1881 Notes for Reiff, Camusglassellan, & Faochag

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1881 Notes for Reiff, Camusglassellan, & Faochag

These notes are based on the 1881 Census for Reiff, Camusglassellan, and Faochag, listing those people who stayed the night of 3 April, 1881.

The intro file with links to these notes on the various 19th century censuses and their transcriptions is here; index.htm.

This file uses my transcription of a photocopy of the 1881 census index as a framework. The photocopy is of the microfilm of the LDS transcription of the original documents. So there is likely a lot of copy-of-copy-of-copy-of-errors here! Each transcription from the original documents increases the danger of error, and I am sure some data has become corrupted in the process.

So.... I have taken a few liberties with the index to bring the style more in line with the earlier and later censuses, once I eventually view the microfilmed coppies of the original I will know if I was correct!

One problem is that the LDS indexers shortened occupation listings over thirteen letters, and added a + sign to indicate it was shortened. In most cases the full listing is obvious, but there is further danger of error creeping in through my assumptions of what the original document said in full, sigh.

As with the earlier censuses I have relied on good background from many other genealogy researchers. I have made a file with notes on each of their interests, and links to their emails and web pages where available; CONTACT FILE.

Peggy McKenzie (CONTACT INFO) has emailed me an excerpt from a book based on testimony of Crofters to a Commission in 1883, two years after this census. The excerpt concerns the testimony of Duncan McKenzie, who appears in this census at Reiff 81-22. His story is quite touching, and I have put it into a file, with credit to the author and publisher here; duncan.htm.

There are doubtless errors here not just in the transcriptions of the data, but in the interpretions of it I have made. Please, send me your data or corrections at [email protected], and I will add it!


The enumerator numbered the households consecutively for each community, I have identified the households by using a prefix of "81" to denote the 1881 census data, and a suffix based on the enumerators numbering.

Following the Reiff data I have included the two households of Camusglassellan, and the two households of Faochag. Both communities include people found in earlier Reiff censuses, so I have tacked them on.

Reiff

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11
12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22

Camusglassellan 1 | 2 Faochag 1 | 2


Reiff 81-1


Roderick MacLeod       Head         M     40      Fisherman
Mary      do           Wife         M        34
John       do          Son                 7      Scholar
Hector     do          Son                 5        do
Flora      do          Daur                   3
Isabella   do          Daur                  4mo
Isabella   do          Moth         W        78
Margaret   do          Sis          U        42   General Serv
John MacLean           Neph               14      Scholar
Notes on this Household:

This family was also first in the 1871 census, at Reiff 71-56. In 1891 they show up at Reiff 91-36.

Isabella, the mother, was a daughter of John McLennan and Isabella McKenzie. Her husband John died before the 1871 census, and she dies before the next census.

The death of four month old Henny MacLeod is registered as 15 June, 1888 at Laid of Reiff of hooping-cough, the registration notes Mary's maiden surname was MacKenzie (Informant was Roderick). I have not yet found Mary in earlier Reiff.

Isabella has three siblings in this census; her brother Kenneth is at Reiff 81-4, her brother Alexander is at Reiff 81-13, and her widowed sister Mary MacLean is at Reiff 81-17.

Another son of Isabella, Murdo MacLeod, is with his wife and children at Reiff 81-12.

John MacLean is a son of Roderick's sister Ann, who married Donald MacLean. See notes at Reiff 61-2. Donald and Ann are in this census at Altandhu 81-41, with four younger children.


Reiff 81-2


Murdo MacKenzie        Head         M     62      Crofter
Ann     do             Wife         M        64
Catherine MacGregor    Daur         W        29
Mary MacKenzie         Daur         U        26
Alexander MacGregor    GSon                1
Notes on this Household:

This family was in the 1871 census at Reiff 71-58. In the 1891 census Murdo, Ann, Mary, and a 60 year old unmarried sister of Ann, Rachel McLean, are at Altandhu 91-38.

Anne's death is registered 1900, age 84 years, at Laide of Reiff, the registration notes her parents had been John MacLean and Catherine, Maiden Surname MacLean.

Murdo's parents had been Hector McKenzie, and Catherine McLean from Altandhu. Ann above was also a McLean from Altandhu, she married Murdo 25 June, 1850.

