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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Inverness => Topic started by: jessiboo_17 on Friday 27 January 17 23:38 GMT (UK)
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I'm looking for information on an Alexander Currie. He was from South Uist and came to Cape Breton in the 1820's. He married Ann McIntyre in 1833 here (I have a record for that) and was Roman Catholic.
In the book "A West Wind to East Bay" on page 58 it states, "Another Currie family that originated in East Bay, but eventually settled in Glace Bay, was that of ALEXANDER Currie. I am told that his father's name was Duncan and that his mother was a MacDonald, but I have been unable to verify this or make any connection with the other Currie families we are discussing. Alexander was born in South Uist and was drowned along with his brother-in-law off Glace Bay According to the records of Sacred Heart Parish, Sydney, he married Anne MacIntyre in 1833. They had at leaset ten children: I. Angus; II. Sandy; III. Mary Sarah; IV. Mary Ann; V Jane; the twins, VI. Daniel and VII. Mary; VIII. Ronald; IX. Catherine; and X. Joseph." It then goes on to discuss the children and their descendants. I do have a death record for Alexander.
Interestingly enough a witness to Alexander (who was also called Alex at times) was a man named Ronald (Renald Curry on Alexander's marriage record) Currie, whom I am assuming was a brother or cousin.
On page 55 of the same book Ronald is listed as Raonull and it states the following: "There was a family of Curries settled at Gillis Lake. This was the family of RAONULL Curry, son of Domhnull, son of Iain, son of Domhnull, of Druimmor, South Uist. He was born in Scotland, but died before the 1871 census and, so, I have no dates for him." It goes on to list who he married and their descendants.
Than later on page 62 of the same book it goes on to state: "The next family of Curries to be treated here is the family of LACHLANN mac IAIN 'ic DHONNCHAIDH 'ic SHEUMAIS ("Laughlin, son of John, son of Duncan, son of James"). He was born in Scotland and came and settled in the backlands of North Side East Bay between MacAdam's Lake and Steele's Crossing. I don't know who his wife was and I believe he died shortly after coming to this country. He had at least two children that I know of: OIGHRIG; and LACHLANN. I have been told that there were at least three other children: DOMHNULL; DOMHNULL BAN; and AGNES, but of these I know nothing more. There is the possibility that one of these Domhnulls was the father of Raonull Currie, who settled at Gillis Lake. In one of his articles in The Casket Michael D. Currie said that Raonull's father was Domhnull mac Iain 'ic Dhomhnuill. There could have been a typographical error introduced when Michael D.'s letter was being transcribed for printing at the newspaper office. Perhaps it should have read "Domhnull mac Iain 'ic Dhonnchaidh". I have not been able to locate Michael D.'s papers, so I cannot compare the originals with the newspaper articles."
I am trying to find out if there is more information on my Alexander and how he pertains to the Curries of South Uist.
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Hi Jessiboo,
Sorry I can't be of much help as the dates are too far back :(
Here's a good map of South Uist showing where 'Druimmor' (Drimore) is (the north end of the island)
http://maps.nls.uk/view/74400298
I'm a Currie descendant but unfortunately the records on Uist don't go back far enough for me to establish a connection although I believe they were all related?
My 3 x G G/father Donald Currie b c1800, d bet. 1841 & 1851 married Marion Steele.
Their 4 (known) children:
Donald 1822
John 1824
Janet c 1826
Margaret c 1829
I noticed you have the following but not sure if you know the English meaning?
OIGHRIG (Euphemia/Effie) with other variants (always a help for other researchers)
Annie.
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Hello,
Thank you for that. I did know, but that's how it appeared in the book I have. I also notice you have Mc/MacKinnons in Canada. Do you know who/where yours are based in Canada? I have several lines from Nova Scotia LOL
Have you ever done your DNA? I'm on all 3 major testing sites and gedmatch.
Jessie
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Hi Jessie,
I believe I would have had distant ancestors who emigrated to Canada but no way of proving who/when/where to.
I currently have relatives descended from my MacKinnon line who emigrated much later to Ontario (mainly Toronto) & some who ended up in different places such as Manitoba as well as New York & Illinois (USA).
Annie
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Okay! I match some from Ontario and Manitoba too LOL
Thanks for letting me know!
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Sorry Jessie,
My brother has had his DNA done by 23andme but not uploaded to gedmatch....YET!
Hopefully at some point as he's not genealogically minded (I'm the genealogist in the family) & I'm not 'up' on DNA & how to transfer etc. as it's all new to us both.
I have access to his info. & who he's connected to but have only been in touch with a few to date.
Annie
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Encourage him please!!!! I bet we're related some how!!!!
Sorry the photos were so huge... holy cow LOL
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I will do Jessie as I have had help on one of my threads on how he can do it but at the moment he's really busy with his business & work which takes up a lot of his time as he's self employed, working long hours.
Can you PM me your tree on 'Fancestry' please ;D & I will have a look.
The thing which is strange, my Currie connection is through my paternal g/mother's line (Steele) whereas my MacKinnon connection is my paternal direct line?
Annie
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I noticed you have the surname MacNeil (with 1 'L') & if they were in Nova Scotia there's a good chance they could/would possibly be descended from the MacNeil's of Island of Barra (Inverness-shire, Scotland)?
Annie
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Yes they all were :) Every single blessed line. Trying to figure THAT out with DNA is fun (sarcasm).
