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I am looking for information on my Gr Grandfather David Alexander Cormack who was born in Slickly, Parish of Canisbay in 1837. He was a stonemason and I believe he became Vice Convener of Caithness in the early 1890's.
Any info would be useful, particularly regarding his parents, grandparents, etc.
I believe his mother was Isabella/Bell Harper the daughter of Alexander Harper and Margaret Tait. Actually grandparents were John Harper farmer and army pensioner and Elizabeth McKenzie. Isabella died in 1886 and the informant was son David Cormack of Slickly.
Father James Cormack son of James Cormack and Elizabeth Wilson seems likely but I expect he died before 1855.
Mamie
I had David's father as James b 1766(in1841 census)
and marked as possible (not proven) a son of John Cormack & Elspet Anderson who married 1750 Wick Parish. 6 children recorded 1755-1766.
James b1766 app m Isabella Harper 1826 Canisbay: 1st son being John b 1827 followed by 5 siblings. One being your David and another being James b 1833 app.
James m x 2 in Orkney 1. 1857 Margaret Goudie 2. 1873 Catherine Moar - had at least 11 children. I have data.
In 1881 census his brother David is with his brother James in Orkney.
David's family are in Canisbay 1881
Jessie b 1837 (Head Mason's Wife) and Alex 1876 David 1866 Donald 1869 Jessie 1871 John 1864 William 1875
ED: 7 Household schedule number: 24
Roll: cssct1881a_103234
David in 1901
David Cormack Age: 62
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1839
Relationship: Head Gender: Male
Where born: Canisbay, Caithnesshire
Registration Number: 36
Registration district: Dunnet Civil Parish: Dunnet
County: Caithness Address: Saint Johns
Occupation: Farmer & J P
ED: 3 Household schedule number: 14 Line: 1 Roll: CSSCT1901_9
Household Members: Name Age
David Cormack 62
Donald Simpson 32 svt
Susan Swanson 23 svt
Corrections welcome - happy to exchange
Tricia
Caithness direct ancestors:
More - all spellings,
Johnston, Cormack, Campbell, Gunn, Shearer, Sinclair
Geddes, Budge, Shearer, Williamson, Robertson,
Malcolm, Manson, Couper, Davidson, Farquhar, Taylor
Mainly Wick (burgh & parish), Watten, Canisbay.
I believe his mother was Isabella/Bell Harper the daughter of Alexander Harper and Margaret Tait. Actually grandparents were John Harper farmer and army pensioner and Elizabeth McKenzie. Isabella died in 1886 and the informant was son David Cormack of Slickly.
Father James Cormack son of James Cormack and Elizabeth Wilson seems likely but I expect he died before 1855.
Mamie
John Harper farmer and army pensioner and Elizabeth McKenzie are also my 4x Gt Grandparents their daughter Janet Harper married Benjamin Bremner. This information I am sure of sometime back someone gave me info on Janet siblings which I have not managed to check out yet. Other names given was Andrew Harper b.1903, Elizqbeth Harper b.1805, Margaret Harper b.1814. Margaret Harper marries John Bremner who was the brother of Benjamin Bremner. There is no mention of the names Alexander or Isabella any more information on my 4x gt grandparents family would be greatly appreciated. Please send me a P. M. if you wish.
Caroline
Children I have are
Isabella c 1800 Wick maybe Glasgow married James Cormack
Andrew ( oops not Alexander) m Mary Ann Sutherland
Elizabeth 1805 ? haven't found anything on her yet other than birth
Janet 1810 married Benjamin Bremner
my notes on John
farmer and army pensioner
chelsea Pensioner fought in the Peninsular wars
extract from an article by David Bews for the Highland Archives
"The date of John Harper's discharge was February 15, 1830. He was 45 years of age, 22 years and 190 days of which had been devoted to the Army. John Harper is notable as the first Caithness man to enter the list of the famous Chelsea Pensioners.
John Harper now returned to Caithness where he settled down on a croft with his wife Elizabeth (nee Mackenzie) and his daughter Isabella, who had been born at Wick The Harpers had no further children??, their line continuing via Isabella, who married James Cormack of Slickly, bearing him a son, David, born in 1837. David took up the trade of mason, marrying Janet, daughter of John Waters, farmer, at Hastigrow in 1860. Their son, Gordon, was born at Slickly in October 1868.
Gordon was twice married. He died in Edinburgh in 1948. His grandsons are Gordon and Ronald Thomson, and it is to Gordon that we owe the information concerning his great-great-grandfather, John Harper, whose date of death is presently not known."
doesn't really fit with the existence of Andrew, Elizabeth and Janet??
"Detailed analysis of these returns would take a considerable time and, since all the materials in this one box, WO 22/139, relates to the north of Scotland, it seems a pity that it is only available in London. There would seem to be a case for having it transferred nearer to the territory that these men believed themselves to have been defending"
Main
they had 6 children?
John 1827
James 1833
Mary c 1845
David 1837
and ...
James 1833 where is Orkney please Tricia?
Maryann aka Mamie
D1886: Isabella Cormack (ms Harper) died 5 Dec 1886 Boathaven Wick aged 86. Old age and Debility.Widow of James Cormack Farmer. Parents John Harper Farmer & Army Pensioner deceased. and Elizabeth Harper MS MacKenzie Deceased. Son David Cormack Slickly, Canisbay was informant.
James Cormack - I assume died pre 1851 - not on census.
1851 Bell Cormack (Harper) with children David & Mary in Slickly.
1861 Isabella Cormack with Daughter Mary in Slickly.
1871 Isabella Cormack(Harper) staying with son-in-law Gordon Miller (Grocer Head of House) and his son James aged 2(b18 Apr 1868). also Mary Cormack single aged 28.
Gordon Miller m 29 Jun 1866 Margaret Cormack. She died 1869.
Anyone got Gordon Miller family!
they had 6 children?
James 1833 where in Orkney
Maryann aka Mamie
Hi Maryann
James born 1833 died
D1889. James Cormack: 24 March aged 55 in Croval Stromness. .
James a farmer Married 1st Margaret Goudie, 2nd Catherine Spence Moar.
Parents James Cormack a farmer deceased and Isabella Cormack MS Harper.Heart Disease.
Son John G Cormack informant.
1st Marriage to Margaret 15 May 1857 Birsay, Orkney(7 known children). 2nd Marriage to Catherine 2 Mar 1873 Stromness. 4 known children inc John G b 1874 app -(informant at father's death)
Children b Orkney except James Kirkness Cormack b1858 Dunnet.
James & Marg 1861 1871 census in Orkney. 1861 has m'inlaw Janet Goudie aged 57.
James and Catherine 1881 in Orkney
Catherine Widow 1891 1901 in Orkney
Tricia
I found him on all the censuses but 1861
father was James Miller mother a Margaret
1841 and 1851 they were in Keiss
In 1881 he was remarried to a Catherine and still in Keiss as well as 1891 and 1901
Maryann aka Mamie
MILLER James Head W M 61 Mason CAI Wick 1800
MILLER Gordon Son U M 24 ShopkeeperCAI Wick 1837
MILLER Georgina Daur O F 13 Dom. Serv.CAI Wick 1848
MILLER Isabella Daur O F 11Dom. Serv. CAI Wick 1850
MILLER AlexanderSon O M 9 Scholar CAI Wick 1852
MILLER Margaret Daur O F 7 Scholar CAI Wick 1854
MILLER James Son O M 5 O CAI Wick 1856
MILLER David Son O M 3 O CAI Wick 1858
1861
Stain Keiss.
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