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Introduction
Introduction
"Barbra Mckay" is found as a widow aged 75 on the 1841 census still living in the village of Armadale with her daughter, Chirsty, who was then recorded by her married name of Morison and who is also a widow. As is the case with many people on the 1841 census, the ages of all the adults have been rounded down to a multiple of five. So the fact that Barbara's age is given as 75 means that she could have been aged anywhere between 75 and 79 and born between 1762 and 1766. The 1841 census tells us that Barbara Mackay was born in the county of Sutherland but does not give the parish or township. There is no matching parish birth record for a Barbara Mackay born between 1762 and 1766, and most of the parish registers in this area do not date back further than the 1780's except for Durness which dates back to 1764. However, I believe that the age of 75 on the 1841 census which indicates she was born between 1762 and 1766 is incorrect and too high. Firstly because there is a "Barbara Munro widow in Armadale" on a petition dated September 1837 to the Duchess-Countess of Sutherland (National Library of Scotland, ref: DEP.313/2407) in which Barbara is described as being "in the 66th year of her age" and this would suggest that she had only reached 65 years old in 1837 and was heading towards 66 years old, which would in turn mean that she was born in about 1772. This Barbara is almost certainly my ancestor Barbara Mackay in Armadale who is confirmed as a widow of Alexander Munro by 1835 and who had also previously petitioned in 1835. Secondly, ages on the 1841 census are known generally not to be accurate and if she was born between 1762 and 1766 as per the census, then she would have been aged between 46 and 50 when she gave birth to her last child, Mackay (John) Munro in 1812, which is an extremely high age for a woman to have a baby - even by today's standards. The age on the 1837 petition which suggests that she was born in about 1772 is much more likely to be accurate than the age given on the 1841 census. There are no parish baptism records for any Barbara Mackays born in any parish in the county of Sutherland in the year 1772. The first definite record for Barbara Mackay of Armadale is when she is recorded on the parish baptism record for her son James Munro in the parish of Durness, Sutherland in 1791. However, on the parish baptism record of 1791 for their son James, neither Alexander Munro or Barbara Mackay were given Gaelic aliases which was the usual practice with the Durness parish register, thus suggesting that they were not local. There is also no marriage record for them in Durness which again suggests that they married and came from elsewhere.
James Dunn Mackay in Armadale
James Dunn Mackay in Armadale
There is a James Mackay on the 1819 Armadale new crofts agreement listed immediately after Alexander Munro of Armadale and his son James Munro. This James Mackay is not listed with the other Mackays in the village and appears to be listed as possibly a relation of the Munros. So he could be Barbara's father or brother.
There is a James Dunn Mackay who appears on an undated map of Armadale (Sutherland Papers, DEP.313/3590/19, pictured right) in patch number 9, although this map must be from no later than 1819 as it includes James Munro who died in 1819. There is also a "Wo (widow of) Jas (James) Mackay Dunn" in the same patch of land on another map of Armadale found linked on the left (Sutherland Papers, DEP.313/3622/50).
The widow of James Mackay appears on the 1837 Armadale petition.
A "Dun, Mckay James" appears on the Armadale rent records of 1830, 1831 and 1832, and the "widow" of James Mackay Dunn appears on the Armadale rent records from 1833 to 1849. So he appears to have died no later than 1833.
The Armadale rent records of 1829 to 1836 are found in the National Library of Scotland, Sutherland Papers, ref: Dep.313/2255 - 2262. The Armadale rent records for 1838 to 1853 are found in the National Library of Scotland, Sutherland Papers, ref: Dep.313/2234.
