There has been a lot of interest in my post on the above. Will try to answer all your questions when I can - I'm still working full-time! Lilian

I have a photocopy of a Journal kept by a Presbyterian minister between 1855 and 1883 in the Williams area, near London, Ontario, Canada. In addition to giving info about his congregation - births, deaths, marriages, and other bits of info, he kept daily temperature readings, three times a day sometimes, he comments on the political situation, the appearance and state of crops etc. He was Lachlan MacPherson and born I think in Strathdearn or a bit south of Strathdearn - he gives brief accounts of his movements on two visits back to Scotland and en route to his aunt's home by stagecoach from Inverness, he spent a night at one of my ancestor's homes in Strathdearn! It was exciting coming across that entry. He went to Starthpeffer to drink the water there for several days (He seems to have had ongoing health problems)visited in the Black Isle (where I was born)etc His congregation in Ontario were mostly Scots. He names different people from time to time , where they came from in Scotland etc, sometimes gives their ages when they died etc. 'Pioneer Life in Zorra' which I have, has a chapter on him(Published 1899, Briggs, Toronto) There is a chapter on Rev Donald Mackenzie, born in Dores; Rev John Ross (Known as the man with the Book) born in Dornoch;Rev Daniel Allan, born in Fortrose; Rev John Fraser born in Ferintosh, later of Inverness, before he came to Canada; Rev William Meldrum, born in Abernethy and others. If anyone is connected with any of these names I could find out a bit more about them from the Journal, the book or another book I have which was published in 1930 by Ryerson Press 'One Hundred Years of the Zorra Church' Lilian

List - FYI - The following was a site listed on the November 9th issue of 'What's New on Cyndi's List.' Marie Beeman Raper Canby, OR USA Researching on the Isle of Lewis: LIDDLE, MACDONALD, MACLEAN, MACKENZIE URL: http://www.theclearances.org TITLE: Highland Clearances DESCRIPTION: A rapidly-growing digital archive of Scotland's Clearances. Who was involved, where they came from, where they went in the New World and what they did when they got there.

Dear All I got hold of the 'Macraes to New Zealand' book, I had already ordered it on interlaon when all your messages came through. (by the way, thanks so much for all your messages, they were all very much appreciated.) In the book it lists my line, it even has my name in it. But the line does not go back as far as I thought it would (mid 1700s). The book is a compilatin of all the McRae families that came to NZ I think. The MacRae I am looking for is John MacRae and his wife Martha McDonald. He was born c. 1760 in Applcross, Scotland and died between 1851 - 1854. Martha McDonald was born about 1783 Applecross, Scotland and died 7 February 1857 in Plockton, Scotland. She was buried in Kishorn. They were married 17 July 1800 in Loch Alsh, Scotland. There children were: Duncan MacRae Janet/Jessie MacRae Margaret MacRae Alexander MacRae Any help on this family would be greatly appreciated. Regards Natasha Wells Whangarei, New Zealand http://briefcase.yahoo.com.au - Yahoo! Briefcase - Manage your files online.

I am looking for information on a WILLIAM SUTHERLAND who married an ALEXANDRINA ROSS in 1824. I have the OPR records for the reading of the banns in Kilmuir Easter and for the marriage in the parish of Dornoch. I believe Alexandrina was from Milntoun or Milton as it is called today. However the OPR records do not give the parents. I believe William may be the son of ALEXANDER SUTHERLAND and MARGARET MURRAY born in 1798. However I have no proof of this. He was I believe born in Sutherlandshire in the Parish of Dornoch. I have no information on the birth of Alexandrina. I did find one born to a DAVID ROSS and a MARGARET DAVIDSON in Fearn in 1797 which is close to Milton and another born in 1806 to HECTOR ROSS and CHRISTIAN MUNRO in Kincardine, Ross and Cromarty and yet another born in Rogart, Sutherland in 1806 to a WILLIAM ROSS and an ANN MACKAY. William and Alexandrina had three sons born to them, ALEXANDER, b abt 1824 or 1826 in Kilmuir Easter, DAVID ROSS b abt 1826 or 1827 in Dornoch and ANGUS b 1830 in Proncy, d the same year. The family emigrated to Canada in the early 30's. I believe some of William's brothers preceded him and two accompanied him and his family to Canada. One settled in New Brunswick, all the others settled first in Lanark Co. Ontario, Canada before moving mostly to Renfrew Co., Ontario. If this family seem familiar to anyone, I would love to share information. I have a great deal of information on the family right up to the current generation. However I would like to find out a bit more of the history of the family before leaving Scotland, who were their parents etc.. I have had a few replies to my query on the Ross-shire Militia to which William was attached at one time, serving both at home and in Ireland and those who did reply were extremely helpful. I am hoping someone on the list may just recognise this family and get in touch with me. I will answer all queries and would be grateful for even the smallest piece of information. May Garson in Ottawa.

