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View Full Version : 1822 People in Thurso & other palces mentioned in will of John Miller



kristy_mac8
06-Jan-09, 01:18
I ordered another will on the off chance that it was the father of my Donald Miller (see other thread regarding his will). Having read this will, I now think that it's unlikely, but John Miller is still probably a relative of some sort. His sons are Alexander and William, who I believe to be:

bap.09 Aug 1798 in Thurso MILLER Alexander/ John Miller & Margaret Smith father Merchant
bap.07 Aug 1799 in Thurso MILLER William/ John Miller & Margaret Smith father Merchant

John Miller and Margaret Smith were married 04 Nov 1797.

John Miller would likely have been from the same generation as my Donald, maybe a cousin or more distant relative. Donald most probably had a brother called John, and given that Donald's firstborn son was called John, I think it's probable that Donald and John's father was a John Miller; just not this John Miller.
It's not a total loss, however, as this will also gives an extensive list of debtors, many living in Thurso. Some are on the list of Donald's debtors too.

As with the other will, some parts were hard forme to decipher, so please let me know if you have any suggestions as to what the question marked areas could say.

"Thurso, 20 November 1822 Presented by Mr Robert Mckay Writer Thurso.

The Testament Dative and Inventory of the Goods ?Gear/Year? debts and sums of money which were pertaining belonging and addebted ?resting? and owing to ?Uniquhill? John Miller late Merchant in Thurso at the time of his Death who died at Thurso the 23rd day of May 1822 years faithfully made and ?? up before the commissary of Caithness by Alexander Miller and William Miller merchants in Thurso, sons of the said deceased John Miller, Executors Dative ?qua? nearest in kin to him and that by decree of the Commissary Depute of Caithness [Note: This is John Reid] dated the 23rd day of October 1822 as the same in itself at more lengths purports.

Follows the Inventory of the Personal Estate of John Miller late merchant in Thurso who died at Thurso the 23 day of May 1822.

?Impremis? - Cash in the Shop 8/-/-

Principal sum in John ?Shain/Thain? and William Cumming both in Thurso their Conjunct? acceptance dated 27 March 1822 payable at two months 10/-/-

Principal sum in James Anderson of Rispond acceptance dated 27 March 1822 payable 6 months after date ----------18/-/-

Two Shares in ?Smack? Union of Thurso appraised by Andrew McBeath and George Dunnet Merchants Thurso------23/-/-

The whole following sloops viz:
The Henry and John and
Margaret both of Thurso appraised
as above at------------------------------------770/-/-
Ditto of the sloops James sold to
Admiral Durham of ?Fordel? since
the ?Defunds/deponds? Death at------280/-/-

Book debts due by Sundries
Supposed recoverable viz:
Lady Isabella Sinclair Castlehill -/12/9
George Traill Esquire Castlehill 26/11/-
Lieu. David Miller ?Fordal? 6/8/-
Mrs John Davidson Buckies/Buchies 17/7/1-and-a-half
Mrs Conner Cowgate Thurso 1/5/7
William Wilson Esquire Banker -/6/-
Marjory Nicoll Servant Thurso -/3/3
Jane Williamson Thurso -/19/10
John Duncan ?Masin? Scrabster -/13/11
James Traill Esquire of Ratter -/9/-
Alex. Cooper Joiner Thurso 1/14/6
Dr John Bain Thurso 1/7/5
Pegg Bremner Thurso 1/16/-
Mr Robert Forsyth Joiner Thurso 3/9/-
Janet Jack Servant ?Shurreel/Shinnel? 1/6/6
Mr Robert Rose Ormly 4/17/5
Mr George Douglas Thurso -/5/6
Mr John Patterson Borlum 8/13/6
Donald Swanson Servant Castle? -/14/6
Mr Col Grant Thurso 1/2/10
Miss Janet Durran Thurso 7/-/-
Captain ?I/J? Campbell ?Carsgoe? 1/18/6
Dr William Carnaby Thurso 3/10/-
Mr Peter Finlayson Hoy 5/3/-
Mrs Miller Dyer Thurso 1/2/10
Simpson ?Potsin? Servant Thurso -/16/6
Mr James Cormack Thurso 1/13/4
William Doull Joiner Thurso -/18/-
Kelly Gollacks Servant Thurso -/3/9
John Falconer Calder 1/19/10
Collector McLeay Thurso -/19/-
Dr Torrance Thurso 22/18/-
Lieut.William Gunn Thurso 1/7/6
Pegg Sutherland Servant Thurso -/6/3
William Cormack ?Sr? ?Flemster? -/6/5
Capt. D. Campbell Juniper Bank 7/-/-
Mr William Davidson Planstill 3/19/-
Miss Traill Castlehill 12/-/-
Mr E. Cameron Excise Officer 1/3/5
Marg. Jack Sewer Thurso -/15/6
Janet Angus Servant Thurso -/16/6
Miss Calder Mount Pleasant -/6/5
Christian Henderson Mount Pleasant -/11/7
David Miller ?Leulon? Thurso -/4/-
Ronald Bain Cooper Smith -/8/8
Mr Alex. Brodie Thurso -/13/4
James Bedge Cooper Thurso 3/-/11
?Mr/Mrs? McKenzie Thurso 1/13/-
Mr Sinclair Bain Mason Thurso 1/14/-
Mr Robert Keir 1/11/8
Mr Hugh Davidson Wick 6/16/4
Lieut. Hugh Gordon Thurso -/12/6
Bell Waters Servant Skinnet [in Tongue parish, Sutherland] -/10/-
Mr William Swanson Fishcurer 13/10/-
Major C. Mackay Bighouse 6/10/-
Mrs Cooper Thurso -/3/6
Donald Miller Farmer ?Bromich? -/7/3
Mr D. Miller Skinnet [in Tongue parish, Sutherland] 15/-/-
Mr James Anderson Rispond 10/-/-
(NOTE: Mamie_2 believes this to be James Anderson 1776-1854, son of James Anderson 1746-1828, and Anne Innes)
Esther Reid Thurso -/8/-
John Sinclair Farmer Clardon -/3/6
Alexander ?Jack? ?Fent? Skinnet [in Tongue parish, Sutherland] 1/4/10
Christian Sinclair Thurso -/12/4
Mrs. Major Williamson 50/-/-
Capt. ?JD/PD? Calder Mountpleasant 15/-/9
Mr Arthur Davidson Thurso -/13/8-and-a-hald
Miss Sinclair of Barnock 1/4/-
Eliza Nicoll Sewer Thurso -/6/4
Mr William Smith Thurso 3/19/-
Miss Hannah Mackay Thurso -/5/2
Mr I/J Turnaball Excise Officer 4/8/-
Mrs A Smith Widow Thurso 6/6/-
Alex. Sinclair Whitefield 1/8/2
Christian Manson Thurso -/10/-
William Henderson Esquire Sh___? 18/-/-
Mrs M. Murray Thurso 78/-/-
Janet Gunn Servant Thurso -/4/-
Miss Davidson Buckies 2/12/6
William Custer Farmer ?Durran? 1/2/6
Sinclair Davidson Mey [Canisbay parish]-/7/-
[Mamie_2 believes that Sinclair is most likely the son of James Davidson and Henrietta b.1802]
Jane Henderson ?St? Thurso -/2/8
Jane Swanson Thurso -/10/6
Barbara Paul Thurso -/10/6
Mr George Miller Thurso 19/17/-
Capt. ?Durnafs? Thurso 1/-/4
Donald Tailor Cartwright Thurso 2/10/-
Henry Cline ?Fent? Sordale -/8/6
Rev. Mr George Davidson Latheron 1/18/11
Mr James Henderson ?Flemster? -/18/-
William Swanson Scrabster 1/5/-
Miss Bell Manson Thurso 4/6/7
Captain John Henderson Castle 4/10/20
?Colb? Scott of the Excise -/13/6
Mr William Polson Shoemaker 1/9/-

