George MURRAY & 1) Isabella MATHESON 2) Helen MATHESON

George MURRAY
[20/2/1871-3/7/1937]
married
1) ISABELLA MATHESON
[died pre 1935]
2) HELEN C. MATHESON
[1883-28/4/1977]

George Murray, a master tailor, was born at Bank, Rogart, son of Paul Murray and Jane Ross. He was firstly married to Isabella Matheson.

George, a widower, married Helen Chalmers Matheson at the Ben Bhraggie Hotel, Golspie on 27th December 1935. At the time of this wedding George was living in Main Street, Golspie and Helen at Burgage Villa, Golspie. Helen is the daughter of Thomas Matheson and Grace B. Mackenzie. Less than two years after this marriage George died suddenly of heart disease at East End Golspie. Helen is buried with her parents in Golspie.

Catherine MURRAY married Alexander CUMMING

Catherine MURRAY
1830 - 13/4/1873]
married
Alexander CUMMING
[4/5/1831-21/1/1870]

Catherine was born at Rhemusaig, Rogart, daughter of James Murray and Elspat Mackay. Alexander, a farm servant at Rovie, Rogart, is the son of George Cumming, cooper, and Ann Taylor of Boydnie, Banffshire. Alexander and Catherine married in Rogart in 1854. They lived at Culmaily, Golspie, where Alexander was employed as a farm grieve. Catherine died there in 1870 leaving a very young family. Three years later Alexander passed away leaving the children orphans. They are buried in Golspie where the gravestone describes Alexander as “late of Boydnie, Banff”.

Catherine and Alexander had the following children:
ANN CUMMING born 12th June 1856 Golspie
ELSPET CUMMING born 22nd July 1857 Golspie
WILLIAM CUMMING born 25th October 1858 Golspie [married Janet Mackay]
GEORGINA CUMMING born 7th July 1860 Golspie – following the death of her parents lived with her Mackay grandmother at Rhemusaig
ALEXANDER CUMMING born 7th December 1862 Golspie – 1881 census working as an 18 year old servant at the Strachan Farm in Fordyce, Banff
JAMES CUMMING born 30th August 1864 Golspie – following the death of his parents lived with his 76 year old grandfather George Cumming at Little Craigherd, Boydnie, Banff – shown there in the 1881 census
AGNES MACPHERSON CUMMING born 6th December 1866 Golspie – 1881 census at High Shore, Banff, a servant aged 14
ROBERT CUMMING born 17th September 1868 Golspie – following the death of his parents lived with his 76 year old grandfather George Cumming at Little Craigherd, Boydnie, Banff – shown there in the 1881 census

Johan MURRAY & John BANNERMAN

Johan MURRAY [21/5/1840-30/1/1906]
married
John BANNERMAN [22/10/1833-9/5/1919]

Johan was born at Rhemusaig, Rogart, tenth child of William Murray and Catherine Grant. John was born at Backies, Golspie, son of Alexander Bannerman and Rose Matheson. Johan and John lived at Morvich, technically in Golspie parish but so close to the Rogart boundary that it is to all intents and purposes in Rogart (nowadays it is in Rogart). Morvich consisted of a lodge, gardener's house, a farm with farm house and cottages. John was a gardener and so probably lived in the gardener's house. They married at Rogart in a Free Church ceremony on 13 March 1863. In 1881 Johanna and John Bannerman were at Morvich with their children. John Bannerman was then a Farm Manager. Johan died at Tressady, Rogart, on 30 January 1906. John died, also at Tressady, in 1919. They are buried in St Callan's churchyard in Rogart close to Johan's parents - photograph of their gravestone above.
"There passed away after a short illness one of the most respected members of the community in the person of Mr. Bannerman, gardener, Tressady Lodge, at the ripe old age of 84. He served his apprenticeship at Dunrobin Gardens, was for many years in charge of Morvich Lodge and from there he faithfully discharged his duties for over 30 years. Mr Bannerman never came into the public limelight but carried out his duties in a quiet, unobrtrusive way and was held in high esteem". (Northern Times 22/5/1919).

Their daughters Ann and Rose continued to live in the area until their deaths and are buried in the new section at Rogart.

John and Johan had the following children:
William BANNERMAN, born 13 August 1863 Rhemusaig, Rogart [died 12 February 1950 Dublin] [married Marcella Mary Fox]
Alexander BANNERMAN born 21 July 1868 Morvich [died 14 May 1931 Glasgow [married firstly to Elizabeth Reid & secondly to Isabella Stewart] – 1881 census with parents
David BANNERMAN born 30 September 1871 Morvich [married Sarah Ellen Atkinson] – 1881 census with parents
Ann BANNERMAN (Annie) born 24 August 1873 Morvich [died 7 July 1932 Tressady, Rogart – death was reported in the Northern Times on 21st July 1932] – 1881 census with parents
Rose BANNERMAN born 5 August 1879 Morvich, Golspie – christened in Rogart Free Church [died 26 February 1963 Dalmore, Rogart] – 1881 census with parents

During my researches into this family I was most fortunate to find Margaret Slade, a direct descendant of son William. Margaret added greatly to my information on this part of my family. I had spent years searching in Dublin and finding little more than brick walls before Margaret found me!

