Wee Drams

    Willie Pursell    Alistair Thompson    Jim Kelly [McKinnon]    Madeleine Palmer   

Allan & Barbara Wood      Reg McMillan     John McAllister [McKay]     Eric    David P

Anne Whiteford     Heather McFarlane      David T MacArthur     Kate Deans

Carlton McEachern      Kate Arnott Hawkins    Mary Paton  [McNeils]      Diarmid Campbell

Carl Porter re: McMillans      Iain McKenzie     Kay Staub  [Langwill]      Neil Jordan

Index

Subject: McSporran ancestors
From: wpursell@cogeco.ca
To: d.mcsporran@yini.org.uk
CC: KintyreMag@aol.com

Hello, Duncan.

I have just read your comments in the Wee Drams section of the latest Kintyre Magazine. While my family name is Pursell, this was changed from McSporran (or MacSporran) some time between the census of 1841 and 1851. As MacSporrans, we apparently moved from Gigha to the Kintyre mainland around 1800 and settled initially in the white house on the main road about half-a-mile north of Bellochantuy. I think it is now a 'listed' building.

My ancestors moved to Campbeltown, I believe, in the early1800s and the name was changed as above. When I was growing up in Campbeltown, my father used to say that the MacSporrans who lived at that time in the Moy farm on the road to Machrihanish, were relatives of ours. The family coming from Gigha certainly makes sense historically because, if one goes back many centuries, the original Sporran is supposed to have been the purse-bearer ( or treasurer if you like) to MacDonald, Lord of the Isles, whose headquarters for a very long time were on the island of Islay, right next door to Gigha.

The MacSporrans then apparently became the hereditary purse-bearers to the MacDonald clan. For the last 40 or 50 years, moreover, there was a gentleman on Gigha by the name of MacSporran who had so many job titles on the island that there was a write-up in him in a Scots Magazine article on Gigha a few years ago! To the best of my knowledge, there are still a few MacSporrans in the Campbeltown area today--there certainly were when I was growing up there in the1930s, 1940s and1950s.

Angus Martin's books on Kintyre and its past also have some references to MacSporrans. These are just a few comment to 'stir the pot' a bit!! By the way, when my father was crowned Gaelic Bard of Scotland in 1946, he was crowned as " Iomhar Macsporrain" ( bad Gaelic spelling!) rather than as Edward Pursell.

Regards,

Willie

Willie is an invaluable friend to the Kintyre Mag and a great font of knowledge. I thank him very much for making this Magazine so much more interesting for all of us.

An email to me:

Your background
From: William Pursell  wpursell@cogeco.ca

Ian,

Happy New Year now that it is past your midnight! Thank you for the 'background' report! I was a bit puzzled by your name because I used to know essentially all the surnames in town through my father's connection to the primary schools.

Now let me tell you what a small world we live in! Earlier today, the door-bell rang and standing there was a gentleman to whom I had loaned the last few issues of The Kintyre Magazine a couple of months ago. I mentioned that he could get all issues from a web-site connected to the Antiquarian Society. This was a surprise to him and I mentioned your name--his response was " I know Ian because he used to live across from me on Crosshill Avenue"!! He is Alistair Thompson who has lived here in the Ontario city of Sarnia for quite a few years. His wife used to play the bagpipes at some of the Burns' suppers we used to hold at our house and Alistair would give a fine rendition of "A Toast to the Haggis"! He was a drummer in the local pipe-band. He is sending me his E-mail address and I will pass it on to you and will give him yours.

I was really interested in your comments as to what has happened to the " Wee Toon". I couldn't agree with you more and saw this occurring steadily in the last couple of decades--a gradual decline in the level and quality of life compared to the 1940s and early 1950s when I was growing up. Moreover, I lived through the pulsating times of WWII when the town was really jumping! I also used to visit home a great deal when I was travelling internationally in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s and so it didn't really come as a surprise. By the way, since you lived for some time in Mafeking Place, you would certainly know my old golfing buddy George Cook who passed away earlier this past year. We golfed Machrihanish scores of times over the years and he was wonderfully entertaining company with all sorts of stories about the town's ' worthies' !! I will miss him.

Enough nattering for now! All the best,

Willie

I replied to Willie:

Hello again Willie,

Well, it's a small world right enough. I remember the Thonpsons very well. They stayed next to Mrs Lafferty. Please do give him my regards.

I mentioned your email to my mother and she told me that George Cook lived up the other close in Mafeking Place. She also advised me that George's niece is her doctor.

