Well, Johan, I suspect he was away on holiday with his daughter but I don't know for sure. He had been Principal Customs Officer on Islay for about 10 - 15 years and seems to have retired to Tarbert. His daughter was with him when he died so I think they must have been visiting someone or just travelling. There's a lot I don't know but at least I now have his death date and place. His cause of death says 'congestion of brain' which I would think means he had a stroke. The family seems to have kept in touch with cousins but I don't know of any in Perthshire. Incidentally no less than eight copies of your email arrived straight after each other - does that mean you pressed send 8 times or does your computer have a bit of a problem? Yes, Islay is beautiful and we enjoyed it in several weather conditions over a short time! ....Ah - this is interesting but may mean nothing. Duncan's mother was a McNeill from Gigha and I've just discovered that in 1891 there is one McNeill living in the parish where Duncan died. A widow called Annabella, born in Madras. It may signify nothing at all and I don't know how to research this but some of Duncan's McNeill cousins were mariners ........ but Annabella may have been married to a McNeill or may be one in her own name..... I'll think about it later Best regards, Mary