Where is Essvarisdale?

[Maggie Speak]

Hello, I have two birth records of William b 1792 and James Mackay b 1787 whose parents were William Mackay and Cath. Campbell. The births were registered in Reay and says they were from Essvarisdale. Does anybody know where that place is please? I cannot find on any old maps with it named and Google doesn't know either. I guess it must be fairly close to Reay. Can anybody help?

[Kay99]

There is nearby Achvarasdal??      http://maps.nls.uk/view/74426567#zoom=5&lat=7765&lon=3844&layers=BT

Kay

[Maggie Speak]

Hello Kay, yes I saw this place name and thought maybe... but both entries definitely say Essvarisdale on the original transcripts.  Maggie

[Forfarian]

both entries definitely say Essvarisdale on the original transcripts.

Transcripts can be wrong. Have you viewed the original records? Can you post an extract from the original here so that we can look at it?

'Ess' is from Gaelic 'eas', meaning a waterfall. 'Ach' is from Gaelic 'achadh' meaning a field. I don't think anyone would be likely to confuse the two!

Edit: How about this http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16&lat=58.5147&lon=-3.7235&layers=5&b=1

Note An t-Eas just a short distance up the burn and I reckon that is your answer. Click on the blue button in the box on the left and slide it to the left to see the satellite view.

PS Go to http://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/NC9959, click on the map and enlarge it. Esvarasdal is still marked, and the satellite view suggests that there may still be vestiges of walls there.

It looks as if it would be quite a difficult place to get to. Not all that far - about 12 km there and back - but the last bit from the road to the site could be rough and wet underfoot.

[Maggie Speak]

OOOOOhhhhhhhh! I'm liking your map reference very much Forfarian! The transcripts does say Essvarisdale, but looking at the original, the transcriber could well have guessed! Esvarasdal makes much more sense. Now why couldn't I find that??? I guess that's why we have people like you to assist ;-))
Thank you very much for looking. Maggie

[Forfarian]

OOOOOhhhhhhhh! I'm liking your map reference very much Forfarian! The transcripts does say Essvarisdale, but looking at the original, the transcriber could well have guessed! Esvarasdal makes much more sense.

Oh, don't worry about spelling. The transcriber was almost right (I read it as Esvarasdale not Essvarisdale), but spelling was pretty fluid until the 20th century. If you say Essvarisdale and Esvarasdal out loud, they both sound exactly the same.

[Maggie Speak]

OOOOOhhhhhhhh! I'm liking your map reference very much Forfarian! The transcripts does say Essvarisdale, but looking at the original, the transcriber could well have guessed! Esvarasdal makes much more sense.

Oh, don't worry about spelling. The transcriber was almost right (I read it as Esvarasdale not Essvarisdale), but spelling was pretty fluid until the 20th century. If you say Essvarisdale and Esvarasdal out loud, they both sound exactly the same.

You're right of course about the pronunciation sounding the same. I'm excited to see where my 3 x great grandfather was born.