July 1742. A small ship hove to for 2 hours off Cadboll, during which 50 men appeared on her deck, she appeared in the same place 3 days later. She is certainly a privateer waiting for East Indiamen taking the north passage. July 1788. John Tarrel was born in Hilton on the 17th, his father was also John Tarrel, a fisherman, the name of his mother is not recorded. June 1797. The kelp on the shore at Balintore, which extends for 2 miles, is available to be let for a number of years, contact Mr. MacCulloch of Glastullich. January 1807. The ferry boat at Foulis, loaded with goods, was driven from her moorings at the Ness of Invergordon during the late storm and was found the next day dashed to pieces on the shore Cadboll, the cargo has been lost. March 1818. In the village of Balintore, feus will be granted to tradesmen inclined to settle there. Mr Rose, the owner, has had a school house built which will have a qualified teacher. Mr. Rose has also entered into an agreement with a respectable company to carry out herring fishing this season. August 1832. Outbreak of Cholera in the villages. July 1842. Birth of John Ross, the missionary to China. October 1842. The Linnet runs aground on Cinn a Bhairt below Cadboll House. January 1843. The Linnet, bought and refloated by men from the villages is lost in a storm while trying to get her to Balintore Bay, 4 men from Balintore, William, John, George Morrar or MacKenzie and Finla Skinner were lost, and 3 men from Hilton. August 1843. MacLeod of Cadboll will grant no permission to shoot or course this season on his estates, poachers trespassing will be prosecuted. October 1843. A feeble old fisherman, Alexander Morrar or MacKenzie, Balintore, left his cottage to fetch a pail of water from a nearby well. It is thought while descending the steps of the well he slipped and fell into the well, he was found face down in 2 feet of water still clutching the pail, life extinct. One of his son’s had lately perished on the ill fated Linnet. Alexander was highly respected in the village. June 1844. Alexander Vass charged with assaulting Walter Skinner with a bottle, found not guilty as it was proved he was acting in self defence. June 1844. John Vass, Alexander MacKenzie and Alexander Skinner, changed with assaulting Andrew Ross and his wife, to the effusion of blood, at a wedding. John Vass was found guilty and sentenced to 40 days in prison or a £8 fine, he chose the 40 days. The other 2 were found not guilty. August 1844. David Vass, Shandwick, around 18 years of age, was thrown into the sea while shifting sail near Tarbatness, before his crew mates could rescue him he had sunk to the bottom and was seen no more. August 1844. The son of Hugh Vass, Shandwick, was thrown into the ‘great waters’ but with many boats on hand he was safely rescued. August 1844. About 27 French luggers have been seen off Shandwick. The Frangaich as the Highlanders call them are not lying lazy, these French fishers pay no attention to Parliamentary law and act as they will and by their bribery and brandy and Sabbath carousing and concerting they are affecting our thoughtless youth. Something should be done by our Ministers to stop their encroachments to our rights and our rules of morality. March 1847. A party of farm servants went to the public house in Shandwick, amongst them was George Murray, a 19 year old youth from Beachanlochan in the Parish of Fearn. George was of weak intellect, the others started to ply with whisky. It is thought he drank 15 whiskies and became insensible. He was taken home in his master’s cart but never recovered and died on Sunday morning. The police are looking at the circumstances of his death. April 1847. Shandwick Stone blown over in a hurricane and broken into three pieces. April 1848. The school at Balintore, which is supported by the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge, the pupils were tested by a committee of clergymen on their knowledge of Latin, English reading, grammar, geography, arithmetic and bible knowledge. The school role has 102 pupils of which 72 were present, the rest were absent due to the prevalence of influenza and hooping cough in the area. The Reverend gentlemen found themselves ‘highly satisfied’ with the pupils abilities. November 1848. Hilton of Cadboll woman found frozen to death, she had helped walk her husband, who was drunk, home from Tain and it is thought in a state of exhaustion on a very cold night she lay down to sleep and succumbed to the cold. August 1849. Farmer James Anderson, Balintore, was tried for assault on fisherman David Vass, Balintore Park. It would appear that some fishermen were trespassing on Mr. Anderson’s land and after chasing them and confronting them, somehow the rake he was carrying struck Mr. Vass on the head causing serious injury, from which he has now recovered. Mr Anderson pleaded not quilty and was acquitted. September 1849. Peter Ross or MacWilliam, Balintore, over 6o years of age, married, a sawyer to trade. Appeared at Tain Court charged with forgery. He presented himself at the Commercial Bank of Scotland, Tain, with a letter purported to be from the Rev. David Fraser, Nigg. The letter was addressed to the ‘Commeil bank of Seland, tain’, and said ‘ Sur I want the sum of 60 pounds sterling and 12 shilins inclosed and giv it to my berer and put it into my account for a munth’ it was signed Davan Fraser. David Fraser has no account at this bank. Peter Ross’s defence argued that nobody in their right mind would accept the note as genuine. The prosecution argued fraud is fraud no matter how bad the documentation, the Judge, Lord Cockburn, agreed and told the jury the defence’s argument had no place in law. The foreman of the jury announced a guilty verdict without retiring, moments later other members of the jury said they had not been asked their opinion. Lord Cockburn asked them to retire, they returned a few minutes later with a verdict of guilty by majority. Lord Cockburn in sentencing the accused to 1 year imprisonment pointed out that not that long ago he would have been hung for this crime and if he appears before him again he will be transported to Australia. November 1850. Active steps have been taken to erect a harbour at Hilton of Cadboll. The subscription list already amounts to many hundreds of pounds and the Board of Fisheries are to advance the remaining sum required for the project. July 1851. A company from Glasgow are making arrangements to commence the manufacture of lime on the Shandwick Estate near Balintore, Ross-Shire. It is thought that coal will be in abundance near the limestone. December 1853. Walter MacKenzie charged with assault and breach of the peace, breach of the peace was not proven, but guilty of assault, 10 days or 30 shillings [£1.50p], find paid. June 1854. The wedding took place at Hilton of Cadboll of Margaret, second youngest daughter of Captain Donald MacKay, late of the 21st or Royal Scots Fusiliers, to Robert Brown Turnbull of Balnaha. January 1855. Death at Invergordon of Isabella Reid, wife of the late Walter Aird, Walter used to be the schoolmaster at Balintore. October 1855. The village of Hilton of Cadboll now contains 23 herring boats and 12 haddock boats. The harbour is no longer large enough for the trade but it is expected to be improved to accommodate boats calling in the future. Hilton of Cadboll sits halfway between the Cromarty ferry and Portmahomack and with these advantages fish curers would have little difficulty in converting it into a valuable station. August 1856. Lexy MacKay, Hilton, sentenced to 50 days imprisonment for theft. May 1857. Case of Witchcraft in Hilton, fisherman Donald Ross had an attraction for a young lady which was recipricated, when his feelings towards her cooled he suddenly became ill. He decided she had put a spell on him in revenge and a way to stop that spell was to cut a cross into the girl’s forehead. He attacked the girl, throwing her to the ground he managed to cut her cheek before she fought him off and escaped. The Sheriff wondered in this day and age how people could still believe a girl had the ability to cast a spell and make someone ill. Fined 20 shillings [£1] or 12 days in prison. April 1860. Andrew Ross, a Shandwick fisherman, was tried for violent assault on 12 year old Jessie Ross, a servant at the inn, by, without provocation throwing her down 4 stone steps. The case was proven and Ross was fined 5 shillings which he paid immediately. November 1860. Bella Mitchell, an old woman belonging to Balintore, was attacked by a ruffian near Broomtown, she was dragged off her cart and kicked violently, her pocket was torn off but only contained 8 pence, she had other money concealed on her person which was saved. Highway robbery is very rare in the district. August 1861. At Hilton of Cadboll, the death of George D. MacKay, aged 34, son of Captain D. MacKay. June 1863. The wife of Robert Ross, farm servant, Balintore, gave birth to triplets, 2 boys and a girl, 1 of the boys was still born. June 1863. New Schoolhouse at Hilton opened by Mr. MacDonald, F.C. February 1864. A fishing boat from Hilton of Cadboll with a crew of 3 adults and 2 boys were caught in a severe gale, this was spotted from the shore and a herring boat was sent to it’s rescue. The rescue crew were William Tarrel, Hugh Sutherland, Alex Ross, Alexander Tarrel, all Hilton and Donald MacKenzie, Daniel Skinner, Donald MacKenzie, all Balintore. Everybody safe. May 1864. At Cadboll House, MacLeod of Cadboll, presented, from the National Lifeboat Institution, £1 to each of 12 fishermen who went to the rescue of small boat in distress in a violent storm. Each also received 6 shillings from a collection in appreciation of their deed. The 12 were Hugh Sutherland, Donald MacKenzie, Hugh Sutherland, Donald Sutherland, Alexander Tarrel, Alex Ross, Hugh MacInnes, Hugh Sutherland, Alexander MacKenzie and William Tarrel all Hilton and Donald MacKenzie, Daniel Skinner and Donald MacKenzie all Balintore. August 1864. A herring boat from Hilton of Cadboll was broken to pieces at Portliach, no lives were lost. August 1864. John Wilson, fisherman, Hilton of Cadboll, fined 5 shillings for assaulting James Munro, carrier, and William Ross, shoemaker, at Tain market. January 1865. There has been at great storm in Scotland, in Balintore the barometer was seen to drop as low as 28 37. November 1865. The sloop, William and Alexander of Inverness, sailing from Helmsdale to the Caledonian Canal, loaded with herrings, was driven onto the rocks east of Balintore and has entirely broken up. About 40 barrels of herrings were saved and part of the wreck was rouped. May 1866. George Ross, society teacher at Balintore dies at the age of 82, he taught in Gaelic and English. December 1866. James Finlay, innkeeper, Balintore, found guilty of allowing 10 Balintore fishermen to be still drinking in the bar 40 minutes after the 11pm curfew. Fined £1 or 10 days imprisonment. January 1867. A vessel from Jersey on route from Malta to Leith and driven north by strong winds was wrecked at Balintore, the crew were saved by Balintore fishermen but it’s cargo of oranges were washed up on the shore and were sold for marmalade on the streets of Tain and Invergordon by fishwives. The fishwives attempts to pronounce marmalade in the Gaelic caused much hilarity in the towns. February 1867. William McAngus and Jessie McKenzie, from Hilton, who are engaged to be married, arrive in Galveston, Texas. They marry and settle in Travis County, Texas, the marriage produces 11 children, Daniel, Jessie, Barbara, David, Andrew, Laura, William, Alexander, Hugh, Annie Belle and Murdow. William is the son of Donald McAngus and Barbara Vass of Hilton.
April 1868. James Ross, Balintore, awarded a degree, Master of Arts, from Aberdeen University. October 1868. A small sloop the ‘Jessie’, out of Fraserburgh, was wrecked on rocks east of Hilton of Cadboll. The ‘Jessie’ had delivered coal to Brora and was on her way home when a gale sprung up from the north-east, the Captain made for the Cromarty Firth but on a dark night mistook the the lights of Cadboll House for the Cromarty beacon. No boat could be launched but 3 Hilton fishermen, John MacAngus, John MacDonald and Alexander MacKenzie courageously volunteered to enter the water and caught a rope thrown from the ship and brought the crew of 2 men and a boy ashore safely. February 1870. Murdo MacLeay, a flesher of Hilton of Cadboll, found guilty of stealing sheep from Kiltearn, sentenced to 9 months in Dingwall jail. February 1871. The schooner ‘Driver’ belonging to William Ross, wrecked on the rocks at Hilton of Cadboll, was put up for auction. The hull was sold for £6 and 5 shillings and the whole sale realised a considerable sum. August 1872. The missionary John Ross and his wife Mary A. Stewart arrive at the missionary station Chefoo, Shantung Peninsula, China. February 1873. Mary, the wife of John Ross the missionary, dies not long after giving birth. March 1876. Catherine Sutherland Ross, daughter of Hugh Ross, Broomton Cottage, marries the Rev. John MacIntyre, U.P. mission, Manchuria, at Newchwany, China. Catherine’s brother, the Missionary John Ross conducted the service.
