This is a very longshot, but I am at a complete dead-end with my ancester Thomas MacDonald and am clutching at straws that someone may be able to help on your excellent list. I have a great deal of info on my ancestor's life but have not be able to pin down his birthplace, which is what most of the family would like to know. Family legend says he came down from Scotland (the Orkneys was mentioned) seeking work and my research to date tends to back some of this legend up. He was a mariner and married in Watchet, Somerset in 1842, but his parents were not named on the marriage cert. I have found a reference to a Thomas Donald at the PRO, Kew, in 1836 working as a mariner on the Maria Elizabeth of Lundy (in the Bristol Channel). It seems names beginning with Mac are filed at the PRO under the last part of the name. He was stated to have ben born in Sutherland and was aged 16, so this means he was born 1820 or thereabouts. I have no more family info, except that by 1851 he was using the name of Bale/Bail as well as MacDonald and seems to have used both names after that - which makes my task a bit more difficult! However, I see that this was fairly common in Scotland at that time. Please can anyone help in any way (i.e. by having a Thomas who left home in 1845 or thereabouts. Incidentally, he was drowned off the IOM in 1886 at the age of 68 together with his 11 year old grandson whilst mate on the Lloyd. Ann, Torquay, Devon

Hi Angela Thanks for posting these wonderful stray lists. Do you have any further information on the Donald MACKAY from Achins who was in Rogart? Thanks Christine Highland Hearts http://www.highlandhearts.com/ -----Original Message----- From: Angela Lamb [mailto:Angela.Lamb@ed.ac.uk] Sent: Friday, April 27, 2001 8:02 PM To: SCT-SUTHERLAND-L@rootsweb.com Subject: 1891 Durness Census - Sutherland Strays I found the following strays born within Sutherland in the 1891 Durness Census. I have transcribed the census data for Achins, Balnakiel, Balvoolich, Durine, Glebe, Lerin, Sangobeg, Sangomore, Smoo in the parish of Durness. have more details if required. Parish_Born District_living Surname Forename(s) Age Assynt Achins BEATON John 17 Assynt Achins BEATON Duncan 12 Assynt Achins BEATON Kel 10 Assynt Achins BEATON Maggie 8 Assynt Durine KERR Alexander 56 Assynt Sangomore MATHER Mary 52 Assynt Smoo SCOBIE Alice 34 Criech Balnakiel MACDONALD Margaret 56 Eddrachillis Achins MORRISON Robert 32 Eddrachillis Balvoolich MCIVER Bella 7 Eddrachillis Balvoolich MCLEOD Catherine 73 Eddrachillis Balvoolich MORRISON Johan 69 Eddrachillis Durine SUTHERLAND Barbara 61 Eddrachillis Durine WHYTE Marion 44 Eddrachillis Sangomore SWANSON Jessie 43 Farr Achins ORMISTON Ralph 68 Farr Sangobeg MACKAY Henrietta 57 Farr Sangobeg MACKAY Johan 35 Farr Sangomore MCLEOD George 30 Farr Sangomore GUNN Adam 21 Farr Sangomore MACKAY Jane 32 Farr Smoo MACKAY Angus 49 Kildonan Smoo POLSON John 26 Lairg Achins MACKAY Dorothy 89 Lairg Achins ROSS Anne 17 Lairg Durine MACKAY John 28 Lairg Sangobeg ROSS Maggie 10 Lairg Smoo MACKAY Donald 21 Rogart Achins MACKAY Donald 93 Tongue Durine CAMPBELL Jessie 33 Tongue Lerin MACKAY Anne 44 Tongue Lerin MORRISON Williamina 38 Tongue Lerin MACKAY Barbara 52 Tongue Sangobeg MCDONALD Margaret 40 Tongue Sangobeg MCDONALD Robert 18 Tongue Sangomore MACKAY Christina 26 Tongue Sangomore MACKAY Robert 16 Tongue Sangomore CAMPBELL Christina 75 Tongue Sangomore ROSS Catherine 70 Tongue Sangomore MACKAY Christina 37 Tongue Smoo SCOBIE Bessie MacKay 82 Tongue Smoo SCOBIE Barbara 80 Tongue Smoo MACKAY Marion 55 Tongue Smoo NICOL Georgina 18 Regards Angi ==== SCT-SUTHERLAND Mailing List ==== You may, at times, wish to check out previous messages to this list. You can do this at http://archiver.rootsweb.com/SCT-SUTHERLAND-L/ ============================== Shop Ancestry - Everything you need to Discover, Preserve & Celebrate your heritage! http://shop.myfamily.com/ancestrycatalog --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.250 / Virus Database: 123 - Release Date: 4/18/01 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.250 / Virus Database: 123 - Release Date: 4/18/01

