Barbara Grant & John Mackenzie & John Ross

BARBARA GRANT
[31/12/1803-19/4/1891]
Married
1) JOHN MACKENZIE
[died pre 1851]
2) JOHN ROSS
[4/8/1805-19/2/1883]
Barbara was born in Rogart, daughter of John Grant and Elizabeth Mackenzie. She is a granddaughter of Colin Mackenzie and Barbara Gordon.
In 1841 Barbara was recorded at Dalmore, Rogart, with her father, John, a tenant, and a brother, George. With her were her children William and Johanna but not her husband. A note on the 1841 census shows that "a lot of the people were away at the preaching in Kincardine, Ross-shire". Was John Mackenzie at the preaching or was he already dead? In 1851 Barbara was still living at Dalmore, now with her sister in law, Christian. Barbara is shown on this census as a widow. Young William and Johanna were still with her.
They had the following children:
WILLIAM MACKENZIE born 15 November 1835 Creich (IGI)
JOHAN MACKENZIE born 23 August 1838 Rogart (IGI)

John Ross was born in Dornoch, son of John Ross and Marion Campbell. He was firstly married to Helen Gordon who died in 1952. John and Helen lived at Torbreck, Rogart where they had at least nine children.

Helen Gordon died at Torbreck in 1852 aged 41. John Ross then married Barbara Grant. This marriage took place in Rogart on 16 January 1854. In 1871 Barbara and John were at Torbreck, Rogart, where John was tenant of six acres. With them were John's children from his earlier marriage plus a grandson, Robert Grant, son of John's daughter Marion and her husband Andrew Grant. Also with the family was an Ann Gordon, aged 78 years, formerly a general servant and believed to be the daughter of John Gordon and Isobel Mackenzie at Blairmore.
In 1881 John, Barbara, Donald and a grandson, William, daughter Marion's son, were still living at Torbreck (now written Torbrick). John Ross was shown as a farmer of eight acres. He died at Torbreck in 1883 and is buried in Dornoch with his first wife, Helen Gordon.
It is believed that Donald Ross, stepson of Barbara, swapped crofts around 1887 with the Mackenzies from Torbreck - the Ross family going to live at Culbuie, Lairg. Barbara died at Culbuie, Lairg in 1891.
The two marriages of Barbara Grant show how close these Rogart families were. Neighbour marrying neighbour. Always the mix between Gordon, Grant, Mackenzie, Mackay.