Searching for Niel McGillivray and Janet Nicolson in Skye

[Kylie B]

Hi
Can anyone help with advice or info please?

I am trying to trace my McGillivray ancestors back further and have hit a brick wall.

I have Niel Mc Gillivray born 1767 and died 18 Sept 1836, of Breakish, Skye.
Niel married Janet Nicolson in 1787- she died before 1851 (based on her appearance on census- no death found as yet).

Niel and Janet had the following children:
Marion, Angus, Finlay, Donald and Charles.

I have a probate for Niel from 1836, confirming his children and wife and reporting he had 100GBP in the bank...which seems like a lot for a crofter? He also reportedly had a headstone built- which I would also have thought rare for a crofter in 1836?

So where can I go next to see further info on Niel and Janet- namely their own parents and any siblings? and where they came from originally?

I gather Niel's headstone is long gone- but I dont suppose there is a record anywhere of MI"S??

Any help or advice would be wonderful!!
Thanks
Kylie B

[Lady Arcadia]

Hi Kylie,
Just joined up here, and was looking through the MacPhersons, Robertsons and McGillivrays... I think we may be related. Did Marion marry a Donald Robertson?  If so, would love to hear from you!

Eilidh Mac a' Phearsain

[Skoosh]

Kylie, this might yield nothing, but the National Archives online catalogue is worth a go. Don't be too specific,   http://www.nas.gov.uk/onlineCatalogue      Skoosh.

[Kylie B]

Hi Eilidh
Yes- Marion did marry a Donald Robertson- I have more info on their family, but will have to dig it out.
Will check out Skoosh's suggestion too- thanks for that.

Let me know where you fit in!!

Kylie B

[Lady Arcadia]

Hi Kylie,
Thanks for the reply. How/Where do I fit in...
Marion McGillvray married Donald Roberton, their family included a daughter (the youngest) called Janet.
Janet Robertson married Norman Macpherson in Sleat 1867, they would emmigrate to New Zealand with a small family and Norman's sister Effy.
The family would grow in numbers after arriving and settling in Geraldine, South Canterbury New Zealand (that is about an hour and a half from where all the earthquakes have been in the last year). 
One of their children was called John, and one of his sons was called John Allan. (This guy is my grandfather) I am the eldest daughter of John's youngest son Norman.
Would love to find more information on the Robertson's, and yes the 100 pounds does sound like alot for a crofter. More than anything though .... I am searching (it seems like in vain) for any photos of the Robertson's in particular Janet. The closest I have is Neil Robertson (her brother) taken around 1900.
Hope I have explained that side of the family well, if not... will try again.
Lots of love,
Eilidh

[Lady Arcadia]

Hi Kylie,
Just thinking about that 100 pounds again.... Neil wouldn't have been a tacksman would he???

Eilidh

[Kylie B]

Hi Eilidh
Marion married Donald Robertson on 1st Jan 1828- she was born in Breakish in 1808, and died on 28th Dec 1886.

Marion and Donald had 6 children that I know of- Margaret born 1829, Catherine born 1831, John born 1833, Neil born 1839 (named for Marion's father, Ann in 1842, and Janet in 1849.

Catherine married Ronald Robertson ( I think he is a relative of some sort, but havn t sorted the connection clearly yet), Niel married Catherine Campbell in 1864 aged 25 years, Ann married John MAtheson in 1873 in Sleat ( I think he is a relative of Charles's wife Marion- again not yet sorted out!! Too many common names), and I have Janet marrying Norman MacPhearson on 24 Dec 1867 in Sleat.

The only child I have for Janet and Norman is a son- Angus, born in 1869 in Sleat.

I would be really interested to know more about their other children, and their immigration!! Between us we might be able to fill in afew gaps on the tree for each other!

I too wish I had some photos- I dont have any sadly of any of the McGillivrays...

Niel and Janet's son Charles tried to emigrate to Australia under the HIES (which really means they were kicked out by Laird McDonald)- Charles died on the journey, and the ships returned to Britian, where his widow applied to return home with her children to the rest of her family...and was denied. So they sailed again for australia, and settled in Victoria near Geelong. Also emigrating was the daughter of another sibling of Charles and Marion, Donald, with her husband Donald Munro.

Niel is an intriguing character- I would really love to find out more about him, but have had little luck so far.  It is a lot of money for a crofter, and to have had a headstone speaks of money and status in the community....which just doesnt fit with a crofter. So I have to wonder....I would also love to find out what became of Janet his wife- she is there on the 1841 census with her grandchildren (children of Donald who had died by then) and then she is gone, and the deaths for that period in Skye are not recorded.

Hope that all makes sense- hear from you soon!
Kylie

[RedMystic]

Hi all. I'm just catching up on RootsChatter following my return from a trip to Scotland & saw this post. I can't add anything personally, but thought it might be of value to mention that I had amazing luck tracking down some Inner & Outer Hebrides folk at the Clan Donald Centre on Skye. In my case, they used crofter rental records to anchor various people and their inter-relationships, emigration, and such. This resource may be of value to you as you try to sort through your family questions. Good luck.

[Kylie B]

Thanks very much- I was in contact with them some years ago and they were very helpful then- but ran out of sources.
Might have some more by now so will try again.
Thanks for the reminder!