River Pilot/Fisherman Islay

[sheilago]

One of my ancestors, John McMillan was listed as fisherman in most census info, but on his daughter's marriage and death records he is described as a River Pilot. He lived 1796-1882 in Bowmore Islay. Does anyone know why this would be - perhaps a misinterpretation along the way?. His daughter was illiterate and a native Gaelic speaker. I would also be pleased to hear if anyone knows anything about fishing in Islay at this time.

[Ina]

Hi Sheilago,

All of my ancestors came from Bowmore. I just spent a week there this summer, lovely little island. The folks on SCT-ISLAY-L-request@rootsweb.com may be able to help you out, they know everything there is to know about Islay and are very helpful.

A few other sites to help you with Islay research are http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~steve/islay/rawdata/
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~steve/islay/links.htm
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~steve/islay/data.htm

Happy searching.

Ina

[sheilago]

Hello Ina,
Thanks for your reply - I will try RootsWeb, but someone on Talking Scot solved the big mystery of who my gt grandmother was, so I've great faith in this forum too!
I live in Scotland and have also visited Islay (in 2006) - even managed to find a distant uncle (I think) buried in Kilarrow churchyard. Unfortunately I just didn't have enough time to myself, to really do much research as it was a family holiday and my 2 teenagers cannot understand my interest in the past! Did you visit the council office in Bowmore - I went there purely by accident and found the staff were very helpful, interested and informed.

[Ina]

Hello Ina,
Thanks for your reply - I will try RootsWeb, but someone on Talking Scot solved the big mystery of who my gt grandmother was, so I've great faith in this forum too!
.

Hi Sheilago,

You are absolutely right, this is a wonderful site and we have many knowledgable and helpful members.

I didn't go to the council office in Bowmore, but I visited the Family History Centre at Bridgend, and the lady there was very helpful.

The most help I got was through a contact from genesreunited, from a woman who put me in touch with a 3rd cousin who still lives in Bowmore. I visited with him several times during my stay in Bowmore and he was a great help to me. He drew maps directing me to gravesites that I would never have found on my own. Also took me around town and showed me all of the houses that my relatives had occupied at one time or another.

When I first started searching for my Islay ancestors, I found Ted Larson's site to be a great help.

How did your teenagers like Islay? I had my sixteen year old identical twin nieces with me and the were bored out of their minds

Happy searching,

Ina

[Currie]

Hello Sheilago,

I don’t know anything at all about the local geography. That said, he may have been both, i.e. a Fisherman and someone with the necessary qualifications to act as a River Pilot when one was needed. Maybe there wasn’t enough work for a full time River Pilot or if there was maybe he was a backup.

He might have thought of himself as just a Fisherman and entered that on the census. His daughter might have used the River Pilot occupation at her marriage because it sounds more impressive and whoever reported the death just carried on from that.

Just a few uninformed thoughts,
Alan