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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Wigtownshire => Topic started by: marg06 on Thursday 07 July 16 05:03 BST (UK)
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I am seeking information on the marriage and life together of Andrew McDowall and Agnes McKeand. They were the parents of Andrew McDowall baptised 27 Aug 1779 at Penninghame, Wigtown, Scotland. The son Andrew migrated to Australia(date unknown) and died near Albury NSW in 1877. a newspaper(Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Thursday 19 July 1877, page 1) stated "On the 11 Jul 1877 at Piney Range station NSW Andrew McDowall late of Kirkalla Wigtownshire Scotland aged 97" . This Andrew had married Jean/Jane Rankin (Rankine) on 30 Apr 1826 at Penninghame,Wigtown,Scotland.
with thanks
Margaret
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Familysearch has some records for Scotland, though not complete for all events and areas:
https://familysearch.org/search/collection/location/1986318?region=Scotland
Are you familiar with Scotlands People? You need to register and purchase credits to view instantly downloadable documents, but cost is reasonable. It would be an idea to have a good look around the site as everything you need to know about record availalbilty and how to search is there:
http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/
There are also some records specific to Wigtownshire which you can find if you google some appropriate search terms, such as wigtownshire parish registers.
Added: as you have a specific date of baptism for Andrew jnr I take it you have his baptism? Did you get his parent's names from this baptism or from his Australian death certificate?
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As Ruskie mentions, there are a number of great sites for the county. There is this one for example which provides BMD notices from the local Wigtownshire Free Press http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ainsty/wfp/intro.html
From the deaths database, there is this entry http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ainsty/wfp/deaths/15.html
M'DOWALL/RANKINE, Jane - D4/11/1843 - Suddenly at Dalmellington, on the fourth inst., aged 55 years, Jane Rankine, wife of Mr Andrew M'Dowall, late farmer in Drumbrennan, parish of Kirkowen
Is this son Andrew's wife that you mention? Just wondering about the term 'late farmer' as it can be read a number of ways.
Monica
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I couldn't resist Googling.
You might find yourself related to some of these people.
http://scotlandskillingtimes.com/wp/?cat=2002
This doesn't answer your question but page 24 mentions the distribution of the surname McDowall at the time of the hearth tax.
http://theses.gla.ac.uk/2786/1/2009KerrMPhil.pdf
Your Andrew's baptism is here, but there's not an obvious record for his father.
http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ainsty/parishes/penninghame/opr/mcdonald.htm
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I couldn't resist Googling.
You might find yourself related to some of these people.
http://scotlandskillingtimes.com/wp/?cat=2002
i've never seen that site before Hurworth. Love the sign! I'll be interested to see if I can find any of OH's family names on that. :)
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Thanks to all for some great sites to explore. I now have many more clues to pursue. Still unable to find any migration record from Scotland to Australia. From what you have provided it seems possible that Andrew's wife Jean died in 1843 and he may after migrated after that date with my ancestor his daughter Helen Hair McDowal. Are there any suggestions on sites to explore Scottish migration in this time frame?
Margaret
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See how these baptisms from the link above mention Glenruther:
McDOWALL Andrew Andrew Agnes McKeand M Aug 27, 1779 190 Glenruther
McDOWALL Alexander Andrew Agnes McKeand M Jul 22, 1777 171 Glenruther
McDOWALL William Andrew Agnes McKeand M Dec 07, 1784 235 Glenvernoch
ScotlandsPeople has this will.
25 MACDOWALL ANDREW 12/05/1790 IN GLENRUTHER TESTAMENT DATIVE AND INVENTORY WIGTOWN COMMISSARY COURT CC22/3/4A
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Thanks to all for some great sites to explore. I now have many more clues to pursue. Still unable to find any migration record from Scotland to Australia. From what you have provided it seems possible that Andrew's wife Jean died in 1843 and he may after migrated after that date with my ancestor his daughter Helen Hair McDowal. Are there any suggestions on sites to explore Scottish migration in this time frame?
Margaret
It sounds like you want to find the immigration records for the family. There will be no records on the Scottish end I don't think, though there are a few records on Find My Past for outgoing immigrants (what their coverage isI have no idea).
Have you checked the NSW immigration indexes?
There are always people who just seem to appear on another country with no record of their immigration to be found. Sometimes they are free settlers rather than assisted so the authorities were not as interested in them, sometimes they are indexed vaguely, eg McDowall family, sometimes surnames are spelled differently.
It might be an idea to ask for help finding their immigration on the Australia board. Provide a link to this thread to give some background info.
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Thanks to all for some great sites to explore. I now have many more clues to pursue. Still unable to find any migration record from Scotland to Australia. From what you have provided it seems possible that Andrew's wife Jean died in 1843 and he may after migrated after that date with my ancestor his daughter Helen Hair McDowal. Are there any suggestions on sites to explore Scottish migration in this time frame?
Margaret
It sounds like you want to find the immigration records for the family.
Have you checked the NSW immigration indexes?
