In message <007301bfcc9e$5494cc00$7bb65d18@ucrq9.neo.lrun.com>, J. Campbell <jrosenbe@neo.rr.com> writes >Hello All. > >I am new to this list and joined to solve a mystery. My ancestress, a widow >named Elsie (Elspet) CAMPBELL HOSSACK died in Inverness in 1909 (4 May). >Why is this a mystery? Well, she was born and raised in Aberdeen, lived in >Banff during her married life and widowhood, whcih means in my terms at >least until the 1891 census. She had several sons in Elgin as well. But-- >as far as I know-- no family in Banff. The information given on her death >certificate is accurately provided, so clearly someone knew her. The >informant, however, was the next-door neighbor. So, I am trying to figure >out what she was doing in Inverness, possibly on her own at age 85. > >She could certainly have been holidaying-- if so, how would a neighbor know >her particulars? Anyway, she was living/staying at Lochinvar Villa on >Montague Row. I am hoping that SKS on the list can tell me something about >this location-- assuming it is not still existing under that name. Was this >in the area of tourist hotels? Or could it have been some type of nursing >home? Is there a library I can write which might have old newspaper files >or a directory of addresses from 1909? I could then check to see if any of >her children had moved on to Inverness. Or just wait for next year's census >release! Can my curiosity wait until then? >TIA- > >Judith in Ohio, USA > Hi Judith Just to keep you interested Hossack's have been part Inverness history for hundreds of years one of them was even Provost (sort of Mayor) around 1745. There were also Hossack's John and his son Samuel who were burgess (elders or councillor type position ) in 1687. Back to more recent times, according to the Inverness directory for 1939 Lochinvar Villa was still occupied by a Mrs Hossack. The house is still there but under different ownership. There are still a few Hossacks around although a lot have moved out of Inverness to the surrounding villages. Hope this helps a little. George -- George D. Christie " Change is not made without inconvenience, even from worse to better "