Queries Index Macbeth to Mackintosh

The Society has received queries concerning the following surnames:
(These queries have also been published in the Society's Journal)

MACBETH

Patricia Valentine

abacussafety@
dsl.pipex.com

John WARDEN, excise officer, was born c1727, possibly in Edinburgh, and moved to Inverness from Moulin, Perthshire between 1759 and 1761. He died, aged 62, in 1789 and was married to Margaret MACDONALD with issue: - Anne, born 1753, married James WARDEN, a miller, in Edinburgh; Ewan (also known as Hugh), born 1758, became an excise officer and married Elizabeth MCBEATH (MACBETH; Jean, born 1758, and probably died in infancy; Robert, born 1759, excise officer, was discharged in 1795, moved to Glasgow and became a clerk - married to Katherine GRANT; John, born 1761, Excise Officer, married Ann MUIRISON, died Turriff around 1836; William, born 1764, of who we can find no information. The elder John owned tenements in Dornoch which, following John’s death Margaret MACDONALD sold in two lots in 1789 & 1814. Ewan (Hugh) had a son, also named Hugh, born 1780 Latheron, mother unknown. Hugh was famous in the area as a musician; he was blind, he played the violin and gave dance lessons, he also held an Annual Dance – ‘The Wardens Benefit Ball’ - at the Caledonian Hotel, Caithness. Any information on this family will be most welcome.

MACDONALD	Peter Munro	pmunro@ highlandfhs.org.uk	My 4 greats grandparents William CHISHOLM and Isabel NAIRN had 5 children; Alexander James (who I assume died in infancy) and William (my 3 greats grandfather on whom I have lots of info) both born 19th January 1792, at Kildrummie (a farm ?), near Nairn; John, baptised 1797; Alexander, baptised 1798; and Isabel, baptised 1805. William (the son) was a sawyer from 1820 to 1828, joined the Inverness Militia as a drummer in 1824, promoted to corporal in 1826, in 1836 became one of the Burgh Officers (police constables) of Inverness, however, in the 1841 Census, he’s a labourer living at 14 Rose St Inverness, oddly there are also Grace MACDONALD age 60, Sarah MACDONALD age 20 a dressmaker, Isabella MACDONALD age 11 a maidservant under his roof. I wonder whether these MACDONALDs are tenants and/or relatives ? On 7th July 1844 he’s appointed Serjeant of the Disembodied Militia until discharged on 17th January 1855. Oddly, the next day he joined 76th Highland Light Infantry as Serjeant, was admitted on 13th February 1855 as an Out-Pensioner, Chelsea Hospital, with a good pension of 1/- per day, a few days later Discharged from 76th Highland Light Infantry. In 1866 he became the Gate-Keeper at Raigmore Gate (a railway crossing), Millburn, Inverness. On his death on 20th October 1879 he’s described as a railway labourer. CHISHOLM and NAIRN are found both in the Borders and in the Highlands. Do you know who were Isabel NAIRN’s parents or her husband’s parents ? I’d be delighted to hear from descendants of these two.
MACDONALD	Peter Donnelly	peter.donnelly26@ btopenworld.com	My 2xgreat grandparents, Alexander McDONALD & Elizabeth FRASER, were both born in Inverness c1820. The IGI lists Alexander’s birth but not that of Elizabeth, whereas their marriage on 8th September 1848 in Inverness is recorded. Elizabeth also uses the names Betty and Betsy and, to confuse matters, her maiden name is shown as McKENZIE on her son Alexander’s marriage certificate. I have not found an explanation for this as she was not married twice and, on every other relevant certificate, her maiden name is recorded as FRASER. Their death records show that his parents were Alexander McDONALD, gardener & Margaret FRASER and her parents were Simon FRASER, soldier & Ann CAMERON. The IGI lists the marriage of Alexander and Margaret on 24th May 1816 in Inverness. There is an entry for a Simon FRASER & Anne CAMERON in Dores in 1785, but that seems a bit early for the parents of Elizabeth, born c1820. I have found an 1851 census record that may be Alexander and Margaret. He is aged 70, a gardener, born Kiltarlity, with a wife Margaret, born Kirkhill. Alexander and Betsy also appear in the 1851 census, living at 13 Factory Street, Inverness. Any help to positively identify my 3xgreat grandparents would be greatly appreciated. If their deaths were after 1855, that would be a bonus. Having what seems to be a never ending line of Alexanders doesn’t help!
MACDONALD	Patricia Valentine	abacussafety@ dsl.pipex.com	John WARDEN, excise officer, was born c1727, possibly in Edinburgh, and moved to Inverness from Moulin, Perthshire between 1759 and 1761. He died, aged 62, in 1789 and was married to Margaret MACDONALD with issue: - Anne, born 1753, married James WARDEN, a miller, in Edinburgh; Ewan (also known as Hugh), born 1758, became an excise officer and married Elizabeth MCBEATH (MACBETH; Jean, born 1758, and probably died in infancy; Robert, born 1759, excise officer, was discharged in 1795, moved to Glasgow and became a clerk - married to Katherine GRANT; John, born 1761, Excise Officer, married Ann MUIRISON, died Turriff around 1836; William, born 1764, of who we can find no information. The elder John owned tenements in Dornoch which, following John’s death Margaret MACDONALD sold in two lots in 1789 & 1814. Ewan (Hugh) had a son, also named Hugh, born 1780 Latheron, mother unknown. Hugh was famous in the area as a musician; he was blind, he played the violin and gave dance lessons, he also held an Annual Dance – ‘The Wardens Benefit Ball’ - at the Caledonian Hotel, Caithness. Any information on this family will be most welcome.
MACDONALD	Patricia Valentine	abacussafety@ dsl.pipex.com	Information sought for the following: - Margaret MACDONALD, born c1738, who married John WARDEN (excise officer). Margaret was a daughter of Hugh MACDONALD, Sheriff Clerk in Sutherland and Christian KIRK, daughter of Robert KIRK, Minister in Dornoch. Hugh and Christian married in 1738. Margaret inherited tenements and land from her father called ‘Goose Croft’ and ‘Croftpeddie’ or ‘Croftfeddie’ both in Dornoch; also Croftloan in Balloan. The properties were later sold in two lots in 1796 and 1814 following the death of her husband John WARDEN. Christian KIRK’s father was Robert KIRK, born 1644 in Aberfoyle. He is my husband’s 7 x great grandfather. He studied at Edinburgh University and at St. Andrews, receiving his Masters Degree at seventeen. After his ordination he served at various parishes for the next twenty years. He married Isobel CAMPBELL in 1678; she died two years after the marriage and his second wife, Margaret CAMPBELL, Isobel’s cousin, had a son Robert, who in turn had a daughter, Christian KIRK. Many thanks in anticipation.

