Hi
Thank you all again for helping with my query.
I do have the same sort of questions as
Forfarian on: Saturday 11 November 17 10:51 GMT (UK) Was Adam the informant on the deaths of his wife and Jane, and were both deaths registered on the same day? Was he 'present' at both deaths? Maybe the Registrar of Gairloch North took pity on him and registered Jane's death to spare her father having to walk all the way to Contin and back, though I'm not sure that that was allowed, strictly speaking, by the rules then in force.
What intrigues me is how it came about that Jane died at Achnasheen, assuming that there is just one Achnasheen of course. If she was dying of consumption, she could never have walked there. So was she lodging there with someone, either for her health or in order to attend school (though she was too young for school)? What did Adam actually do after his wife's death? Where was she buried? How did he get her body to the kirkyard? If it was Gairloch kirkyard, how did he find out about Jane's death a day's walk away? What did he do with the other children while he was walking the length and breadth of the parish to deal with the deaths? Maybe he had, or was able to borrow (from whom?), a horse and ride rather than walk, but it was still a lot of travelling. And did his sheep have to fend for themselves? Was he dismissed from his job at Claona, or did he choose to move to Tarras in search of a better life?
I will answer each question:Adam Scott was the informant on each of the deaths - wife and daughter Jane - he signed, Adam Scott, husband or Father, and Present at both.
Both deaths were
NOT registered on the same day.
Catherine who died 5 May 1879 at 10AM, saying Cluna Parish of Gairloch, was registered 13th May 1879 at Balnaluib by Hur Murray, Assistant Registrar
Jane Scott who died 10 May 1879, aged 3 years - has what looks like a faint line through where time normally goes then a ? and next line says Auchnasheen. (Uncertain to tell really if the ? pertains to the time which is missing or the place), but her parents are listed as Adam Scott, Shepherd and Catherine Scott MS Maclean, Deceased. Again Adam is the informant and said he was present at her death, but this time was registered on the 19th May 1879, Balnaluib, again by Hur Murray, Assistant Registrar. Both certificates are on the one page, and full title is Deaths in the Northern District of Gairloch in the County of Ross.
The other death on the page (1st one) was registered 6th May 1879, at Mellon Charles again by the same Assistant Registrar.
I think that the place name of Auchnasheen is incorrect on the certificate, it just does not seem possible for Adam to be present at both deaths if Jane's death did occur actually in Auchnasheen.
And why are the deaths registered on different days ?. Catherine died 5th and registered 13th, Jane died 10th and registered 19th. Dates just do not add up, can understand Catherine's dates, but definitely not Jane's dates of death and registration. If she died on the 10th and Adam registered Catherine's death on the 13th, then why did he not registered Jane's death at the same time.?
My only idea of explanation for this, is that
Adam Scott was NOT present when Jane died, and that perhaps she was staying with someone in Auchnasheen rather than with the family - more research to do yet. And that Adam did not get word about her death until after the 13th May and closer to the 19th May.
This still raises your question about the other children, one being about 5yrs and the other still a baby of 1yr old. - All I know at this stage is that they were with their Maternal Grandparents on the 1881 Census back in Kiltarlity Inverness.
Adam is then recorded as a Shepherd in Tarras Moray working for James Davidson.
At this stage not located Catherine or Jane's burial details. As the certificates do not give kirkyard where buried I need to see if I can locate this yet.
BTW it is definitely the correct and same person of Adam Scott who signed both certificates.
So still lots of questions regarding the actual place of these deaths and why does Adam say he was present at both of them.
??
Again thanks for the thoughts and intriguing ideas regarding my family and the places concerned. Still beautiful country even though very wild to be having and bringing up children, but that is what they did do then. Doubt any of us could survive the way they did - I know I would be lost without my internet access and computer LOL
Regards Ailsa