William Murray & Mary Seaman

William Bell MURRAY [born 18/8/1856]
married
Mary SEAMAN
William was born in Dornoch, son of Donald Murray and Mary Bell. He died in Norwich, England.

Elspet Murray & George Macaulay

George Macaulay

[28/77/1864-30/8/1956]
married
Elspet Murray

[5/5/1860-11/9/1930]

Elspet is the daughter of Walter Murray and Elspet Macintosh. Her sister, Robina, married George's brother. George was born in Lairg, son of Donald Macaulay and Barbara Mackay. Elspet and George, who was a policeman in Dornoch, lived at Gruids, Lairg. In 1901 George, now a farmer, Elspet and their 1 year old daughter, Elspet, were at Gruids, Lairg. Their house had 4 rooms with one or more windows. Elspet Murray died at Hillside, Dornoch in 1930. George died in 1956 at Greenford, Middlesex. Their daughter, Elspet (Elsie), born 1900, lived in West Ealing, London. She died in 1997 in London. She is buried with her parents in Lairg.

Ann MURRAY & Robert MACKAY

Ann MURRAY
[30/9/1858-2/3/1941]
married
Robert MACKAY
[31/5/1866-2/5/1936]

Ann (Annie) is the daughter of Walter Murray and Elspet Macintosh of Fourpenny, Dornoch. Robert was born in Loth, son of George Mackay, farm servant, and Janet Mackay. Annie and Robert married in Glasgow on 9 January 1891. Robert was said to be a police constable in Paisley at that time. In 1895 when their son Walter was born he was a railway platelayer. He was described on his death certificate as a carting contractor. Annie and Robert both died at Balloan Cottage, Dornoch, and are buried in Dornoch with Annie’s parents.
They had the following children:
Walter Murray MACKAY, born 7th January 1895 Paisley] [died 9th April 1917] – Walter fought with the 1st/5th Seaforth Highlanders in France. He died in France during World War One and is buried in Plot 1, Row A, Grave 15, Roclincourt Military Cemetery, Arras, France.
JANET MACKAY (Jessie) born circa 1893
GEORGE MACKAY born ? [died 5 January 1956 Winnipeg, Canada] (NT) – “Off to the Land of the Maple Leaf - Mr. George Mackay, Balloan, son of Mr. Robert Mackay has left for Canada” (NT 10/6/1920)

William MURRAY & Isabella LESLIE

William MURRAY
[7/3/1855-18/8/1927]
married
ISABELLA LESLIE
[born 15/4/1857]

William was born at Fourpenny, Dornoch, son of Walter Murray and Elspet Macintosh. He married Isabella Leslie in Inverness on 20 October 1899. William was described as a farmer from Fourpenny at his marriage and Isabella was a domestic servant living at Douglas Support, Coatbridge. Isabella is the daughter of John Leslie, crofter and Jane Sutherland of Dornoch. William and Isabella then left Sutherland for Canada where it is known they had a daughter, Elsie.

William died at his home in Vancouver on 18 August 1927. William had been a store keeper. He had been in the province for six years and had been in Canada for 22 years. William is buried in the Ocean View Cemetery and also remembered on his parents gravestone in Dornoch. An obituary appeared in the ‘Northern Times’ in Sutherland which included the lines: “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”. Obit shown in full on his parents reference.

Alexanderina MURRAY & John ROSS

Alexanderina MURRAY
[1854-3/5/1926]
married
John ROSS
[21/10/1856-6/3/1944]

Alexanderina (Lexy) is the daughter of Walter Murray and Elspet Macintosh of Fourpenny, Dornoch. John Ross was born at Tarbat, Ross & Cromarty. The 1881 census shows an Alexa Murray of the same age working as a domestic servant in Dornoch town. In 1891 she was a housemaid at the Deanery, Dornoch - this Alexa? Lexy and John kept a bakery in Dornoch High Street. They had no children. In 1901 John, a grocer, and Alexa were living in High Street, Dornoch. They are buried together in Dornoch .

Robina MURRAY & Neil MACAULAY

Robina MURRAY
6/8/1851-post 1930
married
Neil MACAULAY
[20/11/1857-31/12/1929]

Robina is the daughter of Walter Murray and Elspet Macintosh of Fourpenny, Dornoch. Neil is the son of Donald Macaulay and Barbara Mackay of Gruids, Lairg. The 1901 census shows Neil and Robina living in Dog Street, Dornoch where Neil was a domestic gardener. Their children Hughina and Walter were with them. Robina and Neil emigrated to Canada.

