John Dewar from Perthshire, Scotland

[JEB54]

Hello, I am seeking info on the family of my 3rd great grandfather, John Dewar, born ca. 1776, who emigrated to Pictou, Nova Scotia, Canada ca. 1801/3 from Perthshire, Scotland.  He settled close by his maternal uncle, Gregor McGregor, who had received a land grant in Merigomish, Nova Scotia, for his service in the British army during the American Revolution.  There was also a land grant to a Robert Dewar but not sure if or how he might be related to John -- perhaps an uncle? 

About 1804, John Dewar married Rebecca McDonald, daughter of an old soldier Joseph McDonald and settled in Barney's River, Nova Scotia.  Joseph's eldest daughter, Isabella, married John's uncle, Gregor MacGregor.  Joseph McDonald was originally from the village of Crofton, Dull, Perthshire while Gregor MacGregor was born ca. 1752 in Balquhidder, Perthshire. I think Gregor's father may have been a son of Alexander MacGregor (alias Graeme/Graham) born 1706.

There is an article written from an interview with Joseph Dewar, a son of John & Rebecca Dewar, which states that John's father was an Alexander Dewar from Loch Tay/Breadalbane watershed area of Perthshire but no village was provided (perhaps Blair Atholl??)  John Dewar's mother was a MacGregor, first name unknown.  I haven't much more info on John other than a small obit in the paper when he died in 1862.

Thank you.

[ColC]

If you check on https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk, a pay to view site, there are seven John Dewar’s 1770 – 1780 none with the father Alexander, there is one with the mother MacGregor, below

DEWAR   JOHN   DUNCAN DEWAR/ISOBELL MACGREGOR   26/09/1779   Perth

He seems to be their only child, however there was a birth below, which is interesting, again an only child.

DEWAR   ALEXANDER   DUNCAN DEWAR/MARGT. MCGREGOR   04/11/1780   Blair Atholl

Colin

[John Andrew Hutchison]

Hi,

Have you seen this tree?

https://gw.geneanet.org/jlmfor?lang=en&pz=robert&nz=foran&ocz=1&p=john&n=dewar

Normally I'm suspicious of connections claimed in on-line historical family trees, but this one has published its sources.

John.

[JEB54]

Hello, thank you both for responding to my query.

This is one of the major brick walls I have in my family tree!  I am still working on the theory that John Dewar's father was an Alexander Dewar but I have not been able to find a birth record to verify this. 

John Dewar settled in an area called Barney's River, Pictou County, Nova Scotia.  H.H. Bruce did a collection of articles on the history and farmers of Barneys River for the Eastern Chronicle in 1886.  This is where the interview is published with Joseph Dewar, John Dewar's son.

There is useful data from HH Bruce's collection of articles as well as the "Hattie Family Memoirs" writtten by Robert C. Hattie & Joseph H. Kirk, which relates the history of the primary emigrant, Alexander McHattie, his family, and relations to other families including the Dewar and McGregor families.

However, I am still struggling to find documentation re birth records, etc, to confirm John Dewar's birth and family.

Thank you.

Jane

[ColC]

I have just come across this record on family search, it is also on Scotland’s People, recorded in Fife.

"TULLIALLAN, parish, containing Kincardine town, on the Forth, in a detached district of Perthshire.

The parish of Tulliallan was transferred from Perthshire to Fife, on 15 May 1891.

John Dewar
Born 6 Dec 1785
Baptism 18 Dec 1785
TULLIALLAN, PERTHSHIRE
Father Alexander Dewar
Mother Peggy Scotland (Peggy is another name for Margaret)

The same goes for this record, the next entry.

John Dewar
Born 13 Sep 1782
Baptised 15 Sep 1782
TULLIALLAN, PERTHSHIRE
Father William Dewar
Mother Margaret Scotland


Colin

[ColC]

WILLIAM DEWAR   Married    MARGT. SCOTLAND   27/10/1777   Tulliallan

No marriage for Alexander but there were a number of Margaret Scotland’s born in Tulliallan.
So the two births of John are not connected except William & Alexander may be related.

Colin

[JEB54]

Hello, thank you for the information.

The article I mentioned about John Dewar says that his father was an Alexander Dewar from Loch Tay in Breadalbane, Scotland.  I am assuming that he lived within the Breadalbane watershed of Loch Tay Valley but not sure. 

The Alexander Dewar and Peggy Scotland is interesting.  Was Tulliallan considered to be in the Loch Tay Valley of Perthshire?

Do you know whether the surname of Scotland was used as an alias for MacGregor?  Gregor MacGregor was John's maternal uncle, a soldier in the 80th Regiment who settled in Pictou County and then removed to Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.

Thank you.

Jane

[ColC]

Scotland is a stand alone surname. Sadly Tulliallan now in Fife is about 30 miles from Loch Tay and further still to the areas you mention.

The records on SP in Perthshire do exist in the areas you mention but no John or any other name father Alexander mother MacGregor anywhere near 1776, and no marriage for them.
It may be John was not baptised or the record has not survived.

Colin

[JEB54]

Thank you, Colin. 

I have also been looking for possible siblings for John -- eg. Alexander -- with the Scottish naming pattern I would think that there may have been an older brother named Alexander.  Though I know that John Dewar and wife, Rebecca, didn't seem to follow the naming pattern for their daughters.  Rebecca's mother was named Christie which is the name of their youngest daughter, Susan Christie.

You mention that John may not have been baptized but given the role of the Church in those times, would this be normal?  I do realize that SP doesn't have all of the births, etc. in its system and that it is likely many didn't survive.  However, I am still hopeful to be able to find something on either John or his family!!

Regards,

Jane