Ross & Cromarty Roots | Killearnan Churchyard.

Picture No:	1503
Courtesy of:	Roddie Macpherson
Year:	2008

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Killearnan Churchyard.

Killearnan Church of Scotland parish church lies close to Redcastle overlooking the waters of the Beauly Firth.The site has been a place of worship for more than seven centuries.

Modern burials in the parish are now usually undertaken in the new cemetery near Tore.

Picture Added on 30 March 2008.

Comments

Great picture...husbands grandmother from here...
any names recorded from the gravstones?
Added by Lorna Matthew on 31 May 2008.

Not sure what name you're looking for, Lorna. Try the search facility as most of Killearnan stone inscriptions are on website. More modern cemetery at Tore not yet covered. Good luck.
Added by Roddie on 01 June 2008.

An ancestor, Sir George Elder, and his brother John, from here. George born abt. 1770, John in 1766/67. I am looking information about his parents. John went to Sleat and Sir George died in Madras, India, in 1836.
Added by Miguel Mintzer on 17 February 2009.

This is where I am told my 3xgrt grandfather William Fraser was christened 1st Nov. 1787 his parents were Simon Fraser and Christian McKenzie. Family story of William being press ganged whilst tending to his sheep aged around 15 years. He went on to fight at the battle of Corunna in Northern Spain 1809, he was taken prisoner by French and held for 7years, he returned home fluent in French. He was a Chelsea Pensioner and was in the 42foot regiment. I would love to prove this story, having difficulty as I do not have his army number, he did get a Chelsea Pension and 1st married Jane Jean McKenzie then Janet McIntyre when he was 72 years old. William died 6th August 1870 in Aberchirder aged 87. I do not know where he is buried.
Anyone out there who is also researching this family?
Added by Norah Wood on 13 November 2009.

My ancestor Rev David Denoon was a minister and is buried here, quite fascinating to me. I'd love to visit here someday and I likely will
Added by Ron Richards on 29 June 2011.

My ggg-grandfather had a son, called John Cameron who mother was called Ann Fraser.John was baptised in this church in 1842.
Added by Mrs Irene Fisher on 07 October 2011.

My ancestor Rev David Denoon was minister here as was his son in the 1700's. Someone tried to email me but it was in my spam folder and destroyed before I realized what I had done. Please email me again. I will likely visit next year with my wife. David Denoon was born in Inverness and I will visit there as well.
Added by on 09 October 2011.

Re last Comment. Please add name & email if you want someone to contact you.
Added by Roddie on 09 October 2011.

Hi, my direct ancestor was Hugh Denoon who was the brother of Reverend David Denoon buried at this church. Hugh resided in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada and is buried in the Laurel Hill Cemetery, Pictou, Nova Scotia.

Thanks.
Added by David Denoon on 04 January 2012.

We visited This area in July 2011 and were blown away by the history and beauty of the area.Joans Family the Glass family lived in the area 1600, 1700, and 1800's we're yet to look at the 1900's.We are planning to return next year to spend more time visiting the Black Isle.Cannot wait to get back and spend more time there.If anyone has any information on the Glass history please contact us.
Regards Joan Simpson Adelaide, Australia
Added by Joan Simpson on 14 February 2012.

My 2x ggrandmother, Catherine Matheson widow of John MacKenzie, died in Killearnan on May 11, 1867. I tried the search facility but didn't find her burial in this churchyard. Would there maybe be another one I should check? I don't know if there's a monument to John MacKenzie as I've been told he drowned when his ship went down around 1840.
Added by Janet McKenzie Helgason on 20 December 2012.

Can anyone help me find any information on my great great grandfather George Denoon born around Redcastle 1913. George was married to Catherine(Kate)Mackay and had five children John, Donald, Margaret, Ann and Isabella.
Thank you M Campbell
Added by Mhairi Campbell on 04 September 2014.

In May of this year, 2014 my wife and I did visit the Killearnan Church and found my ancestors gravestones. The people here in Killearnan were wonderful and extremely helpful. This is a beautiful part of Scotland, we did a lot of touring around the Highlands and absolutely loved it.
Added by Ron Richards on 05 September 2014.

I found the following info and would like to hear from anyone who knew this family.

I think the issue is that this man immigrated to the USA I am a descendant of this First born son William Jr. He immigrated to Petersburg Virginia around 1780.