Just a wee point from your email. When you advised Alistair Thompson that, "he could get all issues from a website connected to the Antiquarian Society", that's not strictly true. Not all of the content from all of the back-issues if the hard-copy Magazine are online. However, a lot of it certainly is.

OK. I'm off for a cup of tea so I'll bid you adieu for now. Take good care of yourself.

Regards,

Ian

Back from Willie:

Ian,

It's me again! I gave your E-mail address to Alastair and he will no doubt be in touch with you. His E-mail address is: alastair.thompson@gmail.com

By the way, Alastair gave me a gift of a great little book entitled " Old Campbeltown and Machrihanish". The author is Carol McNeill and it was published in 2004. Talking about the 'old days', it is thoroughly enjoyable! I am trying to contact Greg Macthomais at the E-mail you gave me and I will let you know if I get a response.

Many thanks.

Willie

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Subject: Kintyre mag on line
From: Alastair Thompson   athompson@tssa.org

Ian,

Thanks Ian for making the Kintyre magazine available on line. I was forwarded the address by Willie Pursell, a fellow Weetooner living here in Sarnia Ontario. I came across Bill a number of years ago, after
spotting his personallized registration plate 'DAVAAR'.

I don't know if you remember me, but my family stayed across the street from you in Crosshill Ave. in the 60s?

Alastair Thompson

I replied to Alistair:

Hello Alastair,

Well. What a small world. I couldn't believe it when Willie told me about you. Of course I remember you and your family. It's been a long time since we all lived in Crosshill Avenue.

When I mentioned you to my mother on the telephone, she too was amazed. I get back up to Campbeltown once a year but only to visit my family. I'm afraid the old place is going downhill somewhat. I often take a drive up to the steel houses. One or two of the families we knew are still living there but the street has really changed.

All the best to you and yours. E-me anytime you want to reminisce.

Ian

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James Leitch MacKinnon
From:  Jim Kelly   JimKelly.me.uk@zen.co.uk

Reference :-
James Leitch MacKinnon

I am trying to trace my grandads family tree, also I'd like to contact any of his friend who he fort along side with in the second world war. My Grandad's names was James Leitch Mackinnon born 18th Nov 1918 in Paisley He died on 22nd December 1972 Aged 54. (His Dad was called Norman Leitch MacKinnon and he died around 1951)

The MacKinnon's were from the Outer Hebradies-North & South Uist-Lewis island and were initially fishermen. James Leitch Mackinnon Sign up for the Army between Sept and Dec 1939 before conscription. He was in the Royal Artillery transport Div ( I'm still tracking his military number ) Campaign's- North Africa- Normandy-Finish in Greece. Wounded on two separate occasions light shrapnel wounds patched up sent back.

He was a Car Salesman for Melvin Motor Glasgow Chrysler group in 1972 Previously Hamilton Bros car sales in Paisley and Greenock.

Many thanks

Jim Kelly (Grandson)

I replied to Jim:

Hello Jim,

Thanks for your interesting email. It'll be a wee while - March - before I put up the next edition of the Kintyre Mag, but I'll be sure to post your query in the Wee Drams section.

I hope that the readers can help you.

All the very best to you and yours for 2005.

Regards,

Ian

And from Jim:

Ian

Many thanks for your assistance

Regards

Jim

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Desperate search
From:  Madeleine Palmer   dragonseaopal@hotmail.com

This is going to seem a strange e-mail so please forgive me.

I am now in my early 0s and living in Exeter, Devon, but I spent 7 years of my childhood growing up on the coastguard station in Southend Argyll. Recently my mind (and heart) has been straying back to those wonderful days, an old playmate called Angus and a much loved little friend called Danella Thompson whose parents owned and ran the village pub and who sadly died in a car accident not long after I left and a lady I knew as Auntie Morag who ran the village store/shop.

My father was the District Officer from 1953 to 1962. I remember going down through the station with a milk can, through the gap in the fence and into the dairy to get the daily milk, playing on the
beach, a little 'byrne' that ran in front of the dairy. But sadly memories and 1 picture of my old home is all I have. I have searched the web for pictures of the village but am unable to find any. Is there anyone who could e-mail me some pictures, even if they are recent ones. I would be most grateful as the older I get the fainter the memories....lol.

Hoping for some good news,

Yours
Madeleine Palmer

p.s. My late father was Ralph Rowland, if anyone should remember him.

An ye harm none, do what ye will.
Blessed be

I got back to Madeleine:

Hello Madeleine,

Thank you for your lovely email. I love the way you started by saying that you were in your early 0s! Just like a lady not to give her age away!

