In a house in Inverness being cleared for sale last year, a collection or rather accumulation of books came to light, which had been given or bequeathed to the late owner by relatives on his father's side of the family. Most dated from the early 20th century or earlier; many were inscribed with the names of previous owners, and some had additional inscriptions or information. Examining the volumes with an eye to family history casts light on the literary interests of the people concerned, and perhaps a little on the intellectual life of the 'middling sort' at that time and place.
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| Thought to be the parents, Alexander and Annie, with (possibly) their first child, Catherine. |
Among the many Flett families of Findochty this one had achieved comparative prosperity by the 1890s, owning fishyards as far away as Stornoway. It was mainly Alexander's father James who built up the family fortunes, establishing himself as a well-known figure in the fishing community of the north east, nicknamed 'the Auld Cooper.' This group of siblings were probably the first generation of the family to have the resources and motivation to acquire books - apart from those required for religious observance - in any numbers.
Their interests, if serious, were not narrow. Apart from the
religion-related items - not all predictable - we find history, philosophy,
Egyptology, criticism and German studies, along with recent and contemporary
literature including quite a lot of poetry. Many of the authors are 'big hitters' although there are absences, notably Dickens, and the works here are not always the best known.
The condition of the books generally tends to confirm that they were for use rather than decoration and
may well have been passed on among the brothers and sisters. They would not, of
course, constitute the entire family library, only those which happened to end
up with the siblings' nephew Sandy.
First, books without designated owners, grouped roughly by subject:
Practical Hydropathy,by John Smedley.
This went into many editions in the late 19th century and may have belonged to Alexander (junior), who became a doctor.
The Germany of Today, by Charles Tower (Home University of Modern Knowledge series). First printed July 1913, reprinted August 1914. (War was declared on 4th August).
The Hohenzollerns, by E D James.
Religion:
Gospel for the Day, by M G Pierce
Daily Light
New Testament
Psalter (Psalms) and Church Hymnary
New Testament
Psalter (Psalms) and Church Hymnary
Other non-fiction:
Ruskin, Unto this last
Personal religion in Egypt before Christianity by W M Flinders Petrie (1909)
Matching volumes by Ruskin, Carlyle, Thackeray, de Quincy, Leigh Hunt and William Cullen.
The last is another medical connection, most likely his 'Lectures on the Materia Medica'.
Fiction:
Arnold Bennett, Leonora (1903)
Scott, Count Robert of Paris; St. Ronan's Well
Scott, Count Robert of Paris; St. Ronan's Well
Uniform editions (small print) by: Charles Kingsley, Coleridge, Tennyson, Turgenev, Burns, Milton, Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet)
In 1901 the family was living in Netherton Terrace (Rosebank), Rathven (Registration District), Banffshire. The father was away from home on the census date. Others in the household were mother Ann, aged 46, Fishcurer 's Wife, born in Rathven [Registration District - all others born there too unless otherwise stated]; Alexander, 21, Medical Student, born in Banff; Catherine (Kate), 24, Occupation ‘At Home’; Barbara, 15, Scholar; Joe aged 13 Scholar, Maggiebella, 11, Scholar; Ina (Williamina), 7, Scholar; Walter, 6 Scholar; and a Visitor, Maud Holmes, 15, Scholar, born in England (probably a friend of Barbara); plus Isa Alexander, 31, Servant, born in Cruden, Aberdeenshire.
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| "Rosebank" a century or so later |
Those with 'Flett' names are listed here; inscriptions are in inverted commas.
Some information about the people mentioned is added where known.
Some information about the people mentioned is added where known.
Thomas a Kempis, Of the Imitation of Christ. London, Longman Green, 1891.
"A. Flett"
A./Alex/Alexander could be either the father or older
brother.
The Century Bible: Revelation. Edinburgh and London, C. Anderson Scott.
'A.' could in theory also be the mother or another sister, each named Annie.
The Century Bible: Revelation. Edinburgh and London, C. Anderson Scott.
"Alex Flett, West Park, Wick"
Alex junior (B, Bac. Surg., Aberdeen 1904) has a Wick address in the 1913 Medical Register.
Green Pastures: A Monthly Messenger for the Children of God. Vol.8, 1914. Published in Partick and Inverness. (A periodical that ran for several decades).
Green Pastures: A Monthly Messenger for the Children of God. Vol.8, 1914. Published in Partick and Inverness. (A periodical that ran for several decades).
"With Compliments of the Season from Mr. R. Hutchinson to Mr. A. Flett, Fishcurer, Wick."
'Fishcurer' indicates the father. Wick was one of the places where the
family business was carried on in the heyday of the herring industry. Mr.
