SUTHERLAND, MURRAY in Clyne & Kildonan

Greetings from New Zealand. I very much value this group as it has facilitated a connection with a descendant of my Helmsdale family who lives in Australia. I have also had a number of important links completed with advice and information from other members. Thank you so much everyone, it gives me a wonderful sense of belonging to this distant place – home of many of my ancestors. I have a deep sense of yearning to visit the places that “my people” walked and am looking forward to visiting Scotland in the near future.

My interests are

William SUTHERLAND born abt. 1768 – Clyne and his wife Anne MURRAY (nothing known)

Their son – Hector SUTHERLAND born 17 Apr 1808, Ardochie, Clyne – died 15 Aug 1887, Helmsdale

Hector’s wife – Jane McGREGOR born abt 1816, Wick – died 29 Mar 1899, Helmsdale

Hector and Jane had 10 children.

My family line is descended from Alexander Sutherland born April 1841 in Helmsdale – died in NZ – has zillions of descendants

He maintained contact with his brother William McGregor Sutherland who died rich and famous in Australia but whose line has died out.

I am very keen to follow the rest of the family and particularly would like to know whether some of this Sutherland line remain in Helmsdale.

Charlotte Sutherland born 11 Jun 1836 in Helmsdale – looking for more details

John Sutherland born 6 Sep 1842 in Helmsdale – looking for more details

Anne Sutherland born 1845 in Helmsdale – unmarried in 1891 so probably died without descendants

Margaret Sutherland born 1851 in Helmsdale – looking for more details

Donald Sutherland born 1853 in Helmsdale – looking for more details

Three of the other siblings died without descendants

Thank you again to all of the members and the wonderful contribution made by Christine Stokes. You’re fantastic!

Christine McDonald 

New Zealand

(ref EM0015)

MACKAY, MACKENZIE, SUTHERLAND, Rogart

Kenneth McKenzie married Elspet MacKay sometime around 1800 (can find no record), they went on to have seven children. From Malcolm's list from the Sutherland Estate papers for 1830 it lists under MacKenzie, Widow, Brachu of Morness, (Rogart) left in party of seven 1830, so Kenneth died between 1819 and 1830.

On the 1901 census a daughter Margaret is listed as emigrating in 1830, she was born 1819 in Morness, as were all the children. On the 1851 census for her son Alexander and his family, she is listed as widow age 80. There is a burial for the Old Log Church cemetery (Ontario), In Memory of Elizabeth wife of Kenneth McKENZIE who died July 14, 1856 aged 69 years. Now that age sure isn't correct, but wonder how long it was after her death that a stone was put up. There is an Alexander McKenzie buried beside her which I believe to be her son. I have no information on these two prior to 1800 in Rogart.

NOW - the Sutherland side - know even less. Alexander Sutherland married Elspet MacKay (yes they each married an Elspet MacKay) can find no marriage. I have a Catherine born 1795 in Torised, nothing more on her. Weymess born 1800 in Torriside. I don't know if this one belongs or not as Janet was baptised Nov 8 1804 in Rovy but on the same page of the OPR their is a son not named (believed to be Hugh) Dec 26th at Torsaid. Were there two Alexander Sutherlands that each married an Elspet MacKay? Quite possible.

We know that Weymess and Hugh came on to Canada, Weymess now being called William W. Hugh Sutherland (unnamed Sutherland) married Christina McKenzie somewhere around 1830 and had at least one son born in Melness in 1831, wonder if they took over the croft after Elspet and family headed to Canada in 1830.

This may/may not be the same Hugh -

taken from the Sutherland Estate Papers for Rogart - List of Emigrants - thanks to Dr. Malcolm Bangor-Jones, SUTHERLAND Hugh, Craggybeg, left in party of ten 1831. If this is the same Hugh then why does it say Craggybeg? A daughter Margaret was born to the above Hugh and Christy abt. 1832 in Canada. Taken from correspondence from John MacDonald to Jean Hammond. Craggybeg, Morness, West Langwell are all districts of our upper parish, still lived in. West Langwell was not touched by the evictions, not being under the Sutherland estates. Craggy became very heavy populated when people were cleared of strath Brora. Morness was something like Langwell, left alone.There were a lot of Sutherlands in these places.

Now for a stretch of the imagination on Alexander Sutherland. I have found an Alexander Sutherland married to an Isabel Grant from Golspie, again cannot find any marriage. They turn up in the 1841 and 1851 census with a family living around Achnaluachrach on one and West Langwell on another, but both areas are on the same page. By 1861 Alexander is not there, and can find no death for him from 1855. Bell died in 1881 age 86 at West Langwell widow of Alexander, with parents of Robert Grant, dec and Catherine Grant, MS Grant, dec. Now my question. Could this be the same Alexander that was married to Elspet MacKay, and he fudged his age a bit? Am wondering if the first wife died and he found this Isabel Grant (Golspie according to census) to help with the children. We know that Hugh and Christy's fifth daughter was called Grant - maybe after her.

