Durness Parish Register - Part 2

[wilros]

djct59 - thanks very much.

Donald Calder, son of Murdoch Down, married Janet Mackay 11 August 1783.  Is this Donald Calder  related to Rob Donn?

[djct59]

It's likely. Rob Donn was born in Altnacaillich in Strathmore in 1714, so a grandson living in Strathmore, marrying in 1783 and fathering a child born in 1784 is wholly plausible.

I saw an article online a few years ago that referred to the Bard's thirteen children without naming them - https://durness.wixsite.com/durnessnew/copy-of-population-of-durness

Murdoch is not officially linked to Rob Donn in the parish records so cannot be verified with 100% certainty, but his age and location certainly suggests he's one of the thirteen

[wilros]

djct59 - I stumbled upon a text that references thirteen children of Rob Donn Calder -- the 44 page "Life of Rob Donn" by Hew Morrison that is part of his 1899 book Songs and Poems in the Gaelic Language by Rob Donn.

on page xxxi
In 1769, while at Saingo, his youngest son was baptized and named George. His family is stated to have consisted of thirteen, who "were mostly all spared to rise round him." Of these, eight -- five sons and three daughters -- are known to have attained manhood and womanhood, but little is known of some of them beyond that fact. His eldest son was James, who, in 1774, married Jean Stewart in Balnaceil. ... His second son, John, enlisted in Macleod's Highlanders and was killed in the Battle of Arnee in 1782. Hugh lived in Crosple for some time, Colin was in employment about Balnaceil, and George is not mentioned in the record after his baptism. His daughters were -- Isobel, married to John Mackay;  Mary, married to Donald Mackay;  and Christian, married (1) to Hugh Murray and (2) John Morrison.

Hew's narrative is a bit rambling.  After a four page digression into the the surname debate Calder v Mackay, Hew returnes to Rob's kids and starts narrating baptism and marriage details from the Parish Register of Durness. This narration is limited to the eight Calders mentioned earlier in Hew's narrative (above). In this narrative Hew neglects to mention the Murchoch Down listed in the baptisms of the three daughters of Donald Calder a possible granddaughters of Rob Donn Calder, identified as "Murdoch Down's son" or as "alias macmhorachiedhuin" as discussed earlier in this thread.

Using keyword searches for Donn, Doun, Down, Dhuin, Duin, and Calder I found 42 baptisms in  PRD, starting with "Hugh Calder, alias Down, in Balamhulich, christened Mary - 31 Mar 1765" and ending with "Alexander Morison, alias macuilam macrory, volunteer, late in Cerrauc, now in Ardaloch, and his wife Lucie Mackay, daur. of John Mackay and Isobel Doun, George - 30 June 1804." 

This week I ordered the Ian Grimble book to see what he says.

[wilros]

Where in Durness Parish was the settlement known as Achucharn/Achuchoran/Achuchairn? And also, was this the same place or are they separate places?

I apologize if I have already asked this question. I thought I had asked this before but I've searched the RootsChat pages without finding it.

These quotes are from Hew Morrison's transcription "Parish Register of Durness" and use his spellings

Baptisms
1773 - William MacEorish in Achucharn, Alexander, 9 Dec.
1795 - Donald Ross, alias Machustianmacenicoun, in Achuchoran, and . . . Ann Dunn, William, 12 Oct.
1797 - Donald Ross, herdman in Achuchorain, and . . . Ann Dunn, James, 19 Sept.
1800 - Donald Ross, alias Machustianmaceanicoun, in Achuchoran, and. . . Ann Dunn, Hugh, 5 Mar.

Marriages
1788 - Kenneth MacCulloch in Islandhall . . . Barbara Ross in Achuchoran, 5 Feb.
1794 - Donald Ross, a single young man in Achuchoran . . . Ann Dunn in Achuchairn, 31 Dec.
1799 - Angus MacLeod, alias Macneilicnishicloid, in Clashneach . . . Janet Ross nin Hustian Macenicoun in Achuchoran, 10 Dec.

Also, on one monument inscription in Balnakeil:

HUGH ROSS / Who died at Achuchoran / on the 26th July 1799 / aged 68 years

Thanks very much!

[wr]

[djct59]

Achuchoran is known as Grudie now. It is on the west side of the Dionard, just south of the opening into the Kyle of Durness. It is only accessible by a footbridge or on a quad bike.

[wilros]

djct59 - thanks very much.

I see it now on the OS map (screenshot attached) on the alluvial plain at the confluence of the Grudie River as it flows into the River Dionard.

Next question is the location of Crosple in these baptisms from Hew Morrison:

1791 - Kenneth MacCulloch, tenent in Crosple, and . . . Barbara Ross, Marion, 16 Feb.
1796 - Kenneth MacCulloch, little tenent in Crosple, and . . . Barbara Ross, John, 29 Jan.
1797 - Kenneth MacCulloch, a little farmer in Crosple, and . . . Barbara Ross, Roderick, 18 May
1799 - Kenneth MacCulloch, little farmer in Crosple, and . . . Barbara Ross, Joanna, 14 Aug
1801 - Kenneth MacCulloch in Crosple and . . . Barbara Ross, William, 13 Oct.

And also in this monument inscription at Balnakeil as transcribed by Angi Lamb:

In loving memory of Kenneth MACCULLOCH tenant at Crospoll who died 12th June 1857 aged 74 years. And of his spouse Barbara ROSS who died 12th January 1878 aged 95 years. Erected 1857 by their eldest son Hugh MACCULLOCH Callao South America

With best regards,

[wr]

[djct59]

The settlement of Croispol was in a small sheltered valley to the west of Loch Croispol - a few of the foundations of the houses can still be seen, and there was clearly room for about ten homes in the township.

The Bronze age hut circles by the loch are on the exposed  hillock overlooking the 18th century village. They're not to easy to spot now, but they offered a clear view of the area.

The schoolhouse at Loch Croispol is at the southern end of the loch where it meets a small stream.

[Forfarian]

Achuchoran is known as Grudie now. It is on the west side of the Dionard, just south of the opening into the Kyle of Durness. It is only accessible by a footbridge or on a quad bike.

https://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/NC3663

[Forfarian]

The settlement of Croispol was in a small sheltered valley to the west of Loch Croispol - a few of the foundations of the houses can still be seen, and there was clearly room for about ten homes in the township.

https://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/NC3867