Catherine Wares
1839 - 1913
Catherine Wares
1839 - 1913
Catherine Wares was born in Huddart Street on the 10th May 1839, the fourth of eight children. The rest of the family were John (1832), Donald (1834), Helen (1837), Elizabeth (1843), James (C1846), Williamina (C1849) and Margaret (C1852).
Her parents were James and Elizabeth Wares (m.s.Davidson) who were married in Wick on the 12th March 1830.
James who was born on the 25th May 1799, was the son of William Wares, a fisherman, and Helen Couper. Elizabeth, born on the 4th March 1810, the daughter of John Davidson, described as a 'Master Tailor' and Catherine McKay.
James was a 'Journeyman Cooper' and most probably worked in the cooperage in Huddart Street, where barrels were made for the large herring fishing industry of that time or, less likely, in the distillery on the opposite side of the street. It can only be imagined what it must have been like to have lived in Huddart Street with the smells of the fish and mashing grain!
In 1861, at the age of 20, Catherine was working as a domestic servant in the home of Donald Harper, a 49 year old local boatbuilder, and family in Breadalbane Terrace, Wick.
Huddart Street, Pulteneytown, Wick in 1996
James Wares died of 'Typhus Fever after 14 days' in the family home in Huddart Street on the 26th March 1865, aged 65. His daughter, Elizabeth, had also died of 'Typhus Fever' just eighteen days previously.
In 1881 his widow, Elizabeth, was living at 1,Kinnaird Street, Pultneytown, Wick with her 82 year old half sister, Annie Laurie, and her 13 year old granddaughter, Elizabeth Davidson Murray, who was the daughter of Williamina (born C 1849 - see above & below) and Joseph Murray, a fisherman, who had died in 1868 aged only 21.
1, Kinnaird Street, Pulteneytown, Wick in 2005
The Valuation Roll for 1883/4, held at the North Highland Archive, shows under reference number 1767 a house in Kinnaird Street, owned by James Wares, Innkeeper of Pulteneytown, leased to Widow James Wares and occupied by Widow Wares with a yearly rent of £3-0-0d.
Elizabeth died at the same address on the 28th February 1885, aged 75
Additional Information
Some details on James & Elizabeth's other children.
1. John; Born 10th June 1832. Married Margaret Sutherland (B;1835) on 26th December 1856 at Kinnard Street, Wick.
They had six known children;-
Catherine - B; 1857
John died in 1907 and Margaret in 1917
2. Donald; Born 30th May, 1834
3. Helen; Born 10th May 1837. Married William Georgeson (B; 1842) on the 15th October 1863 at Huddart Street, Pulteneytown, Wick.
They had five known children;-
Elizabeth - B; C 1864
By 1881, William, Helen and their five children were living at 48 Jasmine Street, Aberdeen. William was by then a foreman coachbuilder.
Helen died in 1926 and William in 1923
4. Elizabeth; Born 10th May 1843. Died 8th March 1865
6. Williamina; Born C 1849. Married Joseph Murray, Born C 1847, Fisherman, on the
25th October 1867 in Pulteneytown.
They had one child;-
Elizabeth Davidson - Born 1868
Joseph Murray died on the 14th September 1868, aged 21 (Cause not shown in Register of Deaths).
Williamina's second husband was Peter Johnstone, a marine pilot, who she married in 1875. In 1881 they were living at 21 Vansittart Street, Wick.
7. Margaret; Born C 1852
James - B; 1859
Elizabeth - B; 1865
Alexandrina - B; 1867
Margaret - B; 1871
John Robert - B; 1874
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James - B; C 1869
William - B; C 1871
John - B; C 1873
Jane Ann - B; C 1875
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5. James; Born C 1846. Died 8th January 1868
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Williamina died in 1916 and Peter in 1904.
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