Alexander Auld the eldest son of John & Elizabeth Auld (m.s.Sutherland) was born at Waterloo, a farm near Wick, on the 12th October 1841.

By 1861 he was a 19 year old 'Domestic Coachman' employed by Mr Eric Sutherland Sinclair, a Physican and Surgeon, and wife at Montpeller House, Louisburgh Road, Wick.

He married Catherine Wares on the 26th November 1863 at her parent’s home in Huddart Street, Pulteneytown, Wick. Alexander is shown on their Marriage certificate as being a 22 year old Coachman living in Louisburg, Wick and Catherine a 22-year-old Domestic Servant of Huddart Street. There was no church in Huddart Street but they were married “After Banns according to the Forms of the Church of Scotland”. The witnesses were John Wares, her eldest brother and James Wares, most probably her father.

They eventually had a total of nine children;-

John George Auld - born 22nd December 1863
Elizabeth Auld - born 14th November 1865
James Manson Auld - born 8th April 1868
Catherine Auld - born 2nd February 1870
AlexanderAuld - born 18th November 1871
Ellen Auld - born 1st November 1873
George Murison Auld - born 20th May 1877
Maggie Jessie Auld - born 10th March 1879
William Alexander Auld - born 24th April 1882

Sometime before 1865 Alexander became coachman to another of the Sinclair family - Sir John and Lady Sinclair - who lived in Barrock House, Lyth.

Alexander and Catherine's next five children were born here between 1865 and 1873. It is not known exactly were they lived in Barrock although there was very limited accommodation over the stables and coachhouse but there was a rather grand lodge at the entrance to the estate.

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By the second half of the 1870's the family were on the move again. This time it was to Trumland House on the Island of Rousay in Orkney, This was the home of Alexander’s new employer, General Frederick William Traill-Burroughs.

During the early/mid 1880's Alexander and family left Rousay and the General and moved down to Blackhall Castle, on the south bank of the River Dee at Banchory, Kincardineshire where Alexander became Coachman to Mr. James Hay and his family.

By 1891 there were only three children living at home with Alexander and Catherine - Nellie, George and William. The census for that year shows that they were living in the 'Coach House'.

Ten years later in 1901 there were five family members in the 'Stables' - Alexander, 59, Catherine, 59, George, a 23 year old 'Tailor', William, an 18 year old 'Cycle Maker' and Margaret (Maggie) a 21 year old.