Mcpherson - Isle of Skye.....

[Oran]

Elizabeth Macpherson was born Isle of Skye about abt. 1822
Elizabeth's father was Alexander Macpherson (fisherman) and mother Catherine Robertson.
There appears to be no information about her life, or parents on the Isle of Skye, due to the lack of records.
The census finds below were to trace Elizabeth’s movements and an effort to establish her birthplace.

Elizabeth Mcpherson appears to have left her home land the Isle of Skye after the birth of a son Alexander born 1849,
maybe due to a failed marriage/Bann, famine, or The Clearance’s.

We would really like to know, how Elizabeth would have travelled to Fort William, would she have sailed, walked, or train?
Also we have not found Elizabeth Mcpherson in the 1851 census or the 1881 census, can anyone help please?

We know Elizabeth was not with her husband Robert in 1881 as he is found at, 35 Nicolson Street, Greenock, with his son John.

1856 Elizabeth Macpherson aged 34 years married Robert Phillips aged 36 years, on 27th Novemeber 1856. In Fort William, Kilmallie parish, county of Argyle. Witnessed by a Colin Mcpherson, possibly a brother or relative.

It might be worth mentioning Elizabeth’s parents were not listed a deceased on the marriage entry, and another thing that intrigues me is what is Robert Phillips born abt. 1820 doing in a remote area of Loch Arkaig in the 1851 census, staying with a Shephard family (Angus), listed as visitor, aged 30 years, Shoemaker, born England, Hants.

1861 Census Fort William Area - Inverness-shire Scotland Page 5 - MALL

PARISH PLACE HOUSE FNAME SURNAME SEX RELSHIP MARRIED AGE OCCUPATION BIRTHPLACE

MALL STRONE 2 ROBERT PHILIP M HEAD M 41 AG.LAB. ENGLAND
MALL STRONE 2 ELIZABETH PHILIP F WIFE M 45 KILMUIR
MALL STRONE 2 ALEXANDER PHILIP M SON U 12 SCHOLAR KILMUIR
MALL STRONE 2 ELIZABETH PHILIP F DAUR U 6 SCHOLAR KILMALIE
MALL STRONE 2 JOHN PHILIP M SON U SCHOLAR 4 KILMALIE

Source of information: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com ... llcen.html

The 1871 census Kilmallie

ROBERT PHILLIPS 51 LABOURER ENGLAND
ELIZABETH PHILLIPS 51 KILAMLLIE Inverness (Wrongly transcribed)
ROBERT PHILLIPS 22 CARTER KILAMLLIE ARGYL
JOHN PHILLIPS 14 SCHOLAR KILAMLLIE ARGYL
MARY ANN PHILLIPS 11 SCHOLAR KILAMLLIE ARGYL

Incidentally, I would extremely interested to know where this Robert Phillips b. 1850 was born, as there is a anomaly, with this Robert, I will try to explain. The family is found in the 1861 census , but when we next find the family in 1871 census for Killmallie, Alexander is no longer listed? As you can see, it seems Alexander disappears, and a Robert is listed in the next census, maybe this is in fact Alexander? but his name has been changed to Robert for some reason?

1891 census, Elizabeth Mcpherson by now a widow, had reverted back to her maiden name Mcpherson, living in East Shaw Street, Greenock, with two Grand daughters staying with her, Catherine Phillip aged 5 born Glasgow. Catherine Gilroy aged 13 born Greenock. Elizabeth listed as born Isle of Skye, Sleet, Scotland.

1901 census, Elizabeth Macpherson could speak Gaelic and English aged 83 years, worked form home possibly spinning, and her birth place is listed as Scotland, Skye.

1902 Census, Elizabeth Mcpherson, a widow and living in East Shaw Street, Greenock, she died 3rd August 1902 witnessed by resident daughter in law Elizabeth Connell.

[AndrewP]

We would really like to know, how Elizabeth would have travelled to Fort William, would she have sailed, walked, or train?

The one to rule out is the train. There is no train service on Skye. If she travelled from Kilmuir in the northernmost peninsula of Skye and across the short sea crossing to Kyle of Lochalsh, then I question if the railway had reached there by then. Even now, there is no direct rail link for her route. You would have to go from Kyle to Inverness, to Glasgow via Stirling, and to Fort William via Crianlarich.

Even now, the road links are quite circuitous from Kyle of Loachalsh tlo Fort William. My feeling is that a sea crossing from Skye to Mallaig then by road, or maybe a much longer sea journey to Fort William.

The 1871 census Kilmallie

ROBERT PHILLIPS 51 LABOURER ENGLAND
ELIZABETH PHILLIPS 51 KILAMLLIE Inverness (Wrongly transcribed)
ROBERT PHILLIPS 22 CARTER KILAMLLIE ARGYL
JOHN PHILLIPS 14 SCHOLAR KILAMLLIE ARGYL
MARY ANN PHILLIPS 11 SCHOLAR KILAMLLIE ARGYL

If your mis-transcription if the county for Kilmallie, it is worth a check of the original census document. Kilmallie was one of the parishes that straddled the Inverness-shire / Argyll(shire) boundary. So both counties could be correct, if the people were from different parts of the parish.

