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I actually have a (not very good) reprint of the Sibbett book "On the Shining" along with a separate index.  If the CD is a clean copy and easily read I might be interested - my eyes aren't getting any younger.
Snowed in in Virginia,
Alexandra

This is in reference to the following:
"Interestingly we have just received an autobiography written by R.M.SIBBETT in 1909 about a William Montgomery SPEERS, born at Speerstown, near Cullybackey on 18-MAR-1832, a major player in the 1859+ religious revival in Ulster. [We understand that RMS was a neighbour of the HILLs in Ballyhenry.]"
Is the book you are referring to: R M Sibbett's The Revival in Ulster (Belfast: J W Boyd, 1909)? If it is a different title may I trouble you for a citation?  William Montgomery Speers is my great great grandfathers (James) younger brother.  I believe they had a sister who went to Australia but cannot get beyond James and William.
Thanking you in advance,
Alexandra

Hello - I went through the first batch of information and now I see there is more! In the first batch articles of interest in re my "known" Mckellars are: 1) 13/11/1822 John McKellar, Gourock, ferryman, his son Peter and both passengers died in gale on 1/11/1822.   (I have an article that simply indicated all hands lost one passenger found standing upright in the water with his hat on. ) 2) 4/8/1838 Daughter of John McKellar, steamboat officer, took children to bathe. Two drowned. -- I am wondering if this might be Carrie McKellar who in my grt grt Uncles "memoirs" is referred to as having drowned while saving life at Port Glasgow.  She would have been relatively young - a child by our standards today. 3) 27/6/1851 Captain John McKellar of American Lass in hurricane.  -- This would be my 3rd great grandfather. Supposedly retired early and became Harbour master at Port Glasgow before returning to the sea. He supposedly married his wife Margaret Robinson at Dundee.  They had at least7: John(b. ca. 1822) not married & killed by sunstroke while at the wheel; Jane (Jeanie) b. ca, 1826 married James Walton as 2nd wife was a teacher; became the mistress at the poor house and according to my grt grt uncle (not verified) a governess to a Josiah Wedgewood, Archibald born ca. 1828 Port Glasgow died 1912 Philadelphia PA; m. 1860 Glasgow by James Paterson, minister of Hope St Baptist Church, Lillias Wood McIntyre (1832-1884) according to Archibald's obituary he served in the British navy at Crimea, later served in the US during American Civil War and the Brazillian Navy - none of which I have been able to verify.  In the US he worked at the Mint as an engraver after spending a period of time in Ontario Canada, James b. ca. 1830 never married was pressed into service in a foreign navy and was missing for 7 yrs died from Yellow Fever while at sea, Carrie as noted above, Charles - my grt grt grandfather -was forbidden to go to sea b ca. 1838, Port Glasgow d. 26 Mar 1901 Glasgow was a printer by trade m. 1) Alice Holford in London 1867 -  b 1845 Framfield, Sussex died 1876 Phila PA.  After her death Charles took the two eldest surviving children Arthur and Frank and returned to Glasgow leaving my grt grandfather and an infant in the care of Archibald, Charles m 2nd  1877 in Glasgow Margaret M'Geachie - and had additional children, and Elizabeth 1841 Port Glasgow- d. between 1913-27 married Charles Stewart McArthur as his second wife.  4) 1/7/1869 At Westfield Cottage, Dundas St, Kingston, residence of Captain James Mckellar (uncle of the bride) Marriage of James Walton to Jane McKellar daughter of the late Captian John Mckellar. -- This is my 3rd grt Aunt as noted above and Captain James the younger brother of her father John.  I have James born ca. 1801 in Gourock d. 13 May 1878  married to Jane Anderson.  I have a copy of a trust settlement for one of his sons William Anderson McKellar and it lists most of James' children/grandchildren. The only son of James to be involved with the sea appears to have been Hugh - the others were MD's or Solicitors. James left an estate valued at 15,140 pounds 1 pence.
Arthur indicated that his aunts - that would be Jane and Elizabeth were the last to speak Gaelic - they were not permitted to.  There is a book by a Captain Barr about the early Clyde steamers that the "Aunts" mentioned above supplied information for. It is  my understanding because various family members emigrated to Canada, Australia, Africa and the US - that the John McKellar family papers went out of the direct family line and into one of the step families.  The John McKellars were  Methodists.
More anon.

Hello: Thank you for responding.  In the event you do find a connection here's a brief outline of my line as I know it from research and "family history" -just  the early part of the family -  in case it helps you sort our some of the McKellars in Gourock, Greenock, Port Glasgow and  Glasgow:
The farthest back I can go is the 18th century with 1) John McKellar who died at sea - he was supposedly married to Janet Black (I noted in one of the responses to your initial inquiry Elaine mentioned the spouse was Mary Black).  They had at least 5 children including John McKellar, James McKellar, and Janet who died young.  John McKellar was a fisherman and seaman.  He owned a sailing vessel known as the "ferry" between the lowland and highland sides of the Firth of Clyde.  He was drowned while taking a bridal party across to Roseneath. In the Gourock Advertiser 5.11.1822 issue there is an article noting a boat belonging to John M'Kellar, ferryman, Gourock, on coming from Roseneath to this side filled with water in a storm.  John M'Kellar and his son Peter perished along with two passengers. M'Kellar left a widow with a large family. I have not verified that this is my John but the time seems right.  Will have to look further.
2) John McKellar - baptised 11 April 1798, Gourock, Renfrew, Scotland, died at sea June 1851 (Captain washed overboard The American Lass heading to NY - I believe his brother owned the vessel); m. Feb 1821 Inverkip Parish, Gourock, Margaret Robertson/Robinson (b. ca. 1801- died age 68 on Glasgow): they had at least 7 children John, Jane, Archibald, James, Carrie, Charles, Elizabeth.
2) James McKellar b. ca. 1801 Gourock; died 13 May 1878, age 77;married 1838 Glasgow, Jane Anderson. They had at least 5 children: Hugh, James, William Anderson, John and a daughter.
3) Archibald came to Canada and later Philadelphia - descendants; Charles married Alice Holford of Sussex in London and came to Philadelphia - Alice died, Charles returned to Glasgow leaving my great Grandfather, Herbert an infant,  with Archibald, married a 2nd time, had additional children.  Charles was a printer and was forbidden to go to sea or so the story goes. I have additional information on this family.
3) I have traced James' family and identified a female descendant ( a daughter of Grace D Masson McKellar and William Henry Odlum) of his son Hugh who came to Connecticut and then Charlottesville, Virginia - she had two daughters but I have been unable to locate them. One group ended up down in South of England. John & William A were doctors.
Alexandra