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1861 Notes for Reiff, Camusglassellan, & Faochag

These notes are mainly based on my transcription of the 1861 Census for Reiff. This file, and the other 19th century transcription and notes files, link from my main genealogy page; index.htm.

The photocopys of the microfilm that I have worked from are much clearer than those of the 1841 and 1851 censuses! Still might have misread, or more likely misinterpreted, some data, but as with the earlier censuses I have relied on good background from others looking over the same records. I have gathered all their contact information into a file here; CONTACT INFO.

This census recorded the people who stayed the night at the homes enumerated 7 April, 1861.

The 31 households are numbered consecutively from 1 to 31. The first 6 are addressed as at "Laid of Riff", the next 20 as "Riff", then three households at Camusglassellan and two of Faochag, included as those people appear in other censuses as at Reiff. My photocopys ended before the households of Camusglassellan, but luckily Donald MacLeod in New Zealand (CONTACT INFO) had photocopyed them and Faochag, the transcriptions of those five households are his work, Thanks Donald!

Please, send me your data or corrections at dmacdon2@becon.org, and I will add it or use it to correct my errors!

This file identifies the households by using a prefix of "61" to denote the 1861 census data, and a suffix based on the enumerators numbering.

Reiff 61-1

Alexander McLeod       Head         Mar   55      Tenant
Mary       Do          Wife         Mar      44

                     -- page break --

Donald McLeod          Son          Un    15      Scholar
Roderick McLeod        Son                10         do
John       Do          Son                 8         do
Ann        Do          Daur                   6
Murdoch     Do         Son                 3

This Household is on pages 13 and 14 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

This family appeared in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-88. Most of them are in the 1871 census at Reiff 71-57.

Alexander's mother, Isabella McLeod, is in Reiff 61-24. Margaret McLeod in Reiff 61-25 is his sister.

Mary's maiden name was Kerr, she was christened 18 October, 1815 and her parents Donald Kerr and Ann McLeod are in this census at Reiff 61-8, along with an unmarried sister named Rachel. Mary's son Donald was with his Kerr grandparents in 1851 at Reiff 51-74, relationship given as "grandson".

The 1851 census had a six month old son Roderick, clearly the ten year old above. It also had a two year old son "John". I assume that John died, and the 8 year old John above was given the same name.

The I.G.I. has registration of two children to this family; a daughter 5 February, 1855 with Mary's surname as "Carr", clearly Ann above, and Murdoch born 15 July, 1857.

Both wifes at Faochag; Janet MacKenzie at Faochag 61-30, and Isabella McLeod at Faochag 61-31 were sisters of Mary, as was Alexanderina "Lexy" McLean in the neighboring village at Altandhu 61-17.

Reiff 61-2

Donald McLean          Head         Mar   25      Fisherman
Ann      Do            Wife         Mar      23
Ann      Do            Daur                  5mo
Margt McLeod           Sisterinlaw  Un       22   Domestic Servt
Christina McLeod          Do                 14   Scholar

This Household is on page 14 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

Donald was from Altandhu, though according to the I.G.I. he married Ann at Ullapool 26 January, 1860. He was 16 years old with his family in 1851 at Altandhu 51-100. His parents and other relatives are in this census at Altandhu 61-15.

In the 1871 census this family is at Altandhu 71-48.

Ann with her two McLeod sisters was in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-91, along with her parents John MacLeod and Isabella McLennan, and her brother Roderick, who are next door here at Reiff 61-3.

The births of four children to Donald McLean and Ann McLeod are mentionned in the I.G.I.;

1. Ann, born 21 November, 1860,
2. Donald, born 13 September, 1862,
3. John, born 8 December, 1864,
4. John, born 9 April, 1867 (earlier John died young?)

The two McLeod sister-in-laws, along with two of their brothers and their mother Isabella (in the next house here), are in the 1871 census at Reiff 71-56.

Reiff 61-3

John McLeod            Head         Mar   59      Cooper
Isabella Do            Wife         Mar      53
Roderick Do            Son          Un    20      Cooper

This Household is on page 14 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

This family appeared in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-91, along with three of their daughters, who are now at the neighboring croft at Reiff 61-2.

John and Isabella have a son Donald whose birth is shown in the I.G.I. as 19 September, 1857, I suspect the year is an error, as his death was registered 15 January, 1858 aged 1&1/4 years. The registration lists John's occupation as cooper, the address reads "Laid of Riff", and the Informant was the brother of Donald, Roderick, who appears above.

John and Isabella also had a daughter, Isabella, who died young. Her death was registered 20 December, 1860 aged 6&1/2 years.

Isabella was a MacLennan, her elderly parents are in this census at Reiff 61-15, her brother Alexander is at Reiff 61-16, her brother Kenneth is at Reiff 61-17, and her sister Mary McLean is at Reiff 61-22.

Isabella, widowed with four of her children, is in the 1871 census at Reiff 71-56.

Reiff 61-4

Catherine McKenzie     Head         W        79   Widow of a Runner of Post
Lexy McKenzie          Daur         Un       49   Genl Servant
Mary      Do           GrDaur       Un       19      Do   Do
Hannah McLean          Visitor      Un       36   Domestic Servt

This Household is on page 14 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

Since the last census, at Reiff 51-89, Catherine's second husband, Hector McKenzie, has died. Donald MacLeod in New Zealand (CONTACT INFO) has obtained the death registration of Hector, 4 August, 1860 aged 76. The Informant of the death was listed as his son, another Hector.

From his death registration, Hector's parents had been Murdoch McKenzie and Mary McLean. Other children of Murdoch and Mary include;

1. Margaret, who married John McLean at Altandhu, where she had eight children and died in 1855, aged 90. Several of her children are present at Altandhu 61-18, and at Altandhu 61-20.
2. John, who died before the 1851 census, but has children in this census at Reiff 61-11
3. Roderick, who died in 1859, aged 86, his family is missing in this census, but present in 1871 at Reiff 71-80
4. Isabella, who married John McLennan and is at Reiff 61-15
5. Murdo, who is Head of Household at Reiff 61-9.

The Parish Register records 7 March, 1817 the wedding of Hector MacKenzie from Altandu, to Catherine McLean, a Widow from Altandu. It also records the christening of Lexy Maclean 8 January, 1812, with the mother listed as "Widow of John MacLean", clearly that is the Lexy in this Household.

Catherine herself dies on 3 September following this census, aged 81 years. Her death registration lists her parents as Donald McLean, Boat Carpenter, and Christina, Maiden Surname McLean, her son, Murdoch McKenzie was the Informant, he is in the next croft, Reiff 61-5, in this census.

In 1851, Catherine and her son Duncan's surname was listed as "MacKenzie or MacLean" (see Reiff 51-89), and Lexy as "Alexy MacLean" (her relationship to Hector was given as "Distant Friend", rather than as daughter). Though Mary was "MacKenzie".

Hannah was a daughter of John McLean and Catherine, Maiden Surname McLean, of Altandhu, she appeared in the 1841 census with her father John and her siblings at Altandhu 41-4, in 1851 she was at Altandhu 51-108 with an unmarried aunt Chirsty MacLean. Chirsty is in this census at Altandhu 61-19 (her own parents were a John McLean and a Rachel McLean).