Further to my earlier posting on this subject does anyone know if there were great numbers of Mackays in Skerray? Has anyone came across a marriage between Angus Mackay and an Isabella in the parish registers? Isabella, surname unknown but likely a Mackay, was said to be born the night before the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Her father was reputed to be a blacksmith. We know they had a son George born 1765 and are trying to confirm that they also had a son Angus. Thanks for any help or clues. Christine > Does anyone have any information on Mackays in Skerray? Looking for the > birth of Angus MACKAY, born circa 1769 and George MACKAY, born 1765. George > is definitely a son of Angus MACKAY and his wife Isabella. Trying to > determine if Angus is his brother. Anyone help? > Many thanks > Christine > Highland Hearts > http://www.highlandhearts.com/ <http://www.highlandhearts.com/> > > > --- > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.250 / Virus Database: 123 - Release Date: 4/18/01 > > > ==== SCT-SUTHERLAND Mailing List ==== > You may, at times, wish to check out previous messages to this list. You can do this at http://archiver.rootsweb.com/SCT-SUTHERLAND-L/ > > ============================== > Ancestry.com Genealogical Databases > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist2.asp > Search over 2500 databases with one easy query! > --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.250 / Virus Database: 123 - Release Date: 4/18/01 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.250 / Virus Database: 123 - Release Date: 4/18/01

Hi Have only just learned that at Inchcape, Rogart, there was an Alexander MACKAY, born circa 1790 who married Ann SUTHERLAND. Ann is the daughter of John SUTHERLAND and Kate FRASER. Alexander could be the son of Neil MACKAY and Christina MATHESON who were also at Inchcape. Does anyone know this family? Can anyone help prove that Alexander is the son of this Neil? Many thanks Christine Highland Hearts http://www.highlandhearts.com/ <http://www.highlandhearts.com/> --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.250 / Virus Database: 123 - Release Date: 4/18/01

Hi everyone There was much talk recently on the list about the census records earlier than the usual 1841. We have now loaded the 1811 GOLSPIE CENSUS on to our web site. Linda and I have been very busy doing this and have tried to give as much information to this list as possible. We have also put up a good map. You can see this on www.highlandhearts.com <http://www.highlandhearts.com/> When you enter the site run down our index and you will see a big new banner for the Golspie census. When you are on the census page you will find some names asterisked – more info on these in the census addendum. You can help us add more – any information on any other names would be most welcome. Hope you enjoy it. Keep watching for another list going up soon. Best wishes Christine Highland Hearts http://www.highlandhearts.com/ <http://www.highlandhearts.com/> --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.250 / Virus Database: 123 - Release Date: 4/18/01

Hi Does anyone have any information on Mackays in Skerray? Looking for the birth of Angus MACKAY, born circa 1769 and George MACKAY, born 1765. George is definitely a son of Angus MACKAY and his wife Isabella. Trying to determine if Angus is his brother. Anyone help? Many thanks Christine Highland Hearts http://www.highlandhearts.com/ <http://www.highlandhearts.com/> --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.250 / Virus Database: 123 - Release Date: 4/18/01

Hi Forwarding this snippet from Frank. Does this Matheson belong to anyone? Just some info; I have a copy of a discharge that belonged to Alexander Matheson; Alexander Matheson was 23 yrs old in 1815 , 5 ft,6in tall, Brown hair, Grey eyes, Swarthy complexion, He was from Rogart. He was a private in Capt.D. Fraser Esq Regiment and was born in Rogart, serving 5 years, being a balloted man. Dont believe that it ties into any of my gang. Frank Christine Highland Hearts http://www.highlandhearts.com/ --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.250 / Virus Database: 123 - Release Date: 4/18/01

Hi In 1829 a Widow MUNRO in Craigachnarich (Creaganarich possibly) Rogart, with her family of 12, left Rogart and probably went to Ontario with others who left at the same time. Does anyone know who this family is? Appreciate any ideas. Christine Highland Hearts http://www.highlandhearts.com/ <http://www.highlandhearts.com/> --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.250 / Virus Database: 123 - Release Date: 4/18/01

