There is very little information about John Oal, the fourth child of George and Janet Oal (m.s.Smith) apart from the fact that he married Isabella Bain, the daughter of Alexander Bain, a crofter, and Catherine Bain (m.s. Cormack), in Wick on the 27th July 1838. He was a ‘Farm Servant/General Labourer’.
They had at least three children with the eldest being Janet born about 1839; George, who was born about 1845 and according to the 1881 census had ‘learning difficulties’; and Elizabeth born in 1849.
John died on the 23rd October 1872 in Staxigoe of ‘Serious Apoplexy’ aged 72 years. The informant shown on his Death Certificate was his brother-in-law, David Bain.
Acording to a Valuation Roll of 1902/3 held at the North Highland Archive, Item No; 332 shows that a house in Staxigoe, owned by the Trustees of G.D.Dunbar, was leased to Widow Auld for a yearly rent of Ł1-10-0d
Isabella, died in Staxigoe on the 5th September 1903 of ‘Apoplexy’, aged 88. Her death was registered as Bell Auld, the widow of John Auld, and the informant was a nephew, William Bain of 148 Albert Street, Edinburgh.
Their daughter, Janet, had an illegitimate daughter, Elizabeth, born on the 17th March 1874 in Staxigoe. Unfortunately Elizabeth died of convulsions two months later on the 16th May .George Manson, a ploughman, was alledged to be the 'Reputed Father'.
In 1875 Janet had an illegitmate son, John. He died on the 29th May 1893, aged 17, as a result of injuries sustained from a fall from a horse. The entry in the Death Register shows him as John Manson with George Manson, ploughman, as his 'Reputed Father' . The informant of his death was his grand uncle, David Bain. (See below for more information on David Bain).
There appears to be a great deal of confusion regarding John. On the 22 October 1875 births were registered for twins John Manson and Samuel Manson. Their parents were shown as George Manson and Janet m.s. Auld who married in Wick on the 14th January 1875. However, the marriage register shows Janet m.s.Annal with father, Samuel Annal, farmer, and mother, Mary m.s.Matheson. The date of this marriage is shown as the 15th January 1875.
Was Janet Oal pregnant by George Manson before he married in January of 1875 and the twins registered as Janet being their mother instead of his wife?. A very interesting and complecated situation.
Janet died of Brights Disease and Dropsy in Staxigoe on the 11th October 1879, aged 40
George, despite his condition, became a 'Journeyman Cooper'. He died in Staxigoe on the 23rd March 1898. The informant was his uncle, David Bain, who's name appears many times in connection with his sister, Isabella's family.
Additional Information
Isabella Bain's parents, Alexander Bain and Catherine Cormack, were married on the 7th March 1817 in Wick.
There is also another Isabella who died, aged 76, on the 24th September 1892 in Wick. The Death Certificate showed that she was the widow of a John Auld, a general labourer, and daughter of Donald Falconer, a crofter, but her mother is not shown. The informant was a son, Donald Auld (B;1840), of John Street, Wick. Their other children were Elizabeth (B; 1833), Helen (B;1836), Janet (B; 1838), William (B; 1843 and Isabella (B; 1846).
Another John Oal, born in Wick about 1790, married Janet Gunn in Wick in 1814. No information on children.
I have no indication yet how the last two Auld/Oal might fit into the family although it is possible that they could be cousins of the one above.
Isabella had a brother, David, born about 1825. He married Maryann Sutherland in 1854 and they had at least six children. He was a 'Carter' in Wick and died in 1900.