Lilian, Very few (if any) militiamen would have qualified for a pension. Generally, military pensions only went to soldiers of regular line regiments, and they had to serve something like 25 years to be eligible. If your GGGF was in a line regiment and qualified for a pension, you should be able to find out quite a lot at the Public Record Office in Kew. However, you would really have to know which regiment he served in. The PRO has a computerised index with details of men discharged from the British Army, but the work of indexing is only part complete (it must be a massive task), so if you don't already know which regiment he was in, and if he has already been indexed, you could find out his regiment and then trace all sorts of informative documents. Regards, Ken Mathieson, Uddingston, Lanarkshire -----Original Message----- From: Lilian Campbell <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: 06 November 2001 01:09 Subject: [RossGen] Ross-shire Militia > >I too would be interested in info about the availability of records. I'm >trying to track info about my great-great grandfather Hugh Fraser. On >his son William's marriage certificate (1863) Hugh is said to have been >a Military Pensioner, deceased. They lived in the Parish of Urquhart and >Logie Wester. > >Lilian > > >==== ROSSGEN Mailing List ==== >To remove your email address from this list, visit this url: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~cheps/maillist.htm > >

Hi May, Militia records are notoriously difficult to trace. Unlike regular army regiments, whose records have been consolidated in the Public Record Office in Kew, London, militia records can be held in local musuems, in private collections (many militia regiments were raised by local landowners), in the National Archives of Scotland in Edinburgh and in the PRO at Kew. There is also a collection of Muster Rolls held in the Edinburgh City Archive in the City Chambers on High Street. These show personal descriptions, ages, regiment joined, parish of residence etc for men enlisting in Edinburgh in Militia and line regiments at the end of the 18th & start of the 19th centuries. These are (at least) part indexed, but not complete: I know my GGGGF enlisted in the Inverness-shire Militia in Edinburgh on 19 June 1804, but he doesn't feature in the Muster Rolls. There is also a book known as the 'Gibson Guide to Militia Lists and Musters, 1757-1876' published by the Federation of Family History Societies) which lists many sources of material. It would be worth consulting the Gibson Guide in the first instance for sources of material, and you should also contact the National Archives of Scotland at HM General Register House, Princes St, Edinburgh EH1 3YY. (I don't have an e-mail address for them but a websearch should reveal something). They should be able to tell you what records they have for the Ross-shire Militia. One other thing to be wary of: Although your ancestor was from Ross-shire, it doesn't necessarily mean he was definitely in the Ross-shire Militia. Militias quotas were balloted from among the able-bodied men of military age in each county (and the NAS has some parish censuses of men eligible for ballot), but if someone could afford to pay for another to take his place, he could buy his way out of service. There was a grapevine of information on militia opportunities (signing-on bounty and regular wages) among ex-soldiers of regular army regiments, and I suspect this is how my GGGGF finished up enlisting in the Inverness-shire Militia: He was certainly in it as a substitute. If you need any more info, please reply privately and I'll be pleased to pass on what I've picked up. Regards, Ken Mathieson, Uddingston, Lanarkshire -----Original Message----- From: May Garson <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: 05 November 2001 20:10 Subject: [RossGen] Re Rosshire Militia >I have been looking at SUTHERLANDS who emigrated to Canada. >WILLIAM SUTHERLAND married an ALEXANDRINA ROSS in Dornoch. >After emigrating to Canada, he appealed for consideration >for a particular parcel of land in Ontario, indicating that >he had served in the Ross-shire Militia both at home and in >Ireland. I guess at that time, many people serving with the >British militia in Canada, were granted parcels of land if >they chose to remain in Canada rather than return to Gt. >Britain. He married Alexandrina in Proncy, Dornoch in 1824. >Alexandrina was from Milton in Rosshsire. I believe William >was born in Proncy about 1798 to an Alexander Sutherland and >a Margaret Murray. They emigrated about 1831 or thereabouts >with two children and two of William's brothers, Angus and >John. Two other brothers, George and David, had already >emigrated in June 1821 with the Lanark Society Settlers on >the ship Clifford Canning. >Could anyone tell me a little about the Ross-shire Militia >and whether any records of enlistment etc are available >today? >Does anyone have any information on William and Alexandrina? >There are no records in Canada which give the parents of >either William or Alexandrina. I will acknowledge all >replies and will share the information I have on this family >here in Canada. >May Garson in Ottawa. > > >==== ROSSGEN Mailing List ==== >To remove your email address from this list, visit this url: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~cheps/maillist.htm > >

