First Son
BIRTH: 24 May 1881 The first son from the marriage of Robert and Mary Sutherland (nee MacKenzie). Born at Tister in the Parish of Bower, Caithness where his father was employed as a farm servant. His sister, Williamina, was 15 months old at the time of his arrival. Presumably named after his father's father, Thomas.
DEATH: 19 July 1881 Thomas died at barely two months of age at Dunnet Mains in the Parish of Wick following three days of diarrhoea. Whether Robert was working at Durran Mains at the time is uncertain, as it may have been the case that his son was taken there to obtain medical attention.
Please help ... If anyone is familiar with the grave yards in the Tister, Bower or Dunnet areas I would be grateful if you could contact me though it is unlikely that such a small child was offered a headstone.