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These notes are based primarily on my transcription of the 1841 Census for Reiff. The straight transcriptions for all the 19th century censuses of Reiff, with their notes files, link from my main genealogy page; index.htm
The photocopy of the microfilm that I have worked from is quite fuzzy in places, I have compared listings to later censuses, and my fourth cousin, Donald MacLeod in New Zealand (CONTACT INFO), has also looked over the film, and suggested corrections. There are still parts to fuzzy for us to agree on an interpretation of the handwriting, and we would welcome anyone else to take out their magnifying glass, and join in!
I have also received good background and advice from others with Reiff ancestors who have studdied the same records. (see CONTACT INFO). But there are doubtless errors here not just in reading the data, but in our interpretations of it. Please, send me your data at [email protected], and I will add it if new, or correct my mistakes, sigh.
The census taker spelt the community "Riff" in 1841. Spellings of names of places and surnames did not begin to standardise till later in the century.
This census recorded people who spent the night at the homes enumerated 7 June, 1841.
The census enumerator in 1841 did not give the households numbers, so I have arbitrarily numbered them from 1 to 22, and added a prefix of 41 to difference the households from later census returns. From later censuses and other data it seems the first two enumerated households though enumerated as part of Reiff in 1841 were the neighboring small community of Camusglassellan, and the last two were the small hamlet of Faochag, where the MacKenzie family had a mill that served the district.
Reiff
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20
Faochag
Camusglassellan 41-1
Murdo McLeod 60 Crofter
Malcolm McLeod 20 Fisher
Rodk. McLeod 10
Catherine McLeod 50
Janet McLeod 20
Mary McLeod 15
Notes on this Household:
This Household is on page 5 of Enumeration District 15.
By time of the next census, Catherine is widowed, and living with the three youngest children. See Camusglassellan 51-68.
Catherine's death registry 15 February, 1855 lists her age then as 66, all lived at "Riff". Her parents were Donald McLean and Ann MacKenzie. It says her husband Murdo was dead by then, and lists their children as;
Interesting that Catherine's death registry says she was buried on Tanera, rather than at Badenscallie where most Reiff people were buried. Perhaps she was from a family on one of the Summer Isles.
The christenings of two of the children are recorded in the Parish Register; Malcolm 5 March, 1816, and Roderick 2 March, 1824.
Janet also dies in 1855, a week before her mother on 6 February, she was unmarried.
In 1851 Malcolm appears next door as a 32 year old, with a 32 year old wife Catherine, and two young children; Catherine (4 yrs), and Mary (1 yrs). See Camusglassellan 51-67. Catherine was a daughter of the neighbouring Household, Camusglassellan 41-2, although not with them in this census, She is most probably the twenty year old Female Servant to the McKenzie family at Reiff 41-5. Their marriage was registered as 5 March, 1845.
Camusglassellan 41-2
Murdo McLeod 60 Crofter
Norman McLeod 20 Fisher
Murdo McLeod 10
Kate McLeod 60
Betsy McLeod 20
Flory McLeod 15
Notes on this Household:
This Household is on page 5 of Enumeration District 15.
By time of the next census Kate has died, Flory is Flora (26) living as housekeeper of her widowed 70 year old father. See Camusglassellan 51-69.
Norman appears next door to his father and sister in the 1851 census, at Reiff 51-70. On 29 January, 1848 he marries Ann, a daughter of Murdo McLeod from the village of Culnacraig, she is with her family in this census at Culnacraig 41-3.
The 1858 registration of Murdo's death, aged 86, gives his residence as Camusglassellan, and says his parents were Norman McLeod and Elizabeth McLeod.
Young Murdo marries 27 March, 1851 to Christina "Chirsty" Ross, who is in this census at Reiff 41-12. He is missing in the 1851 census, but Chirsty is at Reiff 51-78.
A daughter of this family is in this census as twenty year old Female Servant to the McKenzie family at Reiff 41-5. she marries 5 March, 1845 to Malcolm MacLeod in the previous Household, Camusglassellan 41-1, with two young children they are in the 1851 census at Camusglassellan 51-67. Sometime after the 1861 census the family moves to Hill of Fearn in Easter Ross, where Catherine's death registration in 1890 notes her mother above had also been maiden surnamed MacLeod.
Reiff 41-3
Dond. McLean 40 Fisher & Crofter
Rodk. McLean 5
Jno McLean 3
Margt McLean 35
Notes on this Household:
This Household is on page 5 of Enumeration District 15.
All four show up in the next census, with Margaret's maiden name as "Graham". See Reiff 51-86. Note that either they have moved 14 households, or the census enumerater used a different route!
Margaret's death registered as 16 February, 1855 lists her parents as having been Roderick Graham, and Erio(sp?, probably "Eric", a Gaelic form of Euphemia or Henrietta), maiden surname unknown. It says she lived the last three years at Altandow, and gives her son Roderick as Informant. The registry says her husband Donald was dead by then (probably Donald died 1851 or 1852, when Margaret moved to Altandhu), and lists their three children;
Margaret's death registration says Donald's occupation had been "carpenter". Alexander McLean at Altandhu 41-14 married 1833 to Mary Graham of Achiltibuie, father of that Alexander was also a carpenter. Likely Donald and Alexander were brothers, interesting they both married Graham girls, possibly a case of two brothers marrying two cousins? If I am correct that Donald was a brother of Alexander at Altandhu, then he also has two sisters at Reiff; Catherine McKenzie in the next household at Reiff 41-4 and Annabella McLeod at Reiff 41-15.
The 1851 census has this family living next to the McDonalds who are in this census at Reiff 41-18. There might have been some relationship between them, as Roderick and John emigrate to N.Z. after their mother's death, and when John McDonald emigrates he settles close by. Donald McDonald`s first wife was another Margaret Graham. Margaret Ward (CONTACT INFO) is a descendant of John McDonald, and has recently compared unnamed photos with a descendant of the McLeans, it shocked her to find some were duplicates!
