RootsChat.Com
Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Aberdeenshire => Topic started by: Kathmferrier on Saturday 12 July 25 21:22 BST (UK)
-
I’m trying to get information on William Park born in Kintore in 1860 to Mary Snowie and John Park.
I can find him with his parents and some siblings on the 1871 census in Inverurie.
The next find is a series of entries, 13 in all, for admissions to Aberdeen East and Craiginches prisons. These span 1888 - 1909. His address is often no fixed abode, the corporation lodging house, a couple of addresses in Aberdeen city, Insch and Fraserburgh. Occupation is always Labourer. (See attachment). Clicking on full record takes me to a site that asks for payment, £5.00 to get information. Does anyone know of other means?
Can’t find a marriage or a death.
-
No attachment - which site are you referring to?
-
Sorry I had a problem posting this. It wouldn’t let me post the attachment and I now see it’s posted the original post and not the one with the amendments I made after I couldn’t post the attachment. This is the site https://www.scottishindexes.com/prisonsearch.aspx
-
William Park died in Fraserburgh in 1913, age 55
His death certificate is available from Scotlands People
-
Thank you for that.
Don’t know how I missed it when I was looking.
Pour soul drowned.
-
You said that William was born to John Park and Mary Snowie in Kintore. I presume you have seen the 1913 death certificate and it confirms his parents' names. The following says he was a native of Lonmay.
The Fraserburgh Herald and Northern Counties Advertiser, July 15th, 1913:
FRASERBURGH MAN DROWNED. -
William Park, labourer, of no fixed
abode, a worthy known throughout
Aberdeenshire as "The Chief" was
found drowned in Fraserburgh Harbour
on Saturday morning. He was last seen
alive in the vicinity of the Balaclava
Harbour on Friday night, and on
Saturday his body was found floating in
the water, while his jacket was dis-
covered neatly folded up on the quay.
It is supposed that he had fallen into
the harbour while attempting to board a
board* to have a sleep. "The Chief" who
was 55 years of age, was a native of the
Lonmay district. He had seen service in
the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
and also in the Gordons, and went
through the Egyptian campaign.
Latterly he had served in the militia.
"The Chief" was a humorous, harmless
fellow, and was a great favourite
amongst the stevedores at Fraserburgh.
* "board" has been repeated instead of "vessel".
Doubtless the newspapers will also contain reports of any court cases involving him.
-
Thank you so much.
I have checked the death certificate and it’s definitely my paternal grandmother’s uncle. Sadly his eldest brother, my great grandfather, an ex soldier also drowned once he left the militia.
According to Scotlands people William was born in Kintore but his father was born in Lonmay.
So far I’ve not managed to find any reports oj why he was in prison so often.
-
There are several William Parks, but these may be him.
Aberdeen Evening Express, 18-6-1883 (Aberdeen Police Court):
CONTRAVENTION OF POLICE ACT.
A soldier, named William Park, pleaded guilty to
contravening the Police Act by committing a nuisance,
and was fined 5s, with the option of two days'
imprisonment.
Peterhead Sentinel and Buchan Journal, 5-8-1905 (Fraserburgh Police Court):
William Park, tramp, labourer,
pleased guilty to having been drunk and in-
capable on Shore Street on Tuesday. He was
fined 10s, with the option of five days' imprison-
ment.
The Aberdeen Daily Journal, 17-5-1909:
A VAGRANT'S SPREE. - William Park,
vagrant, appeared before Dean of Guild
Murray at a Justice of Peace Court in Aber-
deen on Saturday, on a charge of having been
found in a state of intoxication in Commerce
Street, Insch, on Friday. He pleaded guilty,
said he was sorry for having taken so much
liquor, and was fined 20s, with the alternative
of seven days' imprisonment.
-
Thanks for these.
2 of these tie in with what I found on the Prison register index.
Fraserburgh in 1905 and Insch in 1909.
No entry for 1883 but he had been a soldier so it’s possible he could pay the fine.
Thanks again
-
If you post the other dates you know he was imprisoned, I'll see if anything appears in the court columns then.
