Saturday, August 22, 2009

Thursday, September 18, 2008

The usual start to the day. Did a little bit of laundry but there is little hope of it ever drying with the frequent rain! Set off through Lochgilphead on the way to Lochgair to see the house 'Shore Cottage' where Dad's aunt, Mary Fletcher, once lived. Continued on a passed 'Birdfield' the house where Iain McInnes, Dad's late cousin once lived. Stopped at 'Barliath' to take a picture. The present owner, a Mr. Buchan, met us and asked us to come inside. What was once 6 houses (3 up, 3 down joined together) later became 3 houses. In the 1930s/40s, Dad's McKinnon grandmother was in the north end and his Fletcher grandparents lived in the middle section. Dad had not been inside in 61, since his Fletcher grandmother's 1947 death, 61 years ago, so this was a special treat for him. By coincidence, my great uncle Hughie (Hugh McGregor)had lived in the middle section once too, after leaving Leragnahension and awaiting passage to Canada around 1919.
Next, we went along to Inverary and out the A819 which joins the A85 and turned right towards Dalmally. Went through Dalmally and just past a farm called 'Corrygoile' (on left) is the road up to 'Succoth Farm' on the right. The road starts out bad and gets worse! Went past the railway cottages on the left and under a railway bridge and eventually found the farm. The larger white house on our left is the farm house, where a Capt. McLaren lived in my grandfather's time. The smaller white house, attached to some farm buildings, is the house where Dad (and likely his sister, Annie) were born. A little more than a year after Dad's birth, the Fletchers went to Sheilbrae in Stirlingshire, and to Cononish after that. I think my grandparents went to Succoth first when they married in 1928.
Had a nice lunch of scampi and chips, with a Strongbow cider, at the Glenorchy Lodge. Back on the road at 1:00 p.m. Visited my Fletcher grandparents' grave at Glenorchy Parish Church. Many Fletchers buried there too. Took pictures. Copied down the inscription on the headstone. My grandparents nor Annie's names are not inscribed on the stone.
Erected To The Memory
Of
Angus Fletcher of Black Mount
At Blar Dec. 4 1838 Age 73
And His Wife Lilly Campbell
Died December 24 1850 Age 78
And Their Children
Margaret Who Died Aug. 22 1854
Age 38 And
Angus Late Of China
Dec. 3, 1882 Age 54 And
Their Grandson
Angus John Campbell Also
Late of China 10 Nov. 1863 Age 34
Also Isabella Daughter of The Above
Angus Fletcher Of Black Mount Who
Died in Lochgilphead Sept. 1875
Took a bit of a drive out behind the church and over the Strae Bridge, over the River Orchy. Dad wanted us to see 'Castles Farm' where Lizzie Anderson's (Mum's relative)father once lived.
Back to Inverary. Got some groceries at the Co-op store there - not very good selection, so we ended up going to the Lochgilphead one. After that, stopped at Donald (Dad's cousin)and Flora MacVicar's house, at #8 Siclair Ave., just around the corner from Donald's brother, Robbie MacVicar and his wife, Peggy (who happens to be Flora's sister!)Had tea and ham rolls. Came back to caravan about 8:00 p.m. Going to be seeing Robert Angus MacMillan, from Wiltshire, England, and his girlfriend, Geri, tomorrow at the caravan.

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