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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Inverness => Topic started by: The Mountie on Sunday 05 September 21 14:56 BST (UK)
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My family research has hit a brick wall.
3x great Grandfather Donald Macdonald, Blacksmith, Charleston, Parish of Knockbain, dies 1878.
He was easily traced to Charleston village, Ross-shire through census, right back to 1841.
His place of birth on census given as Kirkhill, Inverness-shire.
Married at Inverness 1819 to Ann Macpherson.
Several children to the couple, all easily found.
But Donald himself!!! Mystery man.
On his death certificate his father is shown also Donald Macdonald, no name for mother.
I cannot find a birth record for him anywhere. Died 1878 aged 80 years.
Does this link into anyone else on here?
Any help greatly appreciated.
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I looked in OPR on Scotland's People and for Kirkhill 1795-1805 only 3 Donald's none with a father Donald and no Mac's just Mc.
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/
Does his marriage state what Parish he was in or don't you have the original. If a person was not of the Parish when they married it was fairly common for registrar to not this.
There is also a strong possibility his birth/baptism was lost or simply not recorded.
What was the eldest son's name?
Don
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Welcome to Rootschat
Can you clarify his age at death & confirm he died in Inverness? Scotlands People show his age as 86 & his mothers maiden name as MacArthur
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Carole, I think this is the death mentioned:
Donald MCDONALD
Age 80
Mother's maiden name -----
1878
073/ 6
Knockbain
Monica
PS: Welcome to RC from me too :)
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McD, Macd, aren’t important, they’re all the same.
My Donald died 4/2/1878 at Knockbain, aged 80 years.
His wife was Ann Macpherson.
Married Inverness 29/5/1819.
Eldest child Mary. Son John born 1821, whilst they were living at Keanlay, near Bunchrew/Kirkhill.
Donald shown in census 1841,51,61,71 as being born at Kirkhill, Inverness-shire
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Carole, I think this is the death mentioned:
Donald MCDONALD
Age 80
Mother's maiden name -----
1878
073/ 6
Knockbain
Monica
PS: Welcome to RC from me too :)
That’s him !!
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Just trying to see if there is anything that helps in the children's names. Can't see family in 1841 on FreeCen but from a transcript for that year:
Donald Mcdonald 40 blacksmith
Ann Mcdonald 40
Mary Mcdonald 20 www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XB9P-N8F
John Mcdonald 18 www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XB95-VB5
George Mcdonald 12
Swen Mcdonald 10 www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X1DW-BRM
Donald Mcdonald 5
Hugh Mcdonald 3
Address: Chestertown, Kilmuir-easter R&C
Monica
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Did Ann McPherson make it past 1855 to let you confirm her parents' names?
Monica
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Did Ann McPherson make it past 1855 to let you confirm her parents' names?
Monica
Ann died 30/5/1869. I’ve got her birth, 9/3/1791. Patents John McPherson and Margaret Cuthbert.
Donald is the one that’s stumping me.
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Is this from her death reg? Nearly 10 yrs difference between Donald and Ann?
Monica
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Is this from her death reg? Nearly 10 yrs difference between Donald and Ann?
Monica
Yes, death certificate. Age difference confirmed in census.
It probably wasn’t 10 years, but she was older for sure
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As a side note. I was looking at M*cdonald births in Kirkhill over the relevant years. One name stood out as when I saw it listed for Donald and Ann, it was a new name for me.
An OPR entry showed the 1831 birth of Gwillin. The 1841 census showed the name as Swen.
There is a birth or christening on SP for a SWEN MacDonald to JOHN MACDONALD OR MACQUEEN MARY CHISHOLM in 1805 in Kirkhill. The second mention of that name just stood out for me.
I think you also need to consider the possibility that Donald's father may not have been called Donald. Memories got confused and lost over the years as you have with the blank space for his mother's name on his death reg.
Monica
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As a side note. I was looking at M*cdonald births in Kirkhill over the relevant years. One name stood out as when I saw it listed for Donald and Ann, it was a new name for me.
An OPR entry showed the 1831 birth of Gwillin. The 1841 census showed the name as Swen.
There is a birth or christening on SP for a SWEN MacDonald to JOHN MACDONALD OR MACQUEEN MARY CHISHOLM in 1805 in Kirkhill. The second mention of that name just stood out for me.
I think you also need to consider the possibility that Donald's father may not have been called Donald. Memories got confused and lost over the years as you have with the blank space for his mother's name on his death reg.
Monica
I’d never considered that Sweyn and Gwillen could be the same person.
