Personalities

William Sutherland: Born Ausdale, Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland about 1746. Died Badbea about 1810.
          William's first wife Christian Finlayson: Born unknown date probably in Latheron parish. Died Badbea           before 1797.
          William's second wife Katherine Sutherland: Born Golsary, Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland 28             Jan 1761, Died about 1810 Badbea,

David Sutherland: Born Badbea, Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland 1770. Died Rumsdale, Halkirk Paish, Caithness, Scotland 18 Sep 1854.

John Badbea Sutherland: Born Ausdale, Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland 15 Oct 1785. Died Badbea 30 Aug 1864.

Christian (aka Christina) Sutherland: Born Badbea Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland about 1798. Died Rangag 8 July 1872

John McLeod: Born Farr, Sutherland, Scotland about 1795. Died Rangag 16 May 1869.

38 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  2. Interested in this site as my maternal ancestors come from Caithness...Mackays and Gunns. Janet Gunn and William Mackay are my great great great great grandparents. The story of Janet and her betrothed Alastair was told to me by my great uncle who was a keen genealogist.

    Nice site.

    Best wishes

    Liz Hughes

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    1. Hi Liz,

      Thanks for your message. I am pleased you are both familiar with a connected to the story of Alastair and Janet. Thats really cool. I find it interesting that all the articles that Alexander Gunn published seem to be verifiable in some way. He had a remarkable memory for detail. Best regards Farr

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    2. I am interested in William Mackay who was tacksman of Ousdale (Ausdale)and evicted in 1800. Do you know where he went after he left Ousdale. I am busy writing a book about the area.

      best wishes

      Michael Moss

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    3. Hi Michael. No sorry I dont have information on William Mackay of Ousdale. I do have quite a lot of published information on William Campbell tacksman of Ausdale - but it seems like he must have been the predecessor of the tacksman you are researching. Let me know if you want those articles. Good luck with your book.

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  3. A very interesting site.

    I have ancestors who originate from Berriedale.

    Adam Sutherland b 1778 Badinsary, Berriedale, Latheron, Caithness, d 1865 Badinsary married Catherine Sutherland (born Sutherland) of Balnabruich, Dunbeath 1790–1840.

    Their children were all born in Berriedale:
    John Sutherland (b 1816 - ? ) no information
    Catherine Sutherland (b 1821 - ?) Catherine is with the family in the 1841 census. No record of her being baptised has been found. She may have been the wife of a John Sutherland (1817) but there is no record of their marriage in Latheron Parish. Of all 6 Catherine Sutherland’s who married in Latheron parish between 1841 and 1851, it is more likely that she was the one (born in Berriedale according to the marriage record and the 1851 census) who married on 2 Feb 1849 in Berriedale to John Begg, born abt. 1813 in Gower, Caithness. They had a daughter Janet Begg there in 1849. However, by 1861 John Begg was living in Tarbat, Ross and Cromarty with a new wife Catherine (born 1836 in Tarbat), their son Henry Begg (born 1860 in Tarbat) and with Janet Begg( born 1849 in Berriedale). Janet had left her father and was living in Fife by 1871.
    Robert Sutherland (1823–1895) - He does not appear in any of the family census and unable to find a birth record however he emigrated to NZ married Elizabeth (Eliza) Ross of Berriedale, daughter of William Ross and Helen Gunn and sister to Donald & John Gunn. John Ross named his property “Lanswell” in NZ.

    Adam Sutherland (1824-1870, my 2nd great grandfather) emigrated to NZ with brother Robert on the Rajah ship in 1853.

    Christina Sutherland (1826-1903) emigrated to New Zealand with brother Donald on the Ben Lomond ship in 1863. She never married.

    Donald Sutherland (1828-1918) - never married and lived with is sister Christina.

    William Sutherland (1833-1895) emigrated to NZ in 1856 on the Strathmore ship with his new wife, Catherine Millar of Berriedale, daughter of John Millar & Janet Sutherland.

