Peter LAMONT
FAMILY HISTORY
An enigmatic man to be sure, and a lot of unanswered questions to be chased down ...
William Lamont and Anne McPherson began their married life together on 23 June 1876 at Strathdon, Aberdeenshire in Scotland. Their's was a regular marriage that was conducted After Banns following the Forms of the Church of Scotland. William was a Farm Servant and Annie a Servant. The ceremony was witnessed by James Gordon and Alexander McHardy. William’s father (John Lamont) was a Labourer and deceased; his mother was Elizabeth Lamont (nee McPherson – yes, McPherson). Source: Statutory Registers: Marriages: 240/4.
William and Anne's first child, Jessie Anne Lamont, was born on 18 August 1873 (Source: Statutory Registers: Births: 183/33). Although Jessie is shown in later documents (1881 Census, England, Wales and Scotland, Crathie & Braemar, Schedule 26) as William and Anne's daughter, in fact, she was William's daughter by a separate relationship with Jane McHardy (Source: Statutory Registers: Births: 183/33). Jessie’s mother registered her daughter’s birth and named William as the father.
William and Anne’s 10th child was a son called Peter. Peter was born on 19 April 1895 at Bridge of Bush, Crathie (Source: Statutory Registers: Births: 183/2/5). The 1901 Census shows Peter, aged 5, at home at Bridge of Bush, near Crathie, Aberdeenshire. In 1911 the Census has Peter, aged 15, in the family home at Bridge of Bush.
The 1925 Electoral Register shows Peter’s address as Heath Cottage, Bush.
At some stage Peter made his way to Lerwick in The Shetland Isles where he married Wilhelmina Catherine Spence Hunter on 3 February 1932, in the Grand Hotel, Lerwick; After Banns and According to the Forms of the Church of Scotland (Source: Statutory Register: Marriages: 005/1/12).
Wilhelmina’s great niece recalls that the Hunter family had fallen on hard times and Wilhelmina was “sent away into service at a young age” to help with the family finances. Anecdotally, Wilhelmina’s “service” was with a large estate on the mainland. Many years later, Wilhelmina had returned to Shetland and was well known for her culinary skills and was much sought after for demonstrations and talks.
Wilhelmina had a daughter, Janet McPherson Patterson Hunter on 10 January 1921 in Edinburgh. At the registration of the birth on 26 January Wilhelmina gave her address as 9 Thistle Place, Edinburgh and her occupation as Aerated Water Factory Manager. The 1921 Census for Peebles shows Wilhelmina and her daughter, Janet M P Hunter, living at a farm called Soonhope where Wilhelmina’s occupation is shown as Servant. Janet is 5 months of age and Wilhelmina 29 yrs and 7 months. Janet M P Hunter died in 2004 in Lerwick at the age of 83 (Source: Statutory Register: Deaths: 118/45).
The Shetland Almanac and Directory of 1932 lists Peter as "Postman" as does the 1937 edition.
Wilhelmina was interviewed by Joan Fitzpatrick for BBC Radio Scotland (Source: SA3/4/22/4 [link] as part of a series called Oral History Collections where she spoke on a range of topics including a recital of John Nicolson' s poem "Da Burn," from the book "Hentilagets." Easter customs "paece eggs". Johnsmas customs, bonfires etc. Gathering sphagnum moss in World War One.
Peter and Wilhelmina had 2 children together, both sons. The eldest, Peter Litvinoff Lamont was born 2 July 1933 in Lerwick (Source: Statutory Register: Births: 005/1/42). The youngest, Alexander (Sandy) Spence Lamont was born 5 April 1937 in Lerwick (Source: Statutory Register: Births: 005/1/28). Peter (Jnr) spent a lot of his time working away in the oil and steel industries. Sandy was a keen supporter of Up Helly Aa and the RNLI where he took an active role in both organisation’s.
Peter died 8 May 1966 (Source: Statutory Register: Deaths: 005/1/53) and is buried in New Cemetery, Upper Section, Town Side in Lerwick. Wilhelmina died 23 April 1973 and is buried in New Cemetery, Upper Section, Town Side in Lerwick.
Authors Note: There is much more to follow about both Peter and Wilhelmina. Some information may follow when I have it, but other details will need to wait, I am afraid, as privacy rules prevent me from writing more.