I found the following strays born within Sutherland in the 1891 Durness Census. I have transcribed the census data for Achins, Balnakiel, Balvoolich, Durine, Glebe, Lerin, Sangobeg, Sangomore, Smoo in the parish of Durness. have more details if required. Parish_Born District_living Surname Forename(s) Age Assynt Achins BEATON John 17 Assynt Achins BEATON Duncan 12 Assynt Achins BEATON Kel 10 Assynt Achins BEATON Maggie 8 Assynt Durine KERR Alexander 56 Assynt Sangomore MATHER Mary 52 Assynt Smoo SCOBIE Alice 34 Criech Balnakiel MACDONALD Margaret 56 Eddrachillis Achins MORRISON Robert 32 Eddrachillis Balvoolich MCIVER Bella 7 Eddrachillis Balvoolich MCLEOD Catherine 73 Eddrachillis Balvoolich MORRISON Johan 69 Eddrachillis Durine SUTHERLAND Barbara 61 Eddrachillis Durine WHYTE Marion 44 Eddrachillis Sangomore SWANSON Jessie 43 Farr Achins ORMISTON Ralph 68 Farr Sangobeg MACKAY Henrietta 57 Farr Sangobeg MACKAY Johan 35 Farr Sangomore MCLEOD George 30 Farr Sangomore GUNN Adam 21 Farr Sangomore MACKAY Jane 32 Farr Smoo MACKAY Angus 49 Kildonan Smoo POLSON John 26 Lairg Achins MACKAY Dorothy 89 Lairg Achins ROSS Anne 17 Lairg Durine MACKAY John 28 Lairg Sangobeg ROSS Maggie 10 Lairg Smoo MACKAY Donald 21 Rogart Achins MACKAY Donald 93 Tongue Durine CAMPBELL Jessie 33 Tongue Lerin MACKAY Anne 44 Tongue Lerin MORRISON Williamina 38 Tongue Lerin MACKAY Barbara 52 Tongue Sangobeg MCDONALD Margaret 40 Tongue Sangobeg MCDONALD Robert 18 Tongue Sangomore MACKAY Christina 26 Tongue Sangomore MACKAY Robert 16 Tongue Sangomore CAMPBELL Christina 75 Tongue Sangomore ROSS Catherine 70 Tongue Sangomore MACKAY Christina 37 Tongue Smoo SCOBIE Bessie MacKay 82 Tongue Smoo SCOBIE Barbara 80 Tongue Smoo MACKAY Marion 55 Tongue Smoo NICOL Georgina 18 Regards Angi

