Cromarty Image Library

I also notice that the School was still down on Shore St at that time. I wonder what the large buildings on Braehead (shown as Links Terrace) were at that time?

Also prior to the present School, there was another Free Church School on the corner of the present Duke Street & Braehead. If any copy 'Title' for the existing School is held in Cromarty, that should give the name, or ownership of the previous building. Alternatively, a 'Search' could be done through the Education Dept's Legal Dept. Might cost something to investigate, but a chat with the right person, a half bottle, and a brown envelope might do the trick!

The original school on Shore Street (now the Anchorage) was sold to my great great grandfather John Hossack by the School Board in 1878 for the princely sum of £30.

The house to the right of Albion House, in Church Street, is no longer standing either. This area is now part of Albion House's garden.

I see what you mean Clem. If one draws a line from Clunes there must be a great chunk of land that has subsided or something.
H.

The map shows a PH on Manse (Gordons) Lane - assuming this is a public house what was it called?

There is an empty site off Shore Street at Gordon's Lane which Gerry Smith said was the site of a public house called the Shore Inn. He always 'tipped his hat' as he went by it! (It's just below the little alleyway leading up to Church Street opposite the library.)

I think we had some relatives who lived in the "Shore Inn" I remember my Granny saying that someone died of pneumonia or something after it had been flooded by the sea.

didn't jimmy dixon live there at one time.?

My ancestor John Tant (or Taint) is mentioned in the Inverness Journal for 22 May 1829-
"
Mr John Tant, Pheonix Inn at Evanton, will remove from this inn to the Head Inn at Cromarty.
"

I would appreciate if anyone can positively identify which inn this is in Cromarty; and also if there is any more local information on that Tant family.

=============================

That John Tant had previously been employed as Butler by Alexander Fraser of Balconie and Inchcoulter. His wife was Henryetta; and they may have been related eg cousins.

A slightly later Butler to AF in February 1834 was William Tant marrying Katharin Emelia Yellowlees, probably the daughter of another servant and possibly a servant herself. In November 1834, this William Tant joined the Excise Service, his papers showing him as being born in the county of Middlesex around 1808.

There is yet another Tant in the area in the same era, John Tant (Vintner) married to Hannah Aldred in London 1820. Three of the first JT's children are recorded with this second JT, living in Mary King Close Edinburgh in the 1841 Census. This second JT and HA had a son Charles.

Apart from this newly-found 1829 mention above in the Inverness Journal, I have no other traces of "my" John Tant and Henryetta.

My suspicions are that they died around 1836 when there were some form of eoidemic in the area generally.

I have complete extracts from the OPRs, SRs, Wills and Censuses on Scotland's People; and from Find My Past.

Alexander Fraser, his son Evan Baillie Fraser and Dr James Wishart are commemorated in the names given to the descendents of those three Tants, to the extent that there was still an Evan Baillie Fraser Tant in Edinburgh about four years back.

Additionally, the names Henryetta (inc Henry) and Hannah Aldred appear across the three lines, suggesting some close connection of kith and/or kin; but no solid proof.

Most of the present Edinburgh area Tants are descended from William Tant and Amelia Yellowlees, also including an Australian line.

John Tant and Hannah Aldred's descendents are mainly in Lancashire.

Most of "my" John Tant and Henryetta's descendents ar scattered far and wide, mainly England with some in Germany and Canada.

The results to date can be followed through on-

/genforum.genealogy.com/cgi-bin/pageload.cgi?early, tants::tant::265.html

It is more local records, mentions, grave stones etc that I am seeking.

Thank you

Further to my posting of 7th January 2009, I have received a scan of John Tant's move to the Head Inn Cromarty.

Transcribed, it reads-
"
Head Inn at Cromarty
JOHN TANT respectfully intimates to the Inhabitants of Cromarty, its vicinity, and the Public generally, that he is to REMOVE, at the Term of Whitsunday first, from the Phoenix Inn at Evanton, to the above Inn, which is well known as being for several years back occupied by the late Miss Cormack.
J.T. further intimates, that Travellers and others may rely upon every attention and comfort.
N.B. ----Good Stabling/
21st May, 1829.
"

The mention of "Miss Cormack" suggests that this Head Inn was established in 1807-

John Cormack has taken the house in New Street, possessed by the late Murdo Ross, and turned it into an Inn.