The 1871 census has Hannah living with the next family (Reiff 61-5) at Reiff 71-58, with a slight change of name to "Johanna". The Head of Household there, Murdoch, is a son of Catherine in this household, the wife in the Household, Ann, was a sister of Hannah. They named one of their daughters Hannah, possibly after this Hannah.

Mary MacKenzie was with this family at the census ten years before. My guess is that she was Catherine's grand daughter through the missing son Hector, or less likely given the ages, a daughter of her son Murdo in the next croft. (Reiff 61-5)

Catherine has two siblings in this census; Alexander McLean at Altandhu 61-14, and Annabella McLeod at Reiff 61-18.

Reiff 61-5

Murdoch McKenzie       Head         Mar  42       Fisherman
Ann        Do          Wife         Mar     44
Catherine   Do         Daur                  9
Hannah      Do         Daur                  6

This Household is on page 14 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

Murdoch and Ann are in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-90. In 1871 they are at Reiff 71-58.

Murdoch is a son of Catherine McKenzie in the previous household. (See notes at Reiff 61-4).

Murdoch and Ann were married 25 June, 1850. The wedding registration says he was a fisher from Reiff, and she was the daughter of John McLean, a crofter at Altandhu. Hannah McLean in the previous Household was a sister of Ann, their death registrations both name parents as John McLean and Catherine, Maiden Surname McLean, of Altandhu. The sister Hannah, as "Johanna", is with this family in 1871, the Hannah above was probably named in her honour.

There is registered the birth 1 May, 1855 of a female child to Murdo McKenzie and Ann McLean, likely the Hannah above.

Reiff 61-6

Alexander McLeod       Head         Mar   75      Tenant
Ann         Do         Wife         Mar      73   Tenants Wife
Catherine   Do         Daur         Un       41   Genl Servt.
Rodk        Do         Son          Un    30      Fisherman

                     -- page break --

Donald McLeod          Son          Un    26      Fisherman
Janet     Do           Daur         Un       24   Genl. Servt
John      Do           GrSon               5      Herdboy

This Household is on pages 14 and 15 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

All these people, except Janet and John, were in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-73.

The 1871 census at Reiff 71-61 has Ann as a widow, living with a daughter Christy, who does not show up in this census, (but appears with the Catherine above in the 1881 census at Reiff 81-5) and John still as a "Hird".

Alexander dies a few months after this census, 6 June, and his death registration gives some info; his wife Ann was also maiden surname McLeod. His parents were Alexander McLeod, and Christina Ross. The Informant of his death was his daughter Catherine, the General Servant above. Ann's own death registration in 1875 says her parents had been Donald MacLeod and Isabella, maiden surname MacKenzie.

Donald was christened 29 November, 1824. I cannot find him in later censuses.

Another child of this family, William, is at Reiff 61-25.

Janet was the mother of John. The birth was registered as illegitimate, 25 October, 1855 at Riff, with the father Alexander MacLeod, a Shoemaker. I think that Alexander was at Altandhu 41-13, his father's name was John, and his brother Kenneth was listed as a Shoemaker. If so, young John above is a descendant of the Reiff and Faochag MacKenzies, and has many cousins at Reiff!

Reiff 61-7

Murdoch McLeod         Head         Mar  54       Fisherman
Rachel     Do          Wife         Mar     50
Donald     Do          Son               13       Scholar
Barbara    Do          Daur                 10       Do
Neil       Do          Son                7
Margt      Do          Daur                  4

This Household is on page 15 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

This family appeared in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-76. That same census, Murdos father, another Murdoch, and several of his siblings, were at Reiff 51-72. Murdoch the father died 4 August, 1856.

Cannot find this family in the 1871 census, though Barbara and Neil show up at Reiff 71-64 as servants to two of Rachel's siblings.

Donald, Alexander and Catherine at Reiff 61-14 are siblings of Murdoch, George at Ardmair 61-51 a brother. Sisters are Elizabeth McDonald (gt-gt-grandmother of myself, Donald MacDonald-Ross; CONTACT INFO) at Reiff 61-23, Ann Urquhart at Reiff 61-19, Flora Campbell at Acheninver 61-10, and Christina McKenzie at Tanera 61-3.

Rachel's maiden name was McKenzie, four of her unmarried siblings, along with Ann who is a daughter of Murdoch and Rachel, and Margaret who might also be their daughter, are at Reiff 61-11. Her parents were John McKenzie and Barbara McLeod. Rachel's brother John married Rachel McLeod from Achiltibuie and emigrated to Canada in 1837, his descendants include Kirk McKenzie in Germany. (CONTACT INFO)

Young Barbara above marries 4 April, 1878 to her first cousin, Murdoch MacLean, who is in this census with their uncles and aunts at Reiff 61-11.

Young Margaret above was born 19 July, 1856.

Reiff 61-8

Donald Kerr            Head         Mar  76       Tenant
Ann     Do             Wife         Mar     70    Tenants Wife
Rachel  Do             Daur         Un      36    Tenants Daur.
Malcolm McLean         GrSon              3
John    McLean         Servt.       Un   32       Ag. Lab.

This Household is on page 15 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

This family were in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-74. Donald dies before the 1871 census, but Ann is listed as an 80 year old Widow Lodger to a McKenzie family at Achiltibuie 71-35.

Donald was a brother of Mary McKenzie, the wife at the neighboring croft, Reiff 61-9. Mary's death registration in 1860 lists her parents as Alexander Kerr and Christina McLeod. The fact that Donald named one of his children "Alexanderina" further points to a relationship.

Ann's death registration 30 November, 1877 lists her parents as John McLeod and Anne McLeod, "afterwards McKenzie", showing her mother married twice. Another death registration, 12 June, 1887, of Mary the Widow of Duncan McLean at Altandhu lists parents with the same names, likely Mary was a sister of Ann, see Altandhu 61-3.

Ann was Donald's second wife, they were married 16 March, 1827.

Donald's first wife was Rachel McLean. They were married 23 November, 1815. Rachel above was first daughter of Ann, and her christening 16 November, 1828 was clearly to honour the first wife.

Mary McLeod at Reiff 61-1, Janet McKenzie at Faochag 61-30, and Isabella McLeod at Faochag 61-31 are daughters of Donald and Ann.

Another daughter, Margaret, married Kenneth McKenzie 25 August, 1853. Kenneth was a brother of Hugh, the husband of Margaret's sister Janet!

A few months after Margaret and Kenneth married they emigrated to Tasmania aboard the Sir Allan McNab with a number of other Reiff people, including two of Margaret's siblings; Alexander and Chirsty. See the note at Reiff 51-74.

Malcolm is a child of Donald and Ann's daughter, Alexanderina, who married Duncan McLean 15 January, 1857, he was born 3 January, 1858. Alexanderina and Duncan are in Altandhu (Altandhu 61-17) this census, but in 1851 she was with her parents, and he was his mother and stepfather at Reiff 51-89. Duncan and "Lexy" are in the 1871 census at Reiff 71-62. Duncan's widowed mother, Catherine McKenzie (her second husband was Hector McKenzie) is at Reiff 61-4.

Duncan and Lexy at Altandhu have a two year old daughter Hannah, and a two week old son John. No doubt Donald and Ann offered to take care of young Malcolm for a while following the birth of John.

