Captain Donald Mackenzie, Captain Black Watch (42nd Regt.)

[ellerydesign]

I'm looking for any details about a Captain Donald Mackenzie, who served in the Black Watch (42nd regiment). He appears to have served in the Peninsular Wars and was a veteran of Waterloo.

From online data he seems to have been born 9 April 1783, and died in 1838, and married a Mary Bell. However I can find no sources to back up these dates.

From Family Search a Donald Mackenzie and a Mary Bell had the following children:
1. Elizabeth Charlotte MacKenzie, b. 16/1/1820, bap. Inverness 22/2/1820
2. Cecilia Douglas MacKenzie, bap. Inveresk and Musselburgh 12/5/1823
3. Marion Elizabeth MacKenzie, bap. Inveresk and Musselburgh 5/1/1827
4. John Robertson MacKenzie, bap. North Leith 23/9/1836

5. There appears to have been another son, Robert Mackenzie, who was a Captain in the army and died unmarried. but I can find out nothing about him?

From this info. he seems to have married before 1820, and started married life in the north (his father was Gilbert Mackenzie of Invershin and Rearchen, so that makes sense). They then seem to have settled in Leith / Edinburgh.

If anyone can help to fill in the gaps or suggest resources to help I'd be very grateful.

Thank you, Craig

[markw78]

Hello ellerydesign

Try National Archives you should be able to find his discharge papers which would list his service.. or Find my Past...

Did find this though
http://www.stridentpublishing.co.uk/product/merely-a-memorandum-from-spain-to-waterloo-in-wellingtons-army-the-personal-account-of-lieutenant-donald-mackenzie-of-the-black-watch/
which might be him..
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spain-Waterloo-Wellingtons-Army-Memorandum/dp/190444069X

There is also a lots of history sites eg
https://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armyunits/britishinfantry/42ndblackwatch.htm

Lastly there is medal roll list at
https://www.dnw.co.uk/resources/medal-rolls/results.php?medalroll_id=1&Surname=McKenzie&Forenames=&Unit=&Clasps=&Number+of+Clasps=&action=Search

https://www.dnw.co.uk/resources/medal-rolls/results.php?medalroll_id=1&Surname=MacKenzie&Forenames=&Unit=&Clasps=&Number+of+Clasps=&action=Search

Do you know if he changed regiments which was quite common as positions were by purchase during the period.. ? As I could not see a Donald with the 42nd Listed... for  But it would depend on if he claimed as issued in 1848 and they had to claim them if still alive..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_General_Service_Medal

There is a listing at for  Waterloo medal but for a Lieutenant not a Captain ...

https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/namesearch/?Surname=Mackenzie&RecordType=Napoleonic&RecordDateStartYear=1799&RecordDateEndYear=1815&EnableUnit=False&SurvivedActiveService=False&DiedInActiveService=False&EnableNationality=False&ReceivedGallantryAward=False&MentionedInDespatches=False&Page=1&SortColumn=noColumn&SortOrder=noOrder

and for purchase at
https://www.worldcat.org/title/waterloo-medal-roll-compiled-from-the-muster-rolls/oclc/156113110

and official history at
The Highland Furies: The Black Watch 1739-1899. London: Quercus, 2012. ISBN 9781849165501.

Can get quite addictive though my Wife's Great x 3 also served in the 78th 1793 to 1816 so hence the interest...
Good luck with your research...
Regards
Mark W

[MonicaL]

Craig, from what you mention, this looks like a reference for daughter Elizabeth https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography,_1912_supplement/Smeaton,_Donald_Mackenzie

There is an entry for him in the Wills & Testaments section on www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

Donald MacKenzie
27/2/1839
Captain in 42nd Regiment of Foot
Inventory ; Last Will and Testament
Edinburgh Sheriff Court Inventories
SC70/1/57

Have you viewed any original images from the Old Parish Registers on Scotlands People? Donald's death or burial is showing:

Donald MCKENZIE
Age 50
10/01/1838
685/1000 410
Edinburgh

Monica

[MonicaL]

This may be son Robert's birth or christening entry in Dumfries (from SP - FS is useful but always best to check on SP as it is more complete and holds the original images):

Robert MCKENZIE
Parents DONALD MCKENZIE/MARY BELL
28/11/1821
Ref 821/80 18
Dumfries

I assume you have the family in the early censuses? For 1841 and 1851, Mary and younger children are at St Andrews, Fife. The only one not there is Cecilia in 1841, although there is a Cecilia boarding in Edinburgh that year, but age seemed light.

1851 here www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5a14a9e1f4040b9d6ea81645/george-mackenzie-1851-fife-st-andrws-st-l-nards-1841-?locale=en

Can't easily see a death for mother Mary after 1855 and the start of statutory registration. Have you checked newspapers for this family? There could well be a death notice for her. With her birth place showing as Leith in 1851, there is a possible birth/christening entry for her in Leith South on 5 Sept 1795.

A couple of sons for Charles and Elizabeth joined the army (Capt James Robertson Bell and Oswald Bell). There are a number of family trees for this line on Ancestry to check on and try to verify.

A death entry for Elizabeth Robertson which gives this detail:

At White House, Mussleburgh, Elizabeth Robertson wife of Charles Bell Esq., wine merchant Leith.
The Scots Magazine and Edinburgh Literary Miscellany, Volume 75, Part 2, 1813


Monica

[MonicaL]

Have you come across this already (thinking about it, this might be the same ref to what you have indexed already, Mark):

Microfilm copy of typescript transcript of the memoirs of Capt Donald Mackenzie, 1820-1821; associated with the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815) and the Peninsular Wars (1808-1814).    Archives    1979-04-15

https://collection.nam.ac.uk/inventory/objects/results.php?shortDescription=&event=&campaign=&associatedName=&unit=9&placeNotes=&productionNotes=&keyword=&flag=1&page=251

Monica

[MonicaL]

....his father was Gilbert Mackenzie of Invershin and Rearchen, so that makes sense.