Alexander is shown as born at Inverness. Clearly Catherine went to Inverness since the last census, married a MacGregor, and then was widowed with a young son.

Duncan MacLean at Reiff 81-8 is a step-brother of Murdo.


Reiff 81-3


Alexander MacLeod      Head         M     79      Ag Labourer
Mary        do         Wife         M        72
Notes on this Household:

In the 1871 census this couple were at Reiff 71-57, with three children who do not show up in this one.

Alexander has a sister Margaret MacLeod at Reiff 81-6, and since the last census his sister Mary has died, but Mary's Widowed husband and daughter are at Reiff 81-19.

Mary's maiden surname was Kerr. Her sister, Alexanderina "Lexy" MacLean is at Reiff 81-8. And both wifes in the neighboring community, Isabella MacLeod at Faochag 81-1, and Janet "Jessie" MacKenzie at Faochag 81-2, were also sisters.

Three siblings of Mary emigrated to Tasmania aboard the Sir Allan McNab in 1853. One of them, Margaret, was married to Kenneth McKenzie, a brother of Janet's husband Hugh!


Reiff 81-4


Kenneth MacLennan      Head         M     56      Crofter
Mary       do          Wife         M        56
Murdo      do          Son          U     27      Fisherman
John       do          Son          U     23         do
Kenneth     do         Son          U     21         do
Alexander   do         Son          U     19
Niel        do         Son          U     17      Scholar
Donald     do          Son          U     15        do
Anne       do          Daur         U        25
Notes on this Household:

This family was in the 1871 census at Reiff 71-59. In 1891 they are at Reiff 91-32.

Kenneth has a brother Alexander, who appears in this census with his wife and children at Reiff 81-13. Kenneth has two widowed sisters in this census; Isabella is mother of the McLeod family at Reiff 81-1, and Mary MacLean is at Reiff 81-17.

Mary's maiden name was Urquhart. Her widowed mother, with four of her siblings, is at Reiff 81-14. She also has a brother, Donald at Camusglassellan 81-2.

Roddy MacLeod in Scotland (CONTACT INFO) is a gt-gt-grandson of Kenneth and Mary. He has additional info on the family, including a family history written in 1939 by Niel MacLennan (the 17 year old Scholar above). That info includes;


Reiff 81-5


Catherine MacLeod      Head         U        60   Crofter
Christy     do         Sis          U        63
Notes on this Household:

Christy was with her since dead mother Ann (also maiden surnamed MacLeod!) in the 1871 census at Reiff 71-61. These two sisters are in the 1891 census at Reiff 91-33.

William in the next Household, Reiff 81-6, and Alexander in the one following, Reiff 81-7, are brothers of Catherine and Christy.


Reiff 81-6


William MacLeod        Head         M     66      Gl Labourer
Margaret   do          Wife         M        53
Roderick   do          Son                12      Scholar
Notes on this Household:

This family (less William!) appeared in the 1871 census at Reiff 71-60.

In the 1891 census Margaret is widowed, and living with her daughter Isabella at Reiff 91-35.

The previous Household, Reiff 81-5, has two sisters of William, and the one following, Reiff 81-7, has his brother Alexander.

Since the last census William's mother, Ann MacLeod, has died. She was at Reiff 71-61.

Margarets maiden name was also MacLeod. She has a brother Alexander at Reiff 81-3, and had a sister Mary who has died since the last census, but whose widower Norman MacLean is at Reiff 81-19.


Reiff 81-7


Alexr. MacLeod         Head         M     40      Fisherman
Jessie    do           Wife         M        34
Anne      do           Daur                   6   Scholar
Janet     do           Daur                   5
Alexander   do         Son                 2
Heugh       do         Son                3m
Notes on this Household:

Alexanders widowed mother Ann McLeod has died since the 1871 census, when she was with a daughter and grandson at Reiff 71-61, possibly Alexander took the croft at her death.

In the 1891 census Jessie with four children is at Reiff 91-34.

Two sisters of Alexander are in this census at Reiff 81-5.

Jessie was maiden named Janet Ross. She married Alexander 4 February, 1873. In 1861 she was servant to an Alexander McLeod at Reiff 61-27. In 1871 she was with her mother Janet, and brother Roderick "Rory" at Reiff 71-71. Roderick and Janet are in this census at Reiff 81-16.


