Replying to myself again, call it thinking aloud.
I don't now think Donald is the son of William, but that tree is still above if anyone thinks it is useful ( and it still has a small chance of being the correct Donald ).
I now think Donald Nicolson comes from -
David Nicolson b. abt 1726 m. 5 July 1751 Howe, Wick Mary Coghill b 1733 Catchery, Watten
son
John Nicolson b 1754 Howe, Wick d 1846 m 1751 Holland, Dunnet Elspet ( Betsy ) Gunn b 1760 d 1825
their children
David b 1780 Alterwall, Bower d 1842 Ha, Duncasbay m 1801 Bower Elizabeth Smith
Peter 1783 b 1783 Bower d 1 January 1845 Thurso m 1806 Bower Isobel ( Bell ) Angus
Elizabeth 1785
Janet 1789
Alexander 1791
John 1792
Donald b. 1794
James b 1798
1841 at Towerhil, Dunnet
Petter Nicholson 50 Farmer
Isabella 50 His Wife
John 30
Johan 20
Donald 20 he was b May 1821 to Peter Nicolson and Isabel Angus at Holland Farm, Dunnet
William 15
Jannet 15
Alexr 10
+
3 servants
Donald Nicolson married in 1843, and so is on 1851 census with his wife
Peter Nicolson died in 1845
1851 at Corsback, Dunnet - is this the same Isabel, remarried ? to her bro-in-law /
David Nicolson Head 68 Farmer (20 Acres) Dunnet
Isabella Wife 63 Farmer's Wife Dunnet
But, no, David and Isabella are together on the 1841 census
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Donald Nicholson ( Donald Nicolson of Hempriggs ( suggest this is a farm, not Hempriggs House ), about 2 miles S. of Wick )
married on 23/6/1843 in Wick Carolina Gordon ( Caroline Amelia Gordon )
The list of their children is
Williamina - 1843 Wick
Charles - 1845 Wick
Catherine Gordon Alexanderina Sutherland 1848 Latheron
William - 1850 Latheron
( Old Emily Gordon died 1852 )
Elizabeth - 1854 Latheron
Donald Gordon - 1857 Wick
Brodie - 1859/1860 Wick
John Gordon - 1861/1862 Thurso
Marcus - 1865 Thurso
Gordon Activus - 18671868 Reay
after marriage, in 1851, at Cairnroich, Latheron
Donald Nicolson Head 28 Labourer & Farmer Of 3 Acres b Bower
Caroline Wife 25 Latheron
Williamina Dau 5 Wick
Charles Son 4 Wick
Catharine Dau 2 Latheron
William Son 1 Latheron
along with
John Young Lodger 9 Pauper Child Latheron
Catharine Levach Servnt 12 House Servant Latheron
1851 - Halkirk
Charles Gordon 42 Agent On Trust Estate Latheron
Esther Wife 30 Wife Of Agent Tongue
Agnes Dau 10 Scholar Halkirk
John Son 8 Scholar Halkirk
Peter Son 3 Scholar At Home Halkirk
Alexander Son 1 Halkirk
and one servant
1851 - leaving at Swiney
Mrs Gordon 82
William grandson 5
along with a house-full of servants [some of whom may be related ]
and nearby, some of the same surnames crop up.
Daniel Nicolson b 1855 Wick d 1855 Wick
Daniel Nicolson b 1859 Wick
( as a side-track, when old Mrs Gordon died she left everything to be shared amongst her son Charles' children )
1861 census at Halkirk
Donald Nicolson Head 39 Agricultural Labourer
Caroline Wife 35
Cathrine G A S Dau 13 Scholar
William G Son 11 Scholar
George G Son 8 Scholar
Elisabeth G Dau 6 Scholar
Daniel G Son 4 - Wick
Brodie G Son 1
1861 Church Street, Halkirk as "Gardon"
Charles Head 52 b Latheron Farmer Out Of Farm
Hester Wife 40 b Tongue
William W Son 15 Scholar Latheron
Peter Son 13 Scholar - Halkirk
Alexr R Son 11 Scholar - Halkirk
Charles So n 7 Scholar Halkirk
James Son 4 Halkirk
Agnes C A Dau 3 Halkirk
Mary E F Dau 1 Halkirk
Helen Dau 2m Halkirk
Charles b 1810, mother Robertson, died Halkirk 1865
1871 [ Esther is still in Halkirk, note one son is another George S. ]
William W Gordon Head 24 Merchant's Clerk Latheron
Esther Mother 49 Farmer's W. Tongue
Charles Brothr 18 Post Messenger Halkirk
James Brothr 16 Scholar Halkirk
Agnes C A Sister 13 Scholar Halkirk
Mary Sister 11 Scholar Halkirk
George S Brothr 7 Scholar Halkirk
1871 at Waterloo farm, Wick
Donald Nicolson Head 48 Farm Grieve
Caroline Wife 49
Charles Son 24 Farm Servant
William Son 20 Farm Servant
Elizabeth Dau 15 General Servant
Daniel Son 13 Scholar
Brodie Son 11 Scholar
John Son 9 Scholar
Marcus Son 5 Scholar
Gordon Son 3
1881 census at Todholes, Bower
Donald Nicolson Head 60 Farmr 60 Acres 1 Man 2 Girl
Carilone E Wife 53 -
Elisabeth Dau 22 Farm Servant
Donald Son 20 Farm Labourer
Brodie Son 18 Farm Labourer
Marcus Son 15 Farm Servant
Gordon Son 13 Scholar
Donald, farmer, married to Caroline Amelia Gordon, died in 1904, aged 82 at Girnigoe Manse, Wick
son of ------Nicolson and -----Nicolson ( m.s. Banks ) [ = b app 1822 ]
Caroline Amelia Nicolson, widow of Donald Nicolson, farmer, died 1914, aged 89, at Georgemas,
dau of George Sinclair Gordon, landed proprietor and Catherine Gordon ( Nicol ) [ = b app 1825 ]
[ This would make G.S.G. ths same generation as the children of John and Amelia, and probably a child of John and Amelia]
Informant of both was their son Marcus
================================================== ==============
Bitties, and red herrings
From
http://forum.caithness.org/archive/i...p/t-76692.html
" Catherine Nicol, born c 1803 married my GGG grandfather, George Sinclair Gordon who was the son of Lt John Gordon proprieter of Reisgil, Swiney and Munsary estates which lie between Lybster and Latheron. "
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
from
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-...%5F1&id=I23825
John Gordon b 1755 married 1803 Emelia Robertson b 1770
children include
George Sinclair Gordon b 1805
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Another Red herring -** 1911 Census, Borrowston, Thrumster, Wick
Nicolson Donald, Head 54. Farmer. b. Wick ( Donald G Nicolson b:1857 in Wick )
Nicolson Margaret A., Wife 55. b. Wick ( Margaret Ann Donaldson Malcolm b: 1855
Included in their 6 children is another Marcus, b 1897, Reay ]