Craig, what is the source for this? Who was this Gilbert married to?

Monica

[ellerydesign]

Hi Monica and Mark,

Many, many thanks for the amazing information you've managed to unearth for me. I'm overwhelmed, it's marvellous. I only posted this morning before I went out for my usual, long Covid walk around Edinburgh and I've come back to all this wonderful info.!!! Can't thank you both enough.

In chronological order, mark, many thanks for all the regimental data, especially the army papers. I'll have a good trawl through these links you've sent me. It looks like the correct Donald. I'll see if I can source stuff from the Nat. Archives.

Monica, Many thanks also.
Re. your query about Gilbert Mackenzie, Donald's father, this is the source... https://www.spanglefish.com/SlavesandHighlanders/index.asp?pageid=436273
Gilbert married Hectorina Munro and the couple had eight children, of which Donald seems to have been the eldest (the others were Robert, d.y., Christina, William, Robert, George, John and Isabella.
hectoring was the daughter of Captain Robert Munro of Achinduich, parish of Creich (2nd son of William Munro III. of Achannie) by Margaret, 1st daughter of Robert Douglas, of Balcony (Balconie)). Have a look at this link... https://digital.nls.uk/histories-of-scottish-families/archive/95618783?&mode=transcription

I feel a bit stupid as I didn't see it for some reason, but Mary bell is definitely a distant cousin of Donald's. I primarily have been researching the McNeill families of Ardnacross, Islay and an offshute of them MacNeills of Bordland, Peebleshire and Shennanton ( a friend of mine is of that family) and one of her McNeill ancestors married into the Scott and Moir families of Musselburgh and Inveresk. David Macbeth Moir married a Catherine Elizabeth Bell who is the younger sister of our Mary Bell, died 1854, who married in 1815, Captain Donald Mackenzie, Capt 42nd Regt., d. 5/12/1838. So thank you so much for highlighting that connection for me.
The details I have of Mary's parents are...
Charles Bell, of Whitehouse and Leith, Wine merchant, partner in Bell, Rainnie & Co., b. 1756, d. Saltcoats, Ayrshire 16/3/1832
marr. 1st., South Leith 16/11/1787, Elizabeth Robertson, b. 1763, d. Edinburgh 1763, d. White House, Musselburgh 10/8/1813, daughter of Charles Robertson of Edinburgh (by Miss Younghusband of Elrick, Northumberland)
marr. 2nd., Miss Stirling, sister of Sir James Stirling, Baronet

I have managed to find out some details of Donald's children, Elizabeth Charlotte marr. David James Seaton, a schoolmaster in St Andrews - they had 12 children; Marion Elizabeth marr. John Alison, a merchant in Leith - there gravestone stands in Grange cemetery - they had 4 children; John Robertson was an Earthenware manufacturer in Leith, marr. an Elizabeth Ruthven and had a son Charles, a soldier, b. Bo'ness in 1869.

I had noticed details of a book by a Lieut. (not Captain) Donald McKenzie about his experiences in the French wars, etc. and wondered if this was my Donald.

I'll have a good look through everything you've both sent and keep you posted.

Many, many thanks again, Craig

[markw78]

ellerydesign
Glad they were of use... from what I read they 42nd Regiment of Foot at Battle of Quatre Bras they were right in the thick of the turning point...
5th Division 9th Brigade.
Unit    Commander    Complement    Killed    Wounded    Missing
42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot, the "Black Watch"    Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Robert Macara(†) KCB    39 off 550 men    3 off 42 men    14 off 228 men    0 off 0 men
I have posted a picture of the Regimental flag at this link which may be of interest...
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/485544403583611492 & 
Drum at
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/485544403565971597/
and once lock down eases you should go to the Black Watch museum in Perth which I am sure you would enjoy... unfortunately no free entry for descendants of veterans... My Great Grandfather served with them 1890's to 1902... and two of my wife's great uncles in WW1 also...
All the best
Regards
Mark W

[MonicaL]

Re. your query about Gilbert Mackenzie, Donald's father, this is the source... https://www.spanglefish.com/SlavesandHighlanders/index.asp?pageid=436273
Gilbert married Hectorina Munro and the couple had eight children, of which Donald seems to have been the eldest (the others were Robert, d.y., Christina, William, Robert, George, John and Isabella.
hectoring was the daughter of Captain Robert Munro of Achinduich, parish of Creich (2nd son of William Munro III. of Achannie) by Margaret, 1st daughter of Robert Douglas, of Balcony (Balconie)). Have a look at this link... https://digital.nls.uk/histories-of-scottish-families/archive/95618783?&mode=transcription

 There are no references to the names Gilbert/ Hectorina/ Munro with any of the children's names or descedants' families...I might have missed them so far!

You could consider viewing his will & testament entry on SP. A little more detail regarding it:

Donald MacKENZIE late 42nd Regt d 5 Dec 1838. Capt Donald MacKENZIE
Castle St, Edin, John MacKENZIE brother of defunct & Mary BELL his
relict
http://sites.rootsweb.com/~vicsgenealogylinks/mid13.htm

Likely the John MacKenzie who spent many years in Demarara?

A number of death notices connected to Donald's MacKenzie family here https://sites.rootsweb.com/~nyggbs/Transcriptions/LisaB/DeathsTrans2015.pdf Just use your search and find for the word MacKenzie!

Monica