Donald (Danny) Fraser, Mason in Nairn, Artillery volunteer, Corporal 6th Seaforth Highlanders

1853 - 1918  (64 years)

• Name	Donald (Danny) Fraser
  	An enthusiastic Artillery Volunteer, had four sons who served in the Army in WW1: Charles, George, James and Peter. He himself had enlisted status in WW1, despite his age.
  Suffix	Mason in Nairn, Artillery volunteer, Corporal 6th Seaforth Highlanders
  Nickname	Daniel/Danny - known around Nairn as 'Whistling Danny', as he used always to whistle while he walked
  Born	28 Mar 1853	Tarbet, Morar, Glenelg, Inverness-shire, Scotland
  	Glenelg parish register of baptisms: Date of birth: 28 Mar 1853 child's name: Donald Father's name: Peter Fraser Mother's name: Margaret Ross residence and date of baptism: Tarbet, Morar [no date of baptism given] Tarbet, where Danny was born, is in a remote location, on the south shore of Loch Nevis, with Loch Morar to the south. It is inaccessible by road.
  Christened	Glenelg, Inverness-shire, Scotland
  Gender	Male
  Census:	7 Apr 1861	Culmaskiach, Kiltarlity, Inverness-shire (looks to have been close to the road from Glenurquhart over to Kiltarlity, on the Kiltarlity side)
  	Peter Fraser, head, married, age 32, shepherd, born Boleskine, Inverness-shire Margaret Fraser, wife, married, age 36, born Urray, Ross-shire Annie Fraser, daughter, age 10, born Abertarff, Inverness-shire Donald Fraser, son, age 8, born Glenelg, Inverness-shire Sarah Fraser, daughter, age 5, born Kilmorack, Inverness-shire George Fraser, son, age 2, born Abertarff, Inverness-shire [4 rooms with one or more windows]
  Census:	2 Apr 1871	Tombain, Edenkillie, Morayshire
  	In the household of Donald Nairn, a farmer of 45 Acres 33 Arable (employing 2 Men & 3 Women). One of the two employed men is: Donald Fraser, servant, age 16, unmarried, agricultural labourer, born Glenelg, Inverness-shire
  Census:	3 Apr 1881	17 Acre Street, Nairn, Nairnshire
  	Donald Fraser, head, married, age 26, mason, born Glenelg, Inverness-shire Margaret Fraser, wife, married, age 23, born Ardclach, Nairnshire Charles Fraser, son, age 2, born Dyke, Elginshire Margaret Fraser, daughter, age 2 months, born Nairn, Nairnshire
  Census:	5 Apr 1891	3 Smiths Lane, Nairn, Nairnshire
  	Donald Fraser, head, married, age 35, stone mason, born Glenelg, Inverness-shire Margaret Fraser, wife, married, age 33, born Ardclach, Nairnshire Charles Fraser, son, age 12, scholar, born Dyke, Morayshire Margaret Fraser, daughter, age 10, scholar, born Nairn, Nairnshire James Fraser, son, age 8, scholar, born Nairn, Nairnshire Peter Fraser, son, age 6, scholar, born Nairn, Nairnshire Jane Rose Fraser, daughter, age 4, born Nairn, Nairnshire
  Census:	31 Mar 1901	20 Church Street, Nairn, Nairnshire
  	Donald Fraser, head, married, age 46, stonemason, worker, Gaelic and English speaker, born Glenelg, Inverness-shire Margaret Fraser, wife, married, age 43, born Ardclach, Nairnshire Margaret Fraser, daughter, single, age 20, general servant (domestic), born Nairn, Nairnshire James Fraser, son, single, age 18, stone cutter (apprentice), worker, born Nairn, Nairnshire Peter Fraser, son, single, age 16, fleshers assistant, worker, born Nairn, Nairnshire Jane Fraser, daughter, age 14, scholar, born Nairn, Nairnshire Isabella Fraser, daughter, age 9, born Nairn, Nairnshire Christina C. Fraser, daughter, age 7, born Nairn, Nairnshire George Fraser, son, age 5, born Nairn, Nairnshire Hector A. McDonald Fraser, son, age 1, born Nairn, Nairnshire [4 rooms with one or more windows]
  Census:	2 Apr 1911	Druim cottage, Auldearn, Nairn
  	Donald Fraser, head, age 56, Gaelic and English speaker, married, mason\'s builder, worker, born Glenelg, Inverness-shire Margaret Fraser, wife, age 52, married, 29 years married,12 children born, 9 children living, born Dyke, Morayshire George Fraser, son, age 15, single, builder\'s assistant, born Nairn, Nairnshire Hector Fraser, son, age 11, school, born Nairn, Nairnshire Margaret Fraser, daughter, age 28, single, born Nairn, Nairnshire Isabella Fraser, daughter, age 19, single, dressmaker on own account working at home, born Nairn, Nairnshire Christina Fraser, daughter, age 17, single, working at home, born Nairn, Nairnshire [7 persons in house. 4 rooms with one or more windows]
  Physical Description:	Danny had red hair (per grandson George Grant of Balloch, Culloden)
  Military:	18 Sep 1914 - 3 Aug 1917	Seaforth Highlanders, then Royal Defence Corps
  	Corporal Donald Fraser, died 5 Mar 1918 Service: Royal Defence Corps Service no.: 29960 Earlier service: 6th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders (service no. 3035) Place of burial: Nairn Cemetery, grave E6 263 Aged 69 [sic] at date of death. Son of Peter Fraser Husband of Margaret Rose Fraser Medal card notes that he enlisted on 18 Sep 1914 and was discharged due to ill health on 3 Aug 1917. Noted as being in the 36th Protection Company, RDC.
