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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Inverness => Topic started by: KBurke23 on Friday 19 February 21 22:30 GMT (UK)
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Hi there. Hoping someone can help me find some historic information on the Priory Hotel in Beauly.
From an undated picture in belongings of my great grandfather (William McDonald McKay born 1876 Glasgow/died 1960 Saskatoon Canada) there was a picture of the Hotel. Wording on back stated “my sister Christina standing at window and cousin Angus at door of my aunts Hotel”. Also written “TO Angus Paterson, Star Inn, Grant Street, Inverness”.
I am still piecing together my family tree info through Ancestry and My Heritage and so far believe William’s mother (my GG grandmother was Isabella (Bella) McDonald (born 1850 Inverness; died Glasgow 1898) and married Alexander McKay (born 1840 Al’ness Rossshire/died pre 1898 Glasgow).
I am hoping to find out the names of the former owners of the Priory to confirm some family names I have runs across and move forward in my tree. There is no historic information on the hotel that I could find. I am assuming William’s aunt mentioned may be Bella’s sister, possibly a Paterson or McDonald ??
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Beth
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hi dont know if this helps few bit from the scotsman newspaper 4th march 1891 fishing permit for river beauly apply james fraser priory hotel. dec. 28 1895 bankrupcy william edmiston swan priory hotel beauly. 15th may 1897 for sale by public roup priory hotel beauly tenented by mr george adams within the royal hotel inverness. will try to look for any other info to mor.
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from the aberdeen journal june 18th 1889 angling beauly last week mr james fraser priory hotel beauly landed a fine griles weighing 3lbs on the part of the river attached to this hotel
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Thank you Harry!
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Beth,
Scotlands People https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk have the property valuations before James Allison it was James Fraser who were the proprietors. Prior to 1885 the valuations simply list Hotel not the name and there were 2 or 3 Hotels in Beauly.
Was his Aunt married to James Allison?
Don
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A few other mentions of the Hotel in newspapers:
Bankruptcy: William Edmiston SWAN, hotelkeeper of the Priory Hotel - Dec 1895
A mention of barman at the Priory Hotel - Norman Macloed - Dec 1896
Under new management - Lessee: George Adams - Feb 1897
Helen Ann JOHANSEN, domestic servant, charged with stealing from the Hotel - Aug 1908
Katie GUNN, barmaid died after burning accident, Mar 1913
Happy to transcribe any arrticles that may be of interest. :)
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Hello Don,
Thank you. I am not sure who the aunt is. I am only assuming it has to be on the McDonald side from Inverness and not the McKay side, and possibly my GG grandmother’s sister. None of the pics shown to me from a cousin in Canada were dated unfortunately to give any clues and the pic of Christine McKay is too far away to determine a time frame by clothing or other clue and that is why I was hoping to determine approx when the hotel was there in Inverness.
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The Priory Hotel was burned to the ground in 1913. In an article about the fire it says the Hotel was built 27 years ago, so c1886, at a cost of over £4000. And in another article described as "one of the most handsome in the village of Beauly".
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Thank you maddys52. Now I at least have a time frame so if an aunt or perhaps a spouse actually owned it then it was before 1913! None of those names sound familiar but I will definitely keep track of them all while continuing. I appreciate your offer for help. I am in the US and my sister in Canada so it is sometimes hard to get more specific information.
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I am still piecing together my family tree info through Ancestry and My Heritage
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=714261.0
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march22nd 1905 the hotel for sale just says apply proprieter.
oct 1st 1913 hotel for sale again, no mention of owners name
oct 9th 1913 hotel burned down barman j duff charged total loss of about £8000
oct 15th 1913 another ad appears hotel for sale
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Oh my, someone was charged. Hope no one died. Such a magnificent building. Will keep track of the name Duff too. Thanks Harry.
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Beth,
The two proprietors (owners), of the Priory during the hotel's 20 year life were James Fraser and James Allison there was no other owners.
Angus Paterson owned the Star Inn in Inverness.
Whomever wrote the information on the photo may have been misinformed. You should focus on the people not the photo.
