Malcolm What a wonderful piece of information on Alexander Bannerman. As you can see below he did not emigrate after all. From a poor man he seems to have completed his life in a much better state. Sheila Mackay, Edinburgh, has this family on her own tree. She will be thrilled with this new information especially the link to Inchcape which is where her immediate family were. ALEXANDER BANNERMAN [c1820-9/8/1912] married SARAH GUNN [21/11/1825-13/9/1904] Alexander was born circa 1820 in Loth or Kildonan to John Bannerman crofter and Catherine Sutherland. Sarah was born at Fourpenny, Dornoch in 1825 daughter of Gilbert Gunn, mason and Helen Gray. Alexander and Sarah married at Pitfure, Rogart on 11 February 1848. They had the following children all born at West Helmsdale, Kildonan, except the youngest two who were born at East Langwell, Rogart: JOHN born circa 1849 [died 28 August 1928 Meigle Perthshire] [married firstly to Elizabeth Mollison and secondly to Jemima Meiklejohn]; GILBERT born 1851 [died May 1927 Wisconsin USA] [married Mary Julia Parrent]; WILLIAM born circa 1852 [died 29 April 1911 Glasgow] [married firstly to Mary Ann Mollison and secondly to Margaret Ferguson Hucheson]; CATHERINE born circa 1854 [died 31 March 1907 Blairmore Rogart] [married William Mackenzie]; ROBERT born 11 March 1856 [died 10 October 1936 Glasgow] [married Rachel Morrison]; DONALD born 12 February 1858; GEORGE GUNN born 18 December 1859 [died 21 February 1919 Hawick] [married Mary McBurnie Greenwood]; DAVID born 29 October 1861; HELEN GRAY born 6 September 1864 [died 26 August 1940 Bonar Bridge - a nurse and single]; ALEXANDER born 15 October 1866 [died 27 October 1945 Tain] [married Christina Margaret Ross]; CHRISTINA born 12 December 1868] [died 27 September 1881 Rogart] and THOMAS GUNN born 29 January 1872] [died 12 December 1935 Dundee] [married Jessie Ann Henderson]. In the 1851 census at West Helmsdale Alexander, shown as a crofter, and Sarah were at home with their children John and Gilbert. A Sarah Mackenzie, age 18, born in Rogart was their general servant and they had a nurse aged 12 years, Margaret Polson of Kildonan. In 1861 still in West Helmsdale Alexander was shown as a lotter of three acres. John and Gilbert were with him and Sarah plus Catherine, Donald and George. They now had a Margaret Sutherland of Kildonan as a domestic servant. The house had two rooms with windows. By 1871 the family were at East Langwell, Rogart having gone there in 1867, where Alexander was a crofter of 22 acres, ten of which were arable. He and Sarah had William, Catherine, Donald, George, David, Helen, Alexnader and Christina at home. This new house had four rooms with windows. Still at East Langwell in 1881 Alexander's holding had increased to fourteen acres arable and he was now shown as a farmer. With him and Sarah were their children Robert, Ellen, Alexander, Christina and Thomas. They had a visitor from Glasgow, a Walter Gunn aged 4 years. The house had grown to seven rooms with windows. In both the 1891 and 1901 census records at East Langwell Alexander was not at home. His wife Sarah was and in 1891 her son Alexander was with her and in 1901 her daughter Helen, son Alexander with his wife Christina and their children were with her. Around 1904 the family left East Langwell and returned to the Brora area. Alexander died in 1912. The 'Northern Times' printed an obituary which read: "It was with extreme regret we have to record the death under tragic circumstances of Mr Alexander Bannerman J.P., Clynemilton, Brora. Mr Bannerman was out for his usual walk on Friday morning last and made several calls on his way home, and while on the highway at the foot of his own farm, and walking along, was overtaken and run over by the foremost of two cars from Clynelish on their way to John O'Groats. Mr Bannerman was caught by the mudguard and knocked down, receiving fatal injuries, his hat was found on one side of the road and his staff on the other. When aid waas rendered it was found that life was extinct, and it is presumed that death was instantaneous. The deceased had reached the patriarchal age of ninety two years. Mr Bannerman was a native of Helmsdale and went to Langwell, Rogart, in 