I too would be interested in info about the availability of records. I'm trying to track info about my great-great grandfather Hugh Fraser. On his son William's marriage certificate (1863) Hugh is said to have been a Military Pensioner, deceased. They lived in the Parish of Urquhart and Logie Wester. Lilian

I have been looking at SUTHERLANDS who emigrated to Canada. WILLIAM SUTHERLAND married an ALEXANDRINA ROSS in Dornoch. After emigrating to Canada, he appealed for consideration for a particular parcel of land in Ontario, indicating that he had served in the Ross-shire Militia both at home and in Ireland. I guess at that time, many people serving with the British militia in Canada, were granted parcels of land if they chose to remain in Canada rather than return to Gt. Britain. He married Alexandrina in Proncy, Dornoch in 1824. Alexandrina was from Milton in Rosshsire. I believe William was born in Proncy about 1798 to an Alexander Sutherland and a Margaret Murray. They emigrated about 1831 or thereabouts with two children and two of William's brothers, Angus and John. Two other brothers, George and David, had already emigrated in June 1821 with the Lanark Society Settlers on the ship Clifford Canning. Could anyone tell me a little about the Ross-shire Militia and whether any records of enlistment etc are available today? Does anyone have any information on William and Alexandrina? There are no records in Canada which give the parents of either William or Alexandrina. I will acknowledge all replies and will share the information I have on this family here in Canada. May Garson in Ottawa.

Hi Suzanne: Had a look in the 1881 Census for you. Could not find John MacLeod and Margaret Graham, but did find the following - they may be two of the sons??? Dwelling - Dounie, Census Place Kincardine/Ross & Cromarty, Scotland Source film 0203410 GRO Ref Volume 071-A1, EnumDist. 4, Page 7. Alexander MacLeod, head, occupation Farmer 287 ac. 14 arable, married, age 49, birthplace Kincardine, Ross & Cromarty, Alexandrina MacLeod, wife, married, age 34, born Lochbroom, R & C. Murdo, son, age 17, Donald, son, age 15, Alexander, son, age 9, Robert, son, age 7, Colin, son, age 4, Mary, dau, age 13, Jessie, dau, age 11, Maggie, dau, age 2 and Hellen, dau, age 6 months. All born Kincardine, Ross & Cromarty. I also found a John MacLeod also living Dounie, head, farmer of 28 acres, 14 arable, employing 1 girl, born Kincardine, R & C., his mother Mary MacLeod, widow, age 75, born Lairg, Sutherland and the servant Eliza Ross, age 24, born Alness, R & C. The mother's name doesn't fit, but the Census Taker could have got it wrong, as the age seems to fit. There was also an Alexander MacLeod listed in the "Easter Ross Union Poorhouse", age 52, unmarried, born Kincardine, R & C. Perhaps if you can see earlier Census, you might find the family. I looked for John and Margaret in the 1881 Census, but nothing came up. They may have died before 1881. Hope this is helpful. Have a cousin who lives in Mooloolaba, which isn't to far away from Brisbane I am told. His name is William MacLeod, whose father Roderick emigrated from a village called Polbain, Parish of Lochbroom, Ross & Cromarty early in the 1900's. Good luck in your search. Allana McLean [email protected] Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

