In the winter of 1819-20, the word went around that the people of Strath Oykel were to be evicted. Snow lay on the ground during that January of 1820, but it was a fertile valley; in the summer the area "was beautiful... a green valley … Continue reading Witnessing the Strath Oykel Clearance. March 1820.
The Year of the Sheep
According to John Prebble there were two periods of major clearances in the Highlands, the first from 1782 to 1820, and the second from 1840 to 1854. My ancestors came from Ross-shire, which was the scene of unrest during both of those periods. The first … Continue reading The Year of the Sheep
866 Company in Dublin 1916-1919
A brief visit to Dublin I recently spent a few days in Dublin. It was my first trip to Ireland; I was there for the wedding of a friend from Australia, Simon More, who has made his home there. He and his wife Michelle were … Continue reading 866 Company in Dublin 1916-1919
Catherine Urquhart of Golspie (1800-1887)
My grandmother was Winifred Urquhart Ross (Holford). As a child I was fascinated by her middle name, which she told me came from her Scottish ancestry, as did her surname Ross. During the three years we lived in the UK when I was a child … Continue reading Catherine Urquhart of Golspie (1800-1887)
The Gledfield smithy
James Andrew Ross (1794-1866) was the father of my grandmother’s grandfather. As far as I have been able to find out he was born in Edderton, in Ross-Shire, on the southern side of Dornoch Firth. His parents were Donald Ross and Ann Fraser. Donald Ross … Continue reading The Gledfield smithy
Forgotten tales 