Don
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Thank you Don. That helps to know that Angus owned the Star Inn. Yes, I see, it is also in the interpretation and who did writing on the photo. If the pic of the two cousins Angus Paterson and Christina McKay outside the Priority were taken by another person and later simply posted to Angus at the Star Inn my Great grandfather William McKay may also have had a copy in Canada from his sister Christina which is the one I was shown. Or Christina may have simply been visiting an aunt on her mother Isabella McDonald McKay’s side from Inverness. I have determined most of the great aunts and uncles on the McKay side from Glasgow and are still working on William’s mother’s MacDonald and possible Paterson side from Inverness.
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A James Fraser (the same as the Old Priory Hotel?) also shows as Tenant Occupier of the Star Inn, Grant Street Inverness on the 1875-95 Valuation Rolls. The proprietor is a Duncan Cameron.
The 1905-15 VRs show Angus Paterson as Proprietor Occupier.
There are gaps in the VRs on Scotlands People. SP have been slowly adding a years on their databases. Maybe have a look at the NLS Post Office directories for additional listings here https://digital.nls.uk/directories/browse/archive/91169289
Monica
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Thank you Monica. I had found the name Duncan Cameron as Innkeeper on a record ordnance survey name book on Scotlandsplaces.gov.us last week when I was doing a general search for the Star Inn and Priory. I was not aware that Angus was a proprietor until the post here earlier, I just assumed he lived there. I appreciate the date you found for my timeline.
Beth
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Beth, wondering if this could be Angus and family in 1901:
Jane Paterson 54 Head Hotel Keeper b. Roskeen, rossshire
Angus Paterson 23 Hotel Keeper Son b. Cromarty, rossshire
Mary Paterson 24 Hotel Keeper Daur
Christina Paterson Hotel Keeper Daur
Bella Paterson 19 Hotel Keeper Daur
Jane Mckenzie 21 Domestic Servt (Domestic)
Address: Hotel, Kilmorack (Hotel not named, nor specific location in Kilmorack parish. The original image from SP may help with additional info).
Any Aunt Janes that you have come across ::)
Monica
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The family's 1891 entry shows Jane Paterson as Innkeeper at Findon Inn, Urquhart and Logie Wester, Ross and Cromarty.
In Cromarty, R & C, the family in 1881 and a few more clues:
William Paterson 46 Head Inn Keeper b. Resolis G, Ross-Shire
Jane Paterson 37 Wife b. Alness G, Ross-Shire
Mary Paterson 5 Daughter
Angus Paterson 3 Son
Christina J Paterson 1 Daughter
Christina Mackay 67 Mother-in-law, Annuitant, Kincardine G, Ross-Shire
Jessie Goodall 15 Servant
William Milne 24 Lodger
Address: 3 Street , Cromarty
Monica
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I think this might be their marriage on the Family Search index www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYQK-RV7 The original image will be on SP and give you both sets of parents for bride and groom letting you confirm details.
William Paterson and Jane MacKay
Marriage on 8 Dec 1874
Rosskeen, R & C
Monica
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I think this is the gravestone for William and Jane Paterson http://gravestones.rosscromartyroots.co.uk/picture/number1746.asp
From this William is showing as having died in 1888 and Jane in 1922. Possible death entries on the SP index:
William PATERSON
Age 54
1888
084/ 33
Urquhart and Logie Wester
Jane MACKAY/PATERSON
Age 80
1922
098/A 96
Inverness
Monica
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One fly in the ointment here...I thought Jane would fit so well with being your Alexander's sister. Both born about the same time in Alness, mother Christina...however, not getting them to connect that way.
This is your Alexander in 1851?
Donald Mckay 48 wood sawyer b. Kiltearn, Ross
Christy Mckay 38 b. Dingwell, Ross
Kenneth Mckay 15
Robert Mckay 13
Alexander Mckay 9 b. Alness, Ross
Margaret Mckay 7
Duncan Mckay 3
Donald Mckay 9 Months
Address: Bridgend, Rosskeen, R & C
This looks to be gravestone details for Donald and wife Christina. She looks to have died in 1872. Therefore, can't be the same as the Christina with daughter Jane in the 1881 census.
www.findagrave.com/memorial/157309037/christina-mackay
I think this may be Jane with family in 1851:
Angus Mckay 50 cattle herd b. Kincardine, Ross
Christy Mckay 40 b. Kincardine, Ross
Mary Mckay 15
David Mckay 11
Jane Mckay 8 b. Alness, Ross
John Mckay 5
Isabella Mckay 3
Thomas Mckay 9 Months
William Manson 39
Kenneth Munro 22
Charles Sellar 17
Address: Ardross Easter, Rosskeen, R & C
Marriage and death certs will hopefully help to make things clearer... ;)
Monica
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Yes I see Monica. It is confusing! I believe that Alexander McKay from 1851 census from Al’ness would be my GG grandfather by what you have found. I am trying to confirm he now married Isabella (Bella) McDonald born Inverness 1850 then settled in Glasgow. I will check with my sister as I thought she found the marriage document on SP.
