People of Culbokie

• William Urquhart - Cnocmisan contributed by Ruth and Paris Major, Martha's Vineyard.
• Thomas Ross, Knocnafanaig and Glashcairn contributed by Elizabeth Jorgensen of Ottawa whose two great grandfathers emigrated from Culbokie to Canada.
• Alexander Ross - Brae Findon. Contributed by Katie Izat.
• Kemps of Culbokie. Contributed by Gregor and Margaret Melanson, Canada. 
• John Urquhart and son James of Tore. Descendant Chart.
• Tom and Jean Stewart, Woodside, Culbokie
• Annie Smith Mackenzie, Ceylon Croft 1906 - 2000
• War memorials to families of Culbokie.

Rootschat website. Following on from the introduction to this website we are recommending it as a useful resource when use is made of the search facility. As a UK-wide facility it is often necessary to identify the Scottish connection with the search.

Requests for family information.

June 2024

From Ann Connolly

I am writing from Australia and would greatly appreciate any assistance you might be able to offer.

I am researching family history and have discovered my great-great-grandparents immigrated to Australia from Culbokie, in 1856.

They are William and Catherine Urquhart. They came with the 7 children, one of which is my great-grandmother who had an adventurous life here in Australia. I am wondering why William and Catherine would have immigrated?  Was there something going on at that time that led to people immigrating? They came out as Assisted passengers and I have the record of their arrival. If you know of any possible reasons why people left Culbokie around that time, it would be very helpful to know.

Having written a book on my great-great-grandmother on my mother's side, I am very keen to do another on my great-grandmother - Christina Connolly (nee Urquhart) - on my father's side. And to do so - and for general interest - I need to/wish to - get to know Culbokie and its history.

The images I have seen of Culbokie are beautiful.

Thank you. Ann Connolly

November 2020

We have received the following request from Alan Macdonald:

I have been researching the family history around the Black Isle. 

My GG-Grandfather Roderick Macdonald moved the family from Lochcarron to Highfield Park I think around 1875, possibly after an inheritance by his wife. They lived in a small stone farmhouse in Mulbuie, the old school was on the edge of their land.

My G-Grandfather was one of seven children, he went to work as an apprentice gardener at Scatwell House in around 1882/3 before eventually moving south to London.

I believe that Roderick was a bailiff at Highfield. He died in 1913 from injuries sustained whilst breaking a horse. Roderick’s youngest son Duncan died aged 48 in 1935 of head injuries sustained from falling into Bishop Kinkell quarry. He had not long married Isabella Horne, aged 20.

The last person I know of to have lived in the family farmhouse was Catherine Fraser (was Macdonald), she died in 1959. There was also a Margaret Macdonald, born 1872 about whom I know nothing more…

I’m hoping there may be records or that this may jog memories, please do get in touch (via history@culbokiect.org)  if there’s anything you can share.

Best wishes.

Alan Macdonald

February 2020

We have received this request from John Rowan and if you have any help to offer then we will forward it to him.

"Recently, I discovered that the birthplace of my Great Great Great Grandfather, Roderick Mackenzie [Junior] b. Abt 1835, as being Urquhart, Ross and Cromarty.
He was the son of Roderick Mackenzie [Senior] and Margaret Urquhart, married in 1830 and had several siblings.

"In the 1841 & 51 census’ their address is simply “Urquhart, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland”.

"If it is possible, and not too much of an imposition, could you point me in the right direction, to find out more about the points below, I would be grateful:

"1) where would the family have been living?

"2) what would the conditions have been like?

"3) are they likely to be tenant crofters?

"4) Roderick [Junior] left in the 1860’s and went to the Isle of Man - was there a significant happening locally, that prompted this ?
( he married, in the Isle of Man and had one child in 1869, my Grt Grt Grandmother Catherine, who was left in Birkenhead in 1870, with the Chisholm family, while Roderick [Junior] and Anne emigrated to the USA, possibly via Canada)

"5) is there a connection between the Mackenzies and Chisholms, as I can’t find a direct relative?

"I hope you are able to assist.

"Best regards, John (Rowan)"

The story of Roderick Mackenzie [Junior] continues here. Supported by a selection of photographs mainly about his daughter, from a second marriage, Margaret who made a name for herself as a Soprano singing Scottish songs.