John Munro

John Munro is my three times great grandfather. He was born about 1759 in Kilmuir Easter, Ross & Cromarty, Scotland. Sometimes he was referred to as John Bain. "Bain" is quite a common name in the north of Scotland. It means "fair" and was often used as a nickname (also in the form of "Ban" or "Bhan"). The reason for this is that so many people had the same surname and forename, so a common name like "John" would have been coupled with "Bain" to indicate that this person was fair and to distinguish him from the dark, or "Dhu," John. In "Scotland, Marriages, 1561 - 1910," it is recorded that John Bain married Barbra Ross on 17 December 1783 in Kilmuir Easter, Ross & Cromarty, Scotland. (Source: https://family search.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XYQV-432) Barbara Ross was born about 1763 in Kilmuir Easter. John Munro was a slater and mason by trade. He and Barbara had seven children. They were as follows: Donald Munro, born 19 January 1785. George Munro, born 2 September 1786. Barnet Munro (my great great grandfather), born about 1787; died 9 April 1867. Andrew Munro, born 12 February 1791. Elizabeth Munro, christened 17 December 1796. John Munro, christened 7 June 1800. Edward Munro, born 21 August 1801. David Munro, baptized 26 January 1804. All these children were born in Kilmuir Easter, Ross & Cromarty, Scotland. Barnet died in Milntown, Kilmuir Easter.

Kilmuir Easter

The Gaelic name for Kilmuir Easter is "Cill Mhoir" meaning the Church of Mary. This name possibly stems from an ancient chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In pre- Reformation times this chapel stood on the banks of the nearby Delny Burn, now the site of the Delny farm steading. Kilmuir Easter lies in a corner of Easter Ross ( see map below). Today the parish consists of neat cottages and comfortable farmhouses. Every so often you will find an imposing mansion. The cottages are surrounded by fertile fields, clustering woods, low hedges and gurgling burns. It is indeed a very pleasant area. However, a little over 100 years ago there were many areas of waste. The land was untrenched, undrained and unfenced, and the only roads were rough tracks. Today there are well-constructed roads running in every direction. Every corner of the parish is easily accessible by any sort of vehicle. Kilmuir slopes from the hills in the north to the shores of Cromarty Firth in the south. To the north-east is the Balnagown River, and to the west is the parish of Rosskeen. John Munro and Barbara Ross, and several of my ancestors, were born in Kilmuir Easter. I have written these lines to give you an idea of the area they came from. Below is a map of the area. Source: <

Introduction

I have been researching my Munro Family History since approximately 2000.  I had some information when I began, but I became really interested when I found that the Internet could provide more detailed information.  I have decided to write this blog to help me to set my findings in writing.  I will write individual information about my ancestors and branches of their families.  I will also include local history, vignettes and sources.  I hope that you will find this interesting and informative.

I will begin with my gr gr gr grandfather, John Munro from Kilmuir Easter, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland.  He was born in approximately 1759, and he married Barbara Ross on 27 December 1783 in Kilmuir Easter.  At that time he was known as John Bain.  The name "Bain" was used because "John Munro" was a common name.  It denotes that John Munro had a fair complexion.  John Munro and Barbara  Ross had eight children - Donald Munro, George Munro, Barnet Munro (my gr gr grandfather), Andrew Munro, Elizabeth Munro, John Munro, Edward Munro, and David Munro.

In the coming days I will set out some of the history of Kilmuir Easter and some individual stories and vignettes.  I'm really excited about at last making the actual decision and effort into putting my Munro Family History into writing.