    Adam Sutherland b 1778 in Badinsary was the son of a William Sutherland b abt. 1740 in Stemster, Latheronwheel and Catherine Sutherland b abt. 1745 in Dallrangogg, Latheronwheel. Only one likely marriage with those names is one on 4 May 1767 in Latheron Parish. But I have yet to establish just where either of them came from, although the names of Stemster and Dallrangogg are mentioned in the marriage record and there are more than one place with those names. No baptism or death records for either can be identified. Adam probably had several siblings but they need to be identified from the many possibilities.

    It is highly likely that our ancestors crossed paths.

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    1. Hi Michelle, Just a quick comment - I think the place you refer to as Dallrangogg is Dall of Rangag - which is on most of the old maps. Below is a reference for a map that has Dall and Loch Rangag and Stemster. I can send a screen print direct to your email if you have trouble finding the map.

      National Library of Scotland

      Caithness, Sheet XXVIII (includes: Latheron; Watten)
      Survey date: 1871 Publication date: 1877

      Keyword search
      Maps home > Ordnance Survey > Six-inch 1st edition, 1843-1882

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    2. At last I have a marriage record for the correct William Sutherland of Rhinsary and Katherine Sutherland of Ausdale.
      Katherine would appear to be the daughter of Robert Sutherland of Ausdale.
      Some genealogists have her married to Walter Bruce which I believe is another Katherine Sutherland.

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  4. Hi Michelle, Thanks for your comments. Yes I am sure your ancestors and mine knew each other. Where do you live now. I am in New Zealand. I will spend time and go thru your list of ancestors and the ships they came to NZ on in case I have any further information for you. Its high summer here and thus school holidays so I have grandchildren visiting so it may be a week or so till I have time to do some research. In the meantime best wishes and thanks for your post

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  5. I came across this site while looking for info on Alexander Gunn MD. He was born in 1845 at Lybster in Caithness, Scotland, where his parents Robert and Christina Gunn kept a hotel. (He is mentioned in Wikipedia) He is the great grandfather of a friend of mine Carole Stewart so l found this all very interesting.

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    1. Hello,
      Glad you found this blog interesting. Lybster is, of course, very close to Badbea where most of my article refer to, so the conditions etc will be very similar. Alexander Gunn is a fairly common name so researching it takes a bit of extra care. Regards

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  6. Thank you for your replies. I would be most grateful for any light you can shed on my ancestors.

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  7. Hello again Michelle,

    Good to hear from you. I am a story teller rather than a genealogist so, apart from my own archives I only have access to the same Scottish records as you do. I'll certainly let you know if I find anything new or relevant. Best regards.

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  8. There seems to be a link between Ausdale and Stemster Latheron. My ancestors Walter Bruce and Katherine Sutherland were married in 1798 (his second marriage), and one of the witnesses was Robert Sutherland in Ausdale (the other was Christian MacDonald in Braemore). Robert Sutherland had a daughter Katherine born 1756 in Ausdale, which is who I believe Walter's new wife was. Only two other children that I can find for this Robt Sutherland, Jean and James.

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    1. Yes there were connections between Ausdale and Stempster. One thing that makes tracing names so complicated is that there were Sutherlands just about everywhere. Also the localities often have different spellings or different names for the same place. So Ousdale could be Ausdale or Austisdale. Loch Stempster was sometimes Achinloch or Auchtonloch. I have one blog posted on April 10 2014 that makes reference to David Sutherland who married Marjory Bruce of Stempster (and the boy Malcom Sutherland drowned).
      Re Robert Sutherland there was the somewhat flamboyant Robert Sutherland who was the last Sutherland owner of the Langwell Estate. You can find some stories about him on the Internet Archive in Caithness Family History by John Henderson.