Reiff 81-8


Duncan MacLean         Head         M     56      Fisherman
Alexanderina do        Wife         M        46
Donald       do        Son          U     15      Scholar
Anne        do         Daur                  11      do
Annabella    do        Daur                   8      do
Rachel      do         Daur                   3
Alexander   do         Son                 2
Notes on this Household:

This family was in the 1871 census at Reiff 71-62. In 1891 they are at Reiff 91-28.

Alexanderina "Lexy" was a Kerr. You can see her with her parents in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-74. Her father Donald Kerr died before the 1871 census, but her mother Ann (McLeod) Kerr was at Achiltibuie 71-35. Lexy's sister, Mary MacLeod, is at Reiff 81-3, and she has two sisters at Faochag; Isabella MacLeod at Faochag 81-1, and Janet "Jessie" MacKenzie at Faochag 81-2.

Three of Lexy's siblings emigrated to Tasmania in 1853 aboard the ship Sir Allan McNab.

Murdo MacKenzie in Reiff 81-2 is a step-brother of Duncan.


Reiff 81-9


Roderick MacKenzie     Head         M     52      Crofter
Janet       do         Wife         M        46
Alexander   do         Son          U     17      Fisherman
Mary       do          Daur         U        16   Scholar
Henny      do          Daur                  13     do
Catherine  do          Daur                  10     do
Margaret    do         Daur                  10     do
Murdo      do          Son                 7        do
Donald     do          Son                 4        do
Notes on this Household:

This family was listed in the 1871 census at Reiff 71-63. In 1891 they are at Reiff 91-26.

The marriage registration of Janet to Roderick 30 January, 1862 says her maiden surname was also McKenzie!

Twins are rare in the Reiff records, Catherine and Margaret ("Ketty and Peggy") are the only twins I have noted, other than Mary and Georgiana Ross, who also had a MacKenzie mother! (see Reiff 51-73)

Young Donald dies 14 April, 1885.

A brother of Roderick's, Murdo, was married to a Catherine McLeod, and had at least one child, Alexina, who married a Murdo McLeod, and are grandparents of Alistair MacLeod, who is now the Highland Council official genealogist! (CONTACT INFO). Murdo's widow and children are at Tanera 81-16.

Another brother of Roderick was John, who married Janet Stewart from Ullapool, and emigrated to Tasmania in 1853. John and Janet's descendants include Gwen Smith (CONTACT INFO).


Reiff 81-10


Murdo MacLean          Head         M     42      Crofter
Barbara   do           Wife         M        30
Catherine  do          Daur                   2
John      do           Son                1m
Isabella MacKenzie     Aunt         U        60
Notes on this Household:

Murdo looks to have been a visiting shoemaker at an unrelated MacKenzie family at Leckmelm beyond Ullapool in the 1871 census, he was at Reiff from the 1841 through 1861 censuses with MacKenzie uncles and aunts, see him in 1861 at Reiff 61-11, with several relatives including the aunt Isabella above. Barbara was in the 1871 census with her MacLeod family at Reiff 71-64. Murdo and Barbara with four children are in the 1891 census at Reiff 91-27.

Murdo and Barbara were first cousins, as noted in their marriage registered 4 April, 1878, Barbara's mother Rachel, maiden surnamed MacKenzie, was a sister of Murdo's mother Catherine, Aunt Isabella above was a sister of Rachel and Catharine.

Barbara's father Murdoch MacLeod was a brother of Elizabeth MacDonald at Reiff 81-18.


Reiff 81-11


Heugh Ross             Head         U     19      Genl. Labourer
Margaret do            Moth         W        60
Notes on this Household:

Hugh "Heugh" showed up in the 1871 census with his aunt Christy Ross, and Christy's husband Murdo MacLeod wrongly listed as his grandparents at Reiff 71-78.

Since the last census, Margaret's husband Roderick has died. In 1871 they were at Reiff 71-65.

Margaret was a MacKenzie from the village of Loggie, her marriage to Roderick was registered 12 January, 1854.

