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Topic: Please help - my McKays and Morrisons are tying me in knots (Read 1191 times)
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Maia261
RootsChat Member
Posts: 133
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.natio
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I'd love a wee bit of help unravelling what I think I have managed to find out so far regarding my 3X Great-Grandfather William McKay who was born and died in Durness, Sutherland.
William died on the 6th October 1891 in Portnancon, Laid, Durness, Sutherland, from the death register I learned that he was illegitimate, his mother's name was Barbara Morrison and his "reputed" father was Hector McKay, Captain (Army). William's age on the death record is given as 73 which would point to a birth year of 1817/18. All but one of the census records I have point to a birth year of 1820/21 (I'm more inclined to go with this one seeing as how William was actually present).
On the 1881 census William aged 61 is living at 3 Saunders Street, Edinburgh (I also have this confirmed in a draft will written by William in 1882), the census shows his place of birth as Durness, Sutherland.
I think I may have found William aged 21 on the 1841 census in Sangomore, Durness with his mother Barbara aged 49.
I also have William on the 1851 Census in Lochs, Isle of Lewis, Ross-Shire aged 28, with a cousin Eliza MacKay aged 19.
I have William on the 1861 (aged 40), 1871 (aged 50) and 1891 (aged 70) Censuses, living in Edinburgh.
I think I may have found Barbara on the 1851 census aged 60, a pauper living with her brother-in-law Charles McKay aged 64, a Chelsea Pensioner, with them are Charles's son Hector and his daughters Mary and Orina. (In the same draft will mentioned above, William mentions his cousin Orina McKay residing in Sangomore).
In the draft will William also mentions cousins Donald Campbell, residing at Loch Eriboll, Sutherland and Betsy Campbell, also residing at Loch Eriboll, Sutherland.
On the 1861 Census Barbara is still living with Charles and family, now showing as a boarder.
Charles's death record from 1871 shows his parents as Hector MacKay and Emily MacKay M.S. MacKenzie, the closest I can find for a birth on IGI is with parents HECTOR MAC KAY OR MAC NEIL MAC EANICOLICUILAM and ABIGAIL MAC KENZIE OR NIN EAN MAC ARLICH OIG. Abigail is also showing as mother to a Hector McKay born in 1802.
Orina MacKay died in 1819 aged 84, her parents are given as Charles MacKay and Hectorina MacKay M.S.Morrison. I think this Hectorina may be Barbara's sister.....however, how likely is it (and where can I find this out) that Charles's brother Hector is also father to my William McKay?
I have searched all possible ways for a birth record for William McKay in Durness but haven't managed to find one, I also searched under the name
Morrison. Maybe some-one else with a bit more experience than me can point me in the right direction?
Also, where can I find out more information about Hector McKay being a Captain in the army?
Apologies for this being such a long post, if you're still awake congratulations. Apologies also if I've managed to confuse you all as much as I've managed to confuse myself. 
Lynn
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Mackay – Inverness, Ross and Cromarty & Sutherland
Watson – Inverness-Shire & Ross and Cromarty
Douglas – Inverness-Shire & Moray
Sutherland – Caithness
Kilroe – Inverness & Ireland
Paterson - Banff
Clark – Glasgow & Ireland
Thomson – Caithness
Montgomery – Ross and Cromarty
Allanach – Moray & Glenbucket, Aberdeen
Smith – Banff
McLellan - Glenmoriston & Islay
Harvey – Glasgow & Ireland
Miller – Edinburgh & Caithness
Shearer - Caithness
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haliared
RootsChat Member
Posts: 188
The future rests upon the foundations of the past.
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Hi there Lynn,
I think it entirely possible (and probable in my experience my families often inter married to confuse me !), that Charles McKay could be Hector's brother from your synopsis. I would contact www.chelsea-pensioners.co.uk and see where you could get the army details of Charles-he may have served with his brother. Also Charles's Army Record may list his next of kin and their address which may help you to confirm things.
Also, just a thought, but Orina's parents Charles and Hectorina may list Barbara as a witness to their wedding if she is a sister- is it worth getting the certificate?
Best wishes, haliared
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IanB
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 92
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi Lynn,
Your story intrigued me so I took a look at the IGI and my transcript of the Durness Parish Register (1764 - 1814). Unfortunately, I did not find much but here it is:
William Morrison (son of William, son of Hugh) married Elizabeth/Betty Mackay (daughter of Hector, son of Donald, son of Hector of Skerray) on 30 June 1789.
They had the following children:
Barbara 9 Nov 1791
Mary Anne 29 May 1794
Heckie (apparently short for Hectorina) 5 Jan 1797
William 13 Aug 1799
Charles Mackay and Hectorina Morrison christened a son, Hector, in 1828.
