The Cumming families on the north side of Loch Rannoch

Loin Bhreac and Torrachruie on the north side of Loch Rannoch

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Alexander Cumming and Elspet McGrigor in Rannoch

Alexander Cumming is thought to have been the brother of Duncan Cumming in Aulich who was married to Sarah Robertson (see Duncan Cumming for rationale).

Alexander Cumming and Elspet McGrigor do not have a marriage entry in the Fortingall OPR, as they probably married around 1743. The earliest OPR entry relating to them is the baptism of a son in 1749, but it is thought that there was an earlier child born around 1747 and baptised as Margaret. Her possible existence stems from a marriage recorded in Edinburgh and dated 26th October 1766.

"William Ross, journeyman weaver, and Margaret Cumming, daughter of Alexander Cumming in Miltown of Rannoch, in the Shire of Perth (i.e. Perthshire), now both in Old Kirk parish."

When Margaret married towards the end of 1766, she probably was 22 years old or thereabouts, and working as a domestic servant for an Edinburgh family, known to her father. This is the only Alexander Cumming in Rannoch who might fit as her father.

The name of another child, a son, born in 1749 is unknown as the margin of the OPR page is damaged.

31st January 1749, Fortingall OPR
........., son to Alexander Cumming and Elspet McGrigor in Loinbrechd was baptised.

The couple probably were living at Lann Bhreac (Loin Bhreac) which is shown as being in ruins, just to the south of Torrachruie on the 1843 O.S. map of Rannoch. In 1783, James Stobie named the same place as Lineverk. As the family grew larger they moved south to Annat, and then westwards along the north side of Loch Rannoch to Aulich.

22nd September 1751, Fortingall OPR
Donald, son to Alexander Cumming and Elspet McGrigor in Annat was baptised.

19th May 1753, Fortingall OPR
John, son to Alexander Cumming and Elspet McGrigor in Annat was baptised.

30th May September 1756, Fortingall OPR
Janet, daughter to Alexander Cumming and Elspet McGrigor in Aulich was baptised.

Alexander Cumming and his family appear to have remained at Aulich until, at least, 1784 as his daughter Janet was still living there when she married Patrick Campbell.

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Generation 3: The Children of Alexander Cumming and Elspet McGrigor on the north side of Loch Rannoch

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William Ross and Margaret Cumming in Blackpark of Murlagan

26th October 1766, Edinburgh
William Ross, journeyman weaver and Margaret Cumming, daughter of Alexander Cumming in Miltown in Rannoch, in the shire of Perth, now both in Old Kirk parish, (were booked for proclamation in order to marriage)

It is difficult to know exactly where Alexander Cumming was living as James Stobie's map of Rannoch shows that there were 5 mills, at Culevulin, Camachgouran (Cameron), Dall, Inverhaddon and at Easter Drumachuine.

There is no corresponding marriage entry in the Fortingall OPR as both parties were living in Edinburgh.

The couple had the following children in Fortingall parish:

29th May 1769, Fortingall OPR
John, son to William Ross and Margaret Cumming in Blackpark (of Murlagan) was baptised.

5th September 1773, Fortingall OPR
James, lawful son to William Ross and Margaret Cumming in Blackpark (of Murlagan) was baptised.

10th April 1778, Fortingall OPR (repeated 10th May 1778)
Alexander, son to William Ross and Margaret Cumming in Blackpark (of Murlagan) was baptised.

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Generation 4: The Children of William Ross and Margaret Cumming in Edinburgh and Blackpark of Murlagan

Blackpark was a flat piece of moorland, to the east of Milnavaddie, which had been drained and deeply ploughed on the orders of Ensign James Small, the Factor for the Forfeited Estates. It was intended as a settlement for men who could form a militia in times of trouble, after the 1745 Jacobite Rising. The name 'Blackpark' probably was intended to give the impression that it was good agricultural land.

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Donald Cumming and Janet Campbell in Glasgow

21st December 1771
Donald Cumming and Janet Campbell (both) in Aulich and both in this parish were legally booked (in order to marriage).

