A Family of Builders

In the mid 1800's I had a lot of relatives living in Golspie Main Street, and the more I look the more I find. In general these were families from other areas of Scotland who came to Golspie to build the houses and then the next generation left for greener pastures, mainly in Australia and New Zealand. I will just list them here but if anyone is connected I have more (sometimes much more) information.

James Thomson my 3 times great grandfather, a mason, born Kincardine, Ross & Cromarty, arrived in Golspie around 1795. His wife was Janet Dunbar who was born in Golspie about 1774. They had the following children all born in Golspie: John 1797; Robert 1799; Margaret 1802; Janet 1807 - married Alexander Ross - see below; Mary 1810; James 1813 and Christian 1813. See also G054.

John Ross, a mason born in Morayshire in 1790 arrived in Golspie about 1805. He married Helen Murray who was born in Golspie in 1794. They had the following children all born in Golspie: Margaret 1816; Ann 1818; Robert 1821; Alexandrina 1824; Jean 1824; Helen 1826 and Elizabeth 1829. John's son Robert Ross, also a mason, married Jane McLennan and had the following children born in Golspie; Helen 1851; Donald 1853; John 1861 and Robert 1863. See also G037.

Alexander Ross, a mason born in Morayshire in 1810, brother of John above, arrived in Golspie in 1830. He married Janet Thomson (daughter of John Thomson above). See also G042.

Elizabeth Ross born 1806 Morayshire, sister of John and Alexander above, married Angus Mackay, carpenter, born 1811 in Golspie. They had the following children all born in Golspie: William 1838; Margaret 1840 and Peter 1846.

Angus Mackay is the son of William Mackay, joiner and Margaret Matheson. They had other children born in Golspie including Elizabeth 1815 who married Alexander Noble.

Alexander Noble born in 1848 in Golspie, a house painter married Helen Ross (daughter of John Ross above) in Golspie in 1875.

Alexander Noble (father of above Alexander Noble was born in 1807 in Inverness, a carpenter joiner who married Eliza MacKay in Golspie in 1832. Their children were born in Golspie including Alexander.

There are more, mostly by marriage but it makes my head hurt so will stop there. In total it constitutes about 10% of Golspie Main Street around 1840/1850. It seems every person listed in census was involved in aspects of house building and were all related in one way or another, to my great grandfather John Ross. The tree above gives you a very basic view of the relatives. If you click on the picture you will see a larger version.

Neil North, Australia