A Rogart police officer's hunt for stolen honey and the epidemics that disrupted the local school
From the archives.
We have now arrived at Rogart on our tour of the historic parishes of Sutherland, writes the Highland Archive Centre’s Lorna Steele.
Rogart sits in the south east of the county, bounded by the parishes of Dornoch, Golspie, Clyne, Farr, Lairg and Creich.
One of the smaller Sutherland parishes, the first statistical account, written in 1792, states that it is not longer than 10 miles and about the same breadth.
As with other parishes mentioned previously in this series, the Highland Archive Centre holds a range of local government material relating to Rogart.
Of particular current relevance is the Rogart School log book of 1915-1930, in which the head teacher has recorded epidemics which have disrupted the school including outbreaks of whooping cough, scarlet fever, German measles, chicken pox, infectious tonsilitis and influenza.
Among the privately deposited collections connected to Rogart are daily occurrence books detailing the activities of the police constable stationed there.
Here we can read about how PC Hugh MacDonald went on the hunt in 1907 for thieves who had stolen honey. He found “part of said honey” in the possession of John (11) and Alexander (9) Matheson, the sons of Rovie shoemaker George Matheson.
Yet more of the honey was found in possession of Donald Swanson (14), the son of Rovie cattleman George Swanson.
Another fascinating collection of local importance is the diaries of Rogart schoolmaster William Campbell. Dating from 1899-1930, this collection comprises 41 volumes.
Personal diaries such as these are a valuable source of social history as they give an individual’s own view of the times.
These particular volumes are fascinating as they give a personal perspective on daily events during World War I, both local and international.
His account from August 1914 outlines the events leading up to the declaration of war and how they were beginning to affect life in this small Highland community.
He mentions the closure of the banks and the rapid increase in food prices – highlighting considerable nervousness about food shortages and a possible run on the banks due to the international situation.
Exploring both official and personal records from the centuries can bring a new perspective to the daily lives of those who lived here in the past.