Donald Cumming was only 20 years old when he married, which was very young for those times. One possible reason for such haste might have been that he was intending to leave the parish and, obviously, Janet Campbell would not have been allowed to accompany him unless they were married. Later on, Donald's sister Janet married Patrick Campbell in Aulich. The two Campbells probably were brother and sister but their baptisms most likely pre-date the registers in the Fortingall OPR.

Donald Cumming and Janet Campbell had two children baptised in Glasgow, where Donald was working as a labourer - John (1785) and William (1788).

9th October 1785, Glasgow OPR
Donald Cuming, labourer, and Janet Campbell, a legal son, John, b.8th Witnesses: James Watson and Thomas Hamilton.

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Generation 4: The Children of Donald Cumming and Janet Campbell in Glasgow

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Patrick (Peter) Campbell and Janet Cumming in Aulich

The following is a justification for the assigned parentage of Janet Cumming.

Firstly, the death certificate of Elizabeth Cumming, the daughter of Duncan Cumming and Sarah Robertson, dated 14th May 1857 states that she died at Killichonan aged 90 years. The witness for the death certificate was James Campbell, her cousin. The only James Campbell in Killichonan who could have been the witness at this time was the son of Patrick (Peter) Campbell and Janet Cumming. On 8th April 1860 he also was the witness on the death certificate of his sister Elizabeth Campbell in Killichonan.

Secondly, when Janet Cumming married Patrick Campbell in 1784, one would expect her to be her twenties. Assuming that her baptism was written into the OPR, then there are only a few possibilities. Between 1754 and 1764 only two such baptisms took place in Fortingall parish and none in Logierait parish, viz.

The first one is that on 6th April 1755 Janet, the daughter of Alexander Cumming and Katrin McDonald in Carie was baptised. She would have been 29 if she married Patrick Campbell in August 1784 and there is no indication that Alexander Cumming's family moved from Carie to Aulich.

The second one is that on 30th May 1756 Janet, the daughter of Alexander Cumming and Elspit McGrigor in Aulich was baptised. She would have been 28 if she married in August 1784. So, of the two OPR entries, this appears to be the more likely.

31st August 1784
Patrick Campbell and Janet Cumming in Aulich, both in this parish gave up (their names for proclamation in order to marriage).

Janet Cumming would have been 28 when she married in August 1784, which is slightly older than might be expected.

The death certificates of his children show that Peter Campbell was a crofter. The couple appear to have had nine children, including twins.

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Generation 4: The Children of Patrick (Peter) Campbell and Janet Cumming in Killichonan

8th April 1860
Elizabeth Campbell, unmarried domestic servant, aged 62 years died at Killichonan. Parents given as Peter Campbell and Janet Cumming, both deceased. Witness James Campbell, brother.

22nd November 1871
James Campbell, unmarried former agricultural labourer, aged 71 years died at Killichonan. Parents given as Peter Campbell, crofter and Janet Cumming, both deceased. Witness Alexander Crerar, surgeon, Ballintuim Cottage, Rannoch.

27th April 1875
Allan Campbell, pauper and former blacksmith, married to Margaret Stewart, aged 74 years died at Killichonan. Parents given as Peter Campbell, crofter and Janet Cumming, both deceased. Witness Jessie Campbell, daughter.

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Duncan Cumming and Sarah (Sara) Robertson in Aulich and Killichonan

Duncan Cumming is thought to have been the brother of Alexander Cumming in Loin Bheac who was married to Elspit McGrigor.

The basis for this claim comes from the 1857 death certificate of Elizabeth Cumming, the daughter of Duncan Cumming and Sarah Robertson, which was witnessed at Killichonan by James Campbell, her cousin. There is only one James Campbell in Killichonan who was old enough to act as a witness at this time, and he was the son of Patrick (Peter) Campbell and Janet Cumming. (James Campbell also was the witness on the death certificate of his sister Elizabeth Campbell in Killichonan, 8th April 1860). Janet Cumming was the daughter of Alexander Cumming and Elspit McGrigor.

15th December 1758, Fortingall OPR
Duncan Cumming in Aulich and Sarah Robertson in Kinloch Rannoch, both in this parish, were booked (to be proclaimed in order to marriage).

