Rannoch is in the Heart of the Highlands and is home to a number of clans eg. Cameron, Robertson, Stewart, Macgregor, Menzies, MacDonalds, MacDougalls. (Click here to view more clan information)
You can view photographs of the area if you click here
Other sources of information include :
Alec Cunningham's booklet, 'A history of Rannoch'which gives a general account of Rannoch's History and 'Tales of Rannoch' . If you would like either of these books please email Rannoch Net at rgp@rannoch.net
John and Jill Dawes have compiled a history of the West Tempar Estate which stretches back to 1306.
Ian La Terriere de Sales has information on the Dunalastair Estate.
Click
here for information on Fortingall
Jane Gow writes - (3/8/2005)
My name is Jane Gow and I live in Australia. I am researching my Campbell family.
My 3xgr grandfather
was Robert Campbell who married Jean Cameron and was a Taxsman of Finart. They
had 5 children. Peter born 1801 unknown where. James
1804 born Fortingall (2xgr grandfather) migrated to Australia. Ann born 1806
born Fortingall married Donald Stewart Dingwall, Angus born 1810 Blair Athol,
John born 1815 Blair Athol
I am looking for information of Robert who was the Taxman, Peter and Angus, as I have not been able to find anything of there lives. Have all information on John and Ann until their deaths and their family deaths. Also have all of James information after he arrived in Tasmania Australia.
Any help would be appreciated
Jane
Coffs Harbour NSW
When the MacDonalds of Dalchosnie
sold the Dunalister estate to the
Buntens, ( Whose daughter married De Sales La Terrier) there was
at that
time a certain Mrs. MacDonald who was the propriotrex of the MacDonald
Arms (now the Dunalister Hotel) in Kinloch Rannoch. As the story goes,
she lost her job and approached Alan Duncan Stewart, the Laird of
Innerhadden & Bunrannoch with the proposition
of either leasing or
managing the Bunrannoch Hotel. She had a daughter, Christina MacDonald
who married Alexander Douglas. (Their grave Stone is directly in front
of the door of the Old Church of Rannoch). Their daughter Isabella
Mecrae Douglas married Alexander Stewart of Innerhadden & Bunrannoch
in
c.1897, my grandfather. They lived for many years in Tacoma WA.
During those days they were frequently in touch with a certain John
Stewart MacDonald who left Scotland in 1880. On his way arround the Horn
the ship called in at Lima where he met a lady by the name of Beatrice
Barreto. It seems they were married on the 12th. February 1882 in Lima.
They then went on up to Tacoma where they had a son Stuart Macdonald
who
eventually became a successful contractor and highway builder. His
daughter, Beatrice (Bea) Allen has asked me if I know anything about
her
Scottish ancestors.
Stuart MacDonald was related to Iasabella Douglas through her
mother and
was known to have referred to her as "Auntie Bella".
After my grandfather died in 1917, Isabella and her children returned to
Rannoch.
Question: Who was the Old Mrs. Macdonald of the MacDonald Arms and could
she have been descended from the Mac Donalds of Dalchosnie.
If you can tie any of this together it would be much appreciated.
Alexander Stewart, sometime of Rannoch and Washington.
Sarah MacDonald writes from Surrey (3/3/99)
I am looking for McBeath/McBeth relations originating from the Blair Atholl area. Many of my ancestors were farmers and keepers on the Atholl Estate. My McBeaths were residing at Clachglas, Glen Tilt, in the mid 1700s, then at Ruidnacolleach (or Rienagolleach and other variations!) along Glen Girnaig from 1790, then my gg grandfather, John MacBeth, was at Middlebridge in 1851. Family names include Archibald, Finlay, Donald and John. My last McBeaths were residing at Glenfernate Lodge, Straloch, in 1891. They are John MacBeth (born c1833), his wife Isabella McLean (born 1830 in Dull) and their children (who were born in Methven, Kinclaven and Logiealmond). I would be most interested in hearing from anyone with McBeath or McBeth ancestors from Blair Atholl or nearby. Connected surnames include McGlashan, Stewart, McLean, MacDonald, Crichton, Cameron, Campbell, Keir, Robertson and Young.
