Durness Parish Register - Part 2

[djct59]

BMAM73 - I presume you mean Angus MacKay MacEan'icIye (1749-1840), miller at Badlahavish, married to Barbara Manson from Reay on 16th November 1793 and interred with her at Arnaboll. That cemetery is virtually inaccessible now. The landowner makes it as difficult as possible to access it, even on foot. I've been there but it was not an easy trip.



The Angus MacKay, who was miller at Craigiemhulin and married to Catherine Morrison appears to be the same man, as he bears the same patronymic, has the same trade, and all his children with Catherine were born between 1778 and 1780. As you know, there is no record of their marriage in the parish register and his birth predates the birth records by fifteen years.

Skoosh: Yes, my 4x great-grandfather Thomas Mather was shepherd at Keavaig and his children were schooled at that very house.

[Skoosh]

A great place djct, I've stayed in it twice. Watched a school of whales from the Clo Mor to the east, highest mainland Scottish cliffs. The whales were right into the cliff below. Superb!

Bests,
Skoosh.

[Skoosh]

Flick the pics to show an outshot at the rear of the schoolhouse, teachers bedroom maybe?
 Kearvaig is a typical "But & Ben", facing south for the light (mebbes a wee bit out!) with the kitchen (the But) to the west to carry the heat through the house as the fire was never out! The "Ben" end also had a fire for occasional use & a wooden floor as opposed to the stone-flagged kitchen. A large family would need rooms in the loft or an extension which was generally added to the "Ben" and called the "Faur Ben!"
 Possibly that was the case at Kearvaig & it was later converted to a schoolhouse, hence the outshot & front entrance?

Skoosh.

[djct59]

Skoosh: That was the standard design, and is the same as the better documented (but now ruined) schoolhouse at Loch Croispol - https://www.academia.edu/1152284/The_School_at_Loch_Croispol_1730_-_1861_Durness_North_West_Sutherland_2010_

Part of the building was the teacher's living quarters, and the rest was the room for teaching, hence the need for two doors. The roof of the teacher's quarters was still extant when my Uncle John (b. 1921) was a boy.

[Skoosh]

Very interesting djct, so not a conversion, I wonder if there were kids in the lighthouse? An idyllic childhood, depending on the teacher? 
 Sadly I know folk who won't stay in Kearvaig due to the unfortunate business of the lassie who starved herself there a few years ago, you never know who you'll get for company in a bothy!
 The building of Kearvaig must have been epic & used a boat for timber, lime, slates & glass etc. All credit is due to the MBA for saving it! If it is as old as Loch Croispol it could be the oldest bothy in their care!

There is a poem which includes the line "There's Sangomore & Sangobeg!" if anybody can oblige?

Bests,
Skoosh.

[djct59]

The death was almost 20 years ago, but is a salutary lesson to anyone who thinks that you can live out there permanently without having developed real skills in fishing, crop growing and animal slaughter. In August 1887 the shepherd's house at Kearvaig was nearly wrecked by a direct lightning strike that injured Mitchell Mather and his grandchildren.

Capeside had a few small hamlets (Dall, Achiemore) and a population of perhaps 50-75, so it was easier to educate the shepherd's children there than expect them to cross the Kyle twice a day

[Headbutts]

Hi there,
Wondering if there are any Death records for around 1844 in the parish registers. I understand the Free Church had just started. Did they have any?

I am looking for the death of Donald MacKay (Maceanmacdholiuileamoig) born to John and ? in 1761. Married to Isobel MacKay in 1793 in StrathMelness and then in 1801To Sybella Thomson. I have him in the 1841 Census aged 80 Army P, but he is gone by 1851.

I was given about 1844 by a distant relation Donald here in NZ about 2005. I have lost touch with him which is a pity. Was there any local papers that may have mentioned him? Any other thoughts?

Cheers and Thanks 

[wilros]

Skoosh: Yes, my 4x great-grandfather Thomas Mather was shepherd at Keavaig and his children were schooled at that very house.

djct59,

My Durness cousins connect to a Thomas Mather (details below) but perhaps not the same Thomas? This Thomas was a shepherd at Balnaceil and at Balamhulich

(below are my transcriptions from the Durness Register pages written by Rev. John Thomson or Rev. William Findlater)

My 3x great grandfather John Ross
"1775 - Hugh Ross in Borley had John baptized upon 16th May"

John's younger sister Janet Ross
"Hugh Ross, alias macenicoun, tenant in Borley, Janet, 17 May 1778"

Janet Ross married Angus MacLeod
"1799 - Angus MacLeod, alias MacNeilishicloid in Clashneach, and Janet Ross, nin hustian macEanicoun in Achuchoran were married 10th December"

Baptism of their daughter Marion/Merran MacLeod
"Angus MacLeod, little tenent in Aultcoirefhreasgil, and his wife Janet Ross, Marion (Mary Ann) - 23 June 1803"

Marion/Merran MacLeod married Neil Dingwall
"1826 - Jan 26 At Borley Neil Dingwall Sangobeg and Merran McLeod dau. to Angus McLeod and Janet Ross Shepherd Achumore"

Neil Dingwall's baptism
"1800 - Alexander Dingwall a little farmer in Clashneach and Christian Mackay his wife had a child Baptized named Neil 18th December"

Neil Dingwall's sister Donaldina
"1803 - Alexander Dingwall in Cnocbreac, and his wife Christian Mackay, Dollie - 10 September"

Dolina Dingwall married John Mather
"1829 Feb'y 13 At Saingobeg John Mather son to Thos. Mather shep'd Balnakeil and Dolina Dingwall dau. of late Alex'r Dingwall Sangobeg"

John Mather, son of Thomas Mather
"1809 - Thomas Mathers Shepherd in Balnaceil and Janet Crawford his wife had a Son Baptised 25th May. His name is John."

Baptism of Edward Mathers, older brother of Thomas
"1806 - Thomas Mathers Shepherd in Balnaceill and Janet Crawford both from Northumberland had Edward Baptized 12th November"

Angi Lamb's index lists six children baptised by Thomas Mather and Janet Crawford between Edward Mather in 1806 and Margaret Mather in 1819.

Hope everyone is safe and healthy during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic over there in the UK, yours from Northern California,

[wr]

[wilros]

djct59,

btw, that's a very nice photo you posted of the loch croispol school house ruins. have you considered releasing some of your photos to the uk geograph project?  http://www.geograph.org.uk/

[wr]