Alexander Mackay (1799 - 1866)

Born 30 Jul 1799 in Sartigrim, Durness, Sutherland, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Hughina (MacLeod) Mackay — married 20 Apr 1827 in Keoldale, Durness, Sutherland, Scotland, UK

Died 21 Jan 1866 at age 66 in Sangomore, Durness, Sutherland, Scotland, United Kingdom

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Biography of Alexander Mackay

Alexander Mackay is a member of Clan MacKay.

Birth

Alexander Mackay was baptised in Durness parish on 30 July 1799. He was the fifth child born to Hugh Mackay and Isobel Dingwall, residients of Sartigrim. ^[1]

Life

Hugh Mackay and Isobel Dingwall

Marriage

Hugh Mackay of Uaibeg married Isobel Dingwall of Craigiemhulin on 12 December 1788. ^[2]

Children

Alexander Mackay was born into a family with four older siblings and three younger siblings.

1. Christian Mackay, baptised 28 October 1789
2. 1791 John
3. 1793 Hugh
4. 1796 Donald
5. Alexander Mackay, baptised 30 July 1799
6. 1802 Christian
7. 1804 Christian
8. 1807 Jean

Alexander Mackay and Hughina MacLeod

Marriage

Alexander Mackay of Sangomore married Hughina MacLeod of Achumore on 20 April 1827 at Keoldale.

Children

1. Janet Mackay, baptised 1 May 1828
2. Hugh Mackay, baptised 20 July 1830
3. Robert Findlater Mackay, baptised 7 March 1833
4. Isabella Mackay, baptised 30 September 1835
5. Williamina Mackay, born about 1839
6. Jean Scobie Mackay, baptised 24 February 1842

1851 Scotland Census, Alexander McKay household, Durness Parish, Sutherland ^[3]

1. Alexander McKay, head of household, married, male, age 51 years, occupation Mason, born in Durness, Sutherland
2. Hughina McKay, wife, married, female, age 50 years, born in Durness, Sutherland
3. Robert McKay, son, unmarried, male, age 18 years, born in Durness, Sutherland
4. Isabella McKay, daughter, unmarried, female, age 16 years, born in Durness, Sutherland
5. Williamina McKay, daughter, female, age 13 years, born in Durness, Sutherland

1861 Scotland Census, Alexander McKay household, Durness Parish, Sutherland ^[4]

1. Alexander McKay, head of household, married, male, age 59 years, occupation Mason, born in Durness, Sutherland, 2 rooms with windows
2. Hughina McKay, wife, married, female, age 58 years, occupation Mason's Wife, born in Durness, Sutherland
3. Robert McKay, son, unmarried, male, age 27 years, occupation Blacksmith, born in Durness, Sutherland

Death and Legacy

Alexander MacKay died at 66 years of age in Sangobeg on 31 January 1866. He was married to Hughina for a few months shy of 39 years. The civil death registration listed his occupation as mason, and consumption as the cause of death. His son Robert Findlater Mackay was the informant on the death registration, which was recorded in Durness on 3 February 1866. ^[5] He was buried beneath a beautiful upright monument in Balnakeil burial ground with an inscription entirely in Scots Gaelic. The location was adjacent to the graves of Hughina's parents Angus MacLeod and Janet Ross and her grandparents Hugh Ross and Jean Manson.

FIG. 1 - Memorial stone for Alexander Mackay and his spouse Hughina MacLeod. On the left and behind this view of the memorial is the table stone over the grave of Hughina's parents, Angus MacLeod and Janet Ross MacLeod. Fully obscured behind this view of the memorial is the grave of Hughina's grandparents, Hugh Ross and Jean Manson. Photograph taken 7 October 2019.