Sarah MacDonald from Surrey has written to Rannoch Net asking for information concerning her ancestors. Can anyone help??:-
If you can provide
information email sjmacdonald@sjmacdonald.demon.co.uk
or Contact genealogy@rannoch.net
My gggg grandfather,
John MacDonald, and his wife, Catharine Campbell were married in Kinloch Rannoch
in 1781. John was a tenant at Drumchaoin (or Drumchewan) and Catharine at Drumchastle.
They had children James (my ggg grandfather) born 1782 Auchtibert, Rannoch,
Christan born 1785, Drumchoin, Rannoch, John born
1787 Drumchoin, Rannoch and Anne born 1790, Taynacuile
of Drumchoin, Rannoch.
James MacDonald was a sawyer. He married Margaret Dewar and they had 2 sons,
John b c1826 and Donald born c1828, both in Kinloch Rannoch.
He remarried a Mary Campbell and they had the following children; Duncan born
c1836 (my gg grandfather), James born c1838 and Isabella born c1845, all in
Kinloch Rannoch. James and Duncan left Kinloch
Rannoch to work on the Atholl Estates, Blair Atholl.
James was an Atholl Highlander and a hillman at Forest Lodge, Blair Atholl, as well as a respected member of the community.
The Dundee Courier and Advertiser featured a wonderful tribute to James, on
his death in 1928. Duncan farmed at Pittanice (Balaneasie) and then at Balantoul
(part of the Lude Estate). Duncan married a Christian Stewart (of Shinagag)
in 1858 at the Blair Athole Hotel. They had 2 sons, before Duncan left his family,
and set off for Canada. I only know that he left sometime between 1871 - 1881.
I met with James MacDonalds granddaughter whilst in Blair
Atholl and she told me of Duncans desertion. John MacDonald (c1826) farmed
at Home Farm, Blair Atholl and Donald (c1828) became
a school teacher in Kilmacolm, Strathclyde.
I am most eager to discover more about my forebears and the area that they lived.
I was lucky enough to be able to visit Perthshire this September, albeit for
one week. We stopped by Drumchastle, which now
looks as though it is just one house, but were unable to find Drumchoin (or
variation of). I'm not quite sure what these places would have been in the late
1700's. I guess that there would have been several houses there then. I have
read two most interesting books on the area by A
D Cunningham, which has shed some light, but would like to find out much
more!
I wonder how you could help me, or whether you could put me in touch with someone
that could?
Richard Reid writes from Edmonton :-
I live in Edmonton Alberta Canada. I am trying to trace my ancesters and have
gone back to the late 1700's in Ireland. I have run into a dead end there so
I started to look in Scotland. My father always told me that we come from the
Red-Robertsons and I have found that the only family that the Reid name is attached
to is the Robertsons of Strathloch. My Dad also told me that our family had
to flee Scotland for Ireland after Culloden because of our support of Bonny
Prince Charlie. This time line fits right into our appearance in Ireland. My
question is: Is there a genealogist who has done a lot of work on the Reid name?
I am hoping to find a link by working opposite to the norm because there are
no records that I can find that refer to the flight from Scotland. My Gx4 grandfather
was John Reid. He was married to a Margaret Bailie and died in 1761.
I have more info if you think you may be able to help. I can't help but think
that someone has done research into the Robertson of Straloch line in Scotland,
I just need to find that person and hope that they have a record of John Reid.
They must have been fairly well off, as his grandson Robert went on to own a
part of a linen mill in Ballygallum, Ireland.
I very much appreciate any help you could send my way.
I just visited your genealogy page and was interested. I don't know yet if I
have any ancestors there for sure, just a presumption.
I was wondering if you might be able to tell me some of the good genealogy references
I might check for the time period: before 1800. I already know about the Old
Parish Registers (OPR). But I was wondering if there are other similarly useful
books one might use to find the vital information about some of these old characters.