MACKAY	Jan Villa	janet@ baloo8808.fsnet.co.uk	MACKAY/GUNN: My grandfather Alexander MACKAY (b. 1863 Halkirk), son of William MACKAY (1842 - 1919) & Margaret SUTHERLAND (1833 - 1905) Stirkoke, Wick, married Janet Isabella GUNN (b. 1865 Latheron) on 12th August 1898 at Hamilton, daughter of George GUNN (1828 - 1925) & Janet McLEAN (1829 - 1905) of Swiney, Latheron. Any information on these families would be much appreciated.
MACKAY	David Murray	dmur18@hotmail.com	Seeking information about descendants of the following family. George MACKAY, born 1798 at Nairn, was the son of Lachlin MACKAY and Jane McANDREW. In 1823 he married Janet MURRAY, born 1806 at Alness, daughter of Donald MURRAY and Christian NOBLE. They had two children – Lauchlin, born 1825 Beauly and George, born 1827 at Old Machar. George MACKAY, an excise officer, may have died in 1837. Janet would still be in her early thirty’s and could have remarried, but no record can be found. No trace of family can be found. Any help would be much appreciated.
MACKAY	Stewart McKenzie	kinbones@ vic.chariot.net.au	Information sought on John McKENZIE b. c1700, his son Uilam b. c1730 and his grandson Kennth b. c1760. Kenneth m. Christian MACKAY 4 Sep 1782 at Durness. Their son William b. 1784 at Grudie m. Betsy ROSS of Tain at Latheron 1807/08. Their youngest son Alexander McKENZIE b. 1830 at Hielam m. Ann McINTOSH at Tongue 1870/71. Their children were:- Ann, William, Elizabeth, Donald, Alexander and Marion. Their father, Alexander, d. 1896, the last of a long line of shepherds (1700-1896) working in the north west including Durness, Erribol, Tongue, Strathmore, Gobernisgeach, Kinloch (Perthshire), Shinness, Latheron, Wick and Corntown. The family claims descent from the 4th Earl of Kintail.
MACKAY	David Selkirk	davidselkirk @btinternet.com	My great-grandmother, Barbara INCH (b. Elgin 1850), married George MACKAY (born c1844) on 16 Nov. 1883. They lived in Inverness and George was a cabman. They had four children that I know of: - Elizabeth, born c1889; George, born c1890; Catherine, born c1895 and Donald, born c1896. Barbara died 2 Feb. 1929 at 7 King Street, Inverness and son Donald was the informant. George died 3 Dec. 1919 and son George, living at 5 Foyers Road, Kinlochleven, was the informant. Any information on this family would be much appreciated.

