Dolina Mackay, Armadale to USA

Dolina Mackay, from Armadale to United States 1906

Let me tell you about my grandmother Dolina McKay. She was not famous nor held any important station or position during her lifetime, but came from fisherman/crofter stock that lived their lives as best they could. It is through her and my mother that I feel a deep connection to the soil of Scotland. Each time I visit the Highlands, I cry in delight ………and cry again when it‘s time to leave.

Dolina McKay was born 10 Nov 1877, at Armadale, Farr, in Sutherland to her parents, Angus McKay, a fisherman, and Henrietta McKay, maiden surname McKay. Her parents listed marriage date is January of 1860. She was the 8th child born to her parents, and was to be one of only four children that survived into adulthood. Her siblings in order of birth were:

Betsy 1861-1870, Donald 1862-1869, George 1864- died in fishing accident after 1919, Neil 1866-1870, William 1869-1938, Elisabeth 1872-1940, Dolina 1874-1875 and an infant girl 1881-1881 (3 days).

Dolina’s young life was spent in Armadale with her parents, two older brothers and one sister. Family stories tell us that because George was the oldest and prospects were poor in Scotland at that time, her brother William and sister Elisabeth “Bessie” left Scotland and immigrated through Canada into the United States in the late 1880’s. They both married and had families in the US.

In 1893, at Armadale, both of her parents passed away within a month of each other, leaving her (age 16) with her brother George who was 29 and single. In 1897, George married a woman that, it is said, Dolina did not care for and shortly after that she is pregnant and unmarried. Family stories tell us that she wanted to marry but her brother and sister-in-law forbade it. She obviously left the residence because the child was born May 1898 in Janetstown, Caithness. In November of 1898 she turned 21, and just 7 months after the birth of the child she and James Wares, married on 13 Dec 1898 in Thurso, Caithness. They had five children between the years 1898 and 1905, one of them was my mother Johan Dolina Wares, born in Nig. Ross & Cromarty, Scotland, 1904.Perhaps her brother was correct about the marriage as it appears it was a thing to “escape” from. In 1906, the records at the Orphan Homes of Scotland, Bridge of Weir foundling home, document that she and the five children were brought to Glasgow by a Sheriff. He assisted her in placing the four oldest children in the home while she arranged to join her brother in the United States. She kept the babe in arms (5 months) with her. These same records indicate that James Wares was not "missing" as we had been told for years, but was in jail awaiting trial for fire setting.

Dolina, at age 27, departed on 26 May 1906, from Glasgow, with a destination port of Montreal, Canada. The manifest for this record is on the "Numidian", of the Steamship Line, Allan Line, Royal Mail Steamers and State Line. United States Immigration records show that she arrived in Quebec on 6 June 1906 with a final destination of Duluth Minnesota, and had a ticket paid for by her brother who lived in Duluth, Minnesota. What must she have felt traveling to a new country alone, with a small infant, leaving her other children behind ?Although she had left four young children in Scotland, and had to find a new life in the United States to support them and the child she had brought over with her, and there were offers to adopt her children at the foundling home, she would not allow any of them to be adopted. Dolina was finally able to send for the children and they sailed to Canada on June 27, 1908 from Glasgow aboard the “S.S.Ionian”, scheduled to land on July 5, 1908 in Quebec. Johan (my mother) was only four years old at the time, but they traveled with a large number of children from the orphan home that were being escorted to Canada for adoption/farm work. After being quarantined in the children’s hospital for some type of communicable disease, they were put on a train to Sault Ste Marie, on the Ontario Canada/Michigan USA border, then onto another train to Duluth, Minnesota.For a number of years she lived the “city life” in Duluth, Minnesota but eventually moved to the state of Washington. 