A 1961 recording by Kenneth McLennan mentions Margaret, it notes the Grahams had a tidal mill at Reiff (other reminescinces note the Urquhart family as having the tidal mill), saying the family was from the Isle of Lewis, and the mill as "Muilinn Alasdair Ghreum", suggesting father of Margaret's father may have been an "Alasdair" (Alexander). See http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/fullrecord/58665/1
Reiff 41-4
Hector McKenzie 50 Crofter & footpost
Murdo McKenzie 20 Fisher
Duncan McKenzie 10
Catherine McKenzie 50
Lexy McLean 25
George McLean 40 Sailor
Notes on this Household:
This Household is on page 5 of Enumeration District 15.
This family is at Reiff 51-89 in the 1851 census.
The 1827 Militia List has Hector as a Tenant at Reiff, exempt as he had three or more children.
The book "Achiltibuie" (SOURCE) refers to how the Achiltibuie postman walked the cliff-walk to Braemore Junction the other side of Ullapool, two days out, two days back, for a sum of 2 shillings 6 pence (trip, week, month or year not explained). My guess is a similar route went from Achiltibuie to Strathpolly or Lochinver, and Hector walked it.
There is one other Hector in the vicinity, also a McKenzie! He is at Faochag 41-21. His birth registration names his father as John McKenzie, and describes him as "Post". Likely the two families were related.
When the Hector above dies 4 August, 1860 aged 76, the Informant is given as his son, another Hector. I missed Hector's death registration till it was pointed out to me by Donald MacLeod in New Zealand (CONTACT INFO). Thanks Donald!
Hector's death registration lists his parents as Murdoch McKenzie and Mary McLean, so he has many relatives in Reiff! Duncan in the next croft (Reiff 41-5) is his nephew through his brother Roderick (Faochag 41-22). Murdo in Reiff 41-8 and John in Reiff 41-20 are also his brothers. A sister of Hector, Isabella, is wife of John McLenan in Reiff 41-19. Another sister, Margaret, married John McLean in the neighboring village of Altandhu, see Altandhu 41-17.
The Parish Register 7 March, 1817 records the marriage of Hector MacKenzie from Altandu, to Catherine MacLean, a Widow from Altandu. From death registrations of her children Catherine's first husband had been a John McLean, and her own death registration in 1861 gives her parents names as having been Donald McLean and Christina McLean.
Murdo above marries 25 June, 1850 to Ann McLean, she is in this census at Altandhu 41-4, in 1851 they are next to Murdo's parents at Reiff 51-90.
Lexy MacLean above was christened 8 January, 1812, with the mother listed as the Widow of John MacLean, confirming that Catherine above was first married to a John McLean, and he died sometime 1811-2, and then Catherine married Hector in 1817.
The Parish Register also has 2 March, 1824 the christening of Kenneth to father Hector McKenzie, and 30 September, 1827 christening of Duncan.
George shows up on the 1851 census, age marked 60! His relationship to Head of Household is marked "Visitor". The census taker did not use the expression "brother-in-law" anywhere, but I suspect he was the brother of Catherine, though he might have been brother of her first husband, John MacLean.
Catherine does have two known siblings in this census; Alexander McLean at Altandhu 41-14, and Annabella McLeod at Reiff 41-15. Donald McLean in the previous household, Reiff 41-3, is probably her brother (see notes there).
Reiff 41-5
Dun McKenzie 30 Fisher & Crofter
Ann McKenzie 20
Janet McKenzie 5
Mary McKenzie 1&1/2
Catherine McLeod 20 F.S.
Hendry McLeod 10 F.S.
Notes on this Household:
This Household is on page 6 of Enumeration District 15.
Duncan was eldest child of Roderick McKenzie and Henrietta McLeod in Faochag 41-22. His sister Janet is wife in the Ross family at Reiff 41-9, and his sister Isabella is wife of John McKenzie at Polbain 41-12.
Duncan and Ann, with five daughters and a son show up in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-71.
While looking up her own not directly related McKenzies, Cela Beale in New Zealand obtained Duncan's death certificate (CONTACT INFO). It shows him as dying 9 March, 1888 at age 80.
Hector McKenzie in the previous croft, Reiff 41-4, Murdo in Reiff 41-8, and John in Reiff 41-20 are Duncan's uncles. An aunt of Duncan's, Isabella McKenzie, is wife of John McLenan in Reiff 41-19, and another aunt, Margaret MacKenzie, married John McLean in the neighboring village, see Altandhu 41-17. Margaret died in 1855, but some of her eight children at Altandow drift into these files at the beginning or ends, depending on how the enumeration was done.
Ann was maiden name McKenzie. She came from Lochinver, across Enard Bay from Coigach, in the Parish of Assynt, County of Sutherland, she was still alive at time of the 1891 census.
Young Mary above marries 12 February, 1863 to Hugh Morison at Foderty. Hugh is in this census at Badentarbet 41-2.
Young Hendry might be the the Henny McLeod who appears in the 1861 census at Reiff 61-21.
Catherine is the only woman of that name and the right age to be the Catherine McLeod of Riff, whose marriage to Malcolm McLeod of Camusglassellan 41-1 is recorded 5 March, 1847. That Catherine was a daughter of the family at Camusglassellan 41-2, in 1851 they with two young children are at Camusglassellan 51-67.
Reiff 41-6
Alex McLeod 55 Fisher & Crofter
Dond. McLeod 10
Alex McLeod 5
Rodk. McLeod 5
Ann McLeod 50
Margt. McLeod 10
Notes on this Household:
This Household is on page 6 of Enumeration District 15.
I
Alexander appears in the 1825-7 Militia Lists at Lochbroom.
The Parish Register lists the christening of four children to Alexander McLeod at Reiff;
As well, a son of this family, William, is registered as marrying 10 February, 1853 to Margaret McLeod, who appears in this census as a twelve year old, with her family at Reiff 41-17.
Reiff 41-7
Murdo McLeod 60 Fisher & Crofter
Alexr. McLeod 30
Murdo McLeod 25
George McLeod 20 Sailor
Dond. McLeod 25
Margt. McLeod 60
Catherine McLeod 35
Elizabeth McLeod 20
Rachel McLeod 25
Margt. McKenzie 5 M.S. (fuzzy writing)
Mary Urquhart 10 do. do.