Yes I have looked unsuccessfully so far for immigration into Victoria and NSW. The different spellings of McDowall/Mcdowell/Mcdouall.
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Just a thought .... possibly a bit odd but, a lot of Scots went to NZ first, and then across to Australia, so it could be worth checking ....
And don't forget Qld. :)
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From the Horse Tax records:
2 Sep 1788
Andrew McDowal Glenvernock
http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/digital-volumes/historical-tax-rolls/horse-tax-rolls-1785-1798/horse-tax-volume-10/155
1787
http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/digital-volumes/historical-tax-rolls/horse-tax-rolls-1785-1798/horse-tax-volume-07/133
1789
http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/digital-volumes/historical-tax-rolls/horse-tax-rolls-1785-1798/horse-tax-volume-13/178
The fact that he was paying horse tax suggests he had some money (and the fact that he wrote a will).
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Is Helen the only child of Andrew and Jane? (Wondering if there may be others to look for on immgration records)
If Jane died in 1843, it is possible that Andrew remarried, either in Scotland or Australia.
Great information hurworth. :) (your link is requesting a subscription to view the record)
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Is Helen the only child of Andrew and Jane? (Wondering if there may be others to look for on immgration records)
If Jane died in 1843, it is possible that Andrew remarried, either in Scotland or Australia.
Great information hurworth. :) (your link is requesting a subscription to view the record)
I don't have a sub for ScotlandsPlaces. Just reading the transcription. Sometimes you can see the originals without one though.
In the era of horse tax it would have been difficult to hide your assets in Panama!
For the will Marg will need to make a payment to Scotlandspeople.
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Is Helen the only child of Andrew and Jane?
Other children showing to Andrew and Jane include:
"Andrew McDowal & Jean Rankine Procld 30th April 1826"
The baptism records of their children in the Kirkcowan OPR were as follows:
1827 "Feby 19 / Dowal Andw Mc & Jane Rankine / Farmer / Drummabrennan / a
lawful Daughter / / Helen Hair"
1829 "May 7 / McDowal Andw Jane Rankine / Farmer / Drummabrennan /
Daughter / / Jane"
1831 "June 8 / Dowall Andw Jean Rankine / Farmer / Drummabrennan / Son /
/ Andrew"
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/SCT-WIGTOWNSHIRE/2003-06/1055207280
I get the reference now to 'late of Drummabrennan'!
Monica
PS: Haven't been able to find them in 1841 so far. There is another Andrew and Jane in area but can't see the right entry yet for them.
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Ahh, think I found them in 1841. Andrew not a farmer later it seems. Everyone showing as born outside of the county of Ayrshire (which fits with the family from what we know):
Andrew Mcdowall 59 tollkeeper
Jean Mcdowall 50
Hellen Mcdowall 14
Andrew Mcdowall 10
Address: Dalmellington Chalmerston Burnside Toll, Dalmellington, Ayrshire
Monica
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there are a few records on Find My Past for outgoing immigrants (what their coverage isI have no idea).
I had a look on FindMyPast but I think (if I am looking correctly) the dates are 1890 - 1960
Annie
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I'm sure you're right Annie. I never use FindMyPast for immigrations (well I've not found any of mine or any others on there at least ::))
Thanks for those children Monica. It is often easier to locate a family group, if they travelled together, which they sometimes did not.
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I feel so privileged to have so many helping with my query. Thank you again. I am confident that Helen Hair, Jane and Andrew were the children of Andrew and Jane. I do not know the history of Andrew and Jane but I now believe from family records that Helen Hair(my ancestor) married Joseph Riddell in Ayrshire SCOT and they migrated to Melbourne AUS in 1848 on the Cheapside. Joseph apparently died in 1853. Andrew McDowell migrated alone on the Mobile in late 1853 to assist his then widowed daughter, Helen (later to be known as Ellen).
With your help I have narrowed down Andrew's place of residence in Ayrshire and I can continue the hunt.
Margaret
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Good that you are fitting the pieces together. Thanks for letting us know. :)
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You're most welcome.
Your thread has lead me to a grave which could be connected to our family so it's been mutually beneficial.
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Just because we like to always tie up loose ends ::)
...Andrew McDowell migrated alone on the Mobile in late 1853 to assist his then widowed daughter, Helen (later to be known as Ellen).
With your help I have narrowed down Andrew's place of residence in Ayrshire and I can continue the hunt.
This might be Andrew in 1851 before he left Scotland:
Andrew McDowell, 70, widower, Farm Labourer b. Penninghame, galloway
He shows working at the Campbell Farm, Dalgig in New Cumnock in Ayrshire with many others. Mrs Ivie Campbell is showing there as Farmer's wife. Dalgig looks to have been a large 1500 acre farm (large by UK standards not Australian ;)). A little background here on Dalgig and Ivie Campbell https://newcumnockheritage.com/auld-kirk-and-heritage-trail-project/auld-kirkyard/ivie-campbell/ and also http://ncap.org.uk/frame/8-1-2-2-51-160
Monica