A daughter of Donald and Ann, Janet, is missing on this census. She married 18 March, 1847 to Hugh McKenzie, and reappears in the 1871 census at Faochag 71-80. The other wife at Faochag, Isabella MacLeod at Faochag 61-31 was another daughter, as was Alexanderina "Lexy" McLean in the neighboring village at Altandhu 61-17.

The Kerr surname does not reoccur on Reiff censuses after this one.

Reiff 61-9

Murdo McKenzie         Head         Mar  80       Tenant
Anabella     Do        Wife         Mar     50
Rodk.        Do        Son          Un   32       Tenants Son
Mary Ross              gr.Daur      Un      20    Domestic Servt
Rodk. McKenzie         Gr.Son            12       Scholar
Ann         Do         GrDaur               12       Do
Murdina     Do         GrDaur                7       Do
Margaret    Do         Do Do                 4       Do
Alexander   Do         GrSon              1

This Household is on page 15 of Enumeration District # 2. The first three were marked as born at Coigach, Mary Ross at Rosskeen, the 12 year old Roderick McKenzie at Coigach, Ann at Glasgow, Murdina at Inverness, and the youngest two at BanffShire, Macduff.

This family appeared on the 1851 census at Reiff 51-75, with Murdoch's wife listed as Mary, and Anable as a daughter!

Murdochs death is registered as 1 February, 1862 at Reiff, age "about 80 years", Widower of Mary Kerr, Informant his son Roderick. His parents noted as having been another Murdo MacKenzie, and Mary, Maiden Surname MacLean.

Murdoch's wife Mary is missing in this census, she was a sister of Donald at the previous household, Reiff 61-8.

Another Murdo, son of the Murdoch above, was married to a Catherine McLeod (daughter of Roderick McLeod from Isle Ristol). I think the twelve year old Roderick above was with them as a two year old in the 1851 census at Ristol 51-4, though they are in this census at Tanera 61-4 with another 12 year old Roderick! Likely an enumeration error.

Another child of Murdo and Catherine was Alexina, who later married a Murdo McLeod. Alexina and that Murdo are grandparents of Alistair McLeod, who now lives at Inverness, and is official genealogist for the Highland Council (CONTACT INFO).

A child of this family, Christina or "Chirsty" married William Ross of the Parish of Alness in Easter Ross. Mary Ross above is Chirsty's daughter, she and her twin Georgina were christened 15 June, 1839. Georgina went with her aunt Catherine McKenzie and Catherine's husband Alexander McLeod to Tasmania along with a number of other Reiff McKenzies and Kerrs in 1853 aboard the Sir Allan McNab. That Catherine was also a daughter of the Murdo above.

Another child of this family, John, married 11 August, 1853 to Janet Stewart from Ullapool, and also emigrated to Tasmania aboard the Sir Allan McNab within a few months of the marriage, see McNab 520. Gwen Smith (CONTACT INFO) is a descendant of John and Janet, and Greg Wighton (CONTACT INFO) is married to another descendant, Gwen and Greg have done lots of research on the the Tasmanian McKenzies!

32 year old Roderick above married Janet McKenzie 30 January, 1862, and they have 5 children by time of the 1871 census, where they can be found at Reiff 71-63.

The youngest four grandchildren above were children of Alexander McKenzie and his wife Margory Robertson. After the 1841 census of Reiff Alexander moved south to Gorbals in Lanark, an area now part of Glasgow. The I.G.I. shows his marriage there either 5 or 6 November, 1848 to Margary Robertson, and the birth of Ann above 5 September, 1849 (with her christening 25 November, 1849).

Chris Brookes (CONTACT INFO), is related to descendants of Murdina, and she has contributed most of the following info on descendants of Alexander McKenzie.

After 1849 Alexander and Margory appeared to have moved north-east, as their daughter Murdina above was born about 1852 at Inverness (according to the 1861 and 1871 censuses). Chris says Murdina shows up in the 1871 census as a domestic servant at the address where the Baharie family lived and worked. Murdina's parents and siblings have not yet been traced in the 1871 census. Murdina next turns up in her marriage registration to William George Baharie 22 October, 1877 at St Paul Hendon, Sunderland.

After Inverness, Alexander and Margory moved to Macduff at Banff, the birth of Margaret above, "Margaret Alexanderina MacKenzie", was registered 2 January, 1857 at Banff, and young Alexander above also there 7 March, 1860. The 1861 census gives their birthplace in BanffShire as Macduff.

Alexander McKenzie, father of the four youngest grandchildren above, was given a National Reward for bravery in 1856, as Captain of the schooner "Ocean Queen", of the Port of MacDuff. that scroll and more info on his children is in the file at reward.htm.

Among the correspondance that Chris has is a letter from Ann to a daughter of Murdina in 1917, passing mention there indicates young Alexander above married and had at least one child, who died in WW1. Greg Wighton has a copy of the Reward scroll that has been handed down in the Tasmania McKenzie family. Greg and Gwen have long thought a son of Alexander the hero emigrated to Australia, bringing the scroll with him. There is a death mentionned in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database in 1917 of a soldier who might be the son of Alexander, but there is still much research needed!

Murdoch's sister Margaret married John McLean in the neighboring village of Altandhu. Her death registration in 1855 lists her eight children.

A brother of Murdoch, John, died before the 1851 census, but four of his children are two crofts away at Reiff 61-11, and another daughter, Rachel, is wife of Murdoch McLeod at Reiff 61-7.

A second brother of Murdoch, Roderick, who appeared in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-65, and died before this census in 1859. Through Roderick, Murdoch has a nephew Duncan McKenzie at Reiff 61-26, a nephew Hugh at Faochag 61-30, and a niece Janet Ross at Reiff 61-20. Roderick was also father of John, who emigrated to Australia in 1848, and is gt-gt-grandfather of the late Barbara Kolle of Melbourne.

A second sister of Murdoch, Isabella, is wife of John McLennan in Reiff 61-15.

And a third brother of Murdoch, Hector, died in 1860, but Hector's family is in this census at Reiff 61-4.

Reiff 61-10

Mary McLeod            Head         Un      64    Pauper Formerly Domestic
                                                                      Servt

This Household is on page 15 of Enumeration District # 2. Mary is marked as born at Coigach.

Cannot find Mary on earlier or later censuses!

Reiff 61-11

Roderick McKenzie      Head         Un    64      Tenant

                     -- page break --

Murdo McKenzie         Brother      Un    58      Tenant
Neil        Do         Brother      Un    55        Do
Isabella    Do         Sister       Un       40   Domestic Servant
Murdo McLean           Nephew       Un    24      Shoemaker
Margt. McLeod          Niece        Un       16   Genl. Servt
Ann McLeod             Niece        Un       15     Do   Do

This Household is on pages 15 and 16 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

This family appeared in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-79, in the 1871 census Roderick and Isabella are at Reiff 71-64.

Neil dies 24 October, 1861. His death registration lists his (and his siblings) parents as John McKenzie and Barbara McLeod.

Murdo dies 12 May, 1862 at Reiff, Roderick the Informant, parents confirmed as with Neil, he is noted as Widower of Janet MacLeod.

