Kenneth MacKenzie, schoolteacher

[don_niagara]

Hello,

Am having trouble tracing a family group through the 19th century censuses....

Isabella Simpson was born about 1808 at Ullapool, Parish of Lochbroom, illegitamate to George Simpson, Agent for the British Fisheries Society who then owned the village, and Isabella MacGregor. She died 7 May, 1873 at Inverness. Simpson had another illegitamate child, another George, who rose to become Govenor of the Hudson`s Bay Company, was knighted and littered what has become western Canada with children. Pretty certain Isabella MacGregor was sistor to two other MacGregors from Perthshire who married prominant Coigach MacKenzies.

Isabella Simpson married 24 January, 1827, to Alexander Clarke of Oldany, Parish of Assynt. They had sons Hugh born about 1828 and George born about 1829. Alex died, and Isabella remarried 13 November, 1838 at Killearnan to Kenneth MacKenzie, they are there at Milltown in the 1841 census with both Clarke sons, and a third child, Anne MacKenzie (born 1 March, 1840, christened 11 April, 1840). Neighbouring Hosehold (same houseÉ) had Isabella`s retired father George, who died later that year, and another young Simpson girl, given the history probably another `natural`daughter of George, though may be some other relation....

I have failed to find Kenneth MacKenzie the teacher or Isabella his wife, or their children., till the 1873 death reg of Isabella at Inverness with Kenneth as Informant....

Appreciate any help,

Donald.

[MonicaL]

Hi Donald

This looks like them in 1851, with a few extra children and still the Simpson connection:

Kenneth Mckenzie 42 b. Urray
Isabella Mckenzie 37 b. Lochbroom
Ann Mckenzie 11
Hector Mckenzie 7
Alexina I C Mckenzie 5
Hughina C Mckenzie 3
Mary S Simson 29 Sister-in-Law b. Lochbroom

Address: Baylottage, Avoch, R&C

The transcript shows the children's birth place as Hillernan, Rossshire, hopefully the original image will let you confirm details. Father Kenneth's occupation shows as Heteved Farmer.... Maybe should read retired farmer?

Monica 

[MonicaL]

For 1861:

Kenneth Mackenzie 57, retired teacher (nothing to do with farming!) b. Urray
Isabella Mackenzie 49 b. Lochbroom
Alexanderina J C Mackenzie 13 b. Killearnan, Rossshire
Hughina C Mackenzie 11 b. Knockbain
Hector Urquhart 35 boarder
Dorothy Campbell 7 boarder
Catherine McLamon 19, servant

Address: 28 Rose Street, Inverness

And last one before the death of Isabella, from 1871, the family still living at 28 Rose Street:

Kenneth Mackenzie 60, accountant
Isabella Mackenzie 57
Alexandrina J C Mackenzie 19
Jessie Robertson 18, servant

Monica

[don_niagara]

Great stuff Monica, had me stumped!

Especially interesting to see George Simpson, the BFS Agent, had at least a third child... lots of biographys of his son Sir George, which include early life in Scotland, but no mention of the daughters Isabella and now Mary. See a bio of Sir George by Marie Fraser of Clan Fraser Society of Canada at http://www.clanfraser.ca/simpson.htm

All the best,

Donald.

[don_niagara]

For 1861:
Address: 28 Rose Street, Inverness

And last one before the death of Isabella, from 1871, the family still living at 28 Rose Street:

Found death reg of Kenneth, 26 November, 1875, aged 66, Widower of Isobel Simpson, address "36" Rose Street, hia occupation as Accountants Clerk, parents had been Hector MK, Innkeeper, and Ann, Maiden Surname Finlayson, Informant his daughter Hughina C. MK

I had hoped to find Kenneth tied into the spaghetti genealogy of Coigach/Lochbroom Mackenzies... Still searching for correct death reg for Mary Simpson....

Donald.

[MonicaL]

This might be the MI for Kenneth McKenzie's parents http://gravestones.rosscromartyroots.co.uk/picture/number7842.asp

Regarding Mary Simpson, not sure really what may have happened in her life after the 1851 census. I did see an IGI entry for a marriage between a John McDonald and a Mary Simpson on 19 Dec. 1856 in Avoch.

There are a number of possible children showing as a born to a couple with these names. Keeping the window of time short and also the area (there may be more than one couple with these names), these were some possible children:

Isabella b. 21 JAN 1857 Avoch
Mary b. 28 JUN 1858 Knockbain
Isabella b. 29 DEC 1859 Avoch

Problem I am having is finding this family group in 1861 to try and confirm Mary Simpson's age and birth place to try and tie her in with the earlier census entries you have, Donald.

Monica

[MonicaL]

Ignore my pensive thoughts re the Mary Simpson 1856 marriage in Avoch! Just found on line the details of that marriage and there is no connection. This Mary's parents were a Kenneth and an Isabella (Cameron) Simpson.

Monica

[don_niagara]

Regarding Mary Simpson, not sure really what may have happened in her life after the 1851 census.

Found death Reg of Mary!

I noticed in that 1851 census she was noted with middle initial "S", only surname in Ullapool area with that initial is "Stewart", from that found she died 31 August, 1896 at Braid Road, Edinburgh, Mary Stewart Clark Simpson, Fund Holder, single, aged 72 years, father was George Simpson, General Merchant, deceased, no mother listed, Informant was her GrandNiece, Johanna Bonthron

Index to wills notes of Mary;
SOMETIME RESIDING AT WOODNEUK, MILLPORT, LATTERLY AT 12 BRAID ROAD, EDINBURGH, D. 31/08/1896 AT EDINBURGH, TESTATE

The Will leaves all to her niece, Ann F. Bonthron and Ann's daughter Johanna.

Index to 1891 census shows a 51 year old Ann F Bonthron at Cumbrae, Bute, same page as a Johanna, age corresponds to the niece Ann MacKenzie in the 1841 census

1883-7 Post Office Directory for Parish of Cumbrae (Millport) has "Bonthron, Mrs Annie Finlay"

The GrandNiece of Mary, Johanna Bonthron, is noted in Fasti Ecclesiae as  married 11 December, 1901 as second wife to William Carrick Miller, her father noted as John, Fasti names two sons.

[MonicaL]

Well done you  You got there with Mary Stewart Simpson!

Monica