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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Argyllshire => Topic started by: elderfuthark on Wednesday 29 February 12 09:22 GMT (UK)
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Gday
I am interested in a family from Egnaig
A: The family were from Moidart and strongly linked to Father Ranald Rankin 1820-1851(emigration to Australia). Fr Rankin's activities and life would be of considerable interest. The family seem to be from the areas of Kinlochmoidart through to Fort William.
B: If possible I would like to follow:
Ronald MacDonald (farmer from Moidart?) married
Catherine Forbes before 1795
They would have died before 1851.
Their son John MacDonald bc 1795 married aged 30 (1825) to Margaret McKesic/McKissack
They emigrated with a large family to Australia on The Marco Polo in 1851. This was a group migration by families that knew each other and knew Fr Rankin. A second migration followed and then Fr Rankin joined the people at Little River in Victoria.
The family then emigrated from Egnaig with several generations - see below (ages at 1851)
34.1 McDonald John M 62 head M tenant 3 acres Eignaig
34.2 McDonald Margaret F 51 wife M Eignaig
34.3 McDonald Alexander M 22 son U Eignaig
34.4 McDonald John M 23 son U Eignaig
34.5 McDonald Ronald/Ranald M 20 son U Eignaig
445
34.6 McDonald Margaret F 17 daughter U Eignaig
34.7 McDonald Catherine F 15 daughter U Eignaig
34.8 McDonald Mary F 13 daughter U scholar Eignaig
34.9 McDonald James M 10 son U scholar Eignaig
34.10 McDonald Sally/Sarah F 9 daughter U scholar Eignaig
34.11 McDonald Donald M 90 U retired teacher Eignaig
34.12 McDonald Donald M 48 brother U Eignaig
34.13 Smith Mary F 20 U general servant Eignaig
It seems this family were from the Kinlochmoidart estate. I would like to explore their records (births christenings etc)
cheers
Bill
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Hi Bill
I moved your post over from here www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,83084.0.html - thought it might be somewhat lost there and should be here on the Argyll board.
Haven't looked at these details for a long time! Brings back lots of lovely memories of when I started on all my family research.
Monica :)
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Gday Monica
Thanks
It may be true that Alasdair macMhaighster Alisdair had a son Ranald/Ronald (married Catherine Forbes) who fathered John MacD who i know is our progenitor.
Apparently Alisdair was given a farm at Egneig. I know our famiy came from Egnaig.
cheers
Bill
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From my own experience of researching my MacDonald/MacIsaac lines in this area:
Have you come across this site www.moidart.org.uk Very much my info bible that I used when researching in Moidart. There is a tab on the left for 'Immigration' with info such as this www.moidart.org.uk/datasets/austemig01.htm
Great photos here of the general Eignaig area - click on individual photos for more info including map of the general area www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=29142444
One of the main problems you will have is the fact that your family, like mine, were Roman Catholic. RC records before the start of statutory civil registers (1855) are poor for many areas. Many of these parish registers, not just for the RC Church, have been lost or destroyed over the years. Also, record keeping in registers pre 1855 was variable by church and area. Also, research gets very hard the further back you go generally.
In the last two years or so, the official pay to view site for BMDs, parish registers and original census images www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk You can register for free and can do some general searches (you have to pay via units to view search results or images). Be aware of spelling variations when searching and use the wildcard symbol '*' when searching names. For example, I would search MacDonald as M*cdon* and MacIsaac, also McKesic/McKissack, as M*c*ss*c. Margaret also often shows as Margret/Maggie etc. so search as Ma*g*.
If you are fortunate to find RC baptisms, this SP help guide is useful www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/content/help/index.aspx?r=554&1374 Marriages here www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/Content/Help/index.aspx?r=554&2016
Have you found the family yet in the 1841 census?
Monica
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Thank monica
Not yet in the 41 census.
We will visit Scotland in june this year and plan to spend a week at Edinburgh Scottish Catholic Archives.
cheers
Bill
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I have to log off now (sad when real life takes over ;D). Catch up later.
Just a general search of "john macdonald" "eignaig" (new google type of search now without the + symbol) brings up info like:
John MacDonald, Kylesbeg (over 60) born at Eignaig and left there when he was about 18 or 19. Then went to Druim Laoigh, Loch Shiel-side for 3 years. About 7 yrs thereafter he came to Craig and lived there ever since at Kinlochmoidart (sic). While his father was at Eignaig he remembers shell sand being taken. His father moved to Langal. (f. 154)
http://www.moidart.org.uk/datasets/macdonaldpapers.htm from 1836
FreeCen for Argyll has good coverage for the 1841 census of Argyll www.freecen.org.uk/ - make sure to click on the 1841 census tab at the top.
Monica
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I think this is the family in 1841:
John MacDonald 50 Farmer
Margaret MacDonald 40
Donald MacDonald 20
John MacDonald 13
Ranald MacDonald 10
Ann MacDonald 15
Peggy MacDonald 7
Catharine MacDonald 5
Mary MacDonald 3
James MacDonald 9 months
Ranald MacDonald 85
Donald MacDonald 30 Merchant Seaman..the relative perhaps who shows with them in 1851?
