John Matheson (1823 - 1899)

Born 6 Jul 1823 in Aird Shieldaig, Ross-shire, Scotland

Died 23 Apr 1899 at age 75 in Inveralligin, Ross-shire, Scotland

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Biography

John's death record states that his parents were Donald Matheson, a boat builder, and Ann MacLennan. There is a record of their marriage in 1802. Donald came from Shieldaig and Ann from Balgie. [1]

John became a merchant seaman. He didn't marry and later in life he became a pauper. The Poor Relief records begin in 1895. He already had a Greenwich pension of £3 8/- per annum, but had become partially destitute and partially disabled becuase of old age. He had given up his croft and was without land. He was awarded 1/3d a week, then, following minutes add "Nov 1897 This is a case requiring very special attention. He is a helpless and powerless paralytic, scarcely able to get out of bed. He lives in a very small and wretched house, and both he and the woman who attends him are dependent on his allowance and small pension" [2]

Sources

• National Records of Scotland - deaths [3]
• NRS - births [4]