Hallo listers, Can anyone tell me whether the Highland Clearances affected either the Tain area or the Kilmuir-Easter areas of Ross-shire. My McKenzie ancestors lived somewhere in the parish of Tain until about 1820. They then moved to the parish of Kilmuir-Easter where my ancestor Alexander McKenzie was a shoemaker at the place called Heathfield in the 1820s. >From about 1840 or so most of the family turn up in Aberdeen. I have just been reading John Prebble's book on the Highland Clearances (having known virtually nothing about it before) and I wondered if that was the reason for them moving to Aberdeen, or if it was just for general economic reasons? Also in John Prebble's book I read about Gustavus Aird the Minister of Glencalvie. I was very interested in this as one of my Alexander McKenzie's sons was called Gustavus Aird McKenzie. He was b. in Kilmuir-Easter in 1822 and I at first wondered if he was named after the famous Minister. Then I discovered that the Rev. Gustavus Aird was only b. in 1813 himself, but also in the parish of Kilmuir-Easter. Does anyone know if his father was also a Minister ( i.e. of Kilmuir-Easter), and perhaps my relation was named after him? Any suggestions gratefully received. Barbara King Cambridge UK