National Library of Scotland, Sutherland Papers, ref: DEP.313/3590/19
The Gordon connection
The Gordon connection
One of the daughters of Donald Munro (b.1802) was called Janet Mckay Gordon Munro (b.1840 in Armadale, parish of Strathy) and her Gordon middle name is the only middle name of Donald's seven children which cannot be explained as being the name or surname of an elder family member. The Armadale rent records of 1829 to 1835 show two men by the name of William Gordon on the rent records of 1831 to 1835. There is a William Gordon who appears on the 1841 census living in the village of Armadale aged 75. Ages of adults having been rounded down to a multiple of five means that he could have been aged anywhere between 75 and 79 and born 1762 - 1766. In his house-hold on the 1841 census in Armadale were: Donald Gordon aged 20, Thomas Gordon aged 15 and Ketty Gordon aged 25. In the parish of Farr registers there was a William Gordon and wife Janet Mackay who had five children baptised between 1809 and 1817 whilst living in Grumbeg, parish of Farr: Kate in 1809, William in 1811, Ann in 1813, Kathrine in 1815 and Donald in 1817. The two William Gordons on the Armadale rent records do not appear until 1831 even though the rent records date back to 1829, so they could have moved in from Grumbeg. The William Gordon born in 1811 in Grumbeg would have been old enough to have his own house in 1831 and so could be the second or younger William Gordon on the Armadale rent records. The Kathrine Gordon born in 1815 in Grumbeg could be the Ketty Gordon aged 25 on the 1841 census in Armadale with her real age of 26 having been rounded down to the nearest multiple of five: 25. The Donald Gordon born in 1817 in Grumbeg could be the Donald Gordon aged 20 on the 1841 census in Armadale with his real age of 24 having been rounded down to the nearest multiple of five: 20. Therefore, Donald Munro (b.1802) could have named his daughter Janet Mckay Gordon Munro (b.1840) after the Janet Mackay who was wife of William Gordon in Armadale. It could be that this Janet Mackay was Donald Munro's auntie, if she was the sister of his mother Barbara Mackay, and as explained below it would appear that Barbara did have an elder sister named Janet. There is a William Gordon who is ranked as an Ensign, which was one rank above Sergeant, on the muster roll of 1784 for Captain James Maxwell's company of the 76th Regiment of Foot, which is the same regiment that Alexander Munro of Armadale may have served in as a Sergeant under the Earl of Caithness. (additional source: British Army Officers Who Served in the American Revolution 1775 – 1783 by Stephen M. Baule with Stephen Gilbert, Heritage Books Inc., Westminister, Maryland, 2004). Ensign was usually the beginning rank in the career for army officers who bought their commissions rather than rising from the ranks and many Ensigns were teenagers.
Section of the 1832 Armadale rent record showing two William Gordons. National Library of Scotland, Sutherland Papers, ref: DEP.313/2258.
The James Mackay excise officer theory:
The James Mackay excise officer theory:
There are seven parish baptism records in the parish of Thurso, Caithness for children whose father was James Mackay/Mackie/Macky who was an excise officer, and one of these children was named Barbara, born in 1773. The occupation of excise officer is only mentioned on three out of the seven parish baptism records, but there is no doubt that they are all siblings of the same parents James Macky and Janet Sinclair. The excise officers had control over taxes paid on distilling and selling whisky and so this may have been how Barbara Mackay of Armadale came to be the land lady of an Inn that served whisky if she is the daughter named Barbara born in 1773. (See: page about the role of Scottish excise officers in the 18th and 19th centuries).
Given that the 1837 petition from Barbara Mackay of Armadale to the Duchess-Countess of Sutherland suggests that she was born in about 1772, the parish baptism record for a Barbara Macky in the nearby town of Thurso, Caithness, dated 1773, daughter of James Macky, the excise officer and Janet Sinclair, is just one year out. This would contradict the 1841 census which states that Barbara Mackay of Armadale was born in the county of Sutherland, but the census has already shown to be wrong regarding her age, and so could be wrong on this as well. Incorrect details on a census record for one individual are often explained as occurring because the information was given by another individual. The only other adult in Barbara Mackay's house on the 1841 census was her daughter Chirsty, and if Chirsty gave the information then she may have got her mother's age and place of birth wrong.
Noting that Barbara Mackay of Armadale's possible sister was Janet Mackay who was the wife of William Gordon in Armadale as mentioned above, there is also a parish baptism record in Thurso, Caithness dated 1770 for a Janet Macky, daughter of the same James Macky and Janet Sinclair. The same parents James Macky and Janet Sinclair, also had a son called John in 1774 in Thurso and Alexander Munro and Barbara Mackay of Armadale's son, Donald Munro (b.1802), apparently married his cousin Georgina Mackay whose father was named John. There were also sons born to the same James Macky and Janet Sinclair named James (b.1771) and George (b.1776) in Thurso. Alexander Munro and Barbara Mackay of Armadale's second son, George Munro (b.1799), apparently died in Thurso as of 1835 when Barbara had previously petitioned to the Duchess-Countess of Sutherland.
One problem is that if the Janet Mackay b.1770 is the same Janet Mackay who was wife of William Gordon as mentioned above, then she would have been aged 47 when her last child was born in 1817 which is stretching it a bit, but having had a search around on Google it is clear that although the chances are slim, a woman can conceive naturally aged 47. The normal reproductive age for women is apparently from age 12 to 49. It could be that if as theorized above William Gordon was a young Ensign in the army then he may have only had the opportunity to have children after he had left the army which is why they had them late (1809 - 1817). Going by William Gordon's age on the 1841 census, which ages having been rounded down to a multiple of five suggests that he was born between 1762 and 1766, means that he would have been aged between 43 and 47 when his first child was born in 1809, and aged between 51 and 55 when his last child was born in 1817.
