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Notes based on the 1841 Census of Altandoo, Parish of Lochbroom, Ross & Cromarty

The following transcription and notes are based on a photocopy of the 1841 census for Altandhu, spelt Altandow then. The transcription and introductory notes were done by Donald MacLeod in Auckland New Zealand, who has ancestors at Altandhu; CONTACT INFO

This file, and a large number of other files link from my web page at index.htm.

Any notes or corrections regarding the families in these files, please contact Donald, or myself, Donald MacDonald-Ross, directly, at dmacdon2@becon.org

The 1841 census rounded down all ages over 15 to the nearest 5 year multiple.

The columns on the 1841 census read;

PLACE Here insert Name of Village, Street, Square, Court, &c.

HOUSES Uninhabited or Building
       Inhabited

NAME and SURNAME, SEX and AGE of each Person who abode in each House on
the Night of 6th June.
       NAME and SURNAME
       AGE
          Male
          Female

OCCUPATION
       Of what Profession, Trade, Employment, or whether of Independant
       Means.

WHERE BORN
       If Born in Scotland, state whether in County or otherwise.
       Whether Foreigner, or whether Born in England or Ireland

The Place for all the people in the following list is given as Altandoo, all eighteen houses are marked as occupied.

Everyone except the Lamonts in household # 10 are marked as born in the County.

The data took up pages 1 to 5 of Enumeration District 15.

In 1841 at Altandhu the enumerator recorded 101 people in the 18 Households; 61 males and 40 females.

The numbering system is based on the year of the decennial census (1841 in this case), with a hyphen to the number the enumerater used to identify the household that year. The 1841 census did not include schedule numbers as later censuses did so I have numbered them in the order they were enumerated (Altandhu 41-1 to 41-18). Though internal jump tables such as the one that follows omit the year prefix.

John      McLean        50      Fisher & Crofter
Kenneth   McLean        15        "        "
Donald    McLean        10
John      McLean         5
Hugh      McLean         5
Catherine McLean           45
Chirsty   McLean            3

This Household is on page 1 of Enumeration District 15, all are marked as born in County.

By time of the 1851 census at Altandhu 51-109 John has died, and Catherine is with her son Hugh.

The Parish Register includes the marriage January 1825 of John McLean to Catherine McLean, both resident Altandhu, and also the christenings of three children that correspond to the boys above;

• Kenneth, christened 14 August, 1825,
• Donald, christened 2 May, 1830,
• Hugh, christened 11 August, 1834.

Catherine's 1866 death registration notes her late husband John as a Carpenter, and her parents as having been Kenneth McLean, also a carpenter, and Isabella, maiden surname McLeod. The father Kenneth corresponds with "Coinneach Buidhe" a character in the story "An Gobha Leathanach / The Blacksmith MacLean SA1955/160/B3" told in 1955 by Murdo John McLean, a gt-grandson of Catherine's brother John. That Kenneth also corresponds with a son of a Duncan MacLean, noted in 1768 as apprenticed as a wright (see NAS E746/91/2/00001). The occupation "Carpenter" corresponds with "wright". So, from a number of sources, children of Kenneth McLean ("Coinneach Buidhe") and Isabella MacLeod were;

• "Alasdair Mor McLean" a noted strong man of the community, "Alasdair Mor McLean", who lost his life in battle in India. Some of his exploits were described in 1955 by Murdo John McLean ("Rčiseamaid Iarla Chrombaidh / The Earl of Cromarty’s Regiment SA1955/160/A7"),
• Mairi, born 1792-6, died 1849, the Mary McLeod at Altandhu 41-18,
• Catherine (above), born about 1798, died 1866, wife of John McLean,
• Duncan, born about 1806, died 1875, husband of Catherine McKenzie, at Altandhu 41-5,
• John, born about 1811, died 1878, husband of Flora McBeth, at Altandhu 41-6.

Dond.     McKenzie      35      Fisher & Crofter
Jno.      McKenzie       6        "        "
Angus     McKenzie       3
Ronalda?  McKenzie         40
Flory     McKenzie          5
Catherine McKenzie          1

This Household is on page 1 of Enumeration District 15, all are marked as born in County.

In the 1851 census this family is at Altandhu 51-96. "Ronalda"'s name there is shown in its' more common form, "Rachel".

