Local Celebrities, John Wallace - Article XI - Rambling Recollections of Berriedale, Badbea, & Neighbourhood – Part F

 
Article XI written by Alexander Gunn aka A Native of Badbea was printed in the Northern Ensign on 29 January 1880 – Part F

Dunbeath showing locations of Markethill and the Telford bridge	Markethill
‘Gingerbread stand at the fair - Geikie	Pedlar - Geikie

“John Wallace was a celebrity in his day. He was a stout, able-bodied man of ordinary size, but possessed of great strength and very fond of a fight, when not infrequently he came off second best.”

“His last great performance was at one of the Dunbeath markets, when he was overpowered by superior numbers. His head was laid open by a blow from a spade, after which he was hurled over the rocks to the west of the village. Had he not been possessed of more than ordinary vitality, he would never have recovered, but he survived, and some of those who took a prominent part in the fight were sent out of the kingdom at the country's expense. John was never so ready for a fight after this, and Dunbeath markets enjoyed a measure of peace and orderliness to which they were strangers before.”

“John was not destitute of good natural qualities, for all his fighting propensities, and was over ready to assist a neighbour. I remember him coming to Badbea, with his pony, to give a day's harrowing to "John Badbea." His pony irritated him in some way, when he struck it a blow between the eyes with his clenched fist, which made the poor beast groan and stagger.”

My Comments:

Dunbeath in Groome’s Ordnance Gazetter of Scotland 1882-4	Dunbeath Map
The location of the assault – the old Telford Bridge in background	The Telford bridge in the foreground was built in 1813. Plenty of stones here to throw.

I have found the report on this assault in the Inverness Circuit Court on 29 April 1829

The Inverness Courier 29 April 1829

The transcription reads:

INVERNESS CIRCUIT COURT.

Monday, April, 27

"At ten o’clock this day, the court was opened by Lord Mackenzie. After prayer by the Rev. Dr Rose, a Jury was formed and the court proceeded with the following trials.

ALEXANDER MUNRO….(not transcribed)

ROBERT SUTHERLAND, of Dunbeath in the parish of Latheron, County of Caithness, JOHN BRUCE, and DONALD HENDERSON all of the same parish, were indicted for Mobbing and Rioting. Bruce and Henderson did not appear and were consequently outlawed. The libel stated that on the 7^th August last, Sutherland, Bruce and Henderson, with a number of other persons, assembled in the neighbourhood of the house of John Gunn sheriff-officer and messenger at Dunbeath, and there assaulted John Wallace, fisherman at Brogie, and George Bain labourer, in the parish of Latheron. Wallace and Bain having run down to the bridge of Dunbeath, were assaulted by the mob who discharged vollies of stones at them, by which they were both struck and wounded. Having afterwards returned across the bridge in order to go home to their respective lodgings, the mob again surrounded them; they retreated to a lane or bye-way, whence they were followed by the mob, and instantly attacked. Wallace was knocked to the ground and reduced to a state of insensibility, being severely wounded on the head, sides and back, and his skull fractured. Bain was assaulted in a similar manner, though less severely injured.

John Wallace (who appeared in court with his head wrapped up) deponed that he was at Dunbeath fair on the 6^th of August last. He was in John Gunn’s house (a public-house) in the evening with George Bain. Six sailors belonging to the Queen, of Annan, were in the house. Being informed that his life was to be taken away he left the house and called up Bain who was gone to bed. Witness described the assaults as detailed above. He was first struck with stones, and then went along the road a considerable distance. Being advised by the sailors to return, he did so, and was again assailed with stones. He stood up against a wall, when he was struck with a spade on the side of the head. Saw Sutherland in John Gunn’s house, but does not remember seeing him in the crowd. Witness was only able to go to the herring fishing one night during the whole season in consequence of the injury he received. Knows of no other cause of quarrel than some dispute about a stick which was taken from a boy.

Cross-Examined. Had not above 2 ½ glasses of whisky all day, and had none in the house, as he left it on hearing his life was to be taken away.

George Bain corroborated the former evidence as to the assault, and said he heard the panel say – “Give me a spade to split his skull.” Did not see Sutherland at the time but knew his voice. Witness was knocked down himself, and when he got up found Wallace on the ground. He (witness) was confined fifteen days to his bed.

Charles Sutherland remembered the fight at Dunbeath bridge at the last day of the fair, and saw people throwing stones. First saw Robert Sutherland come up with something in his hand and strike Wallace. Did not see Wallace offer to strike.

Other witnesses deponed to the same circumstances, and one said he heard Sutherland scolding Wallace about “bragging the estate,” and afterwards saw him striking him in the riot.