Donald MURRAY & 1. Mary BELL 2. Elizabeth MACKAY

Donald MURRAY
[17/8/1828-28/12/1879]
married
1) MARY BELL
[13/7/1829-14/5/1859]
2) ELIZABETH MACKAY
[born 27/6/1829]

Donald was born at Rhemusaig, Rogart, fifth child of William Murray and Catherine Grant.
There is a fascinating story told in Rogart of Donald, as a young man, sitting on the parapet by the bridge at Pittentrail with two other young men one Sabbath evening. James Matheson ("Holy James") passed on his way to Rogart Free Church. The young men mocked him and he rebuked them telling them that "they would be sealed over water and would die by water". The young men laughed!

Donald married Mary Bell on 27 December 1855 at Rogart. Mary was born in Lairg, daughter of James Bell, shepherd, and Margaret Mackay. Sadly Mary died at Pittentrail, Rogart, in 1859 aged 29 years, mother of two children. Donald worked for the Postal Service as a mail guard/sorter on the railway - firstly he worked on the coach by which the railway mails were conveyed to Wick and Thurso before the extension of the railway network. The 1861 census shows Donald, a widower, working as a postrunner in Golspie village.
He and Mary had the following children:
WILLIAM MURRAY, born 18 August 1856, Dornoch (IGI) [died Norwich, England] [married Mary Seaman]
MARGARET MURRAY, born 20 May 1858 Rogart [died 8 December 1928 Renton, Dumbartonshire] [married George Matheson]

The widowed Donald married on 28th February 1866 in Golspie to Elizabeth Mackay, who was born in Old Kilpatrick, Dunbarton, daughter of Donald Mackay and Margaret Grant.
Donald and Elizabeth had the following children:
DONALD JOHN MURRAY, born 28 August 1869 Thurso, Caithness
WALTER HUGH MURRAY, born 10 April 1872 Thurso, Caithness [died 8 January 1941 at Johnston Avenue, Dundee] [married Catherine Williamson in 1897 in Dundee, daughter of Thomas Williamson, marine engineer and Catherine Brassel - Walter, a mercantile clerk, and Catherine had three children Donald, Constance and Ella. In the 1901 census the family were living at Commercial Street, Dundee. He and his wife died at Johnston Avenue, Dundee.

Donald’s elder children, William and Margaret, remained at Rhemusaig, Rogart, where they were looked after by their grandmother, Kate Grant, and their Uncle Sandy. Donald and Elizabeth moved again, this time to Dundee where they are shown in the Dundee Street Directory living at 13 South Ellen Street in 1878. Donald continued to work on the railways and was now a mail sorter and mail guard. South Ellen Street was situated about a ten minute walk from the railway station.

On the morning of Sunday, 28th December, 1879, Donald and Elizabeth were preparing to go to church when a colleague arrived to say they were short-staffed that day and requested that Donald work an extra shift. Donald changed from his church suit into his uniform. As the weather was particularly bad on this Sunday he wore two pairs of 'drawers', one cotton and one of plaiding; trousers of a yellow colour and a blue pilot jacket. On his head he wore the uniform cap with its gold lace and as always, his large watch on a silver chain. In his pocket he put his pass book and his keys. He said goodbye to his wife and children and left for work. His duties took him on the stretch of line between Dundee and Ladybank which lies midway between Cupar and Glenrothes in the heart of Fife.

The weather continued to deteriorate. A newspaper report later described it so - "Dundee was visited by one of the most fearful hurricanes which has ever been experienced in this neighbourhood." His journey to Ladybank was smooth and uneventful. The train on which he was to return to Dundee left Edinburgh at 4.15pm and headed for Granton where the passengers boarded the ferry for Burntisland (the Forth rail bridge was not built until 1890). The ferry then connected with the 5.27pm train from Burntisland to Dundee. As the train pulled out of Burntisland in the cold darkness there was a strong south-westerly wind. The train reached Ladybank on time and Donald boarded the train. Shortly after seven o'clock the train reached St Fort, a small station about two miles from the south end of the Tay Bridge, where the tickets were checked as usual. The ticket collector, William Friend, was an old friend of Donald. There were about 75 people on the train, including staff, at this point. As they were now only a few minutes from Dundee I imagine Donald had completed his work and was looking forward to home, supper and a warm fire. The weather was still dreadful and if anything had worsened since morning. The train slowed down for its approach on to the Tay Bridge. The wind had reached hurricane speeds and the river below was one sheet of white seething foam.

