FROM the New Zealand death certificate of my great great grandfather Donald Ross I made the discovery that he was born in Tain in 1803.

WAS there a place named Kintail in Dingwall in the early 1800s? This the most futile search I have ever done over the many years since I started and I go round in circles because Margaret Macrae, my great grandmother, insisted that her place of birth was just "Kintail" in all the census.

Sir — We are researching the family history and hope that your readers may be able to fill in a couple of blanks to help us trace a long lost relative.

MY name is John MacCulloch and I originally come from Helmsdale. I have been trying to trace an old friend, Kenny MacKenzie – nicknamed Big Kenny, who I lost touch with a number of years ago.

We are trying to find out more about the family of Angus Mackenzie, a tailor in Dingwall in the 19th century, whose family seems to have lived in Station Road for many years.

I READ with great interest the item regarding the Ploughman's Dance in your issue of March 14 in the 88 years ago column.

I AM looking for anyone related to the Ross and MacKenzie families and anyone knowing the whereabouts of the farm called Fyrish in the Alness area.

ANDREW McLean died 1827 in Invergordon. He requested his body be interred at the family burial place in the churchyard Alness.

MY grandfather, William Dingwall, was born 1 June 1864 in Ferintosh, Ross-shire. He was the son of Roderick Dingwall and Annie (nee McDonald).

I AM looking for the birth and death of a James Campbell who was staying in Portmahomack or Tarbet area.

I AM looking for any information on a Hugh Ross who was married to a Bella Ross (nee MacLennon) in the 1800's in Kincardine, Ross-shire.

I AM looking for descendants of the Cameron/McLennan families.

IN 1837, Alexander Maclennan (or McLennan) left Scotland with his wife Mary née Matheson. They sailed from Portree in Skye on board the William Nicol bound for New South Wales.

FOR the past year I have been searching every possible information source looking for my great, great grandfather's family and any relatives that may still be living in the Scottish Highlands.

RODERICK Bain (b 1864) lived in Kishorn. His parents were Elizabeth Mackenzie (b 1838), married to Donald Bain.

I WAS born Rosemary Maclennan. My Maclennan family lived in Tighnafiline, Aultbea until 1977 when my grandfather William Mackay Maclennan died.

I AM researching the life of Canon J R Spence Ross, schoolmaster of the Avoch Institute 1879 to 1930 and also rector of St Andrews Episcopal Church, Fortrose 1881-1918.

I AM trying to trace my lost relatives from Tarbat.

I WONDER if any of your readers would know of the McKimmie family who lived in Ross-shire.

I AM seeking descendants of Donald MacKenzie and Mary MacLennan who lived in Torridon and had a daughter Ann who married John Fraser in Inverness.

I AM trying to trace the birth of Robert McGregor Ross but searches on SP have found nothing.

I AM researching the family history of my grandfather William Fraser/McKay born 1868 in Knockbain to Mary McKay.

I AM currenly researching my great grandmother's family. I know that they all lived in the Moss area of Lochbroom.

I AM trying to find the place where my mother, Joyce Margaret Mackay, was born. I would like to visit it on a vacation 2008.

I AM seeking information about my descendant William Mackenzie, alias Rioch or Riach born about 1750 in Portlich.

I AM trying to get information about my family, the McLemans of 22 Dock, Avoch.

I AM looking for descendants of Jessie S Paterson (nee MacLeod). She died at Redwoods Nursing Home, Alness on August 18, 1996. Her husband was a Thomas Paterson.

I AM seeking information of Andrew Ross, born 1800-1820, a crofter in the Tain area.

I WOULD like any information on my grandmother Jessie McCullough who was born in Alness. I’m led to believe they were farmers.

MY name is John MacCulloch and I belong to Helmsdale. I am trying to trace an old friend, Kenny MacKenzie, nicknamed Big Kenny.

I AM researching my family who were living and working as fishermen in Portmahomack during the 19th century.

THIS e-mail originates from New Zealand where I am attempting to trace an ancestor of mine, my great-grandfather John McLeod.

I WONDER if anyone has a book gathering dust that they would be willing to sell entitled ‘Tarbat Easter Ross: A Historical Sketch’ by Alexander Fraser and Finlay Munro.

I AM trying to find any information on a John Fraser and Margaret Chisolm.

I NOW live in Australia and would like to hear from anyone who can help me trace my cousin, Josephine McCalden.

THE Scottish Cooperative Group, which will be sponsoring this year’s Moray Firth Flotilla event, intends to celebrate the Co-operative Movement in the Highlands, past and present, as part of the region’s culture.

I HOPE readers may be able to help me regarding Ronald Duncan Fraser, once of Tain.

I AM trying to trace living relations of Angus Mackenzie who married Christina Ross.

I AM researching my great-great grandparents, Donald Munro and Mary Bethune, married in Fodderty Church in 1824.

I AM seeking any information about my great-grandfather James who was supposedly a well-known cattle dealer/flesher and judge of cattle. He moved to Tain from Keith in the late 1800s with his wife Helen (Munro) and family.

I AM trying to help a second-cousin, Sandy McLennan, track his family connections in Ross-shire.

I AM wondering if anyone who attended Fortrose Academy from 1955 to 1958 remembers me.

RESIDENTS of a Black Isle community are being urged to unearth photographs, film footage and memorabilia related to a once-vital transport link with Inverness.

IN 1998 you kindly published a plea from me for 'Noble' relatives. I had no response from this, but did get a little more information from your Dingwall registrar when we were living at Achterneed for two-and-a-half months that same year.

A CONON Bridge woman is appealing for help from distant family members to trace her family tree, in a bid to allow her Canadian cousin to fulfil a lifelong dream by visiting Ross-shire and meeting some of his descendants.

Can any readers help me to trace my deceased father's family?

YOUR recent article on George Williamson's plans to make a model of the Ben Wyvis Distillery has prompted me to write.