Second Generation  

3. Donald MATHESON [12830] (Hugh¹) was born about 1740 of Rearcher Brae Nr. Dornoch Ross and Cromarty Scotland and died in Apr 1793 about age 53.

General Notes:Donald, son of Hugh Matheson of Brae/Torboll, Dornoch married Helen, daughter of John MacDonald of Shinness, Lairg in 1769. Donald and Helen had 7 children at their croft in Craigkilisie, Dornoch. These children were Hugh born in 1770 and died soon afterwards in 1771, John in March 1772, George in December 1775, William in September 1778, Elspeth in May 1781, Hugh in September 1783 and Ann in September 1786 (christened 20 October 1786). Thereafter the family lived for a time at Rearchar and Brae, both in Dornoch. Donald died in April 1793, 12 years before his father Hugh died aged 85 years at Rogart.

Donald married Helen MACDONALD [12831] [MRIN: 5531], daughter of John MACDONALD [16063] and Unknown, in 1769. Helen died 03 Mar 1810.

General Notes:Having lost two sons in the space of three years, Helen was devastated at the tragic drowning of a third son George in the Meikle Ferry Disaster on 16 August 1809. As a result, in September 1809, Helen moved in with her youngest daughter Ann who, by this time, had been married to John Murray for 5 years and, with three children, lived in Rhaoine. Helen died a few months later at Rhaoine on 3 March 1810. Strath Carnaig, the gloomy valley where the old Craigkilisie croft was situated, was cleared for sheep by the tacksman, Captain Robert Mackay of Torboll just before she died; it must have broken her heart.

Children from this marriage were:

   5 M    i. Hugh MATHESON [22669] was born in 1770 in Craigkilisie Dornoch Sutherland Scotland and died in 1771 at age 1.

   6 M    ii. John MATHESON [16065] was born in Mar 1772 in Craigkilisie Dornoch Sutherland Scotland and died in 1856 at age 84.

John married Margaret MACINTOSH [16070] [MRIN: 6581].

+ 7 M    iii. George MATHESON [16066] was born in Dec 1775 in Craigkilisie Dornoch Sutherland Scotland and died 16 Aug 1809 at age 33.

   8 M    iv. William MATHESON [16067] was born in Sep 1778 in Craigkilisie Dornoch Sutherland Scotland.

William married Catherine MACKAY [16077] [MRIN: 6583].

   9 F    v. Elspeth MATHESON [16068] was born in May 1781 in Craigkilisie Dornoch Sutherland Scotland.

Elspeth married George MACKAY [16078] [MRIN: 6584].

   10 M    vi. Hugh MATHESON [16069] was born in Sep 1783 in Craigkilisie Dornoch Sutherland Scotland.

+ 11 F    vii. Ann MATHESON [12808] was born in Sep 1786 in Craigkilisie Dornoch Sutherland Scotland, was christened 20 Oct 1786, died 24 Oct 1875 in Asdale Farm Rogart Sutherland Scotland at age 89, and was buried in St.Callan's Church Rogart Sutherland Scotland.