Legacy

On 11 February 1876 Robert McKay married Christina Munro from Coldbacky, Tongue Parish, the daughter of a merchant. The marriage was held at the Tongue Free Church, the officiant was Rev. George Mackay, and the witnesses were Kenneth Morrison and Hugh Mackay. ^[6]

On 24 May 1878 Williamina Mackay married Angus Mackay, a coachman at Keoldale, and a widower with three children. The officiant was Rev. James Ross at the Durness Free Church. ^[7]

Hughina MacLeod, widow of Alexander Mackay, died at Sangomore aged 78 years on 22 May 1879. Their son Robert McKay was the informant on the civil death registration. She was buried with her late husband in Balnakeil, adjacent to the graves of her parents and grandparents. ^[8]

Research Notes

Sources

1. ↑ Alexander Mackay baptism, 30 July 1799, Hugh Mackay and Isobel Dingwall parents, Durness Parish, Sutherland, Scotland, Old Parish Registers Births 048/ 10 88 Durness, digital image of handwritten paper record, National Records of Scotland, https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk, accessed 1 December 2019. ["1799 - Hugh Mackay alias MacEanicalister roy a little Farmer and Volunteer in Sartigrim, and his wife Isobel Dingwall had Alexander Baptized 30th July"]
2. ↑ Hugh Mackay alias MacEanicalister roy and Isobel Dingwall marriage, 12 December 1788, Old Parish Registers, Marriages, 048/ 10 132 Durness, Sutherland, Scotland, digital image of handwritten baptism register, National Records of Scotland, https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/, accessed 5 November 2019. ["1788 - Hugh Mackay alias MacEanicalister roy in Uaibeg and Isobel Dingwall in Craigiemhulan married 12th Decem'r."
3. ↑ Alexander McKay household, 1851 Scotland Census, Durness Parish, Sutherland, (Census 048/ 4/ 2) Page 2 of 23, digital image of handwritten paper enumeration form, National Records of Scotland, https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk, accessed 25 October 2020.
4. ↑ Alexander McKay household, 1861 Scotland Census, Durness Parish, Sutherland, (Census 048/ 4/ 13) Page 13 of 15, digital image of handwritten paper enumeration form, National Records of Scotland, https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk, accessed 25 October 2020.
5. ↑ Alexander Mackay death, 31 January 1866 at 1:00 AM in Sangomore, Durness Parish, Sutherland, Scotland, occupation Mason, husband of Hughina MacLeod, male, agg 66 years, father Hugh Mackay, a Small Tenant, deceased, mother Isabella Dingwall, deceased, cause of death Consumption, informant Robert Mackay, son of Alexander Mackey, death registered at Durness on 3 February 1866, Statutory registers Deaths 048/ 2, digital image of handwritten paper record, National Records of Scotland, https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/, accessed 1 December 2019.
6. ↑ Robert McKay and Christina Munro marriage, 11 February 1876, Free Church, Tongue, Sutherland, groom bachelor, occupation Blacksmith, age 36*, residence Durness, groom's father Alexander McKay, mason, deceased, groom's mother Hughina McLeod, bride spinster, age 24, residence Coldbacky, Tongue, bride's father Hugh Munro, occupation merchant, bride's mother Robertina Sutherland, officiant George Mackay, Minister of Free Church, Tongue, witnesses Kenneth Morrison, Hugh Mackay, registered 14 February 1876, Tongue. *Actual age of groom was 42 years.
7. ↑ Angus McKay and Williamina McKay marriage, 24 May 1878, Free Church, Durness, Sutherland, groom widower, occupation Coachman, age 34, residence Keoldale, Durness, groom's father Donald McKay, fisherman, deceased, groom's mother Janet McDonald, bride spinster, occupation Domestic Servant, age 37, residence Keoldale, Durness, bride's father Alexander McKay, occupation mason, deceased, bride's mother Hughina McLeod, officiant James Ross, Minister of Free Church, Durness, witnesses Betty Weir, Alex Sutherland, registered 27 May, Durine.
8. ↑ Hughina MacLeod death, widow of Alexander McKay, crofter, 22 May 1879 at 12:30 PM, at Sangomore, female, age 78 years, father Angus MacLeod, crofter, deceased, mother Janet Ross, deceased, informant Robert Mackay, son, registered 27 May 1879 Statutory registers, Deaths 048/ 7, Durness, digital image of hand written record, National Records of Scotland, https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/, accessed 1 December 2019.