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
