The Jacobites:

[Iain...]

Despite having quite a lot of information concerning my 3xGr Granddad Neil McArthur, (Christened in Helipol Tiree, on the 9th of August 1795 - d1872?... wife Catherine Mitchell from Glasgow and both present in the Campbeltown 41 and 51 census)  ..., not only was I was unable to find his resting place via the Ralston site but also his presence in the 61 and 71 census.   

It only dawned on me recently, that there was the possibility he could have been enlisted into the military.   In the 51 census and despite his age of 54, his trade as a cobbler would have made him a very desirable asset to any naval or military fighting force, and with his proprietor at the time having been a naval commander alongside Nelson, (Nelson is dead by now) this could have encouraged an enlistment.   
As a result and “census incompetence” or not..., I decided to learn more about 18th century military history and in particular, the Island of “Tiree” region, governed by the West-Coast Jacobites for a large part of the century.

Although the Battle of Culloden in 1746 was too early for Neil and his father John in Tyree, Neil’s maternal Grandfather John MacFarlane would have been a prime target to fight for Prince Charlie..., The Young Pretender.    I have John MacFarlane’s wife Flory Rankin and family mentioned in the 1776 Tiree census..., born 1743.  So, if John was about the same age, he’d be in his early thirties for Culloden.   

The first curiosity was when I discovered that the principal Jacobite protagonist Bonny Prince Charlie, (Charles Edward Stewart) was not born in Scotland..., but in Italy of all places.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Edward_Stuart   

As a result and to get a glimpse of the life and times of 18th century battles..., I opted for YouTube videos. (books are out of the question as I generally fall asleep after the second page  )
Additional “spice” to this research was the fact that I served in the Scots Guards, founded in 1642 by King Charles 1st in London..., to fight the Dutch Prince William of Orange in Northern Ireland.   As such, this encouraged me to start my research by looking at the “Red Coats” and English Civil Wars, dominated by Cromwell.   

Enter..., the BBC !   Incredibly professional and in my opinion, their documentaries are better than any Hollywood extravaganza. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7BLiuiORHI (be careful..., give yourself some time as this is 60 minutes long)

From here on, with King Charles the First’s head being carted off in some Londonian wicker basket, (not to be confused with Bonnie Charlie, who at a later date ended up back in France/Italy with too many bottles of whiskey) ..., I wanted to discover how the “Red Coats” finally defeated the Jacobites..., and for this, I chose the following videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz7XybD8YMA (1 minute)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=xVHGexXKHL4 (4.33 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5yP0rXXEzw&NR=1 (1 minute)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUc-_e6pdag (6 episodes)

For later battles, land and sea, I chose the following two URLs:

Trafalgar... and Nelson: (1805) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR-1gqC5Xms&feature=related (6 episodes)
Waterloo... and Wellington: (1812)   Note that Waterloo, Belgium (about 30 minutes from here) at the time, was British-Dutch territory. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHHzd7XOwJ4 (6 episodes of the best film ever made)
 
If anyone has any military information related to Tiree at the time..., it would be very welcome.   Thanks..., Iain.

[Skoosh]

Iain,  Tiree was part of Argyll Estates, the Campbell Dukes of Argyll were the principal opposition to the Jacobites in the Highlands.     Skoosh.

[ev]

hi all 

i think the battle of Culloden was 16th april 1746(not 1774)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Culloden

ev

[Iain...]

Thanks Scoosh !   Ev..., quite so !   I've modified the post !   

[sancti]

Iain, where was he on the 51 census and where did he die?

[Iain...]

Iain, where was he on the 51 census and where did he die?

Thanks Sancti for asking !

“Where did he die,” no idea ! (perhaps Campbeltown 1872 aged 78)   I do not have access to death certificates so Ralston is my only indirect access to deaths.    As for the Campbeltown 51 census..., no problem !

   Neil McArthur age 54 / Christening 9th of Aug 1795 Helipol Tiree. (parents John... death 02/08/1872 and Janet McFarlane)
   Spouse Catherine Mitchell..., birth 17th June 1796 / Marriage 4th Oct 1819 / Death 27/02/1869.
   Address Main Street, Campbeltown..., Flemings Land.
   Children present: Janet 07/12/1824    William 11/10/1832    Neil 18/04/1835   Donald 09/06/1838
   Children absent:   Margaret 21/08/1820   John 26/12/1822   2xGr Grandfather James thanks to Monica and Ev 25/11/1827 and Margaret 09/05/1830. 
   Roll: CSSCT1851_108 : Line: 6 / Schedule number 130 / Page 28  / ED 10 / Parish N° 507
 
Even the tiniest bit of info over those 20 years would be extremely interesting.   
Note..., as his wife Catherine was from Glasgow and their marriage was in Glasgow, I researched the area and finally found his son Neil in Glasgow in 1861, he even has the same trade as his father..., shoemaker. (Parish Glasgow Barony)    This is obviously due to Catherine’s parents who were John Mitchell and Margaret Muir.   

Have a nice evening..., Iain.

[sancti]

1851 gives his birth as Campbeltown

Neil Mcarthur 54  born: Campbelton, Argyle Occupation: Shoe Maker Town
Catherine Mcarthur 52 born: Campbelton, Argyle
Janet Mcarthur 27
William Mcarthur 19
Neil Mcarthur 16
Donald Mcarthur 13
Archd Mcalister 25 Son-in-Law occ seaman
 
 
Address: Main Street Campbeltown

Where did his death date come from if you haven't accessed his death record?

[MonicaL]

Hi All 

Just adding the previous post for background www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,479337.0.html

Regarding possible death dates for Neil that has been discussed, this comes from general searches on SP and some info from A/trees (to be confirmed still from SP I think?). See replies 16 and 17 on post linked.

Monica

[Iain...]

Thanks Sancti although it does repeat much of the previous post.     Note, the Campbeltown birth is obviously an error as I already have confirmation of his Christening details in Tiree.   It’s peculiar how some census reports vary depending on their publishers.   In reply to your question about his death..., as Monica mentioned, the source was thanks to her, but as I’ve learned from here and elsewhere, it’s very easy to get deviated simply on a supposition.   

Monica, sorry for involving you again..., you’ve already done so much as it is.   The basic idea of this post was to present the splendid videos from the BBC.   
As I mentioned elsewhere on this site, I do find that it’s not enough just to pinpoint dates and eventually find a tombstone photo..., I really like to get a feeling of what it felt like to live in that particular period.   To be in their shoes so-to-speak !   As for Neil..., well, it’s like finishing a jigsaw puzzle and not having the last piece!   

Thanks again..., Iain.