Notes on this Household:
This Household is on page 6 of Enumeration District 15.
Most of these people also show up on the 1851 census. See Reiff 51-72.
Murdo and Margaret are the parents in the household. Margaret dies before the start of civil registration in 1855, and Murdo dies 4 August, 1856 at 94 years, his death registration lists his parents as John and Christina, both surnamed McLeod!
Margaret's maiden surname is given as McLean in the registry of the death of her daughter Anne Urquhart in 1884 (see notes on Margaret Urquhart below). One of her descendants, Donald MacLeod (CONTACT INFO) in New Zealand has obtained a copy of Anne's death registration.
The Parish Register lists Alexander's christening as 3 March, 1811.
The younger Murdo and the Rachel above are a couple, her christening 18 May, 1812 lists her father as John McKenzie, who is in this census at Reiff 41-20. The McLennan family record that Roddy has (CONTACT INFO) gives her maiden name as MacKenzie, and confirms she was a niece of Isabella (MacKenzie) MacLennan in Reiff 41-19. Between 1842 and 1851 Murdo and Rachel have five children;
George's christening is registered 28 April, 1811. He marries 4 July, 1850 to Janet McLeod (born 1821), her residence then noted as "Drumerun", which is most likely the Drumrunie north of Ullapool, where the road turns off to Coigach, though she is from Achlochan (sometimes noted as neighbouring Polglass). Janet is in this census with her widowed father and siblings at Achlochan 41-3. George and Janet are living childless in the 1851 census at Ardmair on the coast of Lochbroom opposite Isle Martin,near Ullapool, see Ardmair 51-41. By 1861 at Ardmair they have four young children.
Donald's christening is recorded in the Parish Register as 16 November, 1813. He weds 8 March, 1849 to Chirsty MacLeod from Achnahaird, amazing her parents had the same names as his! See Achnahaird 41-7. Donald and Chirsty have a nine month old daughter named Peggy by time of the 1851 census at the home of his father Murdo (Reiff 51-72). By 1861 at Reiff 61-14 they have six children, and have Donald's unmarried siblings Catherine and Alexander living with them.
Through their daughter Elizabeth, Murdo and Margaret are my gt-gt-gt-grandparents! Elizabeth was christened 1 February, 1817. Sometime in the next few years she marries the widower, Donald MacDonald, who is in this census with two children of his first wife (Margaret Graham) at Reiff 41-18. Elizabeth and Donald become my gt-gt-grandparents!
I would guess that Margaret McKenzie is a younger sister of Rachel.
Mary Urquhart is a daughter of the family in Reiff 41-10, Anne Urquhart there was the oldest sibling of this McLeod family. As mentioned above, Anne's death registration, listing Murdo and Margaret as her parents, was registered in 1884. Mary Urquhart, the child above, appears in the 1851 census with her mother Anne, and other family members at Reiff 51-83.
A daughter of this Household, Chirsty, married in 1829 to Donald MacKenzie, then resident on Isle Ristol, they are in this census at Tanera 41-13.
A daughter of this Household, Flora, is not present in this census, but in 1847 she marries Evander Campbell, a Widower at Badenscallie (though enumerated in the censuses as at Achanacarnan or Acheninver). Evander with his first wife and children is in this census at Achnancarnian 41-1, he and Flora are in the 1851 census at Achnancarnian 51-11.
Reiff 41-8
Murdo McKenzie 55 Fisher & Crofter
Alexr. McKenzie 25 do. do.
Murdo McKenzie 20 do. do.
Jno McKenzie 15 do. do.
Kth. McKenzie 14 do. do.
Rodk. McKenzie 10 do. do.
Mary McKenzie 45
Barbara McKenzie 30
Catherine McKenzie 20
Mary Ross 2
Notes on this Household:
This Household is on page 7 of Enumeration District 15.
This family appears on the 1851 census at Reiff 51-75.
Murdo's parents were another Murdo McKenzie, and Mary McLean.
Through his brother Roderick in Faochag 41-22, Murdo has nephews and nieces there and in Reiff 41-5 and Reiff 41-9.
Murdo also has siblings John at Reiff 41-20, Hector at Reiff 41-4, Margaret McLean at Altandhu 41-17, and Isabella McLenan at Reiff 41-19.
Mary McKenzie's maiden name was Kerr, she was a sister of Donald Kerr in Reiff 41-11, Roderick Kerr at Achiltibuie 41-42, and probably Alexander Kerr who came from Achiltibuie, see Alexander Kerr Family. Mary's death was registered 9 September, 1860, aged about 77. Her parents were listed as Alexander Kerr and Christina McLeod.
Alexander was christened 26 February, 1815. He does not reappear in the Reiff censuses after this one. According to the MacLennan family history that Roddy MacLeod has (CONTACT INFO) four of Alexander's MacKenzie uncles went off to Newcastle or Sunderland where they had a small shipping company. I suspect Alexander went to work for them, as in 1856 he is given a lifesaving medal as Captain of the schooner "Ocean Child", of the Port of MacDuff. Gwen Smith in Tasmania (CONTACT INFO) has sent me a photo of the framed scroll describing Alexander's heroism. I have transcribed the scroll, and put it in a file with notes from Chris Brookes (CONTACT INFO), who is related to descendants of Alexander; see reward.htm.
The younger Murdo above was christened 4 August, 1819. He married Catherine McLeod (from the Isle Ristol, daughter of a Roderick McLeod, see Ristol 41-2) 13 April, 1848. They are together in the 1851 census at Ristol 51-4. Murdo and Catherine's children include Alexanderina "Alexina", born 11 November 1866, who married a Murdo McLeod. Alexina and Murdo were the grandparents of Alistair MacLeod, who now lives near Inverness (CONTACT INFO).
The 15 year old John above, married Janet Stewart, and emigrated with her to Tasmania in 1853 (see McNab 520). There are many descendants of John and Janet there today, one of them, Gwen Smith (CONTACT INFO), has passed useful genealogy info to her cousin the late Barbara Kolle in Melbourne.
