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

William MURRAY & Elizabeth ROSS

William MURRAY

[12/3/1820-18/3/1912]

married

Elizabeth ROSS

[3/1816-13/2/1906]

William is the son of James Murray and Elspat Mackay of Rhemusaig. William and Elizabeth (Betsy) married on 28 May 1842 and soon after left Rogart for Canada. William died on 18 March 1912 aged 92 years and is buried with his beloved wife Betsy Ross in Knox Presbyterian Church, Harrington, Ontario. "There died at his home on Argyle Street, Embro, on March 18 one of the few remaining genuine pioneers of Zorra district, in the person of Mr W. Murray. Like many pioneers of the Zorras the late Mr Murray was a native of Sutherlandshire, Scotland, from which country he emigrated to Canada, seventy years ago, accompanied by his late wife. ..... The late Mr Murray was a man of many fine and admirable qualities, upright, honest and honourable. In all his dealings with his fellow man a good neighbour, kind, genial and generous, a true friend, and a good Godbearing man. Like most of the Scotch emigrants, who have made good in Western Ontario, his only asset to begin life with was a splendid physique, a clear head, and a brave heart. One of his distinguishing characteristics was a strong and indomitable will which stood him in good stead during the pioneer days. Being determined to make a success of everything he undertook and later in life he had the satisfaction of having built up and maintained a fine home, ever noted for his hosptality, from which the poor, the needy, or the weary, were never allowed to go unrefreshed. In the spring of 1845 Mr Murray settled on lot 33 con. 6 West Zorra, where he remained for more than forty-five years and where all but two of his large family of twelve children [six daughters and six sons] were born. Nine of his family still survive him, five sons and four daughters also, fifty-two grandchildren and about twenty-five great grandchildren. .... in the removal of this good old patriarch the community loses an ideal citizen, his family a kind, wise and loving father and the poor a never failing friend. The evening of life was spent in retirement and comfort in the village of Embro where he lived for the past twenty-one years. His end was peaceful and may his ashes rest in peace."

William and Elizabeth had the following children:
WILLIAM MURRAY born 1843 Canada [died 1843]
ELSIE MURRAY born 1844 Canada [died 1931]
JAMES MURRAY born 1845 Canada [died 1930]
MERRON MURRAY born 1846 Canada [died 1917]
ISABEL MURRAY born 1848 Canada [died 1934]
JOHN WILLIAM MURRAY born 1849 Canada [died 1914]
GEORGIANA MURRAY born 1851 Canada [died 1852]
ROBERT GEORGE MURRAY born 1853 Canada [died 1939]
DONALD MURRAY born 1855 Canada [died 1916]
HUGH ALEXANDER MURRAY born 1856 Canada [died 1934] [married Harriet Jane Meadows (1862-1900) in Ontario – they had a son James who married Christina Alice Macintosh – their only child, daughter Isabel married Mr Mills and their son John continues to research this family tree today
CHRISTINE MURRAY born 1860 Canada [died 1932].

A descendant of this family, Dorothy, lives in the USA and keeps in touch with me. Now, thanks to being able to view this information here a great, great, great grandson of William and Elizabeth had made contact.

Hector MURRAY & Isabella MUNRO

Hector MURRAY
[27/2/1825-1/3/1873]
married
Isabella MUNRO
[27/9/1824-22/12/1907]

Hector was born at Rhemusaig, Rogart, son of William Murray and Catherine Grant.
Isabella (Bell) was born in Creich, and at the time of the wedding was at Whiteface. She is the daughter of Hugh Munro and Janet Mackay. Hector and Isabella married on 10 December 1849 in Creich.
Hector worked as a blacksmith and appears to have moved about quite a bit. In 1851 the family were at Spinnngdale, Creich. By 1861 they had moved to the Farm Manager's House, Embo, Dornoch. The 1871 census shows them living at Oldtown, Brora, Clyne, in a three-roomed house. A granddaughter, Isabella Murray, one month old, born Dornoch, lived with the family – daughter of Isabella Murray. Hector died in 1873 at Gordonbush, Strathbrora, from smallpox from which he suffered for eight days. He is buried at Ascoile, Strathbrora where a gravestone was erected by Isabella and his children - photographed above. Sadly today this gravestone is broken and lies on the floor.

The 1881 census shows Isabella at Fascally, Clyne, with John and Alexander plus granddaughter Isabella, now 10 years old. The 1891 census shows Bell to be the keeper of the reading room at The Institute, Brora. She was assisted by her granddaughter Isabella. Isabella Munro died at North Brora in 1907.
Hector and Bell had the following children:
ISABELLA MURRAY, born circa 1850 Spinningdale [died 23 June 1914 Golspie] [married Alexander Stewart Morrison] – 1851, 61 & 71 census records with parents – Isabella had a daughter, Isabella, born in 1871 and who later married George Robertson. Her mother was a nurse. In 1901 Isabella was living in a two roomed house at Sutherland Street, Brora.
WILLIAM MURRAY, born circa 1853 Spinningdale, Creich – 1861 census with parents
JEMIMA MURRAY, born 23 December 1855 Embo Mains, Dornoch [died 8 April 1944 Brora, Clyne] [married Alexander Mackay] – 1861 and 71 census with parents
HUGH MURRAY, born 28 April 1858 Embo Mains, Dornoch – [died 5th October 1932 Johnson Street, Paisley, Renfrewshire] [married firstly to Margaret Cassells and secondly to Catherine Cairns] - 1861 and 71 census with parents – in 1881 Hugh appears to have been working as a farm servant in 1881 at Rhives, Golspie.
JOHN MURRAY, born 27 October 1860 Embo Mains, Dornoch [died 31 January 1950 Swordale, Bonar] [married Margaret Sutherland] – 1861, 71 and 81 census with parents
GEORGE MURRAY, born 18 October 1863 Embo Mains, Dornoch - 1871 census with parents – 1881 census with his brother Walter, at Major General William Tod Brown's farm at Kilcolmkil, Clyne. Walter was employed as a cattle boy and George as a house lad.
WALTER MURRAY, born 28 March 1866 Skelbo [died 7 February 1932 Dornoch] [married Jane McGowan] - 1871 census with parents – ploughman in 1871 - in 1881 he was recorded, with his brother George, at Major General William Tod Brown's farm at Kilcolmkil, Clyne
ALEXANDER MURRAY, born 4 December 1868 Littletown, Dornoch – 1871 & 1881 census with parents

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