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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Argyllshire => Topic started by: Glasvaar on Wednesday 03 November 10 16:23 GMT (UK)
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I have just joined Rootschat, and as I live in Argyll, just outside Lochgilphead, I may be in a position to help with local enquiries, I have a website argyllancestors.com and carry out family history research.
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Hi,
Not a request for research, but a general question. My rellies on my nans side came from around argyll, ayr, renfrew etc.
My nans grandmothers maiden name was Omay. Do you know where I might find information on the origins of that family name/ does not seem to appear in any books, nothing on the internet and no clan information that I can find.
Donald Omay was the son of Katrine Malcolm Omay McIlchattan that is as far as I have managed to get. It is frustrating not to be able to find anythingabout them a reference or bibliography, nothing!
Katrine for man I find unusual. His father was Malcolm too
marcie
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Have you tried doing a search on www. scotlandspeople.gov.uk, using the variation, that would pick up any anomalies in the name, if it was transcribed wrongly!
I must admit that I have never come across the name before, during all the years that I have carried out research in scotland
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Janet O'May married Alexander Smith I have all the family members up until Malcolm. So that is not the problem. I have also had a look on Argyll Family History Society, looked at the School photos and information. There were O'May family members there.
There is nothing on the internet to say where they came from. Nothing on Sp for Katrine or his wife' and their marriage. I need a Scottish Historian!
marcie
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Hi Marcie!
just a wee snippit of info - although i now live in Oban, i did live in Campbeltown where i was a Police officer. Anyway, i am aware that the family name O'May is not uncommon in the Campbeltown area with posssible ancestral links to Ireland.
Allan
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Hi,
Just the person I need! My 4x great grandfather was born at Altgaltrig on the South Hall Estate, near Colintraive, Parish of Inverchaolain in 1744 and married in Greenock in 1774.
One of his brothers also married in Greenock in 1776. I would like to know whether their Father Archibald McPherson was still living at Altgaltrig. I believe
the Archives Office at Lochgilphead holds some rent lists for the South Hall Estate starting in 1775. Could I request a search of the list for that year? There were actually two Altgaltrigs - Altgaltrigmor(e) and Altgaltrigbeg does the list distinguish them? Am also interested in knowing the names of other McPhersons appearing in the list. My 3x great grandmother was also an Inverchaolain McPherson!
Rod McPherson
Australia
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Hi Allan Mac,
My Smith family were of irish origins, and having seen a history program which covered the late 1798 when there was a slaughter, a massacre which was not supposed to take place but happened anyway. That is when a lot of irish left for Scotland, Canada and America. The person who sent me the Gedcom which I am working with of my family told me that the O'May family were Scottish through and through and that she was not interested in my Irish family of Smiths. I do not dispute whether they are Irish or scots, it does not bother me, but I am in search of the truth. I have found no Clan association, with a slight exception of the Keith family. No history to speak of past 1700. I would like to know where they came from and when they arrived in Scotland unless they came from the Islands prior to this. Really intriqued. And trying to find some reading material is really awkward. I have signed the Guest Book and left some information on my interests in the hope that someone in the family might contact me or leave a message. Hopefully there is still someone alive connected to the tree other than the person I've already spoken to.
Marcie
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Argyll Research. Its worth it.
I have found that the name Omay, Omey, etc. is a really Ancient Scottish Clan. They were originally the Lairds of Keil, Kintyre where they held a family seat there for centuries. The first settlers moved from Scotland to North america was one Daniel Omey in 1732 They have a ancient family crest.
But the site is an american owned site so to obtain a crest would cost approx. $20
I found a site which I have added to my favourites called squidoo, holds a lot of information about all sorts of things including all scottish family and clann names. Clann in Gaelic means children of the family. I now want to find out about the Lairds of Keil and possibly write to Lord Lyon to see if there are any papers held about Malcolm Omay and Sarah McCallum fingers x'd that he does not mind.
marcie
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I also found this: because of the copyright laws I cannot place the whole article here. So have totally rephrased the part of the paper which is pertinent.
Lairds of Kintyre. O’May
On march 14th 1874 there was an article taken from the Argyll Herald quoting a comment from Donald Shaw late tenant of Kiel who wrote, and I quote “The burial ground at Keil was occupied by the lowlanders of the parish Kilmaur , Ayrshire
Mr Ralston purchased from Mr O’May the then Laird of Keil the burial grounds for the sum of 60 merks. The ground had been part of the kail gardens, and attached to the houses that were situated near the old road running passed the church of Keil, but which were demolished with their inhabitants who had died of bubonic plague, and been buried by the ruins
There was also a note about a James Muir for those who may be looking for ancestors.