Donald's death registration in 1862 notes his parents had been John McKenzie, weaver, and Flora McLeod. John is in the next Household with his second wife, Altandhu 41-3. Both have children Flora and Angus, and the 1851 census listing has both with occupation as "Hand loom Weaver".

Rachel's death registration in 1887 notes her parents had been John McLean, Miller, and "Ronalda" (m.s. McLean). There is a likelyhood that John McLean at Altandhu 41-4 was her brother, other siblings were Chirsty McLean at Altandhu 41-8, and Murdo McLean at Altandhu 41-9.

I think young "Flory" is the Flora McKenzie who marries in 1854 to John McLean who is in this census at Altandhu 41-15. The OPR records the christening of a daughter Flora to a father Donald McKenzie at Altandhu 24 May, 1833.

Young John above was christened 10 August 1834.

Possibly young Donald in the next Household is a son of this family, he does not appear in either Household in 1851 and there is no matching christening in the Parish Register.

Mary McLean and Kenneth McKenzie at Altandhu 41-14 are siblings of Donald.

John      McKenzie      70      Weaver
Rodk.     McKenzie      10
Dond.     McKenzie      10
Angus     McKenzie       5
Ann       McKenzie         50
Hanna     McKenzie         10

This Household is on page 1 of Enumeration District 15, all are marked as born in County.

In the 1851 census this family is at Altandhu 51-93.

There were no MacKenzies at Altandhu in the 1798 Militia List, however there was a John then at Achnahaird, that I think was the John above.

There is a possibility John was a grandson of George MacKenzie who was Tacksman of Achnahaird from 1745 till his death in 1795. In November 1768 George signed an obligation to repay to the Commission of Forfeited Estates the cost of the apprenticeship of his son John as a weaver if he did not return to work in Coigach. Apprenticeships most often began in early teens, so that John was probably born sometime 1752-1754. Shortly after that George MacKenzie moved many of his subtenants from the Brae of Achnahaird to Altandhu. Trades such as weaver were often handed down from fathers to sons, such as John above to his own son, and the approximate birth year of 1767-1771 of John above fits as son to the 1768 apprentice. Working against that possible descent is naming patterns in the Altandhu MacKenzie family, no Georges!

The 1862 death registration of John's son Donald (previous household, Altandhu 41-2), shows John was earlier married to a Flora McLeod.

Ann McKenzie above was Maiden Surnamed McLean, as recorded in the wedding registration of her son Angus in 1855 at Torrisdale, Parish of Tongue, SutherlandShire to Angusina MacKay. Her death registration in 1879 shows her parents to have been John McLean and Margaret McLeod.

There were several christenings of children to a father John McKenzie at Altandhu;

• Mary, c.8 June 1815, (at Altandhu 41-14)
• Isobel and Flora (twins), c.12 March 1821,
• Hanna, c.15 April 1826, (above)
• Rachel, c.16 November 1828,
• Angus, c.14 July 1833. (above)

Mary McLean and Kenneth McKenzie at Altandhu 41-14 are also children of John MacKenzie of Altandhu, probably from his first wife, Flora MacLeod

As well there the above relationships, there is also a probable relationship to the MacKenzie family of Reiff. There was a christening 10 October, 1831 of sons Colin and Hector to "John McKenzie (Post) Coigach". Though an address listed as simply "Coigach" shows up in other records as referring to Faochag, which was on the tip of the peninsula, Rhu Coigach, I think they might have been sons of John above as well, as in the 1851 census John's son Roderick has the occupation "Post Runner". However that occupation was also held by a nearby Hector McKenzie, see Reiff 41-4. At Faochag 41-21 is a 10 year old Hector, possibly John's son? It is a complex and not well documented weave of relationships with the surname MacKenzie and occupation of Post-Runner in common.

John      McLean        60      Fisher & Crofter
Murdo.    McLean        20
Rodk.     McLean        15
Ann       McLean           20
Hanna     McLean           10
Rachael   McLean            5
                     -- page break --

This Household is on page 1 of Enumeration District 15, all are marked as born in County.

John dies before the 1851 census, but three of his children can be seen then at Altandhu 51-104.

The 1900 death registration of Ann above shows John's wife had been Catherine, maiden surname McLean. John is probably a Widower in this census.