In Washington, she purchased land in the San Juan Islands and began farming sheep. The farm was surrounded on two sides by the sea, and the terrain was rocky and hilly. The area was without electricity, sewer, or city water. Unbeknownst to me, this was in many ways a return to what she had known all her young life and it was not until I saw the seashore, hills and rocks of the highlands that I know what she must have felt toward this land. It was not an easy life for a woman and she worked hard to keep it going, many times not being sure where the next seed money would come from. She never returned to Scotland and this farm is where she lived until her death in 1966 at the age of 88 years.

As of 2009, all of her siblings and children are now gone but there are many of us still continuing the lives that they brought to the United States.There is much to be admired of her strength both physically and mentally, many would consider her accomplishments “small” in a lifetime, but she stands in my eyes as a person to be much admired.

Submitted by Lucy M. Abbott (Campbell, Wares, McKay)

Finlay McDonald & Eliza Anderson

Photograph shows baby Florence Pelton with her mother Janet McDonald, wife of Lionel James Pelton. 

Florence was born in Ontario, great, great, great granddaughter of Finlay and Elizabeth.  She writes:

Let me tell you about Finlay (Philip) McDonald and his wife, Elizaberth Anderson.  The Old Parish Records for Lairg indicate that Finlay, son of Angus McDonald and Ann Ross, was born 9 November 1774, at Auldersbreach (there are various spellings). He was baptised at Aulderbreck later moving to Breac-Leathaid, (another croft, about 5 miles north of the town of Lairg., about a mile east of Dalchork and about a mile to the south of Loch Beannach (Ordance survey grid ref NC 592102 ) and east of the River Shin.

We have been unable to determine who Elizabeth Anderson was. There was an Elizabeth Anderson b 17 Feb 1771, daughter of James Anderson & Janet Kirkwood of Old Kilpatrick, Dunbarton, Scotland. Was she the wife of Finlay McDonald, we have no way of knowing, but the naming pattern and the dates fit. We believe that Finlay was a shepherd for the Duke of Sutherland and possibly at the large farm at Shinness, part of the Sutherland Estate.

News from kin (in Canada) in letters home must have been good, as by 1830, Eliza and Finlay and 5 children set sail for the wilderrness district of Zorra (Ontario) in Canada. Prior to leaving for their new home, Finlay, Eliza and family were at Achtomlinie (Lairg) where a brother, William McDonald and his wife, Lily and family were then living. Finlay and Eliza left Scotland by sailing ship, possibly embarking from a seaport in northern Sutherland or Caithness, sailing around the top of Scotland and toward their port of entry in the Province of Quebec. What a journey that must have been, having cut off all ties with the life they had known, and setting out for a far-away land. Firstly, the long and dangerous sea voyage, then sighting land and going past Nova Scotia, where their only kin in Canada were living, sailing up the St. Lawrence River for an interminable period of time and landing at Montreal with still almost a thousand miles from their destination. It is believed that they knew where they were going and so transferred themselves and their belongings to open Durham Boats for the trip through the rapids of the St. Lawrence River and on toward Kingston, Ontario. There they would have boarded a sailing vessel that would take them to, perhaps, Burlington, Ontario. From there, they would have walked the planked Governor’s Road to the village of Thamesford, Ontario, thence northward from the Thames River in the township of Nissouri. Or, perhaps. they could have purchased an oxen and cart to help carry their worldly goods, but arrive they did at their chosen land and immediately Finlay wrote a letter to the Provincial Government - said letter is on file at the Provincial Archives in Toronto.

"Nissouri, Zorra
18 January 1831
Sir:
As I am an Emigrant, newly from Scotland, unacquainted with the Rules and Regulations of this country, I put up a shanty, a few days ago, upon the 12 Lot in the 14 Conception, Ni Zorra, which is Clergy lot. I am willing to comply with all the Rules and Regulations as the Bearer will inform you of.
I am your most obedient servant
Finlay McDonald
To: Mr. Robinson, Clergy Office, York". (Note: his penmanship was quite beautiful)

Their land was a Clergy Reserve of 114 acres. And fine land, it was, too, with the Silver Creek winding it’s way to the Thames River. Although covered with bush, the land was excellent and is still today a prosperous and well maintained property. The huge task of clearing the land began at once, and a log cabin was built replacing the shanty, then a home replaced the log cabin. Finally, a second section was added to the house, which stands today. 

