Vass of Seaboard Villages

[joette]

And probably all with loose family connections too Lesley.It's like looking for Ross's in Tain-there are hundreds & thousands of them all called William, David or John(the names I am looking for).

[LesleyB]

And probably all with loose family connections too Lesley

I'd fully expect so, Joette. Fisher folk tend to marry fisher folk as well!

It's like looking for Ross's in Tain-there are hundreds & thousands

I have Ross in that area too, so can fully commiserate! (including a William Ross )

[Smackg]

Hi
Can you make any connection with Barbara Vass who married Hugh Roass 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

Hi SuMacd

I haven't come across a Barbara Vass as yet, but I've no doubt I will. I've been told by my mother that her father Iain Vass had a ton of cousins all in those villages either called Vass or Mackenzie. And from what I can gather they all registered in Nigg.

I'm concentrating on my direct line, but if I hear of anything I'll give you a shout

[Smackg]

And probably all with loose family connections too Lesley

I'd fully expect so, Joette. Fisher folk tend to marry fisher folk as well!

It's like looking for Ross's in Tain-there are hundreds & thousands

I have Ross in that area too, so can fully commiserate! (including a William Ross )

I went to school with a William Ross from Shandwick

[johnniegarve]

Folks, here's a wee poem from the "Villages"

"Old Sandy Vass' Wife" by W.A.Mackenzie.

As I went down to Tarbat, on a clear October day,
I met old Sandy Vass' wife with her creel upon the way.
Beneath the load of Speldings her willing back was bent,
The creel rope out at every step, and she knitted as she went.

A goffered cap framed snugly her storm and smoke-browned face,
The lappets lay on cheeks that still had some of girlhoods grace,
Her coats were neatly knitted, her shawl was lilac sprint,
Her brogans twinkled in the sun, and she knitted as she went.

"I had three sons to Sandy-three big boys, stout and big,
One passed to God in Balta Sound, one in the bay of Nigg,
And Rob, the youngest and the best, at Etandaagre spent
His heart blood at his captain's side" and she knitted as she went.

"I had two bonnie daughters-Maarach and little Jean,
The fever took the both of them at the hairvest at Rosskeen,
We munna sorrow or complain, for they were only lent,
It's him that gave that took awa" and she knitted as she went.

"Now there's just me and Sandy, and Sandy's getting wake,
He goes out in the boatie yet, but its little he can take.
And what he gets I smoke and sell, so we can pay the rent,
An' wait the day we get the call" and she knitted as she went.

Swiftly fell the Heilan winter, with black frost and with hoar,
God spake to Sandy and his wife, "You're long hard day is o'er"
We found them lying side by side, asleep and well content.
The wires were rusty in her hands-she was knitting as she went.






One

[Currie]

Hello johnniegarve,

That’s a real doosey of a poem.

Just googling it seems to be the first time it’s appeared on the internet. Barring accidents it's now there for posterity and for all to enjoy, especially those with links to the name and region.

All the best,
Alan

[don_niagara]

Hiya

a decade ago with much aid of Shane abdel Nour I tried to trace this bunch, masses of Vasses!

you note of your grandfather;

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.

I have the Hugh Vass, blacksmith, who married 1900 to Janet "Jessie" MacKenzie had four children, birth order may be wrong as it is based on Shane's memories and old timers from the area rather than regs;

1) Jessie "Jock" Vass, married a detective named Jack MacWilliam (two children identified)
2) Hugh MacKenzie Vass, married 1940 to Jessie MacRae. Best friends of Shane's mother while growing up. Hugh died sometime 2002-2004. (2 daughters)
3) Ian Vass, died 1970s, married Doris
4) Elspeth Vass, married (?) Lovejoy, they had children

The scotlandspeople index does not show "Hugh MacKenzie Vass", likely registered "Hugh Vass" and christened "Hugh MacKenzie Vass", makes me wonder if that third child above might be your "John MacKenzie Vass". If so, you'd be a fourth cousin, once removed of mine. Was your granny a Doris?

Donald.

[Hibee]

Try putting the Vass surname into FreeCen, for 1841....

http://freecen.rootsweb.com/cgi/search.pl

Hibee