Sweyn repeats in the next 2 generations. The last one dying in 1955.
Some more for me to consider. Thank you for taking the time to have a look at this
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Just adding a little more for you to consider...
The new family we have, with John McDonald and Mary Chisholm. Below is their 1841 entry. Both John Snr and son Sween are showing as Blacksmiths:
John Mcdonald 70 B Smith
Sween Mcdonald 30 B Smith
Catharine Mcdonald 34
Mary Mcdonald 4
Elisabeth Mcdonald 3
Hellen Mcdonald 1
Cirsty Mcdonald 17
Address: Ceanlaimh , Kirkhill
Mary Chisholm already deceased perhaps by now.
Monica
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Just adding a little more for you to consider...
The new family we have, with John McDonald and Mary Chisholm. Below is their 1841 entry. Both John Snr and son Sween are showing as Blacksmiths:
John Mcdonald 70 B Smith
Sween Mcdonald 30 B Smith
Catharine Mcdonald 34
Mary Mcdonald 4
Elisabeth Mcdonald 3
Hellen Mcdonald 1
Cirsty Mcdonald 17
Address: Ceanlaimh , Kirkhill
Mary Chisholm already deceased perhaps by now.
Monica
They could very easily be part of the same extended family
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Most Scot's but not all Scot's in the north followed the Scottish Naming Pattern. So, in your case the first son John suggests his father was John.
Don
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Most Scot's but not all Scot's in the north followed the Scottish Naming Pattern. So, in your case the first son John suggests his father was John.
Don
That’s a brilliant observation and does fit with subsequent generations.
Thank you 🙏
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Could be a Macdonald name, the famous Highland seer, now gone, was a Swein Macdonald from Sutherland.
Skoosh.
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I have for John M*cDonald and Mary Chisolm/Chisholm
John 13/11/1793
Elizabeth 25/12/1794
Katherine 25/12/1794
David 18/10/1796
Donald 21/2/1799
Elspet 23/1/1803
Sween/Sweyn 30/5/1805
Mary 04/09/1808
I can't find a marriage date before the children were born for John and Mary but there is one in the 1820's.
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From John McDonald and Mary Chisholm, my ancestor is their twin daughter, Kathrine, who married Ewan Matheson, 10th January, 1817, Kirkhill, Inverness. I was contacted by Neil McDonald, and we have compared notes, but there was a message this evening that he was no longer taking messages.
John and Mary are my 3rd Great grandparents.
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I have info on this if you want to contact me
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I have for John M*cDonald and Mary Chisolm/Chisholm
John 13/11/1793
Elizabeth 25/12/1794
Katherine 25/12/1794
David 18/10/1796
Donald 21/2/1799
Elspet 23/1/1803
Sween/Sweyn 30/5/1805
Mary 04/09/1808
I can't find a marriage date before the children were born for John and Mary but there is one in the 1820's.
They were married 1792 at Inverness. He was John Macqueen
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Just to note, from Monica at reply #11...
"There is a birth or christening on SP for a SWEN MacDonald to JOHN MACDONALD OR MACQUEEN MARY CHISHOLM in 1805 in Kirkhill. The second mention of that name just stood out for me."
Something to consider...
The use of Macdonald or MacQueen could suggest John was illegitimate or his mother remarried to a MacQueen & John may have been brought up by the step-fathers' surname?
Annie
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Found this in the Parish History of Kirkhill
"Mary Fraser lately married to Donald Maclan vic Jamish"
(National Archives. Rental of Lovat 1749, E 769/5).
I think vic Jamish should be vic Hamish (Son of James)
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From John McDonald and Mary Chisholm, my ancestor is their twin daughter, Kathrine, who married Ewan Matheson, 10th January, 1817, Kirkhill, Inverness. I was contacted by Neil McDonald, and we have compared notes, but there was a message this evening that he was no longer taking messages.
John and Mary are my 3rd Great grandparents.
Hello.
It is incorrect that I’m no longer accepting messages.
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Just to note, from Monica at reply #11...
"There is a birth or christening on SP for a SWEN MacDonald to JOHN MACDONALD OR MACQUEEN MARY CHISHOLM in 1805 in Kirkhill. The second mention of that name just stood out for me."
Something to consider...
The use of Macdonald or MacQueen could suggest John was illegitimate or his mother remarried to a MacQueen & John may have been brought up by the step-fathers' surname?
Annie
Or, given the time and place, he may have been known by an alias.
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I think it meansJohn Macdonald originally went by the surname Macqueen.
Macqueens were tenants of, and followers of Clan Donald/Macdonald