I now want to see how far back I can get to see when the name was first mentioned. If it is proven
that they have always been there and did not move from anywhere else I think that is as much as can be achieved. Have to go on to something else. Maybe tackle my smiths, or Laidlaw problem in Edinburgh.
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The O'May clan owned the Mull of Kintyre, how strange is that. The lands around Keil which is now where Campbeltown is situated.
I cannot think of anything except to visit there, for the local parish church records to find out any more, or to write to Lord Lyons office to see what records they hold to get back in time further than has been achieved so far. Does anyone have any suggestions that would help with this quest.
Malcolm and Sarah are already from the era of 1730 so his father has to be late 1600's and it looks as though the land was sold around 1680 to Mr Ralston. Janet O'May was my grgrgrandmother.
I am not a direct descendant, so land and Laird does not matter. And those people who draw up crests etc. they are not necessarily the correct ones. Lord Lyons office do this sort of work if and when you can prove your lineage. At a charge of course. That site is also very interesting.
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Hi Marcie Dean
just a wee bit of info. the term 'Laird' generally means the owner of a property e.g. farm etc.
From the early 1100's Argyll and the Isles (the ancient kingdom of Dalriada) was controlled by the Irish/Celtic Prince Somerled and his sons. His eldest son Dougal - progenator of the Clan MacDougall (some say this Clan is the oldest Scottish Clan - being a MacDougall who am i to disagree!!) inherited northern Argyll on the demise of Somerled. Somerled's second son, Reginald inherited southern Argyll (including Kintyre). I'm unaware of any O'may control of these areas unless it was Pictish prior to Somerled.
i have also found an interesting site regarding Keil Cemetry at Southend, Campbeltown:
http://wwwralstongenealogy.com/cemetry.htm
This site lists all the gravestones at Keil.
hope this is helpful
Allan Mac
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Hi Marcie Dean - just another bit of interest.
if you access the following website you'll get a wee bit more info about the Keil area near Southend outside Campbeltown. if you do access it, the massacre at Dunaverty Castle they refer to was General Leslie's atrocity against the MacDougall's and their supporters.
www.walkhighlands.co.uk/argyll/southend.shtml
There is also a Keil near Oban (Benderloch). I'm not a Gaelic speaker but it may be that Keil is a Gaelic term e.g. Tarbert/Tarbet - land area between two stretches of water etc.
Allan
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Hi Allan Mac
You should read the Argyll herald which this person Gavin Ralston ? (my memory) has written and writes quarterly. My feelings are that he is probably an American.
I must say that I have nothing against Americans, but they do seem towant to find a connection to Royalty etc. and have found that they change things on Ancestry for instance so that it read Paisley in North Carolina or some such.
I do not totally believe the article which is why I would like to try and go back further to see what I can find. For instance I found a 81 yr old Euphemia Omay definately Irish. I have also found Omay in London stating irish.
It is nice to think that at one point we may have been the owners of Kintyre, but I do not hold my breath. Will look at your suggestions and see what they say. Want to find out the first Omay to be resident in that area. If Burkes peerage of the Lord of Lyons records office cannot remember her name but she is a Bruce maiden name, see what she has to say. marcie
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Hi Allan Mac
The first item was full of information, said a lot about the Omey family, mentioned names which are in my family tree, but Duncan, Donald, John and James still brothers. Yet does not mention Malcolm Omay McIlchattan or his father Malcolm and his mother Anne Sinclair or his spouse Sarah McCallum
both he and she supposedly born about 1730. I also have Archibald, Alexander, & Daniel but not Cornelius, Samuel or Robert. There is an occasional Hugh. Cannot find a connection between them. Do you know what Katrine means if it has a meaning. as in Katrine Malcolm Omay McIlchattan. This info takes me back to 1505 but no connection that I can see. The article states that there were no living relatives so the estate was sold. There is only one Omay in Kilcolmkill? cemetary with no first name. Are there any other places that they would have been buried locally.
the second article was interesting makes me want to come up to stay and look around, maybe next year. Plenty of cottages, photographic views, beautiful scenery. Been nearly two years since last visit near aberdeen. marcie
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Ran out of room.
