Where did they go from Helmsdale
Where did they go from Helmsdale?
In the early 19th Century almost all of the inland settlements in this part of Scotland were cleared of their inhabitants in order to make way for more profitable residents: sheep. Clearances took place not only in the Strath but right across the Highlands and Islands, but those perpetrated by the first Duke of Sutherland in this area were amongst the most notorious.
Some of those cleared were resettled in Helmsdale, as an alternative to being shipped to the colonies or to North America. The aim was to create a community able to live from both fishing and farming, and, in particular to take advantage of the herring boom then in full swing. As you look around Helmsdale's harbour today, try to imagine it as home port for up to 200 herring boats.
People had always been leaving Helmsdale. Many emigrated without a trace. Sometimes, however, people left in such numbers that their departure did not go unnoticed. This was true of the emigrations of the 1730s and 1770s. Relatively few people, however, emigrated during the Clearances, that is in relation to the great numbers of families moved from the interior to the coast (on the Sutherland Estate between 1807 and 1822).
Between 1829 and 1832 the south and east of the county of Sutherland was gripped by an emigration fever. Population had continued to grow but there had been a deterioration of living standards. Cattle prices had fallen after the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815 and other sources of income had diminished. Agricultural holdings were very small - a direct result of the resettlement policy pursued by landlords. Some people did become successful fishermen, but the opportunities were limited. Many only survived through the earnings from seasonal work in the south. For landless families or cottars, in particular, life could be very difficult.
In such circumstances, the 'pull' of extensive land overseas, emigration agents, and the existence of a 'chain', linking Highlanders with friends and relatives abroad, all operated to set emigration in motion. The particular trigger for the phase of emigration from Sutherland in 1829 appears to have been encouragement given by some who had gone out earlier to go to Zorra in what was then Upper Canada, now Ontario.
Helmies (The name for those born & bread in Helmsdale) continue to leave the village and the surrounding area even to this day, this section is dedicated to those who settled elsewhere in the world.
If you are a descendant and have detailed information on your ancestors and if possible photos please contact us and we will include your Stories in this section.
John Polson and Christina Ross
John Polson was born at Marrel, near Helmsdale, in the parish of Loth, Sutherland, Scotland. Christina Ross was born in West Helmsdale. She became John's wife in 1867, 12,000 miles away in New Zealand.
The crumbled remains of the Marrel Cottage, near Helmsdale, and Polson's Hut, at Morven Hills on the Lindis Pass in New Zealand, are similar small stone homes and both are surrounded with local history. They share one identical place name, Morven Hills
John's grandfather, Murdock Polson married Catherine Sutherland around 1800 and settled at Marrel prior to 1803. Any further information about where either were born or raised has not been found. Murdock was a crofter and occupied about two acres of stony ground on the south side of the Helmsdale River.
Murdoch and Catherine Polson had two children:-
James Polson born in summer on 23 July 1803 at Marrel.
Alexander Polson born 10 October 1805 at Marrel.
The younger brother, Alexander Polson lived in Marrel for all his life and worked as an agriculture labourer. He married Elspeth (Elizabeth) Sutherland at Marrel (?born 1802) on 23 January 1835. Their children were four daughters.
Hughina born 27 March 1837
Charlotte born 19 April 1841
Barbara born 10 October 1844
Johan Polson born 1848
In 1868 Alexander had suffered a stroke and the family are recorded as being on the Poor Roll from this date until his death. A little before Alexander's death on 26 July 1886, Hughina went to live at Balloch, which is further up the Kildonan Strath. Elizabeth's date of death is not known.
The Parish records for Loth show that in the period 1803 - 1819 there were six Marrel families living in the cluster of buildings that included Murdoch and Catherine Polson. These dates do cover sixteen years so they may not have all been there for the same length of time.
1. Innes McKay (or McCay), Isobel Mitchell and their son George McKay, born 21 July 1803
2. Murdoch Polson and Catherine Sutherland and their two sons James and Alexander
3. John Gunn, Christy (or Cursty) Matheson and their daughter Johanna Gunn, born 30 Oct 1803
4. John McKay
5. John Sutherland
6. David Sutherland
Were John, David and Catherine Sutherland and John and Innes McKay related? Where had they come from? One interesting point to note is the three children all born close together in the summer of 1803 - George McKay, Johanna Gunn and James Polson.
John's father, James Polson, eldest son of Murdock and Catherine Polson married Flora Mackenzie 12th December 1833, at Marrel. James is described as a lotter on his marriage entry, so by this date he probably had inherited the croft from Murdock. As his parents do not appear on the 1841 census for Loth, it could be assumed one or both were deceased by this time.
James and Flora had nine children.
Murdock Polson born 13 April 1835, the eldest. He was tailor by occupation and died unmarried of consumption aged 34.
John Polson born 5 December 1836 at Marrel. He was a cooper by occupation. He married Christina Ross, in New Zealand.
Alexander Polson born 1 August 1838 and died as an infant.
Ann Polson baptised on 1 August 1840 and died of consumption aged 15.
