Elizabeth Murray & George Barclay

Elizabeth Murray
[10/10/1879-19/12/1952]

married
George Barclay
[died pre 1952]

Elizabeth Munro Murray, known as Bessie or Betsy, was born at Rhemusaig, Rogart, daughter of Alexander Murray and Jane Mackenzie. Bessie lived with her grandmother, Elspat Mackay, Widow Mackenzie, at Torbreck, Rogart as a youngster – she was admitted to Blairich School on 22nd November 1887 where her parent or guardian was given as Widow Mackenzie, Torbreac – she had previously attended Rogart Public School – at Blairich she was presented for standard 2 in 1889 and standard 5 in 1892 – she left Blairich school on 5th August 1892 – reason for leaving ‘passed standard five’ – Bessie was only 7 years old when she started at Blairich having already attended another school and left when she was 11.

Elizabeth and George married at 10 Chalmers Crescent, Edinburgh, on 17th July 1914. Elizabeth died in Edinburgh, widow of George Barclay, varnish maker. They are known to have had at least one child, a son, who may still be alive.

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

Paul MURRAY & Jane ROSS

Paul MURRAY
[1847-31/3/1924]
married
Jane ROSS
[1849-6/3/1919]

Paul was born at Rhemusaig, Rogart, son of William Murray and Catherine Grant. Jane is a daughter of George Ross and Margaret Matheson. Paul and Jane married at Rogart on 26 March 1869.

In 1871 they were living with Jane's aunt - Catherine Matheson (1804-1897), sister to Margaret Matheson, Jane's mother - at Milton, Rogart - which is sometimes known as Miltonbank or simply Bank. Catherine was a daughter of James Matheson and Elspet Sutherland. Her brother Donald and sister Jane, also lived with her.

Paul worked as a railway platelayer in Rogart. They were still in the aunt's five-roomed house in 1881. The house was home that year to Catherine Matheson; her brother, Donald, her sister Jane, plus Paul, his wife Jane and their five children. Aunt Catherine was still alive in 1891 aged 88 years. She died in 1897 at the house. Paul and Jane continued to live at the house - by this time the house was referred to as being at Bank, Rogart. Jane died there in 1919. Paul also died at Bank, in 1924, and is buried with his wife in St Callan's churchyard, Rogart.

"The Reaper has been busy in our midst lately, gathering in the young and aged. On Saturday there was laid to rest one of our older inhabitants in the person of Jane Ross, wife of Mr. Paul Murray, Bank. For a number of years Mrs. Murray was laid aside from any active participation in life, and latterly had been confined to bed, from the effects of a stroke of paralysis. An attack of influenza which also seized the other members of the family, proved too much for Mrs. Murray’s strength, and she succumbed to the disease. Of a kindly and cheery nature, she will be missed in the home, and by a wide circle of friends of the older generation" (NT13/3/1919).

Paul & Jane had the following children:
WILLIAM MURRAY, born 25 January 1870 Bank, Rogart [died 31 December 1898, ironworker, bachelor, killed by falling from a train at Dalmore, Rogart] - at home in the 1871 & 81 census
GEORGE MURRAY, born 20 February 1871 Bank, Rogart [died 3rd July 1937 East End, Golspie] [married Isabella Matheson & Helen Chalmers Matheson]
ALEXANDER MURRAY, born 11 February 1872 Torbuie, Rogart (IGI) [died 2nd February 1943] [married Isabella Ross] – at home with parents in 1881 & 91 census
CATHERINE MURRAY, born 27 November 1876 Bank, Rogart [died 1st February 1932 Glasgow] [married 1st George Craig Stewart and 2nd James Mactaggart] – at home in 1881 & 91 census
DONALD MURRAY, born 14 August 1880 Bank, Rogart [died 18 March 1934] – at home in 1881 & 91 census

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.

Alexander MURRAY & Jane MACKENZIE

Alexander MURRAY [24/4/1835-30/12/1926]
married
Jane MACKENZIE [1841-22/7/1931]

Alexander (Sandy) is the son of William Murray and Catherine Grant of Rhemusaig, Rogart. Known all his life as Sandy, Alexander Murray was the ninth child of William and Catherine. He is recorded on his eldest son's birth certificate as a general merchant; another source records him as a meal miller; yet another as a crofter and his own marriage certificate states he was a farm servant. I believe in his lifetime he was all these things! He was recalled in recent years by an elderly resident of Rogart as being "one of the old Rogart worthies". He remained a bachelor until he was 38 years old, living on the croft at Rhemusaig with his widowed mother, Kate. Jane is the daughter of William MacKenzie and Elspet Mackay of Torbreck, Rogart.