John and Janet's niece Georgina Ross also went to Tasmania aboard the Sir Alan McNab with John's sister Catherine (see note below), and joined them there later. Georgina was the twin of the two year old Mary Ross in this household, and was granddaughter of Murdo and Mary through a daughter Chirsty, who married William Ross in the Parish of Alness, Easter Ross. I suspect Chirsty died and her three children (including a son named John born in 1838, see him in 1881 at 81 John Ross) were fostered out to relatives.
Kenneth above was christened 29 November, 1824.
Roderick above was christened 16 November, 1828. He married a Janet (surname unknown!, born ~1833) sometime after the 1851 census, and they had seven children by time of the 1881 census. See Reiff 81-9.
The christening of Catherine above was recorded as 18 March, 1817. Shortly after this census she marries Alexander McLeod of the Isle Tanera, and by time of the 1851 census at Tanera 51-9 she has three children. Her husband in that census is at Achiltibuie 51-86, at the family of her cousin Neil Kerr, who was himself at Tanera visiting Catherine.
Catherine and her family, with Georgina Ross listed as "Neice and Adopted Daughter" emigrated to Tasmania aboard the Sir Allan McNab also, see McNab 522.
Reiff 41-9
Hugh Ross 40 Fisher & Crofter
Janet Ross 30
Ann Ross 2
Notes on this Household:
This Household is on page 7 of Enumeration District 15.
Hugh and Janet are ancestors of todays Ross families at Reiff.
Hugh's parents were Roderick Ross, and Catherine McLean. His widowed mother was still alive at this time, and is at Reiff 41-12
Janet is a widow with 5 children on the 1851 census at Reiff 51-80, one of the children is a one year old, so Hugh must die sometime 1849-50.
Janet was christened 21 March, 1816, she was a daughter of the McKenzie family at Faochag 41-22, and had a brother Duncan in Reiff 41-5, a sister Isabella at Polbain 41-12, an uncle Murdo in Reiff 41-8, an uncle John in Reiff 41-20, and an uncle Hector in Reiff 41-4. Isabella MacLenan in Reiff 41-19 is her aunt through Roderick McKenzie, and another sister of Roderick's, Margaret, married John McLean in the neighboring village of Altandhu, see Altandhu 41-17.
Ann later married Duncan Stewart at Badinscally, and apparently had no children. (See Badinscally 81-13)
Hugh and Janet have four more children; Eliza born 1844 (unmarried in 1891), Janet "Jessie" born 1845-7 who marries Alexander McLeod (he is in Reiff 41-15), Roderick who will marry Maggie MacDonald (daughter of Donald and Elizabeth at Reiff 41-18), and Hugh born 1850.
Hugh had a sister Christian, christened 2 August, 1811.
Reiff 41-10
Murdo Urquhart 50 Fisher & Crofter
Jno. Urquhart 13
Dond. Urquhart 8
Ann Urquhart 50
Ann Urquhart 15
Henny Urquhart 5
Margt Urquhart 10
Notes on this Household:
This Household is on page 7 of Enumeration District 15.
This family is in the next census at Reiff 51-83.
Donald MacLeod in Auckland New Zealand (CONTACT INFO) is a descendant of this family, and has collected lots of great info, including death registrations. Bill Hurring (CONTACT INFO) has also been researching the Urquhart family for a friend of his, Kirsteen Urquhart of Troon, some of the info that follows originated with him.
Murdo and Ann's marriage was registered 25 December, 1820, both listed as from Riff, and Ann's maiden surname given as McLeod, which ties into other data that shows her as eldest daughter of the McLeod family in Reiff 41-7.
Murdo's death is registered as either 19 (Donald) or 9 (Bill) June, 1867 aged 76, parents given as Kenneth Urquhart and Henny MacLeod. The 5 year old Henny above was probably named for her grandmother.
Ann's age on the 1851 census is given as 54, her death was registered 13 October, 1884.
Murdo has a sister Catherine "Ketty" who shows up in later censuses. Donald has found a Catherine Urquhart death
registration aged 76, 3 May, 1870 which lists her parents as Kenneth Urquhart and
25 year old Catherine Urquhart in Faochag 41-22 was most probably a niece of Murdo, but she might also be the same Catherine if the enumerator screwed up ages ... confusing.
Young Anne above was christened 17 March, 1822, she died unmarried 24 May, 1903.
A daughter of this family, Mary, is at Reiff 41-7. She weds Kenneth McLennan 3 February, 1853, who is in this census with his family at Reiff 41-19. Mary is an ancestor of Roddy MacLeod (CONTACT INFO), and as her mother Ann was a sister of my own ancestor Elizabeth (McLeod) McDonald at Reiff 41-7, Roddy and I are fourth cousins once removed. Mary died 18 April, 1902.
John Urquhart above was christened 21 January, 1827, he died unmarried 24 March, 1913. John led a colourful life, see shok.htm
Margaret was christened 9 February, 1829, she died unmarried 1 June, 1902.
Donald's christening was registered 18 May, 1831, in 1867 he marries Annabella MacKenzie from Ullapool. His descendants include Kirsteen Urquhart of Troon, whose friend Bill Hurring (see above) has been researching the Urquhart family.
Henrietta "Henny" was christened 14 July, 1833, she died unmarried 16 November, 1922.
A sister of Ann, Chirsty, married in 1829 to Donald MacKenzie, then resident on Isle Ristol, they are in this census at Tanera 41-13.
Reiff 41-11
Dond. Kerr 60 Tennant
Ann McLeod 50
Margt Kerr 25
Murdo Kerr 20 Sailor
Peggy Kerr 20
-- page break --Alex Kerr 15 Sailor Dond. Kerr 15 Rachel Kerr 15 Chirsty Kerr 10 Lexy Kerr 5Notes on this Household:
This Household is on pages 7 and 8 of Enumeration District 15.
The occupation of Murdo and Alex might read as "Tailor", that is how Alex is described in 1851, however Murdo is described as "Seaman", so it is still unclear!