Amazon had a book which they were advertising and you could do a vertual tour, looked and could not find Omay or Omey. Scots/Irish. The Scots book you could not do that.
The connection you gave me, happened to be the same magazine but another issue. Fascinating.
And what is a merk? Sounds very german to me 1mark would buy me entrance to the cinema and 1 mark would buy my ein chocolat mit nusse Lindt of course. Saturday matinee.
So if there were no relatives left, where did my lot come from.
I do wonder whether Omay or Omey came from another name, apparently means respect or esteem from the gaelic "miadh"
marcie
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I have birth information for Malcolm 25 Aug 1794 Ref: 511/00 0010 0123 Glassary
Also Hugh O'May Lochgilphead and Catharine Johnstone No 25 in the list on the page
We have:
John Omey mentioned with a date of 1505 Tacksman (Customs & Excise? or ksomething else)
Cornelius passing khis BA at st Andrews in 1528
Duncan being a minister at Kilcolmkill in 1611 and atenant at Keil House for many years
Donald being a minister of Kingarth Bute thken appointed ministed to the Parish of Kilkerran now Campbeltown
kkThe Bishop of Argyll granting a charter of the lands of keil to the minister as recorded in the Argyll Sasine Paticular Register 15th May 1622 before witnesses, though doesnt say who they were.
James Omey 1659
Another JAMES O'Mey in 1682 of Collinlongart (kwhere is this?)kthe above james khaving left something to him, khis heirs and his assignees.
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cont....
A ronald o'mey of Keil 1717
A James and a Duncan O'Mey in Collinlongart
A Duncan Omey owning 1.1/2 merkland of Kilcolmkill 1751
Archibald 1780
Samuel
No mention of either Katrine Malcolm O'may Mcilchattan 1730
Have not managed to find a marriage to Sarah McCallum or a grave for both or either
No mention of Malcolm his father or his mother Anna Sincklair (as it was spelt on Ancestry)
A birth in glassary as previously mentioned of a Malcolm O'Mey 1794 and some information held at the library on the land and buildings. One of kthe graves had a Mcnab mentioned, I have a Mary McNab in a branch of my Omay tree married kto Duncan and mother of kArchibald
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The other article you gave me to look at mentioned an Island. A tidal island off of Ireland called Omey Island (or Iomaidh) near Claddaghduff on the western edge of Connemara in the county of Galway, Ireland and was almost hidden from the mainland. It says that you can walk there or drive at low tide, as long as you follow the markers or arrowed signs, but high tide the water would cover a car
Apparently goes back as far as the 6th century, (but I take it that you already know all of this) there is still a small church there or what is left of it. St.Feichin and they found the burial of a woman, which is found to be a little strange. Early christian, but would that be catholicism style of christianity of church of Ireland/Scotland. Which country does the island belong to? Ireland?
marcie
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Agree with what you say about many of our cousins from across the water. Re the Gaelic root of your name - remember that Gaelic originally came from Ireland (via the Atlantic coast of Europe before it arrived in NW Scotland) and Kintyre and the Western Isles were the first areas to be influenced by them.
Allan Mac
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Modern thinking is doubtful of Irish colonists in Argyle, the archaeology doesn't bear this out. A tacksman is somebody with a tack, a lease, of land. Skoosh.
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Hi Skoosh,
So you think there is a chance that they were there all the time?
I have tried researching some of those names that Allan Mac pointed me towards but of course not all parish's kept records before 1700
Was it 1734 or 1723 it kwas made a legal obligation to keekp krecords. (My keyboard is oversensitive at the moment and starting to drive me kpotty) ;D ;D
I definately need to come up and take a close look at things. Any decent suggestions.
Would appreciate. Where it said that the minister was a ktenant for several years, who would he have been a tenant to.?
Marjorie
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Hi Glasvaar, just after some advice of where I might look to solve a brick wall. My family on my mother's side come from Ardrishaig. I have been trying, for what seems like ages, to find out what became of my great great uncle. Finlay Jackson was born in the Glassary area in 1851 to John and Flora Jackson (McNair). John Jackson was a shoemaker. Finlay appears the 1861 census (though his name is spelt Findlay). He appears also in the 1871 census. He is 19 years old and described as a fisherman. After this there is no trace of Finlay. Fishing featured heavily in the Jackson family. Finlay's elder brother George owned a small boat callled the Gleniffer. I have attempted to discover if Finlay emigrated but have had no success on that front. I am wondering if he drowned when at sea and his death went unrecorded.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Regards
Doddie
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Marjorie, no doubt the people on both sides of the North Channel were connected and had been from the dim & distant, but invasion theories are not confirmed by archaeology.
