Robert Norris died 27.7.1866 at Uiskevagh, which was a small township in the eastern part of Benbecula. I am afraid that the Norris family. perhaps as a result of being itinerant hawkers/ tinsmiths and hence illiterate and innumerate, are something of a nightmare to pin down.
Robert was born in Ireland about 1791 or probably a few years later and the records show both his mother and first wife as Ann Johnson. According to his death record, his father was John Norris. However, what could have been his brother John Norris living first in Frobost South Uist and ultimately at Bayhead North Uist was shown on his death certificate as son of Robert Norris and Ann Johnson. If that Ann had been born a few years earlier than her recorded 1800, this John born in the Ilse of Islay, could have been the oldest son of your Robert. Just to keep things in the family, John was married to a Mary Johnson. There was also a James Norris, who could have been a brother of John, at Buailedubh on the northern tip of South Uist in 1881. That this was the one family is confirmed by all being what were known as tinklers, tinsmiths and hawkers who happened, unusually to settle. John in South Uist was also identified as stepfather of James Miller and siblings. James took over 24 (Muir of) Aird after Robert's death, was also a tinsmith [i.e. mender of pots and pans] and emigrated to Wapella, Saskatchewan as a Lady Cathcart settler in 1883, where he prospered mightily. If yo have a look at te Censuses, you will find Norris and Miller descendants in North Uist and Skye.
As I have it, the Robert Norris family in Aird included wife Ann Johnson and their children Robert 1825, Thomas 1827, Alexr 1831, William 1833 and Ann 1835-30.1.1860. Ann died about the start of 1860 and Robert remarried in December that year to Catherine MacDonald d.o. Somhairle (Samuel) MacDonald and Mary Morrison. There is a mention of Lionacleit but I do not think that was a family home, perhaps just where pre-marriage Catherine was a servant. Catherine was 45 when married and Robert in his seventies so there were no offspring of this marriage. |