Donald was a brother of Mary (Kerr) McKenzie in Reiff 41-8, from the 1851 census he was one year older than her. See Reiff 51-74 and Reiff 51-75. Mary's death was registered 9 September, 1860, aged about 77. Her parents were listed as Alexander Kerr and Christina McLeod.
Index to Civil Registrations appears to show Donald dies 1864 in Coigach aged 78 years.
Donald was also brother to Roderick Kerr at Achiltibuie 41-42, and probably Alexander Kerr who came from Achiltibuie, see Alexander Kerr Family.
Donald was married twice. The Parish register has him marrying Rachel McLean 23 November, 1815, and Ann McLeod 16 March. 1827. Donald and Ann named their first child Rachel, in honour of his first wife. Same day the minister christened two girls from the neighboring village of Altandhu Rachel as well! Clearly Donald's first wife was well respected in the community, and honoured.
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 the 1851 census at Altandhu 51-97.
The Parish register lists many christenings with Donald as father (session clerk at Lochbroom omitted mothers names!). A few children mention Donald and Ann as their parents in later civil registrations.
Children of Donald and Ann;
Reiff 41-12
Rodk. Ross 35 Fisher & Crofter
Catherine Ross 65
Margt. Ross 40
Chirsty Ross 20
Hanna McLeod 10
Alexr. McKenzie 40
Notes on this Household:
Lodger
Dond. McKenzie 20 do.
This Household is on page 8 of Enumeration District 15.
This family continues to this day at Reiff! I am pretty certain my interpretation of the data in the several censuses and the Parish Register are correct.
This family appears in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-78
Catherine's maiden surname was noted in the death registration of her son Roderick as "McLennan", and in the death registration of daughter Christy as "McLeod". Rather than Catherine's husband being married twice, I think the Informant of one of those two deaths was mistaken; Informant of the death of Christy was not a close family member.
Catherine's husband had been another Roderick Ross, he was at Reiff in the 1798 Militia List.
Roderick marries 12 January, 1854 to Margaret McKenzie from the village of Loggie, and has two young children by time of the 1861 census at Reiff 61-12; Roderick (1858-87), and Hugh, born 1861. It looks likely that this Roderick died with the other Roderick Ross, and the two MacDonald brothers, in the tragedy of 1887.
Margaret above was married to someone surnamed McLeod, Hannah is her daughter.
Parish records show Chirstina Ross as christened 2 August, 1811. She married 27 March, 1851 to Murdoch McLeod, a labourer at Reiff. Murdo is the 10 year old son in this census at Camusglassellan 41-2. Murdo is missing in the 1851 census, but Chirsty is with her widowed mother at Reiff 51-78.
Catherine is mother of Hugh Ross at Reiff 41-9.
The two McKenzies are a bit of a mystery, their occupation was written as "Lodger", though it was later crossed out. My guess is that they are probably related to the Ross family somehow, and were crew on their boat.
Reiff 41-13
Jno McLeod 55 Cotter
Angus McLeod 9
Isabella McLeod 40
Isabella McLeod 15
Peggy McLeod 10
Doliena McLeod 8
Alex McLeod 5
Notes on this Household:
This Household is on page 8 of Enumeration District 15.
In the 1851 census Isabella (the mother), and Angus appear at Reiff 51-84. Isabella "Bell", is a 55 year old Widow, occupation "Wool Spinner", and Angus is an 18 year old scholar (oldest scholar I have found!).
The Parish Register records the marriage 4 December, 1815 of John McLeod of Ruive to Isabel McLean from Altandu.
The Parish Register lists the christening of five children to John McLeod at Riff;
Peggy "Margaret" marries Alexander McLennan who is in this census at Reiff 41-19. They are with his parents in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-77. She calls one of her sons (born about 1868) Angus, probably after her brother.
"Lexy" was usually a dimunitive for Alexanderina, the "Alex" above was wrongly entered in the males column. She marries 26 May, 1863 at Edderton Free Church to William Ross, (36 years old, a crofter, bachelor, son of Andrew Ross, crofter deceased and Anne maiden surname Polson. That registration has Lexy as "Alexandrina" and confirms her mother was maiden surname MacLean. Lexy and William raised their family at Balcharn ("Beulacharn", "Becil-charn", "Balacharn"), Edderton. She died there 9 February, 1913.
Isabella as a Widow also goes to Edderton, she is there in the 1881 census with two unmarried daughters; Isabella, 49, and Henny, 43 (possibly the "Doliena" above?). She dies there in 1882. (Informant of death was a nephew, Alexander Mclean) The death registration notes she was widow to John McLeod, crofter, and her parents had been Donald McLean, crofter and Ann McLeod. Isabella's brother Donald is in this census at Camuscoille 41-4.
Much of the above information comes from a thread of postings begun by a descendant of Lexy, "MatthewR" on Rootschat at http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,220723.0.html
Reiff 41-14
Dond. Paterson 40 Salmon Fisher
Torquil Paterson 15 do. do.
Dond. McLean 30 do. do.
Alex Grant 20 do. do.
James Grant 13
Notes on this Household:
Lodger
This Household is on page 8 of Enumeration District 15.
A strange household! I *think* the occupation reads "Salmon fisher", but the second word is written very indistinctly.
The Patersons were father and son. They are the only two people in the village marked as not born in the County. The I.G.I. shows the christening 6 March, 1822 of "Torcle" to Donald Paterson and Margt. McLeay at Knockbain. Also shown is the marriage of that couple 15 December, 1820 at Knockbain.
Grant as a name does not re-appear in Reiff at all.
Of course, the McLean might be related to the other McLeans in town.
Perhaps they migrated into town only for the fishing, as a household of five men it does appear to be all work... none of these people appear on later censuses.
The occupation of James Grant was marked as "Lodger", then later crossed out.
