Andrew Mackay (1859 - 1934)

Born 5 Sep 1859 in Aultchraggie, Clyne, Sutherland, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Alexandrina (Smith) Mackay — married 27 Dec 1887 in Clyne, Sutherland, Scotland

Died 25 Sep 1934 at age 75 in Golspie, Sutherland, Scotland

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Biography

Birth

5 Sep 1859 Aultchraggie, Clyne. Andrew Mackay son of John Mackay, labourer and Williamina Ross who were married 24 Dec 1858 at Clyne^[1]

Marriage

28 Dec 1887 Clyne At Lower Brora Free Church of Scotland. Andrew Mackay to Lexy Smith. Andrew was age 28, of Golspie and a master plumber. His parents were John Mackay and Williamina Ross. Lexie was age 26 she was a dressmaker of Lower Brora. Her parents were William Smith baker and grocer, and Elspet Sutherland^[2]

Note

Andrew and Lexy were second cousins

Census

1861 Peatmoss, Aultririe, Clyne with his parents and grandmother Catherine Ross, age 1

1871 Peatmoss, Clyne with his parents, age 11

1881 Peatmoss with parents, apprentice plumber, age 21

1891 Main St, Golspie, age 31, plumber, with wife Lexie^[3]

1901 Main St, Golspie age 41, with wife and 3 daughters, plumber contractor^[4]

1911 East End, Golspie age 51, widower, Master Plumber, with 3 daughters^[5]

Occupation

Plumber

Death

25 Sep 1934 Golspie Andrew Mackay age 75, master plumber, Altsagart, Golspie, widower of Lexie Smith of cerebral haematoma. Parents John Mackay, crofter, deceased, Williamina Ross, deceased. Informant Hugh Munro, Sibrel Rd, Golspie, son-in-law^[6]

Burial

28 Sep 1934 Golspie^[7]

Lair Records for Golspie

13 Andrew Mackay, plumber, Golspie Lair10/11/12

• 23 Feb 1900 John Mackay, son age 5 months
• 17 May 1905 Lexy Smith, wife, 44
• 16 Apr 1927 Mina Georgina, daughter, and wife of Hugh Munro 31
• 28 Sep 1934 Andrew Mackay (no age given) 11 ^[8]

Gravestone

Golspie see photo

In Loving Memory of Andrew Mackay, Master Plumber, Golspie, who died 25 Sep1934 age 75 and his wife Lexy Smith who died 21 May 1905 age 44. Their daughter Mina Georgina who died 16 April 1927 age 31. Erected by their daughters Elsie and Sarah.

Probate

His executor was his daughter Elspeth who lived in Croydon.

Note

Was a yachtsman and a Parish Councillor. See Obituary. Died of cerebral haemorrhage. Informant Hugh Mackay, son-in-law, Sibrel Rd, Golspie. According to Dina Gunn he was blind when old and had 2 glass eyes. He used to stand at the doorway of his house hoping passers by would speak to him.

He bought the house in Gower St from his cousin Williamina Mackay in 1909 so that William & Jane could live in half of it. (I have a copy of the deed). He also owned Granny's house in Rosslyn St before she lived in it and it was a boarding house run by Miss Fogo. When William was invalided out of the army he let it to William & Jane as they needed a larger house and could run it as the Temperance Hotel. In 1920 Valuation Rolls the house in Rosslyn St is owned by Andrew but Mrs Jane Mackay, pensioner, is the occupier.^[9]

Andrew also owned the Aultririe croft in 1915 and let it to John & Catherine Mackay. Dina Gunn's husband bought it in 1961 from Andrew's daughter Sally.^[10]

Death Notice

Andrew Mackay

Northern Times

Death 27 Sep 1934

At Alt-Sagart, Golspie on 25 inst Andrew Mackay age 75. Funeral today Thursday to Golspie Churchyard at 2pm.

Obituary

The death of Mr Andrew Mackay, Golspie, ex-councillor & sportsman

Widespread regret was expressed when it was learned that Mr Andrew Mackay, Alt-Sagart, Golspie had passed away on Tuesday forenoon. Deceased, who was 75 years of age was a native of the parish of Clyne.

After an active and useful life, Mr Mackay was patient and cheerful in an affliction which overtook him several years ago. It was only recently however that he was laid aside by an illness in which anxiety was expressed for his recovery and from which he ultimately died.