Address: Glenuig, Acharacle, INV.
The 1841 census is the most limited in terms of info. Relationships within the household are not shows and ages for those over 15 were supposed to be rounded down to the nearest 5 years.
This is a good listing of the 1841 census. The index is done is order and by place name. There may likely be family nearby http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ked1/41ftwillcen9.html - Glenuig is the first in the list.
Monica
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Thanks Monica
This certainly looks like them as the ages and names are basically right.
I have come across a possibility. Alasdair MacMhaighster Alasdair was given a farm at Eigneig and had a son called Ranald. I wonder if he is the "85 year old" Ranald born about 1752-1755 who is John's father?
The address is confusing as Acharacle is at theend of Loch Shiel and Glenuig is at the south of Loch nan Uamh. Egnaig is conveniently between these.
As a matter of interest I attach the death cert for John (died 1875 Heathcote VIC) which lists his kin in the same order.
cheers
Bill
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I have come across a possibility. Alasdair MacMhaighster Alasdair was given a farm at Eigneig and had a son called Ranald. I wonder if he is the "85 year old" Ranald born about 1752-1755 who is John's father?
Bill
Is the family group you mean:
ALEXANDER (Alasdair MacMhaighster Alasdair) : (1700?-1780?); Gaelic poet; s. Alexander, M.A. ("Maighstear Alasdair"); the Episcopal clergyman of Ardnamurchan; had a commission in highland army under his cousin, but the passing of Act of Indemnity gave him a settled home. Clanranald made him baillie of Isle of Canna and gave him farm of Eigneig on the Glenuig estate. His eldest s., Ranald, was a poet. The farm of Laig in that island remained in the family till emigration of the poet's great-grandson Angus to U. S. about 1850, when American civil war broke out, he, receiving a commission in 11th Wisconsin regiment, was distinguished for his gallantry.
www.accessgenealogy.com/surnames/macdonald.htm
Also, www.moidart.org.uk/datasets/alasdair1.pdf
You have good understanding of the geography which is good! Took me a while ;D There does look to be some movement with John and Margaret in terms of locations. The 1851 census entry in respect of birth place may not quite be accurate and it is also difficult when you only have one census entry to go by (ignoring the 1841 census which only shows if someone is born in or out of the county that the census took place).
Monica
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Mmmm....not sure on the link of Alasdair to your Ronald given the birth year given here for son Ronald of 1728 (p.13 on the document I posted earlier www.moidart.org.uk/datasets/alasdair1.pdf)
This document is new to me. Helped me figure out a tombstone with an engraving of skeleton) I had seen on St Finnan's Isle in the summer of 2010.
Given the locations we are seeing for your family, you too must have family buried at Island Finnan,“the Green Isle”, on Loch Shiel. I posted some photos here (I know, a bit of let me show you may holiday photos, only 5 though and I took so many 8)). www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,473750.0.html
Monica
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Yes, re- Ranald and Alasdair MacMhaighstir Alasdair. I think the dates are very much different. There are some reports on the web that indicate that the MacMhaighster descendents went to canada and i think the birth date is out by decades.
back to square one at egnaig.
Bill
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Hi Bill,
I descend from MacDonald's of Egnaig prior to your dates and have some written info.
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Thanks Greg.
I would love to see some written material. I am in OZ.
Would you write to me here? or email direct?
Bill
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Send me an email greglynch96@gmail.com
I will reply with a PDF of the biography of Angus MacDonald (1755-1835) whose father Roderick was tacksman at Egnaig. Angus was pressed into service with the Royal Navy and ended up in Pictou, Nova Scotia.
Have you looked at Egnaig on google earth?
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Hi Bill,
You mentioned you had visited the area. Did you see Egnaig?
What leads you to the Forbes connection?
Greg
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Gday Greg
Yes, we went to Egnaig and the areas around there.
I have the Catherine Forbes connection on a (I think) baptism register. I will have to look it up.
Bill
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Having only seen this thread for the 1st time tonight, I have been doing a bit of reading.
ALEXANDER (Alasdair MacMhaighster Alasdair) : (1700?-1780?); Gaelic poet; s. Alexander, M.A. ("Maighstear Alasdair"); the Episcopal clergyman of Ardnamurchan; had a commission in highland army under his cousin, but the passing of Act of Indemnity gave him a settled home. Clanranald made him baillie of Isle of Canna and gave him farm of Eigneig on the Glenuig estate.
Monica
I noted from reading the content from the above quote from Monica here:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01k0g/
There was mention of a place name 'Bornish' & wondered if it was Bornish on South Uist knowing that South Uist was Clanranald Land?
I decided to look further & found this which I thought may be of interest....
http://www.moidart.org.uk/datasets/alasdair1.pdf
"Alasdair was born around 1698 in Dalilea on the shore of Loch Shiel.
His parents were from Benbecula and Morvern"
Benbecula was at one time an Island between South Uist & North Uist now accessed by a causeway.