As to the landowner, most probably some of the Campbell's or Malcolm of Poltalloch?
Skoosh.
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More reading and more research then seems to be the order of the day.
kThanks all.
marcie
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Hi Marcie Dean - the name Katrine is an alternative spelling of Catherine originally a Greek word meaning pure. It is not unusual for a girl to have a 'male' name in the Western Isles e.g. Angusina (after Angus) or Donaldina (after Donald). The Island near the west coast of Galway you refer to is Irish. I'm also unaware of the archaeology evidence Skoosh refers to but the Irish have had extremely close ties with Argyll which i highlight not only my own ancestral/clan background from the 1100's (Somerled was an Irish prince) but also further back to the Irish Catholic Saint Columba in the mid 500's in Iona.
And possibly to throw a spanner in the works, there was a huge Viking influence in the western area of Argyll as well!!
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PS: a 'merk' is an old 16th/17th century Scots silver coin.
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You're right Alan, Somerled was half Norse. The DNA group "Niall of the Nine Hostages" is common to Donegal and Argyle, but the question is, did it move from Argyle to Ulster or vice versa, people have been crossing/recrossing the North Channel ever since God left Govan! It was no barrier but a highway. There is however no evidence of a displaced Pictish population. skoosh.
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More reading then, this is like a history lesson and loving every minute of it. Good to observe other peoples views
marcie
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I found this site
macdonald.com
Apparently, like MacDougal, O'May according to them along with MacEarchran, etc are all septs of MacDonald.
Don't kill the messenger. Differs slightly to other things I have read kbut very interesting.
marcie
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also further back to the Irish Catholic Saint Columba in the mid 500's in Iona.
Allan, not sure I can entirely agree with the premise that Columba was a Catholic, would be interested in what others have to say. Columba and the Church of the Culdees that grew in Scotland were, as far as I am aware, catholic with a small 'c' but were certainly not part of the Church of Rome. I'm sure others know more about them than I do - I can't even remember the 'Sunday name' for the Culdees at the moment.
When Margaret was escaping from England and the Norman Conquest immediately post-1066 she landed on the shores of Scotland. King Malcolm was married at the time, with a family, but that didn't stop the redoubtable lady marrying him, putting down the Church of the country in which she had landed, putting her sons into the line of succession for the throne rather than the elder ones of the first family - and of course establishing the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland and pretty comprehensively destroying the Culdees in the process That was a long long time after Columba.
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OOOOHHH - MacDougall's are not a sept of any other clan. As i have already highlighted, Dougal was the oldest of Somerled's surviving sons from whom the clan MacDougall descends and as such can quite rightly claim to be the oldest clan. The MacDonalds descend from Somerled's grandson (Somerled's second son Reginald's son). All clans associated with Somerled come under the umbrella of the 'Somhairle' family.
The MacDougall's are one of Scotland's senior clans with dozens of septs associated to them.
You've got me going now!!!! :-)
Allan Mac
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Hi Maggie - you are quite right should have been small 'c' catholic, my apologies
Allan Mac
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I never said that I believe it, just stated what I had read ::) The Argyll Historic mag. or kintyre
magazine or article, differs from Wikipediak but not by very much
I have always been up on the east coast, rarely visited the west coast, but one of the things I wish to do is find Hugh and Marys graves and also my 3xgrgrandfathers grave in Renfrew or Glasgow. You could say West meets east. My nan and grandad summer hols at the beach me in background whilst very young.
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I found a long list of Omay names and dates, both in the Kintyre magazine iss 13 and also one of these one name research sites. Whether they connect to my tree, I do not know.
Think it may be wise to raise another tree for these names until i can find a connection.
marcie
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Tried doing another tree, but without knowing parents names its a bit tricky, so will probably resort back to doing a spreadsheet instead.
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Alan Mac,
I found a Ranald McDougall Registrar signing a certificate for one of my relatives.
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Does anyone on here stay up late and watch that program where this irishman or scotsman goes wandering all over the mountains and valleys around Scotland giving a history lesson. Apparently the picts did not die out during the time that everyone think that they did. There have found proof that they survived longer than at first thought, possibly another 1,000 or so years.
Cannot remember the guys name, but if im awake enough I find it all very interesting.
marcie
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I think we're still here Marcie! Skoosh.
