***************************************************************************** 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