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    2. Thanks Farr. Yes, I have the Henderson book, and can see the entry on the flamboyant Robert. Not my Robt obviously, but thanks for mentioning him as I hadn't read that particular part of Henderson's account of the Langwells. Going through Henderson though, I'm always reminded how many obvious mistakes are in there! Inconsistencies such as marrying one person in the account of one family, and another in that other family's entry. Chronological impossibilities, and implausible amount of 'no issue's. Cheers

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    3. Hello again Piero, Thanks for your comments. I am a story teller rather than a historian but yes I constantly find mistakes in sources of information - especially 'old' information and I either don't have the time or the access to better information to correct or prove data. I actually live in New Zealand so am very dependent on the internet for sources of information. I do have scans of many of Alexander Gunns letters and he had a wonderful memory for details. Regards.

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  9. This is a fabulous site with great information that is very accessible. I am attempting to trace my family back to the same area. John Sutherland and his wife Mary emigrated on the Oriental with Alexander and his wife in 1839. John and Mary ended up at Castlepoint eventually. Apparently John and Alexander were cousins? Interestingly, John is recorded in the family as being born in 1816 as is the John of Adam and Catherine in Michelle's family above. John was a common name though. My John is recorded as marrying in Helmsdale in the family although I have no actual marriage record of this. On the shipping record he is recorded as last residing in Brora. Children born to John and Mary were Elizabeth (my great-great grandmother), Janet, Robert, Mary, Ann and Wilhelmina. I am lucky to be living in Dublin at the moment although from New Zealand so I suspect a visit to the area is required.

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  10. Hi Denise, thanks for your comments. Very nice to hear from you. I am a bit puzzled by your comment that John Sutherland and his wife Mary were also on the Oriental with Alexander and Elizabeth Sutherland, as I can only see one Sutherland family on the shipping list - but sometimes the shipping lists are not complete. Also the book Sutherlands of Ngaipu (pg 16) says there were only two other families from the same locality and they were the Bartons and Dudley Sinclair. I would be very pleased to update my information if you have more data. Yes living in Dublin sounds interesting - I am in New Zealand - I write under a nom-de-plume - but I have been to Scotland several times. Best regards

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  11. Hi Farr

    I have copies of the emigration registers which record John and his wife as emigrating on the Oriental. He is recorded as an Agricultural Labourer. There name is directly under Alex Sutherland and his wife. I could send them to an email address? They are also recorded on the Petone Settlers Data site. I will actually be in NZ next week until late March so intend on visiting the museum in Petone and Wellington Archives. It is interesting they are not mentioned in the book. I am hoping to find a copy somewhere - it is not easily available by the looks of it. Scotland is certainly a fabulous country to visit. It is great being so close.

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  12. Hello again Denise. yes please I would very much like to see an updated shipping list. You can send any attachments to me at farrmcleod@gmail.com My real name is Christina Baldwin and I live in Papamoa near Tauranga. Way back in 2014 I blogged a story about the Sutherlands coming to New Zealand. I included a couple of extracts from the John O Groat Journal - a really fascinating glimpse of the emigrants on the Oriental. I can send you the whole article if you would like. Re the Sutherlands of Ngaipu book - yes its hard to get. Ocasionally one is for sale on Trademe. But if you cant find a copy, years ago, before I found a copy for myself, I scanned the whole book in the library (a bit naughty but the book is long out of print) and I can send you those pages in about 10 emails. Let me know if you would like that. Regards

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  13. Hello again Denise. I have been trying to work out the relationship between your Sutherlands and 'mine'. Brora seems to be the connection but as far as I can figure it goes back through Katherine Sutherland (second wife of William Sutherland of Badbea and mother of Alexander Sutherland who went on the Oriental). Katherine's mother was Marion and her father was John Sutherland whose father was William Sutherland of Brora! OMG I think that's how it goes. Do you have any more data on the Brora Sutherlands?

