CROTCHIE | Jewelian Family

CROTCHIE FAMILY

Was this the anglicised name? However, there is a Santijn Crotchie from Lepzig with the Dutch East India Company in 1771 and a

Mariana Crotchie from Italy who in 1922 was listed as mother of Victor Storelli.

Sarah Isabella Wells Crotchie was born 16/3/1850 at Inverness, the daughter of Charles Crotchie and Sarah Wells.

In the 1851 census of Inverness we find: at 1 Cuthbert Close Inverness with 2 servants

Charles Crotchie head 54 merchant born Italy

Sarah Crotchie wife 44 born Inverness

Maria Crotchie dau 11 scholar Inverness

Margaret Crotchie " 8 " "

Frances Crotchie " 6 " "

Sarah Crotchie " 1 "

It appears that Charles Crotchie was one of Napoleon’s Imperial Guards and fought in the Battle of Waterloo according to the book “Reminiscenes of Old Inverness” but it states he was French. This may be as a result of France invading and annexing, the Northern States of Italy . Mr Wells who sent us this information states he knows that Fort George, near Inverness held Prisoners of War so this maybe how Charles Crotchie came to Scotland. In the following newspaper article it seems he came to Inverness around 1817. the Inverness Courier Inverness-shire, Scotland 4 Sep 1833

“The remaining case was that of Charles Crotchie, Jeweller—a foreigner. His enrolment was opposed on the ground of his being an alien. It appeared from the evidence that Mr Crotchie, who is a native of Italy, came to this country about sixteen years”

An extract from “Inverness Journal” dated January 1845 “Charles Crotchie, Merchant, Inverness begs to intimate to the Nobility and Gentry of this and surrounding counties that, in consequence of numerous applications made to him for valuing various kinds of Stock, &c. he has now been induced to take out the License of Appraiser, Valuator, and Commission Agent; and having a thorough knowledge of the value of all kinds of merchandise. Household furniture, as also Farm Stock and produce, trusts that, by strict and unremitting attention to all Business entrusted to his charge, he will merit a share of public patronage. C. C. may state that he has engaged an auctioneer in whom he has every confidence. NB C.C. has opened a shop, No. 63 Petty Street for a short time, in order to dispose of his extensive Stock of Jewellery, watches, clocks, Hardware Goods, Barometers, Mirrors, &c., &c.; and as the Stock must be sold at Greatly Reduced Prices, it will be the interest of those requiring such articles to make an early call.”

Charles Crotchie from a book “Highland Gold and Silversmiths” by Moss and Roe - business lives in Inverness ( recently published 2000)

1796- born Italy no record of parents

1822 First record in Inverness Journal advertisement for a new shop in Castle Street- a jeweller selling glasses including barometers

1828 chasing a debt in Ross from a travelling agent

1831 Jan moves to Bridge Street- selling watches, jewellery, hardware, mirrors

1831 Applied to be admitted to Freedom of the town and Guildry

1831 Apr Moved to High Street

1832 May After payment admitted to Freeman Burgess and Guild Brother

1836 14 April child born to Charles Crotchie and Isabella Jack, Mary no record of this marriage*

1836 16 Decmarried Sarah Wells. Births of children on St Mary’s Catholic register

23/2/1838 Charles died 1841 14/8/1839 Maria

17/11/1840 John Jonathan died 1841 28/4/1843 Margaret

3/1/1845 Francesca 12/6/1849 Charles *2

18/3/1850 Sarah Isabella

1837 Pigots directory Charles Crotchie travelling jeweller premises 25 High St

1841 Census Living High Street Charles foreigner 40, Sarah 30, Charles 3, Mary 5, Maria 1, John 6 months

July 1841 Selling remaining stock at 94 Church Street to retire from present business

1845 Advertised as a new business as a valuer, appraiser, commission agent

1851 1 Cuthbert Charles 54 merchant Italy, Sarah 44, Maria 11, Margaret 8, Francis 6, Sarah 1

1857 March Sell off watch and jewellery side of business

1857 May Wife Sarah died

1857 Dec Edinburgh Gazette Estate Charles Crotchie jeweller and General Merchant sequestrated

1858 March Charles died

1858 30 Nov Charles Crotchie jeweller and General Merchant Inglis St Creditors will receive dividend

1860 14 Jul Last reference Edinburgh Gazette calling a meeting of creditors on his estate for dismissal of Trustee

A wheel barometer bears his name so he may have produced these

CROTCHIE, CHAS. Scotland, PHIM Wheel Barometer = X. Inverness. Goodison 1.

Lot 1584 A 19th century mahogany & satinwood and boxwood strung wheel barometer, 20.5cm circular silvered dial alcohol thermometer, convex mirror, the level inscribed Charles Crotchie, turned bone button, the case with swan neck pediment centred by a brass urn, 100cm high. Auctioned UK 2008

Lot 144 A 19th century mahogany cased banjo barometer, Charles Crotchie with silvered dial and thermometer, and subsidiary dials 97cm high. Auctioned UK 1999.

*1t maybe married but not in Inverness. R C marriages don’t show up

I have found a Isabella Jack born in Inverness daughter of Thomas Jack and Mary McDonald. In 1851 one of the servants was Catherine MacDonald and in 1851 Mary was boarded with Donald McDonald school master) and Mary Campbell in Nairn

*2(appears to have died as not in 1851 census)

Margaret Crotchie married Alfred Milner in London. Margaret’s son Charles Thomas Milner died in Queensland Australia in 1896. Father’s name given as Dearsley

Also Mary Crotchie was married George Barker in Victoria Australia in 1878.