Reiff 41-15
Murdo McLeod 50 Fisher & Crofter
Annabella McLeod 45
Dond. McLeod 15
Geo(Jno?) McLeod 14
Hugh McLeod 8
Murdo McLeod 6
Alex McLeod 1
Janet McLeod 15
Rachel McLeod 10
Isabella McLeod 9
Chirsty McLeod 5
Notes on this Household:
This Household is on page 9 of Enumeration District 15.
Murdo, Annabella, and five of their children, including a seven year old daughter Ann (unborn in 1841 of course), appear in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-85.
The Parish Register records 9 March, 1818 Murdoch MacLeod from "Ruiff" married to Anabile MacLean from Altandhu.
Likely the death registration of Murdo is the one as 24 July, 1876, aged 92 years, at Altandhu, it notes him as married but does not identify the wife, his parents noted as having been John MacLeod, fisherman, and Mary, maiden surname MacLean, Informant his son John (last identified in the 1841 census).
Annabella dies 22 May, 1872 at Reiff aged 75 years. The registration notes her parents had been Donald McLean, Carpenter, and Chirsty McLean, Informant was her son Hugh.
The christenings of three of their children are also recorded;
In the 1851 census Rachel is servant to a McLean family at the village of Letters, on the far side Ullapool (see 51rachel). She becomes the second wife of Donald McLeay at Letters, 25 February, 1852. Donald was a half-brother of Mary McLeay, who married John McKenzie at Letters, and is a gt-gt-gt-grandmother of Cela Beale in New Zealand (CONTACT INFO).
Rachel and Donald are together at Letters in the 1861 census (see 61rachel), then move from Letters to Ullapool, where Donald's death certificate on 17 June, 1894 (thanks Cela!) reads; "Cause of death was shock from blow by cow"
By time of the 1881 census, three of the children in the above census, Janet, Hugh, and Ann are still unmarried.
The one year old Alex above marries Jessie "Janet" Ross 4 February, 1873. Jessie is not born yet (born 1845-7), but her parents are at Reiff 41-9. Alex and Jessie had at least six children at Reiff.
Annabella has two siblings in this census; Alexander McLean at Altandhu 41-14, and Catherine McKenzie at Reiff 41-4. Donald McLean at Reiff 41-3, is probably her brother (see notes there).
Reiff 41-16
Chirsty McLeod 60
Catherine McLean 30
Notes on this Household:
This Household is on page 9 of Enumeration District 15.
The following census describes Chirsty as a widow, last name of McLean, see Reiff 51-82, So it appears the census taker here used her maiden name; McLeod. How or if she is related to the preceeding and following McLeod families is unknown.
Reiff 41-17
Dond. McLeod 65 Farmer
Alex McLeod 30 Fisher
Isabella McLeod 45
Ann McLeod 20
Janet McLeod 15
Margt. McLeod 12
Mary McLeod 9
Notes on this Household:
This Household is on page 9 of Enumeration District 15.
By time of the next census at Reiff 51-81, Isabella is a 63 year old widow. I suspect the enumerater of this census meant to write her age as "54", not "45"!
Three of the nineteen people in the 1798 Militia List at Reiff were Donald MacLeods, one of those noted with a brother Murdoch. In 1827 there was only one Donald MacLeod, immediately following a Murdoch, but no certainty they were the 1798 brothers.
Isabella's death is registered 1869 at Reiff, her parents noted as having been Murdoch MacLeod and Margaret, Maiden Surnamed MacLeod.
The next census has a five year old niece of Isabella, Mary MacKenzie, living in the household. The Parish register records the marriage 23 May 1845 of William McKenzie of Achlunachan to Janet McLeod of Riff, the Janet above. Also registered to "William McKenzie Achlunachan and Janet McLeod Rief" is a birth 1850 at Reiff of a son, Donald.
The christening of two of the children are recorded in the Parish Register; Ann 18 January, 1816, and Margaret 21 January, 1827.
The 1851 census has Alexander set up in his own home at Reiff 51-88. He marries 7 March, 1848 at Assynt to Mary Kerr who is now a servant at the next household (Reiff 41-18).
10 February, 1853 the Parish Register records the marriage of William McLeod, a Fisherman at Riff, to Margaret McLeod, daughter of Donald McLeod, a Tenant there. William is not present in this census, but his family is at Reiff 41-6.
Reiff 41-18
Jno. McDonald 70 Farmer
Dond. McDonald 35 Fisher
Catherine McDond. 60
Catherine McDond. 7
Margt McDonald 6
-- page break --Hanna McLean 12 F.S. Malcolm McLeod 8Notes on this Household:LodgerMary Kerr 20 F.S.
This Household is on pages 9 and 10 of Enumeration District 15.
This family appears in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-87.
John is in the 1798 Militia list at Reiff, Donald is in the 1827 Militia List, Exempt, as "Serves by Substitute".
Catherine "Ketty" was a daughter of Hugh McLeod, and his wife Catherine, whose maiden surname also was McLeod! I have a copy of Catherine's death registration in 1861.
John and Catherine, through their listed son Donald, and their as yet unborn granddaughter Chirsty (1849), are my gt-gt-gt-grandparents!
The Parish Register records the christening of three other sons of John McDonald;
Also registered, 12 March, 1830, is the marriage of Hector McKenzie from Isle Ristol to Janet MacDonald of Riff. That couple with three children is in this census at Polbain 41-5. From later census and civil registration records Janet looks to have been born about 1808 and died 19 October, 1885 at Balintore, Parish of Fearn age listed as 84. Hector's own death was registered as 23 January, 1890 at Balintore, aged 86, son of Roderick McKenzie and Margaret maiden surname McKenzie, the 1881 census has him born at Lochinver, Assynt, which corresponds to the OPR index of a christening there 31 July, 1803. Some people earlier thought, and I did also, that this couple emigrated to Cape Breton, and that Hector was of the MacKenzie of Ballone family, but that is now clearly not likely.
