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Picture No 9. Courtesy of Tain & District Museum.
Year: 1887
Catalogue No. 0005

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Jubilee tree planting

This shows the planting of a tree in the collegiate churchyard in Tain to mark Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887. The group consists of members of the town council, some of whom are wearing masonic aprons. Provost James Vass is standing to the right of the tree holding a small ceremonial spade. Although the tree itself is no longer there, a cast iron commemorative collar which fitted on the trunk is in the museum collection, and one of Dr Vass's descendants has the engraved ceremonial spade.

Left to right: Mr Dan Munro (chemist), Sergt ? (caretaker of the church), Mr Gordbrand (Culnaha), Rev Fraser (Fearn), Mr Edward Matheson (Volunteer), Mr White (coal merchant), Mr John Mackenzie (town clerk), Mr Andrew Maitland (architect), Rev Colin Macnaughton (Tain), Bailie Donald Duff, Mr WJ Macdonald (sheriff clerk), Rev Hutcheson, Provost Vass, Sheriff Mackenzie, Dr Kennedy, Bailie William Ross, Mr Fraser (Mayfield), Mr Duncan Cameron (Commercial Bank).
Picture added on 30 January 2004.

Comments

I suspect that Bailie Donald Duff (1811-1895) may be a relative of mine - as far as I know he was the son of John Ross and Flora or Florence Ross. If its the same family, (scanty proof so far!) then that John Duff had a sister, Janet Duff (b.1773) who is my 5th Great grandmother, who would be aunt to Baillie Duff. There was also another brother, James Duff of Balindrum, 1789-1869 who played host to Rev.John McDonald when "he became the first Free Church Minister of the Parish" (of Fearn probably). Anyone else connected to this family?
Added by L.Bathgate on 10 September 2005.

The Rev Colin Macnaughton in the centre is my grandfather born at Southend Argyll in 1838. His wife my grandmother was Mary Robertson. My father Capt. Iain Macnaughton his three sisters Ethel, Clare, and Blanche and the youngest son Colin were all born at the old manse Tain. Four of the family are buried in the old cemetery Tain.
Added by Cdr.Alan R. Macnaughton RD **RNR on 24 December 2010.

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