Industrious and hardworking the late Mr Mackay came to Golspie as a Master Plumber many years ago. He identified himself with anything that was for the betterment of the community, especially in the years during which he was Parish Councillor.

In pre-territorial days he took a keen interest in the Artillery Co in which he was Lieutenant. As a member of the Golspie Curling and Bowling clubs he took a lively interest in their welfare and was a keen player. As a yachtsman, he took a delight in having his craft well rigged when in pre-war days races for the Little Ferry Cup were in vogue. Two of his better-known yachts were the 'White Wings' and 'Josephine' both of which are still to the fore.

Besides being a parish councillor he was a representative on the County Council and on the Bonar Bridge Poor House Committee prior to the coming into force of District Councils. He was a Freemason and a member of the Fountain Road Church of Scotland and his seat was seldom ever vacant at divine worship when good health did not fail him.

Mr Mackay was a highly esteemed member of the community. Outspoken, he never failed to express his own views and invariably these met with general approval, especially in matters which cropped up in Parish Council and other meetings. A kindly taskmaster and a good citizen, Mr Mackay's familiar figure will be much missed in a community he loved so well.

Deep sympathy is extended to his 2 daughters, one of whom is in the US, and other relatives in their bereavement.

The funeral takes place to Golspie Churchyard today, Thursday, at 2pm.

Entry on Sarah Jordan's website 2000

Andrew the eldest, and most financially successful son, was born in 1859 and named after his paternal grandfather. He became an apprentice plumber.

He married his second cousin Lexy SMITH in 1887 when he was 28 and probably already fairly successful as he had completed his apprenticeship and was a master plumber living in Golspie. Lexy was 26 and a dressmaker living in Lower Brora. Her father was a baker and grocer. They married in Lower Brora Free Church of Scotland, most likely Lexy's church. Their mothers were first cousins through the Sutherland family. They had no children for nearly 6 years and then had 4 fairly close together, the last one, John, dying when a few weeks old. The middle of the 3 daughters, Mina, married Hugh MONRO and died when she was 33 having had no children

The eldest daughter, Elspeth, married Basil ARNOLD as a second husband. My mother stayed with them in London (Norwood?) and there met my father who was boarding with them. I remember we all spent a weekend with them when I was about 10 in (East Anglia). Basil stayed in touch after Elspeth died and he wrote to us when my mother died. The other daughter, Sally, married a MacDONALD, a golf professional They lived in Florida. USA and had no children of their own

Andrew was fairly well-off as he owned the house in Rosslyn Street where my grandmother lived, formerly known as the Temperance Hotel. My grandfather, William, (Andrew's younger brother by 13 years), worked as a plumber for him and rented the house from him. Andrew lived in Golspie in a house called Aultsagart on the main street. It is still there.

PHOTO of Aultsagart

Andrew was involved in some form of military service as he was referred to a Lieutenant in his brother William’s obituary.

According to Mina Kidd, Andrew had the first car in Brora, an open car called an ‘Albion’. He was the first to drive through the ford at Brora accompanied by Mina.

Lexy, Andrew’s wife, died in 1905 at age 44. Thereafter Andrew had a housekeeper to look after him. He became blind in later life and had two glass eyes. He sold his plumbing business to Alexander Sutherland. One of Alexander’s sons Hugh MacDonald, married Edith Leslie, Auntie Maggie’s daughter. Andrew died in 1934 age 75 and was buried in Golspie with his wife and two children.

Sources

1. ↑ certificate seen in Edinburgh in 1986
2. ↑ Certificate seen in Edinburgh in 1986
3. ↑ Scotlands People; https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/; Mackay Andrew (Census 1891 051/00 001/00 006)
4. ↑ Scotlands People; https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/; Mackay Andrew (Census 1901 051/00 001/00 033)
5. ↑ Scotlands People; https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/; Mackay Andrew (Census 1911 051/00 001/00 018)
6. ↑ Certificate seen in Edinburgh in 1991
7. ↑ Golspie Lair 10/11/12 seen at Dornoch Environmental Health
8. ↑ Golspie Lair 10/11/12 seen at Dornoch Environmental Health
9. ↑ Scotlands People; https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/; Mackay Andrew; 1920; Valuation Rolls VR120/15/769
10. ↑ Scotlands People; https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/; Mackay Andrew; 1915; Valuation Rolls VR120/15/26