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Inverness / Barra - Niel McLean & Christian McPhie, parents of Mary McLean
« on: Friday 01 April 11 18:14 BST (UK) »
I am researching the family of my great grandmother Mary McLean / MacLean from the remote Scottish island of Barra, in Inverness-Shire.
I have come to a sticking point where I would appreciate any assistance from possible researchers.
Mary McLean was born on 27 Jan 1855 on Borve, Barra, the 7th-born of the following parents:
Niel McLean, born around 1813 on Barra. Other spellings include Neil MacLean.
Christian McPhie, born around 1814 on Barra. Other spellings include Christy, Chirsty, Charsty, Christina; McPhee, MacPhee.
Interestingly, especially considering that Mary was the 7th-born, my mother always insisted that her mother's "Barra granny" had the second sight, as was apparently quite common amongst the islanders.
According to Mary's Birth Certificate, Niel and Christian were married in 1838 on Barra, but I can find no OPR record of this.
I do have Mary's Birth, Marriage and Death Certificate, and Niel's and Christian's Death Certificates, but not Niel's or Christian's Birth or Marriage OPR record.
There are lots of McLeans and McPhees around this part of the world, but census records and other certificates are very consistent in stating that all BMD events happened on Barra, not in other counties in Inverness.
Niel McLean’s parents are Donald McLean / MacLean and Mary MacKinnon, but I have few other reliable details on them.
I have tried writing to the Catholic Church on Barra, but no reply to date. I have also written to Sandy Stephens, the lady genealogist featured on the TV programme about Barra, An Island Parish, but no reply to date.
Any pointers anyone can give me on where to go from here I would greatly appreciate.
I have come to a sticking point where I would appreciate any assistance from possible researchers.
Mary McLean was born on 27 Jan 1855 on Borve, Barra, the 7th-born of the following parents:
Niel McLean, born around 1813 on Barra. Other spellings include Neil MacLean.
Christian McPhie, born around 1814 on Barra. Other spellings include Christy, Chirsty, Charsty, Christina; McPhee, MacPhee.
Interestingly, especially considering that Mary was the 7th-born, my mother always insisted that her mother's "Barra granny" had the second sight, as was apparently quite common amongst the islanders.
According to Mary's Birth Certificate, Niel and Christian were married in 1838 on Barra, but I can find no OPR record of this.
I do have Mary's Birth, Marriage and Death Certificate, and Niel's and Christian's Death Certificates, but not Niel's or Christian's Birth or Marriage OPR record.
There are lots of McLeans and McPhees around this part of the world, but census records and other certificates are very consistent in stating that all BMD events happened on Barra, not in other counties in Inverness.
Niel McLean’s parents are Donald McLean / MacLean and Mary MacKinnon, but I have few other reliable details on them.
I have tried writing to the Catholic Church on Barra, but no reply to date. I have also written to Sandy Stephens, the lady genealogist featured on the TV programme about Barra, An Island Parish, but no reply to date.
Any pointers anyone can give me on where to go from here I would greatly appreciate.