A brother of these siblings, John, married Rachel McLeod from Achiltibuie and emigrated to Canada in 1837, his descendants include Kirk McKenzie in Germany. (CONTACT INFO)

Rachel McLeod at Reiff 61-7 is another sibling of these McKenzies, Ann above is her daughter. In the 1871 census two of her children are servants to Roderick and Isabella.

Murdo McLean has been with the family since he appeared as a 5 year old in the 1841 census at Reiff 41-20, his mother Catherine MacKenzie was also a sister of Rodericks, not noted in Murdoch's marriage registration as deceased, but has not been identified in any census. Murdoch's father (Catherine's husband), had been a Duncan MacLean (the Parish Register notes the marriage 2 January, 1829 of "Duncan M^cLean Aultandow to Catharine M^cKenzie Riff"). Murdoch marries 4 April, 1878 to his first cousin, Barbara MacLeod. Barbara as a 10 year old in this census with her family at Reiff 61-7. Murdo with his Barbara, aunt Isabella (see above), and young family are in the 1881 census at Reiff 81-10.

Reiff 61-12

Rodk. Ross             Head         Mar   65      Tenant
Margt.  Do             Wife         Mar      38   Tenants Wife
Roderick Do            Son                 3
Hugh     Do            Son                1mo

This Household is on page 16 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

Roderick was with his widowed mother Catherine at Reiff 51-78 in 1851, Catherine has since died, Roderick's own death registration gives her Maiden Surname as "McLennan", his sister Christy's death registration suggests "McLeod".

Roderick, Margaret, and young Roderick show up in the 1871 census at Reiff 71-65.

Roderick and Margaret were married 12 January, 1854. She was a McKenzie from the village of Loggie.

Christy McLeod in Camusglassellan 61-27 is a sister of Roderick. She married Murdo McLeod 27 March, 1851.

Margaret in the next croft (Reiff 61-13) is a sister of Roderick. See note there.

Janet in Reiff 61-20 is widow of Hugh Ross, a brother of Roderick.

Young Roderick above was born 10 July, 1858. He dies with his cousin, (another Roderick Ross, see Reiff 61-20), and two of that Roderick's future brother-in-laws, Hugh and George McDonald, who are in Reiff 61-23 when their fishing boat was swamped in 1887.

Hugh was born 14 March, 1861.

Reiff 61-13

Margaret Ross          Head         W        64   Widow of a Tenant
Hannah     Do          Daur         Un       29   Genl Servt
Robert McKenzie        Gr.Son              6      Scholar

This Household is on page 16 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

Margaret, though listed by her maiden surname "Ross", is widow of a McLeod, as her daughter Hannah is shown with that surname in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-78. Her brother Roderick is at the previous croft (Reiff 61-12), and Chirsty at Camusglassellan 61-27 is her sister. Janet Ross at Reiff 61-20 is widow of her brother Hugh.

Robert does not show up in earlier or later censuses, perhaps he was son of another daughter of Margarets, who married a MacKenzie in some other community.

There are two possible mentions in the I.G.I. that might refer to this family. Without consulting the original documents it is impossible to clearly see if either is relavent! First is mention of birth of Robert John MacKenzie 13 September, 1856 at Lairg in Sutherland to parents John MacKenzie and Christina Ross, the census record here though gives Roberts birthplace as Coigach. Second is marriage 22 April, 1858 of Donald McKenzie to Johanna Ross.

Reiff 61-14

Donald McLeod          Head         Mar   49      Fisherman
Christina  Do          Wife         Mar      39
Margt.     Do          Daur                  10   Scholar
John       Do          Son                 8         Do
Simon      Do          Son                 6         Do
Murdoch    Do          Son                 4
Ann        Do          Daur                   2
Donald     Do          Son                 1
Catherine  Do          Sister       Un       68   Formerly a Domestic Servt
Alexander  Do          Brother      Un    56      Tenant

This Household is on page 16 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

Donald, Christina, and their eldest child Margaret "Peggy" are in the 1851 census with Donald's father and two of his siblings at Reiff 51-72.

In the 1871 census, Donald is widowed, living with his still unmarried brother Alexander, and four children, at Reiff 71-66.

Christina's death is registered as 30 March, 1870 at Reiff, aged 50 years, her parents noted as having been Murdo McLeod and Margaret, Maiden Surname McLeod. Amazing coincidence that those were also the names of Donald's parents! In the 1851 census her Widowed father was at Achnahaird 51-54.

There is a memorial stone at Badenscallie burial grounds for Donald and Christina, erected by their son Simon then in New Zealand, the death date for Christina disagrees with civil registration, given as 30 April, 1870 aged 56 years. Donald's death noted as 17 April, 1879, aged 65 years.

The wedding of Donald and Christina was registered 8 March, 1849, giving Christina's maiden surname as McLeod as well. The birth registrations of three of Donald and Christina's children also give Christina's maiden surname as McLeod;

1. unnamed male, born 13 June, 1856 (Murdoch above?),
2. Ann, born 22 June, 1858,
3. Donald, born 5 July, 1860.

As well there is death registration of a child;

4. Roderick, born late 1863, died 5 August, 1864, aged 3/4 years.

Young John above is in the 1871 census as a lodging Labourer at Meikle Altass, Rosehall, Creich, in Sutherland, also there is Donald MacLeod from Polglass, possibly a relative? Donald is in this census at Polglass 61-4.

Donald, Catherine, and Alexander are siblings of Murdoch at Reiff 61-7, George at Ardmair 61-51 a brother, Elizabeth McDonald (gt-gt-grandmother of myself, Donald MacDonald-Ross; CONTACT INFO) at Reiff 61-23, Ann Urquhart at Reiff 61-19, Flora Campbell at Acheninver 61-10, and Christina McKenzie at Tanera 61-3.

Reiff 61-15

John McLennan          Head         Mar   83      Tenant
Isabella   Do          Wife         Mar      81

                     -- page break --

Catherine McKenzie     Servt        Un       22   Domestic Servant

This Household is on pages 16 and 17 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

John and Isabella appeared in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-77, along with their sons Alexander and Kenneth. Alexander is now in the next household (Reiff 61-16), and Kenneth in the one beyond (Reiff 61-17). Isabella McLeod at Reiff 61-3 and Mary McLean at Reiff 61-22 are daughters.

Roderick "Roddy" Dykes MacLeod in Scotland (CONTACT INFO), and his second cousin Donald MacLeod in New Zealand (CONTACT INFO) are descended from John and Isabella through their son Kenneth in Reiff 61-17.

From a family manuscript Roddy has, it appears Isabella was maiden named McKenzie, and John was also known as "An Gobha Ban".

Isabella dies two years after this census on 1 March, 1863. John dies the following year, 10 February, 1864.

Roddy says John and Isabella had eight children, his info is as follows (christening and marriage data in brackets is from the Parish Register);

1. John 1807-1883 (Died in Canada)
2. Christina 1809-1839
3. Isabella 1810-? (christened 10 November, 1810)
4. Catherine 1813-?
5. Murdoch 1814-40 (christened 26 February, 1815)
6. Alexander 1817-? (christened 4 July, 1817)
7. Mary 1821-? (christened 10 February, 1821, married 30 June, 1843 to Kenneth McLean at Altandow)
8. Kenneth 1824-1905 (gt-gt-grandfather of Roddy and Donald)

Roddy says that Isabella had two sisters; Anne married in Altandhu who was gt-grandmother of John McLean (Altandhu 1962 "Johnny Shoemaker"), the other sister, Mary, went to Assynt.

