Lybster 4 Oct 1883
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Lybster in Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland,
Edited by Francis
H. Groome (1892-6)
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Present – Commissioners
Lord Napier and Ettrick, K.T., Chairman
Sir Kenneth S. Mackenzie, Bart.
C. Fraser-Mackintosh, Esq. M. P.
Sheriff Nicolson, LL. D.
Examined:
Rev. James McCulloch, Minister of the Free Church, Latheron.
Census 1881: Age 44. Lived with his wife Anne and six young
children and several servants in the Free Church manse in Lybster. Spoke
Gaelic. James McCulloch’s comprehensive report and examination was 12 pages
long on behalf of the tenants of the estate of Latheronwheel. Mrs Gunn was
proprietor. It must have taken many hours of discussion and research to prepare
his statement. Among many other issues he spoke about the ‘ravages of game and
rabbits’.
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| The Latheron Free Church was built in 1843 and seated 800 people. It is now restored to a private dwelling. It is on the A9. |
George Sinclair, Crofter, Latheron (age 55).
Lived
in Latheron but was representing crofters from the nearby Forse estate, where
he was born.
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| Forse standing stone with Forse House and farm in the background |
James Millar, Achow, Swiney (age 44).
Census 1881: Was unmarried and living on a 30 acre property
with his elderly father and unmarried sister. They all spoke Gaelic.
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| Achow |
James Innes Stewart, Fish-Curer, Lybster (age 59).
Census 1881: Lived in the main street of Lybster with his
wife and three daughters, two of whom had been born in Canada 20 years back.
James spoke about Poor Law Act whereby rich landowners were exempt from paying
tax on their shooting grounds while small crofters were heavily taxed on public
matters, and the harbour developments that the Duke of Portland was doing.
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| Lybster Harbour and bridge |
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| Lybster harbour at its fishing peak |
John Mowat, Bank Agent and Factor, Lybster (age 40).
Census 1881: Lived in Lybster with his wife and four young
children plus servants. Was the factor for Latheronwheel. He was very defensive
about McCulloch’s presentation and claimed that tenants didn’t have leases
because they never asked for them - but McCulloch had said the standard reply
to tenants who asked for anything was “if you are not satisfied then go”. Mowat
claimed on one hand there were problems with rabbits then said there were no
rabbits on Latheronwheel.
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The wide main street of Lybster
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John McDonald Nimmo, Law Agent in Wick, and Factor for Mr
Sutherland of Forse (age 59).
Was very evasive about the reasons for evictions at
Stempster.
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| Bridge into Wick |
Donald McKay. Crofter, Bulldoo, Caithness (age 46).
Representing 27 crofters in Achremie and Bulldoo on the
estate of Sir R. C. Sinclair. He spoke about issues where crofters made
improvements but were not reimbursed for them and the rents were raised. There
were also statements read about Reay issues prepared by crofters there.
James Waters, Farmer, Bower, Caithness (age 65).
Census 1881: James Waters was unmarried. He was a farmer of
60 acres arable employing 1 man and 2 women servants. He was representing the
crofters of Dunnet, Bower and Olrig. He was speaking as his family had suffered
great hardship from ‘factorial cruelty.’ He spoke strongly about the clearing
out of good tenants who were reduced to poor crofters and paupers while the
arable farms became very large.
George Cormack, Crofter and Fisherman, Bruan (age 39).
Census 1881: George lived in Bruan with his wife Margaret and
their four young children and one general servant. He had about 15 acres of
land and also had a boat. He tried to pay his rent from fishing if possible. He
spoke strongly against what he called rack-renting or the confiscation of
improvements and the struggle to survive.
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| The Haven, Bruan |
Alexander Sutherland, Crofter and Mason, Roster of Clyth (age
37).
Census 1881: Lived with his wife Annie, young son and elderly
mother. He was a mason employing 11 men. He spoke representing Roster on the
Clyth estate. He gave a comprehensive history of the way rents had been
increased and the hardship that had resulted. He spoke about the attitude from
factors (mentioning Mr Horne of old) that the crofters were a ‘lazy
ne’er-do-weel lot’.
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| Roster |
Statement by Magnus Sinclair, Lingland.
Census 1881: Was unmarried (age 29) living with his elderly
mother, brother and sisters. “I think Mr Sharp has used the screw to greater
effect in rack-renting the Newlands district than any other part of the
estate.” He gave examples of increased rents and severe cruelty from Mr Sharp
and Ground officers.
Adam Sharp, Proprietor of Clyth (age 66).
Census 1871: He was aged 54 living in Green Street, Rothes,
Morayshire in a large house with12 rooms. He was married to Isabella and had a
young daughter and 2 servants. He was a bank agent and land proprietor of
12,000 acres. On examination Adam Sharp was very evasive. He had owned the
Clyth estate for 20 years but said he didn’t know answers because he didn’t
live in Caithness, had no factor and anyway he wasn’t a rich man!
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| Rothes Morayshire above, and a large house in Green Street, Rothes |
James Purves, Tenant farmer, Barrogill Mains, Caithness (age
56).
Census 1881: He was married to Isabella and was living with 7
children and 3 servants in a cottage. James was a farmer of 300 acres. James
was not examined as the meeting was Adjourned.
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| Near Barrogill Mains |
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