Baillie is historically the title of a Scottish magistrate who presides in a burgh court and is elected to that station by the town council from among the councillors. Being a Baillie was often a stepping-stone to becoming Provost, the Scottish equivalent of the English Mayor. My late father was both in Blairgowrie, Perthshire. I don't think your ancestor would have changed his name to Provost. He would have been known as "Provost" in the same way as Bush is known as "President". Bob MacLean now in West Sussex. ----- Original Message ----- From: <bethune44@hotmail.com> To: <MCINTOSH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, August 02, 2006 5:59 PM Subject: [MCINTOSH] John Mackintosh (Provost of Inverness) > This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. > > Classification: Query > > Message Board URL: > > http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/2N0.2ACIB/1399 > > Message Board Post: > > Is anyone connected to this Mackintosh. He was provost of Inverness twice. > > I was sent the following a few years ago, as the name changed from Mackintosh to provost and then reverted back to Mackintosh. > > I wonder whether I may have stumbled on the origin of the name Provost. This is what Charles Fraser Mackintosh wrote in 19th century in Antiquarian Notes (p 114): ‘ it may be interesting to the people of Inverness to know that Bailie Mackintosh, who took up the sword for the Stuarts, and had the honour of having his name included in the list of attained persons survived the rising, but was so keenly looked after by Government that he was obliged to change his name, and, under a name more plebeian than that of his father, interpreting it by its significance in Gaelic, he died peacefully , and descendants are still to be found.’ > > Who is Bailie Mackintosh? I think he is father of Provost John, but I will have to research this! > > > > > ============================== > View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find > marriage announcements and more. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx >