Macaulay/Mackenzie of Ullapool/Leckmelm

[wulliam]

Dear All,

My ggg-grandfather was Alexander Mackenzie - born c1833 in Ullapool to my gggg-grandparents Alexander Mackenzie & Christian Mackenzie (her m.s.) - they were married 30 Jan 1823 and he (the elder Alexander) was described as of Leckmelm.
 
Alexander (ggg-grandfather) was one of at least 4 siblings: John (c1828), Margaret (c1831), Abigail (c1837).

Alexander (ggg-grandfather) married 3 times: Ann MacAuly (my direct ancestor - married 1852, daughter of William MacAuly of Ullapool), Catherine Maclennan (1866), Jane Rodger (1882). He died in Macduff, Banff in 1903 where his families had lived since at least 1861. He is consistently documented as a Merchant Seaman.

My question:
I've googled till I'm all googled out - have looked at the excellent Coigach site and rosscromartyroots and found nothing.

Does anyone know anything of these families???

Many thanks for reading!
William

[Gadget]

Hi William

Do you have the family on the 1841 or later censuses?

Leckmelm is part of the Lochside part of the parish to the east of Ullapool  and is 20+ miles (by road)  from the Achiltibuie/Coigach area.

Also, have you contacted the Ullapool Museum? They have many specialist records of the area and might have something.

One of the problems here is that the Lochbroom records only date back to the 1790s and much of the research has to be done at the NAS, etc.


Gadget

[wulliam]

Hi Gadget,

thanks for your helpful reply. I will get in touch with the Ullapool Museum to see what they may know - thanks for the suggestion.

In the meantime, I have just managed to find Alexander senior's death cert from 1881. His parents were Kenneth Mackenzie (crofter) & Mary Cameron - attested to by Alexander senior's nephew John who should have known the truth.

So, in summary:
Kenneth Mackenzie & Mary Cameron married
 son Alexander Mackenzie (born c1801) married Christina Mackenzie in Lochbroom, 1823
  son Alexander Mackenzie (born c1833) married Ann MacAulay (Lochbroom, 1852) then moved east where he married Catherine Maclennan & then Jane Rodger.

Census data found so far:

All these refer to Alexander junior (my ggg-grandfather). Bracketed numbers refer to Alexander's 3 wives. I have all the marriage & death certificates for each of them.

1841 Census(I):   Ullapool
Christina Mckenzie, 30, yes
John Mckenzie, 13, yes
Margaret Mckenzie,10, yes
Alexander Mckenzie, 8, yes
Abigail Mckenzie, 4, yes
   Father Alexander assumed to be at sea

1861 Census(I):   2 Andersons Close, Macduff, Gamrie
(1) Ann Mackenzie, mar, 27, sailors wife, Ullapool, Ross-shire
Murdoch Mackenzie, son, 3, Inverness
Christina Mackenzie, daur, 4mo, Macduff, Banffshire
   Alexander is presumed to be at sea

1871 Census(I):   82 Shore, Macduff
(2) Catherine Mackenzie, mar, 30, sailor's wife, Lochcarron, Ross-shire
Murdoch Mackenzie, son, unm., 14, scholar, Inverness
Christina Mackenzie, daur, 10, scholar, Macduff, Banffshire
Mary Ann Mackenzie, daur, 6, scholar, Macduff, Banffshire
Joan Mackenzie, daur, 2, Macduff, Banffshire
Alexina Mackenzie, daur, 1, Macduff, Banffshire
   Alexander is presumed to be at sea

1881 Census(T):   86 Shore, Macduff
Alexander Mackenzie, head, mar, 51, seaman, Ullapool
(2) Catherine Mackenzie, wife, mar, 42, Jeantown [ie Lochcarron]
Johan [sic] Mackenzie, daur, 12, scholar, Macduff, Banff
Alexandrina Mackenzie, daur, 11, scholar, Macduff, Banff

1891 Census(I):   104 Gellymill Street, Macduff
Alexander Mackenzie, head, mar, 60, seaman (unemployed), Gaelic & English, Ullapool
(3) Jane Mackenzie, wife, mar, 50, Macduff, Banffshire
Murdoch Mackenzie, grandson, 7, scholar, Macduff, Banffshire

1901 Census(I):   69 Gellymill Street, Macduff
Alexander Mackenzie, head, mar, 70, retired seaman, Ullapool
(3) Jane Mackenzie, wife, mar, 60, Macduff, Banffshire
Murdoch Mackenzie, grandson, 17, painter, Macduff, Banffshire

Alexander then died in 1903.

