Author Topic: John Maclean, Helmsdale  (Read 11995 times)

Offline Helmsdale

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John Maclean, Helmsdale
« on: Sunday 29 April 12 19:54 BST (UK) »
I would be greatly obliged if someone could add details to the life of John Maclean who claimed to have been born in Helmsdale in 1840. Some time later in Iceland, around 1862 he entered a relationship with Elísabet María Kristjánsdóttir and in 1864 she gave birth to a daughter, Charlotta María Jónsdóttir. His name and year of his birth was recorded in the Islendingabók when their daughter was christened.
                According to family tradition, while his daughter was still an infant, John Maclean announced his intention of returning to Scotland for reasons now unknown. Although he promised to return, he did not do so and nothing more was heard of him until many years later when solicitors, possibly on his death, tried to contact the family on his behalf through adverts in Icelandic newspapers. Although she became aware of this, such was her bitterness that Charlotta María Jónsdóttir refused to respond.
                Charlotta María Guðmundsdóttir of Kópavogi, Iceland, his great great, granddaughter, would like to solve this great mystery. Elísabet María Kristjánsdóttir later emigrated to Winnipeg with a new partner, though without Charlotta María Jónsdóttir. We would be grateful for information on his early life and his Scottish relatives in Helmsdale, though this place of birth may only be approximate. We would also like to know if he returned to Helmsdale on his return, or some other part of Scotland or even emigrated.

Regards, Helmsdale.

Latest:  With the help of the census data on Scotland's people I think I am now on the trail of John Maclean. In the Icelandic Islendingabók his date of birth was given as 1840 and this has proved reliable rather than age 15 in the 1851 census, probably entered by grandfather John Macdonald as head of the house. He now shows up at Stoer, Sutherland in the 1861, 1871 and 1881 census. Between 1861 and 1871 he fathered a child in Iceland in 1864.
         By 1891 he moved to Carloway,  Ross and Cromarty and in 1901 there is another match in Caloway. He does not appear on the 1911 census where he would have been 71 and either died or moved again. Carloway is the last known place. Can anyone in Carloway help?


Offline Sharon01

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Re: John Maclean, Helmsdale
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 29 April 12 20:38 BST (UK) »
Hi & welcome to rootschat.

In 1851 I can see 1 John Maclean living East Helmsdale, Sutherland.

John Macdonald 47 head crofter born Helmsdale
Jane Mclean 50 wife born Helmsdale
John Maclean 15 grandson born Helmsdale
Alexander Maclean 15 grandson born Wicke, Caithness
Barbara Maclean 18 grand dau born Helmsdale

Sharon
Fagan/England/Ireland
Aldridge/London
Sills/London/Kent
Hartwell/London
Salkeld/Cumberland/Northumberland
Robinson/London
Stewart/Ireland/Scotland/England

Offline Helmsdale

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Re: John Maclean, Helmsdale
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 29 April 12 22:14 BST (UK) »
Hi Sharon,
             thank you for your reply. I am new to the conventions of a forum like this so please bear with me :) We know the name John Maclean from Icelandic family tradition and the Islendingabók but we can only assume that he gave an accurate date of birth as 1840.
      If this is our John, it is useful to further locate his birthplace in East Helmsdale.
      You mention :
John Macdonald 47 head crofter born Helmsdale
Jane Mclean 50 wife born Helmsdale.
      Can I assume that :
John Maclean 15 grandson born Helmsdale
Alexander Maclean 15 grandson born Wicke, Caithness
Barbara Maclean 18 grand dau born Helmsdale,

are related to the couple as stated? Is John Maclean 15 the same person living at East Helmsdale in 1851 ? Can I assume that all the above were living in East Helmsdale at the time of the 1851 (census)? No sons are mentioned?
      Once again thanks for your help Sharon. I hope you dont find this too tedious.
                    Regards, Helmsdale

Offline Sharon01

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Re: John Maclean, Helmsdale
« Reply #3 on: Tuesday 01 May 12 13:07 BST (UK) »
Sorry for the delay in replying.