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Marcie, do you mean the Neil Oliver series? History of Scotland? It's on about it's 3rd repeat showing and still enjoyable, but sometimes it can also be frustrating.
I realise nobody can encapsulate the huge subject into tiddly half hour programmes without missing huge huge chunks, but sometimes the quick summary and jump over 50 odd years has me really cross! Thank goodness for history books, hope even in this electronic age they never go out of fashion.. Scenery is wonderful though (and that includes Neil Oliver)
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Maggie,
would totally agree. Mmm! worth watching. Originally I thought that they were going to follow on, then realised that they did not quite.
marcie
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I think we're still here Marcie! Skoosh.
Sorry, just read that again. I had to chuckle. what lesson are we on now then.?
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guess what I received as one of my presents for Xmas
My Baby sister bought me a copy of, A History of Scotland by Neil Oliver 8)
How's that!
marcie
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Hello Glasvaar,
Do you live at Glasvaar? I ask because I am an Argyll native who immigrated to Canada in 1967, but I recognize that place name as a farm where my MACVICAR relatives were at one time.
Mary
formerly of Tayvallich
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hi don't know if you can help,i have been lookingfor the death date of Helen mcCready from dunoon, the last address I have for her is 23 cowal place dunoon 1970 she lived with my relation he was john Kelly who died in 1970 at 23 cowal place he would be 93 if he lived so I am thinking Helen would have been same age. would love if you could help or advise . thanks ???
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Folks, if Neil Oliver was a Pict he wasn't hand-pict :) With the hair & shoulder-bag to boost the image. Nah no fur me! a phoney. Enjoy this stuff,
http://www.pictishstones.org.uk/pictishstones/pictishstoneshome.htm
Skoosh.
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My Mum Catherine Colquhoun was born at Scotnish Farm, North Knapdale in October 1918. Her father was either the farm manager or the tenant of the farm. I'm trying to find out the date they moved into the farm and also when they left it. All I have to go on is it's between 1914-21. These are the years when my Mum's brothers were born and I know they weren't born at Scotnish. I do know that the older brother who was born in 1914 went to Tayvallich school. Would there be school records somewhere that could help?I'd be grateful for any help in finding out when my ancestors lived at Scotnish. Thank you.
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Hi Marcie,
Came across this 'Deaths on Service' obituary in the Glasgow Herald dated 11th April 1918
O'May
Died of wounds received in action on 3rd April, Captain W.S. O'May, H.L.I., aged 27, beloved husband of Margaret C.D. Marshall, Dunmar, Hodge Street, Falkirk, and second son of the late Daniel O'May, Glass Merchant, and Mrs O'May, Stanley Cottage, Falkirk.
Hopefully this will be another addition to your family tree.
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my g grandmother was born in southend Argyll [campbelltown] in 1834. she came to Canada in the 1840s. I can not find her in Scotland. can anybody help. her name was Helena fullerton.
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Hi Sokes,
The 1841 census gives place of birth for the whole family as unknown (Address Gartvain)
Have you seen the original ???
John 35 Ag Lab
Margaret 30
Helen 7
Alex 5
Isabella 3
Margaret 11m
Other in household
McMillan Margaret 80 Pauper (possibly mother-in-law) ???
Piece: SCT1841/532 Place: Southend -Argyllshire Enumeration District: 5
Civil Parish: Southend Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island:
Folio: 5 Page: 6
Address: Gartvain
Annie
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Sokes, might be worth posting on this very helpful forum,
http://www.kintyreforum.com/
Skoosh.
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This page could be useful too.............
http://www.genealogylinks.net/uk/scotland/argyll/
I found some info. on the surname May on one of the pages so variants will need to be used for OMay possibly ???
Annie
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A few on here but I don't have an Ancestry "Prescription" anymore :'(
Shrink Link not working at the moment ::)
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?uidh=000&rank=1&new=1&so=3&msT=1&gsln=O%27may&MSAV=1&cp=0&cpxt=0&catBucket=rstp&db=pubmembertrees&sbo=t&gsbco=Sweden&noredir=true
Annie
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hi annie, I see you have the name mellon in your tree,if you don't mind me asking what part of Ireland did they come from my mellon family also used the name o mellon .
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hi annie, I see you have the name mellon in your tree,if you don't mind me asking what part of Ireland did they come from my mellon family also used the name o mellon .
Hi Cathy,
My Mellon family originated from Donegal although I only have my 2 x g g/father James Mellon b c 1821 - 1825.