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  14. I have found a reference to your Sutherlands in 'Ngaipu' pg 26. It says "The records in Wellington show a part of Akitio Crown granted to a John Sutherland and several sections to Dr Featherston. John Sutherland was. I believe, the first owner of Matakuna Station, south of Akitio, afterwards owned by the Barton brothers, and was well known by Alex Sutherland, but I do not think there was any relationship between them. He and his wife Mary also came to New Zealand on the Oriental in 1840 and they often stayed at Lyalls Bay and Back House when they visited Wellington. They both died at Matakuna and were buried there. There were at least two of a family, a son and a daughter. The latter I think married a Mr Tate, who was a cousin of the wife of Mr John McLeod, the present owner of Whakapuni. These grants would be made, I think, after Alex Sutherland sold out. It is more than likely that the Hawke's Bay records would have given this information, but unfortunately they were destroyed in the fire during the Napier earthquake in 1931." End of quote.

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    1. Hi Farr

      Thank you so much for this. I am about to fly to New Zealand in a couple of hours so will get back to you in the next day or so. I am presently really starting to have a look at the Brora Sutherlands and planning on a visit to the area this year. I don't have a lot at the moment but may have have found John's parents. I want to try to have a look at as many relationships in the area as possible. This is assuming they followed Scottish naming patterns which I have some confidence they did as too much lines up to be 'just luck' I think. I need to get their marriage certificate definitely. John was the first owner of Mataikuna and his daughter Elizabeth who married John Tait is my great - great grandmother through her second marriage to Murdock McIver who was from Stornaway. I would love to read the book - primary sources are so fabulous to read.

      Thank you again for your help.

      Denise

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  15. Hi Farr

    I'm looking for photos or any info about two brothers - surname Curties or Curtis - who worked for John and Murdoch McLeod in 1916. Their cousin Gertrude McAlpine and husband James worked on Farquhar McLeod's farm nearby. The Curties enlisted in 1916 and shipped out to France. The brothers were orphans and labourers and had travelled up from the South Island. The only reason I can think of is that they wished to make contact with Gertrude, thus I'm looking for any proof.

    Cheers
    Geoff
    Hastings NZ

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  16. Hello Geoff. Thanks for your message. I can't help your search sorry. The only suggestion I can make is that I 'think'some McLeod descendants still live in the house at Hillside Martinborough. One of them has an old family photo album with lots of 'unknown' photos in it! Its a long shot but worth trying to find them that way. Good luck.

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  17. Do you know anything about a JOhn Sutherland who married a Catherine Gunn -

    FreeREG UK -
    County: Caithness
    Place: Latheron
    Church name: Church of Scotland
    Marriage date: 11 Jul 1845
    Groom forename: John
    Groom surname: SUTHERLAND
    Groom parish: Latheron
    Groom condition: Bachelor
    Groom abode: Badbea
    Bride forename: Catherine
    Bride surname: GUNN
    Bride parish: Latheron
    Bride condition: Spinster
    Bride abode: Dunbeath

    An 1851 Scotland census has then both born in Berriedale. John is a fisherman in Badbea.
    John Sutherland Age 38
    Cartherine Sutherland Age 36
    Jessie Sutherland Age 5
    Marion Sutherland Age 3
    John Sutherland Age 1
    Charlotte Sutherland Age 69
    John Sutherland Age 18 (Nephew)

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  18. Hi Michelle. Short answer is no I dont know that family sorry. There is a birth (found on Freereg) that could be her. Also the badbeafamilies website (which I think is now not active) says some of this family were in the 1841 Badbea census - which you probably know. Sutherland and Gunn are such common names aren't they!

    Place Latheron
    Church name Church of Scotland
    Register type Unspecified
    Baptism date 18 Nov 1814
    Person forename Catharine
    Person sex F
    Father forename Willm
    Father surname GUNN
    Person abode Badinagaoth, Dunbeath

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  19. Hi Farr and Denise, I'm an author, born in the UK, now living in New Zealand. I have written Dudley's Sinclair's biography. The book is available on my website. http;//hazelholmes.com For the past couple of years I have been researching Richard Barton who came out on the Oriental with Dudley Sinclair and I am now in the process of writing his biography. Richard Barton was responsible for bringing 13 of his men under instructions from the Duke of Sutherland. Richard Barton hand picked the 13 men. The three married men were Alexander and John Sutherland and wives, with baby girls aged 7 months and 6 months and John Walker and his wife who had an 8 week old girl. The other 10 men were single young men in their 20s, except James Anderson who was a 40-year-old widower. Four were shepherds, 6 were Agricultural workers, 1 was a harness maker, 1 a gardener and 1 was a servant.

