Vass of Seaboard Villages

[Smackg]

Hi Everyone,

I'm trying to track down my family from Balintore, Shandwick and Hilton.

I've exhausted family knowledge so I'm hoping if any of you guys might know anything.

It's to do with my Grandfathers paternal line.

His christened name was John Mackenzie Vass, but everyone knew him as Iain. I believe he was born in 1901, but can't be sure.

I also need to know info on his father Hugh Vass who was a Blacksmith and was born in 1873. He married Elspeth Mackenzie and she died in 1953, but don't have any birth dates.

Hugh moved his family down south to Portsmouth, my grandfather moved back during the early 70's.

I believe Hughs parents were Hugh Vass (born 1832) and Elsie Vass (Born 1834)

Elspeths Mackenzies father was called John Mackenzie.

That's literally all I have, and that's the bare bones. If anyone recognises those names and can flesh out dates or extend the family tree, I'd be much obliged.

Thanks

Smack

[nelmit]

Hello and welcome to Talking Scot,

Time to get the credit card out and confirm your knowledge with extracts from Scotlands People.

Here is what looks like Hugh's birth from the IGI -

HUGH VASS
Male

Event(s):
Birth:
29 AUG 1872 Nigg, Ross And Cromarty, Scotland

Parents:
Father: HUGH VASS Family
Mother: EPPY VASS

and here is the family in 1891 at New St, Nigg (they are still there minus Hugh in 1901) -

Hugh Vass 59 born Nigg, Fisherman
Elsie Vass 57 born Nigg
Catherine Vass 30
David Vass 28
Elsie Vass 24
Hugh Vass 18 born Nigg, Blacksmith

Hugh is married and on board his ship based at Devonport in 1901.

Are you sure his wife was Elsie?

There is a marriage in 1900 at Glasgow of a Hugh Vass and Jessie Mackenzie.

This could be her with her parents at Fearn in 1901 -

John MacKenzie 68
Margaret MacKenzie 60
Jessie Vass 28 born Fearn, Blacksmith's Wife Ivary (as transcribed at Ancestry - should it be Navy?)
Donald MacKenzie 22

A likely birth -

JANET MCKENZIE
Female

Event(s):
Birth:
06 APR 1872 Fearn, Ross And Cromarty, Scotland

Parents:
Father: JOHN MCKENZIE Family
Mother: MARGARET MCKENZIE

Something to go on for now.

Regards,
Annette

[joette]

Just in case you didn't know Iain is the gaelic or Scottish form of John.My Father's gravestone has both names as he was registered as John but was always known as Ian.

[LesleyB]

Also, just for info, Vass is a very frequently occurring surname in that area, which may make things a little confusing once you are back in the early 1800s!

Best wishes
Lesley

[SarahND]

Hello Smack and welcome to Talking Scot!

Time to get the credit card out and confirm your knowledge with extracts from Scotlands People.

As Annette said, downloading the extracts of the births, marriages and deaths from ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk will confirm your knowledge. There is no John Vass birth registered in 1901, but there is one in Nigg in 1902 and one in Fearn in 1903. Neither one appears to have the Mackenzie middle name.

John and Jessie's marriage should give you the name of their parents and, in turn, the marriage and/or deaths of their parents will give you the names and occupations of their parents, etc. Back to 1855 anyway. Before that the records are less informative, but you'll be on your way!

Following the families down in the censuses can also give valuable information about other family members and changing occupations. Let us know if you have any trouble accessing the records!

All the best,
Sarah

[Smackg]

Guys,

Thank you so much for all your help. I'll investigate further.

I'll start getting the credit card

[Smackg]

Hello and welcome to Talking Scot,

Time to get the credit card out and confirm your knowledge with extracts from Scotlands People.

Here is what looks like Hugh's birth from the IGI -

HUGH VASS
Male

Event(s):
Birth:
29 AUG 1872 Nigg, Ross And Cromarty, Scotland

Parents:
Father: HUGH VASS Family
Mother: EPPY VASS

and here is the family in 1891 at New St, Nigg (they are still there minus Hugh in 1901) -

Hugh Vass 59 born Nigg, Fisherman
Elsie Vass 57 born Nigg
Catherine Vass 30
David Vass 28
Elsie Vass 24
Hugh Vass 18 born Nigg, Blacksmith

Hugh is married and on board his ship based at Devonport in 1901.

Are you sure his wife was Elsie?

There is a marriage in 1900 at Glasgow of a Hugh Vass and Jessie Mackenzie.

This could be her with her parents at Fearn in 1901 -

John MacKenzie 68
Margaret MacKenzie 60
Jessie Vass 28 born Fearn, Blacksmith's Wife Ivary (as transcribed at Ancestry - should it be Navy?)
Donald MacKenzie 22

A likely birth -

JANET MCKENZIE
Female

Event(s):
Birth:
06 APR 1872 Fearn, Ross And Cromarty, Scotland

Parents:
Father: JOHN MCKENZIE Family
Mother: MARGARET MCKENZIE

Something to go on for now.

Regards,
Annette

Gosh. that's amazing. Thanks so much Annette I'll cross ref with what I have.

[SuMacd]

Hi
Can you make any connection with Barbara Vass who married Hugh Ross at New Gaelic Chapel, Glasgow in June 1806.
My instinct is they are from the area you are searching but cant find reference on Cenus,
I believe Barbara died pre 1841 & Hugh shown as from outside county on 1841 Census

Susan

[Currie]

Hello Smack,

Did the family have a Herring Boat called the Prosperity?

Aberdeen Weekly Journal, Monday, July 20, 1896
DISTRICT INTELLIGENCE.
BURGHEAD.
MISHAP TO FISHERMEN.—A most unfortunate mishap has befallen the skipper and crew of the herring fishing boat Prosperity (INS. 795), belonging to Hugh Vass, Balintore, Ross-shire. It appears that during the process of having the boat launched previous to their coming here to prosecute the fishing from this port, the keel of the boat got slightly damaged. The intention of the skipper on arriving here was to have the keel put right, and, preparatory to this being done, the boat was drawn into what is known as the slip dry dock. The usual lifting jacks and blocks were put into requisition, and everything appeared to be placed satisfactorily, when by a sudden movement the boat slightly lurched, and, the great weight not being equalized, the result was that the keel was completely wrenched off. The accident places the men in a most unfortunate predicament, the boat, of course, being unable to go to sea this season.

Have you seen this digitised book? “Down to the Sea – an account of life in the fishing villages of Hilton, Balintore & Shandwick. Chapter 8 has INS 795 Prosperity listed under Shandwick against the name of Andrew Vass. http://www.rchs.uhi.ac.uk/communit/p37/ ... Cover.html

The compass from the Prosperity
http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q ... 2&aq=f&oq=

Hope that’s him or something to do with him or his,
Alan

[LesleyB]

As mentioned above, there are LOTS of folk with surname Vass in that area, so if researching this name in that area it would be best to be wary of making connections without having some other proof, I think. I remember working through census films for 1841 and 51 for this area and it seemed that everyone was either a Ross, a Skinner or a Vass!!
e.g Census for 1851 Nigg there are entires for 356 Ross, 72 Vass, 71 Skinners, ...and these are not densely populated areas, but several small villages and farms etc.

Best wishes
Lesley