COMPLETED with thanks -- Role of Tacksman -- early 19th century

[CelticAnnie]

After working on various canal-building-related projects in Shropshire and North Wales, my Shropshire-born ggggrandfather took himself (and his family) off to Inverness in 1804 to assist (as a contractor) in the construction of the great Caledonian Canal.  But I have always been puzzled that a (family-related) legal document of 1822 identifies him as 'sometime tacksman of Connage, now residing in Inverness' -- how/why could and would he have been a tacksman?!  He was an outsider -- an incomer; certainly wouldn't have been a native gaelic speaker (I don't know if he perhaps picked up a smattering of the language); and he appears to have been very fully occupied with his work on the canal.  I cannot think of a less likely choice of individual to be a tacksman -- as I understand that role traditionally to have been!

I am sure that the '45 rebellion and the Highland clearances must have brought great changes to the role of tacksman, although I have no idea specifically how the role changed.  Had it perhaps just become an honorary but fairly meaningless title by the early 19th century?  Has anybody else encountered individuals they would consider 'unlikely candidates' in the role of tacksman around this time? 

I would greatly welcome any assistance on this that anyone can offer!  Many thanks!

CELTIC ANNIE

[conner395]

By that period I would think "tacksman" probably meant no more and no less than "renter of land" - albeit Connage (Ardersier) would have been a fair distance from the Caledonian Canal workings for a daily commute back then.

He may however have travelled by boat if the work was based at the Clachnaharry (sea-lock) portion. Would he perhaps have taken the long-term tenancy of land (and house) rather than rent or buy a house in Inverness itself?

Just my 2d worth
Dave

[CelticAnnie]

Thanks, Dave -- that's really helpful; and this man was indeed based at Clachnaharry in the early stages of the canal's construction, so that fits.   I'd never thought about him possibly commuting by boat before, but -- why not?!  I imagine during the early part of its construction there weren't many residential options available to 'managerial' level workers, and you just had to take whatever you could get -- conveniently situated or not.

Ooooooh, I feel a lot happier about this point, now -- it's been niggling at me for quite a while!  So thank you for that!

CELTIC ANNIE

[CelticAnnie]

p.s.  I don't think this man had had any previous experience of big city living before coming to Inverness, and that might have made him wary of finding accomodation there for his large, young family -- at least initially, until he could check out what city living was about and decide whether it was an environment he was happy for his family to be in.  That would make sense too.

[Skoosh]

Annie,  traditionally a tacksman was a middle-man who held a tack (lease) of a property, collected the tenants rents and paid the laird his cut. A tack could also apply to a fishery or a smaller property such as a mill.
As a class they were gradually replaced by factors and became obsolete in the 19th century as landowners commenced squeezing the pips.
Inverness was still just a small town at the period mentioned.

Skoosh.

[CelticAnnie]

Hi Skoosh  -- and thank you!

Yes, I was certainly aware of the traditional role of the tacksman -- that's why I couldn't understand how/why my "incomer" canal-building ancestor ended up with that title.  Perhaps the land/home he apparently occupied at Ardersier was that which in earlier times had been occupied by the local (but now perhaps defunct) tacksman -- and so he "qualified" for the title, in rapidly changing times, on that basis?

CELTIC ANNIE

[CelticAnnie]

p.s. (again -- sorry!)   As I understood it, Skoosh, the role of tacksman was traditionally granted to an individual by the clan chieftain or laird, and he would generally appoint a close-ish family member or at least a long-known and trusted fellow clan member.  (which description, of course, doesn't fit my ancestor at all).

[Skoosh]

Annie,  tacksman just means the holder of a lease, there's no title involved. If a clan chief owned the land the tacks would most indeed most likely go to his close relatives when the old tacks expired.
Where the land was owned by a feudal superior, the tacks were his to grant. This was the cause of much aggro, the last clan battle for example was fought over unpaid rents to the Mackintosh by Keppoch, some of whose clan held tacks and paid rent to the Duke of Gordon.
Presumably your ancestor was working for Telford, the project took years to complete and your ancestor presumably took out a lease on a property for that time. Presumably the tack was registered.
This is not the same as the English system of freehold & leasehold. The National Archives might have something on this, there will certainly be piles of stuff on the canal project itself.

 http://www.nas.gov.uk/onlineCatalogue/

Bests,

Skoosh.

[CelticAnnie]

Apologies, Skoosh -- and thanks for your patience at my slowness.

Having read your second post, I now don't think I had as fully understood what being a tacksman signified (from reading online definitions) as I thought I had!  Learning in particular that -- amongst other things -- they were traditionally expected to raise a fighting force from amongst the tenants on their land when the landowner required it (clearly not relevant by this period, however!) I'd thought the landowner would only grant lease of the land to someone he knew very well and trusted eg kin.  I had not appreciated that possession of a tack could be open to anybody.

Many thanks for your further explanation -- and, as I say, for your patience.

Regards.

CELTIC ANNIE