Margaret has another son, Roderick, who is not present at this census. That Roderick, along with his cousin also a Roderick Ross, and two MacDonald brothers, are lost at sea when their fishing boat is swamped 24 March, 1887 at 8 p.m. That other Roderick is at Reiff 81-16, his wife Maggie is a sister of the two MacDonald brothers, they are with their family at Reiff 81-18.


Reiff 81-12


Murdo MacLeod          Head         M     36      Fisherman
Barbara  do            Wife         M        26
John     do            Son                 2
Mary     do            Daur                  6m
Notes on this Household:

Murdo was in the 1871 census at Reiff 71-56. Barbara does not show up in earlier censuses. The family shows up in the 1891 census at Reiff 91-31.

Murdo's widowed mother Isabella, and several other relatives are at Reiff 81-1. Isabella was a MacLennan, and so Alexander in the next household (Reiff 81-13) is an uncle of Murdo, as is Kenneth at Reiff 81-4. Murdo also has a widowed aunt Mary MacLean at Reiff 81-17.

Barbara was born in Assynt.


Reiff 81-13


Alexander MacLennan    Head         M     63      Fisherman
Margaret     do        Wife         M        50
Murdo        do        Son          U     28      Fisherman
Alexr.       do        Son          U     23         do
John         do        Son          U     19         do
Angus        do        Son                12      Scholar
Isabella     do        Daur         U        16      do
Anne         do        Daur         U        14      do
Margaret     do        Daur                   9      do
Notes on this Household:

This family were in the 1871 census at Reiff 71-67. In 1891 they are at Reiff 91-25.

Kenneth in Reiff 81-4 is a brother of Alexander. He has two widowed sisters in this census; Isabella is the widowed mother of the McLeod family at Reiff 81-1, and Mary MacLean is at Reiff 81-17. Murdo MacLeod in the previous croft (Reiff 81-12), is a nephew of Alexander through his sister Isabella.


Reiff 81-14


John Urquhart          Head         U     50      Crofter
Anne    do             Moth         W        90
Anne    do             Sis          U        55   General Serv
Margaret do            Sis          U        48       do
Henny    do            Sis          U        42       do
Maggie Ross            Niec         U        15   Scholar
Notes on this Household:

This family was in the 1871 census at Reiff 71-70. In 1891 they are at Reiff 91-22.

Anne was maiden named MacLeod, she died 13 October, 1884, age listed as 91, the Informant was her daughter Ann above, her parents noted as having been Murdo McLeod and Maggie McLean. She is recorded as being blind in 1871 and this census.

John was christened 27 January, 1827, he dies unmarried 24 March, 1913. John led a colourful life! See notes at shok.htm

Donald Urquhart in Camusglassellan 81-2 and Mary MacLennan in Reiff 81-4 are also children of Anne.

The younger Anne dies unmarried 24 May, 1903.

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

Henny was christened 14 July, 1833, she dies unmarried 16 November, 1922, however Maggie Ross is her daughter.

Maggie Ross's birth was registered 8 April, 1865, with surname as "Urquhart", mother as Henny, and no father listed. She marries Simon McLeod 8 March, 1894, her marriage registration lists her mother as Henny, but again does not list a father. Simon McLeod is in this census at Achnahaird 81-2.

Anne has sisters in this census; Elizabeth MacDonald at Reiff 81-18, Flora Campbell at Camusglassellan 81-2 (with the family of Anne's son Donald), and Christina MacKenzie at Tanera 81-19.


Reiff 81-15


Heugh MacLeod          Head         U     40      Tailor
Janet    do            Sis          U        50
Ann      do            Sis          U        36   General Serv
Notes on this Household:

Janet and Ann were with their parents Murdo MacLeod and Annabella MacLean in the 1871 census at Reiff 71-68. I think the parents died before this census. These three are in the 1891 census at Reiff 91-24.

This family is referred to in the book: "Cromartie ; Highland life 1650-1914" (SOURCE) on page 309. According to that source, William Gunn, the Factor of the estate recorded in 1887 that Hugh was 55 years old, paid six pounds rent per year, but was fifteen pounds, twelve shillings in arrear. He owned at that time six cattle and seven sheep, an old boat and two old nets, and could not say when he could pay his arrears. He had been unable to sell his stirks at the last market; he had made no improvements to his house or lot for generations.

