Murdo Mcleod, Gaelic Schoolmaster, Assynt

[orangelugs]

Hello

Looking for Murdo Mcleod.  He was a Gaelic schoolmaster in Assynt about late 1700s.  His son John was born in the Lochinver area.  John married Annabella Mcleod also from that area.

John & Annabella moved to Coigach where he was a schoolmaster (Altandou, Achitibuie, Dorney, Reiff) between 1813-1821 (at least). He is also described as a catechist. He died in 1855 and is buried at Badenscallie, Coigach.

Any help much appreciated

Roddie

[Gadget]

Hi Roddie

I'm just about to leave Coigach, where I live, for a few days. There are lots of local resources - and maybe a phot of your Murdo   

I'll check up when I get back. Meantime Donald Ross, a member of Rootschat, may come in with his info.

Regards and will get back  to you soon

Gadget

PS - Lochbroom (the parish in which Coigach was) records are a bit iffy before 1800!  The Altandhu Schoolhouse is still there!

[Gadget]

Just a quickie - did Annabella die before him?  I've found a 70 year old, born Assynt,  on the 1851 living in Badenscallie, Coigach - but that's about 3 miles from the Altandhu township.

Gadget

[orangelugs]

Hello Gadget

Thanks for replying. 

John's family were at Achiltibuie in 1851.  I haven't been able to trace Annabella's demise (between 1851-1855). Their daughter , Alexa/Alexandrina, married Duncan McPherson from Sleat.

John was at teacher sponsored by the Edinburgh Society for the support of Gaelic Schools, so his father Murdo may well have been with that organisation in Assynt.

Though they were in Coigach in c1820s and were in the 1851 census, I haven't been able to trace them in 1841.


Hope to go up to Badenscallie this summer to find John grave.

Roddie

[Gadget]

On his death certificate Feb 11th 1855- it states that he was born Strathpolly and had been 5 years at Altadhu. Aged 85 in 1855. His parents are listed as Roderick mcLeod (dec) a tenant and Catherine - maiden surname McLeod. However it looks as if he was married to a Margaret ? It's the only death cert registered in the area and dying at Altandhu in 1855. He had children - Roderick, Christina, Mary, kenneth, John, Ann.


Gadget

A thought - maybe he died somewhere else and was buried Badenscallie with his wife. I can access the burial records - but it will take a while.

[orangelugs]

That's not him.  John died I think in Jan 1855 (just before) Alexa+Duncan marriage in Feb.

His father Murdo may or may not have been in Coigach.

roddie

[Gadget]

Right - I mixed up your Murdos and John's  as you'd put looking for Murdo in your subject:-[

He died 3rd of January 1855, aged 71, a catechist, and was born in Badenscallie.

Children - Murdo,William, Roderick, James, Alexina.

Just gives his father as you say, deceased. No mother. The OPRs don't go back as far as his birth.

Gadget

[orangelugs]

That's John  .  I believe that he was born in Lochinver (not Badenscallie) as shown on 1851 census, and that's my only evidence that his father Murdo was in Lochinver.

I'm hoping that, despite Murdo Mcleod's common local name,  I'd get some trace of him in Assynt as there would not have been many schoolmasters in the late 1700s.


thanks for your help.

Roddie

[Gadget]

It is probably best to look at the Kirk Sessions Minutes for Assynt and Lochbroom (Ross & Cromarty). These will be best accessed at Edinburgh.

Gadget