The children of James Macky and Janet Sinclair
The children of James Macky and Janet Sinclair
The full list of children born to James Macky and Janet Sinclair in the parish of Thurso, Caithness is as follows:
(Note: the spelling of the surnames on the parish baptism records for the children of James Macky and Janet Sinclair in Thurso varies from Macky and Mackie)
1. William Mackie (b. 1768). As explained below the mother Janet Sinclair's father was named William.
2. Janet Macky (b. 1770), possibly the same Janet Mackay who was wife of William Gordon in Armadale.
3. James Mackie (b. 1771), named after father.
4. Barbara Macky (b. 1773), possibly Barbara Mackay of Armadale.
1773 parish baptism record for Barbara Macky (Mackay) in the parish of Thurso, Caithness, daughter of James Macky and Janet Sinclair
5. John Mackie (b. 1774), possibly the same John Mackay who was the father of Georgina Mackay who in turn was the wife and cousin of Donald Munro (b.1802), son of Barbara Mackay of Armadale. It is worth noting that one of Donald and Georgina's sons was James Munro (b.1832) who in turn named one of his sons George Mackie Munro (b.1863) and the specific "Mackie" spelling variation is used with no other possible elder family members for it to have come from, not even on the side of James Munro's wife Jane MacDonald. So the middle name of George Mackie Munro (b.1863) would have been the maiden surname of his paternal grandmother Georgina Mackie or Mackay.
6. George Mackie (b. 1776).
7. James Sinclair Macky (b. 1778), as explained below is possibly the same James Dunn Mackay who later appears on the maps and rent records in Armadale that are mentioned above.
See: ScotlandsPeople guide to traditional naming patterns. See also: link to website which includes extended info on Scottish naming patterns.
The Sinclairs
The Sinclairs
The book Caithness Family History (1884, pages 131 - 132, by John Henderson) says that Janet Sinclair was the daughter of William Sinclair, physician in Thurso and that she married James Mackie an officer of Excise.
The full citation is as follows:
VI. JOHN SINCLAIR OF FORSS was three times mar- ried ; first, to Janet, daughter of William Sutherland of Geise, of the family of Sutherland of Forse ; secondly, to Barbara, daughter of John Sinclair of Rattar ; and, thirdly, to Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Murray of Pennyland. By his first marriage he had a son George, his successor. By his second marriage he had three sons and a daughter :
1. John, afterwards of Forss.
2. James, of Holbornhead and Forss.
3. William, physician in Thurso, who married, in 1742, Barbara, daughter of Robert Sinclair of Geise, and died in 1767. He had four sons and four daughters, all of whom died young except, first, Dr. William, afterwards of Freswick ; second, Janet, who married James Mackie, an officer of Excise, and had two sons, William and George, and several daughters. George attained the rank of Major- General in the Army, and had a large family of sons and daughters, and in 1826 resided in Caen, in Normandy. One of his sisters married John M'Kay, merchant in Thurso, and had issue. Third, Jane, the other surviving daughter of Dr. William Sinclair, married Allan Robertson of Tarrel, Captain in the 42d Regiment. He was afterwards in Wares, and had several sons and daughters.
Points of note:
Points of note:
The Caithness Family History book (1884) only mentions two of James Mackie's and Janet Sinclair's sons, William and George, even though the parish registers clearly show that they had at least five sons. However, William and George are also the only sons who are mentioned in the Papers of the Sinclair Family of Freswick (National Records of Scotland ref: GD136) which could have been the original source for the book. The same book also states that they had several daughters, but there are only two recorded in the parish registers. There could have been others that were not recorded in the parish registers. According to the book, one of these daughters married John Mackay, "merchant" in Thurso, but it does not say which one. The Thurso parish baptism records show that there were seven children born to John Mackay who was a "merchant" in Thurso and his wife Jean Mackie between 1807 and 1823. On all the parish baptism records apart from the last in 1823 his wife is recorded by the name Jean, and on the last in 1823 she is recorded by the name Jane. Although the names Jean and Jane are interchangeable with the name Janet, I do not believe that she is the same daughter called Janet born in 1770 because she would have been aged about 53 when her last child was born in 1823 which makes it pretty much impossible for it to be her. So the Jean/Jane who was wife of John Mackay "merchant" in Thurso was probably one of the other several daughters and whose baptism was not recorded in the parish registers. In any case she was not the daughter called Barbara (b.1773) which means that it is still possible that she was Barbara Mackay of Armadale.