Gunn is quoted in the book as saying about Hugh;

"He is able bodied but devoid of energy and stock dwindling down, case does not look encouraging. Complains lot to dead, sour in temper and evidently existing in the idea and hope the Crofters Commission will reduce his rent as well as cancel his arrears. Should be summoned for payment of arrears which evidently he does not intend to pay unless forced."


Reiff 81-16


Roderick Ross          Head         M     34      Fisherman
Maggie    do           Wife         M        29
Heugh     do           Son                 3
Donald    do           Son                 1
Janet     do           Moth         W        62
Eliza     do           Sis          U        37   General Serv
Notes on this Household:

Roderick and his mother Janet were in the 1871 census at Reiff 71-71. In 1891 Maggie with four children is at Reiff 91-30, Janet and Eliza are in that census at Reiff 91-23.

Janet the mother was a MacKenzie, she has brothers Duncan at Reiff 81-22, Hugh at Faochag 81-2, and sister "Bella" McKenzie at Polbain 81-15. Her brother John MacKenzie emigrated to Australia in 1848, and is an ancestor of the late Barbara Kolle of Melbourne.

Maggie is a daughter of the MacDonald family two houses away at Reiff 81-18.

Jessie "Janet" MacLeod in Reiff 81-7 is another daughter of Janet Ross above.

Roderick and Maggie have five children, before his fishing boat was swamped 24 March, 1887 at 8 p.m., drowning him, his cousin, (another Roderick Ross, see Reiff 81-11), and his two brother in laws George and Hugh MacDonald (see Reiff 81-18).

After Roderick dies, Maggie asks her father Donald MacDonald (my gt-gt-grandfather) to allow her to move home. He refuses, saying (in gaelic); "Roderick built that house for you, and so thats where you will stay!". She raised her five children there at the point of Reiff, the fifth was named Rodina and was born the year Roderick died, I think Rodina was a dimunitive for Roderickina, and the child was born after her fathers death.

One of Maggie's five children, young Donald Ross above, is with his aunt Ann Stewart (wife of Duncan Stewart), a sister of Roderick, in the 1891 census at the village of Badinscally. See Badenscallie 91-26.

There are many Ross descendants today in the Reiff area, including Isaebail Ross who married Andrew Muir and now lives at Polbain. Andrew has passed on lots of info on the Reiff Rosses (CONTACT INFO).


Reiff 81-17


Kenneth MacLean        Head         U     23      Fisherman
Mary      do           Moth         W        59
Christy   do           Sis          U        30   General Serv
Notes on this Household:

This family was in the 1871 census at Reiff 71-74. Mary and Christy ("Christina") appear in the 1891 census at Reiff 91-21

Mary was a daughter of John MacLennan and Isabella McKenzie. Her husband was Kenneth MacLean from Altandhu, who last appears in the 1851 census at Altandhu 51-102.

Mary has three siblings in this census; Isabella MacLeod at Reiff 81-1, Kenneth MacLennan at Reiff 81-4, and Alexander MacLennan at Reiff 81-13.


Reiff 81-18


Donald MacDonald       Head         M     75      Crofter   
Elizabeth   do         Wife         M        65             
Isabella    do         Daur         U        27   General Serv
Heugh      do          Son          U     23      Fisherman
George     do          Son          U     21          do
Alexander  do          Son          U     19          do
Margaret Ross          GDau                   4   Scholar
Notes on this Household:

This Household is Schedule Number 66, with address listed as "18th House". The names and details for Donald and Elizabeth were crossed off and the totals of males and females given at the bottom of the page were ammended. A note was added at the bottom of the page; "No.66 Two names are given in Returns of Enumeration District No.1, Schedule No.54, as Visitors in Jno. McLeod's House". Table II of Enumeration District No.1 explains three people (two males and a female) were visitors census night, Sunday, 3 April, 1881, clearly Donald and Elizabeth chose not to walk home from Achiltibuie, and spent the night with Donald's nephew John MacLeod, see Achiltibuie 81-3.

This family appeared in the 1871 census at Reiff 71-73. In 1891 they are at Reiff 91-20. At that time Elizabeth is a Widow.

Donald and Elizabeth are my gt-gt-grandparents. Her maiden surname was MacLeod, and on my gt-grandmother Chirsty's wedding registration in Tarbat in 1870, and the 1871 census, she is referred to as "Betty".

