Saturday 30 June 2007

Walter MURRAY & Elspet MACINTOSH

Walter MURRAY
[3/2/1818-24/12/1890]
married
Elspet MACINTOSH
[28/4/1821-1/8/1896]
Walter was born at Rhemusaig, Rogart, the eldest child of William Murray and Catherine Grant. Walter and Elspet married on 1 December 1843 at Dornoch.
Elspet was born in Rogart daughter of Kenneth Macintosh and Catherine Douglas. Walter and Elspet lived at Culdrain, Rogart, for a time and it was there that their first child was born. Their second daughter, Isabella, was born in England in 1848 suggesting that they spent some time there. On their return to Sutherland they lived with Elspet's widowed mother, Catherine Douglas, in Rogart. The 1851 census shows them there. Walter worked as a railway labourer at this time. Sometime in the 1850s the family moved to a 24 acre farm at Fourpenny, Dornoch - the 1861 census shows them settled there. In 1871 Walter and Elspet's farm had reduced to 18 acres and they had a two-roomed croft house. In 1881 they gained another two acres and the house grew to seven rooms. Walter died in 1890 and is buried in Dornoch. In 1891 Elspet, a widow, continued to farm at Fourpenny until her death there in 1896.
Walter and Elspet had the following children:
CATHERINE MURRAY born circa 1846 Dornoch [died 11 March 1938, Dornoch [married George Grant] - in the 1861 census Catherine, was at Strahan, Dornoch, living with her aunt, Jane Macintosh
ISABELLA MURRAY born circa 1848 Hertfordshire, England [died 9 February 1925, Dornoch] [married George Matheson]
ROBINA MURRAY born 6 August 1852 Culdrain, Rogart [died after 1929 in Canada] [married Neil Macaulay] – 1871 census at home with parents
MARGARET MURRAY born 22 January 1853 Culdrain, Rogart [died 20 April 1885 Dornoch] - Margaret remained a spinster living at home. She is buried with her parents in Dornoch.
WILLIAM MURRAY, born 7 March 1855 Rogart [died 18th August 1927 Vancouver, Canada] [married Isabella Leslie] - 1871, 81 & 91 census at home - following his father's death in 1890 William took over the croft at Fourpenny and was there or a considerable time until he left for Canada where he died in 1927 - "The sad intelligence recently notified in the 'Northern Times' concerning the death of a highly respected son of Sutherland - Mr William Murray, late of Fourpenny - was a severe blow to many of his near relatives and friends. Mr Murray in his very early days, with his father, and a family of young girls, left Rogart and settled in Fourpenny, Dornoch. Subsequent to his father's death he occupied the Fourpenny Farm for a considerable time, but the call from the Golden West attracted him across the seas to Canada where he remained to the end. Many of us can still recall the fine qualities which constantly characterized the behaviour of William Murray - his transparent honesty, his touch of nobility in assisting his less fortunate fellows, and his big affection, made him a man of a genial personality and a lasting friend. Our deep sympathy is extended to his sorrowing family abroad and to his relatives at home" (NT 12/1/1928).
ALEXANDERINA MURRAY born 21 October 1856 Fourpenny Farm, Dornoch [died 6 March 1944 Dornoch] [married John Ross] – 1871 census at home with parents
ANN MURRAY (Annie) born 30 September 1858 Fourpenny Farm [died 2 March 1941 Dornoch] [married Robert Mackay] – 1871 & 81 census at home with parents
ELSPET MURRAY born 5 May 1860 Fourpenny Farm [died 11 September 1930 Hillside, Dornoch] [married George Macaulay] – 1871 & 81 census at home with parents

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