Catherine (Sutherland) Ross (abt. 1790 - 1870)

Born about 1790 in Rogart, Sutherland, Scotland

Wife of John Ross — married 17 Feb 1820 in Clyne

Descendants

Died 15 Mar 1870 at about age 80 in Peatmoss, Altcraggie, Clyne, Sutherland, Scotland

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Biography

Catherine (Sutherland) Ross is a member of Clan Sutherland.

John ROSS was born about 1764. His first marriage was probably to Margaret ROSS with whom he had 2 sons when he was in his fifties; Alexander born 1815 and David born 1817. At the time of their birth John was a labourer living in Auldririe. Two years later at Martinmas 1819 John was renting the croft, Peatmoss, in Altcraggie, part of Auldririe for about 10 shillings a year. The reason the croft rent was not in the records before 1819 may be due to the fact that John rented it from a tacksman and not directly from the estate until the estate re-organisation apparent from the records about this time. Peatmoss was to stay in the family until 1941.

In 1820 he married Catherine SUTHERLAND who was about 30 years old. John would have been about 56. Catherine was born about 1790 in the neighbouring parish of Rogart. Her parents were William and Christy SUTHERLAND and she had a sister Ann born in 1796 and a brother Hector born in 1800. The family lived in ‘Knockentian’ in Meikle Rogart at the time. In 1991 I visited this croft called in gaelic ‘Cnoc-an-t-sithean’ or ’Hill of the Little People’. As was the custom, two rowans were planted well away from the house to keep the little people away. The current owner showed us the level of stones in the wall marking the original house height. (see photo)

As Catherine's parents and brother Hector all ended up living in Clyne parish it is likely that they were moved there as part of the Clearances early in the 1800's. This would fit in with the family legend that some of our ancestors were involved with this forcible movement of people to the coast to make way for large sheep farms. These stories were probably passed from Catherine to her daughter Williamina, who lived with her who passed them to her granddaughter Williamina Kidd, my aunt, who often stayed with her.

Catherine's father died in 1828 age 67 and her mother in 1834 age 77. They were buried in Clynekirkton and their gravestone can still be seen. It was erected by their son Hector whose descendants lived in Brora and one of them, Elsie MACDONALD, was a friend of my grandmother's. There is no trace of Catherine's sister Ann.

32 families who were paying no rent were evicted in 1819 from Rogart - see attached image-some were settled elsewhere on the Sutherland estate.

Birth

ABT 1790 Rogart^[1]Probaly at Knockentian where her brother and sister were born

Marriage

17 Feb 1820 Clyne. John Ross and Catherine Sutherland -Catherine was 'of Brora'^[2]

Census

1841 West Clyne, lotter, age 40 with daughters Williamina and Catherine

1851 Aultcraggie, lotter, age 52, widow, with daughters Williamina and Catherine, born Rogart

1861 Aultririe (Peatmoss), West Clyne, Sutherland, lotter, age 70, born Rogart, house has 2 rooms with windows. With daughter Williamina, her husband John and their son Andrew.

Rent Receipt Book

1834 Aldcraggy John Ross Peatmoss 10/- (In Remarks: dead, now Catherine Sutherland

1835 Aldcraggy widow of John Ross 10/- (& 10/- in arrears)

1838 Aldcraggie widow of John Ross 10/3

1841 Aldcraggie widow of John Ross 10/3

1860 Auldcraggie widow of John Ross 10/-^[3]

Death

15 Mar 1870 Peatmoss, Altcraggie. Catherine Ross, tenant, age 81, widow of John Ross. Father: William Sutherland, deceased, tenant. Mother: Christy Sutherland, MS Sutherland, deceased. Cause: asthma, several years. Informant Donald Mackay of Berriedale, son-in-law, blacksmith

^[4]

Burial

Clynekirkton Old Cemetery^[5]

Inscription In memory of John Ross who died at Aultcraggy, January ( ) age (76) also Catherine Ross his wife who died March (1)(17) age 81 years^[6]

Sources

• Sarah Euren (Euren-4) has an Ancestry DNA match with her 4th cousin once removed SM, granddaughter of Marion Weir ((Weir-3307). 8.1 cM shared on 1 segment. MRCA William Sutherland (Sutherland-1359) and Christian Sutherland (Sutherland-1369), Parents thus marked as confident.

1. ↑ MI proves parents correct. 1851 & 1861 census gives date and place of birth
2. ↑ Clyne Parish Register seen on microfilm
3. ↑ Sutherland Estate Rent Records seen in Edinburgh
4. ↑ certificate seen at Brora Registry Office in 1986
5. ↑ MI indistinct 'age 81'
6. ↑ My best attempt at reading the inscription in 1991