Barra - Niel McLean & Christian McPhie, parents of Mary McLean

[loudoniii]

I am researching the family of my great grandmother Mary McLean / MacLean from the remote Scottish island of Barra, in Inverness-Shire.

I have come to a sticking point where I would appreciate any assistance from possible researchers.

Mary McLean was born on 27 Jan 1855 on Borve, Barra, the 7th-born of the following parents:

Niel McLean, born around 1813 on Barra.  Other spellings include Neil MacLean.

Christian McPhie, born around 1814 on Barra.  Other spellings include Christy, Chirsty, Charsty, Christina; McPhee, MacPhee.

Interestingly, especially considering that Mary was the 7th-born, my mother always insisted that her mother's "Barra granny" had the second sight, as was apparently quite common amongst the islanders.

According to Mary's Birth Certificate, Niel and Christian were married in 1838 on Barra, but I can find no OPR record of this.

I do have Mary's Birth, Marriage and Death Certificate, and Niel's and Christian's Death Certificates, but not Niel's or Christian's Birth or Marriage OPR record.

There are lots of McLeans and McPhees around this part of the world, but census records and other certificates are very consistent in stating that all BMD events happened on Barra, not in other counties in Inverness.

Niel McLean’s parents are Donald McLean / MacLean and Mary MacKinnon, but I have few other reliable details on them.

I have tried writing to the Catholic Church on Barra, but no reply to date.  I have also written to Sandy Stephens, the lady genealogist featured on the TV programme about Barra, An Island Parish, but no reply to date.

Any pointers anyone can give me on where to go from here I would greatly appreciate.

[Vince MacNeil]

Where did your Barra MacLeans emigrate to?

Vince

[loudoniii]

Where did your Barra MacLeans emigrate to?

Vince

Hi Vince.  Sorry, I don't know the answer to your question - I am also having trouble finding any more information on my great grandmother's family the MacLeans from Barra.

[Vince MacNeil]

So your MacLeans stayed in Barra?  I'll see if I can find something on them.

Vince

[Vince MacNeil]

Hi again,

I have located your family on the census of 1851 and I have the baptismal records for them to the early 1850s.  I only have the church records in hard copy to about 1853.  Do you already have this information?  I don't see a marriage record for them.

Vince

[Vince MacNeil]

Did you get Neil's parents' names from his death certificate?  Here is more information on them.

Name:   Neil MacLean
----------------------------------------
Birth:   abt 1813   Barra, Scotland
Marriage:   1838   Barra, Scotland
----------------------------------------
Spouse:   Chriatian 'Christy' MacPhee
----------------------------------------
Birth:   abt 1816   Barra, Scotland

Children:
----------------------------------------
1 M:   Archibald MacLean
Birth:   21 Nov 1839   Bahierva, Barra, Scotland
----------------------------------------
2 M:   Donald MacLean
Birth:   16 Feb 1842   Borve, Barra, Scotland
----------------------------------------
3 F:   Margaret MacLean
Birth:   7 May 1843   Borve, Barra, Scotland
----------------------------------------
4 F:   Mary MacLean
Birth:   11 Nov 1845   Borve, Barra, Scotland
----------------------------------------
5 M:   Donald MacLean
Birth:   17 Oct 1848   Borve, Barra, Scotland
----------------------------------------
6 F:   Mary MacLean
Birth:   27 Jan 1855   Borve, Barra, Scotland


----------------------------------------
Last Modified:   25 Jan 2012
Created:   25 Jan 2012

[Rosinish]

According to Mary's Birth Certificate, Niel and Christian were married in 1838 on Barra, but I can find no OPR record of this.

I have had a look for the marriage but unfortunately there are gaps 1836 - 1841 (Craigston, Barra).

The nearest I could find for a birth for Neil MacLean was not with Donald MacLean & Mary MacKinnon.

There was a birth 1813 for Niel MacKinnon born to Neil MacKinnon & Mary MacNeil (Gasbhal, Barra)

There was another birth 1817 for Niel MacKinnon born to Donald MacKinnon & Mary MacNeil (Earsary, Barra).

If Neil MacKinnon died & his wife Mary (now MacKinnon) remarried to Donald MacLean she would have married as MacKinnon but as I said some pages are missing.

This would in effect make Neil a stepson to Neil MacLean which he may not have known ?

Who registered Neil's death ?

The above is only speculation working with the names you have & the info. I have so it would need to be confirmed but it is an idea given that there is nothing else close ?

Anne Marie

[loudoniii]

Hi Anne Marie

Please accept my apologies for the rather long delay in replying!

I am now picking up this research again; copy of Niel McLean's Death Certificate shown below.

Any insights you may have into this I would much appreciate.

Thanks again, Paul R Hynd

_____________________________

1895 Deaths in the Parish of Barra in the County of Inverness

Neil MacLean, Crofter.  Widower of Christina MacPhee.

Died at 01:00 am on 11 Oct 1895.  Brevig, Barra.  Male.  88 Years.

Father Donald MacLean, Crofter (Deceased).

Mother Mary MacLean, maiden surname MacKinnon (Deceased).

Informant Hector MacLean, Signed by his mark, Son, Present.

John MacDonald, Assistant Registrar, Witness.

Registered 14 Oct 1895 at Castlebay.

Registrar John MacDonald, Assistant Registrar.

[loudoniii]

Did you get Neil's parents' names from his death certificate?  Here is more information on them.

Name:   Neil MacLean
----------------------------------------

Hi Vince

Again, please accept my apologies for the long delay in replying.

I am now picking up this research again.

Thank you very much for your input above - and on the Barra's People Facebook page - this is very helpful.

Best wishes, Paul R Hynd