CAMPBELL, MACKAY, MORRISON, SUTHERLAND, WEIR

I have been researching my father's maternal side for the last year. My ggg grandfather William Weir was a shepherd from Roxburgh who walked north with a flock of sheep to Durness around 1800. His family married into the Grange Campbells and also the MacKay Chief's of Sutherland. I was fortunate enough to find a cousin in Australia who had researched this line right back to Robert the Bruce. I went to Inverness Library to have this verified by their genealogist and he was thrilled to bits to be able to work on this research, as he had studied the famous MacKays in great depth, saying that I should be honoured to be connected with such "gallant and formidable men".

I am still trying to trace 2 granduncles both born in Assynt. I know that their brother John Spence Weir emigrated to the Falkland Islands in 1875 and then onto Australia in 1879. I got this also from a cousin. I cannot trace Hugh Weir born 1845 and William Weir born 1847. I think they might have emigrated with brother John. I can find them on IGI as born in Assynt and they are mentioned in IGI under South West Pacific in Wellington. Does any one on list know of some of the boats that sailed to New Zealand around 1875-1885.

I am now turning my attention to my father's paternal side. My grandfather John Morrison was born in Badcall Inchard, Eddrachillis, in 1868 and had a brother John Sutherland Morrison born 1870. They were the sons of Murdoch Morrison (who I believe was blind) and Jane Sutherland. Any help gratefully received.

Many thanks to Christine for her wonderful cemetery list. I believe most of Balnakeil Cemetery in Durness is full of my relies.

Muriel Vass

Alness, Ross-shire

MORRISON, FLEMING, FRASER in Eddrachillis

My list is primarily but not exclusively Eddrachillis:

My grandmother Mary Morrison 1870-1951 was born in Oldshoremore of parents Donald Morrison and Johan Fraser (Rhiconich) and then moved to Upper Badcall.

My grandfather James Fleming b1875-1945 was of the Fanagmore Flemings but born in Wick to Kenneth Fleming and Elizabeth Bremner of Sarclet.

Great grandparents are Alexander Fleming 1786-1885 and his wife Margaret Sutherland from Berriedale, Caithness whose parents were John Sutherland and Margaret Bruce. I would like to hear from anyone who knows of siblings for Margaret apart from Merran.

Alexander Bremner 1804-1882, Sarclet, Caithness and Ann Wilson 1798-1868 from Orphir, Orkney. I know a lot about these two if anyone wants information.

Robert Morrison 1806- 884, Balchrick,/Oldshore beg son of John and Mary Morrison and his wife Mary/Dolly Gunn 1811-1875 from Strathy of Farr, daughter of Elizabeth McLeod and Donald Gunn

Murdo Fraser 1802-1876 Achlyness son of Robert Fraser and Mary Mackenzie and his wife Alexandrina (Lexy) Mackay 1813-1900 daughter of Hugh Mackay and Catherine Mackay

Marion Johan Quillan, née Fleming,

Renfrewshire, Scotland

MACKAY, MORRISON, MCBEATH, MANSON & others

My main interests are MACKAY/MORRISON/ MCBEATH from Skerray, Tongue - also some from Lairg
MANSON - originally from Tongue (this also includes Mackay from Strathnaver)
MORRISON/FALCONER/ MACKAY/MACASKILL - Scourie/Kinlochbervie/Durness.

Fiona Mackay
Scotland

MACLEOD in Eddrachillis, Handa Island & MACRAE in Assynt

Macleod in Eddrachillis

All my people on my mother's side of the family came from Oldshore in the Kinlochbervie area.I was born in Kinlochbervie and went to school for the first four years at Oldshoremore School. I have lots of details on the people from this area that I am willing to share with anyone.