I'll post your query in the next online issue due up in March. I have quite a few photographs of Southend most of which, I'm afraid, predate the digital camera era so I only have these two readily available. I'm sure that you'll recognise both.

However, when I can find the time, I'll search through my albums for some more, scan them and send them off to you. If you have any specific pics in mind, I can ask my brother to snap a few for you if he can.

Until the next time, all the best to you and yours and ca' canny.

Regards,

Ian

Madeleine replied:

Dear Ian,
I was so delighted to hear from you and yes I did recognise the two pictures. I have managed to find a picture of the primary school as well, so now I have three. If you have any of the coastguard station including the 'big' house that we lived in I would be most grateful, apart from that any of the village would be wonderful. I am sure it has changed a great deal in the last 43 years, it is the main road through the village that I remember best, but even that is somewhat vague...lol. I don't even know if the
station is still active.

My daughter's lovely Glaswegian boyfriend sent me a book on old Campbeltown and Machrihanish for Christmas and she has also become very interested now. Only a long-distance romance with a Scot could remain so strong....... She also wants to know what ca' canny means and I confess I have very little Gaelic so a translation would be appreciated.

Looking forward to hearing from you again sometime in the future, and once again thank you for your time and trouble.

A happy New Year to you and yours,

Madeleine

An ye harm none, do what ye will.
Blessed be

And from me:

Hello again Madeleine,

Let me just say that it took no time and was no trouble at all to find those pictures. You are very welcome indeed.

As for ca' canny - well it's an old Scot's saying (not Gaelic), and it means 'Go carefully' or 'Take care as you go'.

So, all the best and, of course, ca' canny ma freen.

Cheerio for now,

Ian

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KintyreMag.
From: Allan & Barbara Wood   gargoyles1@bigpond.com

Hello again Ian,

And wishes for a great new year, which is a whole lot more than all the poor folk around that S.E. Asia region can hope for.

I'm not sure if you ever received my email, (below) sent to you nearly 6 weeks ago, as I received no reponse. I therefore resend it.

Many thanks for your assistance in this matter Ian.

Regards from far away, summery Tasmania.

Allan.

----- Original Message -----

Hello Ian, from far away Tasmania. I've just found your website, via the magic of Google. I note from recent correspondence with Marley in Sydney, Australia, that she mentions the Campbelltown in the SW of Sydney. In fact, 3 others of that name exist in Australia; in South Australia, Victoria, & one down here in Tasmania, but written as two separate words, unlike the other 3 : Campbell Town, named by a son of the Isle of Mull: Governor Lachlan Macquarie, (often referred to as the Father of Australia) in 1821, after his wife's maiden family name. A small prosperous rural (wool) country town in the heart of our small state.

Anyway Ian, that's not the main reason for my contacting you here.

I'm in fact looking for a little feedback from your readers if I may. For about 3 years now, I've been researching a small & long forgotten military amphibious operation from Kent to the coast of Belgium, against the French in May 1798. Eventually, I hope to write an account of this operation in book form, but that's some time off I feel, at present.

One of the senior officers on this raid by 30+ ships & 1300 troops, was a local lad from Southend, aged by then 42 yrs, commanding a company of the 3rd (or Scots) Guards. Lt.Col. Hugh CAMPBELL was to die in Ostend, a week after receiving wounds there, & was never to return. He was accorded a full military burial by the French garrison in that town, including a cannon salute. It would appear that his earlier career included serving in America during the War of Independence there, & possible time in the East Indies thereafter.

His father was a Reverend David Campbell, his mother Elizabeth (Montgomerie). He had at least 3 sisters, Mary, (married to a Col. Colin Campbell of Askomill), Margaret, & Clare, & a younger brother John. His favourite nephew was a Dugold Campbell of Skildalaig. These details are taken from his Will, now held by the National Archives at Kew in London.

I'm slowly putting a profile together on this man, but would hope that perhaps there are still some descendents of this family still living in the Kintyre region, who just may have some further information on Hugh, his family, & this era in Kintyre, which may just help me build-up a picture of him, as a character in my story.

Last week, I emailed a request similar to the above, to both the Campbeltown Courier, & the Argyll Advertiser, ( again found via Google) but don't know if they received it OK, & if so, if they will even print it, as I have had no response from either.

I really do hope that something can be uncovered from your readers by this enquiry Ian.

Havn't ever been down to Kintyre as yet, Glasgow's the closest so far, but maybe next visit I'll get there ??

With very best regards from "DownUnder, DownUnder", as we say down here to the south of the country, in the path of the "Roaring Forties."

Allan.

I got back to Allan:

And from Allan:

Thanks Ian. We hope to make it to your area during 2006 for a few days.

