Ancestors of Kenneth Macleod born abt 1759 Parish of Durness

[Forfarian]

Eilean Hoan
https://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/NC4467

Eilean Choraidh
https://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/NC4258
https://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/NC4257
https://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/NC4157

[Forfarian]

Margaret Sutherland, alias nin Sainach (?).

Again, it's not an alias. It means 'daughter of ...' but I can't think what Sainach would be.

Hector Macneilicrory

Hector, son of Neil, grandson of Roderick.

[djct59]

Forfarian: Thanks for the photos. The one on Eilean Hoan confirms what I suspected, namely that there was enough shelter for a shepherd to be safe overnight if stuck as my uncle was.

"Sainach" is indeed unusual. It appears once only in Hew Morison's transcript of the parish record, and there is no similar Gaelic word that would make sense in the context of a patronymic. Without looking at the original handwritten record, I would note that Margaret Sutherland is also referred to in the parish records as "MacKenzie", and wonder if it's a misreading of nin Coineach = daughter of Kenneth

[Forfarian]

wonder if it's a misreading of nin Coineach = daughter of Kenneth

Ah, possibly.

As you say, you'd need to check the handwritten original.

[Rosinish]

Ann Morrison (my great x 5 grandmother) hailed from there as you know, and her father John, and possibly William and Hugh before them, and a great x 4 grandfather Andrew MacPherson (b. 1794) was from Islandhall as well, and his father Angus before him who married (as a "single young lad") Margaret Sutherland, alias nin Sainach (?), widow of Hector   

Do you have a copy of the record with "alias nin Sainach" which you could post for us to have a look at & try to decipher?

This is another post on RC you may want to look at...

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=656326.50

Annie

[djct59]

Here you go.

The first letter looks like a lower case "s", but why would the Minister start a name with a lower case letter? It's nothing like his capital "S". However, I think we can rule out "Coinneach". Thoughts?

[meanno]

This entry in the DPR confirms that Eilean Choraidh is Island Hall. Having connections to Eilean Hoan you got me worried by the confusion so I checked!

[Rosinish]

The first letter looks like a lower case "s", but why would the Minister start a name with a lower case letter? It's nothing like his capital "S". However, I think we can rule out "Coinneach". Thoughts?

It is odd but fwiw, even without a capital, it could be cainach i.e. Kenneth?

Is there anywhere else on the page with a similar letter to the lower case initial we see here?

Annie

[Rw2]

This is wonderful!  Thank you dcjt59, Forfarian, Rosinish and Meanno.   I'm more impressed and grateful with every post.   (I could look for records for a local Margaret Sutherland born to a Kenneth?)