Alexander and Jane married on 26 February 1875 at Torbreck in a Free Church service. He took his bride to Rhemusaig to make her home. Jane returned to her old home at Torbreck for the birth of her first child but, thereafter her children were born at Rhemusaig. Jane's mother-in-law Catherine Grant (Kate), lived with the couple for nearly twenty years until her death in 1894. This may have been a factor, together with Sandy's reputation of being a difficult man, which led to Jane leaving her husband and the family home when her children had grown up. She moved to Tain, Ross-shire, to be with her daughter Christine. This, virtually unheard of event, left Sandy alone at Rhemusaig. Sandy is buried in the new cemetery at Rogart. Jane is buried in Tain.

They had the following children:
WILLIAM MURRAY, born 1 January 1876 Torbreck, Rogart [died 14 May 1923 Edinburgh] [married Margaret Ann Mackenzie] - these are my grandparents
MARY ANN MURRAY, born 11 June 1877 Rhemusaig [died 10 April 1928 Edinburgh] [married George Taylor in Edinburgh]
ELIZABETH MUNRO MURRAY (Bessie), born 10 October 1879 Rhemusaig [died 19 December 1952 Edinburgh] [married George Barclay] – Bessie lived with her grandmother, Elspat Mackay, Widow Mackenzie, at Torbreck, Rogart as a youngster.
DONALD KENNETH ALEXANDER MURRAY, born 17 September 1881 [died 21 December 1944 Northern Infirmary, Inverness] - suffered from a paralysis which committed him to a wheel chair. It is not clear whether he was born disabled or whether an illness or accident affected him. Known as 'Uncle Dan' he was reputed to be a real star in his wheel chair. Apparently he could achieve amazing speeds over any terrain. He left Rhemusaig with his mother spending the rest of his life in Tain although it is said in Rogart that he did return at least one time.
JANE MACKENZIE MURRAY, born 26 August 1883 Rhemusaig [married Harold Harvey] - Jane and Harold married in Kent where they are known to have had at least two daughters.
MARGARET ELLEN MACKENZIE MURRAY, born 7th March 1886 Rhemusaig [died 13th May 1955 Cape Town, South Africa] [married William Petrie Birnie in Edinburgh 1919]
COLIN MACKENZIE MURRAY born 4th March 1888 Rhemusaig [died 26th May 1964 Glasgow] [married Isabella Sutherland]
CHRISTINE MACKENZIE MURRAY, born 9 March 1890 [died 6 May 1922 Tain] [married Joseph Birnie]
JANET MACKENZIE MURRAY (Jessie) born 11 June 1893 Rhemusaig [died 19 August 1981 Edinburgh] [married James Watt]
Alexander Murray and Jane Mackenzie are my great grandparents.

Catherine MURRAY & Hugh SUTHERLAND

Catherine MURRAY
[31/3/1836-12/7/1901]
married
Hugh SUTHERLAND
[27/3/1817-10/8/1897]

Catherine was born at Rhemusaig, Rogart, daughter of William Murray and Catherine Grant. Hugh is the son of Robert Sutherland and Betty Murray.

Catherine and Hugh married at Rogart on 23 December 1859. Catherine made her X mark on the register. They farmed at Glaslochan, Dalchalm, Brora, Clyne. The 1881 census shows Hugh and Catherine at Glaslochan with their children. In 1891, still at Glaslochan only two children were still at home with their parents. Catherine and Hugh died there and are buried together in Clyne Kirkton Churchyard - photograph of their gravestone above.

Hugh and Catherine had the following children:
ROBERT SUTHERLAND, born 13 January 1861 [died Canada] [married Margaret Bain] – 1881 census, farm servant at Clynelish bothy
CATHERINE SUTHERLAND, born 10 October 1863 [died 31st March 1869]
WILLIAM SUTHERLAND, born 28 September 1865 [died 29 September 1890]
ELIZABETH SUTHERLAND, born 26 January 1868 [died 1913] – 1881 census in Dumbarton with her aunt Janet Murray [married Alexander Leslie]
CATHERINE ANN SUTHERLAND, born 28 April 1870 [died Dalchalm] [married Alexander Fraser of Achvrail, Rogart] – at home with parents in 1881 census, scholar
CHRISTINA SUTHERLAND (Teenie), born 16 October 1872 [died circa 1944/5] [married John McBride – at home with parents in 1881 census, scholar – Teenie was a cook working in stately homes during the season and was, for a time, cook to Lord Dysart. She married John late in life and they settled in Peebles until retirement when they returned to the family home at Dalchalm which they renovated].
JOHN SUTHERLAND, born 28 November 1874 [died 6 October 1900] – at home with parents in 1881 census, scholar – 1891 census at home with parents, brickmaker
HECTOR SUTHERLAND, born circa 1876 [died circa 1948/50] – at home with parents in 1881 & 1891 census, scholar – remained a bachelor, worked in the south for a time but returned to live on the family croft at Dalchalm. Fiddle player.

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.