Finlay, had beautiful auburn hair, which he wore long, and each night after the day’s work was done, Eliza would brush his hair and braid it into a pony tail, When James married and brought his wife to the farm to live, Eliza said that she would like a small house for herself, to be built on the west side of their property. The stones of the foundation can be seen today.

It is not known where Finland and Eliza are buried, but it is thought that they are both buried in a favourite spot, by the flowing water at the west side of their farm. There are no makers to indicate a grave. This is strange, as before their deaths, a small cemetery was opened about a mile south of their property, The Town Line Cemetery. Their names are not listed as being buried in the cemetery. Finlay baptised 9 November 1774 died on or about 12 August 1843 in East Nissouri Township in Oxford County, Ontario. Eliza, born circa 1771, died before census taking in 1861.

Finlay and Eliza had 7 children born to them in Scotland at Breaklead and/or Dalnessie.
ANN born 1803, married the boy next door, Archibald McCaul
ROBERT born 1805 - emigrated to Nova Scotia in 1825 where he was enjoying a new and prosperous life
ANGUS born 1806, elected to stay in Scotland and marry his sweetheart, Margaret McColl. Some 20 years later they emigrated to Australia.
JAMES born 1809, died 1885, who married Jennet MacKay from Clunal, Lairg, Sutherland
WILLIAM, born 1811, married Elisabeth McNaughton and lived near Stratford, Ontario
HUGH born 1816, died 1866, married Catherine McDonald and lived nearby
JANET born 1817, died 1876, married Donald McArthur and lived in the Township of East Nissouri in Oxford County.
There were 62 grandchildren.
The descendants of Flnlay and Eliza spread throughout the world: to Australia, to New Zealand, to Maritimes of Canada, as well as to the United States as well as other parts of the world.
They prospered in the main, and added greatly to the population and economy of the New World.
from Florence Pelton Patterson, Ontario.

Hugh Sutherland & Christy Mackenzie

Hugh Sutherland born 1804 in Torsaid, near Rogart, son of Alexander Sutherland and Elspet McKay, married circa 1829 in Sutherland, Christian (Christy) McKenzie born 1805 Rogart, daughter of Kenneth McKenzie and another Elspet McKay. Hugh had three siblings: William, Janet and Catherine all born Rogart. Christy had six siblings: James, Jane, Alexander, John, Elspet and Margaret also born at Rogart.

Following their marriage Christy and Hugh lived at Craggybeg, Rogart, and later, at Morness, Rogart. Their second son, Alexander was born at Morness, the home of Christy’s parents, the McKenzies. According to the 1831 Rogart Emigrant’s List, Hugh and Christian with their two sons, John and Alexander, left Craggybeg and emigrated to Canada in a party of ten which included Hugh’s brother, William Weymus. They settled in Oxford County, Canada, between Thamesford and Embro, Ontario.

I have been unable to find a death record for Christy’s father, Alexander McKenzie. Apparently he died before 1830 as according to the 1830’s Rogart Emigrant’s List, Christy’s mother, Elspet (McKay) McKenzie, listed as a widow from Morness, emigrated to Canada. She left with a party of seven which included three of her sons, James, Alexander and John and they settled near Embro, Ontario. The early census in Oxford County indicates that Hugh Sutherland purchased 114 acres of land from the Canada Company which he cleared and built a log house. Later the log house was replaced by a stone house.

