Alexander McKay

[Poodlz]

Trying to find more information on Alexander McKay.

We have found him and his wife Margaret arriving at Lyttelton, New Zealand on board 'Royal Stuart' 1861.
Alexander 36 -  Shepherd from Sutherland
Margaret 28

This would make Alexander's birth ABT 1825 and Margaret ABT 1833

Ancestors here in New Zealand have a farm called 'Dornoch' which they believe has a connection??

Any help very much appreciated

[andycand]

Hi

The 1861 Scottish Census has an Alexr McKay born Dornoch c1827 a Shepherd, living at Shinness. Lairg, Sutherland.

There is also the following marriage on Familysearch.org

Alexr McKay and Margaret Murray, 18th June 1861, Rogart, Sutherland.

Rogart is only a few miles from Lairg.

I'm not familiar with New Zealand death certificates but is there anything that could help find Margarets maiden name?

If it is Margaret Murray then downloading the marriage from Scotlandspeople would give you both sets of parents.

Andy

[Poodlz]

Thanks Andy

That does show to be a close match shipping records stated age 36.  They sailed for NZ 3 July 1861 which would state they were newly weds!  Is there any records for his family in Dornoch?

Cheers

[andycand]

Hi

Scotlandspeople http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ is the best source for Scottish research.
Familysearch.org has indexes for Scottish Parish Registers pre 1855 and Birth & Marriage Statutory Register Indexes 1855 to 1875
Ancestry & FindmyPast both have transcriptions of Scottish Censuses but you do need to try to confirm that they are the right couple before spending time and money going back earlier. The names are not uncommon in that part of Scotland

Andy

[Poodlz]

Thanks Andy for those links.

They are buried in a small country village and the cemetery records aren't on line, so I think we will pay a visit and see if we can find a tombstone.  NZ Birth, Deaths & Marriage records only show year died and age.

Once we have more details will be in touch if you can help further.  I have found a record on ancestry.com that may fit with him in Dornoch so if we confirm father's name we may have hit gold!!

Thanks so much for your help.

Cheers
Poodlz

[andycand]

Hi

Whilst the online index doesn't help what about New Zealand death certificates, would they have information about their parents and Margarets maiden name?

Andy

[Poodlz]

If we can get the correct year of death and order a copy of the death certificate then it will show date of birth, where born and father's name. 

So a trip to Halkett where we believe they are buried is in order, only 20 mins from where we live.

Appreciate your help will come back to you if we need any more info.

Cheers