Deaths/burials in Dunnet Parish

[Durran]

During my 36 years of researching my Caithness roots, I have recorded a lot of information in various forms. Some of you may be interested in the index to deaths/burials in Dunnet Parish that I have compiled. It has come from two sources.

The first is the OPR and from it I have 152 entries starting with Barbara Diren, a child, who died in Greenland 12 Sep 1751 and ending with Helen Bruce, of Ham, who died 15 May 1756.

The second is the receipt book from the Kirk Session Records which records 445 payments relating to the ringing of the bell (6d), the use of a shroud (1/6d) and a coffin at 3/- each. This starts in 7 July 1786, when the bell was rung for Jean Baillie, right through to 31 December 1846, when a coffin was made for James Brodie of Skarfskerry.

From this source I discovered that my 3xGreat Grandfather Donald Durran(d) was buried in Dunnet Churchyard on New Year's Day in 1829 as the family paid 6d for the bell to be rung. Where the family could not afford to erect a headstone, this is a very valuable source for family historians. If anyone thinks they might have a family member dying in Dunnet during the periods indicated, I am quite happy to look through the index for them.

Regards,

John

[Rosemary Skea]

Morning John. I would like to take up your kind offer and ask you to look for James Budge. He died between 1841 and 1851 I think.
Many thanks

Rosemary

[Durran]

Morning Rosemary,

I presume the James Budge you are interested in appeared in the 1841 census. If so, the James Budge, whose family paid for the bell to be rung and for a mort cloth, and was buried 12 January 1836, may not be the man you are looking for.

Other Budge burials recorded are as follows:-

Alexander (Brough) - 18 September 1752
Alexander [Coffin] - 14 August 1834
Alexander [Bell] - 4 September 1839
Child of Betty [Internment] - 10 July 1839
Isobel (Nether Greenland) - 26 October 1754
James (Wester) [Bell and Mort Cloth] - 23 February 1805

Regards,
John

[susan.leith]

Hi John

Thank you for your kind offer. I would be very interested in any Stewart, McLean or McRae entries. These are not common names in Caithness, so I'm
guessing you won't have too many references. The familes concerned were cleared from Assynt around 1820 and settled in Dunnet.

Susan

[Durran]

Hi Susan,

Of the three names you are interested in only McLean appears. Both were for the cost of the Bell and Mort Cloth, a total of 2/-.


1. Wife of Donald McLean - 3 September 1791. A bit early for you.
2. Murdoch McLean - 23 February 1837. That could be one of yours.

Unfortunately there are no ages noted on any of the records.

John

[Rosemary Skea]

Yes you are right. James was my gggrandfather and I was so hoping that you would have his burial details. Thank you for your reply.

Rosemary

[penali]

Hi John,

What a kind offer - hopefully you will be able to help me.

I am looking for some info on any Simpson records you may have come across in your research. Particulrarly a Walter and a George Simpson they lived at Sinnegoe/Brough.
I don't have any dates for George I believe him to be older than Walter. Walter's youngest child was born in 1805.
thanks and kind regards

[Durran]

Hi Penali,


You are in luck. There are 8 entries with the name Simpson and I am fairly confident that most of them relate to the family you are researching.

In date order, they are: -

16 Feb 1752 - John Simpson of Barrock
15 Dec 1753 - Elspeth Simpson (a child) of Sinnigoe
31 Jan 1795 - Walter Simpson [Bell & Mort Cloth]
7 Oct 1796 - James Simpson [Bell & Mort Cloth]
2 July 1803 - Margaret Simpson [Mortcloth]
14 Aug 1834 - Son of Walter Simpson [Bell & Mort Cloth]
31 Dec 1836 - Matthew Simpson [Funeral Expenses]
18 Sep 1837 - Matthew Simpson [Coffin]

Dates for Walter's death in 1795 could be a problem, unless his father (or uncle) was also called Walter.

Regards,

John

[penali]

Hi John,
HUGE thanks that was very helpful and thankyou for the prompt reply.