Roddy also mentions that Isabella had two brothers who married in Reiff, and four who went to Sunderland or Newcastle, where they had a small shipping concern.

Rachel in Reiff 61-7 is a niece of Isabella's.

There was a daughter of this family, Mary, who has disappeared since the 1841 census.

Reiff 61-16

Alexander McLennan     Head         Mar  43       Fisherman
Margaret     Do        Wife         Mar     32
Murdo        Do        Son                9       Scholar
Alexander     Do       Son                3
John         Do        Son               6mo

This Household is on page 17 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

Alexander and Margaret were at the home of his parents, John and Isabella, in the last census at Reiff 51-77. John and Isabella are now at the previous croft, Reiff 61-15.

Margaret was a Macleod, originally from the village of Achnahaird, though her widowed mother "Bell", and her brother Angus were in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-84. They do not show up again.

Alexander and Margaret were married 20 February, 1851. The I.G.I. lists the birth of six of their children;

1. female, born 8 October, 1855,
2. Alexander, born 22 June, 1858,
3. John, born 29 October, 1860,
4. Isabella, born 30 June, 1863,
5. Ann, born 16 September, 1865,
6. Angus, born 19 December, 1867.

In the 1871 census, at Reiff 71-67, Margaret appears without Alexander. She is marked as married, not as widowed, and her husband shows up again in 1881. She has six young children with her in 1861, and the youngest is named Angus, clearly a family name as Margaret's brother was also an Angus.

Alexander's brother Kenneth is in the next household (Reiff 61-17). Isabella McLeod at Reiff 61-3 and Mary McLean at Reiff 61-22 are his sisters.

Reiff 61-17

Kenneth McLennan       Head         Mar   36      Ag. Labourer
Mary        Do         Wife         Mar      36
Ann         Do         Daur                   6
John        Do         Son                 4
Kenneth     Do         Son                 2
Henny Urquhart         Servt        Un       24   Genl Servt

This Household is on page 17 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

In the 1851 census Kenneth was with his parents John MacLennan, and Isabella "Bell" MacKenzie at Reiff 51-77, and Mary was with her parents Murdo Urquhart and Ann MacLeod at Reiff 51-83, along with her sister "Euphemia", the Henny above.

Kenneth and Mary were married 3 February, 1853, they are in the 1871 census with 6 children at Reiff 71-59. The births of six of their children are listed in the I.G.I.;

1. female, born 12 April, 1855 (Ann above?),
2. John, born 1 February, 1857,
3. Kenneth, born 3 February, 1859,
4. Alexander, born 2 November, 1861,
5. Neil, born 5 September, 1863,
6. Donald, born 7 December, 1865.

Kenneth's parents are in this census at Reiff 61-15, and Mary's parents are at Reiff 61-19.

Donald MacLeod in New Zealand (CONTACT INFO), and his cousin Roddy MacLeod in Scotland (CONTACT INFO), are descended from Kenneth and Mary. Donald and Roddy have sent me details from a family history written by a son of Kenneth and Mary, Neil MacLennan in 1939. Neil wrote of Kenneth MacLennan;

"But he bought a 40 ton drifter, sail of course, for fishing, the "Tonsor of Rieff(sic)" ("Tommy"). There were three of these then in Reiff which made successful fishings as far as Wick and Stornoway." (I think this would have been in the 1850's)

There is a 7 year old McLennan grandson named Murdo with Mary's parents who in later censuses shows up as a son of Kenneth and Mary, and the servant Henny Urquhart above shows up in the 1871 census at Reiff 71-70 as a daughter of the then widowed Ann Urquhart. Henny was christened 14 July, 1833 and dies unmarried 16 November 1922.

Alexander in the previous household (Reiff 61-16) is a brother of Roderick's. Isabella McLeod in Reiff 61-3 and Mary McLean in Reiff 61-22 are his sisters.

Reiff 61-18

Murdo McLeod           Head         Mar   76      Tenant
Anabella  Do           Wife         Mar      60
Janet     Do           Daur         Un       35   Genl Servt
Hugh      Do           Daur         Un    27      Ag. Lab
Christina Do           Daur         Un       22   Genl Servt
Ann       Do           Daur         Un       19   Ag Lab

This Household is on page 17 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

This family appeared in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-85. In 1871 the family is at Reiff 71-68.

The Parish Register records the marriage 9 March, 1818 of Murdoch MacLeod from Ruiff to Anabile MacLean from Altandu.

Though listed as a daughter, Hugh is clearly a son, his age appears in the males column, and he is shown as such in other censuses.

One of the children of this family, Rachel, who appeared in the 1841 census, became the second wife of Donald McLeay of Letters in Lochbroom Parish 25 February, 1852. She and Donald are at Letters in this census, see 61rachel. Donald was a half brother of Mary McLeay, who marries a John McKenzie at Letters, and is a gt-gt-gt-grandmother of Catherine "Cela" Beale in New Zealand (CONTACT INFO). Janet McLeay, a daughter of Donald and Rachel, is with Murdo and Annabella in the 1871 census at Reiff 71-68.

Alexander who was with this family in the 1851 census is missing! He later re-appears and marries Janet Ross (see Camusglassellan 61-27), and has four children by time of the 1881 census at Reiff 81-7.

Annabella has two siblings in this census; Alexander McLean at Altandhu 61-14, and Catherine McKenzie at Reiff 61-4.

Reiff 61-19

Murdoch Urquhart       Head         Mar   76      Tenant
Ann        Do          Wife         Mar      68   (Domestic Servt crossed out)
Ann        Do          Daur         Un       38   Domestic Servt
John       Do          Son          Un    32      Ag. Lab
Margt.     Do          Daur         Un       30   Genl Servt
Donald      Do         Son          Un    28      Fisherman
Murdo McLennan         Gr.Son              7      Herdboy

                     -- page break --

Cate Urquhart          Sister       Un       68

This Household is on pages 17 and 18 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

This family appeared at Reiff 51-83 in the 1851 census. In the next census this family is enumerated at two neighboring Households (possibly on the same lot?); Ann with various relatives at Reiff 71-70, and Donald with wife and two children (see notes below) at Reiff 71-69.

Murdoch and Ann were married 25 December, 1820.

Murdoch dies 19 June, 1867, aged 76. His parents are listed as Kenneth Urquhart and Henny McLeod. His sister Catherine's death is registered 3 May, 1870, aged 76.

Ann's father, Murdo McLeod, has died since the last census, in 1851 he was at Reiff 51-72. Donald, Alexander and Catherine at Reiff 61-14 are siblings of Ann, George at Ardmair 61-51 and Murdoch at Reiff 61-7 are brothers. Sisters are Elizabeth McDonald (gt-gt-grandmother of myself, Donald MacDonald-Ross; CONTACT INFO) at Reiff 61-23, Flora Campbell at Acheninver 61-10, and Christina McKenzie at Tanera 61-3.

