Grant Family - Contin

[Poodlz]

Thanks Br1gau & Skoosh....Br1gau I think you may have found them and my mix up is with the Mc's & Mac's.  Given Simon's birth 1858 and death 1941 I would think that maybe  he is of a second cousin as William Grant who was born in 1843 so was 15 years older.  I have the 1851 Census record for Donald Grant (William's father) so that would say that it Janet Grant is a daughter of one of Donald's brothers?? Perhaps as you say Br1gau we need a census record? I think we are on the right track thou as death records (which I have now found under Mackenzie!!) would give the correct year and the article in regarding him owning Raincliff Station (I had also found this) also links with the information we know, but can't find any Australian references!
Thanks for all your help, would be very grateful if you could find a census record?
Cheers
 

[Skoosh]

Mc & Mac usage meant very little, members of the same family often used different forms & individuals also used both during their lives. In documents it depended on the clerk who wrote it, the people had little occasion to use surnames and used their patronymic amongst themselves.

These Grant's would have been tenants on the various MacKenzie estates which filled Mid-Ross, Contin was possibly MacKenzie of Coul, most of these lairds also had property in Wester Ross where that clan originated and often went back there in Summer. A death in one of these laird's families when they were at the west coast meant a long trek with the coffin over the hills, involving hundreds of bearers for burial at Fortrose etc'.

Skoosh.

[Br1gau]

Surely Simon MacKenzie’s marriage record of 1894 will give you his father’s name, if not his mother’s?  Without confirming this from a primary source it’s really just ifs and maybes.  The article linked to yesterday says that he was born in Australia, but is that correct? I cannot see a way of contacting the author, or find any birth record in SA, VIC, QLD or NSW. 

There are some family files kept at the Archives in Christchurch.  The 1941 record, possibly Simon MacKenzie’s Disposition, may have more information about extended family via bequests. 

Timaru Probate Files
MACKENZIE Simon - Otumarama - Sheepfarmer 1941 Timaru Court Office, Chch
MACKENZIE Alister Bain Simon - Timaru - Farmer 1976   Timaru Court Office, Chch
MACKENZIE Simon Grant - Timaru – Farmer 1979 Timaru Court Office   , Chch

I can see that Simon MacKenzie & Frances Cotter’s children born in NZ were:

1895 Alistair Bain Simon Mackenzie
1899 Richard Joseph Ian MacKenzie
1901 Simon Grant MacKenzie
1904 Jessie Frances Mary MacKenzie
1910 Mary Stuart Seaforth MacKenzie

The convention in Scotland, although not always strictly adhered to, was to name the first son after his paternal grandfather and the first daughter after her maternal grandmother, so remember that Alistair is the Gaelic form of Alexander, and the informal Jessie is interchangeable with the more formal Janet.

Going back to Scotland:

Alexander MacKenzie m. Janet Grant 22 Aug 1842 Fodderty, R&C

1851 Parish 60, Drommanguish, Contin, Ross shire
Alexander Mckenzie 35   Shepherd   Lochbroom
Janet Mckenzie   31         Contin
Janet Mckenzie   7         Contin
Peter Mckenzie   3         Contin
Margaret Mckenzie   1         Contin
Janet Mclennan   70   Sheep Farmer’s wife   Contin
Betty McLennan   27   Servant      Contin
Simon Grant      48   Shepherd/visitor   Contin
Alexander Grant   28   Shepherd/visitor   Contin
John Mckenzie   27   Shepherd/visitor   Lochbroom

1861 Parish 85, Urray, Ross shire
Alexd. M’Kenzie   43   Shepherd   Lochbroom
Janet Grant      40   Wife      Contin
Janet M’Kenzie   17         Fodderty (20 Jan 1843)
Alexd. M’Kenzie    15   Scholar   Fodderty
Peter M’Kenzie    13   Scholar   Fodderty
Margaret M’Kenzie   11   Scholar   Contin
? Male M’Kenzie   9   Scholar   Contin (possibly Thos.)
John M’Kenzie   7   Scholar   Contin
Cathr. M’Kenzie   5   Scholar   Contin
Simon M’Kenzie    2   Contin (8 Apr 1858)
Mary M’Kenzie    6 months      Urray  (6 Oct 1860)

Then there was Lachlan b. 2 Mar1864 Lochbroom but I cannot find this family as a discreet unit in 1871

Looking at the 1851 family group, it suggests that Janet’s parents were Alexander Grant & Janet McLennan.  Their children from family search are Janet Grant b. 12 May 1818 Contin & Alexander Grant b. 15 Nov 1822 Contin, but there were probably more.

