Angus McNeil

[Rustidge]

Angus McNeil born 1807 and his wife Mary lived in Dalnabreac before they emmigrated to Australia.
From Angus`s B cert his parents were Michael McNeil and Flora McDonald
i would be interested in any more details of the family.

[MonicaL]

Hi Rustidge

Angus and family lived a couple of doors down from my family in Dalnabreac in 1841  I am assuming that the MacNeils were probably Roman Catholic. If so, you will find it difficult to find any info on line on the family prior to the 1841 census and the start of official registration in Scotland from 1855 (for BMD information).

I cannot see any sign of parents Michael and Flora in 1841, they may have died by this point.

Apart from Ancestry and Scotlands People, there are a number of other sources for census data which are useful for Dalnabreac and the surrounding areas. One of my favourites is this one: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ked1/41ftwillcen9.html  This will take you to Page 9 of the 1841 Census which covers Dalnabreac. As you will see there are a number of MacNeils living in the immediate houses next to Angus and Mary. They could well be connected to your Angus. You would have to follow them through to be able to verify this (via post 1855 death cert info on Scotlands People which would include their parents' names).

Regards.

Monica

[Rustidge]

Thank you for quick reply. I was asked this question by a Genes Reunited member in Australia. My McNeils came from  Ardnamurchan and you have previously given me help in finding family there. So thanks again. I am not sure how near these two places are.

[MonicaL]

There are a number of parish maps which illustrate this. Have a look at this one which has a bit more detail http://www.lochaberandnorthargyllfamilyhistorygroup.org.uk/id70.html

Ardnamurchan is a parish whilst Dalnabreac is a small village. It is located at the foot of Loch Shiel on the north bank. If you look at any of the modern map sites (multimap etc) , you will find its precise location.

Regards.

Monica

[Milly Mac]

I just noticed your post re: Angus McNeil. I'm looking for someone of the same name who also emigrated to Australia and then on to New Zealand. The only information that I can find is his death certificate that says "Native of Scotland" - not very informative!  Have you any other information on him? Perhaps we are looking for the same person.
Regards,
Milly Mac.

[JMDG79]

I have a bit of information about Angus McNeil after he arrived in Australia

Angus McNeil, his wife Mary Grant and 5 children.From Moidart (Dalnabreac and Moss) to Liverpool, departing 20 June 1852 and arriving Australia (Geelong) on the Araminta arriving 4 October 1852. Daughter Flora died at sea on 6 August from diarrhoea. Travelled with his widowed sister Catherine and her 6 children.

[Milly Mac]

Hi JMDG79,
Thanks for that information - however I really can't tell from this if we are looking for the same person. I am looking for the father of Vivienne McNeil born on Coromandel Nth Island N.Z. Angus is named on her birth cert as father but I can't find a marriage cert for him. (I'm in Australia so I can't get to some of the records either). I don't know if he was married to her mother or not - still a mystery.
I'll keep plodding.
Milly Mac.

[JMDG79]

No it's not the same family.  Angus's children were
MCNEIL, Donald   c. 1837   Moidart, Invernesshire, West Scotland   Scotland
MCNEIL, Catherine   c. 1839   Moidart, Invernesshire, West Scotland   Scotland
MCNEIL, Margaret   c.1840   Moidart, Invernesshire, West Scotland   Scotland
MCNEIL, Mary   c. 1842   Moidart, Invernesshire, West Scotland   Scotland
MCNEIL, Ann   c.1845   Moidart, Invernesshire, West Scotland   Scotland
MCNEIL, John   c.1848   Moidart, Invernesshire, West Scotland   Scotland
MCNEIL, Flora   c.1851   Moidart, Invernesshire, West Scotland   Scotland
MCNEIL, Hugh or Ronald         

[Milly Mac]

Hi,
Thanks for that information.
One more 'Angus' to eliminate in the search 
Hope you find the ones you are looking for.
Milly Mac.