Greetings from Australia
I have not posted on this list before, having only just found it. I would like to find out more about my ancestors Alexander Stewart, wife Margaret Davidson and family of Ross And Cromarty.
Alexander was born in about 1770s and died after 1841. He was of Crukie or Crookie, Knockbain, at the time of his marriage to Margaret Davidson in 1793 (at Knockbain).
Margaret Davidson was born in the about the 1770s and may have died on 1 November 1856 at Kilmuir, Knockbain. She was of Allangrange, which I think is a small village near Munlochy to the west of Avoch in Ross and Cromarty. Based on this I believe she may have been born/bapt. 11 Nov 1777 at Seaton, Avoch, son of John Davidson - although this would make her 15 when she married. No parents were given on her (probable) death certificate.
Alexander and Margaret's children were Donald, Helen (m.Alexander Davidson), John, Helen, Mary, Donald, Alexander (m.Ann Fraser), Ann, Andrew, Margaret and Donald (m. Maggie Dallas & Helen Thompson).
Alexander was a Crofter.
Between 1793 and 1807 the family lived at "Crukie" or "Crookie" at or near Knockbain. In 1811, they lived at Culnacraig, also at or near Knockbain. In 1841, they lived at "Teabholie" in Kilmuir, Knockbain. I have not traced them in the 1851 census - the one record I found that is possible is dubious (being in Coll with Alexander working as a fisherman), and Alexander may have died before then or else he would have been very elderly.
I am also not certain that the death of the 84 year old Margaret Davidson at Kilmuir in 1856 is Margaret Stewart nee Davidson, but I think it is very possible. It was registered by some possible McKenzie relatives. I should note that some McKenzie relatives were also living with the Stewarts in the previously mentioned 1851 census record, so maybe that is not so dubious.
Sorry to bore you with so many details! What I am interested in finding are death records or burial records for Alexander Stewart (or Stuart) and Margaret nee Davidson. I have checked a few online indexes and images to no avail.
I would also like to know more about the places mentioned above, such as "Crukie" (Knockbain), "Teabholie" (Kilmuir), Kilmuir, Allangrange. Are there any locals who can help me here?
I also think that with Alexander naming his first-born son Donald and two more also DOnald, that his father must have been named Donald. I therefore think, having eliminated some other alternatives, that Alexander may have been born at Urray in 1774 to parents Donald Stewart and Margaret Fraser. Is Urray far from Knockbain?
I would greatly appreciate any assistance that you can give me with these ancestors of mine. My Stewart line is one of great interest to me however I really feel that I have hit a brick wall!
Many thanks in advance
Adrian Burns
Sydney, Australia