Reverand William Scobie
I have attempted on this website to set down some of the results of my
research into the family and descendants of the Reverand William Scobie of
Assynt, Sutherland, Scotland. It seems that most of those with the name of
Scobie who came from that part of Scotland are related to him.
William Scobie probably came from Perthshire. He was ordained within the
Presbytery of Strathbogie (near Huntly, Aberdeenshire) in 1727. He accepted
the call to Dornoch in 1728 and later was minister of Assynt, probably until
his death in 1763. The connection with the house of Mackay was made when he
married Jane Mackay, daughter of John Mackay of Kirtomy of the Mackays of
Strathy.
Two of his sons, Kenneth and John also married into that family and initially
joined the army before settling into a farming life. His 3rd son to survive
childhood, James, became a minister at Wick.
Like so many other Scots families, William's descendants are spread around the
globe.
Thank you to all of those related and unrelated friends all over the world who
have so freely helped me in my research. I would have made little progress
without you!
Please note that some birth dates have been calculated
from death/marriage certificates & census information and baptismal dates are
occassionally substituted for birth dates
Sources which have been of great help include:
Cairns-Smith-Barth, John Lawrence The Scottish Clan Chiefs Vol 1 The
Chiefs of the Clan Mackay and their Cadets Grub Street Bookshop,Victoria,
Australia,
1999
Mackay, Rev. Angus The House of Mackay published by Norman McLeod,
Edinburgh, 1906
Mackay Scobie, Capt A.H.An Old Highland Fencible Corps, The Reay Fencibles
Macdonald, Sheila The Member for Mt Ida published by Ferguson & Usborne
Ltd Lambton Quay, Wellington NZ 1938