I've finally settled on the below parents for my blacksmith Donald Mackenzie of Clyde Ironworks, Lanarkshire but born Urray in Ross & Cromarty.
I've been umming and ah-ing for years because in the 1851 Lanarkshire census, Clyde blacksmith Donald was aged 75 and in the 1851 Urray Census there was another Donald one year younger aged 74 but by choosing to stay on the land he became a pauper.
I'd like opinions because there's a drawback, as Don was 7 yrs old when his father died and I can't find evidence that his mother remarried. Thus there's a question of who paid for Don's blacksmith apprenticeship.
The naming pattern checks: I knew the blacksmith had three definite sons = John, Ken and Duncan, there was a gap between John and Ken so I have a possible Alex (an engineer) but altho Alex's death cert gave the correct father's name of Donald, the mother was given as Agnes instead of Ann I think the signatory took a stab at giving one of his older daughters names instead of the youngest daughter Ann.
Donald's Parents:
John Mackenzie and Anne Robertson. All children found were born in Urray, Black Isle. Not one baptism record shows John's occupation but judging from the places his children were born he did a lot of gadding about, thus could be a farmhand on a large estate, or another occupation that I haven't thought of. Mary's birth was a bit late for the parenting pattern, so I checked the weather conditions and it seems there was an early and long frosty winter.
I'm questioning the occupation because, where would a farm labourer's widow get the money to pay for Donald's apprenticeship?
JANNET Mackenzie born 17 April 1765 in Balloan
ALEXANDER Mackenzie born 14 July 1770 in Knockroy,
MARY Mackenzie born 27 Aug 1771 Urray
DONALD Mackenzie born 9 July 1775 in Belloan
JOHN Mackenzie b 26 June 1782 in Laigh Fairburn (posthumous)
I've always had a notion that my Donald was linked to a John Mackenzie of Strathgarve, who put money into and helped build and design the Clyde Ironworks company. Maybe Donald's mother became housekeeper to Strathgarve and it was he who organised the apprenticeship. Anpther thing that struck me was that all of Donald's sons became managers of companies at very early ages, which also makes me think there was some clout behind the family.
Please feel free to poke holes in my train of thought.