Dr Henderson of Clyth, parish of Latheron, read a report of the wounds inflicted on Wallace, whom he attended about three weeks, and who was still afflicted with throwing up of blood in consequence of the injuries he received.

The Advocate Depute being heard for the prosecution, and Mr Milne, as Counsel for the panel, the Judge summed up, and the jury having retired for ten minutes, returned a verdict of Guilty of Mobbing and Rioting and art and part in the assault. 

Sentence, transportation for seven years."

So after a day or two at the Dunbeath market John Wallace, George Bain and a bunch of sailors were at the public-house when a fight broke out and continued down at the Telford bridge. Two sailors who did not appear were outlawed while Robert Sutherland got transportation which was a common but awful sentence.

A Merry meeting by Geikie	From “Songs, naval and national” by Thomas Dibin 1841

Transportation or penal transportation is the sending of criminals or other persons regarded as undesirable to a penal colony. Over a century, thousands of people, both men and women, were transported by the British government to Australia. Transportation was often imposed for petty crimes and for offences for which hanging was deemed too severe. The sentence was imposed for life or for a set period of years. If imposed for a period of years, the offender was permitted to return home after serving out his or her time, but had to make their own way back. Many offenders stayed in the colony as free persons, and obtained employment.

Black-eyed Sue and Sweet Poll of Plymouth taking leave of their lovers who are going to Botany Bay. Published by Rbt Sayer & Co., 1792	Chain gang convicts going to work near Sydney N.S. Wales. 1842

To recap on the further comments on the character of John Wallace:

Pony. At Thurso museum. By Ann Henderson

“John was not destitute of good natural qualities, for all his fighting propensities, and was over ready to assist a neighbour. I remember him coming to Badbea, with his pony, to give a day's harrowing to "John Badbea." His pony irritated him in some way, when he struck it a blow between the eyes with his clenched fist, which made the poor beast groan and stagger.”

From the way he treated the unfortunate pony John Wallace clearly had not dealt with his fighting propensities.

Post Script John Wallace.

Since first posting this I have researched a bit more information on John Wallace.

Time line.

• Baptism: John Wallace: 11 July 1804, Father John, Latheron
• Marriage: 21 Dec 1820, Abode Berriedale Bride: Eliza Sutherland, Berriedale. So these two must have been about 16 when they got married.
• Children:

1. Janet: Bap: 8 Oct 1821. Abode: Borgie
2. Angus: Bap: 28 July 1823. Abode: Berriedale
3. Isabella: Bap: 24 July 1825. Abode: Berriedale
4. Margaret: Bap: 6 July 1827. Abode: Berriedale
5. Elizabeth: Bap: 28 July 1828. Abode: Berriedale
6. Margaret: Bap: 28 Aug 1830. Abode: Berriedale
7. John: Bap: 14 Jan 1833. Abode: Mid Clyth
8. William: Bap: 31 Mar 1835. Abode: Mid Clyth
9. Robert Macalister: Bap: 4 Sep 1837. Abode: Mid Clyth
10. Robert McAlister: Bap: 21 April 1839. Abode: Mid Clyth
11. John Sutherland: Birth 12 June 1840. Abode: Mid Clyth
12. Janet: Birth: 10 Dec 1843. Bap: 18 Dec 1844. Abode: Mid Clyth

John must have been about 25 at the time of the assault and he was the father of five children.

Somewhere between 1841 and 1843 the eldest daughter Janet must have died and a little sister was named after her.  The first Robert Macalister must have also died. John Sutherland doesn’t appear on the census either so maybe he has also died.
The 1841 census is shown

The 1851 census shows Elizabeth a widow. She is described as a Spinster but that is a quirk of the census. The W beside her name means Widow

Somewhere between Janet’s baptism in 1844 and the 1851 census John has died.

Census 1841

Piece: SCT1841/38 Place: Latheron -Caithness Enumeration District: 8 Civil Parish: Latheron Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: - Folio: 0 Page: 10 Address: Mid Clyth

Surname

First name(s)

Sex

Age

Occupation

Where Born

Remarks

WALACE

John

M

35

Farmer

Caithness

WALACE

Elizibeth

F

35

Caithness

WALACE

Janet

F

20

Caithness

WALACE

Angus

M

15

Caithness

WALACE

Isabell

F

15

Caithness

WALACE

Margret

F

10

Caithness

WALACE

Willm

M

6

Caithness

WALACE

Robert

M

2

Caithness

WALACE

-

M

1m

Caithness

Forename enumerated as "n.k."