If you pm me your username on ancestry or your email I will add you to my family tree and you can take a look :)
Jessie
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Hi Jessie,
I notice a lot of names which could relate to South Uist & Barra (or is it just a coincidence)?
Eachann H MacNeil (Eachann = Hector)
Seumas = James
MacSween although not too common & seem to be on other islands too such as Harris…My uncle’s mother (a MacSween) was kind of ‘famous’ from Scalpay, Harris (another story)!
Iain John MacKinnon (Iain = John)
Neil Ban MacNeil (Ban = Fair/Blond)
Hugh E MacSween (Hugh = Ewen (with a few variants)
That’s as much as I’ve looked at for now but certainly shows there may definitely be connections with Uist & Barra?
Annie
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Almost ALL my matches on my father's mother's side are from North Uist, South Uist, Barra, Isle of Rum (God I love that name) and Isle of Muck.
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I've been to Rum & Eigg but it was a day trip which included both i.e. not much time to do any foraging in Family History.
A nice trip to both (at the time) but very rushed i.e. not something I would recommend to anyone who wants to research their ancestors.
I would recommend them do a trip which enables them to stay overnight as there were only a few hours to spare on each island on the day trip but beautiful just as the Uists are!
Annie
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I have 4 kids that I homeschool, but I'm planning a trip for about 10 days next year alone while my husband stays with the kids at home. I'm hoping to to a tour of them, not sure about research because that could take me months there ;) I keep telling my husband we should move there, but he says with his job he can't LOL
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Rum was cleared of it's people, a good read is "Barefeet & Tackety Boots!" the author is an Archie Cameron.
Skoosh.
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Hello All,
I realise this is a little late. I can maybe add to your information on Alexander Currie. This depends on when he emigrated to Canada though. I have a Flora Currie born circa 1828 on South Uist. Her parents are Alexander Currie and Margaret MacVicar, listed on the Baptismal certificate. She was also illegitimate and the couple didn't stay together. For below Alexander's name is written - "Now lives in Cape Breton". This may mean my entire family tree from Flora Currie is connected to your own. And I am fascinated at how far back the father-father line goes for Ranald Currie. Any identifications to these very far back ancestors?
Best Wishes,
Anthony
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"I have a Flora Currie born circa 1828 on South Uist. Her parents are Alexander Currie and Margaret MacVicar, listed on the Baptismal certificate. She was also illegitimate. For below Alexander's name is written - "Now lives in Cape Breton"
Anthony, it sure looks like the same person.
This is a great example of why viewing the original record can give so much more.
I have a transcription for the baptism which reads;
Flora (natural dau.) Alex Currie Margaret Macvicar Cape Breton/L'boisdale 24-Feb
The 'Cape Breton' info. isn't apparent on the index on SP i.e. the original is always worth viewing as the extra info. you found is interesting.
Annie
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I noticed you have the surname MacNeil (with 1 'L') & if they were in Nova Scotia there's a good chance they could/would possibly be descended from the MacNeil's of Island of Barra (Inverness-shire, Scotland)?
Annie
My great grandmother was Annie Mae MacNeil. As far as I know all my lines are from Barra, and one could have more connections to Argyll with the MacNeils that have double "L"s. What ancestors are not from Barra and isles connected to it, they are from South Uist.
Further DNA testing has shown with matches to second cousins that I in fact do not have Curries at all. :( There were two Mary MacKinnons that were actually 2nd cousins through MacIntyres of South Uist LOL. It was thought that either one of them was mine and it turned out that the one from the family that had most of their children pass away was actually mine based on the DNA matches.
Think we still have a match from the MacKinnons?
Jessie
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Jessie,
If your MacKinnons arrived in Canada by the 1820s then I have no info. which would help (sorry)!
I haven't done DNA as I find it a bit complicated...
As far as I'm concerned any DNA match would be with someone of this era but to follow others trees is a bit of a gamble (to me) as people can get the wrong info. then add it to their trees which means errors along the way as the DNA can't trace exactly who you're related to i.e. each is relying on each/all having followed & found the correct info. with a paper trail initially.
That's my view (sceptical) as I've seen so many errors on trees with my own direct paternal line it's put me right off (a lot copied which is all wrong)!
I have all the certs. & census' needed & I'm not desperate to get as far back as possible without records/evidence or very good circumstantial evidence to be honest.
In my view, if they can't use the official records which are available online albeit at cost then it doesn't interest me at all.
I'm curious now as to how you came to the Currie connection in the 1st place, was it through DNA?
Sorry to be upfront but I'm more interested in genuine info. to help me & if I stay stuck in the mid to late 1700s or with one in particular (my Currie line) born c1800 or likely prior if I go by dates for his wife then so be it ;)
He died pre statutory records i.e. no DC for parents names sadly as the name is very common on Uist >:(
Annie
Add...I found a 'supposed' connection not too long ago with someone who had all my family (direct paternal line) in their tree yet it didn't match my docs! ::)
I sent a message to enquire the connection & the person had added my info. as the names/dates were similar!!! :o Many miles away from where my family were born/lived/married/died (apart from my g g/father who moved) & on every census.
The person was adamant my family was theirs i.e. I wasn't happy as I said I have all the docs. so I actually used my own credits on SP to find the correct info. for this person & their family!
I have to say I got a nice apologetic reply with a 'thanks' & the person admitted following links without checking which I did appreciate as being truthful is far better than being in denial or just name collecting.
I can't believe people think they can do their family tree without evidence of any kind ???