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Author Topic: John McKay,Inspector of Police  (Read 670 times)
Curley
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Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
John McKay,Inspector of Police
« on: Thursday 13 March 08 18:51 GMT (UK) »
Hi
Looking for information on John McKay,Inspector of Police,1850-1870
This information comes from New Zealand,where his daughter Margaret  travelled on the "helenslee" from Scotland and arrived in Otago in Sept 1868.She married James Burnett from Ireland in 1871 and had a family of 10, She died in 1900 and on her dearh certificate Inverness was mentioned and the above details of John her father. Not sure if father emigrated to New Zealand or not.Any pointers to the family would be appreciated.
Curley
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Burnettof Magherafelt,Portadown,U.S.A,New Zealand
Henry of Cookstown,U.S.A,Australia.
Brown,McIntyre,Foster,McKnight
MonicaLesl
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Re: John McKay,Inspector of Police
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 13 March 08 19:14 GMT (UK) »
Hi Curley

This is the only entry I am seeing on the census transcript that I am looking at. From the 1851 Census:

John MacKay    45, Inspector Of Police (ft Wm), b. Latheron Caithness
Catharine McInnes 16, b. Latheron Caithness
Catharine MacKay 14, b. Kilmalie, Inverness
William MacKay    10, Kilmalie, Inverness
Jessy MacKay    28, servant, b. Latheron

Address: 18 Low Street, Fort William Inverness-shire

This looks like the same family in 1841:

John MacKay 30, Inspector Of Police, b. Scotland
Betsy MacKay 25, b. Scotland
Catherine MacKay 3, b. Scotland
Sarah Cameron    15, female servant

Address:  Church Square, Kilmallie, Inverness-shire

I'll have a look in the 1861 census to see if Margaret was born after the date of the 1851 census. What birth year do you have for her and any idea on mother's name from her MC or DC?

Monica  Smiley
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MacIsaac, MacDonald, MacPherson, MacVarish, MacMaster: Moidart - Inverness-shire.
Gillies: pre-1850 Knoydart, Inverness-shire /post 1850s Fort William area - Argyll.
Tully, Tulley, Moran, Murphy: Lanarkshire.
Durnan, Durnin, Kelly, Tully, McPhillips: Co Monaghan.
McIntyre, McMahon, Tully: Co Cavan (?) Ireland.
Moran: Co Mayo (?) Ireland.
..........and lots of Spanish name interests........

Census information Crown Copyright, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
MonicaLesl
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Re: John McKay,Inspector of Police
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 13 March 08 19:29 GMT (UK) »
Not seeing any trace of Margaret to this family  Undecided I think this is John McKay with his occupation mis transcribed in 1861:

John McKay 54, Tapector Pollier, b. Latheron
Mary McKay 11, daughter b. Oban
Martin McKay 2, grandson
M McLeod 23, servant, b. Glenelg
Donald Ateilson 24, boarer, Quie Constable

Address: 4 Beamont Cort, Portree Inverness-shire

Where is the source coming from for John McKay's police record 1850-70?

Monica
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MacIsaac, MacDonald, MacPherson, MacVarish, MacMaster: Moidart - Inverness-shire.
Gillies: pre-1850 Knoydart, Inverness-shire /post 1850s Fort William area - Argyll.
Tully, Tulley, Moran, Murphy: Lanarkshire.
Durnan, Durnin, Kelly, Tully, McPhillips: Co Monaghan.
McIntyre, McMahon, Tully: Co Cavan (?) Ireland.
Moran: Co Mayo (?) Ireland.
..........and lots of Spanish name interests........

Census information Crown Copyright, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Curley
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Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Re: John McKay,Inspector of Police
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 13 March 08 22:53 GMT (UK) »
Hi Monicalesl
Thanks for your interest in my posting.
Margaret,s marriage certificate gives her age as 21 married 1871,therefore born 1850 approx.Death cert at 1 Dec 1900 gives age as 53,possibly birth as 1847. Service dates for father is on a guide on my part as to the period of interest. No mention of mother anywhere.
Thanks again Curley
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Burnettof Magherafelt,Portadown,U.S.A,New Zealand
Henry of Cookstown,U.S.A,Australia.
Brown,McIntyre,Foster,McKnight
Curley
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Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Re: John McKay,Inspector of Police
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 22 March 08 19:52 GMT (UK) »
Hi Lookers
Would it be possible that John McKay would have become a policeman in later life and possibly was only an inspector around 1900, the date of Margaret,s death. Any records of police to look up for Scotland around the end of the century?. I know that Margaret travelled to New Zealand on her own (according to Ships list)
Thanks again Curley
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Burnettof Magherafelt,Portadown,U.S.A,New Zealand
Henry of Cookstown,U.S.A,Australia.
Brown,McIntyre,Foster,McKnight
conner395
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Re: John McKay,Inspector of Police
« Reply #5 on: Sunday 31 August 08 21:08 BST (UK) »
John MacKay (previously a shepherd, and a native of the County of Caithness) was one of the original body of men appointed to the Inverness-shire Constabulary when it was set up in 1840. He came up from Edinburgh (so one must assume he was already a police officer down that way, possibly in Haddingtonshire) to take up one of the 3 posts of Sub Inspector for the County - so that also tends to confirm previous police experience, as the only higher rank was Superintendent (later Chief Constable). He was appointed to take charge of the Lochaber Division (based in Fort William) and he was also in charge of a beat of his own (Fort William Town) as well as supervising the three other officers stationed in the area south of Loch Ness.

