Trying to find a Robert McNeill b. 1797/1798 in Scotland

[iolair]

Hello,

I am looking for a Robert McNeill b. 1797-98 in Scotland. He was a shoemaker by trade and he settled in Masstown, Nova Scotia, Canada.

He married Mary Crowe around 1822. Her family was from Ireland.

They had the following children:

1. John McNeill b. abt 1822, Masstown, NS, Canada m. Amelia Faulkner (family was from Ireland)
2. James A. McNeill b. 1825, Masstown, NS, Canada died at 18
3. Robert Lewis McNeill b. Nov 2, 1826 Masstown, NS, Canada m1. Jerusha Teed m2. Ida Lavinia Whidden
4. Joseph b. Sep 2, 1829, Masstown, NS, Canada m1. Lavenia Faulkner m2. Patience Dill
5. Rebecca Jane McNeill b. 1832, Masstown, NS, Canada m. Thomas Faulkner
6. Barbara McNeill b. Sep 20, 1838, Masstown, NS, Canada m. Daniel Faulkner

Robert also is seen purchasing land in 1821 with a fellow named James McTyre. What became of James McTyre is not known, but the name is unusual.

There are a few families in Scotland with a Robert around the right age for my Robert McNeill, but right now there is no definite way to prove whether my Robert belongs to any of them.

Thanks,
iolair

[MonicaL]

Hi iolair

Just a comment on the surname of McTyre. I would guess this is a phonetic variation of the surname McIntyre, which is much more common.

Monica 

[Forfarian]

G F Black in The Surnames of Scotland says, " MacTyre is from Irish mac tire, 'son of the wolf' .... this name has no connection with MacIntyre."

MacTier and MacTear, on the other hand, he says are shortened forms of MacIntyre, which is from Gaelic and means 'son of the carpenter'.

[Forfarian]

Do you know the names of Mary Crowe's parents? If they were James and Rebecca, this might indicate that they were following the naming tradition, and if they were, this might suggest that Robert's parents were John and Barbara. But it's not infallible.

[MonicaL]

He married MARY CROWE 1821, daughter of THOMAS CROWE and SARAH BARNHILL

I saw this yesterday, from here http://www3.sympatico.ca/rick.macneil/macrptgen123.htm

Monica....who had never heard of the 'MacTyre is from Irish mac tire, 'son of the wolf'...how did they ever arrive at?!

[Forfarian]

Monica....who had never heard of the 'MacTyre is from Irish mac tire, 'son of the wolf'...how did they ever arrive at?!

No idea - I merely quote from the recognised tome on the subject, a copy of which I happen to have to hand. I'd never heard of MacTyre until just now, and I wondered if it was the same as MacTier, which I have come across in connection with Binnys. I was quite surprised to see that it's a separate surname.

[iolair]

I've looked all over for James McTyre in Nova Scotia and he is nowhere to be found.

The name Barbara isn't one I've seen in the Crowe or Barnhill families. The name Rebecca is.

It could be that Robert's parents were John and Barbara. Mary Crowe's father is recorded as Thomas but it is possible he was a "Thomas James" or "James Thomas".

There is a family from Scotland who settled an area in the same county not too far from Masstown. They were the Lewis family, some records indicate they were from Kirkcudbright. Perhaps that is where Robert was from

The only Robert I can find in Scotland born at a fitting date to be 73 in the 1871 census is a Robert McNeill b. 19 Dec 1797, Rothesay, Bute to James McNeill and Christian McAlister. James McNeill was the son of John McNeill and Mary Whyte, Christian the daughter of Robert McAlister. John was apparently the son of a John McNeill and Janet McConachy/Duncan. John McNeill who married Mary Whyte named his eldest son Archibald... but his fathers name was not Archibald.

My Robert was a shoemaker and some of the Lewis's who came to the same county in Nova Scotia were shoemakers.

EDIT: However, there is a James Tyre born 1796, Kingarth, Bute. I wonder if that is the James McTyre who was with Robert McNeill in 1825.

I also notice in the information I have that Mary Crowe's grandfather is James. Is it possible that they were following a sort of naming tradition in which the parents grandparents names were sometimes used?

[Forfarian]

I also notice in the information I have that Mary Crowe's grandfather is James. Is it possible that they were following a sort of naming tradition in which the parents grandparents names were sometimes used?

I've never heard of a naming tradition in which the grandparents' names were used before the parents' names. I think the absence of a child named Thomas is enough to say that they were not following any form of naming tradition.

[RLynne]

I've looked all over for James McTyre in Nova Scotia and he is nowhere to be found.

The name Barbara isn't one I've seen in the Crowe or Barnhill families. The name Rebecca is.

It could be that Robert's parents were John and Barbara. Mary Crowe's father is recorded as Thomas but it is possible he was a "Thomas James" or "James Thomas".

There is a family from Scotland who settled an area in the same county not too far from Masstown. They were the Lewis family, some records indicate they were from Kirkcudbright. Perhaps that is where Robert was from

The only Robert I can find in Scotland born at a fitting date to be 73 in the 1871 census is a Robert McNeill b. 19 Dec 1797, Rothesay, Bute to James McNeill and Christian McAlister. James McNeill was the son of John McNeill and Mary Whyte, Christian the daughter of Robert McAlister. John was apparently the son of a John McNeill and Janet McConachy/Duncan. John McNeill who married Mary Whyte named his eldest son Archibald... but his fathers name was not Archibald.

My Robert was a shoemaker and some of the Lewis's who came to the same county in Nova Scotia were shoemakers.

EDIT: However, there is a James Tyre born 1796, Kingarth, Bute. I wonder if that is the James McTyre who was with Robert McNeill in 1825.

I also notice in the information I have that Mary Crowe's grandfather is James. Is it possible that they were following a sort of naming tradition in which the parents grandparents names were sometimes used?

I'm researching for my family heritage of him as well!
You listed Robert McNeill's parents and grandparents - where were you able to find that information? And do you have any birth/death years or dates for them?

Thanks!
RLynne