Caithness, Scotland..Sutherlands??

[DianneZ]

My g.grandmother Christina Sutherland was born 16 Nov. 1838. Dunbeath, Caithness (from family bible & death cert) died. 1912 in New Zealand.
Her death cert states her father was William Sutherland. Also stated on death cert is her mother...Christina Sutherland formerly Sutherland but have my doubts about her.

Her first son was William Sutherland McLauchlan born 1869 NZ died 2mths later.
Daughter: Catherine McLauchlan born July 1871
Son: John McLauchlan born July 1873
Son: William Archibald Cook McLauchlan born June 1876.

A witness at her wedding June 1868 to William McLauchlan, in the house of Mr Sutherland, South Town Belt, Christchurch, was James Sutherland, farmer, Selwyn.

ITM notice states Christina had lived at that address for 3 months. Domestic.
William had lived Springs Rd. Lincoln NZ for 7yrs. FARMER.

Any help would be marvellous.
Dianne

 

[juliejtp]

Hi Dianne,

Looked on the 1841 census but couldnt find a Christina with both parents of that name. The only Christina on the 1851 born Dunbeath was born in 1822 and I found a William and Christina Sutherland on the 1851 census Thurso but no daughter Christina with them.

I see your looking for Shearer my husbands mother was a Shearer from Thurso
and I think there are Sutherlands in the family as well, but we have no history on them.

Julie

 

[DianneZ]

Julie...thankyou...you are a gem, doing all these lookups for me.

Once again could you possibly look up siblings in 1851 census in Thurso.
I have come across a Catherine, James, James William & Archibald Cook Sutherland who I feel are related to her.

My Shearers came from Stronsay, Orkney Islands...have quite a bit on them if I can you in any way.
Many thanks,
Di

 

[juliejtp]

Hi Di,

Had another look at the William and Christina on the 1851 census they do have a daughter Christina with them but she was born Thurso year of birth 1845 a bit out from your Christina.

Still looking, as bit busy today.

Julie

 

[DianneZ]

Thanks Julie for all you are doing. No hurry.
regards,
Di

 

[juliejtp]

Hi Diane,

Cannot find a Christina Sutherland with a William and Christina but found this one for 1841:-

Civil parish Latheron County Caithness address Shinvall

Catherine age 3 mths
Alexander Sutherland age 7
Donald Sutherland age 13
Christina Sutherland age 2
Janet Sutherland age 35
John Sutherland age 5
Margaret Sutherland age 11
William Sutherland age 40

There are some Christina Sutherlands born near that year, but on the 1861 census there is a Christina Sutherland born abt 1839 Dunball (cant find a Dunball in Caithness perhaps it should be Dunbeath. She is a domestic servant at address Mowatts Lane in the civil parish of Wick, county Caithness.

 

[DianneZ]

Hi Diane,

Cannot find a Christina Sutherland with a William and Christina but found this one for 1841:-

Civil parish Latheron County Caithness address Shinvall

Catherine age 3 mths
Alexander Sutherland age 7
Donald Sutherland age 13
Christina Sutherland age 2
Janet Sutherland age 35
John Sutherland age 5
Margaret Sutherland age 11
William Sutherland age 40

There are some Christina Sutherlands born near that year, but on the 1861 census there is a Christina Sutherland born abt 1839 Dunball (cant find a Dunball in Caithness perhaps it should be Dunbeath. She is a domestic servant at address Mowatts Lane in the civil parish of Wick, county Caithness.

Thankyou Julia,

The Christina Sutherland in the 1861 census born abt 1839 Dunball, I also feel should be Dunbeath ,certainly sounds like my Christina. Could you tell me who else was at the address in Mowatts Lane. Was it a private home do you think.

Also were you able to find William & Janet Sutherland & family in 1851 or/and 1871 census. If they're not in 1871 might mean they all came to New Zealand
as Christina came in 1867.
Great news, Julia,
regards, Di

 

[juliejtp]

Dianne,

The family on the 1861 census with Christina are:-

Alexander Bain son age 39 occ fish curer
Elizabeth Bain dau age 11
James Bain son age 22 fish curer
Jane Bain age 32 dau merchantess shop keeper
William Bain head age 76 house prorrieton (thinks it should be proprietor)

There are 18 William Sutherlands on the 1851 census with wife called Janet.
Will whittle down to what I think could be the right ones.

Julie

 

[juliejtp]

Found this family 1861

civil parish Latheron, address Shinvall

Christina Sutherland age 22 born P Latheron
Alexander Sutherland age 25 "
Donald Sutherland age 34 "
Janet Sutherland age 58 "
Jessie age 4 visitor "
William Sutherland age 61 farmer "

This looks like the family from the 1841 census.

 

[DianneZ]

Julie,

Many thanks.
Would they have her twice in 1861 census's, one where she worked & the other where she lived ..that's if Shinvall is close to Wick. Both sound like her.

Your find in 1861 does seem to be the same family as 1841

A James Sutherland was a witness at Christina's wedding.

Christina & John McL also cared for an Archibald Cook Sutherland & his wife Barbara Munro's son when both his parents died aged 40yrs in NZ & also called their last son William Archibald Cook McLauchlan.

Archibald Cook Sutherland's father was William Sutherland & wife Janet nee Sinclair both from Caithness. I have a death cert. from a Catherine Sutherland (one of their daughters)who died 1909 a spinster with one male child.

Just feel there is some connection with these families.

Why would Christina's son inform them on her death cert her mother was Christina Sutherland formerly Sutherland. Possibly she kept who her real mother was from the family!! She called her only daughter Catherine.