This lead me here which I've read in the past but it relates to my earlier thoughts on this thread:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacMhuirich_bardic_family
I believe I'm descended from this family although I have no paper trail to prove it sadly.
All very interesting reading.
Annie
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I meant to add, although there are variations in the gaelic name MacMhuirich/MacVurich/MacVarich etc. the name is known as 'Currie' (Anglicised) from which I descend.
My 2 x g g/mother was known as Margaret Currie (her m/s) on all documents I have apart from 1 which was the BC of one of her daughters born 1857 (Eriskay, a small island just off South Uist) where her m/s is recorded as MacVurich & a delight to have as I had read about the name being anglicised but had never come across the original in my family paperwork until this BC.
Annie
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I meant to add, although there are variations in the gaelic name MacMhuirich/MacVurich/MacVarich etc. the name is known as 'Currie' (Anglicised) from which I descend.
Annie, that is new to me. Thanks for that. Have always wondered what McVarish morphed into over time as it pretty much disappeared in the area of my research. Ronald MacDonald/MacIsaac was married to Ann McVarish early 1800s in the Loch Shiel/Acharacle area. They are my 4x greats.
Monica :)
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Monica,
These are worth a wee read:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacMhuirich_(surname)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Currie_(surname)
Annie
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Another reference to MacMhuirich/Currie:
http://www.carmichaelwatson.lib.ed.ac.uk/cwatson/gd/catalogueentry/4714/14/15/subj_cw_id:(s3334)/Poets,%20Scottish/NOTEBOOK
Annie
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Thanks, Annie :)
Monica
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Thought this may be of interest as there's a lot of info. here:
http://www.moidart.org.uk/datasets/glenmoidart/rpm.htm
Annie
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I find this Alasdair MacMhaighster Alasdair discussion interesting as he is living in Egnaig at the same time I believe my ancestors had that Tack. Hence, he was probably a close relative. It leads back to Dalilea and Benbecula. I was wondering whether Egnaig was a ClanRanald owned property or Kinlochmoidart.
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Clanranald owned Eigneig....
A bit to read (not sure if I posted earlier)?
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01k3r/
Just noticed this was a link I forgot to post along with the rest;
http://www.moidart.org.uk/datasets/cathchapsaroberts.htm
Annie
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This is an invaluable site although no longer active for posts/replies as sadly the owner of the site passed away a few years ago, himself a Benbecula man;
https://westernisles.wordpress.com/
Annie
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Where do your Currie's live?
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Hi Greg,
My Curries were from South Uist, Inverness-shire, Scotland.
I'm unsure of any descendants at this point for this era.
My 3 x g g/father Donald Currie b c 1800 died pre 1855 (no death cert) was married to Marion Steele who died 1862 on the Island of Eriskay, just off South Uist (now accessible by a causeway).
They were moved to Eriskay with the clearances of South Uist Crofts in the 1800's.
1 of his daughters Margaret c1829 - 1885 was my 2 x g g/mother married to Ewen Cumming c 1824 - 1869 (both died Eriskay) another daughter Janet married a Donald MacPhee & emigrated to Ontario, Canada.
2 sons Donald & John who I haven't researched yet.
I have Donald married to Catherine MacKinnon 1854 South Uist although I haven't researched that line any further yet.
Annie
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Hi Greg,
You have me interested again in my own Currie family.
A few google searches & came up with a list of different things which look interesting & may even yield something of importance?....
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01k40/
Annie
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Very interesting. I see the McVurich's claim descent from the Irish bardic family Ó Dálaigh, which is today the name Daly. I descend from Daly's, and in my hunt for them, it is amazing how many have achieved great success in what you would call bardic areas. Makes me think there is a genetic component to certain talents.
I remember reading somewhere that Dr. Boswell toured the islands, and met a very old bard McVurich, and just heaped him with praise. I'll try to find that.
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Very interesting. I see the McVurich's claim descent from the Irish bardic family Ó Dálaigh, which is today the name Daly.
Hi Greg,
I wonder if 'Dalilea' is a variant/compound of 'Ó Dálaigh'...it's very similar but also confusing with 'Daly' as 'O' in Irish names is the same as 'Mac' in Scottish names i.e. 'son of'.
I also have the surname Daly/Dale in my tree, not my direct line but by coincidence on 2 different sides of my paternal lines although one seems to be Renfrew & the other Lanark.
I haven't investigated further with either as they were both married into my family.
Annie
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Thanks Annie for posting,
http://www.moidart.org.uk/datasets/cathchapsaroberts.htm
Very interesting from my standpoint. My direct ancestor who emmigrated was Catholic, but the evidence is emerging that some immediate family members were Protestant. So, I have spent a lot of time figuring out what subbranches of ClanRanald where Catholic and which were Protestant.
Greg
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Being a Catholic was a hindrance to landowning? or obtaining a commission in the army hence the dyke-jumping!
Skoosh.
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what do you mean by dyke jumping?
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Changing ones religion! ;D
Skoosh.