All the best,

Andrew Paterson

[Oran]

Hello again AndrewP,

We will have to stop meeting like this

Thank-you for your reply, I was asking as I am sure the 1851 census for Fort William was searched, but no Elizabeth Mcpherson found, and Elizabeth has not been found in 1851 and the route might give clues as to where Elizabeth might have stayed on route to Fort William, I did read its roughly 29 miles from Mallaig to Fort William, So one of these looks more likely...

My feeling is that a sea crossing from Skye to Mallaig then by road, or maybe a much longer sea journey to Fort William.

The Kilmallie parish is spread over two counties, inverness-shire and Argyllshire, but we know mother Elizabeth was not born Kilmallie.
Another point of interest, is that Elizabeth & Robert had a daughter Elizabeth born 1855 in Kilmallie which might account for the confusion, however daughter Elizabeth does not appear to be listed, interestingly the mother of, Josiah Gilray 1880.

[Tracey]

Hello Oran

I had similar problems as i didnt know about the boundaries there and Andrew answered my question too.
On the 1861 census for my gtx3 grandmother her birth place is spelt Kilmally - Invernesshire Kilmally and not with an ie - Kilmallie on birth certificates as place of marriage . After 1861 her birth place is described as Invernesshire Fort William.
I dont know if the y spelling would make a difference to your search

Tracey

[Oran]

Hello again Tracey,

Thank-you for your reply, it seems a small world, you didnt mention your grt x 3 grandmothers name that was born in Fort William.

The trouble is I am not sure when Elizabeth left the Isle of Skye, and may have been travelling to Fort William when the 1851 census was taken, and may have stayed with friends, or family, on her journey to Fort William.

[Tracey]

Hello Oran

Her name was Mary Shaw b c1820 ish She married in Kilmallie 1844 and then went to Rathven where my gt x3 was from and lived unhappily ever after

Tracey

[Thrall]

Her name was Mary Shaw b c1820 ish She married in Kilmallie 1844 and then went to Rathven where my gt x3 was from and lived unhappily ever after

Hi Tracey, perhaps a smidgin of info?????

One doesn´t put the word "unhappily" in a sentence for no reason.....

We´re waiting.............

Best wishes all the same,

Thrall

[Tracey]

Ok Thrall you asked for it ! but will spare you the lot as its only of interest to me really and dont want to lead Oran's original post astray...............(and am going to delete this if it does so read quickly !)

1872
This man has been struck off the roll of poor or parish of Rathven and has again applied. Has 4 off a family at home, the oldest a daughter earning when able 1/- per day at nursery, next a son at Tan Works at 3/- per week, next earns 2/6 per week going messages. Two other do nothing and are supposed to be at school. Pauper complains about ill health and half of his disease appears to be laziness. He occupies a dreadful den of dirt and confusion.

1876
Settlement, Rathven who discontinued after letter 13 March last. She subsequently applied to the sheriff who ordered relief as per copy ? and deliverance dates the 27th March. So far as my experience goes this is an unusual proceeding and I was greatly taken aback by it. I immediately gave the applicant [personally] an order to the house, which however she refused. I also gave by direction of the a hair- man, sent a copy of the document specified above to Rathven and asked instructions . James Ettles Inspector . Hair man - i can only assume she was crawling with lice
Gave Donaldson in order to the house [which she refused] and intimates the proceedings to Rathven and asked instructions.

1878
Has been ill for eight days prior to application and wholly disabled. Family does little for her and some of them are unable. Settlement Rathven.

1879
Applicant has been laid aside from work for some time and her family will do little for her, she is very destitute. The case is well known, several of her are doing literally nothing.

1880
Rathven the settlement in this case will give no out door relief whenever applicant is declared fit for removal, and as she is certified able to go to the Poor-House, offer that was accordingly made. Her family are poor and as unwilling as they are poor to assist their Mother

Confined to bed for eight days and in her usual chronic state of destitution. Daughter Elizabeth newly discharged from Hospital after being there for ten weeks. Other members of her family as unwilling as they are unable to maintain her


Along with losing children at a very young age, her life like many others of the time doesnt seem like it was a bed of roses.

All the above courtesy of Angel

[Oran]

I was very interested to read about your 3 x great grandmother Mary Shaw and her details, although I was sorry to read about Mary Shaw's life, I am sure many people suffered the same or worse, not much consolation I know.

May I ask from what records you would get such detailed information.

[Tracey]

Hello Oran

These are Poor Relief Records for my some of my lot. I discovered these via a site www.moray.gov.uk which has made a massive effort to put a lot of information on line and lucky for me my family were from the Moray Banffshire area's and even luckier Angel on here spent the time copying them for me. Through this site and the records i wouldnt have found some of their children as there is no record so far on the OPR.S for them on SP. Moray have done a fine job of making a lot of stuff available and are hugely helpful. If your family applied for poor relief it should be recorded where ever they settled, maybe a Local Studies Library ? Old Meldrum Local Studies have been extreemly helpful to me in the past concerning some of my family from Gamrie. The more you find of your family it may be worth contacting a Local Studies Library in that area (where they did settle) to see of they have any information on them. This is almost how i began. After finding so much on SP i began contacting Local Studies Libraries with good results to carry me further. Not everyones way of going about it but it worked for me.
Maybe someone else will come along and explain this better.

Despite what our forebears endured i have huge respect and admiration for them and their struggle and like many have cried many tears wondering what life really meant for them.