Duncan Sinclair Darroch, born Kilian nr Inveraray, 1874

[Dougs123]

I am very greatful for all the help

[Dougs123]

Is it a possibility
Mary Darroch born about 1846 at Killian nr Inveraray, her mother is Christina McDonald.
Mary Darroch age 15 living at French Farland as servant, according to 1861 census.
Mary Darroch living Crogan Farm in Skipness on 1871 census.
Duncan Sinclair Darroch born 1874 @ Killian, mother Mary Darroch would be 29.

Afterwards Mary Darroch marries Hugh Dawson and move to Lochgilphead with Duncan, now called Duncan Dawson on 1881 census aged 6.

The natural father Archibald Campbell quarrier is unhappy with this arrangement and takes his son back to Inveraray. Duncan is brought up as a Campbell somewhere near Inveraray. He shows as labourer at Dalchenna Farm Inveraray 1891 census aged 17.

Duncan Campbell marries Jean McNeill, 1st Jan 1899 @ Greenock and shows on 1901 at census at Clydebank.

1901 Census- Mary Dawson and Hugh Dawson at Lochgilphead, adopt other children to replace Duncan

[loobylooayr]

What age is Mary Darroch on her marriage to Hugh Dawson?

That date of birth 1846 roughly corresponds with the age of Mary Dawson (age 78) at time of the death I found in 1923 at Lochgilphead.

I don't know about Archibald Campbell popping up and removing Duncan from Mary. As his mother and only registered parent even in those times I don't know if he could. I would think it more likely that Duncan lived with mum until a teenager 13/14? when it was common to start work. And naturally in that area many young people ended up in employment on farms which meant them staying at the farm location. My own g-g grandmother was a dairy maid in her teens living on a farm 15 miles from home in rural Ayrshire around the same era.
But then again who knows?? Anything is possible

Looby

[MonicaL]

Looby, I would be more keen on your second approach really. No reason so far to think that Archibald Campbell, if his details are correct, had anything to do with young Duncan in later years really. There are a couple of possibilities in Argyll in the right age range for an Archibald Campbell, quarrier, although from what we have so far, not sure how we can move that further for now...

Breathing in here....think we cannot move on much more without the details from the marriage for a Mary Darroch to Hugh Dawson.

Monica

[Dougs123]

Just got death cert for Mary Dawson, 23rd Jan 1923 district of Lochgilphead

Mary Dawson, widow of Hugh Dawson, fisherman
Paterson Street, Lochgilphead
Father Neil Darroch, mariner
Mother Christina Sinclair, afterwards McDonald, both deceased
Duncan Sinclair, cousin, present



Birth cert
Duncan Sinclair Darroch, illegitimate
Born 31st Jan 1874, Killean near Inveraray,
Mother, Mary Darroch, Home maid Domestic

[loobylooayr]

Hi Dougs 123,
Was just reading back through the thread to refresh my memory. 
I am so pleased that your certificates have cleared up Duncan Darroch's maternal line.
Mary Darroch/ Dawson was his mother

Looby

[loobylooayr]

If Mary's death entry is to be believed, she had a cousin Duncan Sinclair who was present at her death (and registered it?).
Her mother's maiden name was Sinclair which solves the mystery of where Duncan Darroch/Dawson/ Campbell 's middle name came from.
Christina Sinclair must have been widowed . Neil Darroch's death could well be after 1855 so the certificate could be on SP.
Then she became a Christina McDonald- a second marriage?- https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XTKX-PMC

She is showing on the 1901 Census entry posted by Monica -
Christina McDonald  age 73 Mother-in-law   born Inverary, Argyll

Looby

[Dougs123]

Death cert for Christina MacDonald widow of John  MacDonald farm servant
12th Dec 1904, Lochgilphead, age 80
Father John Sinclair
Mother Isabella Sinclair, ms Clark, both deceased
Mary Dawson daughter present

Is Kenneth MacDonald border on census a descendent of John MacDonald and Christina?

[loobylooayr]

Kenneth MacDonald the boarder on the Census has given his place of birth as Gairloch, Ross-shire and his age if accurate means he was born circa 1861.
John MacDonald and Christina Sinclair marry in Kilmartin Argyll in 1866.
Although not impossible, I don't think he is descended from them. I think it is just co-incidence that a man with this surname is lodging with Duncan Campbell and family although I suppose he could be distantly related .
I found this birth in Gairloch which could be him https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FQXC-5VV.
If you wanted to find out if there was a connection you would have to check out John MacDonald's ancestry.

Looby