Young Ann above dies unmarried 24 June, 1903.

John was christened 21 January, 1827, he dies unmarried 24 March, 1913. John led a colourful life! Between now and the next census he acted as a "runner" in the U.S. Civil War. See shok.htm

Margaret was christened 9 February, 1829, she dies unmarried 1 June, 1902.

Donald was christened 18 May, 1831. He marries Anabella McKenzie of Ullapool 7 February, 1867, and has nine children. In 1871 he and Annabella with the first two of their children are at Reiff 71-69. Donald dies 22 August, 1893.

Among Donald's descendants are Kirsteen Urquhart of Troon. Bill Hurring (CONTACT INFO) has been researching the Reiff Urquhart family for her.

Mary Urquhart, a daughter of Murdoch and Ann married 3 February, 1853 to Kenneth McLennan, they are in Reiff 61-17. Young Murdo McLennan above is a son of Mary and Kenneth. The servant Henny Urquhart in that household a sister of Mary (she appears as "Euphemia" in some other records).

Catherine "Cate" dies before the next census; 3 May, 1870.

Reiff 61-20

Janet Ross             Head         Mar      48   Widow of a Fisherman
Ann     Do             Daur         Un       20   Domestic Servt
Eliza   Do             Daur         Un       17      Do     Do
Roderick Do            Son                14
Hugh     Do            Son                 9

This Household is on page 18 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

This family was in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-80. Janet was a new widow then, with her son Hugh listed as one year old. Janet, along with her daughter Janet and son Roderick ("Rory") are in the 1871 census at Reiff 71-71.

Janet was surnamed McKenzie, and has a brother Duncan at Reiff 61-26, a brother Hugh at Faochag 61-30, and a sister Isabella at Polbain 61-16. Another brother, John, emigrated to Australia in 1848, see the note at Reiff 61-9. The father of all these siblings, Roderick, died before this census, but can be seen in the previous census at Reiff 51-65.

Before the next census, Ann leaves Reiff, she can be seen as a servant to a McLeod family at Culnacraig 71-109. Before the 1881 census she marries Duncan Stewart at Badenscallie; see Badenscallie 81-13.

Roderick above marries Margaret "Maggie" McDonald from Reiff 61-23. His fishing boat was swamped in 1887, drowning him, two of Maggie's brothers, Hugh and George, and a first cousin also named Roderick Ross, who is in Reiff 61-12.

Janet Ross in Camusglassellan 61-27 is a daughter of Janet.

Hugh Ross though long dead, has three siblings in this census; Roderick in Reiff 61-12, Margaret in Reiff 61-13, and Chirsty in Camusglassellan 61-27.

Reiff 61-21

Isabella McLeod        Head         W        59   Widow of a Tenant
Henny McLeod           Daur         Un       26   Genl Servt

This Household is on page 18 of Enumeration District # 2. Both are marked as born at Coigach.

No clear sign of these two on earlier censuses, however in the 1841 census at Reiff 41-5 there was a 10 year old Hendry McLeod in a family with McKenzie relations in Assynt...

Reiff 61-22

Mary McLean            Head         W        42   Widow of a Tenant
Kenneth  Do            Son                13      Scholar
Christina Do           Daur                  11      Do
Isabella  Do           Daur                   9      Do
Murdo     Do           Son                 7
Jane      Do           Daur                   5
Kenneth   Do           Son                 3

This Household is on page 18 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

This Family, with Mary's since dead husband Kenneth, was in the 1851 census at Altandhu 51-102. In the 1871 census three of Mary's children are at Reiff 71-74. That listing is missing a "Head of Household", and I think the enumerator lost half the record!

Mary was a MacLennan, and her dead husband was Kenneth McLean. The Parish Register 30 June, 1843 records the marriage of Kenneth McLean from Altandow to Mary McLennan from Riff. Mary's christening was registered 10 February, 1821, and she is in the 1841 census at her parents home; Reiff 41-19.

Donald MacLeod in New Zealand (CONTACT INFO) has found Kenneth's death registration 3 March, 1857, he drowned at sea when his boat overturned. Clearly the second Kenneth son above was born after his father drowned.

Donald has also found Kenneth at the home of his parents in the 1841 census at Altandhu 41-12; his father was Murdo McLean, and his mother was Isabella McLeod.

Mary's elderly parents are at Reiff 61-15, her brother Alexander is at Reiff 61-16, her brother Kenneth is at Reiff 61-17, and her sister, Isabella McLeod, is at Reiff 61-3.

Young Kenneth above was born 15 September, 1857.

Jane above was born 1855, she married 13 March, 1879 to Alexander MacLeod, a son of John MacLeod and Margaret MacLeod.

Reiff 61-23

Donald McDonald        Head         Mar   58      Tenant & Fisherman
Elizabeth   Do         Wife         Mar      44
Donald      Do         Son                14      Scholar
Christina   Do         Daur         Daur     12      Do
Margaret    Do         Daur                  10      Do
Isabella    Do         Daur                   8
John        Do         Son                 6
Hugh        Do         Son                 4
George      Do         Son                 1
Catherine   Do         Mother       W        92   Widow of a Tenant

                     -- page break --

This Household is on page 18 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

This family showed up in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-87. In 1871 they are at Reiff 71-73.

Catherine (the mother) was also known as "Ketty". Her husband John died sometime between the 1851 census where he was a visitor at the district schoolhouse at Altandhu 51-92, and the start of civil registration at the beginning of 1855.

Catherine dies a few months after this census, age marked as 96! Her death registration lists her parents as Hugh McLeod, and Catherine maiden named also McLeod!

Elizabeth was Donald's second wife. With his first wife, Margaret Graham, he had two children; Catherine "Ketty", and Margaret (not the Margaret above!). Young Ketty married William Corbett at Arboll in Tarbat Parish, Easter Ross, 14 July, 1854. In the 1861 census at Tarbat Margaret appears as a servant to Ketty and William. Their half-sister Chirsty, "Christina" above, later follows them to Arboll, where she marries a neighboring farmer, Andrew Ross 12 December 1870. Chirsty and Andrew are my gt-grandparents!

Elizabeth (my gt-gt-grandmother) was also a McLeod. Her widowed father Murdoch died 4 August, 1856. Murdoch McLeod at Reiff 61-7, and Donald at Reiff 61-14 are brothers of Elizabeth, and Ann Urquhart in Reiff 61-19 is a sister.

Young Donald and John above emigrate to New Zealand sometime in the 1880s, and are followed sometime after the 1891 census by their brother Alexander, who is not yet born at time of this census. A grand-daughter of John, Margaret Ward (CONTACT INFO), has sent me information on what became of the three brothers there;

"Donald Brown McDonald and Alexander McDonald went with (John). Neither of the brothers married - Donald had a butcher's shop and Alec was a shepherd and met an untimely death in a dray accident. John has approx 40 living descendants - about 10 in Australia and the rest in NZ except for our son, Derek, who is presently living in Germany."

John's wife in New Zealand, Isabella MacLean, was a daughter of Coigach people as well, her father Murdo MacLean was from Altandhu, and her mother Hughina MacLeod was from Polbain. Hughina is in the 1841 census of Polbain at Polbain 41-3.