The train was seen to reach the high girders of the bridge. A few seconds later a gust of wind, more violent than any that had preceded it, was experienced and simultaneously spectators saw several flashes of fire descend from the bridge and disappear into the water. In one terrible moment columns, girders and train went down to the foaming river with not the faintest chance of survival for the victims.

Donald's body was never recovered. An article in the Dundee Advertiser of 31st December 1879 stated "........ in the north especially, where he [Donald] was a great favourite, his sad death will be heard of with much regret ......." It is interesting to note that not only did Donald die by water but I am assured that his two companions 'cursed' by the old man in Rogart, also died by water!

Elizabeth continued to live in 13 South Ellen Street, Dundee. She was recorded there in 1881 with her sons Donald and Walter. She also had two lodgers. In 1884 Margaret Murray, Donald’s daughter Margaret, by his first wife, married at Elizabeth’s house.

William MURRAY & Catherine GRANT

William MURRAY
[18/12/1792-14/6/1858]
married
Catherine GRANT
[1800-21/2/1894]

William was born in Golspie parish in 1792, the year of the sheep - Bliadhna nan Caorach - son of Donald Murray, a miller, and Margaret Mackay.

The 1813 Muster List of the Sutherland Local Militia shows a William Murray of Speelte, Golspie. A member of the Grenadier Company he is recorded as being 5'9½" tall. A later Militia List - 1824 reports "William Murray, miller, aged above 30. Grounds for exemption from militia force - poor and has children .........."

Catherine (Kate) Grant was born in Glasgow, daughter of Hector Grant and Janet Duff of Dornoch - I believe her father was in the army at that time. William and Kate married around 1817. They crofted three acres at Rhemusaig, Rogart. William was the miller at Rhemusaig as his grandfather and his father Donald were. The mill at Rhemusaig lay midway between the crofts at Rhemusaig and those at Kinnauld. Rhemusaig was earlier known as Reamusack. Members of this family lived at both places. There were in total approximately twelve crofts between the two places and these seem to have been inhabited mainly by members of the Murray, Mackay and Grant families - I believe Kate was related to those Grants but have yet to determine how. William's mother, Margaret Mackay, died at Rhemusaig in 1837. The family farmed at Rhemusaig for many years but for William life was short. He died, on the croft, on 14 June, 1858, aged 56 years. The cause of death was given as 'natural decay'. This is hardly surprising when we consider the life he had lived: born in the 'Year of the Sheep', mass clearances, famines, cholera and twelve children whom he had, against the most awful odds, kept alive, only to see most of them forced to leave his beloved Highlands. Following William's death in 1858, Kate continued to farm at Rhemusaig. In 1861 her grandchildren William and Margaret Murray, children of her son Donald, were with her. By 1871 the croft had grown to six acres and the house had five rooms. Her son Alexander remained at home with his mother - indeed, he never left Rhemusaig throughout his lifetime. Her grandaughter Margaret was still on the croft. Margaret's father, Donald Murray, lost his life in December 1879 when the Tay Bridge collapsed. By 1881 her son Alexander (my great grandfather) had married and his wife, Jane Mackenzie (my great grandmother), joined the household. Alexander and Jane's first child, William (my grandfather), lived with his Granny Mackenzie at Torbreck, Rogart. His younger sister, Bessie, was also sent to Granny Mackenzie's. The 1891 census shows Kate still alive, aged 90 years. She lived as a widow for over thirty-six years. She continued to croft at Rhemusaig with her son Alexander and daughter-in-law Jane, until her death, passing away on the evening of twenty-first February, 1894 aged 93 years. Her death certificate states cause of death as 'supposed chronic bronchitis and old age'. She is buried with William in St Callan's churchyard, Rogart - photograph of their gravestone above. In 1871, their son Alexander erected a stone in memory of his parents. Mr Alexander, Ground Officer of Rogart, wrote to the Sutherland Estates Office “Widow William Murray, 347 Rhimusaig died 21 February and leaves a grown up family which have all left except Alexander, a son, married and has been living in the house with his late mother and attending to the croft etc for many years.”

