b. in Glenelg? Glengarry? Glenquoich? Lochhournhead?

[Grey Seagull]

Looking for help with regards to geography.

One ancestor seems to have been born in many places, according to the various information I have collected so far.

1869 Birth cert is Lochhournhead and registered in Knoydart
1871 census in Knoydart says he is born in Glenelg
1881 census in Inverness, says he is born in Glenelge
1891 census in Inverness, says he is born in Glenquoich
1901 census in Paisley, says he is born in Glengarry

I know the 1901 census is definately the correct person, but the varying birthplaces are confusing.  Parents' names on birth cert and census, plus some of the occupations tie in.  But we are talking McDonald/McDonell so can't be exactly sure.  Is it possible that these places are the same?  Have noticed that birthplaces on other census have apparently changed (the one that comes to mind is Daviot, sometimes Dunlichity, once something else else entirely!)


His father's birth also seems to have wandered a bit.

1851 census in Kilmonivaig, born in Kilmonivaig
1861 census in Kilmonivaig, born in Glengarry
1871 census in Knoydart, born in Kilmonivaig
1881 census in Inverness, just Inverness-shire
1891 census in Inverness, born Kilmorack

Would be grateful if anyone could assist in this matter.

[Sheila-Ann]

Hi,

Found some info which might help.

http://www.glenelg.co.uk/archives/glenelg_parish_history.shtml is the website for the Glenelg and Arnisdale Development Trust page on the history of Glenelg.  Says that the civil parish of Glenelg had three districts - Glenelg, Knoydart & North Morar and that 'On the south-east the parish of Glenelg marches with the parish of Glengarry.'

So Knoydart is in the civil parish of Glenelg, and it would seem that Lochhournhead is also in the parish of Glenelg based on the civil parish map of Inverness (www.scotlandsfamily.com/parish-map-inverness.htm)

There are so many different birthplaces listed.  I wonder is perhaps the enummerator copied the information down incorrectly?  Have you looked at the birthplaces of the people before and after your ancestor?  Maybe if they seem to have been born in the same place in once census and different places in another - particularly if the neighbours are the same - then this could be the answer.

And I suppose it is always possible that parish boundaries may have changed, even slightly, though probably not as often as every census.

Maybe your best source of help would be the archives at Inverness once they re-open.

Good luck!

Sheila-Ann

[Grey Seagull]

Hi Sheila-Ann,

Thanks for the information.  Will follow up the weblinks, but at least I now know that Knoydart and North Morar are in Glenelg, this simplifies things a little.

Thanks again,

[lyndyloo6]

Hi There,
I think that 'Lochournhead' should be Lochearnhead, which is in Perthshire.  It is a small village, on the banks of Lochearn,  just above Callendar and before Killin.  It is at the bottom of a very steep hill with a road going up the side of it.

I may be wrong, but  i think that the other places are also round about.

Regards,
Lynda

[Grey Seagull]

Hi Lynda,

I thought it might be Lochearnhead too when I first saw it, but census and BMDs are in Inverness-shire rather than Perthshire.

It is a very deserted bit of land surrounded with mountains and water and most families I found in census at one time is four, few if any there for two census....  To find it on a map, find Mallaig. North of that is the Knoydart peninsular which is bounded on the south by Loch Nevis and the North by Loch Hourn. To register a BMD the family would need to travel - possibly part-way by boat to Airor and then cross over the mountains to Inverie on the Loch Nevis side. One of the births was registered by a letter carrier!

Thanks for your interest.

[ceitidh.]

Hello,


Loch Hourn and the surrounding area is an absolutely stunning little corner of Scotland. I visited Loch Hourn and Barisdale myself a few years ago in an attempt to find more information on my own ancestors who were from that area. I didn't learn/find anything but what a beautiful place!

I realise this has nothing to do with your post, just thought I'd mention it though. Good luck with your research,


ceitidh.

[Little Nell]

I agree with ceitidh, it is Loch Hourn they are talking about.  Best viewed from the sea (Mallaig to Armadale ferry) - in fact much of it is inaccessible by road.  It would be within the parish of Glenelg.

Some lovely pix here:

http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=8508170

Nell

[Stroma]

Hi, I live in Glengarry, so I can tell you that at the time you are talkimg about, the parish, which was vast, was known as Kilmonivaig.  Glenquoich was a small area in the subdivision of Glenelg, which was all part of the Glengarry Estate belonging to the Macdonell clan.  Glenquoich was used for summer grazing for the cattle but few people ever lived there all year even when it was turned into one of the early sheep farms in the late 1700s.  Later, in the 1800s, it was developed as a sporting estate by the Ellice family and their long-term tenant, Lord Burton.  It was later flooded to make a hydro-electric dam (in the 1950s).  There are still, only a handful of people living there.  It  is stunning, mountainous scenery now used mainly by walkers, climbers and (a few) sportsmen.  Several thousand  of the local people emigrated  from the glen during the clearances in the late 1700sand early 1800s.  Most went to Canada - to Glengarry County in Ontario.
I work in the local Heritage Centre, so I would be interested in any other info you have about this ancestor.
All the best, Stroma
I should have added that the boundary of Glenquoich is at the head of Loch Hourn - a large fjorg type inlet on the west coast.

[ikas]

Hi,

I am researching this area as my ancestors (Hendersons) lived and worked there on the Glenquoich estate. I recently came across this book on the internet which gives a very detailed description of the placenames in the area. It is out of copyright and you can view it at http://www.archive.org/details/placenamesingle00elligoog.

There is an index at the back and the introduction gives a good overview of the districts.

Incidently I would be interested if anyone had information on the estate workers on Glenquoich estate and the visits of King Edward VII. I already have read a copy of the article that appeared in Scottish Field on the royal visits but would be grateful for any further info.

HTH