Also registered, in the Register for the neighboring Parish of Assynt in Sutherland, is the marriage 17 February, 1815 of Murdo Mackenzie in Achnacarnan (his father Alexr at the same place was his "cautioner") and Isobel Macdonald in Reiff Parish of Lochbroom. The I.G.I. lists the christening 15 February, 1816 at Assynt of Margaret to that couple. The 1811 census for Assynt survives and has been transcribed by Malcolm Bangor-Jones, it does not show as much detail as later censuses, but notes one of the 14 Heads of Household then at Achnacarnan was "Alexr. Mackenzie", with 5 males and 5 females in the Household.
Donald was married 21 March, 1832 to Margaret Graham of Reiff. Margaret has died before this census, the child Catherine above were hers, with christening recorded as 30 September, 1833.
MacLennan family history notes Donald was married secondly to Christina ("Ciorstaidh" or "Kirsty") MacLennan, born 25 March, 1809 to John Maclennan and Isabella Mackenzie, died 14 December, 1839, her parents are in the next Household, Reiff 41-19. Young Margaret above was Christina's daughter, clearly named to honour Donald's first wife, Margaret Graham. Young Margaret's death registration in 1892 confirms her mother was Christina MacLennan.
Donald's soon to be third wife, Elizabeth McLeod is in this census at her parents home, Reiff 41-7. By 1851 they have four more children, including a second Margaret ("Peggy") to honour Donald's first wife, and a Christina to honour his second.
Catherine shows up on the 1851 census listed as 73, "Mar", and Head of Household. For some reason her husband John was a visitor at Altandhu 51-92 the night of that census. He was oldest man in Reiff that year, and that household was the schoolhouse for the district, so possibly he was there on behalf of the village, either having a letter or petition written in English, or having some correspondance read.
Of course as these are my direct ancestors I have a bunch of data on the family, if they look familiar tell me by email at [email protected]!
As elsewhere in this census, Malcolm McLeod's occupation was listed as "Lodger", and later crossed out.
Mary is a daughter of Donald Kerr in Reiff 41-11, and his first wife, Rachel. Her christening was registered 18 October, 1815. She shows up in the 1851 census next door to these McDonalds at Reiff 51-88, as wife of Alexander MacLeod, who is in this census at Reiff 41-17, the household just before this one.
Reiff 41-19
Jno McLenan 60 Crofter & Fisher
Alex McLenan 20 Fisher
Kth McLenan 15
Isabella McLenan 50
Catherine McLenan 25
Mary McLenan 20
Notes on this Household:
This Household is on page 10 of Enumeration District 15.
This family appears in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-77.
Roderick "Roddy" Dykes MacLeod lives near Inverness (CONTACT INFO), and is descended from this family through Kenneth. Roddy's second cousin, Donald MacLeod, is in Auckland New Zealand (CONTACT INFO). Between the two of them, I have received lots of useful info.
Alexander Maclennan was a blacksmith probably born 1745 to 1750 at Garve in Easter Ross. He married Christina McLeod there before 1775 and left between 1795 and 1805 with his wife and only son, John (born 1775), also a blacksmith, the John McLenan above. They stayed a while at Inch-na Damph and at Bad na Ban in Sutherland. Then for a time in Reiff, both are at there in the 1798 Militia List.
At some point Alexander's first wife died and he married Ann McLean. With his second wife he had at least three children at Reiff before moving to the nearby village of Camuscoille where he had other children.
Alexander's son from the first marriage, the John in this household, married Isabella McKenzie at Reiff, where he raised a family contemporous with his father's second family. John's son Kenneth appears as Informant at the death of some of the Camuscoille McLennans, with his relationship given as nephew.
Chief Constable Neil MacKenzie MacLennan (1863-1944 see Reiff 71-59) was a son of Kenneth, and set out these relationships in a document in 1939. Roddy and Donald are gt-grandsons of Neil's sister Ann. They have referred to this document to supply a lot of the info on this website. Neil mistook his gt-grandfather, the blacksmith from Garve's name, as John rather than as Alexander, but has mostly been proven accurate by the surviving public records.
Neil's notes say that John MacLennan was also known as "An Gobha Ban", and Isabella was a MacKenzie. Donald has found John's death registration 10 February, 1864 listed his father as "Alexander", which agrees with death registrations of John's half-siblings at the nearby village of Camuscoille.
Donald found Isabella's death registry 1 March, 1863 aged 84. It lists her parents as Murdoch McKenzie and Mary McLean. I have identified five siblings of Isabella; John in the next croft at Reiff 41-20, Roderick at Faochag 41-22, Murdo at Reiff 41-8, Hector at Reiff 41-4, and Margaret, who married John McLean in the neighboring village of Altandhu, see Altandhu 41-17.
Roddy says John and Isabella had eight children in all, some of whom died before this census. His info is as follows (christening and marriage data in brackets are from the Parish Register);
The first child, John, married Katharine Peggy McLeod, a daughter of Murdoch and Margaret MacLeod at Achnahaird 41-7, they moved to Cape Breton where they raised five children.
The second child, Christina, was second wife of Donald MacDonald in the previous household, Reiff 41-18, young Margaret there was her daughter.
The third child, Isabella, is married to John McLeod. They do not appear on this census, but are in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-91.
The fourth child, Catherine (above), marries to Murdo McLean, they are in the next census at Altandhu 51-103.
The seventh child, Mary (above), marries to Murdo McLean, they are in the next census at Altandhu 51-102.
Roddy says that Isabella (MacKenzie) MacLennan had two sisters; Anne married in Altandhu and was the gt-grandmother of John MacLean (Altandhu 1962)(Johnny Shoemaker) and Mary who went to Assynt.
Roddy also mentions that Isabella had two brothers who married in Reiff and four who went to Sunderland or Newcastle and had a small shipping concern there.
Isabellas niece, Rachel MacKenzie married Murdoch MacLeod in Reiff 41-7.
By time of the next census John and Isabella are living with Alexander, his wife Margaret (McLeod, married 13 February, 1851, see Reiff 41-13), and Kenneth who is still unmarried.
By time of the 1881 census at Reiff 81-13 Alexander and Margaret have seven unmarried children.
That same census at Reiff 81-4 his brother Kenneth shows up married to Mary Urquhart, also with seven unmarried children. Mary shows up in this census at Reiff 41-10 as a ten year old. Her mother was a sister of my ancestor, Elizabeth (McLeod) MacDonald, who is in this census at Reiff 41-.