On the death certificate of one of Grant's sons her name is listed as Mary (Grant) Sutherland, and the informant was my grandmother and the doc was her nephew, but that is the only reference to that name and everything else just lists her name as Grant. I know this is a stretch of the imagination, but welcome any thoughts.

Eleanor Haggarty

Ontario

SUTHERLAND, FRASER, MURRAY & MACKAY

In the 5 years I have been associated with this list I have been thrilled to find many distant relations among our members. Through their help I am researching the following families;
John SUTHERLAND (Colin) & Eppy BRUCE( b.1767 Strathbrora) of Kildonan, Gartymore, Loth & some descendants (namely Donald my ggg-grandfather) eventually settled in Doll,Clyne;

Oliver FRASER b.c.1755 & Barbara MACAULEY of Helmsdale, Loth;

William SUTHERLAND, Miller of Clyne & Margaret SUTHERLAND of Doll, parents of Margaret b.1790, Clyne (my ggg-grandmother);

William SUTHERLAND (Deuchary) & Betty MACKAY of Clyne, parents of Helen b.c.1826-1829 who married...John MURRAY (Bonesetter) of Doll,Clyne, born between 1828 -1831 illegitimate son Jane MURRAY d/o Alex MURRAY and a George MURRAY (cannot find him);

John SUTHERLAND married in 1846 Janet MURRAY, d/o Hugh MURRAY and Louisa MCLEOD;

George MURRAY & (not married) Ann ROSS, b.1825 d/o John ROSS, of Creich-parents of David MURRAY b.1853;

Alexander MACKAY b.c.1766 & Esther MURRAY of Dalchalm, Clyne;

Donald MACKAY & Helen MCANGUS b.1783, and his sibling Janet and William MACKAY of Fearn, Ross moved to Portgower Loth circa 1830.

Thanks to all for your help and companionship over the years.

Eileen Jefferies
Ontario

SUTHERLAND (Davy) & MACRAE, Clyne & Golspie

As one of the native highlanders of Sutherland I had better put pen to paper, so to speak.

I am related to several folk who have already listed here. Carole Anderson has posted a fairly full Sutherland Davy tree which is my maternal granny's line and Ian Polley from Vancouver has also posted. He and I pursue similar brick walls.

Dave Macrae has posted the Macrae line - my maternal grandfather was a Macrae - one of the blessings of this group has been to establish family contacts.

Morag & George Sutherland

Brora, Clyne

SUTHERLAND, MACKAY, MACBEATH

My name is Iain Sutherland in Yorkshire, England, brother of Mona Black in Queensland, Australia. I try and find the dead folk while Mona works out who taught them so well!

Our Mum, Margaret Robertson, was a side School Teacher at West Langwell School near Rogart in the 1930s. Photo on the left shows Margaret as a ten year old. John MacDonald's excellent book on Rogart has mention of our Robertsons and Macbeaths from Rogart. An article our Mum wrote a long time ago has been posted on the List "The Job Was Mine for Forty Pounds a Year" - would aTeacher work for that now?

Many people in Clyne in particular owe an unacknowledged debt to Mona, who about 17 years ago, asked Jackie Maclennan, then the Registrar, to look into our Family history. The work which he did was later given out by the late Willie Gunn and I have seen two exact copies on my visits to Brora. I was even refused sight of one because "Willie gave me it"! I must admit I find this hilarious particularly as the same gentleman gladly took the information I freely gave him and has since given talks based on both.

Our family begins with John Sutherland marrying Henrietta Mackay of Rogart around 1800. Henrietta's parents were John Mackay and Merron Matheson who I cannot trace in 1805. It appears that John and Henrietta were at Ladies Loch, Clyne, on a croft to be occupied by descendants till the 1930s. John's son married Jessie Bannerman from the croft next door and in turn their son John married Margaret MacBeath of Rogart. Son Donald did as his forefathers had and married a Rogart lass, our Mum.

James MacBeath, "soldier 2nd S.F.R.", married Ann MacBeath of Reisk, Kildonan, in March 1798. They were cleared from Reisk in 1813. The next mention I have of James is his death around 1830. His son Neil was at the Doll, Clyne, with his Mother in 1841. He married Margaret Ross. Both are buried in Clyne Kirkton.

One of their sons, James or Jamus, in John's book married twice - once to Christina Sutherland then as a widower to Margaret Sutherland who's Mother was Christina Grant of Achnaggarin, Rogart.

The Reid family were at Crakaig, Loth from before 1830 till the 1930s. Williamina Reid nee Gunn married to Gordon Reid was the daughter of William Gunn and Janet Gilchrist. Williamina died in 1869 aged 100. In 1841 William Reid married Catherine Swanson of Kilmote, Loth and their son Donald was our Mum's Grandfather. Another child, Catherine, married another James MacBeath and through this union we are related to both MacBeath lines in the Doll.