The 10 year old daughter above, Margaret "Maggie", marries Roderick Ross in Reiff 61-20. Roderick's fishing boat was swamped in 1887, drowning him, his cousin also named Roderick Ross (in Reiff 61-12), and Margaret's two brothers above; Hugh and George.

The I.G.I. shows the birth of four children to Donald McDonald and Elizabeth McLeod at Coigach;

1. John, born 27 March, 1855,
2. Hugh, born 20 June, 1857,
3. George, born 2 July, 1859,
4. William, born 25 June, 1861 (10 year old "Alexander" on 1871 census).

Reiff 61-24

Norman McLean          Head         Mar   35      Tenant (Fisherman crossed out)
Mary     Do            Wife         Mar      30
Isabella McLeod        Motherinlaw  W        72   Widow of a Tenant
Ann Ross               Servt        Un       20   Domestic Servt

This Household is on page 19 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

Isabella and Mary are in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-81. Norman and Mary have four children by time of the next census, see Reiff 71-72.

Isabella's death is registered as 20 October, 1869 at Reiff, a Widow though her late husband not named, earlier censuses and daughter Mary's 1877 death registration say he was a Donald MacLeod. Isabella's death registration does name her parents; Murdoch MacLeod and Margaret, Maiden Surnamed MacLeod.

In the 1851 census Norman was listed in the village of Camuscoille as a 25 year old unmarried fisherman at the home of his parents; Donald McLean (from Altandu) and Margaret Nicolson (from Culcain in Assynt, their marriage was registered 13 February, 1813). When his mother's death is registered at Camuscoille in 1887, Norman is the Informant, "son, from Reef". Donald and Margaret were gt-gt-grandparents of Donald MacLeod in New Zealand (CONTACT INFO).

Strange co-incidence that there is an "Ann Ross" here, four households away from another "Ann Ross" at Reiff 61-20 who is the same age! I wonder if the same person got enumerated twice?

Margaret in the next family (Reiff 61-25) is a daughter of Isabella's, and Alexander at Reiff 61-1 is a son.

The I.G.I. has a marriage registered 21 March, 1861, a few weeks before this census on the night of 7 April, at Assynt between a Norman McLean, and a Mary McLeod. Probably this couple...

Reiff 61-25

William McLeod         Head         Mar   43      Fisherman
Margaret   Do          Wife         Mar      32
Ann        Do          Daur                   7
Isabella   Do          Daur                   6
Murdo      Do          Son                 4
Henny      Do          Daur                   1

This Household is on page 19 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

William showed up in the 1851 census with his parents and siblings at Reiff 51-73. Those people are now at Reiff 61-6.

In the 1871 census William is missing, but Margaret and five children are at Reiff 71-60.

The Parish Register 10 February, 1853 records the marriage of William McLeod, a Fisherman at Riff, to Margaret McLeod of Riff, daughter of Donald McLeod, a Tenant there.

Margaret is a daughter of Isabella in the previous family (Reiff 61-24), in the 1851 census they are at Reiff 51-81. Alexander at Reiff 61-1 is a brother of Margaret.

Young Isabella above does not reappear until the 1891 census, where she is living with her widowed mother at Reiff 91-35.

The I.G.I. includes mention of the births of seven children to William McLeod and Margaret McLeod in Coigach;

1. Isabella, born 23 December, 1855,
2. Murdoch, born 2 October, 1857,
3. Mary, born 12 February, 1860 ("Henny" above?),
4. Murdoch, born 11 January, 1861,
5. Alexander, born 11 July, 1862,
6. Annabella, born 5 June, 1863,
7. Donald, born 4 March, 1865.

Without seeing the original documents the I.G.I. was made from, it is impossible to be sure if all these births are to this couple, especially as there are some duplications of forenames.

Reiff 61-26

Duncan McKenzie        Head         Mar   53      Tenant (Fisherman crossed out)
Ann       Do           Wife         Mar      50
Janet     Do           Daur         Un       25   Domestic Servt
Mary      Do           Daur         Un       21      Do      Do
Margaret  Do           Daur         Un       18      Do      Do
Catherine Do           Daur         Un       17      Do      Do
Henny     Do           Daur         Un       14   Scholar
Donald    Do           Son                12      Scholar
Roderick  Do           Son                 9      Scholar

This Household is on page 19 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach, except Ann born at Assynt.

This family appeared in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-71. Duncan, Ann, and Donald are in the 1871 census at Reiff 71-76.

Duncan dies in 1888, age noted as 80.

Duncan's widowed father, Roderick, died 18 March, 1859 aged 86, he had been a miller. He can be seen in the previous census at Reiff 51-65.

Ann's place of birth is listed as Assynt in Sutherlandshire, other censuses list her hometown in Assynt as Lochinver. Her maiden surname was also McKenzie. The Parish Register lists the marriage of Duncan McKenzie to Ann McKenzie 5 March, 1833.

Duncan has a sister Janet at Reiff 61-20, a brother Hugh at Reiff 61-30, and a sister Isabella at Polbain 61-16. Another brother, John, emigrated to Australia in 1848, see the note at Reiff 61-9.

Duncan has an uncle Murdoch through his dead father Roderick at Reiff 61-9.

Duncan testifes to the Napier Commission on the plight of the Crofters in 1883 on behalf of the Tenants at Reiff (see duncan.htm). He says his daughters had married and left him "grown wings and flown away". One of those daughters, Mary above, marries 12 February, 1863 to Hugh Morrison. One of Mary's children (named Duncan after his grandfather) is a visitor to Duncan and Ann in the next census. In the 1881 census the Morrisons are at Achiltibuie 81-23.

Camusglassellan 61-27
(NOTE that this household is first of next hamlet, Camusglasellan)

Murdoch McLeod         Head         Mar   34      Fisherman
Christina  Do          Wife         Mar      40
Janet Ross             Servt        Un       14   Domestic Servt

This Household is on page 19 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

Murdoch was not present in the last census, but his father, also a Murdoch McLeod, was at Camusglassellan 51-69, and his brother Norman was at Camusglassellan 51-70. Norman is now next door at Camusglassellan 61-28.

In the 1851 census Christina, "Chirsty", was with her family at Reiff 51-78. Murdoch and Christina "Christy" are in the 1871 census at Camusglassellan 71-78.

Christina dies 1876 aged "70 years", the registration notes her parents had been Roderick Ross and Catherine, Maiden Surname MacLeod.

Murdoch McLeod and Christina Ross were married 27 March, 1851. Roderick Ross at Reiff 61-12 is a brother of Christy. Interesting that the death registration details for Rory differ on their mother's Maiden Surname, giving "McLennan" instead of "McLeod", perhaps their father was married twice, or one of the Informants was mistaken.

Christina also has a sister Margaret at Reiff 61-13. Christina's brother Hugh died before the 1851 census, but his widow and family are at Reiff 61-20 - young Janet Ross above is Christina's niece through Hugh.

Janet is in the 1871 census with her mother Janet and brother Roderick at Reiff 71-71. She marries Alexander McLeod, a son of the McLeod family at Reiff 61-18, though he was missing in this census. They have four children by time of the 1881 census at Reiff 81-7.

Murdoch's father Murdoch died 6 October, 1858, and his death registration lists this Murdoch as informant.