Catherine Polson baptised on 3 July 1841. She received her schooling in Helmsdale, sailed with John on his second voyage to New Zealand, married Murdock Bruce, settled at Seafield near Ashburton, produced 11 children and died aged 81 in 1922.
Janet Polson baptised on 23 January 1843 and died of consumption aged 33.
William Polson born 1848 and died as an infant.
Alexandrina Polson born 1850 and died aged 22 of consumption.
William Polson the youngest son born 1852. His occupation was a labourer and salmon fisher. He fathered seven children and lived until he was about 71. His wife Ann was known affectionately by one and all as Granny Polson and lived a long life at Marrel. There is one description of William Polson to be found in the book `Highland Heroes of the Land Reform Movement' published in 1917.
'In the Marrel district of Helmsdale there is Mr. Wm. Polson. Although quiet and unassuming, he always stands firm as a rock for the land reform cause, never failing to support the men who voice his views'. 21
William may have been involved with the Highland Land League, which was formed in 1883, or a similar cause.
By 1851 Murdock, the eldest son, aged 15 or 16 was away from home learning his trade. John following soon after, finding work in the fishing industry at Wick. He learned the trade of a cooper or barrel maker for the smoked herring trade. Such work was readily available in Helmsdale and at Wick.
The 1861 Census schedules state that James Polson aged 54 was `Head of the household', `crofter of two acres', Flora Polson aged 52, his wife, and their children Murdock Polson unmarried 25, tailor, Catherine Polson 19, Janet Polson 17, Alexandrina Polson 11, William Polson 9 were all living at the Marrel cottage. John's name does not appear on this census for the Marrel residence. He may be the John Polson listed as enumerator for the census at Kildonan, where he was staying with his uncle George McKay; or he was away working at Wick or perhaps already on the high seas for his first voyage to New Zealand.
By the 1881 census only James, Flora, son William, his wife and three children lived at Marrel. Six of the children born to James and Flora had predeceased them by this date. John and Catherine had emigrated to New Zealand in 1864.
James Polson died on July 7 1884 at Marrel. Flora continued living in the cottage with William and Ann and their seven children. In New Zealand, she had another 20 grandchildren she would never see. She died on 21 June 1892.
Christina Ross's father was Roderick Ross. He spent about 25 years in the 93rd Highlander regiment and served in South Africa and at the battle of New Orleans before he was eventually discharged on 20th May 1821 from Kilmainham, Ireland. He took up land in West Helmsdale, perhaps granted by the army. The Ross homestead was called `Rockfield' and Christine Murray still lives there.
On 11th Feb 1827 at Cracaig, about 6-8 miles south of Helmsdale, the adventurous Roderick married Christian McIntosh (Christy). He was aged about 45 at the time of his marriage and described as a lotter. Christian was the daughter of Donald McIntosh and Effy MacAuley.
Christian and Roderick Ross had 6 children:-
Barbara Ross, born 20th Dec 1827 and married Hector McLeod on 4th Nov 1853. Their children were Christina, Donald, Mary, William, another William, Roderick and Elspeth McLeod.
Donald Ross, born 14th June 1829.
Ann Gordon Ross, born 10th Sep 1831.
William Ross, born 21st April 1834 and married Mary Polson on 2nd May 1862 at Kildonan. Their seven children were Angus, Roderick, Donald and David (twins), Marion, Christina, and another Donald Ross.
Christina Ross, born 17th 1938 and married John Polson on 21st May 1867 at Christchurch, New Zealand. Their children were Roderick, William and George, James, Christina, Annie, Catherine, Rose, and John Polson.
Elspeth Ross, chr. 21 Aug 1841 and married Robert Findlay on 12 April 1872 at Kildonan. Their children were Christina and Johanna Findlay. Elspeth brought up her grand son Roddy Findlay, but it is not known to which daughter he was born.
The 1861 Census Schedule for Helmsdale shows:-
Roderick Ross 79 Head of household, Chelsea pensioner 93rd Highers
Christy Ross 63 his wife, born in the parish of Loth,
Ann Ross aged 29, born in the parish of Loth
Christina Ross aged 21, born in the parish of Loth
Elspeth Ross aged 20, born in the parish of Loth
Christina McLeod grand daughter born in the parish of Kildonan.
She was Barbara and Hector McLeod's eldest daughter. There is no mention on this date of Donald Ross, William Ross, or Barbara Ross living at Rockfield. Barbara was already married anyway.
Roderick died at his home in West Helmsdale, 12th April 1863, aged 80. His wife Christina (Christy) lived until she was 80 and died at West Helmsdale on 12th December 1880. She was described as a lotter and widow.