MACKENZIE	Connie Wood	ercon@xtra.co.nz	George McKENZIE, who was born 15 June 1806 at Resolis and died 23 March 1873 at Tain, married Janet FRASER 22 December 1843 at Resolis. She was born 15 September 1818 at Ferintosh and died 14 Nov 1899 at Tain. Their children were: Ann, born 6 October 1844; John, born 30 April 1846; Roderick, born 25 May 1848; Christian (my grandmother), born 11 March 1850 and died Riverton N.Z. 4 July 1936; Catherine, born 29 August 1852; William, born 1854; Lillie, born 21 January 1858; Janet, born 23 March 1860 and George Alexander, born 20 June and died 16 July 1864. The first six were born in Cromarty, the last three in Tain. Janet came to New Zealand about 1911. What happened to the others?
MACKENZIE	Stewart McKenzie	kinbones@ vic.chariot.net.au	Information sought on John McKENZIE b. c1700, his son Uilam b. c1730 and his grandson Kennth b. c1760. Kenneth m. Christian MACKAY 4 Sep 1782 at Durness. Their son William b. 1784 at Grudie m. Betsy ROSS of Tain at Latheron 1807/08. Their youngest son Alexander McKENZIE b. 1830 at Hielam m. Ann McINTOSH at Tongue 1870/71. Their children were:- Ann, William, Elizabeth, Donald, Alexander and Marion. Their father, Alexander, d. 1896, the last of a long line of shepherds (1700-1896) working in the north west including Durness, Erribol, Tongue, Strathmore, Gobernisgeach, Kinloch (Perthshire), Shinness, Latheron, Wick and Corntown. The family claims descent from the 4th Earl of Kintail.
MACKENZIE	Doug Fraser	dougfraser@ tiscali.co.uk	I am seeking information about: (Q1) Catherine FRASER (1832-1922), who married William MILTON of Deskford, Banffshire. Her parents were John FRASER and Catherine MACKENZIE. John was a sergeant in the 92nd Gordon Highlanders and died before his daughter Catherine was born in 1832 at Brown St, Inverness. The parents of Catherine MACKENZIE were Kenneth MACKENZIE and Catherine MACPHERSON. I am also interested in (Q2) Peter FRASER (1812/13 - 1864), who married Margaret LESLIE of Cairnie, Banffshire. Peter, who was born in Inverness according to the 1861 census, was the son of Alexander FRASER and Janet FRASER. They were married 28 March 1811 in Inverness. My grandfather, Alexander Geddes FRASER, who was born 26 Dec 1870 at Deskford, Banffshire, was the illegitimate son of John FRASER, born c1846 at Glen of Newmill, Keith, and Ann GEDDES. John was the son Peter FRASER (Q2). Alexander was adopted by Catherine FRASER (Q1) and her husband William MILTON. The co-incidence of two FRASER names in Banffshire is remarkable but I have been unable to establish any link between them. Any clues gratefully received!
MACKENZIE	Anne Mackintosh	mackintosh755@ btinternet.com	Seeking information on George ROSS, born Cromarty 1802 and his wife Janet DICKSON born c1811 Miltown, Kilmuir Easter. She was the daughter of James DICKSON (plasterer) and Jannet McKENZIE, Kilmuir Easter. Both died Cromarty and he was a Prison Keeper and she a Prison Matron at the Institution. He was a soldier in the 93rd Regiment and a Chelsea Pensioner. They had 7 children as follows: Jessie; Christina; James; George; Sarah; Rebecca and William Wilkie. Anyone connect to the children of this family?