Duncan McKellar of Garvlister

[sonofthom]

Can anyone help me to identify Garvlister in Dunoon and Kilmun. The parish record of the birth of Ann McKellar in 1761 refers to her as the daughter of Duncan McKellar in Garvlister. The next record on the same page is of the birth of a daughter to Robert Crawford in Garvlister. In each case the script is very clear for such an old document so I don't think I am misreading the place name. As another Ann McKellar was born in the Dunoon area to a Duncan McKellar a few years earlier I am trying to figure out which, if either, was my ancestor.  Alex.

[ozymozzy]

Sorry, cant help with Garvlister, but I have an Ann McKellar born 1761 possibly in Kilmodan. My Ann married Donald Weir about 1780 and had 4 children.

Wonder if that is the same person.

[sonofthom]

Thanks for your comments. The Ann McKellar I am interested in was the mother of Margaret Harkness, born out of wedlock in Dunoon on 26th May 1784. The father was Adam Harkness and I have no evidence as to whether he subsequently married Ann McKellar, although I know that he was dead by 1803 when Margaret married; in fact I have no knowledge of what happened to Ann and whether she may have married someone else, but clearly she cannot be the same person as married Donald Weir as that marriage predated Margaret's birth. The mystery continues! Alex.

[ozymozzy]

Oh well, I guess it was worth a try. The only Harkness in my tree is Janet Harkness, born abt 1750. She married Duncan Weir on 13 Jul 1775 in Inverchaolain.

[wyanga]

Hello sonofthom,
                           I am not going to be very helpfull, but I have McKellars in my tree in the Dunoon- Kilmun area. They appear to be very numerous and the christian names re occur with great regularity so it is highly likely there is a common relationship. I have found McKellars buried at Lochgoilhead, and apparently my ancester Margaret McKellar nee Campbell, was buried there. Her husband was Peter b abt 1771 and they had children named Duncan, Catherine, Helen, Ann,  Peter, John etc born from 1801 to 1820. This is later than your family but shows the continuity of family names.
   If you can solve your problem you may be able to help me solve mine.
Wyanga 

[sonofthom]

Hi Wyanga, Sorry for delay in replying but we're just back from a month in France. I am sure that the answers are out there somewhere but currently I am struggling to move forward on this. Thanks for your input. Alex