Hi Barbara, I have been following with interest the debate about Balnagowen. At Kildary in Easter Ross the family of Hugh the 5th Earl of Ross (he who married the sister of Robert the Bruce) built Balnagown Castle.It was a Ross 'seat' until 1942 and is now owned by Al Fayed of Harrod's fame who has restored it handsomely. Could the Aberdeen-shire Balnagowen (or Balnagowan as it is now) have been named from the Ross castle Balnagown in the North? It is to be found just North-West of Aboyne on the road to Tarland. My brick wall is at Milntowne (now Milton) next to Kildary where my ancestor ANDREW Ross married Margaret Montgomery (b 1749) dtr of the linen manufacturer John Montgomery ,Mill House, Milton. Andrew's son JOHN Ross is listed on the 1851 census as a famer with 7 servants on the farm of Milntown.I have only his unwed sister Elizabeth of his line .This is the parish of Kilmuir Easter. And so I wonder whether there is a link between these two Ross families. JOHN Ross b 1794c married Jane Anderson in 1823 .They had 6 children and 32 grandchildren but only one named ALEXANDER .Many years ago I spoke with the Ross family still living in the village of Milton and was told that there were two Ross brothers who ran the mill but they had a falling out and one left the area. I'd like to exchange details if you think we may have a link. Frances Inverness, Scotland.