Thanks in advance for any help you might offer,
Ron Graham
N.Yarmouth, Maine
rgraham1@maine.rr.com
(Click here for further background details)
My ancestors Duncan Duff and Margaret McLaren were married at Tempar in 1771: Their children as follows Donald Duff b.1772 Janet 1774, Margaret McDuff 1776, Catherine McDuff 1779, and lastly my g-g-g-grandfather John McDuff or Duff born 1782. John Duff enlisted in the 71st HLI somewhere in the early 1800's. It is not known where he met and married his wife Jean Welsh from Clackmannanshire. John Duff fought in the Napoleonic Wars being discharged to a pension as a corporal after the Portuguese campaigns. John Duff had his leg "amputated at the thigh following an abcess". He returned to Rannoch and died in 1838 at Tempar. He is buried at Lassintullich.
There were three children in their family, John born c1810, Janet b 1813 and Duncan born at West Tempar 1820. John Duff became a stone mason and lived most of his life at Rannoch, marrying Christina Kippen of Aberfeldy. As far as is known neither of their children married, their daughter Jean was housekeeper at Lassintullich House. Meanwhile my g-g-grandfather Duncan Duff had gone to Falkirk, married Isabella Taylor and had five children. My g-grandmother Jane Duff married William Luke and emigrated to NZ in 1864.
Judith Stichbury
P O Box 262,
Manurewa NZ
The reply below was provided by Jill and John Dawes (Owners of the West Tempar Estate) - 2nd January 1999
John and Jill Dawes spent four years at Belmont, Lowen Hutt in NZ
TEMPAR was owned by the Stewart Family from 1306
until 1888 (by right of conquest then inheritance). When after two very poor
farming years it was sold - having been divided in 1797 into Easter and Wester
by the nephews of Niall Stewart (Killed Culloden 1740) as his son John (wounded
Culloden) had no heirs.
Easter Tempar
1771 in John's time the estates in Rannoch were confiscated and run by the Commissioners
for the Confiscated estates and gradually returned to their owners piecemeal.
The Commissioners used the moneys for schools and roads etc - leaving behind
them RATES. The land was too poor to support people and Rates so many people
emigrated.
Wester Tempar
1797 - Robert Stewart
John (dsp) + Janet married Archibald Macdonald of Dalchosnie
David MacDonald
Archibald MacDonald (also had Lassintulloch )
1888 Mr Grieg
1903 Henry Heath
Cochrane
Then five owners until bought by Jill Dawes in 1987
West Tempar (a butt and ben house) was built about
1700 or just before when a well was dug. Previously the "village"
was further south and up the hill near the burn and was all black houses which
are still visible. Other small cottages have disappeared. West
Tempar House (a hunting lodge, owned by John and Jill Dawes's daughter
Janet Mineyko and her husband Andrew) was built in 1905. The Laird's house has
always been West Tempar by the steading. The walls
are two to three feet thick and there are shutters inside on all windows.
Census Information
Census 1841
John Duff - unmarried
- 30 - agricultural labourer
Jean Duff - 45 - agricultural labourer
James Duff - 9
Census 1851
Fortingall (b. Fortingall means Rannoch as part of Parish)
West Tempar
Janet Duff - 19 - General servant (b. Fortingall)
East Tempar
Jean Duff - 55 - Head of Household (b. Clackmananshire)
Donald Duff - 59 - Steward (b. Fortingall)
Grace Duff - (wife) - 51 - Weaver (b. Dall)
Duncan Duff - (son) - 16 - Scholar (b.Fortingall)
James Duff - (son) - 7 - Scholar (b.Fortingall)
Census 1861
West Tempar
Ian Duff - 70
John Duff (son) - 31 - Mason
Christine Duff (daughter in law) - 28
John Duff (grandson) - 8 - Scholar
Maisie Duff - (granddaughter) - 1
Census 1871
West Tempar ?
