111528: Isabella Murray

Isabella Murray was the daughter of John Murray and Margaret Macdonald of Knockaird. The family were connected to the Murray Tacksmen in Ness and the Blacksmiths of Swainbost. 

Isabella married Alexander Maclean, of Old South Tolsta Tack, and the couple raised John Maclean: the son of her sister-in-law, Christina Maclean. The two couples were very close: not only did Christina marry Isabella’s brother, but the two couples got married on the same day.

Isabella and Alexander had one child of their own. The family lived in Old South Tolsta Tack.

In 1830, during the croft lottings, the family became cottars in Old South Tolsta.

They left Tolsta for Ness, sometime after 1832; John accompanied them to Ness where he was known as ‘ain Tholastaidh and An Dìleachdan (the orphan).