Donald McLeod -1824 -1859

Altnabreac

In 1824 Donald McLeod was born at Altnabreac (aka Altnibreck, Aultnabreck) a farmstead three miles north of Rumsdale.

Map - Thomson, John 1819

At the start of John’s work at Rumsdale as a shepherd, the family was living at Altnabreac where there was a dwelling house available probably needed while the sheep venture at Rumsdale was getting established. 

A farmstead, comprising an unroofed building and an enclosure at Altnabreac is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Caithness 1877, sheet xxvi). The 1877 map shows Altnabreac with small pockets of developed land by the stream but it doesn’t look like there were other hamlets near by. 

Google Earth image showing the location of the farmstead at Altnabreac with the railway line and station bottom left. Obviously a lot of forestry has been planted in the area in modern times. 

Altnabreac station looking south. Am Baile

Altnabreac is now on the Far North Railway Line some 10 miles from Halkirk. The station opened in1874 and apparently is still open for some services although it is said to be one of Britain’s least used stations. Hikers who get out at Altnabreac all seem to be struck by how isolated it is and how careful they must be not to miss the return train in the afternoon and have to spend the night in this lonely place. 

I cannot imagine how isolated, lonely and cold in the winter it must have been for Christina there at Altnabreac. John would have been away a lot managing the farm – probably having to travel by foot as there was a lot of peat bog, difficult for horse travel. Christina would have had to keep the peat fire burning, winter and summer, make meals and rear her children. She had no mother to come and support her. 

Birth of Donald 

Thankfully Christina is safely delivered of her second child, a boy, who, according to custom, is named after John’s father Donald. A baby brother for Kitty. 

I must say I am thankful for every baby safely delivered to Christina out there at Altnabreac and Rumsdale. On the death record for someone else, I found the death of a woman, Elizabeth Grant, in 1874 at Rumsdale – “Died in Childbed. No Medical Attendant’ and this was fifty years after the birth of Donald. This happened only too often. 

Achreny Mission Baptism

Donald’s baptism record is from the Halkirk Parish records but it was probably at the Achreny (aka Acharynie) Mission Church which was closer to Altnabreac than Halkirk. The church is now long demolished but was near the burial ground which is still there. 

Achreny cemetery with Strathmore Lodge in the background

Move to Rumsdale

Some time between 1828 and 1830 the McLeod family, now with four young children, moved to Rumsdale about three miles away. Rumsdale was on an old route between Thurso and the Strath Halladale road so would have had travellers passing by and would not have been nearly so isolated as Altnabreac.

John Thomson's Atlas of Scotland 1832 showing 

the travellers' route passing Rumsdale. 

In census records where Donald’s siblings are shown, the school aged ones are always listed as being scholars so it is likely that Donald also went to school or was educated somehow. Both John and Christina could read and we know the family were gathered round the hearth at night to read both the Bible and some classics like Pilgrims Progress.

Little more is known about Donald for the next few decades. We know the family lived at Rumsdale, continued to grow, and that John and Christina were strong and loving parents. Family lore also has it that John McLeod made the shoes for his own family. Donald probably first learned shoemaking by watching his father work. Two of John’s sons, his eldest and youngest both became successful shoemakers.

Donald is not located on the Caithness 1841 census. He had almost certainly left home to find work.

Marriage to Alexandrina Elder

The next we hear of Donald is 1850 and he is getting married. Donald is shown as living in Reay and his bride Alexandrina Elder is from Sandside. Donald was 26 and Alexandrina was 24.

Reay 

Reay is a village which has grown round Sandside Bay on the north coast of Scotland, 12 miles from Thurso.

Old church in Reay 

The McLeod family were known to leave the established church at the time of the disruption in 1843. The established church in Reay which is still in use, was built in 1739 and is now a listed historic building. However I think it is possible that Donald and Alexandrina married in the Reay Free Church at Shebster which was built in 1843. It is described as being a T-plan with double isles and having a bellcote and Gothic detailing. It became disused in 1985.

Reay Free Church at Shebster 

Elder Family

Alexandrina Elder was born in 1827 to John Elder and Margaret Macdonald of Sandside. John is shown in the 1841 census as an Agricultural Labourer. Alexandrina was living at home with her parents, elder sister and younger brother. The house must have been busy as there are also five middle aged men in residence. 

Elder, Alexandrina, Baptism 1827  Reay

1851 Census - Master Shoemaker - a Daughter

The 1851 census gives us some interesting information about Donald and Alexandrina. 

They have a 5 month old daughter named Christina, after Donald’s mother. 

Donald is shown as being a Shoemaker (Master – employing one apprentice) and they are living in the village of New Reay. So Donald must have worked as a shoemaker apprentice and become a 'Master' with his own business.

And a Son

In 1855 a son, John Elder McLeod, is born to Donald and Alexandrina.

The Reay Old Inn built in 1739 is used by locals and travellers.

Things are looking good for this family until tragedy strikes. 

See next blog.