May 1877. William MacKay [35] of Hilton fell 116 feet from the spire of the Church of Mary’s of the Assumption in Aberdeen while working as a labourer on the roof, his sister in the West End of Hilton was informed of his death. September 1878. A letter writer to a newspaper signing himself ‘a believer in witches’, Hilton, remembers ” Caule M’Bhalereek” [Caule of Hilton] and how her powers were used by the local land owners, although she is now passed on, he noted a cow in a field lately with a piece of red material tied to it’s tail and wonders who has taken over her mantle. March 1879. In Melbourne, Australia, Catherine Ross, wife of the Rev. James Paton, late of Durban, Natal, South Africa, has died in childbirth. Catherine was the daughter of George Ross, Viey Farm, Pietermaritzburg, Natal and of Balintore, Ross-shire. February 1880. Six fishermen from Balintore and two stone-breakers from Balmuchy charged with a serious breach of the peace in the Commercial Inn on Old-New-Year’s Day night. John Vass [Jock Mhone] found guilty, fined £1 or 14 days. John Vass was also charged along with William MacKenzie [Banach] with assault of a stone-breakers wife trying to save her husband, Vass, another £1 or 10 days, MacKenzie, not guilty. August 1880. John MacAngus from the Seaboard Villages took part with the 72nd [Seaforth Highlanders] in the British Army’s march, with General Roberts [later Lord Roberts] in command, from Kabul to Kandahar, 313 miles in 23 days with temperatures over 100 degrees during the day and below freezing during the night and then took part in the Battle of Kandahar to relieve the stranded British forces there. He also turned out in 1915 to salute and lowered the flag in his garden to half mast as the funeral cortege of Captain Budge of Rarichie passed his house on it’s way to Portmahomack for burial after the Captain’s death in France with the Seaforth’s. February 1881. John Ross, the missionary to China, marries for the second time to Isabella Strapp McFadyen. February 1882. Tenders are wanted for building a stone and lime wall around the new cemetery at Balintore. October 1882. A case of defamation in Shandwick, tailor Andrew Vass was called ‘a thief ‘, ‘a thruster’ and ‘a beggar’, in his own house by John Vass, who was very drunk at the time. John Vass stated ‘ it was the evil spirit within that spoke’ and not him. The tailor agreed with the sheriff he had not suffered damages and the sheriff decided not to give him any, but 15 shillings was required by the court to cover expenses. March 1883. The effects of the storms in the Moray Firth has seen wreckage of ships coming ashore all along the coast, a carcass of an ox was washed ashore at Shandwick village. December 1883. Andrew MacAngus, aged 12, son of David MacAngus, Balintore, pleaded guilty to ‘part of a charge’ of breaking, with stones, two panes of glass of an unoccupied house in Balintore belonging to William Miller of Inverness, also five panes of the same house on another day. The accused said the panes had been broken before by William Skinner’s sling, but Skinner, who was in court, shouted ‘it wasn’t my sling’. The accused, whose parents were in court, was dismissed with an admonition. February 1884. Tain Sheriff Court heard a case from Hilton for breach of promise with seduction, a child was involved. The case was abandoned by the pursuers solicitor. April 1884. James Johnstone refused a license to open a drinking premises in Balintore. July 1884. James Johnstone, flesher, Balintore, found guilty of pasturing his horse on a public road near Balintore farm. Fine 5 shillings and costs of £1- 4 shillings and 10 pennies. April 1885. Magistrates have refused a license to supply drink to a premises in Balintore for the 3rd time. They feel the Seaboard villages are too well supplied with drinking hostelries, this is borne out by the amount of drunk and disorderly’s seen at the Tain police courts. There are cries of distressing poverty from the villages, people on the edge of starvation, yet, the average consumption of drink in the Parish of Fearn over the past 4 years comes to over £200 per annum. June 1885. Three young Balintore Fishermen were cod fishing when their boat overturned in a sudden squall, John MacKenzie, William Skinner and Alexander Urquhart were thrown into the sea. Boats were sent from the shore and Skinner and Urquhart were rescued, very exhausted, MacKenzie’s body was not recovered until 3 hours later. The accident was put down to the fishermen tying the sheet to the boat instead of holding the sheet in their hand. June 1887. William Sutherland [Eldie] found guilty of assaulting the widow Andrewina MacKay, 10 days or 15 shillings fine, fine paid. July 1887. At a meeting of the proposed Balintore harbour, discussion was on how to raise the £1250 needed to build the harbour. Mr. James Johnstone, merchant, suggested that all 180 fishermen in the 3 villages donate £2 each which would be a good start for the fund. Fisherman William Morrison, Shandwick, said times were hard, fisherman John Skinner, Balintore, suggested Mr. Morrison fattened up his pig and sell it to Mr. Johnstone, that’s what Mr. Skinner intended to do. March 1888. Small boats from Balintore, Hilton and Shandwick, went to sea early to fish for haddock. When they returned there was a heavy surf on the beach, it was dangerous to land but one by one they came in, between the waves. One boat, the Annie MacKay of Balintore, was overtaken by a large wave and swamped to the danger of the crew’s lives, but help from the shore to bale the boat saw them safely home. The Shandwick boats also landed at Balintore, Shandwick bay being too dangerous to land. Donald MacKenzie [Young], Donald Skinner [Big] and John Skinner [Jocken], all fishermen from Balintore, went out to pilot the Shandwick boats thought the channel. One Shandwick boat, the Poacher, tried to land without help and was dashed on the rocks and severely damaged but the crew were saved by the people on the shore. One Hilton boat was thrown onto the rocks at Cadboll, crew safe, the rest made for Balintore. Two Hilton women helping in the sea were overpowered by a wave but were rescued. Donald Vass, joiner, Balintore, had his teeth knocked out by an oar while he was in the water helping. It is hoped the new harbour will end this problem. April 1888. James Watt becomes headmaster of Hilton School. October 1888. William Vass, Old Shandwick, David Ross and David Vass, both Balintore Park, were found guilty of illegal pursuit of game [poaching] on the estate of Carnrigh in the Parish of Nigg. Fined 10 shillings [50p] each and 7 shillings [35p] costs each. May 1889. Nicholas Vass, fisherman, Shandwick, was accused of assault and breach of the peace, he pleaded not guilty, but on hearing the evidence the Sheriff disagreed, fined 10 shillings of 5 days jail. June 1889. Andrew MacKay, fisherman, Balintore, had been in Inverness selling fish when he fell into bad company, Catherine Boyd or MacLaren and several other aliases was sentenced to 14 days jail for stealing £1 12 shillings from Andrew, they had been drinking together and when he woke early the next morning his money and the lady had gone. July 1889. William Ross, Balintore, graduates in Botany at Aberdeen University. March 1890. Balintore Harbour Trustees have accepted the quote of £6625 from George Pirie of Aberdeen to construct a harbour, it is due to be completed in 18 months, Mess’r D & T Stevenson, Edinburgh, are the engineers. July 1890. George Robert Ross arrives in Danville, Virginia, USA, from Balintore. The son of James and Annie Mackenzie Ross, he is later joined by his brother John and he starts a blacksmiths business. September 1890. Nicholas Vass, Shandwick, charged with breach of the peace and assaulting his wife. The Sheriff was told the couple were happy together again and Mrs. Vass had withdrawn the assault claim. Fined 7/6p or 5 days jail for breach of the peace. October 1890. William Sutherland junior, Hilton, found guilty of flattening the nose of Hugh MacDonald [Tarrel] against his face, Jessie MacKay, mother of Hugh MacDonald, giving her evidence in Gaelic, told how she put the nose back in the correct position with the help of whisky. Fined £1 or 14 days jail. March 1891. Jessie Tarrel, Lady Street, Hilton, dies at the age of 13. October 1891. A meeting was held in the U.P. Hall, Balintore with a view to start a reading room in the villages. D.S Ross, student, Brompton Cottage, Mr. Wallace, Tullich, Andrew Ross, student, all spoke of the benefits of a reading room. A committee was formed, Mr. Wallace, farmer, Tullich, M. Fletcher, baker, T. Vass, tailor, James Ross, merchant, A. Vass, D. Vass and J. Vass, all fishermen. Premises are being sought on John Street, Balintore and £6 has already been raised for books. October 1891. In the Free Church Welfare of Youth Group awards for the North of Scotland, three scholars from Balintore were listed, Donald MacKay, Amelia MacRae and Katherine MacKay. July 1892. It was pointed out the previous week that a ” shabby trick” had been played by Balintore Cricket Club in the match against Fearn Cricket Club. In a letter this week, it was pointed out that ” there is no Fearn C.C.” and the match was between Balintore C.C. village members and Balintore C.C. country members. February 1892. Alexander Vass, John Vass and Hugh MacKenzie, Hilton, found guilty of poaching on Geanies Estates, fined 5 shillings [25p] each and 10 shillings [50p] costs. October 1892. Hugh MacDonald [Tarrel], fisherman, Hilton, found guilty of breach of the peace in Portmahomack, MacDonald who has had previous convictions, fined 15 shillings or 10 days jail, fine paid. October 1892. Isabella Campbell [nee Sutherland], 8 Shore Street, Hilton, has been left with 3 young children to bring up, John, Elsie and Maggie, after her husband Kenneth was lost on the sailing ship Janet Storm when she disappeared with all hands on route from Hartlepool to Fraserburgh. November 1892. James Ross, aged 13, Shandwick, wins the Ross-shire Victoria Jubilee Bursary, James is a pupil at Hilton Public School. January 1893. At a public meeting to elect three new trustees for the new harbour, George MacKay, boatbuilder, Balintore, William MacKenzie, fisherman, 1 Port St., Balintore, and John Morrison, fisherman, Shandwick, were proposed by Donald MacKenzie, ground officer, Balintore, and seconded by George MacKay, fisherman, Bank St., Balintore, with no other nominees this was carried. The meeting also asked Mr. D Fraser, Balintore hotel, to contact the Postmaster General to supply telegraphic communications for the village and also to ask Mrs. Middleton, Clay of Allan, to open the new harbour. Our correspondent says it is a pity such meetings could not be conducted in a more orderly manner. February 1893. James Ross, Shandwick, winner of the Ross-Shire Victoria Jubilee Bursary, dies at a young age. March 1893. Major Jackson was in Hilton to explain the new Allotments Act. The Act was explained in Gaelic and John Tarrel, fisherman, Hilton, who spoke with considerable warmth in Gaelic, explained that their grievance was that they pay the farmer £5 for their potato patch which was too much, Major Jackson agreed, in Evanton they only pay 21 shillings. John Tarrel continued if you did not pay the farmer before the potatoes were lifted he took all the big potatoes and you were only left with the small ones to feed your family through the winter. John also complained about having to pay the new County Council’s road tax when we have no roads to speak off and also, when Colonel Ross had Cadboll we were allowed to dry our nets on the Park but since Mr. Young has become factor we are met by iron gates. John MacKenzie, fisherman, Balintore, asked about the 3 mile limit but was met with cries of ” don’t answer” and ” throw him out, he’s from Balintore”. September 1893. The School Board brought an action against, John Wilson and William MacDonald, fishermen, Hilton, William Ross, fisherman, Balintore, Jessie Skinner, fisherwoman, Balintore and James Morrison, fisherman, Shandwick, for failing to send their children to school, all pled guilty. The only sentence the School Board asked for was that they make sure their children attend school. October 1893. Andrew Ross, Balintore, the winner of the Murray Memorial Bursary, has also gained the Millan Scholarship of £25 in the United Presbyterian College Scholarship. October 1893. Concert in Hilton School in aid of the Balintore Library and Reading Room. October 1893. Donald MacKay, Hilton Public School, listed for Aberdeen Free Church Training College. January 1894. Roderick MacLean, son of Duncan MacLean, Commercial Inn, Balintore, dies at the age of 28. April 1894. Balintore Golf Club [Fearn] has been opened on ground behind the village, the new club came about through the efforts of Captain Monro of Allan and the course was laid out by Mr. Machardy, the chief constable, Inverness. The club already has 35 members with Captain Monro of Allan as President and Mr. D. MacGregor of Fearn as Captain. July 1894. John Vass, aged 8, fell from the top of the breakwater at Balintore harbour. The fall of about 30 feet into the water was spotted from the village by Donald MacKenzie, ground officer, and David Skinner, Shore Street, both men rushed to the scene and dived into the water, Skinner managed to get hold of the boy and all were picked up by a passing boat. December 1894. James Ross, Balintore, comes third in the competition that opens the new golf course at Portmahomack, his prize, a dozen golf balls. May 1895. Andrew Skinner, farm servant, Balintore, found guilty of failing to keep his 7 year old daughter Isabella at school, an attendance order was granted. May 1895. Tain Mercat Cross presented to the town by ex Provost Vass, Edinburgh, is now complete, it’s foundation rests on a long pillar of grey freestone from Balintore quarry. June 1895. The Rev. Mr. Bannerman, Helmsdale, is to preach at Balintore Farm steading on Sunday, the Secessionists are expected to turn up in large numbers to hear him preach. March 1896. In the House of