Newspaper article about Roderick Nicolson, Headteacher at a Tiree school in 1913.
Photocopied newspaper article from 1986, and accompanying letter to Archie MacKinnon, Cornaigmore, from his cousin in Australia, Sept 2009. A friend of Archie`s cousin had given his cousin the newspaper article and letter. The article reports Roderick Nicolson`s 95th birthday celebrations at the Cabarfeidh Hotel, Balallan and of his teaching career, including his first teaching position as Headmaster of a primary school on Tiree in 1913. The accompanying letter gives details of his family on Lewis.
Roderick NICOLSON was the brother of my mother, Mary Ann MONTGOMERY’s, mother.
Oral history, unsubstantiated, has it that my mother’s mother died in my mother’s infancy and that my mother was brought up by the NICOLSON family and is the reason that I have the middle name of NICOLSON.
Oral history has it that my mother’s father and his sons, but not my mother. went to Canada not long after the end of World War One. My mother was Gaelic speaking and read the Stornoway Gazette for most of her life.
Any information about my mother’s father would be greatly appreciated. It is believed that at some time they were crofters at Ballallan(sp?) Lewis.
Major Ian Nicolson BROOKES Retired 1 Major Street, Mosman, NSW 2088