Forename patterns suggest but do not prove John was a son of John McLean, miller, and Rachel McLean, if so he was brother to Rachel "Ronalda MacKenzie" at Altandhu 41-2, Murdo McLean at Altandhu 41-9, and Chirsty McLean at Altandhu 41-8. Alasdair Fraser of Achiltibuie has done research on this family, and considers John's birth year listed above as sometime 1777-1781 suggests him to old to be a child of John and Rachel. However, further re-inforcing the supposition that John was one of the siblings is that young Hanna above corresponds with a 23 year old "Joanna" in the 1851 census at Altandhu 51-108 as neice of Christy.

Young Murdo above marries 28 December 1854 to Hughina MacLeod, who is listed in this census as a 7 year old daughter of Murdo MacLeod and Margaret Kerr at Polbain 41-3. Margaret Ward in N.Z. (CONTACT INFO), is descended from Murdo and Hughina, she says the couple had two children in Coigach, then emigrated in 1858 to N.Z., where they had six more. Hughina was born 8 February 1830 at Badenscallie, and died 21 July 1905 in N.Z., Murdo died there 28 December 1881.

Ann marries 25 June 1850 to Murdo MacKenzie, a Fisher at Reiff (he is in this census at Reiff 41-4). The two of them are in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-90. Young Rachel above is unmarried with Ann and her family at Altandhu 91-38.

Dun       McLean        35      Crofter & fisher
Jno.      McLean         5
Rodk.     McLean         3
Isabella  McLean           10
Catherine McLean           20   F.S.

This Household is on page 2 of Enumeration District 15, all are marked as born in County.

In this census Duncan is a Widower, by time of the 1851 census at Altandhu 51-97 he has remarried to Mary MacLeod, daughter of John MacLeod and Anne, Maiden Surname MacLeod, with four more young children.

The O.P.R. records the marriage 2 January, 1829 of Duncan McLean of Altandow to Catherine McKenzie from Reiff, no clue which Household there she comes from yet. The first female child of Duncan and his second wife (Mary) was named Catharine, probably to honour his first wife.

Duncan's death registration in 1875 "aged 72 years" shows his parents to have been Kenneth McLean and Isabella McLeod, the father Kenneth corresponds with "Coinneach Buidhe" a character in the story "An Gobha Leathanach / The Blacksmith MacLean SA1955/160/B3" told in 1955 by Murdo John McLean, a gt-grandson of Duncan's brother John. That Kenneth also corresponds with a son of a Duncan MacLean, noted in 1768 as apprenticed as a wright (see NAS E746/91/2/00001). Occupation of Kenneth from the death registration of his daughter Catherine is shown as "Carpenter", which corresponds with "wright". So, from a number of sources, children of Kenneth McLean ("Coinneach Buidhe") and Isabella MacLeod were;

• "Alasdair Mor McLean" a noted strong man of the community, "Alasdair Mor McLean", who lost his life in battle in India. Some of his exploits were described in 1955 by Murdo John McLean ("Rčiseamaid Iarla Chrombaidh / The Earl of Cromarty’s Regiment SA1955/160/A7"),
• Mairi, born 1792-6, died 1849, the Mary McLeod at Altandhu 41-18,
• Catherine, born about 1798, died 1866, wife of John McLean, at Altandhu 41-1,
• Duncan (above), born about 1806, died 1875, husband of Catherine McKenzie,
• John McLean born about 1811, died 1878, husband of Flora McBeth. In the next Household at Altandhu 41-6.

Isabella was christened 11 June, 1830, and John 11 August, 1834. There was also a christening of a daughter Rachel 24 March, 1833 to Duncan McLean at Altandhu.

In the 1851 census there is a 7 year old son John, so probably the 5 year old John above dies young.

The female servant Catherine above was likely a relative of Duncan, her parents and siblings are in this census at Altandhu 41-9. Cannot identify her in the 1851 and 1861 censuses, but in 1871 she is unmarried at Altandhu 71-50.

Jno.      McLean        30      Crofter & Fisher
Kenneth   McLean         3
Jas.      McLean         1
Flora     McLean           25

This Household is on page 2 of Enumeration District 15, all are marked as born in County.

This family is in the 1851 census at Altandhu 51-95, with Flora then marked as born at Farr, SutherlandShire.