  Languages:	Gaelic and English speaker
  Residence:	Places of residence listed below from census records, certificates etc
  	1853: Tarbet, Morar, Glenelg, Inverness-shire 1855: Groam, Kilmorack, Inverness-shire 1858: Glendoe, Boleskine, Inverness-shire 1861: Culmaskiach, Kiltarlity, Inverness-shire 1864: Dalvey, Advie, Inverness-shire 1866: Milltown of Dalvey, Advie, Inverness-shire [after this Danny may have left home around 14 to go to work] 1871: Tombain farm, Edenkillie, Morayshire 1878: Duffus village, Duffus, Morayshire 1880: Acre Street, Nairn (Marriage certificate) 1881: 17 Acre Street, Nairn 1883: 9B Grant Street, Nairn 1884: 3 Smith's Lane, Nairn 1887: 3 Smith's Lane, Nairn 1891: 3 Smith's Lane, Nairn 1893: 21 Church Street, Nairn 1895: 21 Church Street, Nairn 1900: 20 Church Street, Nairn 1901: 20 Church Street, Nairn 1911: Druim Cottage, Kingsteps, Auldearn, Nairn 1918: Sunnybrae, Kingsteps, Auldearn, Nairn
  Died	4 Mar 1918	Sunnybrae cottage, Kingsteps, Lochloy Road, Auldearn, Nairnshire, Scotland
  	Death certificate: Donald Fraser, mason, married to Margaret Rose, died 4 Mar 1918 at 3.45pm at Sunnybrae, Kingsteps, Auldearn, male, age 62 years, father Peter Fraser shepherd decd, mother Margaret Fraser m.s. Ross decd, died of pulmonary tuberculosis (certified), informant George Fraser, son, present at death. Nairnshire Telegraph 5 Mar 1918: Mr Daniel Fraser, mason, Sunnybrae, Kingsteps, Nairn has passed away after an illness of several months. He has caught cold while on service in the Royal Defence Corps, in which he was a corporal, and was unable to throw it off. The deceased, in his day, was a well-known local politician, and was a most effective heckler at Parliamentary and municipal elections. He was always good humoured and candid. He had a very intelligent grasp of public questions and could make a very striking speech when occasions offered. He was a great reader and took much interest in natural history. By his industry and skill, he built for himself and his family a picturesque cottage at Kingsteps, most of the work being done by himself after hours. He was a thoroughly patriotic man, and had four sons in the army, one of whom made the supreme sacrifice of his life about a year ago. Much regret is felt at the passing away of a man of such distinctive character from our midst. The funeral take place on Friday at 2.30pm at Nairn Cemetery, when the Nairn Volunteers are to attend. When Danny's wake was being held at Sunnybrae cottage, a small bird flew in the window and landed on his coffin which the family and guests saw as a very good omen (a story heard by his grandson George Grant of Balloch, Culloden) IN MEMORIAM: FRASER.—ln loving memory of my beloved husband, Donald Fraser, late of the R.D.C., who died on the 4th March, 1918, at Sunnybrae, Kingsteps, Nairn. I did grieve think he suffered, All was done to soothe his pain, But with Jesus waiting for him, All these efforts were in vain. Inserted by his sorrowing Widow and family. [Nairnshire Telegraph and General Advertiser for the Northern Counties 7 March 1922]
  Buried	8 Mar 1918	Nairn Cemetery, Nairnshire, Scotland
  	Nairnshire Telegraph 12 Mar 1918: MILITARY FUNERALS - The funeral of the late Corpl Daniel Fraser, R.D.C., took place to Nairn Cemetery on Friday, with military honours. Some 40 men of the Nairn Volunteers attended, and they also supplied a firing party. There was also present a number of men of the old Artillery Volunteers (of which Corps Corpl Fraser was for many years an enthusiastic member) who acted as a bearer party. The Voulunteer pipe band played the Flowers of the Forest en route to the Cemetery, and at the graveside the firing party fired three volleys and the Last Post was sounded. Nairnshire Telegraph 12 Mar 1918: MRS FRASER and FAMILY return their sincere gratitude to the many friends for kind expressions of sympathy extended to them in their recent sad bereavement. Sunnybrae, Kingsteps, Nairn, March 11th 1918. His death is commemorated on the Nairn section of the Nairnshire war memorial.