Christine Duff - 41 - Mason's wife (b.Rannoch)
Jane Duff (daughter) - 11 - Scholar
Jane Duff (mother) - 80 - Former domestic servant (b.Alloa)
Census 1881
Lassintulloch
John Duff - 70 - Head of Household - Mason (b.Glasgow)
Christina Duff (wife) - 50 (b.Glasgow)
Jane Duff (daughter) - 20 - housmaid domestic (b.Rannoch)
Census 1891
Tempar Cottage
John Duff (unmarried) - 39 - Smith (b. Logierait)
John Duff - 80 - Head of Household - mason (b.Fortingall)
Christina Duff (wife) - 60 (b. Fortingall)
Jane Duff (unmarried) - 30 - Housekeeper (b.Fortingall)
Schools
1820 Bunrannoch
96 Scholars
Pupil - Parent - Occupation - Residence
John Duff - John Duff - Shoe Maker - West Tempar
Jean Duff - John Duff - Shoe Maker - West Tempar
Mary Duff - John Duff - Shoe Maker - West Tempar
1839 Bunrannoch
50 Scholars
James Duff - John Duff - Cottar - West Tempar
Don Fulton writes from Palmeston North in New Zealand
I would like to contact any people who may have connections with my ancestors from the Loch Tummel -Loch Rannoch area. In 1842, my G-G-grandfather Charles McDiarmid Fulton, emigrated to New Zealand from Scotland. Prior to this, he had been working as a shepherd or farm labourer for his grandfather, Charles McDiarmid, on a property called Bohally, on the western end of Loch Tummel. Charles was born in Dunan Rannoch on the 31st Oct.1874, and died in Killin on 25th Jan.1854.
He had inherited
Bohally through his mother Elizabeth, who was a
daughter of Charles Stewart of Bohally, who was
wounded at Culloden fighting with the Stewarts of Appin. Charles' wife Clementine
was the daughter of John Stewart, Laird of Kynachan.
If anyone has a link to any of these families, I would very much like to make
contact. Sincerely, Don Fulton.
Gregor McGregor was born at Auchmore Estate, in 1769 possibly the son of
Duncan McGregor and Janet McFarlin, with one sister Janet 1773 Auchmore.
Duncan and Janet m at Blair Atholl May of 1769,
Janet may be a da of
Christian Robertson, and Duncan McFarlin. Gregor came to Vermont in 1805, he
was a shepherd, then went to New York then to Elgin County Ontario. Would
anyone be researching this family with a Rob Roy connection??
Would anyone have the Information on a Mr McGregor who was a
School teacher
at Fortingall about the 1700-1800 era??? This Mr
McGregor had a very large
family.
Thanks Annie
astadden@execulink.com
I am seeking a family of DUFFs with Sons named SAMUEL DUFF.
Time period
would be from c. 1680 - 1760. Two Samuel's, father and son, Sr. and Samuel
II, were identified as rebels and fled Scotland to N. Ireland then to the
American Colonies in the 1740's. Samuel Henry Duff, Sr. married Elizabeth
STEWART, date unknown, but possibly in Scotland prior to 1746. Does anyone
still living in the area have connections to DUFF families? Are there any
genealogical records that show Duff families and sons named Samuel?
Thanks. I have extensive Duff data and will exchange data with other Duff
researchers.
Could you provide me with some information on
the Tempar Estate...etc. in regard to Duff families.
I have searched for
many years to determine where my grandparents, Samuel & Margaret Montgomery
DUFF and their related families were living when they immigrated to the
American Colonies.
Regards, Bonnie Duff-Smith, PO Box 254, Judson, TEXAS USA
75660
I am tracing my ancestor Edward Garth-transported to Australia in 1788.--Appears Garths originally from Perthshire, possibly decendant from John Maroita del Garth-earl or atholl a Stewart?--understand a Garth Castle about 6 miles from Aberfeldy-west.said to have belonged to Wolf of Badenoch?.A Nialle Gointe Stewart possibly responsible for Garth being added to list of family names?Also a yew tree at FORTINGALL Perthshire with an inscription---under its spreading branches is the burial ground of the Stewarts of Garth.any info would be much appreciated. regards Peter, Darwin. Australia.
I'm looking for information on Archibald Stewart and Ann
McNaughton.
Archibald STEWART, b. c1796, Rannoch, Perthshire,
m. Ann
McNaughton, b. c1797, Rannoch, Perthshire, d. 1849
aged 52 years.
Archie died 1833, aged 37 years. (This info from their tombstones in
Barney's River, Nova Scotia, Canada.)