When the force was re-constituted in 1857 to meet the much more stringent requirements of the Police (Scotland) Act - which set up a Government inspectorate and payment of Government contribution towards the upkeep of the Force - Inspector Mackay was one of only a handful of those who survived, and he was the only one of the original men taken on in 1840 to be kept on by the "new" force (and by a new Chief Constable). By then MacKay had (some time after 1851) been moved to Portree to be Inspector for the Isle of Skye. There he remained after the 1857 changes, until he retired on 15th May 1877, aged 63 with 37 years police service (any service he would have gained prior to moving to Inverness-shire had not been taking cognisance of). He retired "due to old age" and was awarded £300 as a gratuity by the Police Committee - there was no such thing as a Police pension in those days.

Sorry but that is as much information as I have on this gentleman - I would most definitely be interested in any more details as to his life and death, and his family.

Dave
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Dave Conner
retired police officer / force historian (volunteer)
(Northern Constabulary)
Inverness, Scotland

Researching Police History of the Scottish Highlands and Islands
(Northern Constabulary area)
MonicaLesl
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Re: John McKay,Inspector of Police
« Reply #6 on: Sunday 31 August 08 21:54 BST (UK) »
Hi Dave

Welcome to RootsChat  Smiley

Good to have you on board. If you need any help with background research for your historical records, let us know.

Regards.

Monica
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MacIsaac, MacDonald, MacPherson, MacVarish, MacMaster: Moidart - Inverness-shire.
Gillies: pre-1850 Knoydart, Inverness-shire /post 1850s Fort William area - Argyll.
Tully, Tulley, Moran, Murphy: Lanarkshire.
Durnan, Durnin, Kelly, Tully, McPhillips: Co Monaghan.
McIntyre, McMahon, Tully: Co Cavan (?) Ireland.
Moran: Co Mayo (?) Ireland.
..........and lots of Spanish name interests........

Census information Crown Copyright, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
conner395
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Re: John McKay,Inspector of Police
« Reply #7 on: Sunday 31 August 08 22:15 BST (UK) »
Thanks Monica. Much appreciate your offer.


Dave
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Dave Conner
retired police officer / force historian (volunteer)
(Northern Constabulary)
Inverness, Scotland

Researching Police History of the Scottish Highlands and Islands
(Northern Constabulary area)
conner395
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Re: John McKay,Inspector of Police
« Reply #8 on: Sunday 31 August 08 22:38 BST (UK) »
Quote from: MonicaLesl on Thursday 13 March 08 19:29 GMT (UK)
Not seeing any trace of Margaret to this family  Undecided I think this is John McKay with his occupation mis transcribed in 1861:

John McKay 54, Tapector Pollier, b. Latheron
:>< SNIP

Donald Ateilson 24, boarer, Quie Constable
:>< SNIP

Monica

Monica- I reckon it probably is the same John MacKay, although age is a bit out. I have him born c.1814 so in 1861 he would have been about 57, but the clincher is his boarder, who I am presuming is one Donald AITCHISON, Police Constable.

PC Aitchison was indeed stationed in Portree from 1860 to 1862 but would have been 27 at Census time. Methinks the transcriber got both ages wrong, reading 7 as 4 each time.

Donald Aitchison, incidentally, joined the Inverness-shire force in 1859, moved to Portree for 2 years, then did a couple of months at Moy (probably unmarried still so got moved around a bit, as did I - till I met my wife when I was stationed in Portree!!) followed by 4 years at Dalwhinnie (so he would likely be married by then) and then back to Force HQ at Inverness Castle - and promptly promoted from Constable straight to Superintendent and Deputy Chief Constable, a post he held for 22 years till he retired in 1889 by reason of ill-health aged 55!