Kenneth Robertson, born in Kiltarlity, was a coach driver for the Duke of Sutherland's Factor and lived for a time in Golspie. He was in Rogart having seen war service but with a bad leg in 1917 and is in the photo on Christine's Site. Kenneth's wife Minnie was born near Croy. She died in Rogart and both are buried in Rogart Cemetary.

Iain Sutherland

Yorkshire, England

MACKAY, MURRAY, BRUCE, GRAY, GILLANDER, Dornoch, Rogart, Clyne

I was born in Helmsdale, Kildonan, Sutherland and my father was born in Golspie. All my Sutherland researches are finding his ancestors (and mine of course).

Researching:
1) McKAYS of the Doll Clyne, descended from John Mackay and Janet Murray of Loth probably Lothmore.
2) MACKAYS of Inchcape and Muie Rogart - interested in all Inchcape families.
3) MURRAYS of Achnagarrin, Rogart and Fleuchary, Dornoch
4) BRUCES descended from Alexander Bruce/Mary Ann or Marion Ross of Rogart/Dornoch parishes
5) GRAYS of Skibo and Evelix Dornoch - in fact researching all GRAY families in Sutherland.
6) GILLANDERS - Donald Gillanders and Margaret (Peggy) Campbell originally fron Contin, Ross and Cromarty, but recorded in several censuses in Sutherland where Donald was a shepherd. Believed to have emigrated with their large family post 1881 perhaps to Canada - my main BRICK WALL - found one son in Canada but did they all go there? Their eldest daughter Ann Gillanders who was my great grandmother is the only one of the family who remained in Scotland. She married Alexander Mackay of the Doll, Brora

A pilot officer W. Gillanders visited one of my great aunts in 1943 - can anyone in Canada tell me if it is possible to access WW2 records?

Presently researching all Mackay/McKay families in Sutherland - I must be mad!!!

Sheila Mackay

Edinburgh

SUTHERLAND (Davie) in Brora, Clyne

I’m still trying to find my Sutherland (Davie) forbears. I have managed to trace them back to John Sutherland b 1803, died before 1841. He was born in Brora, Clyne, and was a fisherman. His parents were Donald Sutherland and Anne Grant, I have no birth dates or marriage dates for them. I find myself unable to get back any further.

The history of the family is that of fisher folk from Brora with some marriages with the fisher folk from Golspie. The fishing communities were a very close knit and as a rule did not intermingle with non fisher folk. My folk abandoned the sea in the early years of 20th century. The younger family members emigrating to Canada . Only Morag remains in Brora to help with my quest.

Ian Polley

Vancouver . BC

MACLEOD & POLSON, Cayn, Clyne

I am still searching for the McLeod - Polson connection from Cayn. I have Hugh McLeod married Lizzy Polson. They had the following children: John, Catherine and twins William and Joseph.They were all born between 1785 and 1793.
William and Joseph lived at Marrel, Loth. John is the only one I have not got information about, so any leads gratefully received.

Graham McLeod
Christchurch, New Zealand

MELVILLE in Golspie and Clyne

I am researching the following:

Melvilles of the Doll, Clyne and Melvilles of Golspie plus Interested in Melvilles of Loth and Kildonan and related families.

Many families connected to the Melvilles in Golspie and Clyne – Sutherland, Matheson, Munro, McBeath, Gordon to name but a few.

Also researching Frasers and Rosses of Rosehall (Creich) area and their North West connections; Blacks and Turners who came with the sheep and joined the family. Pope families of Sutherland, Caithness and Easter Ross. Gunns of Corrish and Arichliney in Upper Kildonan.

Also the local history of Golspie, Doll and Brora areas.

Allan C Lannon
Thurso, Caithness

MURRAY, Clyne & MACKAY, Rogart

My main research interests are in Clyne and Rogart.
Researching in Clyne.
Andrew MURRAY b.c. 1770/Christy BRUCE b.c. 1770 had three children:-
William MURRAY b.c. 1795 married Catherine MACLEOD b.c. 1790
James MURRAY b.c. 1797 married Ann GUNN b. 1798
Benjamin Williamson MURRAY b. 1804 married Helen ANDERSON b. 1805
Grant MURRAY b. 1824 son of William and Catherine married Jane Murray b. 1826 daughter of James and Ann [cousins]. They were my G G Grandparents.
Researching in Rogart, Inchcape.
Neil MACKAY b.c. 1762/Christina MATHESON had a son
Alexander MACKAY b.c. 1795 married Ann SUTHERLAND b.c. 1791 and their son
Neil MACKAY b. 1819 married Margaret SUTHERLAND b. 1818 and their son
Alexander MACKAY b. 1846 married Jane MURRAY b. 1834
They were my G Grandparents.
I have got lots of information to share.

Isabella McGregor
Fife, Scotland