He married Hannah Toland/Tolland 1845 in Donegal but she was form Strabane, Co. Tyrone.
They had 2 kids in Ireland (somewhere), moved to Scotland & England for a time & had 3 more kids, then returned to Ireland at a later date where they died, Hannah in Tyrone but I have yet to find James' death ???
Annie
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I still have to find out where my o,mellons or mellons come from in Ireland.then I can find out when they came to Scotland. ???
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Hi Cathy52,
Came across this in the Glasgow Herald, dated, 28th October, 1929
Lemmon
At 61, Grant Street, Glasgow, on the 26th October, 1929, John Lemmon, no flowers.
and also this, dated, 29th October, 1962
Lemon
Suddenly at Roseville,
312, Broughty Ferry Road,
Dundee,
on 26th October, 1962. Alexander Robb Lemon, in his 74th year, beloved husband of the late Margaret Helen Kerr - Funeral service at Dundee crematorium to-day, (Monday) at 2.30 pm., to which all friends are invited.
Hope this can be added to your tree.
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Hi Cathy 52, please ignore the last message, getting my Melons and Lemons mixed up.
Sorry.
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;D that's ok,had a wee laugh when I read it.
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Hello
My 3x gr grandfather was James McIntyre and Catherine Currie was his wife. He is my brick wall as there is little info on them. It is believed e fought in the Napoleonic conflict. He was born in 1796 app and died in 1843 in Dunoon and Kilmun. His wife passed in 1860. I would love to get further back, but never come across info for James.
Marc
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I have been searching for. Helen McCreary who lived in dunoon .I know she was living there 1970,can't find a death date for her any help would be great.thanks
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Should have said mcgreary
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Any idea where a long term patient in the Argyll and Bute Hospital who died around 1890's or 1900's would have been buried if they had "no known family"?
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surely that would depend upon several possibilities,if he were in the forces, a convict or a pauper?what about checking the parishes? see where most were buried local work-houses etc.army barracks.there must be several indicators if he was in the forces which battalion was he in, were there any battles during that period, such as waterloo for instance.boer war?
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Hi all - wondering if anyone has been researching the family of Archibald Gilchrist and Margaret (Peggy) McMillan who were married in Killean. Their son, William Gilchrist, became a successful printer and businessman in Glasgow (Kintyre Magazine article). I am trying to establish if Margaret McMillan was the daughter of Alexander McMillan (a smith) and Margaret Carmichael born Killean on 12 Mar 1787 but have been unable find a death record or burial place for her. Last record of Margaret Gilchrist (Gilchrest) was in the 1851 census where she was living with her son William in Gorbals, Lanarkshire but no sign of her so far in the 1861 census. Would appreciate any information or ideas.
Thanks :)
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have gilchrist in my family tree related to my steele family and the lairds on isle of skye theres a guy who looks after the books on families over there angusmcsweenor mcbain look him up in the ra;ston magazine theres a link there somewhere i think from memory he helped me find something years ago now he covers sky rum and one or two of the other islands, colonsay oronsay etc george the farmer lairds3rd cousin to william of orange by the way.
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Hi Argyll researcher, if you are still assisting listers I would be very appreciative of any help. John Smith (44) together with his wife Mary (40) and children Lachlan (18), Roderick (16), Hugh (14), George (12), Mary (10) and Margaret Flora (9.5) emigrated from Ardmamurchan arriving in Sydney Australia on the "George Fyfe" in January 1840. The ship left from Weeping Springs on Mull. They were Catholics. John's parents were John and Mary (McDonald), Mary's parents were Hugh and Catherine (surnames unknown). John, his parents and Mary's parents are listed as farmers. Lachlan is listed as a stockhand who could read and write. His parents could not.
This information is from their Bounty documents on arrival in Sydney. John was one of about 15 of the emigrants on the ship who signed (X'd) a letter to the Captain of the "George Fyfe" giving thanks for the successful voyage.
I have used ScotlandsPeople extensively both online and when visiting Scotland searching for records as well as looking, now some years ago, at the IGI film records for Argyll and Inverness Shire through my FHS. I checked OPRs and the Catholic Registers on ScotlandsPeople as well as emailing the Catholic Records people directly. I have had no success in finding any record of the family in Scotland and I did look for any of the children as well as their parents. The family records in Australia only list Scotland as their birthplace.
I would be most grateful for any advice about other sources or any other assistance able to be provided. Thanks Anne