I have 11 Walter Simpsons so far so it's highly possible that a father or uncle had the same name
Kind regards

[Tricia]

Hi John
Looking for any MORE family.
Could be similar spelling MOAR MOIR MOOR MOORE etc
I don't imagine many.
Tricia

[Durran]

Hi Tricia,

Only two entries with the surname spelled as MOIR.

1. 15 May 1801 - William Moir [3/- for a Coffin]
2. 4 April 1837 - James Moir of Lochend [6d for the Bell to be rung + 1/6d for a Mort Cloth]

Hope they ring a bell.
John

[Tricia]

Hi Tricia,

Only two entries with the surname spelled as MOIR.

1. 15 May 1801 - William Moir [3/- for a Coffin]
2. 4 April 1837 - James Moir of Lochend [6d for the Bell to be rung + 1/6d for a Mort Cloth]

Hope they ring a bell.
John

Thanks John
They certainly "ring a Bell" ... it is most likely the my More/Moir family who were in Lochend as some stage
eg Baptisms
4 July 1783 George M to James MOAR Euphan SINCLAIR Lochend
11 June 1790 James M to James MOIR Euphemia SINCLAIR Lochend wit Robt Falconer and Donald McFerron witness

They were also at Greenland.

I need to dig further to find which William and James this would refer to.
Thanks again
Tricia
born a MORE in Wick.

[Kris]

Hi John
could you check for Dundas/Dundass/Dass please.
thank you
Kris

[Durran]

Hi Kris,

Eight entries for you.

Dundas:
Catherine - 1 July 1838 [3/- for Coffin]
George (of Wester) - 13 February 1807 [2/- for Bell and Mort Cloth]
George - 26 April 1837 [6d for Bell]
James - 31 January 1807 [2/- for Bell and Mort Cloth]
John (of Skarfskerry) - 29 December 1808 [2/- for Bell and Mort Cloth]
Margaret - 2 March 1794 [3/- for Coffin]

Dundass:
Elspet - 13 June 1815 [3/- for Coffin]
James - 20 March 1795 [6d for Bell]

Regards, John

[Kris]

Thanks for that John

Kris

[davelna]

Morning John. I would like to take up your kind offer and ask you to look for John Ross and his wife Margaret Sinclair. They lived in Dunnet earlt 1800`s.
Many thanks
David

[Durran]

Hi David,

Two entries for John Ross. None for his wife Margaret, either under her own name, or as wife of or widow of John Ross. The second entry sounds like your John.

John Ross - 31 January 1796 [2/- for Bell and Mort Cloth]
John Ross - 13 September 1830 [3/- for Coffin]

Regards,
John

[davelna]

Hi John,

Many thanks. The John Ross of 1830 seems to fit.

Regards

David

[Alastair Banks]

Hi John

I'd be interested if there were any entries for the surnames BANKS and DUNNET.

Cheers

Alastair

[Durran]

Hi Alastair,

Banks first.

Andrew - 17 Sep 1795 [3/- for Coffin]
Andrew - 27 Apr 1827 [2/- for Bell & Mort Cloth]
child of Andrew - 10 May 1835 [3/- for Coffin]
David - 5 Nov 1819 [2/- for Bell & Mort Cloth]
Donald - 12 Jan 1836 [2/- for Bell & Mort Cloth]
Elizabeth (of Lochend) - Nov 1753 [buried]
Isobel (of Westside) - 14 May 1756 [buried]
Jean (a child) - 28 Oct 1753 [buried]
John (of Holland) - 5 Jan 1752 [buried]
John (of Westside) - 25 Apr 1842 [3/- for Coffin]
Malcolm - 26 Jan 1820 [2/- for Bell & Mort Cloth]
Malcolm - 18 Aug 1834 [3/- for Coffin]
Wife of David - 20 Nov 1813 [2/- for Bell & Mort Cloth]
Wife of Malcolm - 20 Mar 1795 [2/- for Bell & Mort Cloth]
William - 11 Oct 1834 [6d for Bell]

Dunnet to follow.

Regards,

John