Researching Henderson Family, 1800s - Latheron, Caithness

[Bruce_H]

Hello and thank you very much for letting me join this forum. A quick introduction if you don't mind.

My name is Bruce Henderson, I live in San Diego, California - United States. My father immigrated to the US from Scotland in the 1950's, and I have recently taken to un-earth more of my ancestry.

I have traced things back to a Mr. Donald Henderson was born in 1809 in Latheron, Caithness and at some point on or before 1841 married Ann Cunningham. Census records show he was a Shoemaker and lived at Ramscraigs. He had 3 children, Adam born 1842, James born 1847 and Alexander born 1854.

Adam was my Great-Grandfather, but I have almost no additional information on James or Alexander. Even the IGI records are somewhat confused on this matter. I would dearly appreciate any information on marriage date for Donald and Anne, or dates that they died, their parents, or any information on James or Alexander.

Thank you very much in advance, this seems like a very nice online community.

Bruce Henderson
San Diego, CA

[Bruce_H]

I was actually eventually able to dig out a bit of information that helped me narrow down Donald Henderson, but it seems that the public records of Caithness get very thin and weedy before 1780 or so, and finding any records of relatives in the Latheron region is getting much tougher. scotlandspeople.gov.uk and the IGI site seem to have very hit-or-miss coverage.

From your learned experience, is there a lack of records to be had, or just incorect searching on my part?

Thanks for any and all info

Bruce Henderson

[Tricia]

from Caithness micro fiche:
Donald Henderson married Ann Cunningham:
22 FEB 1839 Latheron, Caithness, Scotland
Batch Number: A170747

I think you have them in 1841 census at Ramscraig.

1851 - this could be them: says all born BERRIDALE
Piece: SCT1851/38 Place: Latheron -Caithness Enumeration District: 17
Civil Parish: Latheron Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: Berriedale
Folio: 0 Page: 20 Schedule: 86
Address: Clashcain
Surname First name(s) Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
HENDERSON Donald Head M M 43 Shoemaker Employing 1 Man Caithness - Berriedale
HENDERSON Anne Wife M F 35 - Caithness - Berriedale
HENDERSON Adam Son - M 9 Scholar Caithness - Berriedale
HENDERSON James Son - M 4 Scholar Caithness - Berriedale


1861 in Ramscraig: Says born Dunbeath.
HENDERSON Donald Head M M 54 ShoemakerCAI Dunbeath
HENDERSON Ann Wife M F 48 Do Wife CAI Dunbeath
HENDERSON James Son O M 14 Scholar CAI Dunbeath
HENDERSON Alexr. Son O M 7 Scholar CAI Dunbeath
1871 the four above
/1881/1891 Donald & Ann in Ramscraig.

1861 Adam in Wick as a boarder - aged 18 a student born Dunbeath -1871 1881 poss Adam in South of Country.

Alex may also be in Lanarkshire 1881 1891 but a few Alex b Latheron Parish

You should be able to find Deaths of Donald & Ann after 1891 - assuming they stayed in Scotland. On these certs would be their parents and the informant of death which was often a relation. I haven't looked for them in 1901 census yet.

A problem with your Ramscraig family is that around same several Hendersons with sons of same names ages - can send you list of all 1861 Henderson family in Ramscraig.

Not my family but happy to help
Tricia

[Tricia]

Adam Henderson
Born 13 DEC 1841 Baptised 22 DEC 1841 Latheron, Caithness, Scotland
To Donald Henderson and Anne Cunningham. IGI Batch C110384