  Person ID	I96	Grant
  Last Modified	9 Mar 2024

  
  

  Father	Peter Fraser, Highland shepherd,   b. c 1825, Dell, near Whitebridge, Stratherrick, Inverness-shire, Scotland ,   d. 9 Nov 1914, Lochend Cottage, Foresterseat, Pluscarden, Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland  (Age ~ 89 years)
  Relationship	Birth
  Mother	Margaret Ross, Straw bonnet maker,   b. 25 Jun 1824, Muir of Highfield, Urray, Ross-shire, Scotland ,   d. 2 Sep 1877, High Street, New Duffus, Duffus, Morayshire, Scotland  (Age 53 years)
  Relationship	Birth
  Married	27 Dec 1849	Fort Augustus, Inverness-shire, Scotland
  	Boleskine & Abertarff OPR: Fraser & Ross: Peter Fraser, son of Donald Fraser, Glendoe, was married on the 27th Decr to Margaret Ross, Straw Bonnet Maker, Fort Augustus.
  Family ID	F49	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Margaret Rose,   b. 11 Feb 1858, Brevail, Ardclach, Nairn, Nairnshire, Scotland ,   d. 8 Nov 1926, Sunnybrae cottage, Kingsteps, Lochloy Road, Auldearn, Nairnshire, Scotland  (Age 68 years)
  Married	3 Dec 1880	Tearie Lodge, Dyke, Morayshire, Scotland
  	1880 marriages in the parish of Dyke in the County of Elgin: On 3 December 1880 at Tearie Lodge, parish of Dyke, after publication according to the forms of the Free Church of Scotland Donald Fraser, journeyman mason, bachelor, age 26, usual residence Acre Street Nairn, parents Peter Fraser shepherd and Margaret Fraser m.s. Rose (deceased) Margaret Rose, domestic servant, spinster, age 22, usual residence Tearie Lodge, parish of Dyke, parents James Rose, garden labourer and Margaret Rose m.s. Munro Witnesses John McEwan and Margaret Stewart Tearie Lodge was the property of the Earl Of Moray and was situated at a private entrance to Darnaway Castle.
  Children	1. Charles Fraser, Cameron Highlanders WW1, Quarryman in Nairn,   b. 16 Nov 1878, Tearie Lodge, Dyke, Morayshire, Scotland ,   d. 1937  (Age 58 years)  [Birth] + 2. Margaret Fraser,   b. 1 Feb 1881, 17 Acre Street, Nairn, Nairnshire, Scotland  [Birth] + 3. James Fraser, Stonemason in Nairn, badly wounded WW1,   b. 11 Feb 1883, 9B Grant Street, Nairn, Nairnshire, Scotland ,   d. 6 Jun 1924, West Lodge Orphanage, Aberlour, Morayshire, Scotland  (Age 41 years)  [Birth]   4. Peter Fraser, 1st Bn., Seaforth Highlanders, killed in action WW1,   b. 4 Dec 1884, 3 Smiths Lane, Nairn, Nairnshire, Scotland ,   d. 9 May 1915, near Le Touret, Pas de Calais, France  (Age 30 years)  [Birth] + 5. Jane Rose (Jean) Fraser, died of childbirth complications,   b. 20 Feb 1887, 3 Smiths Lane, Nairn, Nairnshire, Scotland ,   d. 23 May 1926, 5 Falconers Lane, Nairn, Nairnshire, Scotland  (Age 39 years)  [Birth] + 6. Isabella Fraser, Dressmaker,   b. 1 Sep 1891, 3 Smith's Lane, Nairn, Nairnshire, Scotland ,   d. 16 Apr 1958, Dr Gray's Hospital, Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland  (Age 66 years)  [Birth]   7. Christina Cameron Fraser, Womens Army Auxiliary Corps WW1,   b. 29 Aug 1893, 21 Church Street, Nairn, Nairnshire, Scotland  [Birth]   8. George (Dod) Fraser, Gold miner in Ontario, Canada,   b. 26 Oct 1895, 21 Church Street, Nairn, Nairnshire, Scotland ,   d. 5 Nov 1934, Sylvanite Gold Mine, Kirkland Lake, Timiskaming District, Northeastern Ontario, Canada  (Age 39 years)  [Birth]   9. Hector Archibald Macdonald Fraser, Stonemason in Nairn,   b. 28 Feb 1900, 20 Church Street, Nairn, Nairnshire, Scotland ,   d. 28 Nov 1967, Town and County Hospital, Nairn, Nairnshire, Scotland  (Age 67 years)  [Birth]   10. child Fraser, who died young  [Birth]   11. child Fraser, who died young  [Birth]   12. child Fraser, who died young  [Birth]
  Last Modified	22 Nov 2020
  Family ID	F48	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos		Danny Fraser in his later years - note the craggy face, and crooked front tooth!
  		East (Tearie) Lodge, Darnaway Castle, near Forres. James Rose and family lived here from c1864 until James' death in 1884. Daughter Margaret Rose married here to Donald Fraser in 1880. British Listed Buildings database says the gates are dated 1868, but gatehouse must be earlier, or replaced an earlier building c 1868. James' widow, Margaret Rose nee Munro, was still living here as gatekeeper in 1891.