Ann Urquhart at Reiff 81-14, Flora Campbell at Camusglassellan 81-2 (with the family of Anne's son Donald), and Christina MacKenzie at Tanera 81-19 are sisters of Elizabeth.

Isabella, "Bella" marries shortly before the 1891 census to John MacLeod, who is in this census at Reiff 81-20, in the 1891 census they are with John's Widowed mother at Reiff 91-18.

Barbara MacLean at Reiff 81-10 is a daughter of Elizabeth's brother, Murdo MacLeod.

A daughter of this household, Maggie, is wife in the Ross family at Reiff 81-16. Her husband Roderick, along with Rodericks cousin (also a Roderick Ross! See Reiff 81-11), and George and Hugh (above) are lost when their fishing boat is swamped 24 March, 1887 at 8 p.m. A week after the tragedy their deaths are registered 4 April, only George's body was found.

Young Alexander above goes to New Zealand sometime after the 1891 census, where he joins his older brothers Donald and John, who emigrated earlier. Margaret Ward in New Zealand (CONTACT INFO), is a granddaughter of John who has sent me the following information on the three brothers;

"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 was in the 1841 census of Polbain at Polbain 41-3.

Margaret Ross above is shown as born at Lochbroom, but she is still here in the next census, which gives her birthplace as Tarbat! Possibly she was a daughter of Margaret MacDonald, a daughter of Donald and his second wife, that Margaret had two sons with father not identified.


Reiff 81-19


Norman MacLean         Head         W     65      Crofter
Mary     do            Daur         U        19
Bella    do            Daur                  11   Scholar
Notes on this Household:

This family was in Reiff 71-72 in 1871. Norman's wife Mary MacLeod has died since then. In 1891 Norman and Bella are at Reiff 91-19.

Norman was originally from Altandhu, though he lived a while at Camuscoille with his parents Donald MacLean from Altandhu, and Margaret Nicolson from Culcain in Assynt, and was there at Camuscoille in the 1851 census. His parents were also gt-gt-grandparents of Donald MacLeod in New Zealand (CONTACT INFO).

Norman's dead wife Mary has two siblings in this census; Margaret MacLeod in Reiff 81-6, and Alexander MacLeod at Reiff 81-3.


Reiff 81-20


William MacLeod        Head         M     75      Crofter
Ann       do           Wife         M        60
John      do           Son          U     27      Fisherman
Christina  do          DauL         M        23
Mary       do          GDau                  8m
Elizabeth  do          GDau                   7   Scholar
Notes on this Household:

This family, along with the next one, were in the 1871 census at Reiff 71-75. Kenneth in the next family (Reiff 81-21) is a son of William and Ann. By time of the 1891 census William has died, and John has married Isabellla "Bella" MacDonald (in this census at Reiff 81-18), see the 1891 census at Reiff 91-18.

William's death is registered as 23 January, 1888 at Reiff, aged 82 years, married to Anne McDonald. He is noted as illegitimate, son of Christy MacLeod, father not noted. Informant was his son Kenneth.

From Ann's death registration in 1894 her father was William McDonald, and her mother was Mary McLeod, it looks certain she was the illegitamate daughter of William MacDonald whose christening was registered 29 July, 1812 at Dornie. (1891 census age and death reg more closely agree with that supposition). Her father became known as "Big William the Pioneer", he married at Dornie to a daughter of the sixth Laird of Ballone and his second wife, who was herself a daughter of the Tacksman of Achnahaird. That couple had more children at Dornie, later on the Isle of Lewis, before emigrating to Cape Breton where there is a large traced descent today. See the file at corrie.htm

Christina was born on the Isle of Lewis.

Elizabeth appears in the next census named "Eliza Murdoch", though William and Ann are clearly her grandparents, her parentage is fuzzy. A source, http://www.myheritage.com/names/andy_dawson , has her born illigitimate 16 April, 1872, at Reiff, married Andrew Dawson, with descent in Australia.

This and the next family are referred to in the book: "Cromartie ; Highland life 1650-1914" (SOURCE) on page 308. According to that source, William Gunn, the Factor of the estate recorded that the two homes were on the same lot, with Kenneth as Tenant since about 1862. This house was the older one, Kenneth's being built a few years before this census. The house was thatched and had two chimneys.