John's death registration in 1878 "aged 71 years", lists his parents as "Kenneth McLean, wright and crofter", and "Belle", maiden surname MacLeod. Those names correspond with the names of the parents of Duncan McLean in the previous Household, Altandhu 41-5 shown in his own 1875 death registration as Kenneth McLean and Isabella McLeod. The father Kenneth corresponds with "Coinneach Buidhe" a character in the story "An Gobha Leathanach / The Blacksmith MacLean SA1955/160/B3" told in 1955 by Murdo John McLean, a gt-grandson of John. That Kenneth also corresponds with a son of a Duncan MacLean, noted as apprenticed in 1768 as a wright (see NAS E746/91/2/00001). Occupation of Kenneth from the death registration of his daughter Catherine (John's sister, at Altandhu 41-1) is shown as "Carpenter", which corresponds with "wright".

Two other children of Coinneach Buidhe from the 1955 stories were Mairi, the Mary McLeod at Altandhu 41-18, and a noted strong man of the community, "Alasdair Mor McLean", who lost his life in battle in India. So, from a number of sources, children of Kenneth McLean ("Coinneach Buidhe") and Isabella MacLeod were;

• "Alasdair Mor McLean" a noted strong man of the community, "Alasdair Mor McLean", who lost his life in battle in India. Some of his exploits were described in 1955 by Murdo John McLean ("Rčiseamaid Iarla Chrombaidh / The Earl of Cromarty’s Regiment SA1955/160/A7"),
• Mairi, born 1792-6, died 1849, the Mary McLeod at Altandhu 41-18,
• Catherine, born about 1798, died 1866, wife of John McLean, at Altandhu 41-1,
• Duncan, born about 1806, died 1875, husband of Catherine McKenzie. In the previous Household at Altandhu 41-5,
• John (above), born about 1811, died 1878, husband of Flora McBeth.

The IGI lists the christening 29 May, 1855 of a child to this family, Christina, who is in the 1861 census, giving Flora's maiden surname as "McBeath".

Mary      McLean           25   Crofter & Widow
Jno.      McLean         4
Rodk.     McLean         2
Doliena   McLeod           10   F.S.

This Household is on page 2 of Enumeration District 15, all are marked as born in County.

John and Roderick are orphans in the 1851 census with their Widowed grandfather Murdoch MacLeod and other relatives at Altandhu 51-107. That grandfather with other relatives is in this census at Culnacraig 41-3.

Mary's father Murdo MacLeod dies in 1855, and his death registration lists his children, including Mary. That registration says Mary died in 1842 aged 33.

Mary's husband was Kenneth MacLean, his family is in this census at Altandhu 41-17, his mother Margaret there dies in 1855 and her death registration says Kenneth was born 1810 and died 1844 (the year of death probably a mistranscription or an error as Mary above is marked as a Widow).

Likely Doliena, the 10 year old female servant above, was a sister or other relative of Mary.

Chirsty   McLean           35   Spinster

This Household is on page 2 of Enumeration District 15, Chirsty is marked as born in County.

Chirsty is listed as 56 years old in the 1851 census at Altandhu 51-108, and 64 year old in the 1861 census at Altandhu 61-19.

Chirsty's 1868 death registration shows her to have been a daughter of John McLean, miller, and Rachel McLean. The siblings identified so far were;

• John McLean at Altandhu 41-4. Through his son Murdo he is an ancestor of Margaret Ward in N.Z. (CONTACT INFO). My identification of him as a sibling is based on forename patterns and because in the 1851 census with Chirsty is a 23 year old neice Joanna, corresponding to the 10 year old daughter of John in this census, "Hanna". Alasdair Fraser of Achiltibuie has done research on this family, and considers John's birth year listed in this census as sometime 1777-1781 suggests him to old to be a child of John and Rachel.
• Murdo, born about 1787, died after the 1871 census, married 1818 to Anabile MacLean of Isle Tanera, they are in this census in the next Household at Altandhu 41-9.
• Chirsty above, born about 1790, died 1868 unmarried.
• Rachel "Ronalda MacKenzie" at Altandhu 41-2, born about 1803.