Commons, Mr Weir asked the Lord Advocate “why the plans for Balintore harbour were changed by Stevenson’s, the Government engineers, making the harbour entrance dangerous for fishing boats”. The Lord Advocate replied that the plans had not been changed and the Government and harbour trustees were happy with the harbour. April 1896. W. Mackay, Divinity Student, Balintore, preaches to the Secessionist Congregation in the Temperance Hall in Dingwall. April 1896. Robert MacKenzie, labourer, Hilton of Cadboll, the worse for drink, assaulted another Robert MacKenzie, gardener, Tain, by striking him in the mouth with a walking stick and felling him. Robert was also charged with Breach of the Peace. The court case day was set but the accused could not wait and presented himself before Bailies Ross and Munro, Robert pleaded guilty and blamed the drink, the complainant wished to withdrawn the charge but the Bailies said it had gone to far for that and Robert was fined 15 shillings or 7 days jail, the fine was paid. July 1896. The herring fishing boat, Prosperity, INS795, belonging to Hugh Vass, Balintore, while on it’s way to Burghead damaged it’s keel. When it was put in to dry dock for repair in Burghead the boat suddenly lurched to the side and the keel was torn off. The crew have arranged for a smaller boat so they can continue to fish but crew that are not needed are going home to Balintore. October 1896. Donald MacKenzie, fisherman, 15 Bank Street, Balintore, like his brother was found guilty and fined 2/6p or 48 hours jail, fine paid. December 1896. The court case brought by 3 Invergordon ferrymen against James Johnstone, butcher, Balintore, on the price of delivering a whale to him, has been settled out of court. January 1897. The schooner ‘Leon Raymundo’ Inverness, ran onto the ‘King’s Sons’ and was wrecked and all hands lost. Fishermen Nicholas Vass, Shandwick, and Andrew Vass, Balintore, recovered the body of Captain Taylor and Harry Woodford was found later on the shore, the remaining bodies have not been found. February 1897. A well has been sunk in connection with Hilton of Cadboll school, after digging only 20 feet, in a very unlikely place, a copious supply of the best water has been found. Credit must go to farmer James Wood for bringing a diviner a great distance at his own expense. May 1897. Alexander Skinner, Balintore, charged with breach of the peace at the house of his neighbour and maliciously tearing up 10 yards of alder hedge in the garden of his neighbour Andrew MacKay, 1 Ross Street. Skinner alleged the hedge restricted his right of way, the sheriff agreed with Skinner but still fined him 5 shillings [25p] or 3 days prison for the breach of the peace, fine paid. July 1897. William Sim Kinnear, a fencer from Fife living in Hilton, found guilty of assaulting Hilton fisherman William MacAngus [Shore Street] by seizing him by the throat, beating him with his fists and compressing his throat in the square at the west end of Shore Street, also breach of the peace and assaulting P.C. Campbell in the line of his duty. Fine £2 or 21 days, fine paid. July 1897. James Johnstone, dealer, Balintore, and John Urquhart, farmer, Loans of Fearn, both pleaded guilty to Breach of the Peace in the Crown Hotel, Tain. Johnstone was fined 10 shillings [50 pence] or 5 days jail and Urquhart 5 shillings [25 pence] or 3 days jail. Fines were paid. October 1897. The widow Ross has died at Hilton of Cadboll farm, she was 104 years of age and had been blind and bedridden for the last 10 years. May 1898. Up before the Sheriff in Tain were, William John Ross, son of William Ross, fisherman, Kenneth Ross, son of the widow Ross, William Skinner, son of William Skinner, fisherman, Hugh Ross, son of David Ross, fisherman, Alexander John MacLeod, son of Julia Morrison, spinster, and Alexander Vass, son of David Vass [Valt], fisherman, all Shandwick. They all pleaded guilty to recklessly setting fire to whins on a Balintore farm whereby both cover and pasture were destroyed. On account of their youthful age all were dismissed with an admonition. June 1898. The death of Hugh Ross, 2 Bank Street, Balintore, aged 58. African newspapers are asked to copy the death. June 1898. John Morrison, Balintore, RNR, is listed in the Police Gazette as a ‘straggler’ from HMS Magnificent. John is a stoker, 5ft. 5ins tall, has dark hair and grey eyes. August 1898. At a meeting of the Easter Ross District Committee, Mr. Ross asked for the policeman in Fearn to be moved to Balintore, Mr. W.G. Paterson thought the policeman should be left in Fearn as he would be nearer the railway station and the post office, Mr. R. Gordon, Pitkerrie, thought the policeman should be left in Fearn, stating the people of the Seaboard villages ” were not now more quarrelsome than usual”. September 1898. The skipper Alexander MacKenzie,on leaving harbour, in the Balintore fishing boat Jean was thrown into the water, the boat backing suddenly, the crew threw out an oar and MacKenzie, rising for the second time, managed to grab it, he was hauled aboard, exhausted. October 1898. Hugh Ross, quarrier, Balintore, charged with ” furious driving of a horse and cart ”, pleaded guilty under extenuateing circumstances. He had bought the horse the day before and when he asked it to go it took off at a furious gallop and refused to stop and when it did stop it refused to budge again. Hugh Ross sold the horse the next day, when asked by the Sheriff if the new owner could control the horse, Hugh suggested the new owner should sell it as quickly as possible. Fined 5 shillings [25p] or 24 hours prison. December 1898. Isabella MacKenzie, daughter of Murdo MacKenzie, Balintore, marries Thomas Dryden. March 1899. William MacAngus, Hilton Public School, passes the qualification to enter teacher training college. May 1899. General Hector MacDonald, the hero of Omderman, on arriving at Tain railway station for a civic reception in the town, spotted an old comrade in arms in the crowd, John MacAngus from Hilton, the General went over to pass some time with John and shook his hand heartily. June 1899. At Edgbaston Church, Birmingham, Alexandrina, only daughter of the late Donald MacKenzie, Balintore, marries Robert Jukes Stirrop. July 1899. Death of James MacDonald, one of the oldest and most respected natives of Balintore. August 1899. Donald R. MacKay, Balintore, appointed as teacher in Dingwall Academy. September 1899. Travelling man hit over the head with a poker and died in Hilton. Hilton man convicted of culpable homicide. September 1899. Nicholas Vass pleaded guilty to a charge of assault and breach of the peace but informed the Sheriff he had come off the worse. The Sheriff said ‘ I can see by the state of your face you came off the worse, 7 days prison or 20 shillings fine’. January 1900. Donald Skinner, Balintore, a fireman on the Highland Railway was killed instantly when, at Kinveachie, between Carrbridge and Aviemore, he was standing on the tender and was struck by an overhead bridge. March 1900. Dina, 2nd daughter of the late Andrew Ross, Balintore, marries William Grant, son of the Rev. R. Dingwall of Aultbea, at Matelli, Chalsa, Jalpaijuri, Calcutta, India. March 1900. Margaret Fraser or Ross, grocer, Hilton, fined £2/9shillings for illegally selling drink to William MacKenzie, dairyman, William Tarrel, fisherman, John Wilson, fisherman, all Shore Street, Hilton, and Andrew Vass, tailor, Main Street, Balintore. March 1900. John Mathison, grocer, Hilton, found guilty of illegally selling drink to Donald MacKenzie, fisherman, Alexander MacDonald, gamekeeper, and to a boy John Campbell, all Hilton. Fine £4/10 shillings or 14 days jail. August 1900. Alexander Tarrell, Hilton, a hired hand at the herring fishing in Lossiemouth, was returning to Hilton as a passenger on the fishing boat Brilliant when he fell overboard and drowned. September 1900. Death of Alexander Skinner, who owned a successful draper’s and clothier’s in Kidderminster, he was born in Hilton 44 years ago. His sister Lilly worked with him and his older brother Donald has a position of responsibility in Birmingham with London and North Western Railway. November 1900. Two men called Alexander Vass were charged with having unlawful possession of game by Fearn police constable John Campbell on the Fearn to Cromarty Ferry road. Both pleaded guilty and were fined 10 shillings or five days in prison. August 1901. The body of Hugh Ross, fisherman, Hilton, who had gone missing the day before, has been found on the shore between Hilton and Balintore. October 1901. The celebration of a silver wedding has taken place in Hilton, Donald Skinner now of Birmingham and his wife Margaret, oldest daughter of David Ross. April 1902. Kate, 3rd daughter of the the late Hugh Ross, Balintore, marries Peter Rattray M.B, C.M, of Dundee at the UF Church, Duke Town, Old Calabar, West Africa. September 1902. William MacKenzie, mason, Easter Rarichie Farm, was charged with conducting himself in a disorderly manner at the house of Miss Jessie Skinner, Shandwick, and also forcing admission to the house by means of a window. William pleaded guilty, fined 10 shillings or 5 days jail. September 1902. The bunting was out in Balintore for the return from the Boer War of Sergeant Major George Robert Johnstone, son of James Johnstone, flesher. George left to fight the Boers as a trooper in the Scottish Horse and was at the heart of the fighting in South Africa, but through his ability and daring he was rapidly promoted through the ranks. As he was been driven from Fearn station he was met by friends who removed the horse from the carriage and then the young men pulled the carriage the rest of the way to Balintore cheering as they went. The whole village turned out to greet the hero home. George returns to South Africa in two weeks time to take up a lucrative position with a mining company in Johannesburg. November 1902. John MacPherson, Main Street, Balintore, lost overboard from the Aberdeen trawler Strathbogie. November 1902. George MacKenzie, carpenter, and Donald MacKenzie, labourer, plead guilty to a breach of the peace in Bank Street, Balintore. Fined 2 shillings and sixpence or 2 days jail. February 1903. Malcolm Fletcher, baker, Balintore , dies. February 1903. Three cases of enteric fever are reported in Balintore, there is no doubt that this is caused by the indifferent water supply. August 1903. Annual Hilton School picnic and sports attended by upwards of 230 pupils and sponsored by Mr. D. MacKay, Capetown, South Africa, but he is a native of Hilton, started in very wet conditions but faired up as the day went on and didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the children. September 1903. James Morrison, a fisherman from Balintore, has been found drowned on a sandbank near Cromarty, he had been working at the harvest on the Black Isle. December 1903. Donald MacKenzie, Hilton School, has received word from the Education Department that he will be admitted to college and university without any further examination. Mr MacKenzie has been awarded £25 per year to attend the U.F.training college, Aberdeen, for 3 years. February 1904. John MacPherson is awarded £150 plus expenses by an Aberdeen Sheriff for the loss of his son, also John, in an accident on the trawler Strathbogie. The trawling company had failed to supply a strong enough fastening for the towing chain. August 1904. The Murray Bursary of £20 per annum for 3 years has been awarded to John Smith of Hilton of Cadboll to enable him to attend university. October 1904. William Duff, harbourmaster, was found dead in his house in the evening, he had been attending to his duties in the afternoon. He was 40 years of age and well respected. October 1904. Donald MacKay, a native of Hilton, becomes manager of Mowbray in Cape Colony, South Africa. June 1905. At the Court of Session a case of slander brought against the Moderator and officials of the Free Presbyterian Church, Rev. Alexander MacRae, Portree, Rev. John MacLeod, Kames, Isle of Bute, Rev. John S. Sinclair, Pollockshields, and printer John McNeilage, Glasgow. The case has now been settled out of court. James Munro, 9 Main Street, Balintore, had sued the three officials and the printer for the sum of £500. Mr. Munro, a blacksmith to trade, had emigrated to Newton, Ontario, Canada in 1868, in 1889 he was asked by the people of Newton to start a Free Presbyterian Church, James was preacher and missionary to the Church and the people of Newton were very happy with him. The Rev. MacRae visited in 1904 and decided he didn’t like way the Church was run and when he returned to Scotland he wrote an article in Free Presbyterian Magazine saying so. James sued for slander. July 1905. James Finlay, who owns the large barrel making premises in Balintore, dies. July 1905. George Paterson, George Sutherland Paterson and John Paterson, all residing in Cromarty but tenants of the salmon fishing stations on the Tarbat peninsula, were accused of leaving the leaders out on the nets from 6pm Saturday to 6am Monday.The Patersons cited bad weather as the reason they were left, the Crown said the weather was fine. Witnesses for the Crown included John Reid, Hector MacKenzie, Murdo MacKenzie, Alexander Reid and Alexander Skinner, all salmon fishers, Balintore. Witnesses for the defence included John Bonny, Balintore, Alexander Ross, David Mitchell, Alexander Skinner, David Morrison, David MacKay, David Tarrel, James Williamson, William Sutherland, 21 Shore St., William Sutherland, 10 Shore St, all salmon fishers, Hilton, and Alexander Skinner, shoemaker, Hilton. October 1905. Sir Charles Ross, Bart., of Balnagown Castle, brought a charge against William Vass, Park St., Balintore, that on the 15th and 28th of August on farmland at Easter Rarichie, William trespassed in pursuit of hares and rabbits. William pleaded guilty and was fined £2 or 3 weeks jail. November 1905. At the Sheriff Court in Dingwall, Alexander Skinner, quarrier, Balintore, pled guilty to taking a bottle of whisky from a shelf in the bar at the Balblair Hotel, fined 15 shillings or 7 days. January 1906. Death