Following my discovery in Feb of the Dornoch Council Minutes, I found that our ancestors Hugh Macdonald snr and Hugh Macdonald jnr are both recorded as holding the position of Sheriff Clerk of Sutherland also acting as Town Clerk of Dornoch, Hugh jnr taking over both posts when Hugh snr died in 1756. Apparently in Dornoch at that time the position of Town Clerk was not included in the re-election process, it was a position for life. the position of Sheriff clerk had opposition but Hugh jnr got the post .
MS 1483 (NLS) Dugald Gilchrist letters to John Mackenzie of Delvine:
Letter of 4-3-1756 (extract):
Mr McDonald sheriff clerk is by all appearance on his deathbed…..[candidates for his post] There are 2 countrymen at Edinburgh in the writing business, viz Donald Ross a son of a tacksman and an old caner of the Earl’s at Brora who wrote with Mr Davidson of Whitehouse, and William Sutherland aforesaid whose father is a tenant on the estate of Skelbo. There is a son of Mr McDonald’s likewise who lives at Chanry of good character. They all 3 understand Erse but I believe the first and the last I have mentioned have more the practice than William Sutherland.
Letter of 24-3-1756 (extract):
Mr Baillie at Ardmore informs me that Hugh McDonald’s son succeeds his father as sheriff clerk of Sutherland. His father made demission of the office in favour of his son a week or two before his death.
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I can't find any evidence of Hugh snr in Dornoch his son is recorded as living in Chanry (Chanonry) at the time of his fathers death.... I thought perhaps it would help if I knew what profession Hugh might have held.....
Thanks Patricia