I have letters from William's son John who I am descended from who corresponded with Dr. Alex Fraser of London and Sir Hugh Fraser of Red Castle Inverness, who gave him 100 pounds sterling to start a drug store in New Orleans. They called themselves his Uncles. They also tutored him and aided his studies at the Royal Academy in Inverness when he was a teenager, possibly why they had such a generous nature toward him to give him 100 pounds sterling, a lot of money at that time.

He actually didn't start a Drug store, but opened up a classical academy with the money, but they approved.

It is odd for a man (William sr.) to have immigrated to the USA at this time, family lore says he was a Highlander who fought in New York against the Revolution, then transplanted after the conclusion. Though I have little proof of that.

I think you might find more if you look around USA records. He definitely lived in Petersburg VA by the first USA census of 1790.

Added by Alice Fraser on 07 March 2016.

Good evening, In 2011 and 2014 I visited Killearnan church and head stones looking for the Name Glass my G/G/G/ grand parents who lived in Milton on Red castle for many many years, We could not find any Glass memories. John Glass was at on stage doing a lot of work for the church and I believe was on the church committee.
Do you have any information on any Glass family members?
My email address is
Rothesay07@tpg.com.au
I live in Australia.
Added by Joan Simpson (nee Glass ) on 09 March 2016.

My GG grandfather William Fraser was born in 1787 and he worked as a weaver on Red Castle Estates. He was married twice. First to Ann McDonald and then to Mary Bisset(who came from Knockbain but grew up in Milton). All his children were christened in Urray Church. He left Red Castle a year before it was cleared and went to Inverness. He had my G grandfather Reverend William Fraser there. I am told his parents were Alexander Fraser and Isobel Mackenzie. I would love to hear from someone who might have some information to share.
Added by Sheena on 30 March 2017.

Hello all - I'm trying to find the gravestone of Catherine Melness Mackay (nee Gunn) b. early 1600's in Killearnan (father was Alexander Mackeamish Gunn, of Kilearnan & Navidale, 4th Mackeamish - maybe later moved to Loch Badanloch area) - and she married Lt Col Hon Angus Melness Mackay, first of the Melness Mackays, son of Donald Mackay the 1st Lord Reay of Strathnayer and Barbara Mackenzie). Catherine & Angus married 1659. He died around the turn of the century, serving in Scottish regiment in Denmark. The track has run cold on Catherine - so any answers would be gratefully received. Thank you all. Belinda
Added by Belinda Griffin on 26 July 2017.

Serene and beautiful setting, so happy to find my grandmother's grave here, Margaret Elizabeth Lobban M. Forbes, she died after giving birth to twins, unfortunately there is no mention of their burial.
Added by Mary Forbes on 26 July 2017.

Hi all, Killearnan churchyard is on my must go to next time I am in Scotland. My interest shall be in my Campbell fore parents Kenneth Campbell and Margaret McDonald and their children (John born Urray 1777, Donald born abt 1780, Helen, Isobel and Katherine all born Killearnan, 1784, 1787 and 1790 respectively. Donald, Helen and Isobel lived all their lives in the parish and Donald married Helen Campbell the daughter of Alexander Campbell and Margaret Young. Pretty sure I am related to most families in the area around 1750 /1800's.
Added by Colin D Campbell on 09 October 2018.

Hello

I have put together a little website which concentrates on the morthouse in the graveyard of Killearnan Church near Redcastle. If you could find a way of helping promote it in order to get some publicity then it would be much appreciated.
Added by John Tuach on 17 November 2024.

Just a little update, I visited the church and churchyard May 2024, what a beautiful setting. I actually found the grave and stone for my 4th great grandfather brother Donald Campbell and his wife Helen Campbell. Donald was a crofter and cartwright who lived at Bolgallon. I could find no evidence of the burial place of Helen, Isabel who died in their eighties in 1866 and 1869 respectively who were spinster and lived in Munlochy. I am try now to trace the kirk sessions for Killearnan to see if I find out anything of my 5th grandparents Kenneth Campbell and Margaret MacDonald. On the OPR Killearnan baptism of his grandson also named Kenneth in 1814 grandfather Kenneth was identified as a Mealer (land preparation) as was his other grandfather Alexander Campbell
Added by Colin D Campbell on 18 November 2024.