3rd November 1765, Fortingall OPR
Alexander, son to Duncan Cumming and Sarah Robertson in Carie.

15th April 1771, Fortingall OPR
Elizabeth, daughter to Duncan Cumming and Sarah Robertson in Annat.

31st August 1777, Fortingall OPR
Margaret, lawful daughter to Duncan Cumming and Sarah Robertson in Drumcastle was baptised.

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The Children of Duncan Cumming and Sarah (Sara) Robertson in Aulich and Killichonan

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Elizabeth Cumming in Killichonan

Very little is known about Elizabeth's early years. Her father was a weaver, so the family were able to move from place to place. Although Margaret's eldest brother was born at Carie, her older sister Elizabeth was born at Annat, while Margaret herself was born at Drumcastle.

Presumably Margaret would have been given a little education before being taken on as a domestic servant in one of the nearby houses. Young women in this position would move from one farm to another every six months until they found a permanent position. How she finished up so far away, at St Fillans, is unknown but possibly she had no close family remaining in Rannoch.

At the time of the 1841 census Elizabeth was living at Kirkton of Strathfillan in Killin parish, where Duncan McLean and his wife were farming. As Elizabeth was living in the adjacent house, along with a domestic servant and two farm servants, she probably was the cook and housekeeper for Duncan McLean's hired hands.

The 1851 census for Logierait shows that she was then living in Wester Carie, next to John Cumming and his wife Catherine McGregor.

Elizabeth Cumming probably was not closely related to her neighbour, John Cumming.

At some time between 1851 and 1857 Elizabeth Cumming moved to Killichonan, halfway up the north side of Loch Rannoch, where her Campbell relatives were living.

Elizabeth Cumming, unmarried, died of bronchitis on 14th May 1857 at Killichonan, aged 90 years, and was buried there. Parents given as Duncan Cumming, weaver, and Sarah Robertson. Witness for the death certificate was James Campbell, her cousin.

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Alexander Robertson and Margaret Cumming in Over (Wester) Bohespic

24th July 1803, Blair Atholl OPR
Alexander Robertson in Over Bohespic and Margaret Cumming, servant in Over Bohespic, (were booked for marriage).

There are no additional references to this couple. No baptisms have been entered into any OPR within Scotland, nor does Margaret Cumming / Robertson appear in the post-1855 civil registration of deaths. The 1841 census return for Blair Atholl does not show the couple, although they would both have been in their sixties or seventies. So who was Margaret Cumming, the servant girl in Over Bohespic?

Assuming that Margaret Cumming was baptised and married when in her twenties, then there are only two possibilies for her identity. She either was the daughter of Donald Cumming and Janet McGrigor, born 1770, or the daughter of Duncan Cumming and Sarah Robertson, born in 1777. The former is thought to have married William McGillivrie in 1798, but it is difficult to prove conclusively. If this is correct then she would have been 28 years old when she married, and the other Margaret would have been 26 years old at her marriage to Alexander Robertson. If the two marriages were the other around they would have been aged 33 years and 21 years old - not impossible, but much less likely.

The reason for no additional information after 1803 could be that they moved south or emigrated. Another possibility is that Margaret Cumming died without giving birth to any children and that Alexander Robertson remarried, and an entry in the Blair Atholl OPR to supports the theory of their being a second wife.

16th April 1809, Blair Atholl OPR
Alexander Robertson in Bohespic and Elizabeth Robertson in Camghouran, Fortingall parish (married).

Unfortunately the Blair Atholl OPR is vague about where Alexander Robertson was living in the Bohespic area. It might have been Over Bohespic, Nether Bohespic, Gaskan, Dalriach of Bohespic, Tighnacoille of Bohespic or even Tighmore of Bohespic. The corresponding entry in the Fortingall OPR is no help either, merely stating that Alexander Robertson came from Blair Atholl parish.

The Blair Atholl OPR does not mention the baptisms of any children, but the 1841 census shows the couple living at Gaskan with three children.

Alexander Robertson and his wife were still living at Gaskan in 1851, where they were farming 10 acres.

An the aged couple were still farming at Gaskan in 1861.

