Margaret Fraser (née McIver)

1. Of Inverness, beneficiary with other family members of the residual compensation for Plantation Kilcoy after the payment of a legacy to Leonora Lynch, the housekeeper of John Fraser, the deceased owner Plantation Kilcoy and probably the brother-in-law of Margaret Fraser nee McIver.

2. 13/06/1825: Mr Robert Fraser, merchant jnr, and Miss Margaret Campbell or McIver settled in the parish of Old Machar were married by the Revd. Andrew Towse, Minister of Marchal College, Aberdeen. Eldest child, William, born 23/06/1827 and baptised in Inverness (Robert given as grocer, East Street); next Daniel, born 16/02/1829, Inverness (Robert given as merchant, High Street); Margaret, born 11/08/1830, Inverness (Robert given as grocer, High Street); Robert, born 19/04/1832 (father Robert given as merchant, Church Street).

3. Robert Fraser became insolvent in 1832 and subsequently went to Berbice.

4. The ages of the children don't exactly match but the only likely entry in the 1841 census is for Mrs Margaret Fraser, age 33, lodging-keeper, born out of county, living at 2 Castle Street, Inverness, with Margaret age 7, William age 10, Daniel age 9, all born in county, plus Jean Campbell age 27, of independent means, Bell Ross age 20, a female servant, Margaret King age 20 and David King age 2 (he born in Ireland).

5. Margaret Fraser, widow, age 43, house proprietor, born Redcastle, was living at 26 Church Street, Inverness, in the census of 1851, with son Daniel Fraser, age 22, wine and spirit merchant, daughter Margaret Fraser, age 20, spinster, three male lodgers, a visiter and two female servants.

6. Robert and Margaret's daughter Margaret Fraser married Henry Frederick Francis Schaefer, 28/12/1852 (banns read out in Inverness and Perth). In 1861, Margaret was living with her son-in-law at 51 Kings Street, Perth, age 60. Henry was a German-born teacher of French and German. By 1871, Henry had established a school at 139 Market Street, St Andrews, with 8 boarders; Margaret was living there too, age 65, "annuitant". In 1881 Henry and Margaret were living at Seaton House, St Andrews, with 11 boarders, and Margaret's age was given as 73. All censuses give her place of birth as Redcastle, Killearnan, Ross-shire.

7. Margaret Fraser, widow of Robert Fraser, grocer, spirit and wine merchant, died 29/12/1881 at Seaton House, St Andrews, age 75 years. Her parents were given as --- Campbell (deceased).

1. T71/1253 British Guiana no. 269. Robert Fraser of New Amsterdam Berbice was identified as the attorney of Donald Fraser (late of Newton Red Castle Rosshire now of Inverness, Scotland) and Margaret Fraser b. McIver of same town. Donald Fraser had died 30/03/1837.

2. GROS OPR Marriages 98 100 187 Inverness; GROS OPR Births 98 110 354; GROS OPR Births 98 110 454; GROS OPR Births 98 110 549; GROS OPR Births 98 120 34.

3. Email from David Alston 04/04/2017 sourced to Inverness Courier 11/01/1832: Meeting of creditors of Robert Fraser, grocer in Inverness.

4. 1841 census online.

5. 1851 census online.

6. 1861-1881 censuses online.

7. GROS Deaths 1882 453/1 1 St Andrews & St Leonards.

We are grateful to David Alston for his assistance with compiling this entry.