Hi Aeife.
I have a friend who's husband is a distant McArthur relative, (Tyree / Campbeltown) and the "War and Peace" account below is absolutely typical of her passion and expertise. So the following is not my work !
Re James McArthur, reckon Avan is a transcription error. First thought was it might be Arran (Isle of) but that's generally in Ayrshire, or Bute. Nowhere near Islay.
1861
James McArthur 65
Ann McArthur 55
Ann McArthur 22
Mary McArthur 20
Mirion McArthur 14
Jemima Taylor 7
Notice the youngest child Mirion, (Marion) born c1847 Glasgow, and the 2nd youngest Mary born c1841 ?Avran?, so the family likely moved to Glasgow between 1841 & 1847.
James' occupation given as Dock Labourer, so he did not have a particlar trade, and possibly went where there was work.
Had a job finding them in 1851, but the 3 daughters ages and names helped.
In 1851 both James and Annabella have their birthplace as Islay. Archibald born Glasgow, c1843.
1851
20 Salisbury Place Gorbals
Household Members: Name Age
James Mcarthur 45 Labourer (iron Worker)
Aychella Mcarthur 41 (Annabella)
John Mcarthur 16
Ann Mcarthur 13
Mary Mcarthur 11
Archibald Mcarthur 8
Minas Mcarthur 6 (Marion)
An Ancestry member has written 2 notes for this 1851 census, re Aychella- Annabella
"DIKAYVAN - 22/07/2010 spouse of James McArthur..... real name- ANNABELLA McGilvray" and
"DIKAYVAN - 16/08/2010. First name should be ANNABELLA. This is my g.g.grandmother."
In 1841, the family are still on Islay- Bowmore Islay House Farm
James Mcarthur 30 Ag Lab
Anabella Mcarthur 25
John Mcarthur 4
Margaret Mcarthur 12
Isabella Mcarthur 8
Anne Mcarthur 3
Mary Mcarthur 1
Alexander Cameron 80
Janet Cameron 20
N K Cameron 8 MO
Wonder who the Camerons are? Grandfather perhaps? More than likely connected in some way.
I found a marriage for a Mary Curry to a Donald McArthur, not Duncan, on 11 Sep 1799 at Killarrow, Argyll. Killarrow is an Islay Parish. Who was the informant on the death extract? It would not be the 1st time an Informant gave incorrect details to the registrar.
Of course, James' birth may not have been recorded at all, many parishes didnt keep records till the early 1820's. Small Isles is one, Lismore another.
Annabella, d/o Archibald McGilvray & Catherine?. See 1841 Census Kildalton Port Ellen p8, Arch McGilvray 65, with a Catherine 60, she might be his sister not wife? Relationships not given in 1841. Catherine 22 and Marion 18. Note Duncan McGilvray below. Page 5 has a Donald McGilvray with son Archibald among his children.
Re birthplace given for James & Annabella. At first glance it might look like Avon, but comparing the rest of the handwriting on the page I dont think the last letter is an 'n'. The 'v' does not look right either, more like an 'i' followed by an 'r'. Maybe the enumerator misread the original household schedule, which might have been in another's handwriting. I suspect that possibly it refers to a township in Islay which is no longer in use. Examples of some little townships in Islay beginnng with A - Ardmo, Ardbeg, Ardnow, Ardnaw, Adel
Look at
http://maps.nls.uk/counties/view/?id=222 map from 1732.
Or
http://maps.nls.uk/joins/view/?rsid=74400197&sid=74400199&mid=581&pdesc=South%20West%20section from 1801.
Much of Islay placenames are Viking origin, so it would be easy to misread. Perhaps the 1792 Kintyre Census might help, there's a fair chance that Duncan McArthur might be listed at some wee township beginning with A. If his son James was born bef 1811 (if James married 1827 he would have to have been at least 16 then), then Duncan would most certainly be alive in 1792.
Look at
http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~steve/islay/cemetery/sur05.htm there is an Archibald McGilvra & Margaret McGilvra nee Campbell buried at Killarrow. Margaret died Jan 1809 aged 63.
Me here…,
! Apparently, my James McArthur is not connected to yours…, pity, as I could have sent you a lot of info from Campbeltown and Tyree.
Hope your "brick wall" is now lowered a little.
I'll send you attachments. Have a nice day…, Iain.
Author
Topic: McArthur-McGilvray (Read 18423 times)