The Gaskan census shows a niece, Elizabeth Cumming, and a nephew, John Cumming, living with them. In actuality the two youngsters were grandchildren, not neice and nephew, the children of Alexander's daughter Catharine and Duncan Cumming.

The death certificate of Alexander Robertson, 3rd February 1871, farmer married to Elizabeth Robertson and living at Gaskan, shows his parents as Donald Robertson, farmer, and Anne McFarlane, both deceased. The informant was Alexander's daughter Charlotte. There is no entry in the Blair Atholl OPR for the marriage banns of Alexander Robertson's parents as he was illegitimate: his father living in Over Bohespic and his mother in Dalno of Bohespic. Alexander Robertson's baptism was on 15th April 1777. The Session Minutes identify Alexander's father as Donald Robertson snr. in Over Bohespic meaning that there was another, younger, Donald Robertson living in Over Bohespic at that time. As a note of caution, there was another couple with identical names living in Tomnasallan at the same time.

The death certificate of Elizabeth Robertson, 28th November 1871, aged 84 years and widow of Alexander Robertson, farmer at Gaskan, shows her parents as Charles Robertson, carrier, and Catharine Cameron, both deceased. The informant was her son-in-law James McLauchlan in Balnarn, Foss.

After the deaths of her parents Charlotte Robertson went to live with her sister, Ann, the wife of James McLauchlan in Balnarn, Foss, as shown by the 1881 census return.

William McLauchlan was baptised 11th June 1852, Dull OPR, the son of James McLauchlan and Ann Robertson.

Charlotte Robertson, unmarried housekeeper aged 52 years, died at Balnarn of Foss on 10th March 1883. Her parents were given as Alexander Robertson, farmer, and Elizabeth Robertson, both deceased. The informant was James McLauchlan, her brother-in-law.

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The Children of Alexander Robertson and Elizabeth Robertson (his second wife) in Gaskan

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Alexander Wilson and Ann Cumming in Kincardine and Croick

There is no record of Ann Cumming being baptised and her addition to the known children of this family seems the most likely position for her. The 'Find a Grave' website lists her son Allan Wilson (1808-1864) as being buried in the Inchnadamph Old Kirkyard, and his memorial stone records this parents as Alexander Wilson (1771-1852) and Ann Cumming (1785-1857). However, there is no death certificate for this Ann Cumming in 1857, nor between 1855 and 1862, so it must be assumed that she died before the start of Civil Registration in 1855.

As shown later, the census for 1851 gives her birthplace as Fortingall and her age as 70 years old. The only other clue comes from her marriage banns which gives her place of residence in 1804 as Killichonan. This last fact suggests that she belonged to one of 'Aulich' Cumming families, and the only 'Aulich' family which would fit her being born around 1781 to 1785 is that of Duncan Cumming and Sarah Robertson

19th February 1804, Fortingall OPR
Alexander Wilson in Ardlarich and Ann Cumming in Killichonan (proclaimed in order to marriage).

Soon after their marriage, the couple moved far north to Kincardine and Croick in Sutherland (west of Bonar Bridge) where their first three children were born. By 1812 they had moved south to Alness, near Invergordon, where another three children were born, before returning to Kincardine and Croick by 1819.

The 1841 census shows that Duncan Wilson was still living with his parents, but Allan was married and living closeby.

The 1851 census shows some of the family living at Meoir(?) near Croick. The glen to the south is named 'mhoir' and the family may have been at the farm called Glenmore.

Anne Cumming does not appear in the 1861 census, so it must be assumed that she was dead. Likewise there is no Civil Registration of her death in 1855 or later, so she must have died between 1851 and 1854.

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The Children of Alexander Wilson and Anne Cumming in Croick (Croich) and Alness

Kincardine Graveyard

In loving memory of Archibald Wilson who died at Badvoon on the 12th June 1912 aged 93 years. Also of his beloved wife Lilly Watson who died at Badvoon on the 20th October 1908 aged 91 years. Also their son Archibald Wilson who died at Edderton 4th January 1946 aged 88 years, beloved husband of Sarah Ross also their son Alistair Wilson, Gordon Highlanders who was killed in action at Elagiela 3rd December 1942 aged 31 years.