Alexander Blue and Jean Ross

[Shona]

Alexander Blue and Jean/Jenny Ross married on the island of Colonsay, Argyllshire, on 28 December 1796.

Alexander and Jean's children were baptised on the island at the now abandoned settlement of Raisg Buidhe.

C.... (12 August 1897)
Ever/Iver/Edward (?)
Rebecca/Beckie (12 April 1801)
John (22 July 1805)
Archibald (19 May 1808)

The baptism and marriage OPRs date from 1796; deaths and burials from 1848, so I haven't been able to progress with this branch. The minister visited the island rarely - perhaps four times a year - and carried out baptisms and marriages 'in bulk'.

Many residents emigrated to Canada from the early 19th century.

There is an old graveyard at Raisg Buidhe where some of the Blues and Rosses may be buried.

About 15 years ago, I spent several days on the island, but this was before I traced this branch!

Here are some old photos of the settlement.

http://i1326.photobucket.com/albums/u654/shonamcisaac/RB1_zps14fa441b.jpg (http://s1326.photobucket.com/user/shonamcisaac/media/RB1_zps14fa441b.jpg.html)

http://i1326.photobucket.com/albums/u654/shonamcisaac/RB3_zps4ea3113a.jpg (http://s1326.photobucket.com/user/shonamcisaac/media/RB3_zps4ea3113a.jpg.html)

http://i1326.photobucket.com/albums/u654/shonamcisaac/RB4_zps819c1be4.jpg (http://s1326.photobucket.com/user/shonamcisaac/media/RB4_zps819c1be4.jpg.html)

http://i1326.photobucket.com/albums/u654/shonamcisaac/RB5_zpsb7d48cd8.jpg (http://s1326.photobucket.com/user/shonamcisaac/media/RB5_zpsb7d48cd8.jpg.html)

[tenterfieldjulie]

Shame I didn't know Shona.. I have friends who stay there annually. They were there a few weeks ago.

These are from her emails -
"From Glasgow to Oban and then from Oban to Scarasaig the tiny port on the tiny island of Colonsay.. There will be four of us in the cottage which is miles from everywhere.
.
……………………

We had PERFERCT sunshine every day...and all those dreams came true.

We foraged for mussels and clams and a highlander sold us local oysters and honey and we found firewood and had no worries about power cuts !

And as for the wild flowers and birds - they were everywhere..."

[Shona]

The surname Ross is a rarity on the island of Colonsay, so I have wondered if the family moved in.

There is one Ross on the 1841 census:

Scalisaig
Margrat Ross, 70
Ann McNeill, 14
Mary McNeill, 12
All three born in county

This must be Margrat in 1851:

Kilchattan
Malcolm Marten, 43, weaver, b Colonsay
Mary Marten, wife, 40, born Kilmeny
Hugh Marten, son, 16, scholar, b Colonsay
John Marten, 14, scholar, b Colonsay
Donald Marten, 11, b Colonsay
Hector Marten, 9, scholar, b Colonsay
William Marten, 6, b Colonsay
Malcolm Marten, 4, b Coloonsay
James Marten, 1, b Colonsay
Margaret Ross, 80, mother, married, pauper formerly cook, born Dornoch

This confirms that Margaret moved to the island. She may or may not be my Jean Ross's sister. The only Dornoch I know of is in Sutherland.

If Margaret was a cook, she may have been working at Colonsay House, which was built in 1722.

There is one other Ross on the island in 1851:

Glasaird
Dond McMillan, head, 50, boatman, b Colonsay
Cathrine McMillan, wife, 40, b Colonsay
Hector McMillan, son, 21, fisher, b Colonsay
Bell McMillan, daughter, 20, general service, b Colonsay
Ann Ross, granddaughter, 2, born Colonsay
Don McMillan, father, 71, widower, pauper, b Colonsay

Family Search has an Ann Ross born on 27 May 1850, baptised 13 Oct, daughter of James Ross and Isabella McMillan.

[Shona]

Shame I didn't know Shona.. I have friends who stay there annually. They were there a few weeks ago.

These are from her emails -
"From Glasgow to Oban and then from Oban to Scarasaig the tiny port on the tiny island of Colonsay.. There will be four of us in the cottage which is miles from everywhere.
.
……………………

We had PERFERCT sunshine every day...and all those dreams came true.

We foraged for mussels and clams and a highlander sold us local oysters and honey and we found firewood and had no worries about power cuts !

And as for the wild flowers and birds - they were everywhere..."

It's a gorgeous island. When the weather is good (they've been having sunny and warm weather recently) the sea is turquoise and the beaches are so white, they almost glow.

Must get back sometime soon.

[Shona]

Margaret Ross hung on until statutory registration. Thank you, Margaret. She died in 1858 at the age of 85.

Her parents are named as David Ross, farmer, and Jean Ross (Maiden name Ross). She was single. The informant is named as Malcolm Marten, illegitimate son. He made his mark.

As she wasn't married and her mother was named Jean, I think this points to Margaret and my Jean being sisters.

[Shona]

*curses*

The baptisms registers for Dornoch are missing for the period March 1760 to June 1781.

However, in the 1750s, these are the only three Ross baptisms in Sutherland - all in Dornoch.

Jean Ross, baptised 8 May 1755, father David
Jean Ross, baptised 26 June 1756, father David
Rebecca Ross, baptised, 27 Dec 1757, father David

My MMFFMM was Rebecca Blue daughter of Alexander Blue and Jean Ross - the subjects of this thread. Rebecca isn't a common first name in Argyllshire in the 18th and early 19th century, so I think the three baptisms above must be 'mine'.

[Shona]

Apart from the Alexander Blue and Jean Ross marriage, there are no other Ross marriages on Colonsay as far as I can see. As regards baptisms, I can find just three mentions of Ross:

- 10 June 1817, William son of James Ross and Bety McMillan.
- 3 June 1821, Murdoch McLain Reid, son of John Reid and Bety Ross.
- 27 May 1850, Born 13th Octr baptised to Isabella McMillan Scalasaig her illegitimate daughter by Jas Ross Mason caled Ann.

Who is James Ross?

[Shona]

I've just noticed a marriage between Jeny Blue and John McFaden on 25 August 1820 on the island of Colonsay. I wonder if this is the Jeny Ross who married Alexander Blue?