of Jessie McAngus [nee McKenzie], in Texas, originally from Hilton, wife of William McAngus. April 1906. Murdoch McRae’s application to re-new his license for the Commercial Hotel met with some difficulty, the chairman of the licensing board said ” it is little more than a drinking shop and should never have had a license in the first place”. After discussion the license was granted reluctantly as the drinking shop was a “great temptation to the poor fishermen of Balintore”. October 1906. William Vass, Balintore, a cook on the trawler Glen Clova, is drowned 1 mile off Fetlar Island, Shetland. November 1906. The water problem in Balintore is getting worse, there is only one pump in the village and it is in need of repair. It was proposed at the Council meeting a windmill be erected to draw water, “there is always wind in Balintore”. In a meeting later in the month, Mr. Skinner, Balintore, said the village was happy with the water supply and did not want to pay extra taxes to the Council for a windmill. July 1907. Donald MacAngus, a fisherman from Hilton, was admitted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary with a fractured ankle. The fishing boat Mizpah was 45 miles off Aberdeen when, while the crew were hoisting the sail a rope broke and the yard fell on Donald’s leg. August 1907. Christina Johnstone, Balintore, marries Charles Yeoman of Aberdeen. August 1907. The Balintore small yacht, Curlew, went ashore at Nigg, the crew were saved and fishermen salvaged the yacht. August 1907. A MacLeod Class Bursary of £4 has been awarded to David Morrison, Balintore, a pupil of Tain Royal Academy. February 1908. At Tain Sheriff Court, Alexander Vass, fisherman, John Vass, cattleman, Finlay Vass, labourer, and Andrew Vass, fisherman, all of Shandwick, were accused of attacking and assaulting Hugh Vass, Andrew Ross, Andrew Ross and Mrs. Isabella Ross. After the evidence had been heard, Alexander Vass, guilty, fined 25 shillings, John Vass, guilty, fined 20 shillings, Finlay Vass and Andrew Vass found not guilty. February 1908. At Tain Sheriff Court, Alexander Vass, fisherman, Shandwick, and George Ross, sailor, Balintore, both accused of Breach of the Peace outside the Commercial hotel. After evidence, George Ross, guilty, fined 7/6p or 5 days prison, Alexander Vass, not proven. March 1908. In the King’s Scholarship Examination, Hilton Public School had 3 pupils who did well, Alexander Morrison, Margaret J. Smith and William Tarrel. March1908. Balintore harbour has now been excavated and cleared of silt at a very considerable expense to the board. There is now a clear foot of more water so now coasting vessels can enter harbour on ordinary tides. April 1908. John MacAngus, Hilton, marries Anna Bella Rose, Alness, in Toronto, Canada. Helen and Donald MacAngus arrive from Hilton in time for the wedding. May 1908. The Fraserburgh registered wooden steam drifter Alpha, FH421, the first steam drifter ever built 30 years ago, has been wrecked on the coast at Balintore, she was on route to to Ireland, crew safe. May 1908. The wreck of the Alpha has been bought by J. Sutherland of Hilton for £6. The engine cost £289 and copper and various metals £50 when she was built. The wreck must be raised and removed from Balintore harbour where it is a hazard to other boats. October 1908. Miss M. Smith, pupil teacher, received an inscribed silver watch and gold chain from the teachers and pupils of Hilton School, Miss Smith has just entered training college. October 1908. Balintore boats going into the Cromarty Firth to collect mussels for bait, are turned back by the Cromarty fishermen, all the mussels in the firth belong to them. October 1908. Andrew Vass, 1 Park Street, Balintore, pleads guilty to be in the pursuit of hares on the brae above Port-an Righ. Fined 20 shillings and 15 shillings costs or 14 days jail. October 1908. Donald McAngus, son of John and Ann McAngus, Hilton, arrives in the USA. Donald’s immigration papers state he is 20 years of age, 5ft. 8ins. in height, ruddy complexion, brown hair, brown eyes, has a scar over his right eye and is a carpenter to trade. Donald’s contact in the USA is his cousin, also Donald McAngus, in Homing, Oklahoma. December 1908. Mr. Sutherland complained to the council that the people from Hilton were now having to walk to Balintore to pay their rates, this applied to Shandwick as well. The council pointed out it only took 15 minutes to walk from Hilton to Balintore and it was no hardship, Mr Sutherland said he would like to see a council member do the walk in 15 minutes. Council decided the rates will continue to be collected in Balintore. December 1908. Donald Skinner, 12 Main Street, Balintore, serving with the 1st. Battalion Seaforth Highlanders in Nowshebra, India, injures his knee while playing football. A court of inquiry is held to find out how his injury came about, it was agreed from evidence that the injury came while playing football off duty. Donald had to sign a form saying he had no claim from the army for his injury. [ See December 1914]. March 1909. John Ross and Alexander Skinner, Balintore, survive when the Nairn registered schooner Nairnshire, is nearly wrecked in a severe storm while trying to enter Aberdeen harbour with her main mast gone. August 1909. Helen McAngus, daughter of John and Ann McAngus, 18 Bank Street, Hilton, arrives in the USA, Helen is going to Rochester, New York State, she 19 years of age and is a cook. Helen’s brother Donald emigrated last year to Oklahoma. June 1909. A daughter is born to Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Tarrell, Hilton, Motherwell Road, Airdrie. July 1909. William Tarrel, Hilton, who has just finished his course at Aberdeen University, has been appointed as assistant master at Rosehearty Public School at a salary of £120 per annum. October 1909. The First Lord of the Admiralty having considered a complaint from the fishermen of Balintore and Hilton, has announced the Navy, from now on, will let the fishing communities know, before hand, when live gun practice will take place at night in the Moray Firth. He also stated that care was taken not to fire into the fishing grounds. June 1910. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animal awards at Hilton School were, 1st, Thomas Ross, Police House, Balintore. 2nd, Alexander Duncan, 6 John Street, Balintore. 3rd, Isabella MacKenzie, 8 John Street, Balintore. June 1910. The marriage took place of Dr. Alexander Ross, Stockton on Tees, to Edith Brown of Aberdeen. Dr. Ross is a native of Balintore and his brother the Rev. Andrew Ross, UFC, Selkirk, helped with the marriage ceremony. Another of Dr. Ross’s brother’s, James, and sister, Barbara, carry on a extensive general business in Balintore. August 1910. Andrew Carnegie arrives in his yacht, Sea Breeze, which anchors outside Balintore harbour. He comes ashore and strolls round Balintore, on commenting on an artistically built villa he is told that 3 brothers who had made their fortune in the USA had sent money back so the house could be built for their mother. Mr Carnegie expressed an interest in speaking to the old woman and an interesting conversation ensued. In Hilton he was very taken with the fish wives baiting the lines, and was amazed they did a round trip of 14 miles to the Cromarty Firth to collect the bait. August 1910. At Mullumbimby, N.S.W. Australia, Annie McAndrew Hollingworth, 3rd daughter of late Mr. and Mrs David McAndrew Ross, Hilton, dies at the age of 47. August 1910. At Hilton School, Murdo MacPherson is hit on the head by a stone thrown in the playground, he dies later from his injuries. The pupils of Hilton School pay for his gravestone. October 1910. Miss Cumming, Golspie, has been appointed female teacher at Hilton Public School, she was selected from 28 applicants. October 1910. A large contingent of fish workers from the villages of Hilton, Balintore and Shandwick left on Friday by special train for Yarmouth, Lowestoft and other English fishing stations. November 1910. The storm in the Moray Firth, the worst in the memory of even the oldest seafarers, has left great bodies of rolling foam crashing against Balintore harbour, the spray ascends at least a 100 feet into the air. November 1910. The Reverend Doctor Ross, missionary to Manchuria and proprietor of Balintore, has imported from the south of Scotland assorted blackberry, gooseberry and raspberry bushes. These will be distributed between the feuers of Shandwick and Balintore to be planted in their gardens. The good Rev. Dr. Ross intends to have a yearly prize for the best cultivated garden. February 1911. The School Board has agreed to ask Messrs Maitland, Architects, Tain, to prepare plans for a stone and lime two roomed building at Hilton of Cadboll School for the purpose of cookery and carpentry. The estimated cost is £344. February 1911. The death has been announced of Donald MacKenzie M.A., student missionary, a native of Lady Street, Hilton, a brilliant student, he graduated with honours from Aberdeen University. Employed as a missionary by the Free Church, he was in charge of the congregation at Maryburgh. Donald’s health broke down in his mid twenties and he never recovered, a successful teacher and preacher, his former headmaster at Hilton, James Watt, always took a deep interest in his former pupil. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. March 1911. Fire broke out in the home of William Sutherland, fisherman, Hilton, most of the furniture was destroyed, but for timely intervention the felt roof would have caught alight and the result would have been more serious. The oldest inhabitant in Hilton cannot remember the last fire in the village, not a house in the village is insured. April 1911. Donald Skinner, born in Balintore in 1857, was a seaman aboard the ship, Earl of Aberdeen, moored in Newcastle. April 1911. The schooner Tollo of Findhorn is presently discharging a cargo of coal at Balintore for Messrs Ross, merchants, Balintore. April 1911. The cleaning of the bed of Balintore harbour has been awarded to Jack Ross, Fearn. Mr. Ross is hard at work with his squad of workmen during the early and late ebbs. May 1911. A meeting was held at the Balintore Mission hall to form a local branch of the British Women’s Temperance Association. The speakers were, Rev. John Smith, Balintore; Mr. Watt, Hilton school; Mr. T. Vass, Balintore. June 1911. Women working in the herring trade left the Seaboard villages for Shetland, the fishermen left about two weeks ago. June 1911. Two highly respected citizens of Hilton of Cadboll have passed away in the last couple of days. Alexander Denoon, merchant, and Robert Ross, carpenter and merchant, both were laid to rest in Balintore cemetery. July 1911. Alistair Watt, eldest son of Hilton headmaster James Watt, has left for Toronto, Canada, to take up a position with the Canadian Bank of Commerce. Mr. Watt is 18 years of age and was educated at Hilton Public School and Tain Royal Academy. July 1911. A motor bus service has been set up in Portmahomack to travel to Tain, it leaves Portmahomack at 7.00am and calls at Hilton and Balintore before arriving at Fearn station to connect with the North and South bound trains and then on to Tain. It’s return journey from Tain stops at Fearn station to pick up passengers arriving on the mail train from the South and then on to Balintore and Hilton and home to Portmahomack. There is also a motor bus at 5.30pm from Tain following the same route, the service is well used. August 1911. The Rev. Dr. Ross, distinguished Manchurian missionary and family have arrived at their summer residence [Old Shandwick House]. The Dr. looks hale and hearty and took a keen interest in the tenants and feuars on his property. August 1911. Alexander Morrison, M.A., Balintore, has been appointed assistant master at Alloway Public School. Mr Morrison was trained by Mr. Watt, Hilton Public School, and graduated a distinguished student of Aberdeen University. September 1911. Henrietta Ross [Bobby], daughter of Thomas Ross, policeman in Balintore, marries Hugh Ross of Ardgay, in Balintore. September 1911. Boys, John and George Vass, Shandwick, took a ship’s boat from Balintore harbour and put to sea in a westerly direction. By the King’s Sons buoy they had lost their mast and mainsail over the side but managed to recover it. The tide was fast flowing and darkness was falling, the tide began to ebb and they were carried towards the Moray coast. At the break of day they were spotted off Nairn and rescued. Their parents had telegraphed every port along the coast to look out for them, Nairn let the parents know the boys were safe and when the ‘fare’ was telegraphed on they were put on a train for Fearn none the worse for the adventure. The boat is still at Nairn harbour. September 1911. William MacKenzie, busman, South Kessock, fell from his boat while hauling his net and drowned. A native of Balintore, 44 years old and a widower, Mr MacKenzie was a quiet man held in high esteem by all that new him. November 1911. The Inverness ketch, Leader, carrying coal and salt for the Ross’s of Balintore, has, in a fierce storm, struck a submerged rock ledge on the west side while entering Balintore harbour, lying on her side in the middle of the harbour the sea is reported to be breaking over her and she is breaking up. June 1912. Two officers of the fleet had a lucky escape in the Cromarty Firth, while out sailing they capsized their craft but were spotted from the Nigg side by Thomas Vass, Balintore, a fish cadger. Along with the Nigg ferryman he went out and rescued one officer clinging to the upturned dingy, the other officer was picked up by a fleet launch. June 1912. William Kay and Sons, corn merchants, Edinburgh, loaded the SS. T. W. Stuart of Newcastle with a cargo of wheat at Balintore Harbour. The wheat came from the farms at Meikle Tarrel, Cadboll, Cadboll Mount, Lochslin, Easter Rarichie, Rhynie and Fearn. The vessel sailed for France on Friday evening.August 1912. The SS Gleno of Newcastle is discharging coal for Messrs. James Ross and Coy., merchants, Balintore.