The Macleod's in my family originally came from Handa Island, Eddrachilles and in the 1841 census of Handa the household had the following people in it: George MacLeod, 60 years (my G/G/G/Grandfather), Ann Macleod, 55 years, (she was born in Ireland), John MacLeod, 25 years, Margaret MacLeod, 25 years, Robert MacLeod, 20 years, (My G/G/Grandfather). Robert Macleod must have left Handa prior to 1846 as he married a Mary MacKay at Kinlochbervie and their first child was born in 1847.

Handa Island had 12 families in the 1841 census and due to the potato famine they asked to be taken off the island. Most of the families went to Canada on the "Ellen" that left Loch Laxford on 22 May 1848. On the passenger list of the "Ellen" there was a family of George MacLeod, Nancy Macleod and Margaret Macleod. I am not sure if this is my people or not. I cannot find them in Scotland after 1841 and it may be that Nancy was written down in the ships's records instead of Ann. (I cannot recall seeing any other Nancy's in those days).

If anyone else has connections with Handa I would be delighted to hear from them.

Macrae in Assynt

My G/G/Grandmother was a Janet Macrae, born 1823 at Assynt, daughter of John Macrae and Isabella Macrae or Macrae. Janet was married to a Hugh MacPherson from Ardmore and she died on 6th September 1899 at Ardmore. In the 1851 census, Janet is shown living with an Alexander and Chirsty Sinclair (both born in Assynt) at Ardmore. She was their niece. A Duncan Macrae 19 years, a nephew of the Sinclairs, was also living at Ardmore in the same house. I know that there were another family of Macrae in Ardmore at the same time but I am not sure what the relationship was between Janet and them. Would love to find out.

Thanks

Hector MacRae

Bonar Bridge, Sutherland

SIMPSON, TOUGH, MACDONALD, MACKAY in Eddrachillis, Lairg & Rogart

Hello, These are the folks and places that I'm researching.

The TOUGH line originated from Stirling - William TOUGH (b.1794 d.1880) m. Lillias CULLEN (b. c1793 d. 1880).
The SIMPSON line came to Scourie, Eddrachillis from Tain, Ross & Cromarty - Alexander SIMPSON (b. c1774 d.1863); Fa: Alexander SIMPSON m. Elizabeth CLARKE (b. c1775 d.1855; parents were Alexander CLARKE and Elizabeth ROSS).
John SIMPSON, (b.1808 d.1888; Tain, Ross and Cromarty and Eddrachillis) was the son of Alexander SIMPSON and Elizabeth CLARKE. He married Ann Cullen TOUGH (b. ~ 1824 Gargunnock, Stirling; d. 1903 Nairn). Their children include John SIMPSON (b. 12 May 1853; Scourie, d. 1918 Balmoral, Manitoba, Canada) who married Catherine MACDONALD (b. 1853 m.10 Feb 1882; Scourie, d. 1932 Balmoral, Manitoba, Canada).
The MACDONALD/MACKAY line from Lairg (Torroble) Donald MACDONALD (?--bef. 1851) m. Marion MACKAY (b. ~ 1778 d.1870; Fa: William MACKAY, Mo: Jane MATHESON).
Children: Donald (b. ~ 1803 d.1888), William (b.~ 1805 d.1880) and Jane (b. ~ 1805 d.1891).
I'm currently trying to determine when/where Donald MACDONALD died, I have not been able to locate this family definitively on the 1841 census. His wife is listed in the 1851 Census (house no. 23; Torroble, Parish of Lairg) as a widow and lotter.
Alexander MACKAY (b. ~ 1779 d.1872 East Langwell, Rogart; Fa.Alexander, Mo: Christina) m. Catharine MACKAY (b. 1788 d.1866; Fa.William).
Children include Merran Mackay (b. 1816 (Langwell, Rogart) d. 1865(Scourie) who married Donald MACDONALD (b. 1803 (Lairg) d.1888(Scourie), son of Donald MACDONALD above).
Any information on connections to these families would be welcome.
Thanks
Donna Marie Bilkovic
Virginia, USA