1851/61/71 Inverness census lool up please

[McVitie]

Hello to you

Would be most grateful if anyone would be so kind to see if my gt gt gt grandfather's family were in any of the above census of Kilmuir (Isle of Skye).

I've managed to get details of the family in the 1841 census:-

Ronald Macdonald - age 56 Tenant (gt gt grandfather)
Margaret  49 wife
Donald   28 Joiner
Janet 25
Annabella 20
Binny 15
Alex 13
Angus 14
James 9

Any information on Ronald's family would be gratefully received.
Kind regards

Mcvitie

[Gadget]

Hi McVitie



There is a Ronald McDonald (b. North Uist)  and Wife Magaret of the approx correct ages living Kilmuir,  in 1851 with a  daughter Alice, aged 30

If you think if might be them, I'll put up the info.


Gadget

[Gadget]

Here's the 1851 to see what you think:

Holl, Kilmuir, Skye

Reg Dist 112 ED 2 Page 5

Ronald McDonald, 65, farmer of 35 acres employing 2 servants, b. North Uist
Margret, 63, b. Portree
Alice, 30, b. Kilmuir
Margaret McLeod, grdda,9, b. Kilmuir
William Martin serv, 26, farm srvant, b. Kilmuir
John McQuin, 18, farm servant, b. Kilmuir

[Gadget]

Can't see them in 1861 as yet - nearest is Sleat but that's the complete opposite end of the Island. have you checked for deaths?

Gadget

[Gadget]

1861

Donald must be dead:

3 Dilista, Kilmuir
Reg Dist 112 ED 2 Page 8

Margaret MacDonald, 68, farm of 18 acres, b. Portree
Alice, d, 37, gneral servant. b. Kilmuir
Benny, d, 35,  general servant, b.Snizort
Ronald,grds, 9, b. Portree
Mary Gillies, grdd, 5, b. Kilmuir

[McVitie]

Hello Gadget

Thanks for your 'swift' response.

It's very interesting that Ronald has a farm of 35 acres - on his son Angus's death cert in 1901, it states that his father, Ronald, was a 'Ground Officer' but it didn't say where. Certainly having 35 acres would seem to match the title of a 'GO', but not sure where his other children have got to? Also interesting they are in North Uist, as their son Angus married in Harris, in 1855, which is quite near to NU, so they must have moved from Skye at some point after 1841 census.

Regarding the 1861 census, they seem to have moved back to Skye, and the names shown certainly fits the family, as their 2nd eldest daughter was called 'Binny' in the 1841 census and is now Benny, which seems likely to be her.

Dilista was also the place on the 1841 census - but I can't locate that place on a map?

Thanks for all your help here.

Mcvitie

[Gadget]

Hi McVitie

I mixed up his birth place and residence on the 1851 . He  was living Kilmuir, Skye and have amended it.

This was a period of clearances and enclosures in many parts of Skye and the rest of the Highlands . Ground Officer might have been either a 'tackman' or even a ghillie.

I think it's the correct family as Alice is on both censuses.

I'll check for a death - hopefully after 1855.


Regards

Gadget

[Gadget]

Looks as if Ronald died before 1855. I can't find a death 

[McVitie]

Hi  Gadget

Thanks for the clarification - so Ronald was born Kilmuir, Skye, which now at least certainly makes things clearer.

Although Alice doesn't appear in the 1841 census, it's a name that was given to my nan, Alice Mary Alex Maclean born Benbecula 1901, and we could never find out why Alice had been given as her first name - her mother Mary Bell Macdonald was Angus's daughter, and lo and behold Angus had an aunt Alice! Think you may have solved the missing link here Gadget - great stuff.

Thanks also for checking on Ronald's death - pity he wasn't post 1855 but at least his wife Margaret was alive so she should be on Scotlands People...

Many thanks

Mcvitie