1867. During his residence in Rogart the deceased took a very prominent part in the land agitation in that district and throughout the county. He was familiar and popular at all political meetings and he always attended the Highland Land League Conference as delegate for the Parish of Rogart. After the passing of the Education Act of 1872 Mr Bannerman was elected to the School Board of Rogart of which he was Chairman until he left for Brora eight years ago. He was repeatedly elected to the Parochial Board and was a member of the Parish Council. He was for many years President of the Liberal Association and for a considerable period Vice President of the County Liberal Association. The funeral of Mr Bannerman took place on Monday. There was a large turnout of farmers and crofters..... a funeral service was conducted at his house . . . the coffin was carried to Brora Railway Station and conveyed by the 11 o'clock train to Rogart where a very large number of parishioners were awating to convey the remains to the churchyard at Rogart, the burial place of the family." Information supplied by Sheila Mackay Edinburgh. Jerry and Maggie Mackay, Virginia, USA, are researching this family. If anyone reading this links to this family please ask me for email addresses for Sheila and Maggie. Christine Northamptonshire, England www.highlandhearts.com www.sutherlandheritage.com email rhemusaig@tiscali.co.uk -----Original Message----- From: Malcolm.Bangor-Jones@scotland.gsi.gov.uk [mailto:Malcolm.Bangor-Jones@scotland.gsi.gov.uk] Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2003 8:01 AM To: SCT-SUTHERLAND-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [SUT] 1863 emigrants John Macdonald and Alexander Bannerman West Helmsd ale **************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** This email and any files transmitted with it are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. **************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** 1863 Mar 6 Reports by John R Forbes ground officer on emigrants (nos refer to crofts) "No. 139 John McDonald Wr. Helmsdale - Intending to Emigrate to the Cape of Good hope John McDonald aged 39 - & his wife 40 - has a Lot of 4 acres - 2 of which is new land rent £4 1 4 full vallue The dwelling House is good altho out of repair inside - he was a widower with 2 of a famly [sic] & She the widow of the former Tenant had 2 Children they have one of ther Own, which makes a famly of 5 - 3 Girls & 2 Boys The Eldest is 13 & the Youngest One yr. They are allways hard up & unable to pay there rent at the proper time. There House is poorly furnished & they have but one cow & no horse. They are all Strong and Healthy & likely to do well" "No. 108 Alex Bannerman Wr. Helmsdale Intending to Emigrate to the Cape of Good Hope This man Pays £4 1 4 former rent £2 Extent of land 31/2 acres - 2 of which is new partly improved by himself the rest by the Father, who came from Ulbisdale Strath of Kildonan, & was one of the old Sutherland Fencibles - died in 1847 - his son married in 1848 a daughter of the late Gilbert Gunn's Inchkep Rogard they have 8 of a famly 7 Boys and one Girl from 14 years old to one year - he is a labourer or Carter by trade, but never Can get Steady Employment & Altho poor is a very active intiligent [sic] & hard working man and a thorough Loyal Subject being the nearly first who Entered his name in the Hl. V. A [Helmsdale Volunteer Artillery] - he has been for some time in Charge of the wood in the Strath The Lot is at full value & the Houses are old & worthless, his Stock is an old Horse & cow. There is an Elder Sister of His who lives on the premises & does not go with them. His age 39 yrs her Ae 32" Weeks later transpired that there was a lack of colonial funds: severe drought, crops suffered, revenue short. Emigrants must remain for present. [Not known if ever emigrated.] ==== SCT-SUTHERLAND Mailing List ==== To check out previous messages http://archiver.rootsweb.com/SCT-SUTHERLAND-L/ ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.471 / Virus Database: 269 - Release Date: 4/10/2003 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.471 / Virus Database: 269 - Release Date: 4/10/2003