Sinclair Gunn Supplement 12; 17.2.1903; Gunn Rhives Mackay, Gunn Dalnaglaton and emigration to Canada
Review
A couple of good stories in this one, and I like the link to the ‘Chief’ Gunn Rhives line, not least as there are descendants from them around. I must go and re-read my Gunn Braemore book (mentioned below) as well, which I bought last time I was in Wick as I feel these articles may be the core for some of the retold stories...
The key issues / people / places are;
· Alexander Gunn Dalnaglaton and his brother Donald ‘Their father’s name was George and he was tacksman at Dalnaglaton, Alaster, when born was weakly...’ but grew! Stories about the family, especially Alaster... (See page 58 ff Tales from Braemore by Robert P Gunn...)
· Captain James Sutherland (Lord Duffus)
· Sutherland had a tack of the estate of Mey 1772-1786, and Alaster
· Gunns of Altnabreac
· Donald decided to emigrate to Canada
· Scrabster Roads
· But Donald got his family on board the ship then went back to shore and didn’t get back on the boat!! ‘... his married life as not a very happy one’! Seen in 1833 ...
· Ship wrecked 1807 on the Canadian coast and ‘not a soul saved although one report said that 6 or 8 survived.’ Later, perhaps 13 saved...
· ‘Alaster was dead (20 years) before this took place, and left a young woman to whom he was engaged to mourn ... Janet Gunn of the M’Hamishes of Kildonan Strath... (she married) William Mackay, farmer of the Braelaid, Braemore ... a large family ... They were followed in the farm by descendants.’ Now this one I like for genealogy because this is a link to a Chief line. I think it probable, given Sinclairs ‘support’ for the Gunn of Rhives line this Jessie Gunn / Janet Gunn is a sister to George Gunn of Rhives (hence the M'Hamish' bit) and whose children go something like Christina Mackay 1819-1836, George Gunn Mackay 1821-1908, Hughina Mackay 1825-, Isabella Mackay 1825-, Janet / Jessie Mackay 1826-1889, Hector Gunn Mackay 1828-1882, William Sutherland Mackay 1828-, Merrion Mackay 1831-, Merrion Mackay 1832-1902, Colin Mackay 1834-1891, John Mackay 1836-11882. Now, there are obviously issues as to whether ‘Chief’ Gunn of Rhives should have been ‘Chief’; but if the Family Convention goes ahead one has to admit the Rhives line is a very senior cadet line and some descendants are around... I have William Mackay marrying Janet Gunn from other sources...
· Captain Alexander Gunn Braehour
· ‘The Linnet’
· Donald Maclean, The Manse, Dunvegan, Skye 1902
· Mrs Gunn Red Mill House, West Lothian 25 May 1902
· Gaelic poem about the ship tragedy
· John Grant Brabster died 1828
· Alexander Gunn Coilteal
· Bruces of Canada