I found the following strays born outside Sutherland in the 1891 Durness Census. I have transcribed the 1891 census data for Achins, Balnakiel, Balvoolich, Durine, Glebe, Lerin, Sangobeg, Sangomore, Smoo in the parish of Durness. I have more details if required. County/State Parish_Born District_living Surname Forename(s) Age America New York Sangomore SWANSON Charles 8 Ireland Galloway Sangomore MACKAY Mary 60 Scotland Argyll Tarbert Durine CARMICHAEL David 45 Ayr Kilmarnock Balnakiel SCOTT James 20 Banff Kirkmichael Glebe GRANT William CM 65 Caithness Forss Durine MACKAY Jane 30 Caithness Latheron Durine SINCLAIR Robert 53 Caithness Olrig Durine TURNBULL Ada 46 Caithness Reay Balnakiel ANDERSON Agnes 21 Caithness Reay Balnakiel ANDERSON James 18 Caithness Reay Durine NICOLSON Margaret 48 Caithness Reay Durine GUNN Barbara 35 Caithness Reay Sangomore GUNN Catherine 39 Caithness Thurso Ceannbein MUNRO Harry 56 Caithness Thurso Durine MACKAY Christina 33 Caithness Thurso Sangomore ROSS Alexander 76 Caithness Thurso Smoo MACKAY Jemima 15 Caithness Watten Durine MACKAY Marion 59 Caithness Wick Durine SINCLAIR John 34 Caithness Wick Sangomore MCLEOD Charlotte 60 Edinburgh Colington Glebe MACKAY Maggie 48 Edinburgh Colington Glebe MACKAY Eric 26 Edinburgh Colington Glebe MACKAY Alexander 16 Edinburgh Colington Glebe MACKAY Anne 23 Edinburgh Colington Glebe MCKAY John 18 Edinburgh Edinburgh Glebe COLDSTREAM Allan 45 Edinburgh Leith Sangomore ROSS James 10 Edinburgh South Leith Sangomore MCLEOD John 1 Edinburgh St. Cuthberts Sangobeg MORRISON Anne 19 Edinburgh St. Cuthberts Sangomore SUTHERLAND John 10 Edinburgh St. George Smoo CAMPBELL Donald 6 Edinburgh St. George Smoo CAMPBELL Maria 1 Haddington Prestonpans Balnakiel LEVY Andrew 37 Inverness Grantown Glebe GRANT Penuel 58 Inverness Grantown Glebe GRANT Isabella 48 Inverness Inverness Achins BEATON Mary 49 Inverness Saizort Durine NICOLSON Torquil 48 Isles Harris Smoo CAMPBELL Hugh 56 Isles Lewis/Knoe Durine MCKENZIE Janet 43 Isles Shetland Lerin MCINTOSH Elizabeth 26 Isles Shetland Lerin MCINTOSH Catherine Ann 5 Lanark Carstairs Balnakiel ANDERSON James 48 Lanark Ellerslie Balnakiel ANDERSON Jane 53 Lanark Glasgow Balnakiel SCOTT Adelaide 21 Lanark Glasgow Durine MACINTYRE Thomas C 3 Lanark Glasgow Lerin FOILDS Robina J 18 Lanark Glasgow Sangomore SWANSON Bessie 6 Lanark Glasgow Sangomore SWANSON Alexander 4 Lanark Glasgow Sangomore SWANSON Barbara 2 Lanark Hamilton Glebe MITCHELL Moncrieff E 39 Ross Applecross Achins BEATON Niel 49 Ross Applecross Achins BEATON Eliza 27 Ross Kincardine Achins MACKAY Christina 60 England Hampshire Southampton Sangomore TERRIS Hugh 5 Lancashire Manchester Sangobeg HEESON John 32 Middlesex London Achins SUTHERLAND Anne 1 Sussex Brighton Lerin MARTIN Thomas 73 Regards Angi

This afternoon I have had three virus emails drop in my computer and I am sure others have. ALL FROM THE LIST. Once again please check your computer. If you are not running a virus programme then please DO NOT POST to the list. As I have said before there are freebies out there – go get one. Christine Highland Hearts http://www.highlandhearts.com/ <http://www.highlandhearts.com/> --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.250 / Virus Database: 123 - Release Date: 4/18/01