Hugh Sutherland and Christy McKenzie had thirteen children. The first two were born in Rogart, and the other eleven were born in Canada: John b 1830,Alexander b 1831, Margaret b circa 1832, Elizabeth b 1834, Jane b circa 1836, Katherine b circa 1837, Kenneth b 1838, Grant b 1841 (my Great Grandmother), John S. 1842, Mary Ann b circa 1843,William b 1846,James b 1847 and Marion b 1849. Hugh Sutherland died in 1871 and his wife Christy (McKenzie) Sutherland died in 1877. They are buried in the North Embro Cemetery, West Zorra Township.

Following Hugh’s death, the farm was left to his son, William on the condition that Christy would have a home there, money to support herself and a ride to church on Sundays. She lived with William until her death in 1877. William remained on the farm and his niece, Elizabeth Hall and her husband, Hugh G. Mitchell continued to live with him. Elizabeth was the daughter of William’s sister, Margaret Sutherland and her husband, James Hall.

When William died in 1904, the farm was purchased by Elizabeth and Hugh. Elizabeth (Hall) Mitchell died in 1929. Her husband, Hugh Mitchell continued to farm the property until his death in 1943, over one hundred years after Elizabeth’s Grandfather, Hugh Sutherland, acquired the property of one hundred and fourteen acres from the Canada Company.
My two grandsons, ages five and seven, are the youngest descendants in my family of Christy McKenzie and Hugh Sutherland. They are great, great, great, great grandsons.

The photograph above shows the stone built house which replaced the original log cabin built by Hugh Sutherland.

From Jean Hammond, Ontario

George Munro & Agnes Fraser

George Munro, youngest son to James Munro and Williamina (Mina) Corbett was born on 6th February 1875 at Oldshoremore, Eddrachillis. He sailed on the “Ruahine's” maiden voyage to New Zealand on 25th November 1910, to commence work as a Police Constable at the Mount Cook Police Station, Wellington. 

Prior to his departure George was a Police Constable at Leith, Edinburgh, following a career in the Black Watch Regiment which saw him serve in the Boer War and India. Whilst at Leith, George married a Sutherlandshire lass, Angusina (Agnes) Fraser on June 10th, 1903. Agnes was the daughter of Thomas Fraser and Janet McKay and she was born on 29th April, 1878 at Achlyness, Eddrachillis.

When George had left for New Zealand, until the following year when she too would sail to join him, Agnes and their four young children stayed in Achlyness to live with her widowed mother Janet Fraser. With the other grandparents James and Mina Munro's home further along the road this would be a very special time for the family. Living in the Highlands mountain countryside at Achlyness over looking Loch Inchard, collecting peat for the fires, spending time with their grandparents and cousins was a huge contrast to living in Leith where the streets were lined with grey stone tenament housing.
Agnes and the four children - Mina, Janet McKay (Net), Thomas Fraser (Tom) and Jemima Agnes (Mimie), left Achlyness by coach to travel the 40 miles to Lairg where they caught the train to London. They all sat on top of the coach, drawn by two horses, and the driver sat up front according to Mina's recorded childhood memories made on tape. The train from Lairg took them to London where they boarded the New Zealand Shipping Company ship "Rotorua" on 28th October for Wellington. The sea voyage took 6 weeks and 2 days.

The Munro family resided in Wellington only a short time before George was transferred to the Dunedin North Police Station and later to the Roslyn Police Station. Two more children were born in Dunedin, Georgina Fraser Munro and Iain Fraser Munro. George later became Arms Officer at the Dunedin Central Police Station and he retired from the Police Force in July 1935. They were very long standing members of the Kaikorai Presbyterian Church in Dunedin. 

George was a noted performer on the bagpipes and in his youth was a successful competitor in Scottish national dances. His Henderson bagpipes were mounted with silver in South Africa for twenty- seven pounds - this amount was told through the generations. Son Thomas and grandson George both played the same bagpipes with success. George won the New Zealand Piping Championship in Dunedin in 1911, and Hokitika the following year. George and his elder son Thomas (Tom) competed in various competitions winning many championships. After George withdrew from active competition his services were in great demand as a judge, and he was recognised as one of the most capable officials in New Zealand.

