The following is a petition from the residents of Armadale in 1837 to the Duchess-Countess of Sutherland, but is not to be confused with the personal petition of 1837 from my ancestor Barbara Mackay to the Duchess-Countess of Sutherland that I have also mentioned within this website and is actually found in the same box in the Sutherland Papers, National Library of Scotland, ref: Dep.313/2407. The 1837 petition from my ancestor Barbara Mackay I found myself, however this petition, from the residents of Armadale, was sent to me by a fellow genealogist Ian Mackay, and my thanks to him for this. However, this petition does appear also to include my ancestor Barbara Mackay recorded as "Widow Munro", along with her son Donald Munro (b.1802). The "Widow Morison" is probably Chirsty Munro (b.1808) who has already been confirmed as the widow of Donald Morison by the time of the 1841 census.
The petition of 1837 from the residents of Armadale reads basically as follows:
To Her Grace the Duchess Countess of Sutherland
The Petition of the Inhabitants of Armadale .....
Very Humbly Sheweth
That your Grace’s Petitioners delayed in after time, in order to .... an additional privilege of hill pasture at the aspiration of Armadale sheep farm.
That twice the year 1819, your petitioners laboured the most uncomfortable circumstances in respect of hill pasture the bounds pointed out for them at the period being intended for a few only: but 2/3rds of the present population were allotted among them twice, but no allowance of pasture for ... them and their land considerably little in the same per portion.
That they are further under adverse circumstances in consequence of being so closely situated to the sheep farm, where .... to their hill pasture, by the high Road, is frequently prohibited in the ....
That as the pasture already granted us is considerably limited, & not at all sufficient for the maintenance of our cattle which involves many difficulties, it renders it imperative whom us to call for immediate relief in this respect.
May it please your Grace to take our care into most serious consideration, and in duty bound your Petitioners shall ever pray.
Armadale 25th Sept 1837 (Signitures officer)
William Mckay Armadale
Angus Mckay
Niel Mckay
William Mckay Roy
Angus MacDonald
John MacDonald
Angus Mckay Mason
Widow ...Mckay
Hugh MacDonald Junr
Angus Mckay Bain
Widow John Mckay
Donald Mckay ....
Widow McLeod
Donald Mackay Bain
Widow MacDonald
Angus Mackay MacAskill
Hugh MacDonald “Farr ?”
Donald Mckay Pensioner
Widow Munro
Donald Munro
Angus Mckay Joiner
Widow Morison
Widow Angus Mckay
Widow James Mackay
William McDonald
Widow Charles Munro
William Mackenzie
William Gordon
William Mckay Bain
Hugh Mckay Junr
Hugh Mckay Senior
Donald Mckay Pouloriscaig
Widow Mckay
Alexr Mckay
William McDonald
In refusing the Petition, “Mr Horsburgh refers the Petitioners to a copy of Her Grace’s Answer to the Petition for Lower Strathnaver, whereby is worthy of their …? particular attention”