My post is for the 1851 census. They are living East Helmsdale but John was born Helmsdale.

I can not see him on any other census.

I checked Scotlands People & family search but there was no birth for Helmsdale.

You could contact http://www.highlandarchives.org.uk to see what records they hold.

Sharon
Fagan/England/Ireland
Aldridge/London
Sills/London/Kent
Hartwell/London
Salkeld/Cumberland/Northumberland
Robinson/London
Stewart/Ireland/Scotland/England


Offline Helmsdale

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Re: John Maclean, Helmsdale
« Reply #4 on: Tuesday 01 May 12 18:40 BST (UK) »
Hi Sharon,
               thank you for your kind reply. The information that you have supplied is most useful as it seems to confirm the entry in the Islendingabók where John Maclean said that he was born in Helmsdale. However, he also said that he was born in 1840 which does not correspond to an age of 15 at the census of 1851, however, John Macdonald may have reported it incorrectly.
              Curiously, the parents of the children seem absent, unless Jane Maclean is their mother's married name, yet she is described as John Macdonald's wife. That would mean that her first husband Maclean had died and this was her second marriage.
               If they are indeed the grandparents they must be maternal grand parents. This leads me to ask if the children's parents had emigrated, with the promise that the family would follow when they had got a home together? John's daughter, Charlotta Jónsdottír was born in 1864 and he may not have been in Helmsdale at the time of the 1861 census. Did you see any sign of the others at that time? If John was born in 1840 or earlier he should appear on the 1841 census?
              Alexander Maclean, 15 born in Wicke does not make sense :(

Thank you once again Sharon. If you see anything that I am missing I would very much welcome your insights.

Regards, Helmsdale

PS. I tried to register with Scotland's people but I did not receive the password email. It seems that they are being intercepted as spam and now I am locked out as they say my email address is already in use.

Offline Helmsdale

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Re: John Maclean, Helmsdale
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 03 May 12 20:09 BST (UK) »
Hi Sharon,
               with the help of the census data on Scotland's people I think I am now on the trail of John Maclean. In the Icelandic Islendingabók his date of birth was given as 1840 and this has proved reliable rather than age 15 in the 1851 census, probably entered by grandfather John Macdonald as head of the house. He now shows up at Stoer, Sutherland in the 1861, 1871 and 1881 census. Between 1861 and 1871 he fathered a child in Iceland in 1864.
         By 1891 he moved to Carloway,  Ross and Cromarty and in 1901 there is another match in Caloway. He does not appear on the 1911 census where he would have been 71 and either died or moved again. Carloway is the last known place.

Regards, Helmsdale

Offline Skoosh

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Re: John Maclean, Helmsdale
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 03 May 12 22:52 BST (UK) »
Helmsdale, have you tried the Helmsdale Heritage Society? and whatever society covers Carloway, presumably Lewis.

Skoosh.

Offline Helmsdale

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Re: John Maclean, Helmsdale
« Reply #7 on: Friday 04 May 12 00:07 BST (UK) »
Thanks for your advice Skoosh. Now having investigated death records for Ross and Cromarty he appears to have moved again before his death, possibly Argyle. Nevertheless he may appear on some family tree in the places you mentioned.

Regards, Helmsdale

Offline Andy Gibson

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Re: John Maclean, Helmsdale
« Reply #8 on: Wednesday 23 April 14 21:05 BST (UK) »
Hi there

I am new to this site but have just come across your entries re John McLean. I have an ancestor - John McLean born Helmsdale who was a cooper, born 1832. He eventually settled in Wallsend on Tyne, Northumberland. It took me many years to track him down, and I did find another John McLean from Helmsdale of a similar age. If you would like me to send you all my files I am happy to do so. I may be wrong but I think your research and the related comments on this site have confused two separate people. My John McLean could be yours and so we could be linked, but I suspect not. Either way I would like to know one way or another, and am also happy to let you have access to my material.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Andy Gibson