I will look some more tomorrow.
Ian
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Morrison, MacKay, MacCulloch, Sutherland, Dingwall, MacLeod, Donn, Calder,
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IanB
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 92
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi Lynn,
While not much help in tracking "your" William, the graveyard at Balnakeil contains a bit more information on the family:
Stone #95
Charles Mackay pensioner 93rd Highlanders died at Sangamore 16 April 1871, age 85; wife Hectorina Morrison died 19 May 1849, age 52; eldest daughter Mary Mackay died 24 Nov 1911, age 86,; daughter Elizabeth Mackay died in India 21 Nov 1868, age 36; son Hector Mackay died at Sydney Australia 13 April 1895, age 64; William Morrison of the 1st Royals died 1 Oct 1836, age 36.
Note:
The last-mentioned appears to be Hectorina's brother
Ston #97
William Morrison died 1829 age 89; wife Betsy Mackay died 1798 age 26; daughter Barbara Morrison born Nov 1790, died Dec 1867; erected by William Mackay.
Notes:
The dob for Barbara appears to be a year out, it was 1791.
The stone appears to have been erected by "your" William Mackay.
Most often, whether a child was male or female was not indicated in the Parish Record. This appears to have been added by those who 'digitalized' the records, i.e. for those prior to civil registration. The Durness PR simply says "Heckie". I have little doubt that it is Hectorina. The other entries in the IGI were submitted by LDS Church members and such submissions are notoriously unreliable.
Ian
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Morrison, MacKay, MacCulloch, Sutherland, Dingwall, MacLeod, Donn, Calder,
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Maia261
RootsChat Member
Posts: 133
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.natio
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Ian you are an absolute star, thank you so much for all this lovely info, I think a wee trip up to my beloved Durness is in order in the next week or so.....no wonder I've felt such an affinity with the place since I was a child.  . How many times have I been at Balnakeil beach and never even bothered to go into the graveyard there before I started tracing my family tree and knew all I know now, just shows you. What your info has also done has proven to me that I was on the right track with the correct Barbara Morrison and her parentage, this also gives me a double-whammy of Mackay's on William's side.
Just back from spending almost 6 hours with the Family Historian at Inverness Library, he confirmed all of what I had managed to find out for myself plus took Barbara's mother Elizabeth way back to the 4th Earl of Huntly and the 12th Earl of Sutherland - and managed to get me related to King James the 5th in some way - have got it all written down as he made me draw out a couple of trees with all the ancestors he found for me, my head's reeling with it all right now so it'll probably take me a few days to sort it all out properly.
Also having a look at the Durness Parish Register today we found the marriage record for Charles and Hector's parents, Abigail McKenzie and Hector McKay where it refers to Abigail as being a tenant and Hector as being a "young boy". Hector was born on 20/09/1802, his father Hector had drowned in the Spring of 1802 so Abigail was a widow when Hector was born - what a wealth of information the Durness PR has in it, I can't wait to go back on Friday and have a proper look.
Off to try and digest some of it now, oh and I suppose I better try and find some time to cook the kids some supper.
Lynn
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Mackay – Inverness, Ross and Cromarty & Sutherland
Watson – Inverness-Shire & Ross and Cromarty
Douglas – Inverness-Shire & Moray
Sutherland – Caithness
Kilroe – Inverness & Ireland
Paterson - Banff
Clark – Glasgow & Ireland
Thomson – Caithness
Montgomery – Ross and Cromarty
Allanach – Moray & Glenbucket, Aberdeen
Smith – Banff
McLellan - Glenmoriston & Islay
Harvey – Glasgow & Ireland
Miller – Edinburgh & Caithness
Shearer - Caithness
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IanB
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 92
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi Lynn,
I had intended to mention to you that Elizabeth Mackay's grandfather, Hector of Skerray, apparently belonged to the "Skerray" Mackays, a branch of the chiefly line. The lineage of the Mackay chiefs has many "bright stars", including; Somerled, the progenitor of the Lords of the Isles (MacDonalds) ;the Stuarts; the Gordon's (Earls of Sutherland); and the Huntlys.
I recommend you try to buy one, or both, of the following books:
"History of the House and Clan of MACKAY" by Robert Mackay 1829
"The Book of MACKAY" by Angus Mackay 1906.
They are both fascinating reading (in small doses) and give the history of the clan plus genealogies. They are both out of print, I believe, but used copies become available through the internet on such sites as Allibris. I managed to acquire both, as re-prints.
Ian
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Morrison, MacKay, MacCulloch, Sutherland, Dingwall, MacLeod, Donn, Calder,
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