Hutchinson may well have been a business associate
From the Census, in 1871 Alexander Flett aged 17 was a Cooper (making barrels) living at 20, Rathven with his father James, 53, widower, a Cooper & Fish Curer, and six younger siblings. All the family were said to have been born in Findochty,
From the Census, in 1871 Alexander Flett aged 17 was a Cooper (making barrels) living at 20, Rathven with his father James, 53, widower, a Cooper & Fish Curer, and six younger siblings. All the family were said to have been born in Findochty,
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| Accomplishment of a young lady: the family was affluent enough to afford piano lessons and travel. |
Handwritten comments,
refs or quotes on endpapers front and back. Leather bound; small.
"To dearest Kate from
Isobel [other word/s erased] Deut.: 33 12.27"
(Deuteronomy ch. 33: "Moses blesses the tribes").
(Deuteronomy ch. 33: "Moses blesses the tribes").
and:
[This one does seem to be a rare and peculiar specimen]
"Kate Flett, Dec. 1908"
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| Believed to be Catherine's photo on a scrap of a 1917 pass for the North of Scotland Military Area |
John Ruskin, The Two Paths. Lectures on Art. London, George Allen, 1906.
"To Bab from Alex with love. Mar. 14. 07"
and
John Ruskin, The Crown of Wild Olive: Four Lectures on Industry and War. (Work. Traffic. War. The future of England). London, George Allen, 1906.
"To Barbara from her brother Alex with love March 14: 07"
Barbara Flett, another sister (called after their maternal grandmother).
Barbara Flett, another sister (called after their maternal grandmother).
At school Barbara won a prize for English, a handsome edition of Pride and Prejudice.
Not with this collection; it was passed down to a niece (rather the worse for wear).
Frank Ballard (Wycliffe Church, Hull). The Miracles of Unbelief. Edinburgh, T & T Clark, 1900.
"Aberdeen 6/2/01 Alick Flett. Pencil: 11 Bayview Road. A. Flett & Co. "
Silvery (pencil) writing on endpapers:
- you fortuitous concourse of atoms shut up
- when we are married we'll have sausages for tea - hray
[?] Romans Huxley #
Bottled spruce. Allsopps pale ale. McCurrach Motor. Frank Ballard MA BSc FRMS Etc.
with (in same pencil writing, at the back):
"Joseph Flett. Rosebank. Findochty. Banffshire. Scotland." Joe later wrote a novel in which, among much else, he explores the sort of youthful angst and alienation that may be hinted at in his apparently irreverent attitude to the above work of piety.
Joseph Flett married Elizabeth Hamilton Maclean 18-12-1913, in
Blythswood, Glasgow.
Joe’s brother Alexander was a witness at the wedding (along with the bride’s sister Mary Ann).
Bees in Amber: A Little Book of Thoughtful Verse. London, Methuen,1913.
Joe’s brother Alexander was a witness at the wedding (along with the bride’s sister Mary Ann).
Bees in Amber: A Little Book of Thoughtful Verse. London, Methuen,1913.
"L. Maclean"
Lizzie Maclean of Stornoway married Joe Flett in 1913 as above.
Mathematical and Physical Tables.
School issue, inkstained, calculations at back.
In 1927 Kate married James Roberson Dickson of Biggar, who brought his own heritage of family
School issue, inkstained, calculations at back.
"A. J. Flett, 70 Nicolson Road, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis."
A survival from 1930s schooldays in the Nicolson Institute, Stornoway.
Alexander John (Sandy) was the son of Joe and Lizzie; the books were found in his house .
A survival from 1930s schooldays in the Nicolson Institute, Stornoway.
Alexander John (Sandy) was the son of Joe and Lizzie; the books were found in his house .
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| A stone in Rathven cemetery illustrates some of the unhappy events in the family's history |
and finally, a more recent gift:
The Practice of the Presence of God. Paternoster series, pbk. (1926) 1959.
"To Kate from me, with love. Christmas 1965"
In 1927 Kate married James Roberson Dickson of Biggar, who brought his own heritage of family
books, dating in some instances from the 18th century, to
their home in Elgin, whence they passed eventually to Inverness along with the Flett set.
(It was Kate who at Christmas 1937 gave The Grand Book for Girls to her 8-year-old niece Irma.)
(It was Kate who at Christmas 1937 gave The Grand Book for Girls to her 8-year-old niece Irma.)
Part 2 will look at the 'Robertson/Dickson' collection in detail.
POSTSCRIPT
One more name
occurred on a book which has already been passed on, title not recorded:
She may have had a
Flett connection although this has not been confirmed. The surname occurs on
Jersey, where Ina (Williamina) Flett (later Rice) made her home for many years. A possible candidate:
Annie May LeRiche,
born 1890, who appears in the censuses of 1891 and 1901 in the Channel Islands.