Rev. Charles Mackie

[Deleted]

Hi

I am wondering if anyone has any additional information (and hopefully some photos) relating to Rev. Charles Mackie. He was Headmaster of Appleby grammar school between the years of 1833-1844 and he is also my great-great-great grandfather.

I am also wondering if there is any additional information relating to him or the years he was the Headmaster in the book by Richard Dunmore : This noble foundation.

thanks.

[Deleted]

Presumably you have looked at all the references to Rev. Charles Mackie in the book's index. His MA is dated 1832 from St John's Cambridge. This information comes from the published list of Cambridge graduates: J A Venn, Alumni Cantabrigiensis, CUP, 1951. I consulted this at the Leicestershire Record Office but main libraries in England should have access to it. The information about his falling foul of the Trustees by unauthorised spending, holding a second remunerative post and his eventual resignation comes from the Trustees' minutes. The only other information I have (which is not in the book) is that during the year 1831 he took services of baptism and burial at Appleby church, describing himself in the register as 'curate of Norton' - presumably referring to the neighbouring village of Norton-juxta-Twycross. According to the school statutes he should have relinquished this position when, after gaining his MA in 1832, he took on the headship at Appleby in 1833. Maybe he didn't! Hope this helps, Richard.

[Deleted]

Richard, thank you for the extra information, one document I have states he was curate of norton from Dec 1831, curate of Appleby Leicester a year later and I had not considered the doubling up of posts when he became Head Master, so this has shed a new and interesting light on him.

I live in Australia so sometimes it is a bit harder to follow-up on the information as so much of it is located in local parishes or archives which often can only be viewed in the reading rooms.

During the time that Charles Mackie was in New Zealand, his eldest daughter Anne married and had several children. Charles Mackie returned to England but several years later when Anne became a widow she decided to take her family to Australia rather than return to England. Anne and all of her children remained in Australia, which included my great-grandfather and so on. Thanks again, Kirsty.

[Deleted]

Thanks Kirsty. I have had another look at my information on Charles Mackie's appearance in the Appleby parish registers. Here's what I found:
1831 baptism register Mar 11 and Nov 30 officating minister Charles Mackie 'curate of Norton'
1832 burial register Feb 25 and Mar 16 o.m. Chas Mackie, 'curate of Norton' (this only on Feb 25)

From 1835 to 1844 he continued to take baptisms and burials but not marriages. He is described as Headmaster of Appleby Grammar School and either 'officiating minister' or 'clerk' but there is no mention of his being a curate of Appleby, Norton or elsewhere. He may of course, as an ordained clergyman (required for his headmaster's job), have been helping the rector out in an unofficial capacity. Later headmasters certainly did this. Of the seven children that he baptised between 1835 and 1844 five were his own children with his wife Ann(e). These were: Anne Jan 2 1835; Charles Norris Nov 29 1835 (born Sept 27th in the margin) - his burial taken by the Rector was on June 17 1836; a second Charles Norris Jan 4 1837; Eliza June 3 1842 and George Jan 27 1844. Maybe you have this information already, but the margin note against the first Charles Norris suggests that he was born prematurely.

There is no indication in all this to show that he was being paid for a second position during his headmastership. Maybe the Trustees wanted an excuse to push him out. I was unaware of the family move to New Zealand, let alone Australia. So thank you for the information. Richard.

[Deleted]

Thank you for looking at the files again, I didn't have a record of the first Charles Norris or their last child George. The 1841 census states that only 3 children were living with Charles and Anne and George was not on this list, so is sad to consider that maybe a second child of theirs died in the early years.

I would be happy to provide you with what information I have on the NZ and Australia link if this becomes of interest to you. Thanks again, Kirsty