John Polson eventually left Scotland in 1861 or 1862 traveling to New Zealand on `The Canterbury' and arriving at the Port of Lyttelton in 1862. He journeyed on to Port Chalmers, Otago, in the same year. On his arrival he found a mob of sheep whose shepherd had taken ill. The flock of sheep was consigned to Morven Hills in the Lindis Pass region of Central Otago. Although totally inexperienced in shepherding he agreed to conduct the flock to its destination Morven Hills, a hundred and fifty miles away. He had little idea where the Morven Hills Station was situated and taking the chance he set out with the flock of sheep. There was little in the way of roads in 1862, so by walking across brown tussock covered hills and bare mountains and ridges, and by driving the flock across swiftly flowing rivers he reached the Lindis. When he arrived with the sheep, the owner of Morven Hills, Jock McLean, employed him, and John decided to make his future home here.
Sometime in the next twelve months, John returned to Scotland by cattle boat and talked his sister Catherine Polson, his future wife Christina Ross, his cousins Mina and James Mackenzie and possibly others, into joining him in New Zealand. John, Catherine, Mina, James, and a George McLeod Polson left England on 21st Sep 1863 on 'The Canterbury' to sail to New Zealand. Jock McLean, met John at the Port of Lyttelton. John could well have assisted in the hiring of several other passengers who were engaged as shepherds.
Later, on July 15th 1866, Christina Ross also left London for New Zealand on the ship the 'Blue Jacket'.
John and Christina married at Christchurch, on 21st May 1867, seven months after Christina's arrival in N.Z. After their marriage, John and Christina settled at Morven Hills and lived in Polson's Hut and John took on boundary rider duties. The hut was isolated and lonely, but it was their home for the next three years. On a sheep station as large as Morven Hills and with mostly shepherds and boundary-riders employed on it, small stone or corrugated iron cottages such as Polson's Hut were built and were scattered throughout the length of the run for the men to live in. Only traces of these lonely huts remain intact, but Polson's Hut still stands `as solid as the day it was built' and a perfect example of a cottage of this type.
During the winter of 1869 twins were born in Polson's hut to Christina and John. The eldest child Roderick had been born just over a year earlier and was little toddler. The family story records that some weeks before the babies were expected, a crazy drunken man came past the cottage and chased Christina. She ran to Polson's hut for protection, but the whole trauma brought on premature labour. She had no time to prepare for the birth, and with John, managed the birth as best she could. Snow was thick on the ground, and frozen hard, wood was scarce. John Polson took the twins by the fire to keep them warm, while Christina attended to her self. There was no doctor, no nurse, no midwife, and no neighbour. Within a few hours of the birth, one twin died and then, three days later, the other. There was deep snow everywhere so the police, 30 miles away at Cromwell, could not come to verify the deaths. The babes could not be buried because the ground was frozen hard. They had to be kept in the hut and frozen until the ground thawed and they could be properly buried. The grave is over the hillside, in front of Polson's hut. A big willow marks the spot and at the base there is a big stone slab inscribed `1869'. No names. The grave is officially on the list of N.Z. graves. The twins were both sons, named William and George, but seemingly their birth is unregistered. John and Christina had a further six children.
John Polson eventually rose to be Head Shepherd at Morven Hills and he and Christina lived as married couple at the Station House, moving there in 1871. John remained on Morven Hills Station until near 1879 when he purchased the first small farm in an adjoining district at Bendigo He lived in Central Otago for a total of 49 years until his death in May 1910. Christina died in 1894.
I know about my paternal grandmother. I'm quite sure my grandfather
was born in Inverness. His father was Alexander and I have a copy of his
gravestone that said he was married twice. First to Margaret Scott who
died in 1883 and who I believe was my great-grandmother. His second wife
was Isobel Fraser who died in 1926. He passed away in 1947, age 88. It
also said he was employed as the permanent way inspector in Inverness. His
son Donald, my grandfather, eventually went to work for the Singer Co in
Glasgow where my father and his brother grew up. My father came to the
U.S. for a visit in 1929 and met my mother (who, by the way, he remembered
seeing in Glasgow) so he never got back to Scotland until he was much older.
Pat Walker e-mail: pwalker@innov-8.com
My grandmother was born in Helmsdale probably in the 1870-80 time frame. Her name was Margaret Stewart (or Stuart?) and she had relatives named Matheson.
(Left)
Donald Mathesonwith Harry & New Diamond. Est. 1910-15
Margaret Stewart and Grace Matheson
- est. beginning of 20th century.
(Right)
Margaret Stewart with son Alexander about 1910. He was born April 22, 1905 in Partick or Partrick
(Left)
Alex visiting Helmsdale - est. 1920
(Right)
Looks like Alex taken about the same time - 1920
(Right)
Margaret Stewart and husband Donald McLeod Walker
Her sons Alexander Walker (right) and his younger brother, William - about 1915
Margaret Stewart Walker and grand daughter Patricia during a 1937 visit to U.S.
Her son William of Glasgow with wife Jessie, daughter Sheila and son Alex in 1948
(Unfortunately we've lost track of them since Uncle Bill & Aunt Jessie died.)
Margaret Stewart Walker and granddaughter Patricia during a 1937 visit to U.S.
Last photo of Margaret Stewart Walker at age 85. Her U.S. grandchildren taken sometime in the 1960's (that's me in the lower right corner). Her U.S. great grandchildren taken in 1982.
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