James MURRAY & 1) Janet BRUCE 2) Jane MACDONALD

James MURRAY
married
1) Janet BRUCE
[1834-5/10/1879]
2) JANE MACDONALD
[c1843-7/12/1893]

James, a shoemaker, is the son of James Murray and Elspet Mackay of Rhemusaig, Rogart. He was firstly married to Janet Bruce, daughter of John Bruce and Ann Murray. They married on 7th May 1858. James worked as an agricultural labourer at Rhemusaig according to the 1861 census. From 1865 onwards James is recorded as a shoemaker. In 1871 the family were at Rhemusaig in a two roomed house. Janet died on 5 October 1879.

James and Janet had the following children:
JAMES MURRAY, born 6 December 1858 Rhemusaig, Rogart [died 15 July 1927 Rhemusaig] [married Helen Macnaughton] – 1871 census at Rhemusaig with parents, scholar
JOHN MURRAY, born 3 October 1861 Rhemusaig, Rogart [died 20 June 1950 Perth] [married Margaret Mill] – 1871 census at Rhemusaig with parents, scholar
GEORGE MURRAY, born 23 August 1865 Rhemusaig, Rogart [died 24 December 1867 Rhemusaig]
CATHERINE MURRAY [Kate], born 18 June 1870 Rhemusaig, Rogart [died 21 September 1916 in hospital – usual residence Rhemusaig - she was a nurse] – following her mother’s death in 1879 Catherine went to her grandmother’s house at Rhemusaig with her father – they were there in the 1881 census - I believe his daughter Catherine (Kate) continued to live at home until her death in 1916 although she was not at home in 1901

2) Following his first wife’s death James returned to his widowed mother's home with his youngest daughter Catherine. They were there in the 1881 census. On 22 November 1889 James married for the second time to widow, Jane Macdonald, daughter of John Macdonald and Janet Macintosh. The 1891 census shows James, second wife Jane and daughter Catherine at Rhemusaig. His mother had died since the previous census. He was recorded as a crofter and the home had increased in size to six rooms. In 1893 Jane died leaving James a widower for the second time.

In the 1901 census he had an Effy Mackay, unmarried, aged 52, born in Rogart, as a domestic servant living with him. James died at Rhemusaig in 1918. He is buried in Rogart with his first wife, Janet, and their daughter Catherine.

Dorothy in USA plus Sheila in Edinburgh also have links to this family.

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.

David MURRAY & Julia MACINTOSH

David MURRAY
[1842-8/7/1893]
married
Julia MACINTOSH
[c1841-5/2/1904]

David was born at Rhemusaig, Rogart, son of William Murray and Catherine Grant. Julia is the daughter of Alexander Macintosh and Ann Gunn of Rhianbreck, Lairg. David and Julia married on 28 June 1867 in Lairg. When their son Thomas was born at Rhianbreck, Lairg, David was a railway pointsman at Blair Atholl, Perthshire. Thomas’s birth is registered in both Lairg and Blair Atholl. He died aged 4 months in Perth where David was said to be a Railway Porter. A year later when baby John Alexander was born David was recorded as a Railway Shunter. By the time Julia was born in 1879 the family were back in Rogart. David was now a Railway Surfaceman.

In 1881 they were at Eden, Rogart, in a two roomed house. In 1891 they were at Dalmore, Rogart not far from Eden. David died there in 1893. Extracts from 1893 letters of the Rogart Ground Officer James Alexander to Donald MacLean the factor at Dunrobin. NLS Acc.10225 read: “1893 July 10, David Murray, 68 Dalmore, died 8 July “…has left a widow, with a grown up family, and all are doing for themselves. except the youngest, who is 12 years. and lives with her mother.”

Julia died at Dalmore in 1904.

David and Julia had the following children:
WILLIAM MURRAY, born 27 March 1868 in Lairg
CHRISTINA ANN MURRAY (Christy), born 18 September 1869 Tain, Ross-shire - in 1891 Christina, a cloth dyeworker, was living in, Renton, Dumbartonshire, with her cousin Margaret Murray married to George Matheson.
THOMAS MURRAY, born 11 November 1872 Rhianbreck, Lairg [died 5 March 1873 at Cross Street, Perth]
JOHN ALEXANDER MURRAY, born 24 April 1874 Cross Street, Perth - 1881 census with parents
HECTOR MURRAY, born 9 October 1875 Lairg [died 21 October 1875 Rhianbreck, Lairg]
JULIA MURRAY, born 17 May 1879 Eden, Rogart

William MURRAY & Margaret Ann MACKENZIE

William MURRAY
[1/1/1876-1923]
married
Margaret Ann MACKENZIE
[7/10/1883-8/7/1970]

William was born at Torbreck, Rogart, the eldest child of Alexander Murray and Jane Mackenzie of Rhemusaig. He was named after his paternal grandfather, William Murray of Rhemusaig. As a young boy William lived with his widowed maternal grandmother Elizabeth Mackay [Mrs William Mackenzie] at Torbreck where she farmed seven acres. Young William was there with his grandmother and Aunt Christina in 1881. The 1891 census shows him still there with his younger sister Bessie, aged 11 years. Granny Mackenzie was now 78 years old. Life was hard on the crofts - crofters struggled to support the large families and many children were boarded out to grandparents.

William was with his parents at Rhemusaig in the 1901 census. He left Sutherland within the next few years heading south to Edinburgh where many of his sisters were already settled. He found work as a jobbing gardener in the Morningside area of Edinburgh. On 10 June 1910 he married Margaret, daughter of John Mackenzie, a farm servant and his wife Mary Mackenzie. Margaret was born in Inverness. The marriage took place at the United Free Church, Polwarth Terrace, Edinburgh. After the wedding they moved into Morningside Road, an address which would be the family home for at least sixty years. William continued to do gardening and odd jobs while Margaret [Meg] cleaned at the big houses in the area.

The 1914/18 war required all men under forty to be enlisted - William was called up. He served with the Black Watch attaining the rank of Sergeant. In the trenches of Northern France he suffered very severely from gas poisoning. He lived until 1923 when his death certificate showed he died from illness associated with gassing. His young widow continued her life as before bringing up her children.

They had the following children:
ELIZABETH MURRAY [Bessy], born 27 February 1911 Morningside, Edinburgh [died 30 September 1976 Edinburgh] [married John Mackay in Edinburgh 1931] – had family, some of whom still live in Scotland
WILLIAM MURRAY, born 18 October 1912 Morningside, Edinburgh [died 29 April 1969 England] [married Robina Gordon Wilson in Edinburgh 1940] – had family of three, two of whom now live in England - these are my parents
ROBERT MURRAY, born 21 September 1914 Morningside, Edinburgh [died 8 April 1968 Edinburgh] [married Isabella Christina Chisholm in Edinburgh 1943] – had family some of whom still live in Scotland
MARGARET MURRAY [Peggy] born 5 May 1921 Morningside, Edinburgh [died 14 May 1977 Stirlingshire] [married James Thomson in 1944] – had family one of whom lives in Dundee
JOHN MACKENZIE MURRAY, born 3 February 1923 Morningside, Edinburgh [died 11 July 1975 Edinburgh] [married in Edinburgh where his widow still lives]
William Murray and Margaret Ann Mackenzie are my grandparents. Their son William, my father. Photograph above shows 'Gran Murray', Margaret Ann Mackenzie with three of her children, Bessie, William and baby Robert taken in 1914.

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