***************************************************************************** This email and any files transmitted with it are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. ***************************************************************************** Generally speaking Lord Reay's country, or more usually the Reay country, refers to the Reay estate as it was in the 18th century - essentially the parishes of Eddrachillis, Durness and Tongue. However, Strathnaver in the parish of Farr had belonged to Lord Reay but was acquired by the Earls of Sutherland - in stages - culminating in 1718. Strathy in the parish of Farr was a separate Mackay property as was the estate of Bighouse or Strath Halladale in the parish of Reay. Sometimes a person is described as coming from the Reay country when they came from the parish of Farr. Malcolm Bangor-Jones -----Original Message----- From: T.Knapp [mailto:theresa.knapp@sympatico.ca] Sent: 03 May 2001 00:12 To: SCT-SUTHERLAND-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Lord Reays County ******************************************************************* This email has been received from an external party and has been swept for the presence of computer viruses. ******************************************************************* Can someone tell me exactly where Lord Reays County was located...I am searching for info. on: (this is said by Spencer Sutherland 1865)...John Gordon, my grandfather married Jane McKay, daughter of John McKay, taxman of Meikleferry by whom were born sons, Alex, John, Robert, Joseph, and three more, and daughters, one, Christina Gordon, my mother. Four of John Gordon's sons died in infancy in - - - while on a contemplated voyage to America, shipwrecked in - - - - - -. Alexander Gordon, son of above John Gordon was a planter in the island of Jamaica during - - - war. Was hired by the planters of the Island. then - - - - to drive back the Maroons. He entered into a contract to finish the war in a certain time ( in partnership with an English countryman named Calderwood). The rebels were driven back in much less time than stipulated. He was paid his amount, sold his plantation, left the island in 1800 with a Captain Logan in a barque and all hands except the Captain were lost off the Bahama Islands by a water spout. I saw the Captain, he came to Meikleferry to tell us he was saved by sticking to a plank five days. He said "If any part of the Atlantic ought to be dried it was that part where his vessel laid, so valuable was the cargo aboard in Spi - - - -". John Gordon, brother of Alexander went to the island of Martnique, became a planter there in company with 2 gentlemen of the same name. Gordon didn't think they were any relation. They made a fraction between them - the longest lived was to become heir to their joint property. One of the Gordon's died, my uncle and the other on his death split partnership and my uncle got money for his part of the plantation either murdered or left the island, nothing more was heard of him. We made inquiries in - - - - to the McKays, his cousins, and the above was all the information we could get. The last that was seen of him was walking in the - - - wharf on a - - -. This was about the year 1802. Robert, the older brother of the above also went to Martinique and died after of yellow fever. Neither of the three brothers were married to my knowledge. The other daughter of James(John) was Christina Gordon, my mother who married Donald Sutherland, a taxman of Meikleferry who died in 1798. She survived my father, and later married Capt. George Munro. He was previously married to Mary Matheson, daughter of Dr. Matheson on In(ner)? Rosshire. Their children, John and Annie both died. John died in the West Indies, Annie died in Ireland. Any information on these families would be truly appreciated. Theresa Coleman ==== 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