Hendersons in Ramscraig 1861 census
RAMSCRAIG 1861 status sex Born app DOB
85
HENDERSON William Head M M 61 Mason CAI Dunbeath 1800
HENDERSON Catherine Wife M F 53 Do Wife CAI Berridale 1808
HENDERSON John Son U M 23 Labourer CAI Dunbeath 1838
HENDERSON Catherine Daur U F 19 Dom.Serv CAI Dunbeath 1842
HENDERSON Angus Son U M 16 O CAI Dunbeath 1845
HENDERSON Hughina Daur O F 14 Scholar CAI Dunbeath 1847
GUNN Catherine Grndaur O F 3 O CAI Dunbeath 1858
HENDERSON Alexr. Son O M 7 Scholar CAI Dunbeath 1854
86
HENDERSON James Head M M 27 Mason CAI Dunbeath 1834
HENDERSON Christina Wife M F 25 Do Wife CAI Dunbeath 1836
94
MACKAY Christina Head W F 71 Farmers Widow CAI Dunbeath 1790
MACKAY Janet Daur U F 31 O CAI Dunbeath 1830
HENDERSON Robert Sonlaw M M 23 Fisherman CAI Dunbeath 1838
HENDERSON Catherine Wife M F 25 Do Wife CAI Dunbeath 1836
99
HENDERSON John Head M M 42 Labourer CAI Dunbeath 1819
HENDERSON Henrietta Wife M F 31 Do Wife CAI Dunbeath 1830
HENDERSON James Son O M 8 Scholar CAI Dunbeath 1853
HENDERSON Alexr. Son O M 7 Scholar CAI Dunbeath 1854
HENDERSON Henrietta Daur O F 5 Scholar CAI Dunbeath 1856
HENDERSON Mary Daur O F 3 O CAI Dunbeath 1858
HENDERSON John Son O M 1 O CAI Dunbeath 1860
100
HENDERSON William Head M M 30 Labourer CAI Dunbeath 1831
HENDERSON Janet Wife M F 27 Do Wife CAI Dunbeath 1834
HENDERSON Catherine Daur O F 4 O CAI Dunbeath 1857
HENDERSON Henrietta Daur O F 2 O CAI Dunbeath 1859
HENDERSON Mary Daur O F 6m O CAI Dunbeath 1861
103
HENDERSON Angus Head M M 56 Fisherman CAI Dunbeath 1805
HENDERSON Johanna Wife M F 26 Do Wife CAI Dunbeath 1835
HENDERSON Mary Daur U F 32 Dom. Serv. CAI Dunbeath 1829
HENDERSON James Son U M 26 Fisherman CAI Dunbeath 1835
104
HENDERSON Mary Head W F 86 Crofters Widow CAI Berridale 1775
HENDERSON Robert Son U M 40 Shoemaker CAI Dunbeath 1821
105
HENDERSON Donald Head M M 54 Shoemaker CAI Dunbeath 1807
HENDERSON Ann Wife M F 48 Do Wife CAI Dunbeath 1813
HENDERSON James Son O M 14 Scholar CAI Dunbeath 1847
HENDERSON Alexr. Son O M 7 Scholar CAI Dunbeath 1854

[Tricia]

Mr. Donald Henderson was born in 1809 in Latheron, Caithness and at some point on or before 1841 married Ann Cunningham. Census records show he was a Shoemaker and lived at Ramscraigs. He had 3 children, Adam born 1842, James born 1847 and Alexander born 1854.

I have almost no additional information on James or Alexander. Even the IGI records are somewhat confused on this matter.

DEATH:
Burial in Berriedale Old Graveyard
"Don Henderson , Clachcairn, b 12.04.1807 d 13.9.1892, son Jas d25.5.1873 aged 27"

Hi Bruce
above most likely to be your family.
ScotlandsPeople should have certs for both deaths as they are after 1855.
Next plot to Donald is a stone erected by Donald in 1879 for his brother
"Robt Henderson, Clachcairn Dunbeath d 22.12.1878 aged 60"
Let me know how you get on.

Tricia
born a MORE in Wick

[Bruce_H]

Wow! Thank you very much for this fabulous pile of information.

I had run into problems with IGI and scotlandspeople with the enormous pile of like named Henderson all clustering in Ramscraigs as well.

Very valuable data, thanks.

Bruce