George Munro was a foundation member of the Dunedin Scottish Society being elected Chieftain in 1928. He was the Official Piper of the Society for many years and the only President until his death. "The Munro Tartan was adopted as the Badge of the aforesaid Society. Whenever the Tartan is available Rosettes will be made for the Office Bearers and as the years roll on this mark of esteem will be a living Monument to the memory of Mr Munro." This motion was presented framed to Mr G Munro.
George Munro died on 13th February 1936 and is buried in the Anderson’s Bay Cemetery, Dunedin. Agnes was buried there following her death in 1944. 

"From the number of persons who attended the funeral of Mr George Munro on Sunday it was evident that he was held in high esteem by all sections of the community. A total of about 150 cars followed the cortege. The service was at his home. The pall bearers were members of the City Police Force. Pipers led the cortege to the main street playing 'Lord Lovat's Lament." Mr White, a former member of the Black Watch Regiment, dropped a Red Heckle on the casket, after which Mr John M'Donald, patron of Scottish Society, of which Mr Munro was it's first and only president, dropped a sprig of heather, and he was followed in turn by each member of the Scottish Society's executive".

Their descendants live here (New Zealand) and abroad; many having visited Sutherland. Mimie married Alec Fletcher from Skye and their youngest granddaughter Michelle has danced at the Edinburgh Tattoo twice.
Information from Ann Munro, New Zealand

Further information came to us: 

Anderson's Bay Cemetery, Dunedin, Otago

In Loving Memory of George Munro, born Oldshoremore, Sutherlandshire, Scotland, 6th February 1875, died at Dunedin 13th February 1936. Also his beloved wife Agnes Fraser died 22nd march 1944 aged 66 years . At rest. And their sons SGT/P Thomas Fraser Munro, killed in action, aged 35 years; CPL Iain Fraser Munro killed in action aged 25 years.

Agnes was Angusina Fraser who was born at Achlyness, Kinlochbervie,Sutherland on 29th April 1878. Thomas was born in Edinburgh and Iain in New Zealand, only sons killed in WW2.

Transcribed by Zelda Matheson, New Zealand and sent to us by George Munro, grandson of the above George

John Mackenzie & Elizabeth Clark

John Mackenzie (McKenzie) was born in Rogart, son of Donald Mackenzie and Elizabeth Murray. John was said to be a gamekeeper.  John married Elizabeth Clark in Clyne on 28 May 1851 (SCR). Elizabeth was born at Sciberscross, Clyne, daughter of William Clark and Elizabeth Brown.

John and Elizabeth left on 14th July 1855 for Australia. They sailed to Australia aboard the ship ‘Balmaguith’ out of Portsmouth, England. According to ship records John gave his profession as shepherd, that he could read and write and that he was sponsored by Sir James McBain for whom he was to manage properties in Australia. With John and Elizabeth went their two year old son Hugh. During the journey to Australia their second child Janet was born on board. Also travelling with them were two sisters of John.

When Sir James McBain lost the lease of the lands on Wyuma Station, Victoria, in the early 1870s John with his eldest son Hugh selected 320 acres each where the town of St. Germains is today.

During his life at Wyuma, John was very involved in civic matters, being a magistrate, a member of the road board and having a seat on the Commission of peace. He was also a guardian under the Aboriginal Board. He was known to the local Aborigines as ‘Cash John’ due to his position on the board and his duties of distributing material and essentials to them.

John died suddenly in 1885. Elizabeth outlived him by several years. She spent many years in Geelong, Victoria, before she died in 1912 at the age of 90. They are buried in Echucha cemetery.