August 1912. The second squadron of the Channel Fleet is anchored of Balintore. August 1912. Another heavy storm of wind and rain was experienced, several of the salmon fishers nets were cast ashore and exciting scenes were witnessed as the Balintore and Hilton fishing fleets landed at Balintore. The boats made it ashore without mishaps and with good catches. August 1912. The close of the net salmon season. This year was a record one. The stations at Balintore, Port- an- Righ [leased by Mr. Strachan], and at Hilton, Port-an-Larg, Portmahomack and the Mhorrich Mhor, tenanted by Messrs. G. and J. Paterson, yielded large catches, sometimes over 100 fish a day were landed. The closing day price was 1shilling and 10pence per pound. September 1912. Alexander MacKay [Sensie], Hilton, is the only survivor from the Hilton boat the Ella Brewster, lost off Fort George loaded with mussels for bait, the other crew members, Charles MacKay, body not recovered, John Patience, body not recovered, John [Fillie] MacDonald [Tarrel], body found on the shore at Kintradwell, Loth, Sutherland, Hugh [Billy] Sutherland, body found on the Moray coast. All were from Hilton. October 1912. The death has occurred of Miss Jessie McRae, aged eighteen, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Murdoch McRae, Commercial Hotel, Balintore, after a few days of illness. Jessie was buried at Balintore cemetery with a large attendance present. A service at the house was conducted by the Rev. Charles Robertson, Abbey Parish Church and the Rev, MacLean, Chapelhill United Free Church and at the graveside by the Rev. Kerr, Fearn, United Free Church.
November 1912. Salmon fishing at Porst-an-Righ, Balintore, property of Charles Ross of Balnagown, has been leased to Mr. John Paterson, licensee of fishing at Hilton, Cadboll, Portmahomack and the Mhorrich Mhor. December 1912. Jessie Ann MacAngus, youngest daughter of Mr. John MacAngus, carter, Hilton of Cadboll, has died at the early age of seventeen. The funeral was one of the largest seen in the district, Jessie Ann was interred in Balintore cemetery. February 1913. John Ross, born in Shandwick 1863, is lost overboard in the North Sea from the Aberdeen trawler Strathdon, John was a deckhand, married and lived at 6, Donald’s Court, Schoolhill, Aberdeen. September 1913. The community of Balintore were shocked by the sudden death of William Skinner at the age of 35 years. William, a stonemason to trade, was known all over the Northern Counties as an excellent tradesman and was in continuous employment. In 1907 he emigrated to the USA, to Buffalo, New York State, his travel record states, he was 5ft 7ins, blue eyes, brown hair, scar over left eye and had a wife Catherine at home. He returned home and was in the process of building a house for his wife and young family in Hilton of Cadboll at the time of his death. The funeral took place at Fearn Abbey. June 1914. James Ross, merchant, Balintore, has purchased the sailing schooner Lochranza Castle, his new ship arrived in Balintore harbour with a cargo of coal for him.
June 1914. Alexander Vass, 8 New Street, Shandwick, claimed £20 lose of wages against Peter Reid, skipper of the steam drifter Faithful, Vass claimed he was hired for the 1913 herring season at Lossiemouth and Yarmouth but was dismissed after Lossiemouth and therefore missed the wages for Yarmouth. Peter Reid claimed that Vass had left of his own free will and he had lost 4 days fishing while trying to replace Vass and put in a counter claim of £20 lose of earnings. When the Sheriff said he was leaning towards Reid, both claims were withdrawn and the case was dismissed. June 1914. The Highland Brigade, camped in Tain, had a rude awakening, reveille at 4.00am. they were on call to repel an invasion of 1750 Royal Marines put ashore from battleships at Balintore, Tarbat Ness, Portmahomack, Nigg and other suitable points of advantage. The defending force found the attackers located on the heights beyond Locheye, the marines had managed to drag a 4.7 gun to a point 700 feet high and the big gun opened fire as the defenders deployed. The battle went on for 6 hours before a cease fire was called, the Naval Brigade having the best of the encounter. October 1914. David Vass, Shandwick, Donald MacKenzie, Balintore, and John McAngus, Hilton, all Royal Navy, interned in the Netherlands for the duration of the war after escaping the German advances around Antwerp, 4 years in HMS Timbertown.
October 1914. Bo’ness Sea Scouts arrive at Fearn Railway Station, a patrol are to be stationed at Shandwick Bay. They carried their full kit and each scout had been presented with a thick winter jersey. Under the watchful eye of the local coastguard they will patrol the coastline.
November 1914. William Sutherland, RNR, son of William and Annie Sutherland, 21 Shore Street, Hilton, Killed in Action when his ship HMS. Monmouth was sunk by gunfire off Chile. He was 26 years of age. December 1914. Andrew Vass, Seaforth Highlanders, son of Nicholas and Christina Vass, 1 Mid Street, Shandwick, Killed in Action in France. He was 22 years of age.
December 1914. Donald Skinner, 12 Main Street, Balintore, while serving with the Seaforth Highlanders at La Bassee in France, is shot in the head, he is carried from the battlefield paralysed in both legs and one arm, he is returned to Britain for hospital treatment. In 1916 Donald is returned home to Balintore, deemed unfit for military service or any general labour.
June 1915. The dwelling house of Alexander Skinner, shoemaker, of Hilton was broken into and a purse containing a sum of money stolen. June 1915. Eight men from Hilton were serving on HMS Triumph when she was torpedoed and sunk in the Dardanelles. When the news of the sinking reached Hilton great concern was felt in all the wives and families until a telegraphic message was received that all were safe. August 1915. The missionary John Ross dies in Edinburgh.
June 1916. Murdoch McRae, owner of the Commercial Hotel dies.
June 1916. James Watt, Royal Engineers, son of James and Christina Watt, Schoolhouse, Hilton, Killed In Action In France. He was 21 years of age. July 1916. Andrew Ross, RNR, husband of Christina Ross, 3 Park Street, Balintore, dies of sunstroke on his ship HMS. Dalhousie in Basra, Iraq. He was 43 years of age.
August 1916. Robert Ross, Machine Gun Corp, husband of Isabella Ross, Bank Street, Balintore, Killed in Action in France.
August 1916. Alister Ross, Australian forces, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander McAndrew Ross, Hilton, Killed in Action in France. He was 22 years of age. October 1916. William Vass [Goatie], Balintore, a gunner on the S.S. Cyrene sinks a German submarine, turning a blind eye to his Captain’s thoughts of surrender. He is awarded a DSM for bravery. November 1916. Hugh MacAngus, RNR, husband of Christina MacAngus, 3 Braefoot, Hilton, Killed in Action when his ship HM. Trawler Dhoon hits a mine in the English Channel. He was 33 years of age. November 1916. Donald Vass, sniper, Seaforth Highlanders, Bank Street, Balintore, Mentioned in Dispatches, for bravery in France. January 1917. Elizabeth Margaret [Bertha], daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Ross, Hilton, marries Donald MacLean of Beauly. January 1917. Hugh Skinner, RNR, son of Alexander and Annie Skinner, 6 Back Street, Hilton, Killed in Action when his ship HMS. Laurentic struck mines off the west coast of Ireland. He was 25 years of age. February 1917. William Hugh MacAngus, RNR, son of William and Annie MacAngus, Craiglea, Hilton, Killed in Action when his ship HMS. Ghurka hits a mine off Dungeness. He was 21 years of age. February 1917. James MacKay, RNR, son of Alexander and Annie MacKay, 2 Shore Street, Balintore, dies at the shore base HMS. Excellent. He was 21 years of age. April 1917. John McAngus, third son of James McAngus, late of Hilton, now at 12 Jackson Street, Besses o’ th’ Barn, Manchester, has died in his 25th year. He was a late officer at the Crumpsall Union, the Manchester workhouse hospital, the hospital has been taking wounded from the front since 1914. June 1917. The water pump in Hilton has been broken again, Mr Sutherland, Hilton, in drawing attention of the damage to the district committee, said there was a mania in the village for breaking the pump. Provost Maitland suggested the police should be involved and Mr. Bone said the Hilton should be made into a special water district. July 1917. John Vass, RNR, son of Alexander and Helen Vass, 8 New Street, Shandwick, Killed in Action when his ship HMS. Otway is torpedoed off Lewis. He was 24 years of age. July 1917. Murdo McRae, Machine Corp, ex Seaforth Highlanders, Commercial hotel, Balintore, award DCM for bravery while fighting in France.
July 1917. William Ross, Seaforth Highlanders, son of Alexander and Isabella Ross, Balintore, Killed in Action in France. He was 22 years of age. August 1917. Sutherland Munro, 4 Shore Street, Balintore, with Canadian forces, awarded the MM for bravery while fighting in France.
September 1917. James Johnstone, the well known farmer and butcher has passed away in Balintore at the age of 75. September 1917. Nearly 300 pupils of Hilton School had their annual picnic and sports on Balintore green, Mr. D. MacKay, Cape Town, South Africa, a native of Hilton, has for many years sent a donation of £4 to help pay for this event. Donations of money were also received from Mrs Brewster, Pitkerrie and Mrs Strachan, Balintore. Instead of sweets each pupil was given a penny before they were sent home. October 1917. Kenneth Vass, Seaforth Highlanders, husband of Helen Vass, 3 Mid Street, Shandwick, Killed in Action in France. He was 34 years of age. November 1917. W. Vass, 40412, Seaforth Highlanders, listed as Wounded in Action in France. December 1917. Alexander Vass, fisherman, Balintore, is injured when his ship HMS. Acasta is in collision in the English Channel. Born on the 12th of July 1882, Alexander is 5ft. 4 and 3/4inches tall, has black hair, blue eyes, dark complexion and has a mole on the right side of his jaw.