-
That is so kind of you.
Unless I state otherwise he is of no fixed abode
1888
1889 12 Burnetts close Aberdeen
1892
1893Premnay
1898
1903 Fra[…] I’m thinking possibly Fraserburgh
1904 East North St (?)
1904 Corporation Lodging House Aberdeen
1906
1908
1909 there are two admissions in 1909 the one you found earlier for Insch and another one.
Occupation is labourer except for 1903, both 1904 entries and 1908 when no occupation is given.
-
I can see one definite and one possible.
This may be him in 1889.
The Evening Gazette, 2-7-1889 (Aberdeen Police Court - before Bailie Mearns):
OBSCENE LANGUAGE. - William Park (29) pleaded
guilty to having used obscene and profane language
in Stronach's Court yesterday. Fined 15s, with the
alternative of seven days' imprisonment.
This is him in 1892, with the related trial of John Innes.
Fraserburgh Herald and Northern Counties' Advertiser, 16-8-1892:
FRASERBURGH POLICE COURT.
FRIDAY.
(Before BAILIE DICKSON.)
SETTING UP OPPOSITION - William Park (29),
tramp, or labourer, with no fixed place of
abode, pleaded guilty to a charge of breach
of peace and malicious mischief. Evidence was
led from which it appeared that Park, while in a
state of intoxication interfered with some street
preachers, and that he had been shouting and
conducting himself in such a manner as to
create a breach of the peace; further, that
when apprehended he had become quite obstre-
perous and sought to prove himself better than
the policeman physically. This he did, it was
said, by the assistance of others, but he was
re-apprehended next morning. Accused was found
guilty and sentenced to 15 days' imprisonment.
Fraserburgh Herald and Northern Counties' Advertiser, 23-8-1892:
OBSTRUCTING THE POLICE. - John Innes (35),
fishcurer, Cross Street, was charged with obstruct-
ing and molesting Constable Andrew Gordon,
while engaged in the execution of his duty in con-
veying to the Police Office, Fraserburgh, William
Park, whom he had taken on a charge of breach of
the peace, and by seizing hold of the Constable did
thereby enable the prisoner to make his escape. Innes
admitted interfering with the police, but declared
that the constable was abusing the man, and there-
fore he considered it his duty to interfere. He
would plead not guilty because he wanted to hear
the evidence. Evidence was led. Constable
Gordon corroborated the statements in the com-
plaint. In answer to Innes he denied that he
"punched the man with his fists." Charles Steven-
son, clerk, said he saw Innes take hold of the
policeman's arm. He also saw the constable strike
Park. For the defence, Peter Cheyne was
allowed to detail what he saw. The man, he said,
got a knock on the left side of the breast that might
have broken the collar bone. Innes said it was
more than flesh and blood could stand to see a man
so abused, and thereupon took hold of the police-
man. In answer to the Fiscal, he said, that Park
was being dragged to the police office; he supposed be-
cause he refused to walk. William Clark,
labourer, said he thought Innes was quite justified
in interfering when the policeman was bad using
the man. He also said in answer to the
Fiscal that Park was resisting the police.
This was all the evidence. The Fiscal
said it was not for him to define what was Mr
Innes' object. It might have been with the best of
intention; but there was no doubt that legally it
was wrong. The witness Clark propounded a most
mistaken idea when he said he considered it the
duty of anybody to have interfered. In this
country it was the duty of everybody to assist the
policeman when necessary. It was quite evident, he
said, that Park had been resisting the police. He
thought Mr Innes, instead of interfering with the
police, would have done a public duty, had he
assisted him, and then afterwards, had he any
charge to make of the policeman having exceeded
his duty, to have lodged the same at the office when
it would have been properly investigated. The
Bailie, after a few remarks, passed sentence of 20s
or ten days' imprisonment.
-
Hi
Thanks very much for these. Looks like he was a bit of a black sheep. He was my grandmother’s father’s brother. She was orphaned at the age of 3. Her mother’s side of the family ended being responsible for her and from what I’ve found out about this side of her family I understand why.