Their eldest son HUGH MACKENZIE born 13th December 1853 Rogart [died 4th August 1942] – “Hugh arrived in South Australia in 1855 when his father was appointed manager of Glencoe station in the Mount Gambier district; the family moved to (Sir) James MacBain's Wyuna station, near Kyabram, Victoria, in 1865. Educated at the Murchison local school and Scotch College, Melbourne, Hugh was an overseer at Wyuna from 1869 until the early 1870s. In 1877, with Laurence Kickham, he opened a profitable general store at Undera, south-east of Echuca. In 1878 Hugh married Margaret Jane Mitchell and they had six children. Following his marriage Hugh opened a livery stable at Echuca with his brother-in-law Edward Mitchell, but he soon joined J. M. Chanter in a stock and station agency. The Murray River Stock Station & Agency Co., formed by a merger in 1889, was forced into liquidation in 1892, but Mackenzie, undaunted, immediately joined the Echuca auctioneer, Thomas Copp, to form the Echuca stock and station agency, Mackenzie & Co. He, and later his sons, managed the business until its acquisition by Young husband Ltd in 1939. Hugh’s political life began in 1882 when he joined the Echuca Borough Council; he served fourteen years as councillor, with two terms as mayor (1883-84, 1903-04).

In 1904 he won the Legislative Assembly seat of Rodney as a Liberal and represented the electorate (usually polling about 70 per cent of the Echuca vote) until his defeat by the Victorian Farmers' Union candidate John Allan in 1917. He was president of the Board of Lands and Works and commissioner of crown lands and survey in the Murray and the Watt governments (1909-13) and minister of railways and of water supply and vice-president of the Board of Lands and Works in 1915-17 under Peacock. McKenzie was important in developing closer settlement policy. In May 1910 he headed an overseas mission in an attempt to attract 6000 settlers skilled in irrigation. Ironically, his defeat in November 1917 was largely caused by his steadfast support for the controversial clause 69 of the Closer Settlement Act (1912) which made title to the land conditional upon residence. In Echuca, however, it was widely considered that he had revealed 'true greatness' by sacrificing 'place and position for a principle'. Hugh's involvement in community affairs included membership of the Farmers & Citizens Trustee Co., Bendigo, the Echuca Agricultural Society, the board of management of the Echuca Presbyterian Church and the technical college council. A justice of the peace, he founded the Echuca branch of the Australian Natives' Association in 1886 and was a captain in the Echuca volunteer militia. He also served terms as president of the Echuca Gentlemen's Club, Fathers' Association and Hospital Board and as chief of the Caledonian Society. A tall, distinguished-looking man, Mackenzie was noted for his 'kindly, sympathetic and understanding nature'. When he died at Echuca on 4 August 1942 the town hall flag was flown at half mast while the town mourned the passing of its 'Grand Old Man'. Survived by three sons and a daughter, he was buried in Echuca cemetery”.
Further information.

Winifred York, Cairns, Australia.

Roderick Mackay & Catherine Fraser

RODERICK HUGH MACKAY was born 8th July 1883 at Droman, Eddrachillis, son of John Mackay and Barbara Macleod. Leaving Glasgow on 10th April 1909 on board the 'Hesperance' of the Allan Line, he had $50 on arrival in Halifax, Nova Scotia on 18th April.  Ticket #1202 listed him as a farm labourer with final destination of Halifax.  As he was British, he was a preferred immigrant. The story told by him, was that he was anticipating a job on a fishing boat in Halifax.  However, during the crossing, the fishing boat sank, and with it his hope of a job.  Once in Halifax, he was offered a train ticket to Fort William by the Salvation Army with promise of a job in the bush camps.  He and his four fellow travellers, accepted the offer.  Only he remained in Canada.  The others eventually returned to Scotland.  In the census of 1911 he was working for the Grand Trunk Elevator in Fort William, Ontario. 

In January 1919, he returned to Scotland to marry Catherine Fraser, whom he had not seen for 10 years. They sailed from Liverpool on Aug 8, 1919 heading to Montreal on the Megantic.  He is listed as a returning Canadian.  The went back to Fort William where they spent the rest of their lives.  He was a millwright for Paterson Grain Elevators in Fort William (now called Thunder Bay).