National Records of Scotland ref: GD136/450 in the Sinclair of Freswick Papers shows that Janet Sinclair (Macky) also had a daughter called Lizzy who died young in 1782. Other items in the Sinclair of Freswick Papers (refs: GD136/150, GD136/151, CS237/S/5/73) confirm that Janet's father William Sinclair, physician in Thurso, died in 1784 and that her brother, William Sinclair of Lochend (later of Freswick), was in dispute with John Sinclair, 11th Earl of Caithness over lands in 1784, but that this matter was settled by 1785.
Although there is a separate Clan Mackie in Galloway in the south of Scotland, who according to some sources are connected to the Clan Mackay of the north back in the 13th century, the surname Mackie was also used by members of the Clan Mackay in the north, including some of the chiefs, and is also regarded as a sept name of the clan, if not just a spelling variation.
Noting that Janet Sinclair was from the Sinclair of Forss family as confirmed above, there was a James Mckay baptised on 5th May 1745, son of John Mckay in Forse (Forss), as per the Thurso parish registers. This James could therefore be the same James Mackie who was the excise officer married to Janet Sinclair of the Forss family. There was also a John Mcky baptised on 4th December 1714, son of James Mcky in Forss, as per the Thurso parish register, and this John could be the same man who was father of James in 1745 in the same place. In modern times the spelling of this place in the parish of Thurso is given as "Forss" and is not to be confused with "Forse" in the parish of Latheron which is also in the county of Caithness but about 20 miles away. However, on historic records such as the parish registers both places could be recorded by either spelling variation of Forss or Forse. Despite the 1745 entry being spelt as "Forse" it is obviously the place spelt in modern times as "Forss" as it is recorded in the Thurso parish register.
Previously on this page I explained in detail how a James Mackay recorded on page 320 of the Book of Mackay could have been the same James Mackie who was the excise officer and this was based on the fact that William Mackay of Kinloch who was the step-grandfather of the James Mackay in the Book of Mackay, appears as the witness to the baptism of the eldest son of James Mackie the excise officer; William in 1768. However, there are four reasons why I believe that the James Mackie who was the excise officer is more likely to have have been the James Mckay baptised in 1745 and mentioned above. Firstly, the William Mackie born in 1768 is more likely to have been named after his mother's confirmed father William Sinclair than William Mackay of Kinloch who witnessed his baptism. Secondly, the James Mckay who was baptised in 1745 lived in the village of Forss (Forse) and the James Mackie who was the excise officer married Janet Sinclair who was of the family of Forss, and so they both came from the same village. Thirdly, the James who was the excise officer was using the Mackie spelling variation which I presume was to do with the pronunciation and the James who was baptised in 1745 had the spelling Mckay and his father, John, baptised in 1714, had the spelling of Mcky which is more inline with Mackie than Mackay. Fourthly, although the Book of Mackay (1906, page 320) does not give any further details about that James Mackay, the History of the House and Clan of Mackay (1829, page 573) says that he was unmarried.
It is possible that the James Dunn Mackay in Armadale was in fact the James Sinclair Macky born in 1778, son of James Macky the excise officer and Janet Sinclair, as Janet Sinclair was from the Sinclair of Forss family who were in turn a branch of the Sinclair of Dun(n) family. Her father, William Sinclair, was the son of John Sinclair, VI of Forss.
The Sinclair of Forss and Dunn families are believed to have been paternally descended from a younger son of John Sinclair, 3rd Earl of Caithness (d.1529). It is also worth pointing out that four of the male Sinclairs of Forss in this direct line married women who also had the surname Sinclair and who it is confirmed all descended from different paternal lines of George Sinclair, 4th Earl of Caithness (d.1582), including Janet Sinclair's mother Barbara Sinclair.
Most importantly, it is confirmed that Janet Sinclair was a second cousin of John Sinclair, 11th Earl of Caithness, who Alexander Munro of Armadale received his appointment from in 1784. This appointment probably included for him to be married to Barbara Mackay, who if the same person born in 1773, daughter of Janet Sinclair, the earl was thus making arrangements for his wider family or "clan".
Page from Australian Representative Men, 2nd Edition, 1887
If this theory is correct then it would mean that I am a descendant of William Sinclair, 1st Earl of Caithness who founded the famous Rosslyn Chapel. See PDF linked below of family tree showing supposed connection to the Earls of Caithness which is based entirely on if Barbara Mackay of Armadale is the same Barbara Macky b.1773 in Thurso, Caithness, daughter of James Macky and Janet Sinclair.
Sinclair Earl of Caithness connections.pdfGoogle Sites
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