Murdo.    McLean        50      Crofter & Fisher
Kth.      McLean        20
Jno.      McLean        15
Dun       McLean        14
Murdo.    McLean        10
Dond.     McLean         5
Annabella McLean           40
Mary      McLean            8
Ann       McLean            5
                     -- page break --

This Household is on page 2 of Enumeration District 15, all are marked as born in County.

In the 1851 census this family is at Altandhu 51-100, with Murdo's occupation then listed as "Miller".

Murdo's death is registered 1877 at Old Dornie, age 94 years, a Widower, the registration says his parents had been John McLean and Rachel, Maiden Surname McLean.

The OPR records the marriage 25 March, 1818 of Murdo MacLean Aultandu to Anabile MacLean Tanary (clearly she was then resident on the Isle Tanera, though the 1851 census records she was born in the Parish of Lochs, on the Isle of Lewis). Annabella's death registration in 1873 at Altandhu notes her parents were Kenneth MacLean and Kitt, Maiden Surname Smith.

Also recorded are christenings of four of their children;

• Duncan, c.30 July 1826,
• Murdo, c.11 June 1830 (father listed as "Miller"),
• Donald and Ann, c.15 March 1835.

Duncan marries 1857 to Alexandrina Kerr, who is in this census at Reiff 41-11.

A daughter of this family, Catherine, is 20-24 year old female servant at Altandhu 41-5. Cannot identify her in 1851 and 1861 censuses, but in 1871 she is unmarried at Altandhu 71-50.

Murdo, who was a miller, was a son of John McLean, also a miller, and Rachel McLean. The siblings identified so far were;

• John McLean at Altandhu 41-4. Through his son Murdo he is an ancestor of Margaret Ward in N.Z. (CONTACT INFO). My identification of him as a sibling is based on forename patterns and because in the 1851 census with Chirsty is a 23 year old neice Joanna, corresponding to the 10 year old daughter of John in this census, "Hanna". Alasdair Fraser of Achiltibuie has done research on this family, and considers John's birth year listed in this census as sometime 1777-1781 suggests him to old to be a child of John and Rachel.
• Murdo above, born about 1787, died 1877 at Old Dornie.
• Chirsty McLean in the previous household, Altandhu 41-8, born about 1790, died 1868 unmarried.
• Rachel "Ronalda MacKenzie" at Altandhu 41-2, born about 1803.

Angus     Lamont        40      Schoolmaster
Mary      Lamont           12
Neil      Lamont         9
Hugh      Lamont         7
Grace     Lamont            4
Joseph    Lamont         1
Isabell   Graham           25   F.S.

This Household is on page 3 of Enumeration District 15, all are marked as not born in County.

By time of the 1851 census Angus Lamont has been replaced as Schoolmaster by John Macrae, see Altandhu 51-92.

Mary McFarlane (CONTACT INFO), is a descendant of Angus Lamont through his daughter Mary, the 12 year old above. Mary has done lots of research on the family, and has provided much of the info that follows!

The marriage of Angus Lamont, Schoolteacher, to Margaret Cameron was registered 16 October 1824 at Kildalton Argyll. Angus had been born about 1801 on the Isle of Mull, to parents Neil Lamont and Flory McDonald.

There is a table stone at Badenscallie burial ground to Margaret Cameron, the wife of Angus Lamont, Teacher Altandow, saying she died 30 August 1840. Beside that stone is another for Mary Lamont, wife of Hugh MacFarlane of Strathan Assynt, and Mary's twelve day old daughter, Mary Angus Lamont McFarlane. Deaths registered at Stoer in Assynt tell a sad story with the older Mary dieing 4 November 1864 aged 34, and the younger Mary dieing eight days later, 12 November 1864, aged 12 days.

Sometime before the 1851 census the Lamont family moves to Strathan south of Lochinver in the neighbouring Parish of Assynt, where Angus was Schoolteacher at the Free Church School at Strathan, at least from 1855 through the 1871 census. The school closed in 1879, though the building today is still in use as a residence.

While at Strathan Angus marries for a second time, 13 December 1859, to Ann McLennan (born about 1815), a spinster daughter of Donald McLennan and his wife Isabella McLeod. Angus's new father-in-law, Donald MacLennan, lived at a single house between Strathan and Lochinver called "Innisdhu".

Angus's daughter Mary, whose death in 1864 is mentionned above, married to Hugh McFarlane of Strathan. Hugh was a son of John McFarlane, and was born on the Isle of Iona.