William and Kate had the following children:
WALTER MURRAY, born 3 February 1818 Rhemusaig, Rogart [married Elspet Macintosh] – at home with parents in 1841
JANET MURRAY (Jessie), born 25 April 1820 Rhemusaig, Rogart [married James Mackay] – at home with parents in 1841
MARGARET MURRAY, born 3 October 1822 Rhemusaig, Rogart – at home with parents in 1841
HECTOR MURRAY, born 27 February 1825 Rhemusaig, Rogart [married Isabella Munro) – at home with parents in 1841
DONALD MURRAY, born 17 August 1828 Rhemusaig, Rogart [married Mary Bell and Elizabeth Mackay] – at home with parents in 1841 & 1851
ANN MURRAY, born 1 December 1830 Rhemusaig, Rogart – at home with parents in 1841
CHRISTINA MURRAY (Christy), born 7 June 1833 Rhemusaig, Rogart [died 10 December 1908 Bonar Bridge] – at home with parents in 1841 & 1851 - when Christy died in 1908 she left the sum of £127. The probate details show that she was a “sometime” housekeeper at Braelangwell, Ardgay, lately residing at Bonar Bridge where she died. She did not leave a will but confirmation was granted to her brother Alexander Murray, crofter, Rhemusaig.
CATHERINE MURRAY, born 31 March 1836 Rhemusaig, Rogart [married Hugh Sutherland] – at home with parents in 1841 & 51
ALEXANDER MURRAY, born 24 April 1838 Rhemusaig, Rogart [married Jane Mackenzie] – at Rhemusaig through all census records from 1841 until his death – took over croft from mother at her death in 1894
JOHAN MURRAY, born 21 May 1840 Rhemusaig, Rogart [married John Bannerman] – at home with parents in 1841 & 51
DAVID MURRAY, born 22 June 1842 Rhemusaig, Rogart [died 8 July 1893 Dalmore, Rogart] [married Julia Macintosh] – at home with parents in 1851 & 61 – witness at his brother Paul’s son, George, wedding
PAUL MURRAY, born 1845 Rhemusaig, Rogart [married Jane Ross] – at home with parents in 1851 & 61

William and Kate are my two times Great Grandparents.

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

William MURRAY & Isabella MACKAY

William MURRAY
[26/8/1746-29/1/1827]
married
Isabella MACKAY
[c1753-24/5/1821]

William was born in 1746 at Sallach, (Sallachton) Golspie, son of a Donald Murray. Isabella is reputed to be the daughter of an Alexander Mackay.

Sallach or Sallachton, known as the muddy town, was in the area of Culmaily, Golspie. Around 1809 the Countess of Sutherland began the re-organisation of her estates. Kirkton, Culmaily and Drummuie were destined to become large modern farms. Prior to this the area had had numerous groups of small tenants who farmed such suitable parts of earth as they could find but the greater part of the area, including and in particular, Sallach, was marshy and badly in need of proper drainage. Young and Sellar, who the Countess had employed to action the modernisation, put forward plans for this area. To make their plans work they required to rid themselves of the many tenants, sub-tenants and cottars on the land. Colonel Sutherland held the wadset on part of Culmailie including the meal mill which was home to our Murray family. He did object but lost his land to the improvers. A census taken on the Culmaily area in 1810, at the beginning of the developments, showed a total of 253 persons had been cleared in 52 separate families. The 1810 Sutherland Militia List shows not one Murray at Sallach. Road contractors had moved in. Eventually the marsh land was drained and an embankment made at Loch Lundie to control the water. By 1813 families employed on the farm lived in stone-built cottages; the old black houses, one of which was the place of birth of William Murray, had been pulled down and the sooty turf used as manure.

What happened to all those families? We do know that William Murray, the miller at Sallach, together with brothers, sisters, and their families moved along Strathfleet to Kinnauld and Rhemusaig, on the edge of Rogart. They appear to have been fortunate to take over the milling there. They may also have been granted a free rent period for seven years. The wadset at Rhemsaig and Kinnauld was held for a time by Colonel Sutherland, the same man who had held the land at Culmaillie and Sallach. The mill at Rhemusaig was positioned between Kinnauld and Rhemusaig - a short distance of half a mile between the different croft houses. At that time both places came under Rogart parish but later were part of Dornoch parish before finally reverting to Rogart parish around 1891.

We do not yet know exactly when the Murrays and the Mackays moved to Kinnauld - some of the family, including William, seem to have gone down late in the eighteenth century before the improvements began. It is possible that one member of the family married into a family settled at Rhemusaig or Kinnauld and the others followed through the years. Rhemusaig and Kinnauld remained the home of this family for many, many years.

In 1841 and 1851 Catherine Murray, daughter of William's brother Robert, was shown living alone at Kinnauld and recorded as a pauper. The old Parish Register of Dornoch shows a death for Isable Mackay, an old woman, who died at Kinauld, on 24 May 1821. William died in 1827 at Rhemusaig.

William and Isabella had at least the following children:
DONALD MURRAY, born circa 1770 Golspie [married Margaret Mackay]
JAMES MURRAY, born 1786 [died 10 December 1869 Rhemusaig] [married Elspet Mackay]

William and Isabella are my four times great grandparents