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There is a mention of James McDonald, ages 2 and then 12, born in Brechin in 1839, in both 1841 and 1851 census in Nairnshire in the household of Hugh Falconer and his mother Margaret (Gardiner) at Burnside of Geddes. In 1851 he is presented as nephew of Hugh. Have you had any Falconer connection in your research? I have the genealogy of the Falconers but I don't know how James McDonald fits in. Thanks for any info, Jane

Frances,
Alexander Gallaway
Have you considered that AG may have been a military painter and away in the campaigns late 18th century (which may explain why his daughters were born with such a gap) or Peninsular wars early 19th.  I think miniatures would have been a military technique to capture a fleeting battle. I note that two daughters that we know of married men who had military careers. Just a thought. Jane

Hello John, Many thanks... have little unfortunately of interest in reply to your questions. I think that William McArthur (m to Elizabeth Smith) who became tenant of Earl of Cawdor must have had him as protector post Culloden, so Jacobite. "The Seven Sons of John McArthur" (on web) describes Wm's son John as being a friend of Lord Nelson.  Interestingly, it was presumably his cousin Neil Smith described below, so together with him.
Nelson doctor's forgotten grave restored by Chris Holme, in The Herald, Mon Sept 17th 2001
 (extracts)
Enthusiasts yesterday celebrated the restoration of the forgotten Highland grave of a doctor who played a key role at the battle of Trafalgar.. Niel Smith was an assistant ship's surgeon who fought to save the life of Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson on HMS Victory after the British commander had been shot by a French sniper. He appears in two celebrated paintings of Nelson's final moments..(..)
…a chance discovery by local historians and the efforts of the 1805 Club… Dr Smith's overgrown grave was discovered after Cawdor Heritage Group carried out a survey of gravestones in Cawdor cemetery in the mid 1990s… Unveiling the plaque, Ewen Brodie of Lethen, the lord-lieutenant of Nairn, said 'We never knew that such an important character in our country's history who has been immortalised on canvas was actually a son of Nairnshire and the Highlands..'
Smith's family originally came from Nairn - the seaside holiday resort that was a favourite of Hollywood legend Charlie Chaplin. His father was Duncan Smith of Howford and his mother was Anne Macpherson (*). He was born at his grandmother's house on April 12, 1780. .. In 1812 he returned to the Highlands, where he married his cousin, Anne Macpherson of Ardersier, daughter of the factor of Cawdor Estate.
They retired to Forres, but Dr. Smith died in 1819 at 39 and was buried at Cawdor cemetery.
 (*) This should read Margaret Macpherson. Her sister Anne Macpherson was married to John Macgillivray of Tierfognian and Keppernach)
Interesting about John McArthur in Laggan.
I am particularly interested in Peter McArthur genealogy because he was legal representative for a family of Falconers in Nairnshire in an inheritance case 18th century (his mother was a Falconer). I am trying to work out the different trees that are described. Jane

Dear John, Camden Macarthurs
My late father Colin Macgillivray (1910-1987) maintained that the Cawdor Macarthurs (of whom he was descended) were related to the Camden Macarthurs in Australia. This seemed unlikely and I thought the story was intermingled with the Peter McArthur family who went to Australia. But recently studies of Macarthurs show that at least one 18th century Macarthur in Cawdor, William who married Elizabeth/Betty Smith with issue Jean born 1776 and John (1779-1842) was the granduncle of John Macarthur of Merino sheep fame, and apparently was born in Loch Fyne. Another Macarthur member of this family (ie step-niece) of Dr. Peter Macarthur, Elspet (1820 - 1893) married Alpin Grant Cameron in Queensland, Australia. Is there any mention of her in the letters Guyon? Best wishes, Jane