Joseph Lamont, the one year old above, does some teaching under his father at Strathan, then becomes a Minister at Snizort on the Isle of Skye. 13 July 1873 at Inverawe in Gairloch Parish Joseph marries 23 year old Christina McLennan (her parents were Murdoch McLennan and Grace McDonald).

The OPR records the marriage 17 November 1845 of Murdoch Graham of Polglass to Isabella Graham of Altandoo. Murdoch is in this census at Achiltibuie 41-6 with his first wife, Catherine McLean, and children. All Polglass Households in 1841 were enumerated as part of Achiltibuie.

Isabella dies between marrying in 1845 and the 1851 census, when Murdoch is a Widower at Polglass 51-49, and a daughter of Murdoch and his first wife, Catherine, is at Polglass 51-45.

Alexr.    McLean        50      Fisher & Crofter
Wm.       McLean        15
Alex      McLean        10
Kth.      McLean         7
Ann       McLean           50
Mary      McLean            5

This Household is on page 3 of Enumeration District 15, all are marked as born in County.

In the 1851 census this family is at Altandhu 51-106.

The Parish Register records the marriage 8 January, 1817 of Alexander MacLean of Aultandu to Ann MacKenzie, Isle Ruistail, (usually spelt "Ristol". Also in the Register is the christening 17 November, 1819 of William to father Alexander.

Young Alex dies unmarried 29 January, 1858 at Altandhu aged 33 (Informant was his brother William), and Ann dies 13 October, 1878 aged 95, her parents listed as Alexander McKenzie and Mary Ross, with her son Kenneth as Informant.

Murdo.    McLean        60      Fisher & Crofter
Murdo.    McLean        20
Kth.      McLean        20
Rodk.     McLean        15
Isabella  McLean           55
Isabella  McLean           25

This Household is on page 3 of Enumeration District 15, all are marked as born in County.

Isabella's maiden surname was McLeod.

A son of Murdo and Isabella, Malcolm, was christened 23 December 1822, and marries 2 August 1859 to Ann MacLeod, possibly a daughter of the John MacLeod and Isabella MacLean who are in this census at Reiff 41-13.

Kenneth was christened 18 August 1819, and marries 30 June 1843 to Mary MacLennan from Reiff, daughter of the smith there, John MacLennan, and of Isabella MacKenzie, one of the large MacKenzie family there, see Reiff 41-19. Kenneth was a fisherman, and drowns off Reiff 3 March 1857 aged 36, shortly before the birth of the second of his sons named Kenneth. Kenneth and Mary with two children are in the 1851 census at Altandhu 51-102.

The younger Isabella marries 3 July 1851 as a second wife to Alexander McLean who is in this census at Altandhu 41-14. Alexander and Isabella (and of course Isabella's parents above), are ancestors of Simon Gunn in Scotland (CONTACT INFO).

Catherine McLeod           45   Crofter & Widow
Alex      McLeod        20         Do   & Fisher
Dond.     McLeod        15
Murdo.    McLeod        15
Kth.      McLeod        14
Angus     McLeod        10
                     -- page break --

This Household is on page 3 of Enumeration District 15, all are marked as born in County.

Catherine with a son and nephew is in the 1851 census at Altandhu 51-94.

Catherine was maiden surnamed MacLean, the Parish Register records the marriage 20 January 1818 of "Roderick MacLeod Aultandu to Catherine MacLean there".

The OPR records the christenings of three children to Roderick McLeod at Altandhu;

• Alexander, c.16 January 1819,
• Kenneth, c.18 February 1827,
• Angus, c.9 August 1829.

Catherine's parents, John MacLean and Margaret MacKenzie, are in this census at Altandhu 41-17. Her mother Margaret was one of the Reiff MacKenzie family and her children are mentioned in her 1855 death registration, saying Catherine was born 1792, and married to John MacLeod.

Alex      McLean        35      Tenant
Mary      McLean           25
Chirsty   McLean            6
Rachel    McLean            3
Dond.     McLean         6? months
Margaret  McLean           50?  ?.S.
Kth.      McKenzie      15      M.S.

This Household is on page 4 of Enumeration District 15, all are marked as born in County.

In the 1851 census this family is at Altandhu 51-110, Alexander is Widowed by then.