Reiff 41-20
Jno McKenzie 75 Fisher & Crofter
Rodk McKenzie 40 do. do.
Murdo McKenzie 35 do. do.
Neil McKenzie 30 do. do.
Barbra McKenzie 65
Isabella McKenzie 20
Murdo McLean 5
Janet McLeod 10 F.S.
Notes on this Household:
This Household is on page 10 of Enumeration District 15.
By time of the 1851 census John and Barbara are both dead, and 55 year old Roderick is Head of Household, see Reiff 51-79.
John and Barbara were ancestors of Hugh Kirkbride "Kirk" McKenzie in Germany through their son John, who married Rachel McLeod from Achiltibuie (daughter of Donald McLeod and Mary McKenzie) 20 January, 1828. Young John and Rachel emigrated to Canada in 1837 with the first three of their children (four more were born in Canada), and so do not appear in this census. Kirk's wife Peggy's contact info is here; CONTACT INFO.
Neil's death registration in 1861 says that Barbara's maiden surname was McLeod.
John has three brothers in this census; Murdo at Reiff 41-8, Roderick, two crofts away at Faochag 41-22, and Hector at Reiff 41-4. His sister Isabella is wife of John McLenan in the previous croft, Reiff 41-19, and another sister, Margaret, is married to John McLean in the neighboring village at Altandhu 41-17.
Living with Roderick in 1851 are three of his unmarried siblings; Murdoch 50, Neil 46, and "Bell" aged 30. Also in the household then is his nephew, Murdoch McLean 14 (the 5 year old Murdo above).
Young Murdo McLean above was a grandson of John and Barbara, noted in the 1851 and later censuses as a nephew of Roderick. His mother Catherine was a daughter of John and Barbara. The Parish Register notes the marriage 2 January, 1829 of "Duncan McLean Aultandow to Catharine McKenzie Riff". Catherine is probably Widowed somewhere not yet identified in this census, in Murdo's 1878 marriage registration she is not noted as deceased, though Duncan is. There is also registration of a christening 26 October, 1834 at "Riff" of a Roderick to father Duncan McLean. Interesting that Murdo's marriage registration notes him as first cousin to his wife; the mother of that future wife (a daughter of John and Barbara), Rachel McLeod, is in this census at Reiff 41-7.
Isabel above was christened 18 January, 1816.
I *think* Janet McLeod was the daughter of Alexander and Ann McLeod at Reiff 41-6, who was christened 27 December, 1827.
Faochag 41-21
Rodk. McKenzie 60 Fisher & Crofter
Alex McKenzie 30 do. do.
Dond. McKenzie 25 do. do.
Hector McKenzie 10 do. do.
Margt McKenzie 50
Henny McKenzie 20
Notes on this Household:
This Household is on page 10 of Enumeration District 15.
Cannot find this family on later censuses! In the 1851 census this croft seems to be occupied by a Macrae family, see Faochag 51-66.
Likely Hector was a brother of young Murdo and Catherine in the next Household, Reiff 41-22 and they were grandchildren of Roderick and Henny in the next household, children of their daughter Isabella at Polbain 41-12, they are with her there in the next census at Polbain 51-36
Likely either Roderick or Margaret was a sibling of one of the parents in the next Household, Faochag 41-22, Roderick and Henny, maiden surname McLeod. Given they have a daughter Henny above would suggest the two wifes, Margaret and Henny, were sisters, but there is not enough proof to be definate.
Faochag 41-22
Rodk McKenzie 65 Fisher & Crofter
Geo(Jno?) 30
Hugh McKenzie 20
Kth McKenzie 20
Henny McKenzie 50
Catherine Urquhart 25 F.S.
Murdo McKenzie 5
Catherine McKenzie 5
Notes on this Household:
This Household is on page 11 of Enumeration District 15.
Roderick's parents were Murdoch McKenzie, and Mary McLean. He has three brothers on this census; Murdo in Reiff 41-8, John in Reiff 41-20, and Hector in Reiff 41-4. A sister, Isabella, is wife of John McLenan at Reiff 41-19, and another sister, Margaret, is married to John McLean in the neighboring village at Altandhu 41-17. Her death registration in 1855 gives her age then as 90, and lists her eight children.
Roderick is in the 1798 Militia List at Reiff, "with an aged Father".
Roderick's death was registered 18 March, 1859 at age 86 years, and says his occupation had been "miller".
"Henny", also "Henrietta" and "Eric" in other records was Roderick's Wife, she dies before the 1851 census, her maiden surname was MacLeod.
By time of the next census Roderick is living with his son Hugh, Hugh's brother Kenneth, Hugh's wife Janet, and two of Hugh and Janet's children at Faochag 51-65.
Hugh marries Janet Kerr, a daughter of the Kerr family at Reiff 41-11. Janet is in this census at Tanera 41-13.
Hugh was the only child of this family whose christening appears in the Parish Register; 4 July, 1817. His descendants include Ron MacKenzie in B.C.; CONTACT INFO.
Duncan McKenzie, in Reiff 41-5, is eldest son of Roderick and Henrietta. Janet Ross in Reiff 41-9 and Isabella McKenzie at Polbain 41-12 are daughters.
I *think* that George McKenzie and Catherine Urquhart are a couple. Catherine is most likely related to the Urquhart family in Reiff 41-10, possibly a niece of Murdo there.
Likely young Murdo and Catherine above, and Hector in the previous Household, were grandchildren of Roderick and Henny, children of their daughter Isabella at Polbain 41-12, they are with her there in the next census at Polbain 51-36
The fuzzy spelt name above is most likely Geo, not Jno, as the late Barbara Kolle of Melbourne, Australia, told me her ancestor John was a son of Roderick and Henrietta. Barbara said John married about 1840 to Christina Campbell, and had a son Duncan by time of the 1841 census, so he is probably not the person above (I have not found the family group in the censuses). John married in Scotland, and emigrated with his wife and first three children in 1848.
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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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