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Topic: Western highlands and Islands LOOKUP OFFER (Read 1917 times)
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angusm
RootsChat Extra
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Posts: 41
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On the 'one burial place' theory, pre-motor car it will have been a very long walk carrying a coffin on the rota system even on relatively small islands. Benbecula has effectively come down to the one graveyard at Nunton in modern times but at one time there were at least two others. South Uist, having given up the historic burial sites at Howmore, has concentrated at Daliburgh and Ardkenneth. As for North Uist, I can think of a number of past and present burial places, including a very attractive site on a hillside at Balranald serving the western side of the island a long way from Lochmaddy. I have a feeling one or more churches also have accompanying gravestones.
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HelenO
RootsChat Extra
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Posts: 13
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hello AngusM. This message below I sent to a subject more specific to South Uist than Benbecula, but I received very little response. One person responded with help as to the Gaelic spellings of some of the place names I mentioned. But, as I needed information about burial places, I looked through responses on RootsChat, and came across your response to the Western Highlands and Islands subject. [Is any of that comprehensible at all?] What it amounts to is that I need help, and hope I may be able to call upon your expertise again.
This is the first request that I sent: Am attempting to trace a Donald McPhee who emigrated from his native home in South Uist or Benbecula bound for Cape Breton, NS about the year 1827 or 1828. There are several possibilities that help identify this particular Donald McPhee among many others of that surname at that time and in that area. Quite likely, “my” Donald is married to a Mary MacLean and lived in small settlement in South Uist known as ‘Garryfluich’; their records might be in the area known as ‘Iochdar’ and the parish of Ardkenneth. Based on his story here in Canada, Donald McPhee was born in South Uist about 1795. My quest now is to try to confirm the identity of my Donald McPhee and, if at all possible, to learn the names of his parents.
This is the second: My McPhee / MacLean ancestors were Roman Catholic, and I know it is almost impossible to get anything from those records, especially as early as 1820s. I am a little hopeful, however, that I might find some cemetery or burial records in South Uist that would indicate the possible parents for this couple who left at that early date. My Donald McPhee died 'over here' in 1878 at age 84 (b. 1794); his wife, Mary MacLean, gave birth to two children in Cape Breton: Donald John (1828) and Christy (1831), before she apparently died and Donald married again later in the 1830s. Possibly the Scottish naming pattern might indicate that Donald's father was a John McPhee in the area of (gulp!) Gearraidh Fliuch. So, my need is for suggestions and advice as to the chances for local Catholic burial records in South Uist.
Since you responded on this subject and the 'one-burial-place-theory' could you weigh in on this for my McPhee / MacLean quest at all? I hope so....
HelenO
Ottawa, Canada
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angusm
RootsChat Extra
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Posts: 41
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Hello again Helen O: I'm afraid there are no formal death records for South Uist or Benbecula before the introduction of statutory records in 1855. Marriages and birth/baptisms begin for the Noerthern end of the island in 1829 by way of the St Michael's RC Church, Ardkenneth records and those for Bornish in the South at much the same date. The only hope, a slim one as most graves at the time were registered by wooden crosses or unmarked stones, is that the relevant graveyard might have a clue. Just thinking about it, it is a bit of a toss up which graveyard would serve Garryfliuch. That early, it could be Howmore or Kilpheder. I will have to have a look at the map and consider that issue. Shame I had not registered the question as we only left South Uist on Wednesday. The one other suggestion I have is that you might contact someone at the Commun Eachdraidh Uibhist a Deas [the South Uist History Society]. You should be able to find a contact for them directly or via the Kildonan Museum. If you have a problem, let me know off Board and I will find a contact address. Angus
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HelenO
RootsChat Extra
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Posts: 13
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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How great! I hoped it was just a matter of your not seeing the post. Tomorrow, first thing, I'll follow your suggestion. In the meantime, are you familiar with Bill Lawson's "Marriages (Recorded and Unrecorded) in Parish of South Uist 1820 - 1855"? The supposed marriage McPhee / MacLean is in that publication on page 60. And have you heard about the emigrant ship "George Stevens" (Master J. Potts) that took South Uist passengers to Cape Breton in September 1827? Thanks, again..
