Why did your Ancestors settle in Inverness
Old Parish Records
OPR's began in Inverness in 1604. Inverness is Parish no 98 in the County of Inverness.
The Name
Inverness is derived from gaelic and means 'The Mouth of the River Ness'
The Early Years
Inverness held a prominent position and was the place of many clan battles from the western Isles in particular the Clan McDonald. Culloden Moor lies nearby, and was the site of the Battle of Culloden in 1746, which ended the Jacobite Rising of 1745-1746.
The 1700 and 1800s
Inverness was a busy port and market town. Citadel Quay was built in 1732. There was also a flourishing brewing industry in Inverness. Whiskey distilling first became important in the late 18th century. The first bank in Inverness opened in 1775.
The Caledonian canal was built in 1822 to link east and west Scotland. However it was not a great success. The railway reached Inverness in 1855. It boosted the town because if made it much easier for tourists to reach Inverness and easier to transport goods from the town to other parts of Britain.
Industries in Inverness included shipbuilding, rope making, sail making, tanning and wool and distilling.