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  20. Hello Hazel, very nice to hear from you. Your research sounds fascinating. I know of some descendants in New Zealand of Richard Barton. Let me know if you are looking for contacts. Regards

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    1. Hello Farr, I imagine one of the descendants you know will probably be Douglas. I've been researching Richard Barton on his behalf and Douglas has passed on all the information I've gathered to his wider family. I'd be happy to hear from anyone who has information on the lives of the Sutherland families who came out to New Zealand. I'm also interested in any information on Mrs Ross (nee Ferguson) and her son Charles who apparently went out to Canada. I don't know her christian name, but she lived in or near Brora between 1833 and 1840. The Barton family thought she was Richard Barton's wife, but I have since proved this was not true, however she was either Richard Barton's housekeeper-cum-nursemaid and looked after Richard Barton's daughter until they left for New Zealand, it would be great if I could find out more about the illusive Mrs Ross, regards Hazel

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  21. Hello Hazel, I have not researched the Barton family at all really so no I don't know Douglas. Re the families who came out on the Oriental my great great grandmother's brother Alexander Robert Sutherland with his wife Elizabeth aka Eppy and young daughter Chirsty were on the Oriental so I know a bit about them. She came from Brora. I have a few notes written about Brora - not signed but I guess they were written by Alan Roydhouse in the 1970s - might be accurate might be not. I can send them if you want. Have you got the interesting article in the John O Groat Journal 'Departure of New Zealand Colony' 1839? Re the lives of families who came to NZ on the Oriental I presume you will have 'Sutherlands of Ngaipu' by Alex Sutherland Pub A H & A W Reed Wellington 1947. Sorry I dont know the Mrs Ross you mention. Regards

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  22. Hello Farr, yes, thanks I have the newspaper advert from the John O Groat Journal Departure of NZ Colony. Although I wasn’t aware of the ‘Sutherlands of Ngaiu,’ book, luckily Auckland Library have a copy and I’ve requested it, so thanks for that, I look forward to reading it. What happened to your Alexander R Sutherland and his wife Eppy in Wellington? Did things work out well for them? regards

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  23. Hello Farr, I've just realised the book you recommended was written by Alex Sutherland! presumably that's your ancestor - so perhaps my question will be answered when I read the book. regards

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  24. Hello again Hazel. Good to hear from you. Yes Sutherlands of Ngaipu is a must read if you are wanting to know more about some of those who came on the Oriental. Alexander Robertson Sutherland is actually my great great uncle. His full sister Christina Sutherland who married John McLeod is my direct ancestor. But several of their children who came as adults to New Zealand worked for ARS. You can find out more about them on my blog mcLeodsofrumsdale Best regards

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  25. Thanks Farr, I'd be very interested to read more about your ancestors - I'll check out your McLeodsofrumsdale blog now. regards

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  26. I have broken through a brick wall.
    My 4th great grandfather William Sutherland married Katherine Sutherland in 1777.
    William Suth’d in Rhinsary & Kath Suth’d in Ausdale we’re matrimonially contracted in order to marriage and married.
    Katherine is the daughter of Robert Sutherland of Ausdale.
    I am most appreciative of Piero’s sources re Robert of Ausdale.
    Now to break husband William of Rhinsary’s wall!!!

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  27. I have broken through a brick wall.
    My 4th great grandfather William Sutherland married Katherine Sutherland in 1777.
    William Suth’d in Rhinsary & Kath Suth’d in Ausdale we’re matrimonially contracted in order to marriage and married.
    Katherine is the daughter of Robert Sutherland of Ausdale.
    I am most appreciative of Piero’s sources re Robert of Ausdale.
    Now to break husband William of Rhinsary’s wall!!!

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