You really do need that  1894 marriage cert!

AMMENDED: I'm sorry Poodlz. That can't be right. I'm not seeing the wood for the trees!

[Skoosh]

Urray Grant's.

John Grant, son of Gregory Grant, excise officer, Fairburn division & spouse Mrs Ann Stewart at Burntoun, baptised 10 Jan' 1776, witnesses, Donald MacLeod, minister, Glenelg, Ronald Sutherland, tenant, Burntoun, Thomas MacLean, schoolmaster, Urray & baptised by Rev Dr Grant, Urray.

Issue,

Ann Grant, b.27 Feb' 1775
John Grant, b.5 Jan' 1776.
Lilly Grant, b.19 Oct' 1779.
Grigal Grant, b.2 Oct' 1781.
Isaac Grant, b.8 Jan' 1783.
George Grant, b.10 Aug' 1788.
Francis Grant, b.7 May 1791.
Alexander Grant, 13 Jan' 1793.

I don't think this Gregory Grant was a native of the district, it's unlikely that an exciseman would be sent to his home patch, maybe Speyside? My own ancestor was a George Grant but this lot look a bit middle class for us? 

Skoosh.

[Br1gau]

Lachlan Grant, son of Donald Grant & Agnes Tait:

1871 Parish 74 Lochalsh
Old Craig

Donald Grant      49   Shepherd   Contin
Agnes Grant      47         Kintail
Simon Grant      14   Scholar   Kilmallie      
John Grant      12   Scholar   Kilmallie
Lachlan Grant      9   Scholar   Kilmallie
George Grant      7   Scholar   Kilmallie
Jessie Grant      3         Kilmallie
Christy Kennedy   15 Servant      Locharron

1881 & 1891 census not found

1889 Lachlan Grant, son of Donald Grant & Agnes Tait, married Jane Aitken, Lanarkshire

1901 Parish 91B Kilmallie, Western Arisiag
Glenfinnan
Lachlan Grant      44   Farmer/Grazier   Kilmallie?, Inv sh
Jane Grant      28            Lochalsh, Ross
Andrew Donald Grant 5 months         Moidart, Inv sh
Elzie Matheson   21   Dom servant      Lochalsh, Ross
Murdo McDonald   45   Shepherd      Ross
John McIntyre      16   Herd boy      Kilmallie

1905 James Aitken Alexander Grant born Ross & Cromarty

1911 census Kilmallie
Lachlan Grant      58
Jane Grant
Andrew Donald Grant
James Aitken Grant

1913 Lachlan Grant died Kirkhill, Inverness shire

1949 Jane Grant, other name Aitken, aged 78, died Inverness/Inverness shire

All BMD certs & census entries can be found at http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/search/

[Skoosh]

My own Urray Grants used the names George, Roderick, Murdo, Evan, James & John. Roderick was favoured by the MacKenzie's of Fairburn, so a popular name in the parish. My ancestor George Grant was, according to a family story, originally from Rothiemurchus but fell out with his father & moved north,  how much credence can you give such stories?  George does sound a bit Hanovarian, most of the clan Grant were, but not the Glenmorrison Grants who were nearest to Contin & Urray etc', and who suffered badly in the aftermath of the '45.

Skoosh.

[Br1gau]

Names are funny things aren't they Skoosh. We had the name Essex running through our family for 1 1/2 centuries.  It was brought to Roxburgh by Essex Mostyn, wife of the first duke there. When I suggest it to my daughter as a possible name for her own daughter, she cringes!

[Skoosh]

An Essex Girl?   

Skoosh.

[Br1gau]

But it comes from the bluest of blood, although that was exactly the expression on my daughter's face!