Obituary from Northern Times, 27th Feb 1930: "Canadian papers recently to hand record the death of Mr Neil Macaulay, brother of Mr George Macaulay, Hillside, Dornoch. This sad event took place very suddenly at this home 329 Arnold Ave., Winnipeg on 31st December last and in his 73rd year. He was buried on 4th January in Elmwood Cemetery, Winnipeg. An impressive funeral service was conducted by the Rev. F J. Price of Rosedale United Church, Winnipeg. The late Mr Macaulay belonged to Gruids, Lairg. He was a well known and respected citizen of Dornoch when for some years prior to 1912 he was employed with the late Llewylen Hacon at Oversteps. He married a daughter of the late Walter Murray, Fourpenny, and in order to find a wider sphere for his abilities, he with his wife and family emigrated to Canada about eighteen years ago. From 1912 to 1927 he was steadily employed in the Fort Rouge railway works, Winnipeg, and in the latter year he had to retire from active service with the company owing to his having reached the age limit. He always kept alive a strong affection for his native county and retained it to the end. To his sorrowing widow, son and daughter, we expend our sympathy in their sad bereavement".
Neil and Robina had two children:
HUGHINA MACAULAY born 19th June 1892 Glencassley, Rosehall, Creich
WALTER MACAULAY born 20th May 1894 Glencassley, Rosehall, Creich

Isabella MURRAY & George MATHESON

Isabella MURRAY
[c1848-9/2/1925]
married
George MATHESON
[c1845-1/3/1931]

Isabella was born in Hertfordshire, England, daughter of Walter Murray and Elspet Macintosh. Her father was born at Rhemusaig but later moved to Fourpenny Farm, Dornoch, where Isabella was brought up. George Kennedy Matheson, carpenter, is the son of Alexander Matheson and Helen Sutherland. George and Isabella married on 26 December 1872 at Dornoch.

In 1881 at the census George and Isabella were in Dornoch with their children. They were still living in Castle Street, Dornoch in 1891 and 1901. Isabella Murray died at Dornoch on 9 February 1925. 'Our readers will regret to learn of the death of Mrs. Matheson, wife of our respected townsman, Mr. George Matheson, Castle Street. The late Mrs. Matheson got ill about three weeks ago and passed away on Monday night. She resided in Dornoch practically all her long life and endeared herself to a wide circle of friends amongst whom she will be sadly missed. To her husband and family we extend our sympathy in their sore bereavement. The funeral took place on Wednesday and was largely attended” (NT 12/2/1925).

George and Isabella had the following children:
MARY KENNEDY MATHESON 10 March 1875, Clashmore, Dornoch [died 11 September 1951 Dornoch] – 1881 census with parents – 1891 census with parents – 1901 census at home with parents, a teacher in Rearquhar school
GEORGE MATHESON born 23 July 1877, Dornoch – 1881 census with parents – 1891 census with parents – 1901 census at home with parents
ELSPET MATHESON born circa 1879 Dornoch – 1881 census with parents
HELEN MATHESON (Nellie), born 12 May 1882 Dornoch – 1891 census with parents – 1901 census at home with parents - Nellie, a spinster, stayed at home and looked after her parents until their deaths
WALTER MATHESON born 9 September 1885, Dornoch [died 13 November 1916, France] – 1891 census with parents – 1901 census at home with parents - Walter Matheson fought and died in France during World War One as Private Walter Matheson, 241331, 5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders - Walter is commemorated by name on Pier 15, Face C of the Thiepval Memorial, Picardy, France. This memorial commemorates by names 72,000 British soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle of the Somme. This battle began at 7.28am precisely on 1 July 1916 when 17 mines were exploded under the German front line. Exactly two minutes later 60,000 soldiers weighed down with heavy packs, gas masks, rifles and bayonets staggered out of their trenches and over the top! By the end of that dreadful day 21,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers lay dead in the poppy fields of northern France. Another 40,000 men were wounded. By the time the battle ended in November 420,000 British soldiers had died. At a service in Thiepval in 1996 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the battle the Reverend William Scott said "Never had so many men walked so confidently to a certain death".
ALEXANDER MATHESON (Sandy) born 18 May 1888, Dornoch [died 22 January 1945 Dornoch] – 1891 census with parents – 1901 census at home with parents - badly wounded in World War One

Catherine MURRAY & George GRANT

Catherine MURRAY
[c1845-11/3/1938]
married
George GRANT
[9/10/1832-2/6/1920]

Catherine is the daughter of Walter Murray and Elspet Macintosh. George was born in Dornoch, son of William Grant and Ann Gunn. George and Catherine married in Inverness on 10 February 1871. They lived at Evelix, Dornoch, where George was a carpenter and farmer. In 1881 the family were living next to George’s widowed mother. In 1891 the parents and all their surviving children were living at Evelix Cottages, Dornoch. Their house had 7 rooms with windows. In 1901 all the children were still living at home this time at Clashmore Wood.

