Dear fellow list-members, I can tell from several month's postings that there are many experienced, resourceful genealogists among you so I am picking-up on Christine's suggestion and asking for your help in getting past my brick wall. Here it is: My great, great granfather, Donald Morrison, was born in Durness (out of wedlock) on Nov 14, 1813 to Hugh Morrison and Fairly Reay MacCulloch. I have traced Fairly's birth, siblings, and parents but can find no record of her subsequent to Donald's baptism. Some of her family moved to Dalvichie, Lairg and I have contacted one of their descendants but they have no information on Fairly. Over 50% of the entries in the Durness OPR show patronymics; but not this one. The minister describes Hugh as "shepd. Balamhulich, a young lad." In the 1841 census, someone born in 1813 would be recorded as age 25. There was only one Donald of that age in the district and he is shown living in Lerin with a John Morrison age 75, i.e. born 1762 to 1766. I am fairly certain this Donald was my GGgrandfather because he and his family are recorded in succeeding censuses at the same croft. A (third) cousin lives there now. There were no Hugh Morrisons in the right age range in the 1841 census. I assume that John was Donald's grandfather. I assume that Hugh, being described as "a young lad" in 1813, was born between 1788 and 1795. There were four Hughs born during that period in Durness, but only one born to a John; in 1793 to John Morrison (alias macuilleammacuisdeaniceachainnruaidh) and Christian Calder (alias Donn). Both had previous marriages. This Hugh married Joanna MacCulloch (who may have been a cousin of Fairly) in 1818 and the family emigrated to Canada in the 1830's and settled in Lyn Ontario (now part of Brockville). I am in contact with a descendant but he was unable help me positively identify the "correct" Hugh. Can anyone suggest how I might confirm the "correct" Hugh ? If my assumption is correct, the patronymics take me back three more generations to Eachan Ruadh (Hector-the-Red). Over 25% of the Morrisons in the OPR have him in their patronymic. I would be grateful for any suggestions. Sorry I was so long winded. Ian Morrison <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>