Roderick died 16 Dec 1972. He is buried in Mountain View cemetery beside his wife, Catherine. His son is buried in Stanley cemetery, near Thunder Bay, as is one of his grandsons.  His daughter is buried in Mountain View Cemetery, as is one of his great-grandchildren.

CATHERINE FRASER was born 17th December 1885 at Kinlochbervie, Eddrachillis, daughter of Robert Fraser and Dolina Graham. Catherine sailed with her husband, Roderick  MacKay, aboard the S.S. Megantic (White Star Line) from Liverpool on Aug 8, 1919 arriving in Quebec on Aug 15, 1919 at 10:30 p.m. and landing in Montreal on the 16th of August 1919 at 12 a.m.   The ship carried a total of 978 passengers.

Family history reports that Catherine worked at Sandringham for the royal couple as a pastry chef.  The story is that on leaving, she received a gold sovereign and a commemorative cup and saucer. By 1919, she was working as a nurse in Aldershot and she continued nursing when she immigrated to Canada.  In 1919 she was married to Roderick MacKay  in Anderston Parish Church, Glasgow.  They went back to Kinlochbervie for a visit before leaving for Canada according to Catherine’s sister-in-law who was a youngster in school under the tutelage of Catherine’s sister, Miss Elizabeth Fraser.  This would be Catherine’s last visit to her home.

In Canada, she worked as a nurse and as a sideline, she made and decorated wedding cakes. She suffered a cerebral haemorrhage in 1960 which left her without a memory of recent events or people.  She spent her last days at Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital in what would now be the geriatric ward.  Catherine died 30 May 1961. Buried in Mountview Cemetery, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada.

Information from Beth Stewart, Ontario, Canada 

Robert Campbell

I have been researching my great grandmother's family from Melvich, Farr (used to be classified as Reay, Caithness).  Elizabeth (Bessie) and Robert Campbell emigrated to Australia under the Island and Highland Emigration Scheme in 1853.  Their sister Janet (Jessie) emigrated around 1860. Their parents were Williamina and Colin Campbell.  Colin and Williamina were married in Farr, Sutherland in 1819. They had eleven children, all born in Reay, Caithness.  In the 1841 census the family are living in Melvich and Colin is listed as a fisherman.  In 1851 Colin is listed as a crofter.  In 1861 Williamina is listed as a fisherman's widow.  Williamina died in 1862 and her parents are listed as Hugh Campbell and Jane Sutherland.
I live in Ballarat (Victoria, Australia) where Robert mined for gold.  Unfortunately he was tragically killed in a mining accident on August 6th 1861 and is buried in the Ballarat Old Cemetery.  His sister Elizabeth or Bessie is also buried with him and the reference "Our Mother" on the tombstone is for her. Elizabeth lived in Ballarat until she was 80 and died in 1904,  She married John Hampson and they had nine daughters.  I was excited to find the stone and facinated by the wording with it's reference to Sutherlandhshire.
I am sending a photograph of the stone which has been damaged and is on the ground.
It would be lovely to trace any family still living in the area and any information would be appreciated.
Kind regards,
Rosalie Darby

Cathel Macleod & Mary Macaskill

CATHEL MACLEOD (c1885-14/12/1969) married MARY REID MACASKILL (c1898- post 1969)

Cathel was born in Assynt, son of Alexander Macleod, general merchant, and Ann Matheson (DC).
Mary was not born in Sutherland but she is the daughter of Alexander Macaskill of Balchladich, Assynt, and his wife Alice Reid of Glasgow.
In 1919 Cathel and Mary married in Glasgow.  They then went to New Zealand.
In 1869 Cathel died, aged 84 years, a master mariner, ex serviceman, in Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand, usual address Penzance Road, Mairangi Bay (DC). 

Their children Alistair, Cathel, Ann, Donald and Roderick were born in New Zealand.
Information from Sandy Perry, Australia.