Hope we can sort it out...feel we are getting closer don't you.

Thanks for perservering Julie.
warm regards,
Di

 

[juliejtp]

Hi Dianne,

Some people have been known to appear on the census more than once perhaps they thought they would have a bit of fun with the enumerator.

Still having a look at your Sutherlands only wished they had more imagination with the 1st names. Hubbys side are Alexanders, Donalds, Christinas. thats just his aunts and uncles to start.

Julie

 

[juliejtp]

Found this birth/ baptism for a Christina Sutherland - father William Sutherland mother Janet Bruce district Watten. 2-5-1839.

This one seems to match the Christina on the 1841/61 census.

 

[DianneZ]

Hi Julia,

Does that mean we put the Christina in the William & Janet Sutherland (nee Bruce) family 1841 & 1861 census aside in the meantime.

To me,ever since I have been looking for Christina I have found none with her birthdate with a William Sutherland for father & Christina Sutherland for mother, even when both those Sutherland names are so frequently used.

I still feel it was her working as a domestic servant employed by the Bain family, (1861 census) right age & correct place of birth, Dunkeld.
Would I be able to obtain a birth cert for her stating her maiden name, date and Place of birth. On Origins, ages ago there was another Christina Sutherland born the same date , place & parents as my Christina but the other one died when she was quite a bit younger than my g.grandmother.
If only I could find the connection to her & Archibald Sutherland & his wife Barbara nee Munro for her to care for their son.
Soooo frustrating....wish I could be of more help to you with all you are doing for me Juile.
warm regards,
Di

 

[juliejtp]

Hi Dianne,

The bmd as on Scotlands people is from 1855 so it looks like its down to parish records :'( Will still have a look. One of my ancestors was born in Cromerty found his birth/christening on the LDS site as well on Scotlandspeople, his parents names are mentioned but trying to find their marriage is a right pain. I would put William and Janet to one side at the moment and try and sort out Christina.

 

[juliejtp]

Dianne,

Whether this has any significance or not, found a Archibald Cook Sutherland on the LDS site christened 23-5-1887 Roster Caithness, father Alexander Sutherland mother Elizabeth Bain, wonder if this is the same Elizabeth Bain age 11 on the 1861 census where Christina is working?

 

[DianneZ]

Julie,

Your last posting re Archibald Cook Sutherland & his father Alexander Sutherland marrying an Elizabeth Bain sounds promising. Wonder if Alexander's father was an Archibald Cook Sutherland too & just maybe, his mother was a Cook.
Thankyou for that Julie.
Di

 

[juliejtp]

Hi Dianne there are 3 Archibald Cook Sutherland's on the LDS site there could be more.

 

[DianneZ]

Julie you are delving so hard into everything to help me....can't thank you enough.
Belonging to Genesreunited I contacted another member with Archibald Cook Sutherland...she also had heaps of Sutherlands but not one connected to any of mine as far as I can see. Have access to her tree & have been back time & time again hoping for a breakthrough but no such luck so far.
Apparently there was a well known Minister, very well respected who preached in Caithness so some of the male bairns may have been named after him. Believe she also has a tree on Rootsweb.com. There is also a John Robb on the same site who has a William Sutherland who married a Christina Sutherland nee Sutherlansd but my Christina is not amongst their siblings altho'
there is a space for her if she was born 1838.
Desperation creeping in!!!:'(
I'll have another look on LDS.
There is a program on Chanel One TV in NZ at the moment called "Sensing Murder" which I'm fascinated with. Nearly always they have have a lady from Australia "Deb", who helps the police in Auzzie (unpaid) with unsolved murders over there. Am thinking I might even contact her ,altho' haven't even got a photo of Christina , altho have a photocopy of her husband William McLauchlan from the G. R. MacDonald Dictionary of Canterbury Biographies, Canterbury Museum, N.Z.

We've a beautiful new calf I've called "Anna" pronounced Arnah..think I should call her after you & the next one will "Arnah".

Take care, my wonderful, helpful ,friend
Di

 

[juliejtp]

Hi Dianne,

Did you get my email? I think Christina on the 1861 census is a possibilty more than the others. I did think about doing hubbys side from Scotland but I might leave it for a while even though I did have a little scout round on the census for his grandparents thinks I may have found them. One of his lot came over from Norway and were sheep stealers and assume they ended up as the Shearers.

Take care of your new born calf and I think Arnagh is a much prettier name than Julie.

 

[DianneZ]

Hi Julie,

No I didn't see your email....golly gosh..I wonder if I deleted it by mistake.
Would you mind very much resending it. So sorryto be such a pain.

Didn't any of your hubbies Shearers come from Orkney...would so love to be able to help you, as I go back to Peter Shearer born 15 March 1766 Stronsay, Orkney whose father was Peter Shearer b. abt 1735 Stronsay, Orkney & his mother Jean Sinclair born 1 July 1739 Evie & Rendall, Orkney. Where they orignally came from wouldn't have a clue.

Apparently from DNA tests there were our Shearers & 11 others unrelated Shearers (or variant Sherar/Sherer etc. spellings.) Apparently so far they have proved there are at least 2 unrelated Shearer lines in Orkney, Caithness & Shetland. Also further tests can indicate older Shearer ancestors who are likely to have been Norse, Pict or Scot in origin.

Have always loved Julie for a name... in fact my one & only gorgeous daughter-in-law is also a Julie.
Di
Arnah/Julie is full of beans & believe she thinks she is a race-horse now she's steadier on her legs...delightful to watch.