David John Currie of Cwmavon B1879

[hanes teulu]

Beth,
Our "brickwall" has been well and truly shattered. Xmas and birthday all in one.

Re James d.o.b of 1786 it was based on his age 55 on the 1841 Census. I also have the 1851 return where his age is 71, d.o.b 1780, which accords more with your 1779.

I have a copy of David Curry's Baptismal entry 29 Aug 1813 in the Parish Register of Llantwit Juxta Neath. I can provide a copy (unless you have it already?) once a PM link is established.

Will be in the local Archives tomorrow and will check out James Snr - died Neath 1812.

Thank you so much for getting in touch

regards 

[Beth McKie]

I would love a copy of his baptismal record.  I'll send you a copy of Aunty Sylvia's record too as she goes into a bit more detail from her trip to Benbecula that you may find interesting.

Hope you've had some joy at the archives today.

Regards,
Beth

[hanes teulu]

Beth,

I have a copy of James Snr's 1812 burial entry in the records of Llantwit juxta Neath.

I also copied the burial entry of a "Margaret, daughter of James Curry/Mary Bowen, Neath, December 25th, 1846, aged 1yr 3 mths". Do Sylvia's papers mention this Margaret?

Will be in touch by PM about exchanging papers

regards

[angusm]

I am fascinated to come across this discussion of a Curry [once the name evolved it will have been Currie] family in Benbecula. The name Currie in whatever form did not exist in Benbecula or South Uist until about 1800. This is not to be rude or contradict what you have found, simply to say that Currie emerged at approaching that date through Anglicisation of the Gaelic surname, MacMhuirich. In Benbecula, Anglicisation of that name, which belonged to the bards and oral historians to the Lords of the Isles and then Clanranald for some twenty generations, became MacPherson and not Currie. It was in South Uist that the Inner Hebridean and mainland translation as Currie occurred. Two different priests is why the one name was traslated two different ways.

The first Currie of whom we have a record in Benbecula came from Barra in about 1832 and later obtained a croft on Eilean Flodda an island off the northeast coast of Benbecula. Funnily enough, there was a marriage at that time to one of the MacPhersons from the bardic family so Currie and MacPherson combined. There was only ever one other Currie family in Benbecula and that was established in the township of Hacklet in the 1840s. There was a James in the first of these families but not until the second half of the 19th Century.

If anyone involved would be so kind as to share, I should be intrigued to know anything more you have on the apparent cuckoo in the nest so long before and where the record exists.

[Beth McKie]

The research into the Curry/ie family tree was carried out in the 60's by a great aunt.  Unfortunately, she passed away some years ago so I cannot find out the exact source of her information but here is an excerpt from her findings - don't know that it will really help.  I would welcome your comments.

"My research took me back to 1737 to an island called Benbecula, Outer Hebrides, Scotland.
I paid a visit to this island in 1966 and had an interview with the local genealogical expert, also descendants of a union between Currie/y and the MacDonalds of ClanRanald.  They told me that in the 17th century John Roy Curry (the name was then spelt the Gaelic way) came up from Barra, Outer Hebrides.  After the defeat of Scotland at Culloden, where the Curry’s fought under the Shield of MacDonald of ClanRanald, the Western Isles and the Highlands were cleared and thousands emigrated forcibly.
They told me the Curry’s had a fishing smack, also a boat or ship which traded with the Clyde Ports and was known to go down as far as the Isle of Man and the Welsh coast.  They were also running a croft, remains of which are still in existence.  This croft was on the North Eastern part of Benbecula and after the Clearances some Curry’s went to an island between Benbecula and North Uist and some went south either to Scotland or to South Wales, presumably by boat."

Thanks,

Beth

[LeitchesCreek]

So did the Currie family move onto Eilean Fhlodaigh after some of the MacDonald families left in 1827?   I thought all 6 crofts were MacDonald people at one time.