125305: A Letter from 1868

A Letter from 1868

Christina Macdonald (1787- 1883) (Gleanings, Kinloch Croft History states she was from Aline). In this letter written in Sept 1868 she sent family news to her unnamed sister. Christina was the wife of Murdo Nicolson (1787-1861) Murchadh Tharmoid, 47 Balallan. The letter is in italics with excerpts from (Gleanings, Kinloch Croft History).

My husband died since 7 years and I am light-sighted now, but I am able to move about as yet. I will give you my six children’s names and their conditions as follows.

1.Norman married Mary, daughter of John Smith and they settled at 26 Laxay.

Norman’s wife Mary died 4 ½ years ago and she left 3 of a family and one other that died. These are two daughters and a boy and Norman is married the second time.

Note: Norman went on to have 13 children in total and 4 of them died young.

2.  Mary married John Martin, 38 Balallan and settled at 48 Balallan.

Mary She got ten of a family. 9 are living but one is not. The eldest of Mary’s family is married to Uilleam MacLennan, my cousin and he only lived 3 years and left one boy with her. The next of Mary’s family a lad his name is John and he follows the fishing. The name of the next one is Malcolm and he is a boat builder. The youngest is 6 years of age. She is just aside one of my neighbourhood she has her lot.

3.Christina married Angus Morrison settled at 4 Laxay.

Christina is married to an Uigman a son of Morrison the cooper that was in Carnish Uig. She got 7 of a family, 6 are living, but one is not he died last spring of the measles aged 3 years. The rest are all with their parents still.

4.Isabella settled at 58 Balallan

Isabella married James Montgomery, son of James Montgomery that was here at Balallan when you left. She has 7 of a family and she is near us here itself.

5.Janet married Malcolm Martin of 38 Balallan settled at 12 Arivruaich.

Janet is married to Malcolm Martin, son of John Martin, a brother of Mary’s husband. She got 7 of a family, 6 are living, but another is not, that one died last spring a boy aged 13 died with measles, they are residing in Arivruaich.

6.John married Ann MacLean, 6 Enaclete Uig and settled on the croft at 47 Balallan.      

John and his wife from Uig have 9 children. The last two that John got he got twins and the one died being ¾ of a year with the measles. The measles was here last spring and he took these 3 from our children. 

Note: Gleanings lists John and Ann’s children as total of 15, so other 6 children since the letter in 1868. 7 of the 15 children died young.

Notes added by Magaidh Smith 2019.