Iochdar Records Uist (South)

[Rosinish]

I know this is an old posting but may be of assistance to others.

Donald & Mary were married in 1827 (only year stated) although place of marriage is not listed. He was from Garryfluich but doesn't mention where Mary was from.

There is also a listing of a son John b 22 Jul 1829 baptised 29 Jul 1829 in Garryfluich which indicates parents would probably have been married in Ardkenneth.

Parents must have migrated after his birth in 1829.

Anne Marie.

[angusm1939]

Anne Marie: well found but does the info perhaps need a bit of unpicking? The first marriage record for St Michael's surely dates from 1829 so my guess would be that the 1827 event must have been registered at St Mary's Bornish? That would presumably be the bride's RC parish and I put it that way because a church wedding was very rare, the priest usually going to the relevant township.

A Garryfluich [or Garryfliuch as it was normally written down] wedding would not normally have been a matter for the priest at Bornish but for the more northerly incumbent. 1827 was, in any case though, before St Michael's existed as it was built after the 1828 arrival of Fr James MacGregor though the move to Ardkenneth may have taken place before that, coincidentally from Garryfluich, where the priest from c. 1803-1827, Roderick MacDonald, was a son of the tacksman and 2 x great grandson of Ranald Og II of Benbecula. The couple then evidently settled in the husband's township, Mr Seumas was in place at Ardkenneth, conducted the baptism amd made the entry at St Michael's.

Is that how it reads to you? Angus

[Rosinish]

Hi Angus,

You may be right with your info. re dates & which church etc. but I haven't gone into the historical aspects. I was only transcribing from the info. I have at hand which doesn't give details of which church the marriage took place but assumed that the place of birth for John was a possible clue and hoping it would be of assistance to root hunters like myself although this family are of no known connection to my own family.

It's good that people like yourself have more informative details to add though.

I periodically search out Uist enquiries when I have the time, out of interest and the fact that I have a wealth of info. at hand as my own paternal side are all Uist born and include so many names and I have gathered so much over the years and I'm as well to use it when possible as it's my hobbie.

Names predominent in my own tree are: MacKinnon, Steele, Cumming, Currie & Campbell among others. I must be related to at least a third of the island but find it hard getting anything on my Cumming branch for some strange reason. I would have thought that would have been the easiest branch to trace with it being such an uncommon surname but alas I have struggled with incoming info. to date.

Regards,

Anne Marie (nee MacKinnon)

[angusm1939]

Hi Anne Marie

The more people like us that keep an eye out and add what we can, the more helpful it is to others so all power to your elbow. For my part, my roots are in Benbecula, hence my interest in St Michael's and, as it happens, my great great grandfather's marriage was about the first [from memory I think it was the first] recorded by Fr MacGregor at Ardkenneth in 1829.

Surprisingly, it is often the rarer names that are difficulat to track and pin dow, I suppose your elusive folks may have been Comyns way back?

Regards

Angus

[kilpheder]

There are Cummings who I know who originated in Eriskay if that is any help.

[Rosinish]

Hi Kilpheder,

I'm not sure if the name Cumming features in your tree but I would be interested in following up what you have and exchanging info.

Regards,

Anne Marie.

[angusm1939]

Hello again Anne Marie: Don't know if it goes beyond what you already have but there are 14 Cumming births and/or baptisms recorded in the Catholic records for St Mary's, Bornish before the 1855 start of statutory recording. They were children of just two couples. The first was John Cumming and his wife, Isobel Campbell with a first recorded birth in 1825. The second, very possibly a son of the first couple, was Evan Cummingmarried to a Currie and their children were born towards the end of the period.