1810 New Inn, John Cormack has moved in to this Inn. (Is this a different Inn from the 1807 conversion? AD)

1824 Cromarty Inn. John Cormack has retired from the inn & his sister, Mrs Elizabeth Cormack, will continue running the inn.

1829 Cromarty Inn, death of Mrs Cormack & sale of furniture.
"

I have noted the references to Mrs Cormack & Miss Cormack, suspecting confusion in that era.

However, can anyone clarify particularly the location of the Head Inn - could it be the present Royal Cromarty Hotel?

Alex Dow

There is mention on our deeds of two sisters, both called Miss Jack who used Wellington House as surety on a loan they had from "Isabella Barbara Couper, Innkeeper, The Shore Inn, Cromarty" in 1908. It was witnessed by William Valentine Neill who was renting all or part of Wellington House at that time. Hannah and Mary Jack from Highgate and Ealing, London had inherited the property from their aunt, Mrs Christina Creech who named Wellington House in the 1880s, after her previous home, Wellington Lodge, West Bay, Dunoon.

Until then, we presume it was known by it's number in Church Street.

The house shown to the right of Albion House on this map was I believe burned down prior to 1869. In 1869 the ruin and land were sold by a Patrick Robertson of London to David and Elizabeth Murray. They are shown in the 1881 census as the owners of Wellington House. A servant; Marion Ross, who I believe was deaf was shown as residing with this eighty year old couple.

The Murrays left their property to their eldest daughter, Elspet MacAndrew of Geelong, Australia. I believe she never lived here but sold it to Mrs Creech of Dunoon in 1888. Incidentally it is interesting to note, if you enlarge this map, that the Lady's Walk appears to end when it comes to the top of Wellington House garden.

In my search for my ancestors, John Tant and Henrietta, the following records have come to light on the NAS site - following up.

SC24/10/100 William Grant, Manager, Caledonian Brewery Co., Inverness vs John Tant, innkeeper, Cromarty: Debt 1831-1832
SC24/10/128 Tain Brewery Co. vs John Tant, Cromarty: Debt 1833
SC24/10/142 William Watson, hardware merchant, Cromarty vs John Tant, innkeeper, Cromarty: Debt 1835

Regarding the family of Bob Holmes, I have some more names which I believe are connected. I have researched my own family tree in the Black Isle and have a list of Homes, Holms and Holmes from the 1800s. Though I have no reason to suppose that we are related, some names will be of some interest to you. Peter Home, Inverness, Scotland

John Tant (Innkeeper, Cromarty Head Inn) and Henryetta.

I obtained a copy of the Summons for the 1835 Debt, on the assumption that being "local" and last, that it may have details of use to me.

Unfortunately, it does not contain any more significant information, apart from "a copy of the account [was left AD] with Mrs. Tant for the said Defender, in his owen (sic) dwelling house. Simon Fraser, Sheriff Officeer". (4th March 1835)

Obviously this is not absolute proof that John Tant was alive that day; but it seems most unlikely that he wasn't.

This narrows down the times of the deaths of the couple to being 1835 to 1841, if absence from the 1841 UK Census; and the presence of three of their children with the other John Tant and Hannah Aldred in Edinburgh, 1841 Census.

The Debt seems to have been paid before any Court appearance, as there is a final page to record the verdict of the Court; and the relevant parts are blank.

Hello Peter. Thank you for contacting me. I will forward Holm(es)family info I have. Looking forward to hearing more from you. Hello to Clem Watson and Bright Gordon, trust all is well. Regards Bob Holmes

My great great grandfather is recorded in the 1871 Census as living in Braehead House, George's Square, with his wife and 8 children: he was a surgeon. I see no George's Square, but I presume this may have been somewhere near George's Street down by the point?

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