Margaret Taylor

     Margaret Taylor was christened on 11 Feb 1802 in Reay, CAI, SCT; (mother shown as Isabel McDonald) This year agrees with Maggie's age in the 1851 census, although the latter does say she was born Halkirk, not Reay.^2,3,4 Some sources believe Margaret Taylor was born cir. 1806 in Reay, CAI, SCT, but most of the ages of the family in the 1861 census were well out. At least the place agrees with her christening. 1806 would also be within range for her age in the 1841 census, which shows her as born Caithness, aged 30 (plus or minus 5).^3,5
     Margaret Taylor married Donald Bain, son of John Bain and Catherine Gray, on 12 Jul 1832 at Halkirk, CAI, SCT, the Halkirk OPR entry shows Donald in Hilhead, Bower, and Margaret in Gerston Halkirk. A month earlier, when the banns were entered in the Bower OPR they read: Donald Bain of Clayoch, Margaret Taylor of Gerston, Parish of Halkirk were matrimonially contracted the 15th Jun 1832. Cautners John Bain and William Taylor (assumed to be their respective fathers). NB another researcher believes the marriage to be 12 Feb in Halkirk which cannot be correct if the Banns were called 15 Jun.^6,7,1
     Margaret Taylor died on 12 Dec 1861 at Dale, Par. of Halkirk, CAI, SCT, at age 59; Dist Halkirk, #37 cert reads: Margaret Bain married to Doanld Bain, farm servant, died 12th Dec, 8am, age 58. Parents shown as William Taylor and Margaret Macdonald. Cause unknown, no medical attendant, inf. William Murray, Daile, not present. Registered 18th Dec at Halkirk. (Mother's name more likely to be Isabella as the only Margaret Taylor born Reay to anyone Macdonald was to an Isabella (at least in surviving records), and Isabella also fits the Scottish naming pattern for their children).¹
     Margaret Taylor was also known as Maggie. In Jul 1832 Margaret Taylor was living in Gerston, Par. of Halkirk, CAI, SCT.⁷
     Margaret Bain and Donald Bain appeared on the census of 7 Jun 1841 at Sibster, Par. of Halkirk, CAI, SCT, and are assumed to be husband and wife. They were enumerated as BAIN: Donald head, 30, day lab; wife Margaret, 30. John 8; William 6; Isabell 4; James 2; Jane 1.^5,8
     Donald and Margaret Bain appeared on the census of 30 Mar 1851 at Clashscribie, Par. of Latheron, CAI, SCT, as Donald Bain, 45, miller wife Margaret, 49 both b Halkirk. Dtrs: Isabella 15; Catherine, 9 both scholars b Latheron (place given as Clashscruvie, assumed mistranscription of Clashscriby. Possibly he had gone home to be near his father, who died a couple of years after this) This is one of 3 neighbouring census entries related to this family: the first being Donald's parents, John and Catherine, with their dtr Jane; the next being Donald's brother James and his family.^9,4
     Donald and Margaret Bain appeared on the census of 7 Apr 1861 at Dale, Par. of Halkirk, CAI, SCT, as BAIN: Donald, head, mar., 52, miller, b Halkirk; Margaret T, wife, 54, "his wife" b Reay; Children: Isabella, 24, b Latheron; James, 21, ag lab, b Halkirk; Catherine, 16 b Latheron' Grddtr Catherine, 3 b Halkirk (dtr of Isabella) (1 room with 1 or more windows) The ages shown are well out: Donald was by now at least 55, Maggie 59, James 23 and Catherine nearly 20, only Isabella has an age consistent with other census entries. (Only one household separates them from Alexander & Catherine Sutherland and family, which their respective children Alexander Sutherland and Catherine Bain obviously took advantage of)
Click here for a picture of the mill at Dale.³