[[Name: Christina McVicar
Father: Donald McVicar
Mother: Catherine Sinclair
Born: 5 Nov 1859, Inveraray
Siblings:
- Donald McVicar b. 4 Dec 1852, Auchnagoul
- Margaret McVicar b. 30 Dec 1854, Achnagoul
- Duncan McVicar b. 7 Oct 1857, Inveraray
- Sarah McVicar b. 5 Nov 1859, Inveraray
- John McVicar b. 10 Jan 1862, Inveraray
Married: Never Married
Children: No known issue
Death: 28 Dec 1937, Strathlachlan1
Last seen alive 28 December 1937. Body found on shore at Newton 13 April 19382
- Cause of Death: Drowning (Probable) - unascertained owing to decomposition
- Burial
- Headstone
Occupation: Domestic Servant
Address: Lime Kiln Cottage, Inveraray (1937)
Census:
- 1861
Auchnagoul3
3 rooms with windows
Name | Rel. | Con. | Age | Occupation | Born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Donald McVicar | Head | M | 42 | Farmer | Inveraray |
Catherine McVicar | Wife | M | 38 | Inveraray | |
Donald McVicar | Son | Un | 8 | Scholar | Inveraray |
Margaret McVicar | Daur | Un | 6 | Scholar | Inveraray |
Duncan McVicar | Son | Un | 3 | Inveraray | |
Christina McVicar | Daur | Un | 1 | Inveraray | |
Sarah McVicar | Daur | Un | 1 | Inveraray | |
Anne McVicar | Sister | Un | 53 | Inveraray |
- 1871
Auchnagoul4
3 rooms with windows
Name | Rel. | Con. | Age | Occupation | Born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Donald McVicar | Head | M | 52 | Farmer (90 acres arable land) | Inveraray |
Catherine McVicar | Wife | M | 49 | Farmer's wife | Inveraray |
Donald McVicar | Son | Un | 18 | Farmer's son | Inveraray |
Margaret McVicar | Daur | Un | 16 | Farmer's Daughter | Inveraray |
Duncan McVicar | Son | Un | 13 | Scholar | Inveraray |
Christina McVicar | Daur | Un | 11 | Scholar | Inveraray |
Sarah McVicar | Daur | Un | 11 | Scholar | Inveraray |
John McVicar | Son | Un | 9 | Scholar | Inveraray |
- 1881
Church Square Union Bank Buildings5
Only Christina McVicar & Flora McVicar speak Gaelic & English
13 rooms with windows
Name | Rel. | Con. | Age | Occupation | Born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quintin M. Wright | Head | M | 54 | Solicitor & Bank Agent | Inveraray |
Prudence E. Wright | Wife | M | 44 | Solicitor's Wife | East Indies, Madras Residency |
James B. Wright | Son | Un | 20 | East India Merchant | Inveraray |
Anna M. Wright | Daur | Un | 18 | Inveraray | |
Richard Wright | Son | Un | 13 | Scholar | Inveraray |
Quintin M. Wright Jun. | Son | 9 | Scholar | Inveraray | |
Hugh B. Wright | Son | 5 | Inveraray | ||
Charles Wright | Son | 4 | Inveraray | ||
Flora McVicar | Serv | Un | 31 | Cook, Domestic Servt | Ballachulish, Argyll |
Christina McVicar | Serv | Un | 23 | Housemaid, Servt. | Inveraray |
Susan McIntyre | Serv | Un | 17 | Nurse, Servt. | Inveraray |
- 1891
- 1901
- 1911
Stories:
On the afternoon of Tuesday, December 28th, 1937, Christina and her twin sister Sarah, known as Morag, were visited by a relative, Mrs. MacVicar, of Lochgilphead.6 What exactly transpired at the end of this visit has not yet been clearly established. By some accounts, Morag accompanied Mrs MacVicar into Inveraray and then headed for home.7 Yet, other accounts suggest the twins may have accompanied their relative together for some distance.8 John Morrison, a farmer at Sallachary, Glenaray (and 2nd cousin 1 generation removed), said that he has passed the twins twice that evening in Inveraray about 7:00 pm. They were to have been speaking Gaelic.9
What is known is that sometime between 10:40 pm and 11:30 pm that evening, Morag McVicar was found wandering about the Inveraray Golf Course in the fog with her Collie dog Donald by Sergeant James Ross. Morag was to have been "half clad", without her hat and "drenched from the waist downwards."10 Morag was found in an "exhausted and confused condition".11 and appears to not have been able to give a clear account of events that night. It is suggested that the sisters left the house at 7:00 pm and became seperated.12 But it has also been thought that Morag might have discovered her sister missing and gone in search of her.13
The search was exhaustive. 400 people actively searched14 This included the Duke of Argyll on Saturday, 01 January 193815 The River Aray and the mouth of Loch Fyne were dragged with "improvised gear".16
"Thw two sisters (were to) have lived together all their lives. They carried on the family farm at Auchnagoul for 20 years after the deaths of their parents, and only 18 months ago retired and set up house in the cottage. Every night they went out about seven o'clock for a walk together"17
We know from Christina's death certificate that her body was found in April 1938, washed up across Loch Fyne and that her poor sister Morag died prior to this in February in the Argyll & Bute Asyllum.
References
Files / certificates held and by whom.
Images
Other records
- Valuation Rolls