« Reply #6 on: Thursday 23 August 12 12:55 BST (UK) »
I found 2 John Simpsons christened in Urqhart, one in 1764 the other in 1755. I am leaning towards him being the older one, son of John Simpson and Isabel Maver. The younger one's mother was Agnes and John and Margaret didn't use Agnes as one of their 13 children's names. But their first daughter is named Isobel. She is living with Margaret in 1841 at Moss of Meft. Margaret is 80, Isobel 55 and younger son William 35.
I think you are probably on the right lines here, because my wife was a Maver by maiden name and I have traced her family back. They lived at Upper Mest. There were definitely Mavers in Mest at that time, in Overmest and Uppermest anyway and at various neighbouring farms. But it is Mest not Meft... that was how they used to write "s" back then!
Banffshire - WILSON, RIACH, CALDER, MUIRY, PETERKIN, CRAIB, OGG, CRUICKSHANK, FARQUHAR, COPLAND, HAY, SHAW, HIND, STRATHDEE, MORRISON, WISEMAN, MOIR, MILNE, SHEPHERD, BLACK, BRUCE, RAMSAY, PEARSON, MCPHERSON, SHEED, MCANDIE
Morayshire - MAVER, RAMSAY, PHINN, SIMPSON
Aberdeenshire - MCINTOSH, GILLAN
Kincardineshire - DUTHIE
Ross-shire - MCANGUS, MCKENZIE, TARRELL,
Inverness-shire - MACKAY, FERGUSON, MACCUISH, BEATON, GILLIES, MACDONALD, MACVICAR, MACDIARMID
Louth - KIERAN, KANE, ENGLISHBY, FEGAN