George Grant died in 1920 and was buried in Dornoch. “There passed away at his home on 2 June at Evelix Cottage, Dornoch, a well known and highly respected citizen of the county in the person of Mr. George Grant, joiner and builder. During the 50 years he was in business Mr. Grant carried out most important contracts in his line of business. Mr. Grant was 87 years of age and for the last few years was confined to the house. The funeral took place on Friday to Dornoch Churchyard” (NT 10/6/1920). Catherine died in 1938 and is buried with George.

They had the following children:
ANNIE GRANT (Catherine) born 4 January 1872 Dornoch [died 1948] – 1881, 91 & 1901 census at home with parents
WILLIAM GRANT born 7 December 1873 Dornoch [died 22 December 1945 Church Street, Dornoch] [married Louisa Macdonald] – 1881, 91 & 1901 census at home with parents - William was a joiner like his father
ELSPET GRANT born 17 June 1875 Dornoch – 1881, 91 & 1901 census at home with parents
CHRISTINA GRANT born August 1877 Dornoch [died 20 June 1880 Dornoch]
WALTERINA GRANT born 29 August 1879 Dornoch [died 23 May 1946 Evelix] [married Alexander James Campbell] – 1881, 91 & 1901 census at home with parents
CHRISTINA GRANT born 14 January 1882 Dornoch [died 6 November 1930 North Lodge, West Park, Dundee] [married Alexander Cowieson on 26 September 1913 at Evelix, Dornoch – Alexander, from Haddington, East Lothian, was born circa 1881, son of Alexander Cowieson, gardener and Mary Ann Murray] – 1881, 91 & 1901 census at home with parents
MARGARET GRANT born 15 March 1887 Dornoch [died 1 August 1887 Dornoch] – 1881 census with parents
ROBINA GRANT (Bertie) born 27 November 1883 Dornoch [died 27 September 1919 Evelix Cottage, Dornoch - dressmaker – single] – 1881, 91 & 1901 census at home with parents
THOMAS GRANT born 17 May 1888 Dornoch [died 29 October 1918] – 1881, 91 & 1901 census at home with parents - Tommy fought in France during World War One – Pioneer T. Grant WF/10224, 317th Royal Construction Co., Royal Engineers and is buried in Plot 4, Row K, Grave 24, Abbeville communal Cemetery Extensions, France. Tommy died in 3rd Australian General Hospital, Abbeville from bronchopneumonia.
JOHN GRANT born 17 May 1888 Dornoch [died post 1945] – 1881, 91 & 1901 census at home with parents

Alexander MURRAY & Isabella ROSS

Alexander MURRAY
[11/2/1872-2/2/1943]
married
ISABELLA ROSS
[4/12/1884-20/12/1967]

Alexander was born at Bank, Rogart, son of Paul Murray and Jane Ross. Isabella was born at Proncy Croy, Dornoch, daughter of John Ross, crofter of Proncy, Dornoch and Christina Mackay. Alexander and Isabella married at the Pittentrail Inn, Rogart, on 8th June 1911. Alexander was a railway platelayer at the time of his marriage and Isabella was a domestic servant living at working at Pittentrail, Rogart.

Alexander died at Bank, Rogart, in 1943. He is buried with Isabella in Rogart.
They had the following children:
WILLIAM JOHN MURRAY, born 6th October 1912 Bank, Rogart [died 28 May 1926 – buried with parents]
DAVID ALEXANDER MURRAY born 17th June 1915 Bank, Rogart [died 10th March 1995, Inverness – retired railway station master] [married Elspeth Ann Macdonald - David was a railway signalman of Bank, Rogart, at the time of his marriage]
PAUL ROSS MURRAY born 1st March 1924 Bank, Rogart [died 3rd March 1990 at Edinburgh – retired Railway Manager] [married Mary Burnett] – had a son also named Paul Murray