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

ROSS & MACKAY Kildonan

John ROSS, miller, Kildonan, married 1795 to Elizabeth MACKAY.

Their children:

Ann ROSS (1795-1864) Kildonan married 1820 James SUTHERLAND - 9 children.

Murdoch ROSS (1797-) miller/farmer married Christina MACKAY 1827 in Latheron, Caithness Christina was born in Gibralter circa 1798, daughter of William MACKAY and Peggy SCANLEN - Murdoch and Christina had five sons and a daughter - several grandchildren.

Alexander ROSS (1799-) no information

Roderick ROSS (1800-) no information

Betty ROSS (1802-) no information

Christina ROSS (1804-1874) married John MACPHERSON - my line.

John ROSS (1806-1874) married Janet SUTHERLAND 1832 Halkirk Caithness - they had three children, Margaret 1836-1921, Donald b 1841, Janet b 1847 - Donald married Jane Leslie SHEPHERD, in Inverness 1878 - they had six children born in Caithness - Donald died 1908 in Caithness.

Donald ROSS (1808) no information

David ROSS (1811) no information

What happened to Alexander, Roderick, Betty, Donald and David? Any information welcome.

Pat Moreau
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

KERR in Drumbeg, Assynt & MACPHERSON in Farr and Durness

Searching for any information on the Kerrs of Drumbeg prior to 1800 plus similar on the Macphersons of Durness, prior to 1800.

William Mcpherson, born 1824 at Poul-Tigh-Keriken, Little Assynt, son of Neil Macpherson and Ann Fraser, and his wife Anne Kerr, born 1834 at Drumbeg, Assynt, daughter of Hugh Kerry and Mary Macleod, married 1857 in Assynt. William was a shepherd, and moved around quite a bit after mainly living in Ross and Cromarty. Some of their children, who were not born in Sutherland, due to William and Anne's unfortunate habit of not living in the same place for more than two years at a time are: Dolina, Robert, Murdoch, Neil, Colina and Mary - have information on the other three but would welcome info on these.

Peter Aikman

Chester, England

Photograph of William and Anne supplied by Peter.