Robin You queried if your Janet could be born to either of these two couples. This is the info I have in my Mackay database. I guess the first one is possible but not the second. The Andrew Mackay family are fisherfolks and generally they married other fisherfolks. You should not take too much heed to ages in census records. They are only what the person gave. Many, many errors on these. Women did not like giving their age even then!! Until you can prove otherwise I would stick with your original concept of David Mackay and Marran Macintosh as the parents of Janet. Have you yet found her death? If she died after 1855 (which looks very likely) you can purchase her death certificate from Edinburgh. This will give you the name of her parents. Have you tried looking for this on the GRO site? You do have to pay but it is worthwhile. First though find the 1861 census at Fearn and see if she is on that. If not you can then narrow her death down to a ten year period. Hope this helps Christine K1471 ROBERT MACKAY married ELIZABETH DUNBAR [died 22/6/1832] Robert, a farmer, and Elizabeth (Elspat/Eppie), who were both of Proncy, Dornoch, married in Dornoch on 28 December 1783 (OPR). They had the following children born in Dornoch (OPR): MARY, born 25 January 1791; JANNET, born 19 July 1796 Proncy; ROBERT, born 9 September 1798 Ardallie; JAMES, born 10 October 1800 Pronsy; BETTY, born 9 December 1804 Proncy; ANDREW, born 31 August 1802 [died 21 Janaury 1880 Birichen] [married Margaret McPherson - see K171]; DONALD, born 14 December 1806 Birichen. Robert may be the gentleman who died of paralysis at Birichen on 12 June 1845 aged 84 years. K168 ANDREW MACKAY married MARGARET MACKAY Andrew, a fisherman in Embo, Dornoch, married Margaret on 21 March 1784 at Embo (OPR). They had the following children born at Embo (OPR): ISOBEL, born 5 May 1785; HOUSTON, born 22 June 1790; ALEXANDER, born 22 October 1793 and JANNET, born 5 March 1797. (3/00) Christine Highland Hearts http://www.highlandhearts.com/ -----Original Message----- From: Robin Van Belleghem [mailto:robinvb@home.com] Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2001 6:10 PM To: SCT-SUTHERLAND-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Found Gibsons of dornoch Hi Christine and Everyone I found the Gibsons of Dornoch, they must have moved to ROC sometime between 1841 and 1851. But still no information about Donald, I say the man was elusive. Now the question I have is according to the 1851 census, it has my Janet MacKay as 55 born in Dornoch, so this would make her birth in around 1796 and not in 1792. Is it possible that she may not be David MacKay and Marran McIntosh's daughter or could the 1851 census be wrong? I looked in the IGI and found a Jannet MacKay born 1796 in Dornoch to Robert MacKay and Eliza Dunbar and also a Jannet christened in 1797 in Dornoch to Andrew MacKay and Margt MacKay, there could be more but these are the only ones that say Dornoch. How can I tell if one of these are her parents? Here is the 1851 census for the Gibsons, any help would be appreciated.. 1851 Fearn 5.26 Balmuchie. Janet MacKay, Head, Widow, 55, Spinner of Hemp, b. Sutherland, Dornoch. Alexander Gibson, Son, Unmarried, 24, Agricultural Labourer, b. Sutherland, Dornoch. Joanna Gibson, Daughter, Unmarried, 20, Farm Servant, b. Sutherland, Dornoch. Thank You Robin ==== SCT-SUTHERLAND Mailing List ==== You may, at times, wish to check out previous messages to this list. You can do this at http://archiver.rootsweb.com/SCT-SUTHERLAND-L/ ============================== Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 Source for Family History Online. Go to: http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.250 / Virus Database: 123 - Release Date: 4/18/01 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.250 / Virus Database: 123 - Release Date: 4/18/01

From - Parish Life in the North of Scotland "The other elders" (the first mentioned was RORY BAIN) "were DONALD MACKAY, JOHN GORDON, ALEX. BANNERMAN or Macdonald, HUGH FRASER, :JAMES Buidh or SUTHERLAND, I am lookng for the parents and any siblings of my 5th great grandfather JAMES BUIDH SUTHERLAND, and his wife Marion Polson. James came to Red River, Canada in 1815 . . Rhonda -

Hi Donald GORDON, born circa 1767, possibly son of William GORDON and Bessie MUNRO. Married Christian MACKAY, (1787-1871), daughter of David MACKAY and Christian ANDERSON, Torbreck, Rogart. Donald Gordon farmed at Cluaranich (or Gluaranich), Rogart. They had the following children born there: William GORDON, born 1805; David GORDON, born 1808; Henrietta, born 1811 died 1878, married John McDonald remained in Rogart; Christy GORDON, born 1812; Angus GORDON, born 1815; Robert GORDON, born 1819; John GORDON, born 1825 and Hugh GORDON, born 1830. With the exception of Henrietta none of these children appear on the later census records anywhere in Scotland. I believe they may have gone to Canada – anyone know? Many thanks Christine Highland Hearts http://www.highlandhearts.com/ <http://www.highlandhearts.com/> --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.250 / Virus Database: 123 - Release Date: 4/18/01

Rootsweb's "Missing Links, Vol. 6 #17" has an interesting write-up that may prove helpful to many of you on the list. It is in the Virtual Bouquets regarding one John McIntyre born Scotland and who came to the Red River Settlement c 1813 as a trapper for the Hudsons Bay Co. JDW

Listers, am trying to find anyone with connections to any of the following families. Marriage 22 Dec 1789 to George Mackay and Katherine McKenzie at Forres Moray. David Mackay and Janet Bain marr about 1788 The other is a David McKay (sic) married Ann McBain at St Cuthberts 22nd Oct 1789, Edinburgh. Hoping someone can link in. John McKay JP PO Box 16 Cavendish 3314 Australia mckayej@swtafe.vic.edu.au (BH]

