MacKenzie, Lothians, USA

[AnCreag]

Do you have any birth records for the other children? What information about the father?

Do you have Alexander McKenzie’s death certificate? Please supply information.

I don't have birth certificates for the elder 2 (Roderick's) sons, James and Roderick
I do have for Alexander's children Isabella, 1855 (prev post) and Alexander in 1856, which adds nothing new, but not for Margaret 1852 or John, 1858. The 1855 birth certificate also mentions 2 dead sons (at least I think that's what i says! )which adds new possibilities.

I have the wrong Alexander MacKenzie's death certificate and no credits left in SP!!!! It's Roderick that my line lies through so I haven't focused on this line yet, but it's rather intriguing. ALexander is either listed as coming from Ross-shire or, more specifically Gairloch. The nephew John MacKenzie living with them in the 1861 census is son of John MacKenzie of Gairloch but long since married to Isabella Phimster in Wick. John snr then is possibly/ presumably brother of Alexander (but possibly Roderick).

John's death certificate gives his parents as John MacKenzie and Margaret MacKenzie of Gairloch. There are a few possibilities in Gairloch around that time which I'll need to delve into

[AnCreag]

2 newspaper snips from obits for the son Roderick (died 1915 in Dingwall), which give some info about his father.

That's really interesting thanks Neale. That's the first thing I've seen that actually mentions what happened, or his father, who now appears to be a well known Ross-shire carting contractor? Roderick jnr's death certificate says carpenter!

[Forfarian]

That birth certificate says that Alexander was aged 33, and born in Boleskine.

Boleskine is on the east shore of Loch Ness, in the county of Inverness, not Ross and Cromarty.

There is a baptism of Alexander Mackenzie, son of Colin Mackenzie and Anne Mackenzie, on 30 January 1822 in Boleskine, who would fit. However you'd need to find evidence to prove that he's the right one, as there could be another one whose baptism record hasn't survived.

[Neale1961]

Looking at the Nephew, John McKenzie from 1861 census

John McKenzie born in Wick abt 1843 is the son of John McKenzie (snr) and Isabella Phimster
John McKenzie (snr) born abt 1804 Gairloch
Married Isabella in Wick Caithness in 1840

1841 census
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59028826e9379091b1537f06/isabella-mckenzie-1841-caithness-wick-1816-?locale=en

1851 census
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/590288c6e9379091b155fc3d/george-mackenzie-1851-caithness-wick-1850-?locale=en

1861 census
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5a142d77f4040b9d6e19386e/george-mckenzie-1861-caithness-wick-1851-?locale=en

1871 census
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59028a36e9379091b15bb494/james-p-mckenzie-1871-caithness-wick-1861-?locale=en

1881 census
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/image-viewer/census_lds/census_lds-fbc964ab-f5e6-4c0e-a343-19beab2b5e33?search_token=426470343690bcda890eaa&row=row_9&sort=&order=&from_page=

John MacKenzie death in Wick in 1886, age 83. Mmn MacKenzie
Probable Bapt  05/05/1805 Gairloch. John, son of John McKenzie and Margaret McKenzie


I was thinking this was probably the death of Alexander McKenzie, 2nd husband to Marg Young
8 March 1860 -
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6TL2-9HXF?lang=en

There are 2 couples John and Margaret McKenzie having children (with similar names) in Gairloch
However a baptism for Alexander McKenzie with those parents in 1815
Also 2 Rodericks with those parents in 1806 and in 1818

One suspects they may all be related somehow.

[Neale1961]

When your Roderick and wife went off to Canada, it is quite possible that they were following relatives who had emigrated before them. That was often the way, with one family emigrating first, and others following later.
See Screenshot below of a bit of information about a Kenneth McKenzie.

Much more detailed information here regarding McKenzie families from Gairloch and Settlement in Canada
https://electriccanadian.com/history/pei/GairlochandCanadianMaritimes.pdf

[Neale1961]

Some general comments
I think it is safe to assume that Roderick and Margaret went off to Canada which is where the 2 boys were born  (not U S of America).

I’m not convinced about Alexander being born in Boleskine. That disagrees with the census. I wonder if Margaret knew where he came from?

Regarding Roderick senior being described as a carpenter on his son’s death cert. Not a very reliable source, especially since Roderick junior hardly knew his father. There is no occupation given for his father when Roderick junior married. When James married in 1866, how does he describe his father Roderick’s occupation?


Time Line
Roderick and Margaret married March 1842 Falkirk
1842-44 – Emigration (? The ship “John Kerr” left Greenock in July 1842 with emigrants from Gairloch to Canada)
1845 - James born in Canada
1847   - Roderick junior born in Canada
1842-1852 - 2 sons born and both died
1847-1850 Roderick Senior died
1847-1851 - Margaret and 2 sons return to Scotland
1851 census - Margaret and Alexander now “married”
1852 - Margaret born Midlothian
1855 - Isabella born Midlothian
1856 - Alexander born Midlothian
1862 - John born Midlothian

[Forfarian]

I’m not convinced about Alexander being born in Boleskine.

Neither am I, now. Looking at it again, it could be Ross-shire.

[Neale1961]

I’m not convinced about Alexander being born in Boleskine.

Neither am I, now. Looking at it again, it could be Ross-shire.

Yes, I think so too. 

[AnCreag]

I was thinking this was probably the death of Alexander McKenzie, 2nd husband to Marg Young
8 March 1860 -
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6TL2-9HXF?lang=en

This is actually the one I have, it's a bit scant of details, eg it says he's married but not who to. Also, it lists his profession as "spirit merchant". He's listed as a blacksmith in Margarets death certificate in 1864 and in other documents prior to this so I'd decided this was the wrong one.

However... going back and looking at it again I notice that the informant is a John MacKenzie, nephew. And the address is Sheeps(Ships?)head Wynd, Leith which is also where we find Margaret and family in the 1861 census, so it appears it is the right Alexander after all.

Unfortunately the only parents details given are John MacKenzie, farmer