Friday, 29 June 2007

Donald MURRAY & Margaret MACKAY

Donald MURRAY
[c1770-pre 1837]
married
Margaret MACKAY
[c1770-28/4/1837]
Donald Murray, a miller, was born at Sallach, Golspie, son of William Murray and Isabella Mackay. His parents were forced to move from Sallach around 1809 when the family settled at Rhemusaig and Kinnauld, Rogart. Donald and Margaret were both living at Auchspilly, Golspie, when they married on 9 February 1792 at Golspie. As can be seen from the birth places of their later children Donald and Margaret did not immediately move to Rhemusaig with his parents. Donald’s eldest son William married Catherine Grant and they did settle at Rhemusaig as soon as they married. They lived in a separate croft from William’s grandfather William.

I have always believed that Catherine Grant’s parents may have had connections with Rhemusaig as there were Grants living there before the Murray families arrived.

Donald Murray was certainly at Rhemusaig in 1812 when the Duchess of Sutherland issued eviction notices to the following persons there:

George Murray in Rhimusaig
Paul Macdonald there
John Macintosh there
Donald Murray there (this is Donald married to Margaret Mackay)
John Mackay, taylor there
William Murray, miller there (this is William married to Catherine Grant)
William Mackay, blacksmith there (this is actually William Mackay, Kinnauld)
Janet Maculloch there

Elspet Murray there
Elspet Macintosh relict of the deceased Robert Mackay there
Margaret Murray there (this is probably daughter of Donald and wife of James Grant)

All were summoned to appear before the Sheriff Depute in Dornoch. As we now know the Murrays were not evicted and I believe none of the others were either. The above list shows clearly the different crofts at Rhemusaig and Kinnauld.

Margaret Mackay died at Rhemusaig, Dornoch, at the home of her eldest son, William. The Parish Register states that “Margaret Mackay, relict of Donald Murray, late miller, died of decay of old age”. The register puts her age at 87 years but I question if that can be correct. Donald and Margaret went back to Golspie for burial. They are buried in St Andrew’s churchyard where only their names show on an old flat stone. They are buried with other Murray families around them.

They had at least the following children:
WILLIAM MURRAY, born 18 December 1792 Golspie [died 14 June 1858 Rhemusaig] [married Catherine Grant]
CHRISTINA MURRAY (Christy) born 25 February 1794 - the census shows a Christian Murray, born circa 1794 Golspie who in 1841 and 1851 was at Drummuie, Golspie - a pauper. In 1861 she was at Tiled House, Golspie, spinster and pauper. In 1871 she was at Tower Poor House, Golspie, a field worker and pauper. Is this Chirsty?
MARGARET MURRAY born circa 1795 [died 4 November 1843 Rhemusaig] [married James Grant]
JANE MURRAY (Jean), born 24 December 1801 Golspie
JANE MURRAY, born 1808 at Creich

Donald and Margaret are my three times great grandparents

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