February 1918. Hugh MacKay, Merchant Navy, Hilton, announcement in the London Gazette of his award of the DSM. April 1918. Walter Balfour, RNR, Hilton, announcement in the London Gazette of his award of the DSM, for his work in mine sweeping. April 1918. Sergeant William Vass, South African Infantry, has been wounded and captured by the Germans at Messines, Belgium. William’s home address in given as 7 New Street, Shandwick, he was born in 1879 and his next of kin is listed as Mrs MacKenzie. May 1918. There is to be a new minefield in the Moray Firth, no ship is to anchor anywhere in the firth except within a 1 mile radius of Balintore, any ships moored outside this area will be sunk. There will be a clear passage westward of the minefield but any ship coming into this channel in darkness will be sunk. The Admiralty has advised. August 1918. Findlay McFadyen Ross, MC, son of the missionary John Ross, Killed in Action in France. He was 25 years of age.
August 1918. Donald MacKenzie, RNR, husband of Catherine MacKenzie, 5 Hugh Street, Balintore, drowns in Barry Harbour while serving on the SS. Gorsemore. He was 41 years of age. August 1918. Kenneth McRae DCM, MM and Bar, Commercial Hotel, Balintore, husband of Annie Ross, Shandwick, Killed in Action in France while serving with Canadian forces. He was 27 years of age.
October 1918. A. McAngus, 121783, Royal Garrison Artillery, from Hilton has been reported as wounded. December 1918. David Vass, RNR, son of John and Christina Vass, 12 Bank Street, Balintore, dies of influenza on the shore base HMS. Victory. He was 22 years of age. December 1918. Married in Chelmsford, Corporal James McAngus, Seaforth Highlanders, youngest son of the late John and Mrs McAngus, Hilton, to Margaret Wright of Chelmsford. [see April 1919] January 1919. Lance Corporal D. Vass, No. 201137, Balintore, Seaforth Highlanders, has been released from a Prisoner of War camp. April 1919. James McAngus, aged 26, originally from Hilton, employed at Crompton and Co., Chelmsford, has been accidentally electrocuted at work. The deceased was recently demobilised from the Seaforth Highlanders after being gassed at the front. He had served 3 years in France, a hero of Mons, he only married Margaret Wright in December of last year. April 1919. The Honourable Norman Cranstoun MacLeod, 3rd son of MacLeod of Cadboll, has been appointed by the King to be the Chief Justice of the Court in Bombay, India. June 1919. Hugh Ross, Bank St., Balintore, was up in court in Invergordon charged with being drunk and disorderly and assaulting the policeman trying to take him into custody. He pleaded guilty, £5 or 30 days. His friend Andrew Skinner, Shore Street, Shandwick, was charged with attempting to rescue Hugh from the clutches of the law and obstructing the police in their lawful duty. He also pleaded guilty, £5 or 30 days. January 1920. John Vass, 13 Lady Street, Hilton, a fisherman to trade, enrols in the Royal Tank Corp. He was previously in the Lovat Scouts and also the Royal Naval Reserve, No.9505A. He is 20 years old. October 1920. Alexander Vass, RNR, born 1885, is listed on Naval records as ‘accidentally killed’. December 1920. The Royal Flying Corp changed it’s name near the end of the First World War, on the 1st of April 1918, it became the Royal Air Force [RAF]. On the 8th of August 1918 Finlay Vass [Tom] of 4 Bank Street, Balintore, joined the newly formed RAF as an Aero Rigger. Finlay was the son of Thomas and Jessie Vass, a carpenter to trade, just right for working on the mainly wooden aeroplanes. Finlay was born in 1900 was 5 ft 2 inches tall, dark hair, grey eyes and on the 20th of December 1920 he was dead, drowned, near Balintore harbour. January 1921. Three men from Hilton, all members of the Lovat Scouts have signed up for the Tank Corp. They are Andrew Tarrel, his next of kin is his father A. Tarrel, 8 Lady Street. Donald MacKay his next of kin is his mother Mrs W MacKay, 3 King Street and John Ross his next of kin is his father F Ross, 11 Shore Street. February 1921. Elsie MacAngus, from the Seaboard villages marries Ralph Sedwick in Monrovia, Indiana, U.S.A. February 1921. The Hilton of Cadboll stone has been removed from Invergordon Castle and given to the British Museum in London by Captain McLeod of Cadboll, the whole country is up in arms that such an important antiquary has left Scotland, it is hoped that the London Museum can be persuaded to refuse the stone and it will be put to Edinburgh instead. The famous Cadboll brooch already resides in the London museum after being given to it by Captain McLeod’s grandfather.
March 1921. The British Museum has decided, because of the disquiet in Scotland over the removal of the Hilton of Cadboll Stone to England, they will refuse Captain MacLeod of Cadboll’s offer. The stone will now be found a resting place in Scotland. February 1922. Mr. D. Sutherland aged 75, has died as a result of motor accident, his neck was broken. He was for many years a well known hotel keeper at Hilton of Cadboll. December 1922. John Campbell, born in Hilton in 1884 to Kenneth Campbell and Isabella Sutherland, is drowned when the Grimsby trawler Celerina is wrecked on the north coast of Norway near Vardo. John’s father Kenneth also drowned when the Janet Storm disappeared with all hands in the North Sea in 1892. March 1924. Nicholas Vass, 1 Mid Street, Shandwick, aged 23, has left on the SS Balranald for Melbourne, Australia. August 1924. David Fraser [16], Post office, Hilton, and William MacKay [17], 12 Back Street, Hilton, were swimming for some time between Hilton and Balintore, after they came ashore William decided to go back out again but 60 yards out he was seized by cramp and disappeared. Three men, Hugh MacKay, 1 King Street, Hilton, Hugh Ross, 25 Back Street, Hilton, and William’s brother Hugh swam to the rescue. His brother twice brought the drowning boy back from the bottom and with help got him ashore. P.C. Campbell applied artifical respiration and after one hour signs of life appeared, by next day he was out of danger. October 1924. Hugh MacKay, 19, a student from 12 Back Street, Hilton, has been given a Parchment Award by the Royal Humane Society, for saving the life of his brother William from drowning in the Moray Firth. December 1924. Donald Duncan, Donald Morrison and David Morrison, labourers, Shandwick, were charged with being in possession of 18 rabbits in a bag, a rabbit net and a small spade in contravention of the poaching act. All pleaded not guilty, after the evidence was given, found guilty. Fined £2 or 14 days in prison, fines paid. June 1924. Donald Mackenzie, born on the 19th August 1895 to William and Elizabeth Mackenzie of 15 Bank Street, Balintore, dies from internal injuries after an accident on the SS Honorata in Avonmouth. April 1925. Annie Vass [Tom], aged 29, 4 Bank Street, Balintore, embarks on board the SS Baradine bound for Australia. June 1926. Margaret Christian Balfour, Sea View Cottage, Hilton, marries David Walker, Leven. July 1926. Donald McAngus, from Hilton, a seaman aboard the SS Shahristan, dies while the ship is berthed in Marseilles, France. Donald is 48 years old. August 1926. Thomas Ross, aged 65, of Balintore, dies. Late of the Ross-Shire Constabulary. October 1926. John Ross, Hilton, has been awarded the MacPherson Bursary of £35 for Gaelic speaking students, he was educated at Hilton School and Tain Royal Academy. August 1927. Balintore aquatic sports held, trophies handed out by Captain Dewar, Harperfield, Lanarkshire. The Dewar Challenge Cup for sailing was won by ” Togo ” skippered by William Skinner.
September 1927. Gordon Crawford M.A. appointed headmaster of Hilton School.November 1927. James Watt retires as headmaster of Hilton Public School, he was appointed in 1888, he was presented with a solid silver salver and a well filled wallet of treasury notes with gratitude from pupils, teachers and parents. March 1928. Thomas Vass drowns but David Skinner is saved when the Pearl flounders at the harbour entrance.
May 1928. Hugh MacKay senior, Hilton, was awarded a bronze medal by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for his part in the rescue of the boat, Pearl, 4 other men with him, William Ross, engineer, John Paterson, fish salesman, Andrew Sutherland, fisherman, all Hilton and David Skinner, fisherman, Balintore, were given inscribed vellum parchments for their part in the rescue in March. October 1928. David Skinner, born in Balintore in 1903, the ship’s painter aboard the M.V. Limerick, berthed in Fremantle, Australia, falls from a ladder into the sea while chipping paint and is drowned. Leslie Neilson, engineer, dives into the water but is unable to locate David. David’s merchant navy records state he was 5ft 8 ins tall, had blue eyes and brown hair.
March 1929. Ross-shire Junior Football League formed, Balintore included. June 1929. Andrew Skinner, retired passenger guard, N.B.R., dies at Easter Cottage, Hilton. August 1929. Isabel Vass, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Vass, Balintore, married John Gould, St. Vigeans, Arbroath. November 1929. Gordon Crawford, the Treasurer of Balintore FC, tells the AGM they have funds of £20. A new committee is formed with R. Patience, W MacDonald and D Skinner resigning and A Ross, G Browning and C Yeoman replacing them. The new Convener is A Ross, Archie McRae, Vice Convener, C Yeoman, Secretary, Gordon Crawford continues as Treasurer. June 1930. Miss Mercedes Gleitz, the Channel swimmer, hopes to swim from Findhorn across the Moray Firth to Balintore, a distance of 12 miles in 12 hours. Miss Gleitz gives up after 2 hours, it’s too cold. October 1930. William Skinner, his wife Annie and daughter Sophia, 3 Bank Street, Balintore, leave on the ship SS Hobsons Bay from Southampton bound for Australia. December 1930. It has been agreed to install a telephone in Hilton Police Station. February 1931. The death of Mrs Christina Watt, teacher, wife of James Watt retired headmaster of Hilton School, Mrs Watt taught at Hilton School for over 40 years. April 1931. Balintore woman wins breach of promise action in Tain court against Tain man, awarded £200 plus expenses. May 1931. A house in Shandwick, belonging to a widow Mrs. Ross and her 4 sons and also Mr. and Mrs MacAngus and their young family of 2, was destroyed by fire. By the time the fire was seen the thatch on the roof had caught and although many helpers fought the blaze the house was unsaveable. They did however manage to stop the fire moving to neighbouring properties. February 1932. A district nurse is required for the Fearn and Tarbat Parishes, preference will be given to applicants with district nursing experience and who can drive a car. Pay, £150 per annum. May 1932. James Watt, former headmaster of Hilton School for over 30 years, dies at the age of 69.
June 1932. The grievances of the U.F. Continuing Church on the attitude taken by the Church of Scotland on the property question are highlighted in the situation at Balintore and Nigg. The congregations were promised Balintore hall and made plans to reconstruct the hall into a church costed at £600. They then found out that the wording in the minutes which said ‘exclusive disposal’ had been replaced by the words ‘exclusive use’, this change of wording scuppered their plans. July 1932. John MacAngus, 9 John Street, Balintore, apprentice baker, drowns in mountainous seas in Shandwick Bay, his next door neighbour Donald MacKenzie is saved by Alexander Vass, 1 Park Street, but Andrew Wood, 12 Park Street, exhausted, was unable to hold on to MacAngus and he had to be rescued by Vass by which time MacAngus had disappeared. October 1932. Seaside Swifts beat Invergordon 4-2 to go top of the Ross-Shire league. October 1932. Seaside Swifts, the only unbeaten team in the Ross-Shire League, travelled to Ardgay, last seasons Champions. The game was well contested and the Swifts led 1-0 at half time. In the second half the Swifts came onto a fine game and ran out 4-0 winners. October 1932. Gordon Crawford spoke on the subject of ballads, and their place in literature at the Hilton WRI, Mrs Vass was 1st for toffee making, Miss MacDonald second and Miss Vass third. November 1932. Isobel, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Paterson, Croma Villa, Hilton, marries Charles Stewart of Davro House, Kincardineshire. December 1932. Death of William McAngus in Texas at the age of 90, originally from Hilton.
April 1933. Seaside Swifts F.C. beat Tain F.C. 6-0. May 1933. Seaside Swifts, the League Champions, will receive the trophy and medals after they play a League select on the 3rd of May in Tain.
