Hello,
My great great grandparents, Archibald MCKINNON and Catherine MCARTHUR, both born about 1810 at Burg, Kilninian, Isle of Mull, have long been missing but we may finally be getting somewhere. They appear there on the 1841 census with young daughter, Catherine McKinnon. We know that they had 2 more sons, Donald and Neil (my great grandfather) at Burg in the 1840s, then they disappear. They don't turn up on any further Mull census nor do they die!
The 3 children are found on various census on Mull over the years and on marriage records, but where are Archibald and Catherine? It looks now as if Catherine died in the 1840s and Archibald left the area. The elder son, Donald McKinnon, remained and stayed with his McArthur relatives. Neil's whereabouts during his childhood were a mystery as he never got any schooling and he never spoke a word of English even though Donald did.
My father, after MANY years of digging, has stumbled across what he believes to be a second marriage for Archibald McKinnon on July 5, 1849 on the Isle of Coll to Christy McDougall. I found them next on Tiree in 1851 at Balephetrish.
629 Balephetrish McKinnon Archibald M 40 Head Agricultural Labourer Parish of Kilninian (Mull)
629 Balephetrish McKinnon Christina M 40 Wife Ag. Lab's Wife Parish of Kilninian (Mull)
629 Balephetrish McKinnon Niel 7 Son Ag. Lab's Son Parish of Kilninian (Mull)
629 Balephetrish McKinnon Archibald W 63 Visitor Tailor Parish of Kilninian (Mull)
I guess what I am trying to learn now is when Catherine McArthur died (and is buried - likely Kilninian), when Archibald McKinnon died (and is buried - maybe Tiree??) and where Archibald and his 2nd wife, Christy McDougall, ended up on the 1861 and subsequent census records. I will keep looking but I welcome any clues. Thank you!
Mary
