarlity BDMs - John, the Wright and Ann Noble's family are accounted for elsewhere.
Very few of the Roman Catholic events made it into the OPRs for these parishes . Perhaps some of the Marriage banns did but I haven seen any RC births in the OPRs.
As far as the 1858 burial goes, if the list was created 1 Jan 1858 I'd rule out 1858 as a year of death - wouldn't you?
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Oh I think I see what you mean ... the "1st Jan" is not actually written
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Yes I have photo's of most of them.
I have an Alexander who died in 1853 in Eskadale but I think he is only a teenager, hard to read the stone.
151. Of your charity pray for the soul of Alexander Chisholm died 1853 (aged 15?). Also of William Chisholm died Sep 1871. Also their mother Mary Forbes died ……
but nothing for 1857/58
I have the above John Chisholm & Ann Noble in Old Kilmorack
4. Erected by Donald Chisholm in memory of his mother Ann Noble died 20th Dec 1851, His father John Chisholm died 21st June 1864 and his beloved wife Ann Chisholm died 20th Jan 1865. Also of the erector of this stone Donald Chisholm who died at New Zealand 27th Jan 1891.
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If you contact The Highland Council with the details of Sarah's death they will be able to tell you where she is buried and if there is anyone else in the same plot.
service.point@highland.gov.uk
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If you contact The Highland Council with the details of Sarah's death they will be able to tell you where she is buried and if there is anyone else in the same plot.
service.point@highland.gov.uk
Thank you - that's something I haven't tried ... I shall do so now!
Alastair
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I assume you've ruled out the very odd Will/inventory of the late Alexander Chisholm, sometime Gamewatcher, Balnahaun, Strathglass in the County of Inverness, who died at the Northern Infirmary, Inverness on the twentyfourth day of April Eighteen hundred and ninety four.
Death cert gives him as 'about 60' and single - trying to track him down on censuses. Maybe an outside poss that they split up ::) :-\
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I must say I haven't looked at that will - but I rather took the fact that Sarah is a "widow" in censuses from 1861 onwards at face value.
They were a staunchly Catholic family and I imagine divorce was out of the question - but would they go as far as to disguise a separation as a death ... ???:-\
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Not sure, Alastair, but it's not impossible. I've seen it a few times. Most ordinary folk couldn't divorce in those days anyway - would need a private Act of Parliament - RC or not.
I can't find him very easily on the censuses - he had a sister Margaret who was the widow of a John Fraser. She seems to have inherited. A cousin, Archy Chisholm, registered the death.
An open mind is maybe worthwhile - don't discount yet.
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Turns out I do have that will on file - must have dismissed it a while ago! I'll have another look.
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Some stuff on Guisachan where the Golden Retriever was invented,
http://www.shilohpark.net/GoldenHistoryGuisachan.htm
I was going to suggest Eskadale for Catholic burials.
Skoosh.
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Will leave you to your will/inventory for the moment, Alastair. I've just had an 1727 Shropshire will/obligation of one of my ancestors in the post and I'm having trouble reading it!
Gadget
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Good luck with that Gadget! If you need any help deciphering ...
I have the Alexander who died 1894 on file - his sister Margaret married John Fraser at Little Struy in 1862. They were children of Alexander Chisholm and Janet (Jessie) MacRae. I can't see any connection to my Alexander whose estimated age is about 20 years different from this one ... :(
Skoosh - thanks for the suggestion and the Guisachan info. I know the Eskadale Churchyard well. My own father is buried there along with several other relatives - no sign of Alex and Sarah though ...
I'll be off air for a bit now ... got a plane to catch!
Alastair