June 1933. Sergeant Hugh Innes Ross, Seaforth Highlanders, son of Mrs. and the late Mr. Thomas Ross, Balintore, marries Ann Main-Ellen of Nairn in Dover. September 1933. Marriage of Andrew Ross, merchant, Balintore, and Elizabeth Corbett, North Balmuchy. The bride was attended by her sisters Tina and Effie, Donald Ross, brother of the groom, was best man. March 1934. Seaside Swifts F.C. beat Tain F.C. 5-0 in the Pattison Cup. June 1934. Hilton F.C. beat Balintore F.C. 4-2 in the final of the Ross Cup played in Tain. The cup final was postponed when was discovered the game coincided with the start of the U.F. Church Sacraments. Balintore decided to scratch from the game as most of their players were part of the congregation of the U.F. Church but the Ross Football Association decided to put the game back a week. October 1934. St. Duthus 1- Seaside Swifts 5, scorers for the Swifts were MacDonald, 2, Morrison, 2, and R. Ross. November 1934. Invergordon 1- Seaside Swifts 1. Seaside Swifts, the League leaders were held at Invergordon. Ross scored for the Swifts in the second half. November 1934. Inverness Thistle have made a capture in the signing of MacDonald, a Balintore youth who plays outside left. He previously played for Seaside Swifts, he is fast with a powerful shot. January 1935. Seaside Swifts withdraw from the Novar Cup, several Swifts players have committed themselves to Ross County, while two others, Ross and MacAngus will play for Ross County tomorrow. January 1935. Seaside Swifts are deducted 7 points for playing senior players by the Ross-Shire Junior League. J. Skinner has turned on more than two occasions for Ross County, G. MacDonald has played for Inverness Thistle on more than three occasions. Swift officials pled ignorance of the rules which they were only furnished with after the complaint was made. The League decided that the Swifts should lose the three points gained when these players had played and also two points for each game, making a total of seven points deducted. The League understands the Swifts will not play their remaining League games. At the same meeting the Swifts also lost out on the refund of 7/6p. The Swifts decided to withdrawn from the Novar Cup, but then reconsidered and sent their 7/6p entrance fee. By the time this was received, Alness, who they were drawn against, had already played Invergordon in the next round therefore not giving the Swifts a chance to compete. The League decided the Swifts were at fault for withdrawing at the outset and kept the money. March 1935. It was intimated at the Ross-Shire Junior League meeting that Seaside Swifts would now fulfil all their remaining fixtures. April 1935. Seaside Swifts fielded two teams on Saturday, one travelled to Ardgay and in the semi final of the Pattison Cup won 6-2 and will now play Brora in the final. Cromarty came to Balintore in the semi final of the Gilbey Cup and defeated the Swifts 5-2. April 1935. Brora win the Pattison Cup in Tain beating Seaside Swifts 5-4 in the final. May 1935. Alness won the Mid-Ross Shield beating Black Rock, Alness had Balfour and Ross of Seaside Swifts playing for them. August 1935. Baby seal caught in a stake net is thriving in the pond in John Paterson’s garden, it is quite tame, coming to a call, is handled freely, climbs stairs and sits up waiting for its fish. November 1935. Seaside Swifts 3 – St. Duthus 0, Swifts were indebted to Skinner, lately of Ross County, for a fine solo goal and making the other two goals. December 1935. Seaside Swifts scratched to Invergordon in the first round of the MacKenzie Cup. January 1936. George McKay Patience, Hilton, is a member of the crew of RSS Discovery, the Antarctic research ship, which rescues the US explorer Lincoln Ellsworth and his pilot, Herbert Hollick-Kenyon, both have been missing in the Antarctic for 2 months after their plane ran out of fuel. March 1936. Miss MacKay, Balintore, retires from teaching at Hilton School after 28 years. April 1936. G. MacDonald, Hilton, and R. Ross, Balintore, are in the Easter Ross Select football team to play the touring Aberdeen University, the University win 4-2. June 1936. Simon McLeod, brother of D.F. McLeod, proprietor of the Balintore hotel, was wounded in the thigh by the explosion of a cartridge which was being taken out of the breech of a sporting gun. He was removed to the Royal Northern Infirmary, Inverness. August 1936. A grilse tagged in Trondhjem fjord on July 13th is caught in a Balintore net on the 1st of August, it had swam approximately 400 miles in 17 days. February 1937. Hilton Players performed 3 plays at Hilton School in aid of the Easter Ross ambulance service, the local orchestra, Messrs. Vass, MacLennan, Falconer and Crawford played selections of music. April 1937. Marriage of Catherine MacKenzie, Hilton, and William Robertson, Culgower, Loth.
August 1937. At the Cromarty Regatta, 1st for the handicapped motor boat race, Jeannie [W. Skinner, Balintore], 1st for the life saving competition, Messrs Skinner and Morrison, Balintore, greasy pole, D.A.Ross, Hilton. September 1937. No blame has been attached to Donald Hugh Ross, general merchant, Hilton, on the death of Catherine Munro, house- tablemaid at Arboll House. The deceased was cycling on the wrong side of the road and when the van horn was sounded she made no attempt to go to the correct side. When Donald Hugh Ross pulled over to the wrong side so they could pass Catherine suddenly swerved across in front of him. May 1938. Marriage of Miss Dolina MacAngus, Hilton, to William MacKenzie, Inverness.
June 1938. Two very old skeletons found while digging founds for houses in Balintore. July 1938. Alexander Ross, 15 New Street, Shandwick, walking home in the dark after visiting friends in Balintore, fell on rocks and was rendered unconscious and drowned in the incoming tide. August 1938. The death at Craiglea, Hilton, of William MacAngus, Free Presbyterian Missionary. September 1938. Marriage of Margaret Lily MacKay, Hilton, to John Ross of Kirriemuir, the wedding was in Oathlaw, Angus. Christopher MacKay, brother of the bride, was best man. April 1939. Ross and Cromarty County Council have put Hilton Police Station up for sale. June 1939. After their boat capsized, Joe Cowie, a poor swimmer, was kept afloat by Alexander Vass until a boat could come from the shore, both were picked up exhausted, Alexander Vass has previously been recognised for saving life at sea.June 1939. In the villages of Hilton, Balintore and Shandwick so far only 2 young men have enlisted in the army, at the age of 18 most youths follow the precedent of their forebears and join the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, already there are 200 young men in the Reserve. August 1939. Margaret Wilhelmina Howland travelled from Canada with her wedding cake, the icing had been done by Mr. Stewart, Toronto, who won the gold medal for icing at the World’s Fair. Miss Howland in marrying Walter Balfour, insurance agent, Hilton, at Leven. September 1939. John [Curly] Mackenzie, Hilton, survives the sinking of the SS Athenia in the Atlantic, the first British ship to be torpedoed on the day war was announced with Germany.
October 1939. The Royal Oak is torpedoed and sunk in Scapa Flow , Orkney, 5 men from the Seaboard villages are Killed in Action, Donald MacAngus, Hilton, aged 19, Hugh Vass, Shandwick, aged 32, Bertie Vass, Shandwick, aged 23, David Vass, Shandwick, aged 18, Hugh Vass, Balintore, aged 32. 4 men from the villages are rescued, Ronnie Hart, Hilton, aged 17, John Ross, Hilton, aged 19, James Ross, Balintore, aged 25, Tommy Merrick, Balintore, aged 18. December 1939. William Ross, Merchant Navy, lost when the M.V. Inverlane [Glasgow] was sunk. He was 25 years of age, his brother Charles was also lost in 1942.December 1939. Gordon Crawford, Headmaster of Hilton School, is the convener of the comforts committee, organising knitted items to be sent to the villagers in the forces. February 1940. Donald MacDonald, 8 Shore Street, Hilton, is one of 31 survivors when the oil tanker, Gretafield, was torpedoed off the east coast of Scotland. The burning wreck drifted for days before coming ashore in Dunbeath bay where it burned for another couple days before breaking up.
April 1940. Willie Ross, RN, Balintore, survives the sinking of HMS Bittern off Norway. May 1940. David Skinner, RN, Balintore, survives the sinking of HMS Afridi off Norway. July 1940. Alexander MacAngus, RN, Hilton, is Killed in Action when H.M. Trawler Fleming is sunk, he was 20 years of age.
October 1940. The Rev. John Vass, Balintore, takes his first charge since completing his education at Aberdeen University, the presbytery of Glenlyon.
October 1940. Hugh T. MacDonald, RN, Hilton, Killed in Action, attached to HMS Osprey, trained in submarine detection. November 1940. Jessie Ann Skinner, Merchant Navy [nurse], Balintore, Killed in Action when the M.V. Rangitane [Plymouth] sailing from New Zealand is attacked and sunk by a German surface raider, She was 49 years of age.
November 1940. Annie Ross, 11 King Street, Hilton, a nurse, marries Kenneth M. Campbell, RAF. December 1940. Hugh MacDonald, RN, Hilton, Killed in Action on HMS Forfar. April 1941. David Alexander Ross, RNR, born in Shandwick on the 2nd of February 1905, is Killed in Action when HMS Voltaire was sunk in the Atlantic by the German surface raider Thor.August 1941. David Skinner, RN, Balintore, dies aboard HMS Afrikander off cerebral malaria and is buried in Durban, South Africa. He was 24 years of age. January 1941. Robert Ross, RN, Balintore, lost when his ship was driven ashore on the Faroe Islands in a hurricane. He was 24 years of age. His father, also Robert, was Killed in Action in WW1.
January 1942. William Gow, RN, lost on HMS Culver. He was 30 years of age. February 1942. Andrew Ross, RAF, Balintore, Missing in Action during the fall of Singapore, later listed as Killed in Action. The Blenheim mark IV in which he was a passenger was flying from Palembang, Sumatra to Batvaria, Java, when it crashed near Lahat after engine failure, one report says the plane crashed into a lake, another report says it crashed into a hill. Andrew was 27 years of age.
March 1942. Chief Petty Officer George McKay Patience, Hilton, receives the White Ribbon for the Bronze Polar Medal along with 35 fellow members of the crew RSS Discovery for their rescue of the explorer Lincoln Ellsworth in Antarctica in January 1936. June 1942. Announced in the London Gazette, Leading Seaman Kenneth [Keka] Vass, RNR, Shandwick, Mentioned in Dispatches, award for bravery, determination and fortitude in important minesweeping operations aboard HMT Nyemtski. June 1942. Murdo McRae, RN, Balintore, survives the sinking of HMS Wild Swan in the Bay Of Biscay.
July 1942. Pilot William Ross, RAF. Hilton, lost when his plane failed to return from patrol. He was 26 years of age. William Ross August 1942. John [Curly] MacKenzie, [ Mentioned in Despatches], HMS Calpe, Murdo McRae, HMLCT 164, and Phillip Ross, Beachmaster, survive the disastrous Raid on Dieppe. John MacKenzie, in an open boat, picking up survivors swimming from the shore, pulled Phillip Ross out of the water with the words ” what’s a nice boy from Shandwick doing in a place like this”? December 1942. Alexander MacKay, Merchant Navy, Balintore, lost when the M.V. Henry Stanley [Liverpool] was torpedoed. He was 30 years of age. December 1942. Charles Ross, Merchant Navy, lost when the Montreal City [Bristol] is sunk. He was 32 years of age, his brother William was also lost in 1939. December 1942. At Aberdeen, the marriage of Kenneth Vass, son of the late David Vass and Mrs Vass, Shandwick, to Isabella Vass, daughter of the late Alexander Vass and Mrs Robbie, Aberdeen. January 1943. Donald Tarrel, Merchant Navy, lost when the SS Baron Dechmont [Ardrossan] was torpedoed. He was 50 years of age. Donald Tarrel February 1943. Ship’s master Donald Ross, born in Shandwick, is killed when his ship the Iron Knight is torpedoed of the Australian coast by a Japanese submarine. April 1943. Mrs Cameron , Balintore, told, on a radio programme, how, in 1940 a German Heinkel bomber was attacking a minesweeper just off Balintore. With no men in the village, the women armed themselves with axes, fence posts and filled their aprons with stones should the aircraft be shot down and the crew were to swim ashore. The bomber eventually flew off and Mrs Cameron said the women were really mad that they did not get a chance to see action. May 1943. Norman MacKay, Balintore, falls from the cliffs at Nigg while collecting seagull eggs, he dies in hospital. Norman MacKay August 1943. David Skinner, RN, Balintore, HMS Melora accidentally drowned in the Holy Loch, Argyllshire while trying to rescue others. He was 30 years old. March 1944. Roderick MacKenzie, RN, Balintore, dies while serving on HMS Victory. He was 27 years of age. May 1944. Walter Stepto, Royal Scots, Killed in Action at Kohima, he was the grandson of the late James Watt, retired headmaster of Hilton school. He was 27 years of age. May 1944. Tommy Vass Hughes, RN, Killed in Action on HM Motor Torpedo Boat 732. He was 25 years of age. June 1944. William Hugh Easson, Seaforth Highlanders, Hilton, Killed in Action in France just after the D-Day landings. He was 21 years of age. June 1944. David Vass Erskine awarded the British Empire Medal for bravery for helping to pull a Canadian pilot out of a burning plane just after the D-Day landings.
