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Here's a little sample of the sort of database we hope to have at An Diasporran. This information is being donated by Allan and Elizabeth Mac Donald of Arisaig, and comes from their long running serie...
Here's a little sample of the sort of database we hope to have at An Diasporran. This information is being donated by Allan and Elizabeth Mac Donald of Arisaig, and comes from their long running series in the local community newspaper, West Word, this time from April 2001.
Allan likes to have something of a wee story, or titbit about the people. He gives a fine example at the end ...
In the last edition of West Word (March), Mark Fraser from Canada was looking for information on his grandfather, Robert Thomas Fraser, born in Drimindarroch in 1901.
In 1840, Thomas Fraser, aged 50, agricultural labourer, lived at No. 10 Borrodale with his wife Isabella, 40, and family Robert, 20, John, 15, Isabella, 14 years of age.
Robert Fraser from Drimindarroch is listed in the 1891 Census, aged 60 years. Also listed is his daughter, Emma, aged 13 years.
The ages of Robert in 1840 and 1891 have a discrepancy of 10 years.
Hopefully, Robert Thomas Fraser, born 1901, will appear in the census for that decade which should be published in April 2001.
R. T. Fraser had at least one brother called Forbes Fraser and a sister called Nancy. The puzzle is: who was the father of Forbes and Nancy? Was it Robert of 1891 or was he their grandfather? We will have to wait and see!
Robert, known as Thomas, was the tenant farmer of Keppoch Farm until sometime in the 1930s. A photograph in the Arisaig Land Sea & Islands Centre shows a very substantial boat being launched by the Campbell boatbuilders at Back of Keppoch. The boat was commissioned and paid for by Thomas Fraser and I think he may also feature in the photo.
Forbes Fraser, a bachelor, was a carpenter to trade and he, along with Hugh Cameron, Moss, father of Angie Cameron, installed the floor in the Astley Hall. It is a marvellous testament to their skill, given the thousands of dancers who have used the floor over the years. Best dance floor in the Highlands!
Nancy Fraser was married to Hugh (George) MacDonald from Invercaimbe. Sadly, she died at the birth of their first child and the child died some weeks later.
A story which I heard in the district, many years ago regarding Thomas and Keppoch Farm, went like this:
At the back of the farmhouse is an area of ground, reputed to be an ancient graveyard. Very early in Thomas' tenancy, there being little sign of the graveyard, he decided to plough this area. This done, and having finished his work for the day, he took the two horses and put them in their boxes in the stable, locked the doors and went home for the night.
When he arrived at the stable in the morning, he was dumbfounded to find all the locks secure but the horses had been turned to face the opposite direction in the stalls.
He never planted or harvested that piece of ground, nor had anyone since.
The people of Arisaig who remember any of the Frasers, speak kindly of them when recalling past memories.
That's all I can tell you at the moment but I will give you an update if any more information comes to light.