Dave

* DSCF2115wee.JPG (31.94 KB, 336x400 - viewed 79 times.)
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Dave Conner
retired police officer / force historian (volunteer)
(Northern Constabulary)
Inverness, Scotland

Researching Police History of the Scottish Highlands and Islands
(Northern Constabulary area)
MonicaLesl
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Re: John McKay,Inspector of Police
« Reply #9 on: Sunday 31 August 08 23:11 BST (UK) »
Dave

As you can tell from the census transcriptions I posted, accuracy is sometimes not great. The original image on Scotlands People would be accurate but the index transcription I am looking at can sometimes be hard to decipher!

I agree, this certainly is likely to be the John McKay that you describe. From memory, he was the only one fitting the bill!

If you need any more info through the censuses for either John McKay or Donald Aitchison, let me know.

Monica
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MacIsaac, MacDonald, MacPherson, MacVarish, MacMaster: Moidart - Inverness-shire.
Gillies: pre-1850 Knoydart, Inverness-shire /post 1850s Fort William area - Argyll.
Tully, Tulley, Moran, Murphy: Lanarkshire.
Durnan, Durnin, Kelly, Tully, McPhillips: Co Monaghan.
McIntyre, McMahon, Tully: Co Cavan (?) Ireland.
Moran: Co Mayo (?) Ireland.
..........and lots of Spanish name interests........

Census information Crown Copyright, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
MonicaLesl
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Re: John McKay,Inspector of Police
« Reply #10 on: Sunday 31 August 08 23:31 BST (UK) »
Is this Donald Aitchison in 1871 (as transcribed on the index):

Donald Aitchison 38, son, Super Of County Police, b. Kilanailean, Inverness
Margaret Aitchison    67, head, b. Loppan (Laggan?), Inverness-Shire

Address: Kingsmills Road, Inverness, Inverness-shire

And in 1881:

Donald Aitchison 48, Superintendent Of County Police, b. Craigbeg G, Invernessshire
Margaret Campbell    28, niece, b. Kingussie G, Invernessshire

Address: Gladstone Terrace 24 Kingsmills Rd, Inverness



Likely birth entry for Donald: 

DONALD AITCHESON  Born on 03 APR 1832/ Christening on 09 APR 1832 at Kilmonivaig, Inverness, Scotland
Parents:   EWEN AITCHESON and MARGARET STEWART

Monica
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MacIsaac, MacDonald, MacPherson, MacVarish, MacMaster: Moidart - Inverness-shire.
Gillies: pre-1850 Knoydart, Inverness-shire /post 1850s Fort William area - Argyll.
Tully, Tulley, Moran, Murphy: Lanarkshire.
Durnan, Durnin, Kelly, Tully, McPhillips: Co Monaghan.
McIntyre, McMahon, Tully: Co Cavan (?) Ireland.
Moran: Co Mayo (?) Ireland.
..........and lots of Spanish name interests........

Census information Crown Copyright, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
MonicaLesl
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Re: John McKay,Inspector of Police
« Reply #11 on: Sunday 31 August 08 23:44 BST (UK) »
Can't see Donald in the 1891 census. I think his retirement in 1889 due to ill health was accurate. I believe he died aged 57 in 1891 in Inverness. There is also an entry for a last Will & Testament showing on Scotlands People which probably connect to him:

Donald Aitchison, 02/03/1891 at Inverness Sheriff Court. Ref. SC29/44/25

Monica
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MacIsaac, MacDonald, MacPherson, MacVarish, MacMaster: Moidart - Inverness-shire.
Gillies: pre-1850 Knoydart, Inverness-shire /post 1850s Fort William area - Argyll.
Tully, Tulley, Moran, Murphy: Lanarkshire.
Durnan, Durnin, Kelly, Tully, McPhillips: Co Monaghan.
McIntyre, McMahon, Tully: Co Cavan (?) Ireland.
Moran: Co Mayo (?) Ireland.
..........and lots of Spanish name interests........

Census information Crown Copyright, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
conner395
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Re: John McKay,Inspector of Police
« Reply #12 on: Monday 01 September 08 16:38 BST (UK) »
Monica:

All that info is fascinating. The poor chap did not enjoy much retirement! I have no idea what saw him climb the ranks in one gigantic leap (granted there were only a few Sergeants and 3 Inspector posts in the County of Inverness, but the Chief Constable obviously saw something in young Aitchison which justified him leap-frogging everybody else in the "line of succession!"

Seems to have been a single man - certainly by the time he was Superintendent, apparently having his mum - and then his niece - keeping house for him. The address sounds to be what we would nowasdays be called "a block of flats" but "Gladstone Terrace" is not an name  I know - not far from here so a slow drive-by is called for!!


Thanks for all that, and I may indeed come to you when I hit many of the brick walls!

Dave
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Dave Conner
retired police officer / force historian (volunteer)
(Northern Constabulary)
Inverness, Scotland

Researching Police History of the Scottish Highlands and Islands
(Northern Constabulary area)
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