Fort George, Inverness

gordie · Post by **gordie** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 11:23 pm

Hi,

Does anybody know if there are any records existing from the 1800's of civilians employed at Fort George near Inverness.
My GGG grandfather got married in Inverness to a local lass in 1841.
He was a shoemaker and was born in Billingborough, Lincolnshire and I wondered how and why he got to Inverness.
The only easy way to get to Inverness from his part of England then was by sea.
I found out that Fort George at that time was supplied by sea via the Moray Firth and wondered if my ancestor arrived there as a civilian employee to a military detachment posted there.

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 10:43 am

Hi Gordie
I don't know the answer to your question, but maybe Highland Archives may be able to help or point you in the right direction.
http://www.highland.gov.uk/leisureandto ... larchives/

Let us know how you get on

Best wishes
Lesley

Post by **Tracey** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 11:45 am

Hi gordie

What makes you think he was employed at Fort George, is this mentioned on his marriage details ?
Does the census for him or her give any clues .
My English / Scottish and Irish combinations were ususally married where you wouldnt expect them to be at that time because they were in the Army and stationed in these places.

Sorry im not being of much help .............

gordie · Post by **gordie** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 8:51 pm

Thanks for the reply and the link Lesley. I'll post them a query.

Thanks for your reply Tracey. The 1841 Census lists him as a shoemaker born in England and at that time he was living with his wife in her parents house in Inverness and the OPR lists them as being married in the Parish of Inverness and again my ancestor is described as a shoemaker.
It was idle speculation on my part to think that he may have been employed at Fort George as it seemed to me that he was a long way from home plying his trade and I don't think there would have been a shortage of shoemakers in Inverness then. It seemed plausible to me that he may have been employed by the military and had come into Fort George with a detachment that had been posted there and besides the military used an awful lot of leather at that time.
Anyway it'll be interesting to see what might turn up.

Thanks again to all.