Camusglassellan 61-28

Norman McLeod          Head         Mar   45      Tenant
Ann      Do            Wife         Mar      37
Roderick  Do           Son                11      Scholar

                     -- page break --

Catherine McLeod       Daur                   6
Murdo       Do         Son                 3

This Household is on pages 19 and 20 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

This family appeared in Riff in the 1851 census at Camusglassellan 51-70. They show up in the 1871 census at Camusglassellan 71-77.

Norman's brother Murdoch is at the croft previous, Camusglassellan 61-27.

Ann was a MacLeod from Culnacraig. The O.P.R. has the wedding of Norman McLeod, a Fisherman from Reiff, to Ann McLeod of Culnacraig, daughter of Murdo McLeod a Tenant there, 29 January 1848. I do not yet have transcriptions for the 1841 census of Culnacraig, but the general notes at Culnacraig seem to indicate Ann was daughter of Murdo MacLeod Jr there, one of the Culnacraig "Bain" MacLeods.

The I.G.I. includes mention of the birth of two children to this family;

1. Catherine, born 27 September, 1855,
2. Murdoch, born 28 March, 1858.

Camusglassellan 61-29

Malcolm   McLeod       Head         Mar   38      Fisherman
Catherine   Do         Wife         Mar      38      Do's wife
Murdoch     Do         Son                 9               Son
Janet       Do         Daur                   5
Lexy        Do         Daur                   2

This Household is on page 20 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

This family appeared in the 1851 census at Camusglassellan 51-67.

Catherine was also a MacLeod from Reiff, though I am unsure which family.

Lexy was born 18 July, 1857, with her name as "Alexanderina".

Faochag 61-30
(NOTE that this household is first of next hamlet, Faochag, spelled by the enumerator in 1861 as "Fuchag")

Hugh McKenzie          Head         Mar   42      Tenant & Fisher
Janet      Do          Wife         Mar      38
Henny     Do           Daur                  13   Tenant's Daur
Rachel    Do           Daur                  12   Tenant's Son
Murdo     Do           Son                10
Christina Do           Daur                   7
Donald    Do           Son                 5
Margt.      Do                                3

This Household is on page 20 of Enumeration District # 2. All are marked as born at Coigach.

In the 1851 census this family was at Faochag 51-65, with Hugh's 79 year old father Roderick as Head of Household. In 1871 they are at Faochag 71-80.

Hugh's father Roderick died 18 March, 1859 aged 86. Hugh as Informant on the death registry said his father's occupation had been "miller". It is unclear when the MacKenzies ceased to run a mill at Faochag.

Janet is a daughter of Donald Kerr at Reiff 61-8 and his first wife, Rachel McLean. She was christened 27 October, 1819. Mary McLeod at Reiff 61-1, and Isabella McLeod in the neighboring croft at Faochag 61-31 are sisters of Janet. Another sister, Alexanderina "Lexy" McLean, is in the neighboring village at Altandhu 61-17

Hugh and Janet were married 18 March, 1847.

The mistake where Rachel is called 'Tenants Son' is in the original. She cannot be found in later censuses.

There is registration of a one day old unnamed child in 19 April, 1860 to Hugh and Janet, with their residence given as "Riff". Donald above is registered as born 16 February, 1856, he dies 21 April, 1862, age given as 6, and parents residence as "Fuchag, Riff".

Margaret above was born 22 July, 1858.

25 August, 1853 a brother of Hugh, Kenneth, married a sister of Janet, Margaret. They went to Tasmania aboard the Sir Allan MacNab later that year, with two other of Janet's siblings, Alexander and Chirsty, and a sister of Hugh named Catherine, who was married to Alexander MacLeod from the Isle Tanera. Also with them went several cousins of Hugh. See McNab 521

Duncan McKenzie at Reiff 61-26, Janet Ross at Reiff 61-20, and Isabella McKenzie at Polbain 61-16 are siblings of Hugh. Hugh also has an uncle Murdoch (brother of his father Roderick) in this census at Reiff 61-9.

Isabella McLeod in the neighboring croft of Faochag 61-31, Mary McLeod at Reiff 61-1, and Alexanderina "Lexy" McLean in the neighboring village at Altandhu 61-17 are sisters of Janet.

Between the 1871 and 1881 census, Murdo above leaves Reiff, and goes to Inverness, where he becomes Attendant at an asylum. He marries 27 May, 1881 to one of the other workers there, Annie Munro. Murdo and Annie have ten children at Inverness, including two sons who go to Canada, and one who goes to New Zealand. One of the sons who went to Canada had a son, Ronald Hugh MacKenzie, Ron has lots more info on this family : CONTACT INFO

Faochag 61-31

Isabella McLeod        Head         Mar      41   Tenant's wife
John        Do         Servt        Un    29      Ag Lab

This Household is on page 20 of Enumeration District # 2. Both are marked as born at Coigach.

In the 1851 census there was a MacRae family at this croft, see Faochag 51-66.

Isabella was maiden surnamed Kerr. The Parish Register records the marriage 31 January, 1850 of John McLeod a Shepherd at Altandubh, to Isabella Kerr from Reiff, daughter of Donald Kerr, a Tenant there. Isabella's parents are at Reiff 61-8.

The missing John McLeod was in the 1841 census at Altandhu 41-18, his brother Murdo is in this census at Altandhu 51-101. That Murdo is an ancestor of Neil McLeod in California (CONTACT INFO).

In the 1841 census Isabella was servant to a McKenzie family at Achnahaird 41-11. With her then was Susanna "Susan" McKenzie, who emigrated to Tasmania in 1853 with several Reiff Kerrs and others, see Mcnab 524.

Isabella "Bell" is in the 1871 census with five children at Faochag 71-79. Four of her children then are old enough that they should appear in this census, but are not present, so it looks like these MacLeods were in the process of moving into this croft at the time of this census.

Janet McKenzie in the previous croft of Faochag 61-30, Mary McLeod at Reiff 61-1, and Alexanderina "Lexy" McLean in the neighboring village at Altandhu 61-17 are sisters of Isabella.

The I.G.I. has the births of four children to John McLeod and Isabella Kerr in Lochbroom Parish between 1856 and 1863. From the I.G.I. and census data their children were (with some possibly missing);

1. Maggie, born about 1853,
2. Donald, born about 1855,
3. Mary, born 15 February, 1856,
4. Ann, born 6 September, 1857,
5. Christina, born 25 April, 1859,
6. Murdoch, born 17 December, 1863.

Donald MacLeod (CONTACT INFO), says a McLennan family history written by Neil McLennan in 1939, and annotated by Kenneth MacLeod in 1965, states the missing John McLeod was known as "Iain Ban" or "an Baiggar Buie". The Culnacraig Mcleods were either "Dhu", or "Bain", and I wonder if John was related to the Bain MacLeods there, or if it was a more personal knickname, presumably based on blonde hair. Given that both knicknames refer to a light colour (Ban or Bain=white, Buie, or Buidhe=yellow), I think it likely John was pale or fair haired.

This file, and others dealing with history and genealogy of Coigach, links from my homepage at: http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~coigach Any suggestions for additions or edits please feel free to email me, Donald MacDonald-Ross, at:

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