Is there a difference searching the OPR at family history centers vs. Online searching at GROS? My ancestors are rumored to have come from Sutherland about 1800 but these are my brick wall ancestors. Kenneth MacLeod S. came from Lord Reays County, Sutherland and was born circa 1752 although I'm not sure if he was born there or just lived there. His wife was Robina MacDonald b. abt 1760. When they immigrated to Nova Scotia they came with at least three of their 5 children, Kenneth Jr. born 15 Sep 1790 although we have Caithness for his birth, there is some misinformation there since his birthplace was listed as Cato and from what research I have done there isn't a Cato nor was there one at that time, John b. abt 1787 and Elizabeth b. abt 1780. When GROS first came online I tried searching all of these ancestors with all of the information I have. Some of which comes from letters about them and their personal records. Once they got to Nova Scotia the trail is clean and we can trace their descendants fairly easily. Scotland is where we go cold. Does anyone have any suggestions? There are quite a number of us working on this for many years but we all get stuck in Scotland. Any help is greatly appreciated, Tracy Tracy A. MacLeod e-mail tamacleod@mediaone.net web site http://people.ne.mediaone.net/tamacleod/index.html

***************************************************************************** This email and any files transmitted with it are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. ***************************************************************************** Thomas Mather was a shepherd on Balnakeil sheepfarm, tenanted by John Dunlop, on the Reay estate. A list of shepherds on the farm in 1818-19 includes Thomas and Edward Mather at Balnakeil and Michael Mather at Gualin. This list is in connection with sheep thefts in Sutherland. In general, estate records tell us very little - usually nothing - about people employed on a farm. It is only when a farm was in the hands of the landlord that we can learn the names, wages etc of farm servants and the like. However, most farms were held by tenants. It was only during the 1820s, when several sheep farmers went bankrupt, that estates had a number of farms in hand. I am aware of very few records of farmers in Sutherland. Gilchrist of Ospisdale comes to mind - but the collection is in a largely uncatalogued jumble - Sutherland of Rearqhuar, both collections in the National Archives, and Marshall, in Northumberland Record Office. Malcolm Bangor-Jones -----Original Message----- From: Sue Mackay [mailto:sue.mackay@virgin.net] Sent: 19 April 2001 13:21 To: SCT-SUTHERLAND-L@rootsweb.com Subject: SUT: Thomas MATHER ******************************************************************* This email has been received from an external party and has been swept for the presence of computer viruses. ******************************************************************* I am interested in any information about Thomas MATHER. He was born in Northumberland and married Jane CRAWFORD on 9 June 1805 (Northumberland IGI, unverified) Shortly afterwards he moved to Sutherland Durness Parish Register gives: Births 1806: Thomas Mather, shepherd in Balmnaceil...& Janet Crawford both from Northumberland, Edward 12 November After Edward came John (1809), James (1811) and then 1814: Thomas Mather, shepherd in Balamulich...& Janet Crawford, Margaret 5 April Almost 9 months to the day after Margaret was born, Hannah MATHER was 'born in adultery' at Balamulich to Thomas MATHER and Kit McKENZIE. Kit was 31, hardly a naive maiden, and Hannah was given the name MATHER and in later years had her cousin John MATHER register the death of her son, so she was openly acknowledged. I think she must have been the housekeeper or some such to whom Thomas turned when his wife was temporarily 'inavailable'!! 9 months later again Janet produced another legitimate son! Hannah's marriage OPR entry lists her father as Thomas MATHER, shepherd of Kerscaig, and her death certificate says her father was the 'manager of a sheep farm'. Does anyone recognise the names as I would like to know who Thomas' employer was and whether there would be any estate records. I have no idea where or when he died. Sue Mackay ==== SCT-SUTHERLAND Mailing List ==== You may, at times, wish to check out previous messages to this list. You can do this at http://archiver.rootsweb.com/SCT-SUTHERLAND-L/ ============================== Search over 1 Billion names at Ancestry.com! http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist1.asp