Census 1851

Piece: SCT1851/38 Place: Latheron -Caithness Enumeration District: 2 Civil Parish: Latheron Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: Latheron Folio: 0 Page: 15 Schedule: 53 Address: Mid Clyth

Surname

First name(s)

Rel

Status

Sex

Age

Occupation

Where Born

Remarks

WALLACE

Elizabeth

Head

W

F

50

Spinster Formerly Fisher Wife

Midlothian - Edinburgh

WALLACE

Margaret

Dau

U

F

21

Net Maker

Caithness - Latheron

WALLACE

Robert Mca

Son

-

M

11

Scholar

Caithness - Latheron

WALLACE

Janet

Dau

-

F

7

Caithness - Latheron

Local Celebrities, John Nicholl - Article XI - Rambling Recollections of Berriedale, Badbea, & Neighbourhood – Part E

 
Article XI written by Alexander Gunn aka A Native of Badbea was printed in the Northern Ensign on 29 January 1880 – Part E

Local Celebrities

John Nicoll

“John Nicoll was well known and much respected in the village. He was the only merchant in the place. He was a shoemaker, and supplied the district the shoes, and was the means of abolishing the local manufacture of "brogues." He also supplied the district with everything required for the households of the inhabitants, from a needle to an anchor. His amiable wife was also much esteemed, and considering the population, they made a fair thing of it, and their removal by the hand of death was universally regretted.”

An egg box to safely transport eggs to market	A wicker creel for peat
Grocery shop in Timespan Helmsdale	Pottery jars in Timespan Helmsdale

My Comments:

Small Grocery Shops

Small shops at one end of the family residence were quite common in the Highlands. Some of the goods were imported and others traded locally such as eggs. It was also common to have a shoemaker’s workshop at the same premises such as this house of my great, great, grandparents at Rangag. These shops were also an important communal meeting place where people would stop when they came to buy or collect mail from the nearby inn and catch up on news. I am glad Alexander Gunn mentioned the wife of John Nicoll even if he didn’t give her a name. Her name was Jane Tait and she was from Wick. They had married on 6 Feb 1840.

The dwelling house of my great, great grandparents at Rangag. The front was used for a grocery shop, the middle the family residence, while the extension at the rear was the shoemaking workshop.

Reay's Village Grocer

Village grocer, William Innes Manson, in 1855 used to travel up and down Strath Halladale in his horse and cart selling at the following prices:-

• Butter 1/- per lb
• Eggs 5½d per dozen
• Sugar 4/- per lb
• Tea 2/-4d per half lb
• Coffee 1/-8d per lb
• Peas Meal 2/- per lb
• Flour 3/-9d a Stone
• Oat Meal 20/- a Boll
• Bere Meal 15/- a Boll
• Barley 2/-2d a Stone
• Biscuits 6d per lb
• Indigo 6d per lb
• Soft Tobacco 1/-3d per lb
• Tobacco 4/- per lb
• Molasses 11/-2d per lb

The Brogues 

Alexander Gunn has mentioned them before - because of the considerable distances people walked often in wet and cold conditions – ‘brogues’ made of locally cured leather were not durable and were smelly. Many people went bare feet of necessity. But some of the shoes made by a craftsman were of impressive quality such as these in the Laidhay Museum – manufacture probably in the early 1870s.

These old shoes were found at Badbea. Even though they are now delapidated it is clear they were originally well made. They are at the Laidhay Museum.  More about John and Jane. Census 1841

The 1841 census shows that Jane was 20 years younger than John and they had a 5 month old baby named Anne. They also have a female servant – John’s sister Helen Nicoll, and an Ag Lab (Agricultural Labourer).

Census 1841

Census 1851

The 1851 census tells us that John was farming 5 acres as well as running the shop – he is now described as a grocer. The family has grown to: Anne 10, Alexander 6, Elizabeth 5, George 2, and John 3 months. There are three adult women also living there as House Servants including John’s sister Helen Nicoll and niece Elizabeth Wilson.

Some agricultural implements such as John may have sold in his shop. Timespan museum

Census 1861

The 1861 census records four of the children at home including the youngest daughter Jane aged 8. Sister Helen is still living with the family and niece Elizabeth Wilson is now a dressmaker and teacher so she has obviously managed to get herself some independent income.
John is surrounded by good women!

Death 1865 John

In 1865 at age 75 John was sick for 9 days and then died of unknown causes. He was still living in Berriedale and running his business.

John Nicoll Death 1865

Universally Regretted

I have not been able to locate the death record for Jane. Following John’s death, she may have remarried or moved to another district. Alexander Gunn indicates he was aware of her death and it was much regretted, as with John’s, by those who knew them.