The following children were said to be his:
Alexander, 1826
Donald R., 1827, Barney's River, NS
Archie, 1831
Cecelia, 1833
Allen
James
Isabel
Nancy
Christie
Betty
Peggy
Mary
Ann
This seems to me to be a large number of children for a man who died
at age 37.
I have found 2 possible marriages for Archie and Ann from the LDS:
16 Jan 1822, Fortingall, Perthshire (Ann McNaughtan)
or
26 Jan 1823, Logierait, Perthshire (Ann McNaughtine)
I would love to hear from anyone who might have information on Archie
and Ann.
Dawn Ellis
mellis@nbnet.nb.ca
Can anyone add to the information below?
James and Isabella Menzies, though natives of Dull,were
living in the
Tummel Bridge/Foss area by at least 1851.James
was a shepherd at Bohally
aged 50 Bell, his wife was 40 His family were; Chirsty aged 18 , Catherine
aged 13, Alexander aged 10, Duncan 6 and James 3
By 1861 James and Isabella were at Domnaheiche in Foss
working for a family
of McDonalds. At that time two of their children, Catherine and Duncan were
working at their uncle, Alexander Cameron's farm of Glassie, near Aberfeldy.
In 1862 Catherine was married at Domnaheiche to another Alex Cameron, who
had also worked on Glassie Farm, but was not a relation.
In 1868 James Menzies died at Darnacoil, Foss.
Catherine and Alexander settled in Aberfeldy, where
he worked as a road
surfaceman.
I can remember their daughter Eliza Cameron who had a very old fashioned,
gas lit sweet shop in Bank Street Aberfeldy.
That is all I have at the moment about those Menzies, but as all my
ancestors on all sides didn't seem to move far from the Parishes of Dull,
Fortingall, Kenmore
Killin and of course Aberfeldy I often concentrating
on one family when I come across another one!
kay@knockard.freeserve.co.uk
I am researching
Donald McTAVISH b c1770 Kenmore m 18/2/1792 in Killin
to Christian
MCDIAMID b c1770 Fortingall.
Their children christened in Killin.
Margaret christened 1/8/1793
Janet 3/5/1797
Katherine 18/6/1798
Patrick 17/5/1801
John 2/11/1802
There may have been other children between Margaret and Janet as there
seems to be a big gap (for the general one child every 2 years as normal
then) OR maybe Margaret was christened early in her life and the others not
until they were older.
Margaret married Hugh STEWART b 1798 Shauna Argyll Christened 18/11/1802 Appin
Marriage 12/12/1824 in Appin.
Margaret and Hugh STEWART came to Australia on the HEBER in 1839 and
settled in the Hunter Valley.
If anyone is researching any of these names particularly McTAVISH and
MCDIAMID I would be interested to hear from them as my research stops with
them at the moment.
Sue Brown
P.O. Box 7112
Lismore Heights 2480
NSW AUSTRALIA
Ph +61 (02) 66251812
Brenton Dickson writes
I am seeking the
identity and information on the wife of Charles Robertson of
Lude, born 11Jan 1757 in Blair Atholl, a younger
son of James Robertson and
Janet Gow. (Charles oldest brother, General William Robertson, succeeded his
father James, as proprietor of the Robertson estate at Lude in the late
1700's.) Charles was a member of the 82nd Regiment and received a land grant
in Pictou, Nova Scotia Canada ca 1785. His daughter, Margaret Robertson
(1790-1834) married Robert Patterson of Pictou (1786-1824).
Brenton Dickson
My Perthshire interests,
which are all in the parish of Killin.
My g.g.g. grandparents Peter CLARKE & Katharine McNAB emigrated to New
Zealand with their 2 sons & 7 daughters in 1864. Prior to this they
farmed near Loch Lomond, just south of Ardlui, Killin.
Peter CLARKE was born in 1814 at Ardchyle, near Killin.
His parents
were Archibald Clarke & Margaret DEWAR (married 1797, Killin).
Their
other children were Donald (b 1798), Janet (b 1802) and John (b 1807).
Margaret DEWAR was the daughter of John Dewar & Margaret McLAREN. Her
brother, Daniel Dewar (died 1867), rose above his humble background to
become theological professor at Marischal College, Aberdeen.
