Cromarty History Society member shares insight into 19th century Black Isle heritage
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Long-standing member of the Cromarty History Society Ross Couper has lived in Cromarty for many years and has a family history in the town and wider area, spanning many generations.
He had given snippets of interesting information in conversation to some committee members about some of these family characters and they in turn encouraged him to prepare this talk.
Ross concentrated on two particular family forebears – his great grandfather, Walter Johnstone and his grandfather, James Methuen Couper. The stories of these two men not only give an insight to life in Cromarty during their lives but also enlighten aspects of the wider world at the time.
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Walter Johnstone was apprenticed to the chemist in Cromarty from the age of 16 until he was 22.
Following this he left the town and enrolled as a dispenser on a seal catching barque out of Fraserburgh, where he looked after a crew of fifty men. Ross made reference to some of the practice of seal hunting off Greenland. Walter didn’t come back to Cromarty straightaway, but spent some time living in Glasgow.
He did however return in 1864 to become Cromarty’s chemist. From the same premises, he was also a bookseller.
There were many sides to Walter Johnstone. He was called to take on civic responsibilities: joining the Artillery Volunteers, one of the branches of the army reserves; he was a member of the Burgh Council, eventually becoming the Provost and helped to introduce modern sewage and water systems to the town and Walter also became an Elder of the Kirk. He had sporting and other interests.
He was a member of the Cromarty Cricket Club, which played on a pitch at Cromarty House. Ross spoke about the many cricket clubs and associations that formed in the late nineteenth century across the Highlands. Walter also played bowls and was a good curler. He wrote poetry and he was a liberal in politics wanting home rule and votes for women. He died in 1915 and his obituary showed how well thought of he was.
James Methuen Couper was recorded in the 1891 census as a telegraph clerk living in the Shore Inn, Cromarty, Records show him as the owner of this inn from 1888 for fourteen years. He subsequently bought a bake house from which he established his trade as a baker. Ross showed records of a large number of properties owned and tenanted by James. One of his premises had a sign “Naval Contractor”, but Ross believes that he traded mainly in furniture and used many of these premises for storage. Cromarty was obviously a good place to do business at the time, in fact it’s population at one stage grew to an astonishing 5.000. James similarly was a member of the Cromarty Artillery Volunteers, the Burgh Council and appointed an Elder of the Kirk. He too was a sportsman – a member of the football team in Cromarty and still its captain at the age of fifty. He also played for the North of Scotland team as well as Inverness select teams. He was the North of Scotland draughts champion.
So, there was much similarity between the two men, not least the fact that neither knew their fathers (one died and the other possibly deserted the family) and were brought up by their mothers. Other family members got a mention, but there is obviously a lot more to tell!
After the talk members and visitors enjoyed a social time with mulled wine and Christmas fare!
Our next talk is on Tuesday 19 January, when our speaker will be Sheila Currie, another member of the society who will be sharing her research on Black Isle place names. Our venue, as usual, is the Victoria Hall, Cromarty and the talk will commence at 7.30pm – all welcome.
