Hugh Kerr & Jannet MacKenzie

[KrisWilson]

However .... I note that Hugh's first child was Murdoch. Have you viewed Murdoch's baptism (and those of his siblings) to see whether or not the names of any witnesses are recorded? If so, they often provide clues to other members of the wider family. See screenshot.

If (and it's a big if) Hugh and Janet followed the naming tradition, I'd expect Hugh's parents' names to be Murdoch and Marion (Merran), and Janet's to be Alexander and Jean. Who registered the deaths of Hugh and Janet?

I just purchased Murdochs baptism and there is sadly no witnesses for any of the entries on the page, Murdochs line reads as follows:

April 18 - Murdoch Lawful son to Hugh Kerr + Jannet MacKenzie in Drumbaig

It's worth noting that Jannet MacKenzie/Kerrs death certificate aged 76 marks her as the illegitimate daughter of Christy MacKenzie with no father marked.

Although I did find this record on April 5 1801 (76 years from death) for Jannet natural daughter of Alexander MacKenzie cant quite make out the rest but I've attached the screenshot below.

So from that Alexander could be her father but it seems Christy was her mother, both of which were names of her children.

Out of interest, what is the naming convention for Sutherland? I know the one for Skye where a lot of my ancestors were from but even that convention changed a few times in my experience.

[Forfarian]

Jannet natural Dr of Alexr Mackenzie Servant to Mr Murdoch Mackenzie in Stronchrubie.

Stronchrubie is south-east of Loch Assynt - quite a long way from Stoer/Drumbeg/Culkein.

I'm not aware of there being local variations of the naming tradition. The standard version is

First daughter after mother's mother
Second daughter after father's mother
Third daughter after mother

First son after father's father
Second son after mother's father
Third son after father

Subsequent children after great-grandparents, uncles/aunts, other relatives, friends, minister/doctor/laird/schoolmaster/prominent citizen or their wives.

The most frequent variant is

First son after mother's father
Second son after father's father

First daughter after father's mother
Second daughter after mother's mother

and thereafter as the standard version.

[KrisWilson]

Thanks Forfarian, Stronchrubie does seem a bit far from Drumbeg so it may not be correct.

I take it nobody has compiled a list of the common surnames in Drumbeg/surrounding area? Seems like it may be down to a process of elimination now! It would be interesting to whittle down the Kerrs in the area maybe.

Thank you for the naming tradition, that's great to know.

[KrisWilson]

I have purchased the other marriages I found for Alexander MacKenzie and Anne McLeod and have listed the details. Apologies in advance for the misspelling of places, these are my best attempt at placenames in the first marriage, I've attached a screenshot below for reference of it.

1819 Marriage
Married at Badcaul? by Rev John MacKenzie Minister of Edrachylish?, Alexander MacKenzie Colinson? & Anne McLeod lawful daughter of Alexander McLeod in Drumbaig on Thurs 5 March 1819

1831 Marriage
Married at the manse of Assynt by Rev Charles Gordon Minister of Assynt on the 11 Jan 1831, Alexander MacKenzie & Anne McLeod both in Delphine.

1840 Marriage
Married at Store by Rev Peter Davidson, Alexander MacKenzie, Shoemaker, Baddydarach & Anne McLeod Torbreck on the 26th May 1840

I was wondering if the 1819 marriage could be a match because of the Drumbaig connection?