I have made some notes from quite a good book on the subject, which I think is titled "Sources for Scottish Genealogy and Family History" by D.J. Steel published by the Society of Genealogists in London. ISBN 090 1878 30 reprinted 1980. They are too long to quote but here is my understanding of what it said about aliases and patronymics. In some parts of Scotland, particularly Caithness and Sutherland,the use of patronymics survived in the parish register for formal as well as informal use. The patronymic does not include the surname. It reflects up to three or four generations of the person's (male) ancestors. (It may also include the croft or farm in,which the person dwelt; however I have not noticed much of this in Durness.) In Gaelic, Mac means son. A "John"who is a son of William would be called Iain Macuilleam. In the second and succeeding generations, Mac takes the genitive case and is aspirated (or softened) and becomes mhic, pronounced "vic" or 'ic . I'm not sure on the next point but I believe the name in the genitive case is also softened by adding an "i" after certain vowels. If John's father was William (Uilleam), his grandfather was Hugh (Uisdean) and his greatgrandfather was Hector (Eachann), his patronymic would be something like Macuilleammhicuisdeaniceachainn. The feminine of mac is nighean! , usually recorded as nin or nc but the patronymic in the second and succeding generations is male, i.e. daughter of ---, son of---son of---. In the case of the Durness register, the minister spoke gaelic but it was not his mother tongue and he was unfamiliar with the spelling of gaelic names so he recorded phonetic spellings. Perhaps this happened in other parishes. I think it helps to keep an open mind with regard to spellings. There are numerous books which give English equivalents of Gaelic names and vice versa. I have a couple and would be glad to try decipher any patronymics that members are interested in. They are sometimes useful for confirming that you are on the right path, when there are similar names to choose from. Aliases were not confined to patronymics and sometimes reflected a physical attribute, e.g. dubh (black/dark); ban(fair). Many Calders used an alias of Down, i.e. Donn (brown). They also sometimes have a recorded alias of Ekel but I don't know why. Ian ----- Original Message ----- From: Ron and Cathy Wagner Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2001 11:11 PM To: SCT-SUTHERLAND-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Parish Records Hi List Well...I have had quite a night looking over these parish records....I have read old records before from England...and these are no better )o: I am of the mind....that the McDonald's from Sutherland were not originally from Sutherland....one of their many stopovers....smile...for a generation or two. The McDonalds' were scarse....and the records hard to read....but out of about five McDonalds I have found so far three indicate they are from the Isle of Skye....so I think it is a good assumption on my part that is where mine came out of...the first one is Alexander McDonald in 1766 had a daughter Catherine and then not another mention of a McDonald again until 1781 when a Kenneth McLeod Smith and Catherine McDonald have a daughter,,,then a Murdoch Sutherland and a Christian McDonald have a son in 1785 suddenly in 1786 an Ewan McDonald and Flora McLeod his wife BOTH FROM THE ISLE OF SKYE....and a John McDonald and Henrietta McVee both again from the Isle of Skye...both have children... One thing I noticed on these records ...something I have never seen before....it would say...(example only) John Dunn alias Brown and his wife ...... About half the people on the parish record had an alias.....what is that all about?? some of the alias's looked like they were latin or something.....certainly not something that was decipherable.... I seen baptism records of this Fairly Gordon's family .....since I see that name on the list so often it of course took my eye.... The copying machine at the lds is broken....cant copy anything at all... Anyway..I am quite curious about this alias business.....if anyone knows what that is all about Cathy ==== SCT-SUTHERLAND Mailing List ==== You may, at times, wish to check out previous messages to this list. You can do this at http://archiver.rootsweb.com/SCT-SUTHERLAND-L/ ============================== Join the RootsWeb WorldConnect Project: Linking the world, one GEDCOM at a time. http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com<br clear=all><hr>Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at <a href="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</a>.<br></p>

The reference number beginning GD referes to documents in the National Archives of Scotland which are housed in Edinburgh. GD numbers are in the section Gifts and Deposits. SP I do not know. The only S number I know is SC which is Sheriff Court records. As you can imagine the National Archives are huge. Whether or not they will look this document out for you by mail I am uncertain but see no harm in writing to them: National Archives of Scotland HM General Register House Edinburgh EH1 3YY Scotland Tel: 0131 3340380 Christine I have a reference to the death of his first wife, my elusive Jane Mackay....it says they received money from John Mackay, Piccadilly for heirs of JG 1814, : GD 153/28, +37.66; SP 1627-33, 1709-331, 1744, 1804-9, + 725, + 1115) any ideas what exactly these refer to? thankyou as always, theresa. ==== SCT-SUTHERLAND Mailing List ==== You may, at times, wish to check out previous messages to this list. You can do this at http://archiver.rootsweb.com/SCT-SUTHERLAND-L/ ============================== Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 Source for Family History Online. Go to: http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.250 / Virus Database: 123 - Release Date: 4/18/01 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.250 / Virus Database: 123 - Release Date: 4/18/01