Reiff 81-21


Kenneth MacLeod        Head         M     47      Fisherman
Johan      do          Wife         M        40
Roderick   do          Son                10      Scholar
Murdo     do           Son                 8         do
Donald    do           Son                 4
Notes on this Household:

This family, along with the previous one, were at Reiff 71-75 in the 1871 census. In 1891 they are at Reiff 91-29, with Johan listed as "Hannah"!

Kenneth's parents are in the previous household (Reiff 81-20), both houses are on the same lot. Kenneth had been the Tenant since about 1862, and a few years before this census he had built his house, barn, and byre with no help from the estate.

The book "Cromartie : Highland life 1650-1914" (SOURCE) refers to Kenneth on page 308. The Factor for the estate, William Gunn, wrote in 1887 that he had five cattle and twelve sheep, and had a boat for the salmon fishing. He was in debt to the estate for both rent and meal. The stated presumption was that the debt was a legacy of the famine several years before. The rental book quoted by the source said: "he has no cattle he can sell at the moment".

Johanna was maiden surname MacLeod, the marriage registry in 1870 says she was from a family on the nearby Island of Tanera, her parents there were Duncan MacLeod and Mary MacKenzie. See Tanera 41-1. Johanna's parents are still on Tanera in this census, see Tanera 81-1.


Reiff 81-22


Duncan MacKenzie       Head         M     69      Crofter
Ann        do          Wife         M        66
Roderick   do          Son          U     29      Fisherman
Mary MacLeod           Serv         U        40   General Serv
Notes on this Household:

This family was at Reiff 71-76 in the 1871 census. Duncan dies 9 March, 1888, but Ann and Roderick are in the 1891 census at Reiff 91-17.

Peggy McKenzie in Germany (CONTACT INFO), has emailed me an excerpt from a book based on testimony of Crofters to a Commission in 1883, two years after this census. The excerpt concerns the testimony of Duncan McKenzie. His story is quite touching! Alan Mckenzie (CONTACT INFO) is editor of the Clan MacKenzie Canada letter, and has sent me an article he wrote that quotes much of that testimony. With Alan's permission I have put it into a file, with notes and credit to the author here; duncan.htm.

Duncan is a brother of Janet Ross in Reiff 81-16, Heugh MacKenzie at Faochag 81-2, and "Bella" McKenzie at Polbain 81-15.

Ann was from Lochinver in Assynt Parish, Sutherland Shire.

One of Duncan and Ann's daughters, Mary, married Hugh Morrison, in the 1871 census a son of Hugh and Mary named Duncan Morrison was a visitor to Duncan and Ann. Mary and Hugh, with young Duncan and six other children are in this census at Achiltibuie 81-23.


Camusglassellan

The next two Households are the hamlet of Camusglassellan. Never more than a few households, some censuses include it and the hamlet of Faochag as part of the Reiff enumeration. Spellings varried, the 1891 census spells the community name as "Camusghlashan"! A literal translation of the gaelic name of the community would be "Bay of the little grey island".


Camusglassellan 81-1


Norman MacLeod         Head         M     74      Crofter
Ann      do            Wife         M        53
Roderick  do           Son          U     29      General Labourer
Notes on this Household:

In the 1871 census this family was at Camusglassellan 71-77. 1891 census has them at Camusglassellan 91-15. In that census, Ann "Annie" is a Widow, with her children Roderick and Katie.

Norman was born in Assynt. His death is registered as just before the next census; 20 March, 1891, aged 78. His parents were listed as Murdo MacLeod and Catherine MacLeod by the Informant, his son Roderick above.

Ann was a MacLeod from Culnacraig (I think one of the "Bain" MacLeods there).


Camusglassellan 81-2


Donald Urquhart        Head         M     46      Fisherman
Annabella   do         Wife         M        36
Murdo      do          Son                12      Scholar
Alexander  do          Son                10        do
Kenneth    do          Son                 7        do
Catherine  do          Daur                   5
Ann       do           Daur                   3
Donald    do           Son                9m
Flora Campbell         Vist.        W        76    Pauper
Notes on this Household:

Donald and Annabella were in the 1871 census at Reiff 71-69. Annabella and five of the children are in the 1891 census at Camusglassellan 91-16.