Katharine McNAB was born about 1816 at Tirarthur Farm, Loch Tay, Killin.
Her parents, John McNab & Katherine McLAREN, were married at Killin
in
1810. 2 other children, Janet and Margaret, were both christened in
1810. Family legend has it that the McNabs were related somehow to Rob
Roy McGregor - I don't know if this is fact or just a myth!
I'd love to hear from anyone else researching these people.
Alison 'Ali' Clarke
Dunedin, New Zealand
ali.clarke@xtra.co.nz
Looking for info. on John and Jannet ROBERTSON. They were from
Rainneach,
Perthshire. In 1801 left Scotland for Nova Scotia on the "Sarah".
Jannet's maiden name was ROBERTSON too her father was Colonel Donald
ROBERTSON. Thanks.
Bill White
bdwhite@ibm.net
I'm searching for the family or parents of Alexander STEWART
b.1747
d.1823 NY. m. Elizabeth (?) 1767 lived Blair Atholl
Perth. Some
children born Scotland Alexander b.1870, John, Charles b.1774, David
b.1784, James, Neal b.1780, William, Nancy. They came to Hadley NY.
in 1790 and had Daniel and Betsy.
Sincerely,
Valeria Nichols, MI.
Grizel McGregor b to Donald McG and Isobel DEOR, from DULL
(Deor means
custodian of the bell) and Dewar comes from this variation.
Elspet McGregor m to Robert DEOR 24 July 1716 DULL
Elizebeth McGregor m Charles DEWAR 28 Sept. 1788 ALYTH
Elizebeth McGregor m Alexander DEWAR 3 January 1789 Kenmore.
This from
Amelia Murray McGregor Clan History.
Thomas DEWAR to Caladonia New York about 1816, then to Elgin County Ontario,
from the Talbot Regime,by C.O.Ermatinger 1859.
Duncan McGregor m to Katherine DEWAR 16 Jan 1766 Fortingall.
Most of these are from the IGI and OPR.
astadden@execulink
Wishing to share with anyone researching the McGregor surname
from Auchleeks,
Blairfettes, or near by... my gr gr grandfather
was Grigor McGrigor born at
Achmore estate near Killin, in 1769 his sister
is Janet 1773, his parents
are Duncan McGregor and Janet McFarlin 1751ish from Blairfetty,
her father
might be Duncan McFarlin and her mother Christian Rotson or Robertson.....
Duncan parents might be Malcolm Dull or Grigor Strathfillan????? not sure.
Thanks Annie in Woodstock Ontario
Family lore tells us that the McCaul family emigrated from Scotland
to
Ontario, Canada (Clarence) sometime after James' birth in 1806 and before his
marriage in Canada in 1840. We are told that his father owned the sailing
vessel they came across on, but I doubt this to be true. I can't imagine why
he would own a sailing vessel, living inland in the highlands. The tale also
mentions that James served as the ship's doctor on the voyage, which would
suggest his age at the time of emigration to presumably be 16 or 17+ years.
James also had several siblings. At least one brother was also a doctor. The
names of James' siblings of which we are aware are: John, Alex, Margaret (m.
Alex Cameron), and Catherine. I have no other information on this generation.
I have obtained a copy of the OPR register of James' baptism which lists his
parents as "Collin McCaul and Catharine Cameron in Western Camgoran
on 8th
August", 1806. The family bible (which we believe was begun by James McCaul
at the time of his first marriage in 1840) records his birth as July 4, 1806.
I simply cannot find any information with regard to Collin McCaul and/or
Catharine Cameron (birth, marriage, etc). I also have located an OPR
registration for the marriage of Catharine McCaul and Angus Cameron on 20th
Dec., 1806. I believe Catharine to have likely been an aunt of James?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Hi I would like
to add the above names to your Rannoch Web Page.
McGregor/Grigor of West Toft Kinclaven John Griggor 1737-Alexander
McGregor 1764 (son) Alexander married Ann Stewart, daughter of Donald
Stewart and Margt.Speedie in 1794. They lived as tenants in both West
Toft and Loanhead of Taymount,Kinclaven.
bruce.moffatt@sympatico.ca