The village of John O’Groats, on the north-eastern tip of mainland Scotland, is 876 miles from Land’s End, on the western tip of Cornwall. Some of our ancestors lived at John O’Groats, some at Land’s End. Because they failed to bunch up for our convenience we will be obliged to drive from one end of the country to the other to take them all in.
One was Margaret Cudmore nee Budge (1845 – 1912), my great great grandmother, who was born on 22 October 1845 to Kenneth Budge (1813 – 1852) and Margaret Budge nee Gunn (1819 – 1863) in Wick, Caithness, 16 miles south of John O’Groats .

From a collection of 44 monochrome postcards showing fishing scenes around Scotland in the early 20th century. Monchrome photograph with the title ‘Herring Gutters at work, Wick’ showing three large trench style benchs full of herring with men and women on each side gutting herring. There are stacked fish barrels behind them with the masts of fishing vessels in the harbour in the background. Retrieved from Dornoch History Links image library http://www.historylinksarchive.org.uk/picture/number11794.asp
Margaret was baptized on 16 January 1846.

16/01/1846 BUDGE, MARGARET (Old Parish Registers Births 043/ 40 493 Wick) Page 493 of 593 retrieved from ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk
Her father was a sailor, who died at sea of cholera in 1852, when Margaret was almost 7. In 1854 Margaret Budge nee Gunn remarried, to Ewan Rankin (born 1825).
Margaret was the fourth of five children. Her older sister Alexandrina died between 1845 and 1851. Her younger sister was also named Alexandrina.
Margaret, her two brothers Daniel and Kenneth and younger sister Alexandrina accompanied their mother and step-father to Adelaide, South Australia in 1854. Margaret was then 9 years old.
Margaret married James Francis Cudmore (1837 – 1912), a pastoralist. They had 13 children.

Margaret Cudmore nee Budge. (I am not certain of the source of this photograph)
James Francis Cudmore was in business at various times with Margaret’s brothers Daniel and Kenneth and also James Mansfield Niall, the husband of Margaret’s younger sister Alexandrina.
Margaret, it appears, never returned to Wick. In honour of her home place however, Margaret named their house at Mount Barker “Caithness”. Mount Barker is 33 kilometers from Adelaide. Margaret’s youngest child, Robert Milo Cudmore, was born there in 1889.

Family Notices (1889, February 15). The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA : 1867 – 1922), p. 2 (Second Edition.). Retrieved April 9, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article208524891
Ann John O’Groats has been on my list of places to visit in UK. Not because of my family history but just to see it and where it’s situated #AtoZ
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Thoroughly enjoy reading your posts Anne. Every one of them.
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thanks for reading. April is a busy month but when I look back at the end of each April at how much family history I have recorded it becomes a worthwhile effort.
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i love the tradition of people naming their homes. and what a nice homage to her hometown.
Joy at The Joyous Living
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Anne,
I have never heard of John O’Groats. Your postcard makes it come alive, along with the smell of freshly-cut fish up and down the harbor! I will have to research this place a little more. It sounds interesting!
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I suspect the smell of herring might have been a bit overpowering in earlier times
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“Because they failed to bunch up for our convenience”, that’s funny, I like that. J was difficult for me in this challenge, you had a good one.
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I enjoyed your post very much. The first time I have heard of family historians having ancestors at both ends of Britain – quite a journey ahead of you on our roads! The name Alexandrina I have only heard before in relation to Queen Victoria, i too like the custom of emigrants naming their new home after their birthplace or family farm etc – it does help to confirm you have the right line.
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What an interesting place and name. That is some trip you are planning.
My ancestor’s brother also named their home after where they were from, I love that idea.
I’m not doing the challenge this year, but now have time to catch up on all the posts. Looking forward to the rest.
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Anne, I am Daniel’s great great grandson, Anthony Barton, thank you you can email Carol budge my mother if you want. Thank you for this, was told Daniel’s dad was a colonel but a ships captain makes more sense, my grandfather was called Kenneth budge as well.
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Great to hear from you. My email is ay.familyhistory at gmail.com I would be delighted to exchange family history.
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