I did find a John McDonald b1817 married a Catherine McPherson b 1822 from Inverness. Son John McDonald 1842, 3 daughters, Catherine 1844, Mary 1846, Isabella 1850...which would match for my GG grandmother Bella.
I also found a Jane McDonald married a William Paterson and had a son Angus b 1873 but that does not fit the above McDonald family.
If Angus Paterson was a cousin of either Christina McKay it would seem that sisters of either Bella McDonald or William McKay married a Paterson.
I found an Angus Paterson b 1873/74 and wife Jessie 1878 immigrating to same area in Canada around same time as my G/grandfather William and family in 1921 but there are many Angus Paterson’s out there so I am trying to confirm that one.
William McDonald McKay had two sisters...Catherine (Kate) born 1884 who I know married a John Morton as we have pics. I am having trouble tracking down Christina McKay born 1886 (she is in the pic with Angus) and a possible spouse for her. No mention of either sister in William’s obits in 1960. He had 3 brothers, David 1872, Angus 1879, Alexander 1881, Robert 1890. Robert predeceased him in 1958 in Canada. No mention of other brothers in William’s obits but David and William were mentioned in Robert’s obits.
Thank you again. I will continue to plod along!
Beth
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Hi Beth
Can I suggest you do check the two marriage regs (Alexander and Bella/ William and Jane) to confirm their parents. I am confident that we are on the right lines with census details here but as always...you need to confirm off documents to be sure.
This is your tree here? www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/168945584/person/362190158190/facts
Regarding Angus Paterson, he does look to have left Scotland I think...but for the US rather than Canada.
This looks to be his marriage in NY www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:243L-VGW
And his naturalization www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPZY-PWXY
1920 census www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJG5-WJB
1928 death reg. Mother showing as Mary rather than Jane but everything fits www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WLB-J6P
As he stated on his naturalization documents, he arrived on the Furnessia into NY on 3 January 1911. His occupation given as Hotel keeper. He gives a sister B Waddell as contact back in Inverness
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=7488&h=4004245644&tid=&pid=&queryId=002348f5b9f05a745d3a6e7db96c5a57&usePUB=true&_phsrc=fEb1&_phstart=successSource
Monica
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just a little thought in one of the hotel for sale notices it mentions with the adjoing shops could it be your family had anything to do with the shops
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Hi Monica. I am not able to work on any of this today but hopefully I will have time tomorrow so will get back to you when I can! Thanks kindly. And yes, that is my tree on Ancestry...McKay/Harvey/Tsonakas.
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Monica, I am still researching this but back to Angus Paterson going to Canada. On 1881 Scottish Census, I see an Angus born 1873/74 Duthill, Inverness, father William Paterson 46 and mother Jane McDonald 40 and a niece Jessie. On 1901 census Angus is 27 and Jessie 22. On a 1914 ship manifest to Canada with destination Manitoba I find Angus, Jessie and 2 young girls Carrie 11 and Jessie 9 and a Catherine McDonald 60 who states going to married sister in Oaklake Manitoba. Canadian census in 1921 I see Angus and Jessie, Carrie 19 and Jessie 17 and borders Catherine Fracassi and Robert Grant 26.
There does not appear to be a Jane that I can find on the McDonald side
Unfortunately I have no way now of confirming from my cousin who know suffers from dementia whether all the pics in question I received this past summer came from my great grandfather William McKay (his grandfather), or from his mother, William’s daughter. I am stilling following the McDonald side from Inverness marrying into the Paterson side. In the meantime I am trying to get more information on the Overseas Settlement Committee as I was told that when the McKays immigrated to Canada they came with a number of cousins from Scotland. I have confirmed all the McKay side.