John Barton, Badenoch, Scotland
1. What is your object and how did it come to be in your possession?
When Gertie and I came to Drumguish 50 years ago, we acquired a derelict croft house with an adjoining shed which had been the village shop. The shop building disintegrated within a couple of years, but we rescued this sign – which had been above the door of the shop.
2. Why have you chosen this object for the Macphersoniana project?
The village of Drumguish was established about 1830. Macpherson Grant of Invereshie allowed new crofts to be established on undeveloped land, on the understanding that the villagers would pay an economic rent when the land was cleared of stones. To this day, each field has a corner of stones. Early residents were the families of two distinguished Gaelic scholars – Rev. Alexander Cameron (1827 – 1888), who was latterly the free church minister in Brodick on the Island of Arran, and Alexander MacBain (1855 – 1907) who was the headmaster of the first secondary school in Inverness. Our predecessor, Duncan Macpherson, had been a joiner in the employment of Invereshie Estate.
3. Why is this object important to you and what does it mean to you?
My grandfather Angus McPherson was a painter in Kingussie. He was also a sign writer and worked with gold leaf. He was a contemporary of Duncan Macpherson and worked with him. It is very likely that Angus prepared this sign. It is also significant that the first two names of our older son are Duncan Macpherson.
4. What does this object tell us about what it means to be a Macpherson?
It illustrates the strong family connections that the Clan Macpherson has with the district of Badenoch.
Macphersoniana 