Macphail Mackay marriage

[aghadowey]

If you had given us John's name (McFall) and the place of marriage (Rathlin) at the beginning we would have saved a bit of time searching for him.
Much of Ulster, especially North Antrim, was settled to Scottish families and it's not uncommon for them to say they came from 'Scotland' or 'Ayrshire', etc. My grandmother's ancestors came from Isle of Skye to Co. Londonderry and after several generations our branch of the family went to Canada- later generations always said they were from Skye and it was only when I read notes in a family Bible that I was able to trace them in Ireland.

Have you found John in Scottish census records (1871, 1881, 1891)? what's listed as John's place of birth- Ireland or Scotland?

[orkrad]

Have been unable to trace John MCPHAIL/MCFALL in any Scottish census. Have tried name variations and wildcards without success.

This seems strange as Children of John MCPHAIL and Ann Jane MCKILLOP were born in Greenock in  1879, 1881, 1886 and 1887.  I have birth certs for two of them. I would have expected the family to appear in  the 1881 and 1891 censuses .

John's  wife Ann Jane is similarly absent from  1881and  1891 censuses.

John's widow appears in the 1901 census for Greenock as a boarding house keeper with three of her children and a grandchild. She has 13 boarders  mostly shipyard workers born locally or in Ireland.

John MCPHAIL is still an unknown. His occupation was quarryman and I  have no idea where he might have found work.

Regards  Orkrad.

[aghadowey]

Have been unable to trace John MCPHAIL/MCFALL in any Scottish census. Have tried name variations and wildcards without success.

This seems strange as Children of John MCPHAIL and Ann Jane MCKILLOP were born in Greenock in  1879, 1881, 1886 and 1887.  I have birth certs for two of them. I would have expected the family to appear in  the 1881 and 1891 censuses .

Have you tried searching Scottish census records with Just name of a child, their age +/- 2 yrs or so and first names of parents?

[orkrad]

 Thanks. Have stated to try your suggestion but have run out of credits.

Will persevere with this idea as it sounds like it has a lot of possibilities.


Orkrad

[normamac]

Hi,
 I am also researching McPhail.See my post James McPhail born 1821 Ireland under Lanarkshire.My John McPhail married Margaret McGee.I have no idea what part of Ireland they came from.

                                                                                                                                                Norma
.

[orkrad]

Hi Normamac

Still no luck for me on tracing my Irish forebears. Someone suggested I try this site  http://irishgenealogy.net/files/Mcfmar1.html. I did find my ancestor's marriage. My James Mc Phail was spelled MCFAUL and the marriage took place in Ballynatte Antrim which is/ was in  the Rathlin Isles It does not say however that he was born there and I have yet to locate a birth cert for him. There are quite a few Mc PHAIL/MCFAUL families on the Rathlin website so you may be lucky.

Irish research is a never ending mystery especially for us who live in the Antipodes!

Regards Orkrad.