In 1868 Helen Logan (dau. of Evan and Margaret McKenzie Logan of Knockbain, R&C); m. Joseph Clegg at Inverness. They had children Margaret, Mary, Annie, William and Joseph (that I know of - probably others). I would like to correspond with anyone connected with this family. Thanks! Cyndi Sweet

Hello, I was hoping that someone with easy access to some census' could look up the following couple and their family for me. John MacLeod and Margaret Graham, married in 1830. Some of their children I have found so far include: Alexander b.Dec1830 Donald b.Apr1833 Ann b.Feb1836 John b.Mar1840 >From the OPR, they seemed to have lived as tenants at Dounie. Any info would be appreciated, or if someone else has ties to this family, please contact me. Many thanks, Suzanne Irvine Brisbane, Australia.

Hi, I've just joined the list and am looking for information on Alexander SUTHERLAND and Margaret MACKENZIE who were married Dec 24 1841 at Avoch. They came to Australia in1852 with their 5 children. If anyone could search the 1851 census for this family in Avoch I would be most grateful. Alexander's parents were Alexander SUTHERLAND and Ann HOSSACK. I'm not sure who Margaret's parents were. Hoping someone might be able to help. Regards, Clare Scott

I am looking for information about the Aird family in the Rosskeen/Alness area. James Aird m. Ann McKenzie at Rosskeen in 1852. Their son James was born in 1862. Other children included Roderick, Robert, Archibald and Hugh. The 1881 census lists the family at Farm Steading, Rosskeen. I am looking for any information relating to this family, their relatives and descendents. Thanks for any help or information. Phillip Aird British Columbia, Canada [email protected] _______________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.ca address at http://mail.yahoo.ca

Am researching and would like to know more about the BAIN, GREIG and MacKENZIE family which originated from Applecross in Ross and Cromarty. Other places names that have come up in the research are (all in Ross and Cromarty) Locharron and Lochalsh. _______________________________________________ Visit my Web Site at http://home.bitworks.co.nz/cmahoney

Hello Fellow Researchers, I'm just new to this list & wanted to post my family from Croik (Croick), Kincardine, Ross & Cromarty Hugh GRAHAM m. Christina MATHESON 1 Jan. 1830 Issue: Catherine, ch: 11 Nov. 1830 Isobel, came to Australia pre 1855 Margaret, b: 1837 Alexander, b: 1840 Johan, b: 1844 Betsy, b: 1846 Peter, b: 1849 Would love to hear from anyone connected to this family. Regards, Alison. Dysart. Central Qld. Australia

Hello lynn thankyou for your reply. My info on the Beatons/ Bethunes is limited at the moment as I have only just come across them. I have a Robert Mackenzie married to an Ann Bethune 25/3/1830 Gairloch and they had a son william also Roderick who went on to be the Blacksmith in Laid. I am hoping to find out more so keep in touch we might connect somehow. Ann Roots

My short-term practice is to e-mail the info that I have gathered to several members of the family - two of my children who are interested and a nephew. I have also suggested that one of them should put the info on a CD. Lilian

Hello can anyone tell me why the surname Bethune appears to become Beaton I have both names in my family tree and am fairly sure they are one and the same people. thankyou Ann Roots

Does anyone know if there were many SUTHERLANDs living in Kincardine Rosshire circa early 1800's or late 1700's...or were there just a couple of families? any comments welcome, Theresa.