Some time ago we published an enquiry from Dr Claus Cartellieri about the visit of  Theodore Fontane and his companion to Scotland in 1858.

Fontane was a writer who later became very well-known. He published a book about this trip to Scotland, which is now also available in English.

Dr Cartellieri has now completed his researches and a very handsome booklet, with full references and illustrations, has been published about the visit. It includes Stirling, Edinburgh, Inverness and many other places. Dr Cartllieri has been able to locate many of the hotels where Fontane stayed and has gleaned a wealth of other information not available from Fontane's own book.


Stirling Local History Society is delighted to have been able to help with the research - not just with information about Stirling in 1858 but pointing out other sources of information and potential lines of enquiry - very graciously acknowledged in the booklet.

The booklet is, of course, in German. It costs EUR5 and postage to the UK would be another EUR 3.45 and I am told this comes to around £7.14. If you are interested in getting a copy, you can contact Dr Cartellieri (in English if you wish) at
[email protected]
He will then pass on your enquiry.


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A very interesting enquiry from the West of England - and with a header like that, of course, we sit up and take notice!So, on 23 Nov 1871 the Dundee Courier reported the Joseph Vogt, a German watchmaker, had assaulted a Mrs Miller in her home at Barrwood Cottages, near Kilsyth where he had been living in the absence of Mr Miller, who had left home some weeks previously on account of financial problems. Mrs Miller had been forced to flee, naked, to the nearest house. Vogt was captured and was to be taken to prison in Stirling for trial.

Our enquirer also found a report in the Falkirk Herald of 21 Feb 1867 that Joseph Vogt, a watchmaker with Mr Hepting, of Stirling, had won the second prize in a bowling match and, finally, the Ipswich Journal reported, on 2 Feb 1884, that a Joseph Vogt had been awarded £2 5s by the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society for the loss of his clothes.


The enquirer would like our help particularly in regard to any trial and its outcome and, of course, any information which might conform that the accused man was, indeed,  his ancestor. He particularly wondered if there might be records of the inmates of the Stirling Jail. The 1884 incident looks like 'a long shot' and is not local so we can ignore that.

There are few surviving records of the prison - just a few of the Governors' Journals and they rarely mention individual prisoners. So, another one to ignore for now, I think.

Kilsyth was, at this time, in Stirlingshire and as this looks like a serious matter it is most likely that he would be tried in the Stirlingshire Sheriff Court. The records of the court are held by the National Archives of Scotland  and the Criminal Registers for 1871 and 1872 have the references SC67/44/20 and SC67/44/22 whilst SC67/1/86 is the court and minute books for a rather longer period. We might be able to check those for the enquirer.

Another possibility is the local press. There is an Index to the Stirling Journal which gives dates of reports of cases in the Sheriff Court and it would be possible to check the next few entries after the date of incarceration.

However, as it seems very likely that the Joseph Vogt employed by Mr Hepting (and Hepting and Farrer was a very well-known local jeweller's shop for many years) was the one arrested. So, then I wonder if he was convicted?

I tried his name in the local street directories which are available online nearest to that date and there are no hits and there are no entries under Vogt in the 'persons' index for the Stirling Journal. However, it would certainly be worth checking the Census Returns for 1871 (in Kilsyth) and 1881 (in Stirling?) to see if he turns up there. Stirling Central Library might help you there.

Most promising, however, the Scotland's People website (http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/content/help/index.aspx?r=554&407)  lists wills for no fewer than eleven people named Vogt - including a Charles Joseph Vogt and also several who were watchmakers. There must, surely be a connection there!

If anyone knows any more about this family, particularly Joseph Vogt, you can let us know by email or by commenting on this blog post.Equally, if you have ideas of further possible lines of enquiry.

Meanwhile, we will see what can be found in the Sheriff Court Records ASAP.


Well, 'ASAP' turned out to take quite a while but, yesterday, I did manage to get into the National Archives of Scotland to check out the Sheriff Court records.

I looked at SC67/44/20 to SC67/44/22 which is the record of sheriff and jury trials for the relevant period and this case is not mentioned. SC67/1/86 is the court and minute books for a rather longer period and I checked it to early March of 1872 and again, there is no sign of the case.

It is possible that the case was treated as a summary trial, equally that it was not called at all, perhaps if Mrs Miller decided that she could not face giving evidence. Certainly, it seems unlikely, assuming that he is the man in the later records, that he was convicted.

Do say if you find further records and we will  be happy to post them.




WE HAVE JUST HAD (JANUARY 2014) ANOTHER RESPONSE TO THIS REALLY CONCERNING THE MR HEPTING, MENTIONED ABOVE. SO I AM POSTING IT UNDER A NEW HEADING ON THE BLOG, HEPTING AND FARRER, STIRLING.