First born son of John and Mary Elizabeth Liddell, James Donaldson McNie, a river pilot (Forth) b.1835 d.1879 m.1861 Jacobina Clark and had 6 known issue.
JDM had 6 siblings; George b.1836, Janet b.1838 d.1922 m.1861 Alexander Clark, John b.1840, Jane b.1843 d.1910 m.1866 John Robertson, Robert b.1845 d.1900 m.1865 Margaret Drysdale, Mary Elizabeth b.1850 d.1896 m.1873 Samuel McGregor.