Thanks for taking the time!
William

[don_niagara]

Hiya William,

not much specific I can add to the great advice from Gadget, but recently I have been slowly adding data from the south-east of Coigach to my website, and so have some general data that might be grist for your mill...

MacAulays are said to have had an ancient history in Lochbroom; some sources suggest the name "Ullapool" comes from "Olaf's Bol", suggesting from Norse times it was home to the MacAulays. (my own suspision is the "pool" came from it being a harbour, similar to "Polglass" and "Polbain" in the area).

I think MacAulays disapeared from the area in the early middle ages, supplanted by MacLeods, then returned in the early 18th century as one or possibly a few interrelated families.

First was Aulay MacAulay, sometime Tacksman of Achendrean in Strathcanaird.

Index of the document GD176/729 at NAS reads;

Contract of Marriage, dated at Lettoch, 4th December 1722, of Aulay Mackaulay [McAulay], eldest lawful son of John Macaulay [McAulay], tacksman of Kirkibost in Lewis, and Marjory Mackintosh [McIntosh], fourth lawful sister of William Mackintosh [McIntosh] of Daviot, with consent of her said brother. Her tocher is 700 merks. Among the witnesses were Roderick Mackenzie [McKenzie] of Redcastle, Mr. Ludovick Mackenzie [McKenzie], and Mr. James Mackenzie [McKenzie], his lawful sons, Captain John Mackenzie [McKenzie], brother-german to Kincraig, and John M'Bean [McBean], Sheriff Clerk of Inverness: also Extract thereof, dated 23d November 1757: and Discharge by the said Aulay Macaulay [McAulay] of Auchindrean [Achindrean], to AEneas Mackintosh [McIntosh] of Mackintosh [McIntosh], brother and heir of the said William Mackintosh of Daviot, for the said tocher and interest due thereupon promised with his now deceased wife, Marjory Mackintosh [McIntosh]; dated at
the Kirkton of Lochbroom, 16th February 1758.

I have failed at tracing Aulay's ancestry further back than his father on Lewis, but suspect he was related to the Factor there.

Aulay's wife, Marjory Mackintosh, had a long documented ancestry, her grandfather and two of her brothers were Chiefs of that clan.

In 1730 Aulay was involved in a fight with Alexander of Corie for rental of the Forest of Coigach.

When the marines attacked Aulay's neighbours at Langwell in 1746 Aulay was noted as on the ship of Capt. Parker, gathering up some of the looted documents, I think it likely he was one of Rev. Robertson's little amateur militia set up in opposition to the rebels.

Aulay's brother in law, AEneas MacKintosh, raised one of the "Independant Companies" of militia to fight for the government in the 1745 Rebellion, he was far outdone though as a recruiter by his wife, who raised twice as many to fight for Bonny Prince Charlie! She directed the ambush known as "the Rout of Moy". AEneas was later captured by Cromartie's rebel Regiment (mostly recruited in Lochbroom) and paroled to custody of his wife, she greeted him, "your servant, Captain", he replied "your servant, Colonel", terms they used for each other the rest of their lifes.

Your William likely descended from Aulay, a grandson or gt-grandson, unless a later immigrant to the Parish.

Donald.

[wulliam]

Hi Donald,

thanks for your time - and very informative website.

It's fascinating to think that my MacAulay's (who are on my grandfather's side)may originate in Lewis - my grandmother's people are all from there.

I shall file all you've said and keep it in hope!

Thanks again!
William

[maggieblue]

Hi William
I would be interested in your Lyons connection here in Northern Ireland.  My Mother in-law's 2nd cousins are Lyons from this area.  Also has Lyon connections in Ballyneanor, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
Willing to share anything I have with you.  Thanks
Maggie