Fort Augustus Scotland!!

[Betty Boo]

Hi Annie,

I have been on a few website and founf out the Abbey closed in 1998 and is up for sale just now, who knows what could happen to the graves there if someone does buy the abbey.

I will take a look at  the website information you have given me after I post this message.

Elizabeth

[trish251]

Hi Elizabeth

I have found so many of my family myths - have in fact been myths - that I tend to ignore that side of the story & concentrate on what is known.

If he died at Fort Augustus while working there - was it an accident? Did he go to Hospital? Is it possible that a inquest/autopsy was required. This may have meant his birth was recorded perhaps somewhere else.

My mum lived in a country town but when she became ill was flown to a hospital 400 miles away - hence her death is recorded somewhere very different to where she lived.

When was he born? Can age at death help the search.

Are there any known problems with the death records of this time? Did the war impact record recording.

If you are checking from 1900 - Is he on the 1901 Census?

Then again, Annie's suggestion may resolve it very quickly  

Trish

[Betty Boo]

Hi again Annie,

Just had a look at both the website, there are quite a few graves there from what I can see and Abbey it is a very large buiding.

Great pictures though, thanks very much for the web addresses, I will pass them onto my friend so she can see the area.

Elizabeth

[Betty Boo]

Hi Trish,

Well the story goes he was working up in this area and was attacked and died, we are not sure if he was killed during the attack or maybe later of the injuries he had.

All this is information from my old school friend whom I am trying to help.  This information was passed down by word on mouth of course from her other uncles and aunts etc.

Elizabeth

[liverpool annie]

Wonder if there was an inquest or Coroner's report by any chance ??!! 

or a newspaper report ?

[Betty Boo]

Hi Trish and Annie,

I don't know all the details but he was in the 1901 census, it was later he moved up to Fort Augustus.  Someone told  my friend some years ago they made a trip up to the Abbey to find the grave, they said there was a John Fox buried beside monks graves but they didn't think it was their John Fox as it was really all monks graves there.

We think this is his grave because in those days you couldn't bring a body back to their home town to be buried as they didn't have the money.

So we think this is John Fox's grave in the grounds of the Abbey.

Elizabeth

[liverpool annie]

One more thing ... just a thought ...... any chance this priest could give any information or at least head you in the right direction ?? 

The Diocese of Aberdeen has appointed Father Paul Bonnici as its new press and media officer.
Father Bonnici, 35, was born in Malta and has been working as a priest in Aberdeen Diocese since 1995. A writer in the national Catholic media, and a broadcaster for the last ten years, Father Bonnici served as press and media officer at Fort Augustus Abbey on the shores of Loch Ness between 1995 and 1998
When Fort Augustus Abbey closed down in 1998 Fr Bonnici became parish priest at Fort Augustus. He has recently moved to Lerwick as Parish Priest of all of Shetland. Bishop Peter Moran of Aberdeen welcomed Father Bonnici to his new job. He said: “We have decided as a Diocese to re-establish our Diocesan Press Office. Father Bonnici comes to his new post with wide experience of national and international communications and with varied pastoral experience as a Parish Priest. We wish him well in his new
ministry

Annie 

[Betty Boo]

Well Annie,

Now there's a thought, good idea, just maybe what we are looking for, will give it a try anyway, nothing ventured as they say.

I just wonder why his death isn't on Scotlands people though, maybe with this I will get some answers.

Many thanks for all your help.

Elizabeth
p.s. I have put a message on Genes Reunited asking if someone who lives in that area can have a look at the graves in the Abbey for me.

[Betty Boo]

Hi Trish,

I would also like to thank you for all you time and help with this too.

Trish you and Annie have been a great help, sometimes other people see things that you don't if you know what I mean, can't see the woods for the trees sort of thing.

Thanks again.

Elizabeth