September 1944. Announced in the London Gazette, Leading Seaman Kenneth [Keka] Vass, RNR, Shandwick, awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for skill and devotion to duty in minesweeping operations aboard HMT Firefly. September 1944. Isaac Morrison, RN, Balintore, Killed in Action on HM Trawler Bracondene. He was 38 years of age. September 1944. David Hugh Vass Mayes, Corporal Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Born in Balintore on the 8th December 1912 to James and Hughina Vass Mayes, a Prisoner of War of the Japanese after his capture at the fall of Singapore in 1942. After his internment in Java, he dies aboard ship of Cardial Beriberi and is buried at sea. David is the husband of Agnes Mayes of 60, Portland Place, Hamilton. January 1945. Temporary Acting Leading Seaman Hugh Ross, Hilton, and Chief Stoker William MacKenzie, Balintore, have both been Mentioned in Dispatches. March 1945. A Fairey Barracuda from Fearn aerodrome [HMS Owl] lost control in a turn and crashed into a field near Hill of Fearn. The crew, pilot Ernest Charles Sherriff, observer and second pilot Alistair Horsley Hood, telegraphist and rear gunner Vivian Graham were all killed in the crash and later buried in Rosskeen Churchyard. April 1945. Death of Donald Ross MacKay, born at 5 Main Street, Balintore, went on to be a school headmaster in Angus and after he retired to Ellon, became the Provost of that town. Donald Ross MacKay May 1945. Robertson Wood drowned in a coble accident of Shandwick, he had been married for only 7 weeks. Robertson Wood, Fyfe Cottage. September 1945. The wedding took place in Inverness of Andrew Vass R.N. and Joy Ross M.A., teacher of Latin, Golspie H. G. School, from Bonar Bridge. The Rev. George Eakins, Balintore, officiated, bridesmaids were Misses Mackenzie and Vass. The groom and his best man, his brother Petty Officer G. Vass R.N., were in uniform. November 1945. Nurse Ina Ross SRN., SCM. second daughter of Mr and Mrs K. Ross, Balintore, marries John Cameron RE., at Balintore church, she was attended by her sister Nurse Annie Ross. Marriage of Andrewina Ross [Kenna] to John Cameron. Annie Ross [Kenna] bridesmaid. January 1946. The Rev. David William Ross, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. John Ross, 12 Ross Crescent, Balintore marries Rebecca Neilson Duthie of Dundee. January 1946. Hugh MacKenzie, Royal Engineers, Balintore, accidentally killed at a railway crossing in Austria. He was 26 years of age.
June 1946. Announced in the London Gazette that Seaman David Vass of Shandwick has been awarded the British Empire Medal for bravery in saving life on the Arctic convoys in WW2, David was torpedoed twice in Arctic waters. July 1946. Miss A. Vass, aged 26, 5 Shore Street, Shandwick, sets sail on the Pacific Enterprise bound for Palestine to take up employment as a nursing sister. January 1947. Christina Ross, aged 34, 12 Ross Crescent, Balintore and Jessie A. Vass, aged 40, 12 Bank Street, Balintore, embark on the the Queen Elizabeth bound for New York, both have employment in Canada as nurses. March 1947. F. Browning, outside left of Seaside Rovers, is due to be demobbed and is attracting attention of senior clubs some of which have already made approaches, he played regularly for B.A.O.R. [British Army of the Rhine] against all the touring teams. December 1947. Captain J. MacLeod, MP for Ross and Cromarty, is giving 2 hand looms for weaving to Gordon Crawford headmaster of Hilton School. He is also sending an instuctor from his factory in Inverness to teach Mr. Crawford how to use them and he in turn will teach the pupils. The plan is for weaving to become a cottage industry and woven articles can be sold to tourists. May 1948. Ross County A F.C. beat Balintore F.C. 4-3, Balintore scorers are MacAngus 2 and Hart. August 1948. Jane Ross, eldest daughter of the late Alexander and Mrs Ross, Hilton, marries William Brunton of Jedburgh. May 1949. Australian sheep buyer A.J.R. Wood has bought 2 rams and 20 sheep from the flock of J.M. Rutherford, Hilton of Cadboll, the sheep will be shipped to Australia soon. January 1950. Gregor Ross is appointed headmaster of Hilton School. February 1950. George Robert Ross, son of James and Annie MacKenzie Ross, Port Street, Balintore, dies in Danville, Virginia, USA. He emigrated to the USA in 1890. He is survived by his daughter Willeana R. Poindexter, his brother John and 2 sisters in Scotland. September 1952. Former Hilton School headmaster Gordon Crawford dies. January 1952. A lorry taking workmen to the hydro-electric scheme at Lochluichart slid on ice at Kincraig near Dingwall and hit a telegraph pole, the pole broke in half and landed on the lorry. Alexander Vass aged 68, John Street, Balintore, was killed and William MacRae was seriously hurt, Robert Skinner, Ross Crescent, Balintore and David Wood, Hilton, were allowed home after treatment, all were from the Fearn area. October 1952. Alexander Vass, born in Hilton to Alexander and Jessie, 13 Lady Street in 1898, dies on board the ship SS Wearpool at Tocopilla Bay, Chile, from tuberculosis.
September 1954. Donald McAndrew Ross, born in Hilton in 1867, dies in Lismore, NSW, Australia. His sister Annie Hollingworth had died in Australia in 1910. Donald McAndrew Ross, circa 1928. September 1955. Marriage of William Skinner, Balintore, and Annie Lamond Smith [Bunty] of Carnoustie. William Skinner and Annie Lamond Smith [Bunty], 1955. July 1963. David Sutherland Oliver, Arden, Hilton, borrowed his brother’s dinghy at 3.30am and set sail. With no sign of him the Cromarty lifeboat was called out, RNAS Lossiemouth had planes on standby, the people of the village of Hilton were searching the shoreline, a salmon coble belonging to John Paterson and manned by salmon fishers William Skinner, Donnie Hugh Sutherland and David’s brother George was also searching. 13 hours after he set out he was found wandering near Geanies summer house by hotelier Ian Black and Alex MacKay, Shore Street, Hilton. The boat was high and dry and he was none the worse for his experience. August 1964. William Morrison, 12 New Street, Shandwick, a seaman aboard the Esso Brixham, moored at the Dingle Jetty, Liverpool, dies of a heart attack at the age of 52. December 1964. Alexander MacKenzie born in Balintore 1895 at 15 Bank Street, served in the Royal Navy in World War 1 and was a Merchant Seaman, emigrated to Australia, dies in Newcastle, NSW, aged 70.
November 1966. Aggie and Chrissie McRae put the Commercial hotel up for sale, they are retiring. Left to right as viewer looks. Christine McRae and Agnes McRae, Commercial Hotel. Photo taken at 4 John St. October 1969. John MacKenzie, born Hilton, celebrates his Golden Wedding with his wife Robina in Aberdeen. John went to sea at 15, served with RNR in the Dardanelles in WW1 and was on the trawler Stratherrick when she sank 90 miles off South Shields in 1939. John MacKenzie, born Hilton, with his wife Robina, Golden Wedding, October 1969. February 1970. David John MacAngus, Balintore, admitted speeding in a hearse on the outskirts of Aberdeen. In his defence it was stated he did not know Aberdeen and thought he was on a 40 miles per hour road, he was doing 41. Fined £5. October 1970. Sixteen year old James Allan will go straight back into the Brora Rangers first team to play Clach on Saturday, James is just back from a two week trial with Swindon Town FC. Later in October he was to sign for Swindon and went on to make 436 appearances for them before injury cut short his career at the age of 29. April 1971. Norman Donald MacKay MacAngus dies in San Francisco, U.S.A. at the age of 65. Norman left the villages in the 1920’s to join his sister Elsie and had worked as a railway clerk. October 1973. Gregor Ross retires as headmaster of Hilton School. October 1973. Angus J. Campbell becomes headmaster of Hilton School.
August 1975. Ian MacPherson, 44 Lochslin Place, Balintore, is taken to hospital, unconscious, after crashing his kart at the Boyndie track in Banff. April 1976. The Winnipeg Bible College Choir are touring Scotland and will sing in Balintore. August 1976. Mario Mutinelli came to Ross-shire as an Italian POW working on the MacKenzie of Cullisse farm. He returned after the war and married Annie Ross of Balintore, they have two children, David and Maria. This year at the Black Isle Show, Mario was awarded a silver medal for his thirty years as the cattleman looking after the forty strong Shandwick herd. July 1978. The launching of a small boat in Balintore harbour became a farce when, first a tractor belonging to Paterson and Sons became stuck in the mud, then a large excavator was called in from Highland Fabricators to pull the tractor out and it also got stuck in the mud. Then the tide came in and both machines were left overnight submerged before a Highland Fabricators crane lifted them from the water the next day. August 1978. Dugald MacAngus, Balintore, now running the King James Hotel in Edinburgh, advertises the hotel in the stage papers. October 1978. Ewen McRae, Commercial Hotel, Balintore, who fought with the Seaforths in WW1 and emigrated to the USA in 1920’s dies in Detroit, where he worked in the car industry, at the age of 79. Ewan McRae. May 1979. Robert Allan, Balintore, has won Brora Rangers young player of the year award. December 1979. Brora Rangers will play Wick Academy in a friendly football match, Brora will give a fitness test to Balintore lad Robert Allan who has been out injured with a broken toe. December 1979. It is announced in the Hi Fab news that Robert Allan, Balintore, in his final year at Inverness Technical College has been awarded the Nigg Cup, the cup is presented annually to the best City and Guilds student in welding and fabrication, it’s the second cup 20 year old Robert has picked up recently as he was a member of the victorious Brora Rangers football team that have just won Scottish Qualifying Cup [North], the major trophy in the Highland League. October 1983. James Allan’s football career with Swindon comes to an end when his arm is shattered in a collision with another player. James Allan, Swindon Town FC. March 1984. Heather Bell [nee Vass], Hilton, murdered in Inverness. December 1984. Helen Skinner, married name Bartlett, dies on Vancouver Island, Canada, aged 89. Helen was born in Balintore on the 13th of January 1895. December 1986. Garry S. Forno, grandson of Finlay Skinner, Balintore, who emigrated to Queensland, Australia, circa 1890, is appointed a Queen’s Counsel. January 1995. Ships Captain Alistair Vass Mackay, from Balintore, is awarded the MBE in the New Year Honours List. December 2002. Donald Tarrel MacAngus, has been awarded the Queens Jubilee Medal for outstanding community service. Don was born in Hilton and emigrated from there to Canada in 1949, where he founded the Winnipeg Building and Decorating Company. December 2003. Donald Tarrel MacAngus of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, formally of Hilton dies at the age of 75. August 2003. Dougie Hall won his first Scotland Rugby Union cap against Wales, he went on to represent Scotland 42 times. Dougie is the son of Tom and Sheila Hall and grandson of Hugh and Pauline MacKay of Hilton. Dougie Hall May 2004. John Ross has died in Australia at the age of 104, born in Shandwick in 1899, he served with the Seaforths in WW1 before emigrating to Australia, the saluting dias used to commemorate the annual ANZAC Day march past in Hinchinbrookshire, Queensland, is named after him. John Ross November 2018. John Sedwick, son of Elsie MacAngus, who emigrated to the USA in 1921, is found dead at his home in Magalia, Paradise, California, a victim of the Campfire forest fires which claimed 85 lives. December 2019. Seoras MacKay, the grandson of Anne Barclay, Golspie, [nee Skinner of Balintore], has won 2 gold medals in the World Taekwan-do Championships held in Paisley. Seoras, who lives in Kirkintilloch, will be 15 on Christmas Day, won the red belt classification and also the Overall Trophy as the best competitor across all the belt sections.
Latest comments