The Family of Donald Gunn and Ester Sutherland.


1, Mary. b. 1790 Kildonan - emigrated to Canada as a Selkirk Settler with her brother.

  1. 2.Robert  b. 1791, Kildonan - d. 1818 Montreal emigrated to Canada as a Selkirk Settler. Was known as “The Piper”present at Kildonan Riots of 6 Jan 1813 to protest Sutherland ClearancesLeft Stromness, Orkney on “Prince of Wales” on 28 June 1813


Mary and son Robert were members of the Selkirk settler group that arrived on the “Prince of Wales” in 1814. Mary married Alexander Bannerman in Red River.


In 1815, about 140 of the original Red River settlers left the settlement after enduring severe hardships and being caught up in the dispute with Métis who were in the employ of the Northwest Company. (Mary with her husband Alexander Bannerman) and Robert were part of this group who traveled overland to Holland Landing near Newmarket Ontario. The families who made the trek included Gunns, Sutherlands, McBeaths, Bannermans and McKays. These names keep appearing in the history of our family and this may have given rise to the story that we are direct descendants of the Selkirk Settlers.


Mary (Bannerman) and Robert probably settled with some of the other refugees who took up land in Elgin County, west of Toronto. I am unable to find records of them in West Gwillimbury.


Contradictory to Sage’s “Memorabilia”, Robert did not die in Manitoba, but (according to the accounts that I have read), was one of most disheartened of the Red River group and was instrumental in persuading others to leave the settlement. In November of 1818, he testified at the proceedings that stemmed from the troubles at Red River. He may have died in Montreal about that time.


  1. 3.Donald Gunn. Married Catherine Gunn (her maiden name) Died 7 October 1874 - Gartymore, Loth

  2. 1.Mary b.Feb. 1821 Gartymore

  3. 2.Robert b. 23 March,1823 Gartymore

  4. 3.Alexander b.23 July 1825 Gartymore

  5. 4.Donald b. 22 Aug 1827 Gartymore

  6. 5.Anne b. 22 Oct. 1829 Gartymore married William Sutherland 11 Jan. 1878

  7. 6.Esther b. 8 Nov. 1832 Gartymore

  8. 7.Williamina b.14 Feb 1835 Clashachadh

  9. 8.John b.3 June 1836 , Clashachadh

  10. 9.Catherine b. 13, January 1839 Clashachadh married David Sinclair 3, Nov. 1871

  11. 10.George These 2 show up in the 1851 census but births are not found.

  12. 11.William These 2 show up in the 1851 census but births are not found.


4. Jean Gunn (1797 -)

Married (3 Feb. 1819) Malcolm Fraser who was drowned at Helmsdale. They had 3 children and resided in West Helmsdale.


5. James (1799-) I have no information about this son and assume that he died as an infant.


6. Alexander (1801- 1883) – This is my direct ancestor. His narrative follows below.


7. Christian (Christy) (1803 – She does not appear to have married and appears on the census records for West Helmsdale in 1841,1851 and 1861.


8. Angus Gunn (1805 –) I have no information about Angus. There is an Angus Gunn on the 1841 census of Borobol. The name Angus Gunn shows up in the records of the Scotch settlements in Ontario.


9. Ester (1807 - 1841) Was the first wife of Anderson Murray (1805- 1883) This large family is well documented.


10. George Gunn (1809- January 3, 1872) – death recorded in West Helmsdale). He married Marion Polson (1819 -). This marriage was registered in both Loth and Kildonan Parishes. Their children were: Anne (1835-) Robert (1857 -) Donald (1839-)

Ester (1841-) Alexander (1843 -), John and William.


Donald Gunn and Ester moved down the glen to Wester Helmsdale in the Parish of Loth after the Kildonan Clearances of 1819.


The 1841 census of Loth shows the following family:

Donald Gunn, age 74

Ester Gunn, age 70

Christy age 35

George age 30

Merron? age 30

Ann age 5

Robert age 3

Donald age 1


Note: Further research in the records of Ontario settlers might determine if James or Angus emigrated to join relatives.

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