I'm a Walker and some of my descendants were the McVannels. I'm a descendant of Robert Walker and Margaret Watson. Margaret's mother was Mary McVannel, and her father was William Watson.
I came across an interesting fact today. One Duncan McVannel was killed in Ontario:
PICKARD, Cyrus
Male, age 20
Crime: Murder
Victim: McVannell, Duncan
Trial: 1871/09/19
Assizes; London, Ont.
Judge: Gwynne
Execution fixed to: 1871/12/28
Recommendation for mercy: yes
Result: O. in C. of 1871/11/23, PC 1542
Hanging: 1871/12/28; Middlesex Gaol, London, Ont.
Reference: RG 13, vol. 1408, file 40A; 1871
Content: Correspondence, petitions, order-in-council,
transcript of evidence, coroner's inquest.