Donald Bain

     
     Donald Bain was born on 13 Dec 1806 at Westerdale, Par. of Halkirk, CAI, SCT, Wit. Donald Gray Westerdale Alexdr Sutherland in Forrnidale? (neither yet conclusively identified, although Donald Gray is presumably a relation of his mother's) NB this date is 1 day after the Halkirk Parish records show his parents as having been married, although the Watten records show a marriage date of some 3 mths earlier.²
     Donald Bain married Margaret Taylor, daughter of William Taylor and Isobella McDonald, on 12 Jul 1832 at Halkirk, CAI, SCT, the Halkirk OPR entry shows Donald in Hilhead, Bower, and Margaret in Gerston Halkirk. A month earlier, when the banns were entered in the Bower OPR they read: Donald Bain of Clayoch, Margaret Taylor of Gerston, Parish of Halkirk were matrimonially contracted the 15th Jun 1832. Cautners John Bain and William Taylor (assumed to be their respective fathers). NB another researcher believes the marriage to be 12 Feb in Halkirk which cannot be correct if the Banns were called 15 Jun.^3,4,5
     Donald Bain died on 4 Mar 1892 at Sibster, Halkirk, CAI, SCT, at age 85; Dist Halkirk, #16 cert reads: Donald Bain, pauper, formerly meal miller, widower of Margaret Taylor. Died Fourth March 1892, 10:30am Sibster aged 86. Parents John Bain farmer,dec, Catherine Gray, dec. Cause: bronchitis 1 mth & senile debility cert. by D G Braidwood. Informant James Bain, son, present (signed). Registered 4th March.¹
     In Jun 1832 Donald Bain was living at Clayoch, Par. of Bower, CAI, SCT.³
     By Jul 1832 Donald Bain was living in Hillhead, Par. of Bower, CAI, SCT.⁴
     Donald Bain and Margaret Bain appeared on the census of 7 Jun 1841 at Sibster, Par. of Halkirk, CAI, SCT, and are assumed to be husband and wife. They were enumerated as BAIN: Donald head, 30, day lab; wife Margaret, 30. John 8; William 6; Isabell 4; James 2; Jane 1.^6,7
     Donald and Margaret Bain appeared on the census of 30 Mar 1851 at Clashscribie, Par. of Latheron, CAI, SCT, as Donald Bain, 45, miller wife Margaret, 49 both b Halkirk. Dtrs: Isabella 15; Catherine, 9 both scholars b Latheron (place given as Clashscruvie, assumed mistranscription of Clashscriby. Possibly he had gone home to be near his father, who died a couple of years after this) This is one of 3 neighbouring census entries related to this family: the first being Donald's parents, John and Catherine, with their dtr Jane; the next being Donald's brother James and his family.^8,9
     The census of 30 Mar 1851 showed James Bain and Donald Bain living next door to the household of Catherine and John Bain at Clashscribie, Par. of Latheron, CAI, SCT.^10,11
     Donald and Margaret Bain appeared on the census of 7 Apr 1861 at Dale, Par. of Halkirk, CAI, SCT, as BAIN: Donald, head, mar., 52, miller, b Halkirk; Margaret T, wife, 54, "his wife" b Reay; Children: Isabella, 24, b Latheron; James, 21, ag lab, b Halkirk; Catherine, 16 b Latheron' Grddtr Catherine, 3 b Halkirk (dtr of Isabella) (1 room with 1 or more windows) The ages shown are well out: Donald was by now at least 55, Maggie 59, James 23 and Catherine nearly 20, only Isabella has an age consistent with other census entries. (Only one household separates them from Alexander & Catherine Sutherland and family, which their respective children Alexander Sutherland and Catherine Bain obviously took advantage of)
Click here for a picture of the mill at Dale.¹² In Jan 1863 Donald Bain was a miller, probably in the ?Par. of Halkirk, CAI, SCT, when son James married.¹³ He was shown as a labourer at Westerdale, Par. of Halkirk, CAI, SCT, in 1871.¹⁴
     The census of 3 Apr 1881 showed Donald, with his dtr Catherine, his grdson Donald D Gray, at Westerdale, Par. of Halkirk, CAI, SCT, enumerated as BAIN (all b Halkirk): Donald, widower, 73, lab; dtr Catherine, unm, 36, grd son Donald D Gray, 7m (Catherine's son).¹⁵
     The census of 5 Apr 1891 showed Donald, with his dtr Catherine, his grdson Donald Bain, at Sibster, Halkirk, CAI, SCT, enumerated as listed as BAIN: Donald, head, widower, 82 (actually 85 as chr 1806), Gaelic & English, b Halkirk, no occupation given. Dtr Catherine, 47, dom. servant, Gaelic & English, b Latheron; Grdson Donald Bain, 10, scholar, b Halkirk. One room with 1 or more windows.¹⁶
     Donald obviously fell on hard times in later years as the Roll of Poor at Halkirk shows he was admitted to the register 24th Sept 1884 as number 96, Donald BAIN of Westerdale, 2/- per week. An entry on 6th May 1885 shows him as aged 77, no dependents, still 2/- per week, ditto 23 Apr 1890. By 27 Oct 1890 the rate was increased to 2/6 per week, now aged 82. And on 10 Mar 1892, son James (of Sibster) was granted 10/- for coffin to defray expenses for father's internment.¹⁷