> According to libindx, her father Alexander died in 1830 at > Layhill but his > wife, Isabel Watson, is referred to as wife of Alexander Ross > farmer at > Inshoch on her death entry, also in 1830 (does not name place > of death). > Does anyone know anything about this particular area? Would > Layhill be a > name of a farm on an estate called Inshoch?? I think that is highly unlikely. Inshoch is easy enough to find, about a mile north-east of Auldearn, and in the parish of Auldearn. In the 1841 census there were just two households at Inshoch, which suggests to me that Inshoch was a tenanted farm on an estate, certainly not an estate in its own right. Layhill is a different matter. It isn't listed in either Dyke or Auldearn in 1841, or anywhere at all in 1881. The reference to Layhill in the IGI can clearly be discounted because it is a 'submitted' entry, it doesn't name the parish (*) and the date of birth given for Alexander Ross, son of Alexander Ross and Isabel(la) Watson is six months later than the date of birth given in the other two 'submitted' entries for him. (*) The omission of the parish from any baptism or banns entry in the IGI instantly tells you that the rest of the place name is unreliable, and hence that the whole entry is suspect. This is because the records of baptisms and banns before 1855 were kept by the churches, where the parish was the most important geographical unit. The sole reliable reference, so far, to Layhill is the LIBINDX one to Alexander's gravestone in Dyke Kirkyard. Even that is a transcription and should be checked. Does Layhill have to be a house? Could Alexander have died out of doors on Lay Hill, wherever that may have been? However SP does have baptisms for ten children, some in Dyke and some in Auldearn. It looks as if the family moved from the parish of Dyke in the County of Moray to the parish of Auldearn in the County of Nairn some time between the baptism of Mary in 1792 and that of James in 1794. I suggest (1) have a look at the baptisms on SP and see if they list the parents' residences (2) have a look at son Alexander's 1856 death certificate and see if there is any reason why someone might have submitted a birth for him naming Layhill (3) (get someone to) have a look at the Valuation Rolls for Dyke and Auldearn to find out which estate Inshoch belonged to and (if it is listed at all) whether Layhill was in either of these parishes, and if so to which estate it belonged. Sorry I can't be more helpful. Anne

Anne wrote....... Inshoch is easy enough to find, about a mile north-east of Auldearn, and in the parish of Auldearn. In the 1841 census there were just two households at Inshoch, which suggests to me that Inshoch was a tenanted farm on an estate, certainly not an estate in its own right. ------- I wrote to Anne off-list but want to include what I found today so no one else looks for this....or may have an interest as several farms are listed. According to "The National Archives of Scotland" an entry exists dated 1825 entitled "Plan of the estates of Brodie, Inshoch and Penick, property of William Brodie". "Leyhill" (a farm) listed within Dyke and Moy. I also have to say to the powers responsible for the libindx a big thank you! Had it not been for your index, would not have had any clue as to where these people were from. Many thanks to Anne for providing further information on this family. Sherry