Alexander's death is registered 1876 at Altandhu, the Registration says his parents had been Donald MacLean, Carpenter, and Chirsty, Maiden Surnamed MacLean. The 1798 Militia List includes a "Donald Maclean, Wright" at Altandhu.

Mary was christened 11 June 1815 as a daughter a daughter of John MacKenzie of Altandow. Her father and other relatives are in this census at Altandhu 41-3, Donald MacKenzie at Altandhu 41-2 and probably young Kenneth above are brothers of hers.

Alex remarries shortly after the 1851 census, 3 July 1851, to Isabella McLean, who is in this census at Altandhu 41-12. Alex and Isabella are ancestors of Simon Gunn in Scotland; CONTACT INFO.

Alexander has two sisters in this census; Catherine McKenzie at Reiff 41-4 has death registration noting her parents had been Donald McLean, Boat Carpenter, and Christina, Maiden Surname McLean. Annabella McLeod at Reiff 41-15 has parents noted as having been Donald McLean, Carpenter, and Chirsty, Maiden Surname McLean.

John      McLean        60      Fisher & Crofter
Jno.      McLean        35         "        "
Murdo.    McLean        30         "        "
Kth.      McLean        25
Alex      McLean        25
Ann       McLean           65
Chirsty   McLean           20 ?
Margaret  McRae            15

This Household is on page 4 of Enumeration District 15, all are marked as born in County.

By time of the 1851 census this family is at Altandhu 51-99.

Murdo through his mother Ann, and Catherine through her mother Isabella, were first cousins of each other, grandchildren of Murdoch McKenzie and Mary McLean of Reiff, over 1,300 descendants of that couple have been traced by various genealogists!

Ann was a daughter of Murdoch McKenzie and Mary McLean of Reiff, and has many relatives in this census there; Hector at Reiff 41-4, Roderick at Faochag 41-22, Murdo at Reiff 41-8 and John at Reiff 41-20 are her brothers, Isabella, wife of John McLenan at Reiff 41-19 is a sister. As well as those siblings at Reiff, Ann has a sister Margaret two Households away at Altandhu 41-17, Margaret is also married to a John bMcLean!

The Parish Register records the marriage 24 December 1846 of John McLean to Ann McLean, not certain yet which McLean family Ann was part of. In the 1851 census John and Ann with two children are at Altandhu 51-105.

The Parish Register records the marriage 9 January 1850 of Kenneth McLean of Altandubh to Christian Stewart resident of Polglass, a daughter of Duncan Stewart of Polglass. Chirsty is in this census with her family at Achiltibuie 41-12 (all the Polglass familys were enumerated as part of Achiltibuie in 1841).

Young Murdo marries shortly after this census to a Catherine MacLean, it is not yet determined which family she was from.

Young Alexander marries in 1854 to Flora McKenzie, not certain, but I think she is the "Flory" in this census at Altandhu 41-2.

There is a death registered in 1862 of a John McLean aged 88 years at Altandhu, with parents noted as John McLean and Ann Graham, widower of Ann McLean. That is most likely this John, though the wife's surname disagrees with other data that suggests Ann above was a McKenzie. Requires more research.

Catherine McKenzie         80   Crofter & Widow

This Household is on page 4 of Enumeration District 15, Catherine is marked as born in County.

No sign of Catherine in later censuses, likely she died before 1851.

Elderly Widows usually lived in a small cottage on the croft of a child or sibling, the husbands in both the previous Household, Altandhu 41-15, and the next one, Altandhu 41-17, are MacLeans, and the wifes are both daughters of Murdo McKenzie and Mary McLean of Reiff.

Jno.      McLean        80      Fisher & Crofter
Murdo.    McLean        35         "        "
Kth.      McLean        30         "        "
Margt.    McLean           60      "        "
Ann       McLean           25
Henny     McLenan          60

This Household is on page 4 of Enumeration District 15, all are marked as born in County.

By time of the 1851 census Margaret is Widowed, living with her son Murdoch's family at Altandhu 51-98. In that census Murdoch is married to Christina MacLeod, with children including a 16 year old son Kenneth, cannot see Christina and Kenneth in this census.