Helen
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Martin Briscoe
RootsChat Senior
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Posts: 343
J W L BRISCOE 72nd Highlanders
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I don't have any family connections in the area but have you checked the Croft History for that area? I
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BRISCOE - Bolton, Heaton Norris, Rochdale, Oldham, Chadderton, Blackburn
POUNDER - Middleton Tyas, Kirkbymoorside, Stokesley, Lambeth, Bolton, Newcastle on Tyne, Leeds
HAMMOND - Quebec, Laverton, Masham, Grantley
SWALES - Laverton, Masham
O'Shea - Quebec
PARRY - Caerhun, Deiniolen, Clwt y Bont, Brynrefail, Tal y Sarn, Brynrefail, Bethesda
EVANS - Llanfihangel Bryn Pabuan, Maesmynis, Dowlais, Stockton on Tees, Hartlepool, Trealaw
HARVEY - Trentham, Sheriffhales, Llanfyllin, Llanferres, Minera
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HelenO
RootsChat Extra
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Posts: 13
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Thank you, for your response, JMB. And "no", I haven't chcked the croft history to try and find the parents of Donald McPhee and Mary MacLean. Do you think there is a 'croft history' for South Uist in the early 1800s?
HelenO
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Martin Briscoe
RootsChat Senior
Offline
Posts: 343
J W L BRISCOE 72nd Highlanders
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Thank you, for your response, JMB. And "no", I haven't chcked the croft history to try and find the parents of Donald McPhee and Mary MacLean. Do you think there is a 'croft history' for South Uist in the early 1800s?
HelenO
Sorry can't help there but if you follow the link there is a list of those available. I have seen one that a friend has for the area where he lives. They seem to have a detailed list of crofts and who lived in them at different times.
I don't know about the Uists but Harris and Lewis have community centres in each area which usually have a museum and somewhere for family research. Seallam seems one of the best organised (near Leverburgh).
It's a pity that Hebridean Connections does not cover Uist yet! Perhaps one day..........
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BRISCOE - Bolton, Heaton Norris, Rochdale, Oldham, Chadderton, Blackburn
POUNDER - Middleton Tyas, Kirkbymoorside, Stokesley, Lambeth, Bolton, Newcastle on Tyne, Leeds
HAMMOND - Quebec, Laverton, Masham, Grantley
SWALES - Laverton, Masham
O'Shea - Quebec
PARRY - Caerhun, Deiniolen, Clwt y Bont, Brynrefail, Tal y Sarn, Brynrefail, Bethesda
EVANS - Llanfihangel Bryn Pabuan, Maesmynis, Dowlais, Stockton on Tees, Hartlepool, Trealaw
HARVEY - Trentham, Sheriffhales, Llanfyllin, Llanferres, Minera
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ali607
RootsChat Veteran
Offline
Posts: 713
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hi - dunno whether imentioned this before and havent read the thread fully i have to admit but i think you hould try:
http://www.seallam.com/
A lifetime of research on the western isles...
Alison
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Surname interests:
Salter, Fulford, Woodcock, Finney, Tissington, Driscoll, Shea, Maxfield, Collier, Hughes, Williams, Petty, Pearson, Prescott, Baldwin,
Area interests:
West Riding Yorkshire: Rotherham, Hemsworth, Darfield, Sheffield
Worcestershire/Staffordshire: Oldbury, West Bromwich, Halesowen, White Heath
Lancashire: Wigan, Aspull,
Nottinghamshire: Worksop
erbyshire:alfreton, ironville, codnor
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HelenO
RootsChat Extra
Offline
Posts: 13
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Does anyone know about the Island of Hestimul in the sound between South Uist and Benbecula? Especially, does anyone know about the tradition regarding the family name of the residents on this island? Is this traditional story recorded anywhere? Is there an estimate of when it might have originated? All these questions, and all the answers, at this point, really matter in the quest for an ancestory who emigrated from South uist probably in the year 1828?
Thanks for any help.
HelenO
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