Sent to a Poorhouse

 

Although the McRae family went to Caithness at the time of the Highland Clearances we can only speculate as to why Elizabeth was admitted to the Poorhouse there when her family lived in Edinburgh, 250 miles away.

We believe they still had relatives in Wick
and this might explain why Elizabeth was
sent back north to Caithness from her family
home in Edinburgh.

The register of her admission tells us
something about her. She was severely
disabled and was described as ‘Child
(Imbecile) Unable to walk.  Incontinent. 
Looks fairly bright.’

It is possible she suffered from cerebral
palsy as the entry describes her as suffering
from Infantile Paralysis.