Place: Bualtorran/Bualdorran; Name: Oman
Hello everyone,
I am a new member, quite new to genealogy too, and I have hit a brick wall. Any help/suggestions gratefully received!
I have a George OMAN b 9 Nov 1805, son of William OMAN, Bualtorran, Latheron. I also find that William OMAN, Bualdorran, Latheron, had three other children between 1802 and 1811 - presumably George's siblings.
Can anyone tell me, please, where Bual(t)(d)orran is or was? On maps I have seen Buoltach and Buolfruich north-west-ish of Latheronwheel area but I can't see any sign of a more similar name.
Also, if anyone knows anything about this family, I'd love some help with it. George's death cert just gives his parents as William OMAN and ? OMAN m.s. MCKENZIE, I haven't found anything to pursue there. Nor can I find anything on his Bualdorran siblings (John, James and Janet) - quite common Caithness Oman forenames and none of the ones I have tracked to death certs have a MCKENZIE mother; of course they may have died young, emigrated etc. Or maybe they are just hiding from me!
Thanks in advance for any help.:)
Scots Bluebell
Oman = Owman=Omond=Omand=Omman=Ouman
Have you tried all the spelling variatons? The above are the ones I have come across so far.
There is a George Owman age 35 in Dunnet in 1841. Also in this household is a Jane Owman 50.
The other George's on the FREECEN version are both only 7.
in 1851 there is one in Dunnet and one in Olrig both born in Dunnet.
one at Kirkstyle, Dunnet with a much older wife Jane the above 35 yr old in Dunnet in 1841 I would guess
one at Barrock Mains, Olrig a chelsea pensioner and groom with wife Eleanor born Ireland. It would seem likely that his regiment was in Ireland in 1841 and Australia in c 1843.
The only one in Latheron was 7 s/o William Oman.
In 1871 the 35 year old is in Dunnet Village age 68 with wife Jane age 80
No luck finding the placename in Latheron or anywhere for that matter lol.
Where did George actually die?
Mamie
Moving about/hiring fairs
Yes our ancestors did move around more than we might have guessed lol. Especially the ones on the coast who might have had boats/ships for fishing or trade.
Though there are the ones who did stay in the same place for generations as well.
Certainly by the 1850's there was quite a bit of relocation to either Edinburgh or Glasgow for work but it did take place earlier in both directions.
There is a lot of information on the clearances on line and in books. Google that and see what comes up.
Hiring fairs typically took place on specific days in the spring(May) and fall(November) and sometimes were part of a bigger "fair". A fair could include a sale of livestock as well as other goods. It was a time to meet friends as well as stock up on things you couldn't produce yourself or sell your excess items.
It would be more likely that you could get a job at the May fairs as landholders would need more labour in the spring and summer for planting, cultivation and harvest. You would have had to be the best workers to get a position for the winter. Not as much onlline about these.
I have been addicted to the genealogy puzzle for about 12 years now and I still keep finding new people to add to my tree. I don't think I will ever be completely done lol.
Mamie
Clearances and the name Oman
Scots Bluebell
A series of articles, commencing May 6 1977 in the John O' Groat Journal, deals with some of the clearances in Caithess commencing with Sir John Sinclair clearing Berridale in 1792 or thereabouts. This predated the clearances in Sutherland.
I also had a look at the 1841 census for the name Oman. There are 72 entries all born in Caithness with the oldest being born about 1760. This would suggest that the first Oman was in Caithness well before sheep.
Oman family, and movement of families
:D This forum is so-o-o good! Thanks for your helpful and interesting posts, Mamie, jimag and gh1936. It is great to learn some local info on the Caithness fairs - I have seen the place Georgemas on maps and thought it rather an odd name, so I am pleased to have the background on it.
As for where the name Oman comes from, I have always been told it is probably Scandinavian and came to Caithness via Orkney at some point(s) in time. As a schoolgirl, I remember being delighted to read a reference to a John Oman in George Mackay Brown's "Orkney Tapestry" - I think it was some minor wrongdoing recorded in a Kirk Session or something, but it was good to see the surname in print! According to britishsurnames.co.uk, in 1881 you were 169 times more likely to find an Oman in Caithness than elsewhere in the UK. But it is of course possible that there were Omans in the Borders too, and that is something I will look at.
As for the name Henderson, jimag, it is not one that I have in my tree but then my tree is only a wee sapling so far! But it is interesting what you say about Hendersons at the Bual - if you remember, I found 2 households at Bulnatorran in the 1841 Census and wondered if it was the same place as Bualt/dorran: no Omans there in 1841 but there was Robert and Margaret Henderson and family!
Thanks for your tip on coverage of the Clearances, gh1936: I wonder if you could let me know how I would access these articles? Ambaile is for older records, the John O'Groat Journal site doesn't go further back than 2006, don't think it is something I can access remotely from NLS - would I have to go to Wick Library? Would it also be held at the National Library? Are there any other ways of accessing this?
Thanks again to all posters (if that is the right term :confused). And a Happy New Year to all.
Best wishes,
Scots Bluebell
Oman genealogy/Clearances
Thanks, w j milne and gh1936, I am working on your tips! I hadn't spotted ancestry's feature on the meaning and distribution of surnames, it is well worth a look.
Best wishes,
Scots Bluebell