Book debts due but considered doubtful from the circumstances of the debtors:
Captain Wemyss ?Junier? 2/4/6-and-a-half
Ann Mansen Thurso East -/10/-
Mr Patersen Pennyland 10/2/8-and-a-half
Christian Gunn Servant Castlehill -/13/8
Rev. M. Cameron late minister of ?Slath/Halk? 4/18/-
Mr Peter Angus Joiner Thurso 3/1/5
Mrs Janet Calder Thurso 32/3/- (later it's mentioend that she has paid three pounds towards her account)
Margaret Henderson Buckies -/6/1
Donald Polson Olrig 1/13/-
Widow Tailor Thurso -/3/5
Daniel Taylor Manson Thurso -/8/4
Margaret Shinner Servant Thurso -/10/11
Margaret Fraser Thurso east -/4/6
Barbara Gow ?Culbster/Cilbster? -/3/3

Book debts due but Desp??:
Mr John Reid & D? Thurso 5/7/5
Mr Joseph McKid Thurso 1/15/10
Elizabeth Sandison Achorlie 1/4/7
Mr David Robeson Thurso 4/19/9
Reve. M. Smith Bower 47/13/7
Barbara Whier ?Halkirk -/6/7
Mr James Anderson late coll of excise 13/10/3
Georgina Cormack Thurso 1/-/-
Mrs ?Elaine/Clunie? Canisbay 1/3/-
Mr James Calder Mountpleasant 2/9/2
Mr Alexander Paterson ?Cale? Pennyland 19/2/6
Catherine Angus ?_roble -/14/1-and-a-half
William Miller Shoer Thurso -/6/-
In which no malice whatever can be put, debtors being completely insolvent.

Stock in Trade as valued by Andrew McBeath and George Dunnet Merchants Thurso at-1000."

Pease e-mail me if you'd like a copy of the whole will.

Kristy

Mamie_2
07-Jan-09, 16:25
Place name is Mey which is in Canisbay parish. The most likely Sinclair Davidson is the son of James Davidson and Henrietta bron in 1802. There is another born in 1794 the son of David and Margaret Smith but I don't think he ever lived in Mey while the younger one did.

Also

"skinnet'/thinnet" would be Skinnet in Tongue parish, Sutherland

bovlum could be Borlum

soidale could be Sordale

Aalkirk could be Halkirk

James Anderson of Rispond 1776 - 1854 the son of James Anderson 1746 - 1828 and Anne Innes. He could certainly be recorded as Mr. James Anderson. Rispond is in Durness, Sutherland.

Mamie

kristy_mac8
07-Jan-09, 21:42
Thank you very much for your help, Mamie, for the corrections and background information. Thurso is about the only placename that I'm familiar with in that area, so it's great to get thr proper names of places I was only guessing at.

Cheers,
Kristy