Tain Museum Image Library

Picture No 173. Courtesy of Tain & District Museum.
Year: 1938
Catalogue No. 2249.5

Dorothy Mercado (Lady Ross)

Photograph of Dorothy Mercado, who became the third wife of Sir Charles Ross of Balnagown in 1938, taken on board the Queen Mary. Sir Charles was based in North America for much of his adult life and Dorothy Mercado was his American secretary. His previous two marriages had been to Winifred Berens in 1893 and Patricia Ellison in 1901. Both ended in divorce.

After Sir Charles' death in 1942, the third Lady Ross inherited the castle and estates which were heavily encumbered with debt. Attempts by her and later by her second husband to run the estates as a sporting venture were not a great success and by the late 1960s much of the estate had been sold and the castle itself was in a state of decay. The castle and what remained of the estate was bought by Mohamed al Fayed in 1972.
Picture added on 23 June 2004.

Comments

My parents knew Lady Ross in the 1950s when they lived at Balnagown Farm. She used to stop and
admire my sister in her pram.
Added by Sheila Munro on 28 June 2004.

Dorothy Mercado was my mother's Aunt. I will pass this site to her and her sister for further comments.
Added by Ruth Griffiths on 06 December 2004.

Lady Ross (Dorothy or Dolly as she was know by her family) was my aunt. Her youngest brother was my father (but she sometimes referred to him as her nephew for reasons too complicated to get into here). My father came to the states in his 20's. He was born in 1901. My aunt came to the U.S. (New York City) once or twice twice a year where she had some business interests in the 1950's as well as coming to see family. I was a teenager when she died but have very fond memories of her visits to the family, and particularly of shopping in NYC. It was like a little fairy tale for me. She was a beautiful, warm, energetic woman who was very generous as well. I remember her telling me that one year she received Christmas cards from both Adlai Stevenson and Dwight Eisenhower on Christmas. She sent me postcards of the castle and of lambs there. She told me of eating in a restaurant retaurant and seeing Danny Kaye = things little kids would love to hear about. I am very excited that my daughter discovered this site.
Added by Jeanne (Heiser) Mitchell on 06 December 2004.

My father, Dr. John R. Ross of Toronto Canada, gives mention of Lady Ross (Dorothy Mercado) and her marriage to Sir Charles Lockhart Ross, creator of the Ross Rifle and owner of the Balnagown estates, in his book "The Great Clan Ross". Father (past President of Clan Ross Canada) did not know her, but regretted not being aware of the auction of her estate in the USA - he would have loved to bid on the crested Ross dinnerware from Balnagown Castle that was sold. I am trying to ascertain the date of her death.
Added by John Donaldson Ross on 05 February 2005.

I believe it was Sir Charles Ross' s blacksmith who developed the Ross Rifle Sir Charles only claimed the credit and returns.
Added by Pat Swanson on 25 May 2005.

I believe my ancestors were related to Charles Ross. Is anyone working on his family genealogy?
Added by Debby Dunbar Ortman on 05 August 2005.

Margaret Ross Kirk, Edinburgh (married Alexander Smith) is my g.g.grandmother and is related to Sir Charles Ross I am interested in any family history. From john martin 321 slade point road mackay queensland australia
Added by John Martin on 11 January 2006.

I am looking for the Sir Charles Ross who developed the Ross Rifle. Date of birth, country and any family genealogy related to Sir Ross
Added by Ellen (Wright) Bowman on 15 May 2008.

We have lots of information on this subject, Ellen, and can send it to you when we have the time. Meanwhile, perhaps you could contact us at info@tainmuseum.org.uk and be a bit more specific about how much information you need
Added by Margaret Urquhart on 15 May 2008.

If you found this interesting, have a look at this group of pictures.
Sir Charles Ross


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