Donald and his son Murdo are away at the gamekeepers lodge at Aultbae in the Kinlochluichart area of neighboring Contin Parish in the 1891 census, with son Kenneth nearby, see 91 Aultbae.

Kirsteen Urquhart of Troon is a descendant of this family. Her friend, Bill Hurring (CONTACT INFO), is researching the Reiff Urquharts, and has provided most of the following notes.

Donald's mother Ann, and four of his siblings are in Reiff 81-14. He also has a sister, Mary MacLennan, in Reiff 81-4.

Annabella was a MacKenzie from Ullapool, she and Donald married 7 February, 1867. He dies 22 August, 1893, and she dies 17 November, 1922.

Murdoch was born 4 July, 1868.

Alexander was born 9 October, 1870, he marries Johanna Stewart 11 October, 1906, and dies 5 July, 1923.

Kenneth was born 7 October, 1873, he had a twin named John who died young on the 5 March, 1875.

Catherine was born 19 June, 1875, it is thought she died unmarried in 1961.

Young Anne above was born 21 January, 1878.

Donald was born 25 June, 1880, he married 9 July, 1909 to Mary Douglas, and died 19 September, 1942.

Flora Campbell was a sister of Donald's mother Anne, besides Anne she has sisters in this census; Elizabeth MacDonald at Reiff 81-18 and Christina MacKenzie at Tanera 81-19.

This croft was the home of Murdo MacLeod and Chirsty Ross in previous censuses. (See Camusglassellan 71-78)


Faochag

Faochag is a small community that never seemed to grow beyond the two crofts there. In some censuses the households there were not enumerated separately, but were included with the Reiff data.


Faochag 81-1


Donald MacLeod         Head         U     26      General Labourer
Isabella   do          Mother       M        60
Christy    do          Sister       U        23   General Servant
Murdo      do          Brother      U     16      Scholar
Notes on this Household:

In the 1871 census this family was at Faochag 71-79, with Isabella's husband John McLeod also away from home. In 1891 Isabella and John are visitors at the nearby home of their daughter Mary, Camuscoille 91-11

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".

Neil's history says that after Donald Urquhart died in 1893, his widow and children moved to Kyle, and left their croft at Camusglassellan 81-2 to this McLeod family, who then left Faochag to occupy it.

Isabella was maiden surnamed Kerr, and is related to various others in the area through the Kerrs. Jessie "Janet" McKenzie in the next croft, Faochag 81-2, Mary MacLeod at Reiff 81-3, and Alexanderina "Lexy" MacLean at Reiff 81-8 are sisters of Isabella.


Faochag 81-2


Heugh MacKenzie        Head         M     60      Fisherman
Jessie    do           Wife         M        50
Henny     do           Daur         U        32   General Servant
Peggy     do           Daur         U        22   General Servant
George Roy             GrandSon            6      Scholar
Notes on this Household:

In 1871 this family was at Faochag 71-80. That year the Faochag households were enumerated as part of Reiff. By time of the 1891 census Hugh has died, Jessie and a few others are at Faochag 91-14.

Hugh was a brother of John MacKenzie who emigrated to Australia in 1848, and is an ancestor of the late Barbara Kolle of Melbourne.

One of Hugh's sons, Murdo, went to Inverness where he settled and had a family, among descendants of Hugh through Murdo is Ron McKenzie (CONTACT INFO) in Canada.

Janet "Jessie" was a Kerr, three of her siblings emigrated to Tasmania in 1853, with one of them married to Hugh's brother Kenneth! Part of that emigration aboard the ship Sir Allan McNab included John MacKenzie from Reiff, a first cousin of Hugh above. That John is an ancestor of Gwen Smith in Tasmania (CONTACT INFO).

Jessie has three sisters in this census, Isabella McLeod in the previous croft, Faochag 81-1, Mary MacLeod at Reiff 81-3, and Alexanderina "Lexy" MacLean at Reiff 81-8.

I have not yet found birth registration for George Roy, but my guess is that he was an illegitamate son of Henny above. He is still with this Household ten years later, as is Henny.

Heugh is a brother of Janet Ross in Reiff 81-16, Duncan MacKenzie at Reiff 81-22, and "Bella" McKenzie at Polbain 81-15.


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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