Emigration from Lairg

Emigrant lists drawn up by the Sutherland Estate management list emigrants from parishes in the east of Sutherland during a period of intense emigration. There are very few on these lists from Lairg. It should not be assumed that these lists provide a complete record of all emigrants from this part of Sutherland in this period. The lists are contained in the Sutherland Papers in the National Library of Scotland and appear by permission of the Countess of Sutherland. Adapted here from the original transcriptions by Malcolm Bangor-Jones. 

Some lists indicate that the people left for America but most went to Canada. As always I have shown all Mc and Mac names as Mac.

The following people left from Lairg parish – under surname each person is shown by Christian name, place of residence, tenant, servant, etc followed by number in party who left and when. 

BROWN 

Thomas, Auldibreak, servant, left in party of four in 1830

GUNN 

John, Balcharn, lived with his mother, left with his brother Thomas in 1831

Thomas, Balcharn, lived with his mother, left with his brother John in 1831

MACDONALD 

Murdo, Rheanbreck, left in 1831 in party of seven

MACKAY 

Donald, Auldebreak, servant, left in party of five in 1830

Donald, Rhimarscaig, grass keeper to Major Gilchrist, left in 1831 in party of eight

James, Tomich, left in party of four in 1831 – this is followed by remark “turned away for bad neighbourhood"

John, Savel, subtenant to Messrs Atkinson & Marshall, left in party of seven in 1831

MACLEOD 

Hugh, Milnclaren, lived in his brother’s house, left alone in 1831

James, Shiness, tailor, subtenant to Major Gilchrist, left in party of three in 1831

MATHESON 

Angus, Torroboll, labourer, lived in his father’s house, left in party of two in 1831

MUNRO 

Hugh, Savel, lodged with his mother, left in a party of three in 1831

MURRAY 

Hugh, Balnadielson, single, aged 30, left alone for the United States in 1844 aboard the vessel ‘Joseph Hutcheson’

William, Balnadielson, labourer, left alone in 1829

ROSS 

Dolina, age 20, single, travelling with sister Catherine, age 19, daughters of Widow John Ross, left 1844 for Canada from Glasgow

SUTHERLAND 

Mary, Upper Lairg, lived in her brother’s house, left alone in 1831

William, Tomich, labourer, left in party of two in 1830

updated 28/02/2016