Margaret was a daughter of Murdoch McKenzie and Mary McLean of Reiff, and has many relatives in this census there; Hector at Reiff 41-4, Roderick at Faochag 41-22, Murdo at Reiff 41-8 and John at Reiff 41-20 are her brothers, Isabella, wife of John McLenan at Reiff 41-19 is a sister. As well as those siblings at Reiff, Margaret has a sister Ann two Households away at Altandhu 41-15, Ann is also married to a John McLean!

Margaret's death registered 1 July 1855 as well as listing her parents lists her eight children;

1. Isabella b.1786, d.1789.
2. Christina b.1788, d.1789.
3. Catherine b.1792, m. to John MacLeod, see Altandhu 41-13.
4. Ann b.1794, still unmarried by 1861.
5. Margaret "Peggy" b.1796, m.11 July 1828 to John MacLeod of Badenscallie, see Badenscallie 41-18.
6. Murdo b.1805, cannot see him in this census, but in 1851 is with his wife, six children, sister Ann, and Widowed mother, at Altandhu 51-98.
7. Isabella b.1807.
8. Kenneth b.1810, d.1844.

I think the death date of "1844" for Margaret's son Kenneth was either mistranscribed or is in error, and his Widow Mary with two of their children is in this census at Altandhu 41-7, one of those children, John, is with two of Margaret's daughters as "Nephew" in the 1861 census at Altandhu 61-20.

Jno.      McLeod        20      Fisher & Crofter
Murdo.    McLeod        20         "        "
Alexr.    McLeod        10         "        "

                     -- page break --

Rodk.     McLeod         5      Fisher & Crofter
Mary      McLeod           45
Ann       McLeod            5

This Household is on pages 4 and 5 of Enumeration District 15, all are marked as born in County.

In the 1851 census this family is at Altandhu 51-101.

Mary dies tragically in July 1849, see the file at ia31jul1849.htm

Mary was a daughter of Kenneth McLean, a "wright" and crofter, and Isabella "Belle", maiden surname MacLeod. Kenneth was known as "Coinneach Buidhe" a character in the story "An Gobha Leathanach / The Blacksmith MacLean SA1955/160/B3" told in 1955 by Murdo John McLean, a gt-grandson of Mary's brother John. That Kenneth also corresponds with a son of a Duncan noted in 1768 as apprenticed as a wright (see NAS E746/91/2/00001).

Occupation of Kenneth from the death registration of his daughter Catherine is shown as "Carpenter", which corresponds with "wright". So, from a number of sources, children of Kenneth McLean ("Coinneach Buidhe") and Isabella MacLeod were;

• "Alasdair Mor McLean" a noted strong man of the community, "Alasdair Mor McLean", who lost his life in battle in India. Some of his exploits were described in 1955 by Murdo John McLean ("Rčiseamaid Iarla Chrombaidh / The Earl of Cromarty’s Regiment SA1955/160/A7"),
• Mairi, born 1792-6, died 1849, the Mary McLeod above,
• Catherine, born about 1798, died 1866, wife of John McLean, at Altandhu 41-1,
• Duncan, born about 1806, died 1875, husband of Catherine McKenzie. At Altandhu 41-5,
• John, born about 1811, died 1878, husband of Flora McBeth, at Altandhu 41-6.

John marries 31 January, 1850 to Isabella Kerr, whose family is in this census at Reiff 41-11, though she is away as a servant at Achnahaird 41-11. The two of them are in the 1851 census at Ristol 51-1, with Isabella's sister Chirsty visiting. John and Isabella later settle at Faochag.

The OPR records the marriage 7 March, 1816 of Alexander MacLeod Aultandu to Mary MacLean there.

There were seven christenings at Altandhu with Alexander MacLeod listed as father;

• John, christened 4 July, 1817, (above),
• Murdoch, christened 17 November, 1819, (above),
• Alexander, christened 27 December, 1827, (above),
• Flory and Mary, christened 28 December, 1828,
• Roderick, christened 17 October, 1830, (either above, or died young and Roderick above named in his honour),
• Ann, christened 10 August, 1834, (above).

Murdo was an ancestor of Dr.Neil MacLeod in California (CONTACT INFO).

This file, and others dealing with history and genealogy of Coigach, links from my homepage at: http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~coigach Any suggestions for additions or edits please feel free to email me, Donald MacDonald-Ross, at:

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