Regards.

Allan.

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Wee Drams.
From: Reg McMillan  reg@rmmusic.freeserve.co.uk

Dear Ian,

I know you say your Magazine isn't primarily a genealogical site, But you’re quite happy to post queries in the Wee Drams page in the hope that folks can help. Well I was certainly helped by you posting my e-mail of the 12-12-04 in your We Drams page in your Web Edition 68 Jan/Feb 2005, for on the 4th of January I received an e-mail from one of your readers. Carl S. Porter from Georgia, USA e-mailed me giving me information, which connected both our families, the Porters & McMillan’s in Campbeltown area, way back to 1758! Plus Carl gave me the history of his family connection with Kintyre, which like mine goes back to the 1600's.

Ian many thanks for your help and we certainly will be contacting your brother Alex near to the time of our visit to Campbeltown in May.

Warmest regards.

Reg McMillan

Basingstoke Hampshire UK.

P.S. Is the Hard Copy of your Magazine the same as the Web Edition?

I replied to Reg:

Hello Reg,

It's always absolutely great to hear that the Wee Drams page has helped a reader. I know Carl Porter well, and regard him as a good friend. It doesn't surprise me that he would take the time to email you with info. That's just the kind of guy he is.

Just a note on the Magazine. The hard-copy Magazine belongs to the Kintyre Antiquarian & Natural History Society and is a biannual publication. The Society gave me permission to post excerpts from their Mag in my online edition. However, there is content in the KintyreMag which you won't find in the hard-copy, and vice-versa.

All the best for now,

Ian

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John McKay of Rhunahaorine
From: John McAllister   johnmcal@enoreo.on.ca

Greetings from the snowy shores of Georgian Bay!

It was with great interest that I read Ian MacDonald's account of "Kintyre Smugglers" in your WebEdition 36/7. I have been looking into my Kintyre roots since I was quite young and taken on a tour by my grandfather of the family graves near Collingwood, Ontario, Canada.

My great -great grandparents were Dugald McAllister and Catherine Carmichael "Natives of Kintyre". Further 'digging' in later years has given me more connections to Kintyre and Islay, and as it happens, more relatives in the older cemeteries near Collingwood.

What particularly thrilled me about the article was the mention of John McKay of Rhunahaorine, and the mention of his age as 116. I am hopeful that we are talking about the same John McKay! My John McKay was married to Catherine McMurchy and they were the parents of John Jr., Archibald, Catharine, Annabella, Mary, and Flora. Annabella married Archibald Carmichael and they were the parents of Catherine mentioned previously (making John McKay my gggg grandfather). His gravestone is in the West Nottawasaga Presbyterian Cemetery, and he was one of the first interred there (see attached).

Other than his great age, I have no other information on him other than that in Mr. MacDonald's article. However, it is interesting to note that according to Andrew F. hunter's "The History of Simcoe County" pub 1909 the reason for all of the farming lots of Nottawasaga Twp being just under or just over 100 acres (but no 100 acre lots) was due to the influence of the product of the highland stills on the survey crew.

Please pass on my sincere thanks for the information in his article (and the others that I have been reading online from your other authors), and if there are any other tidbits on John McKay that you could toss my way I would be forever thankful!

Cheers

John McAllister

I replied:

Hello John,

Thank you very much for your really informative and interesting email. With your permission I'll post it in the next online edition in March.

Thank you also for the image.

It might be worth your while writing to the editor of the hard-copy Magazine in Campbeltown. His address is on the front page of the KintyreMag.

Until the next time, ca' canny.

Regards,

Ian

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Further to emails in the last edition:

Largie
From:  Eric  smart@hn.ozemail.com.au

Hello Ian,

Just a quick note to let you know we found the hill we were looking for on the Lochgilphead road. Thank you for putting my e-mail on line. Your magazine makes interesting reading.

Eric

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Website
From: David P  Davie The p@aol.com

Hi,

Just come across your site which is very good.

I am currently developing a site for Kintyre to try and help promote the area. I have added your site as a link and was wondering if you could supply a brief description of the site.

My site is http://www.campbeltown.info and would appreciate if you could add this as a link..

Best Regards

Davie P

I replied to Davie:

Hello Davie,

Thanks for the link to your website. I've had a good surf through it and I love it! Well done to you, sir.

I'll be happy to put a link on the Mag site to yours.

All the very best for now,

Ian

And from Davie:

Cheers Ian,

Still got a bit of work to do but will be spending more time on it over the next few weeks.

As you know it is just getting the time!!

Cheers

David

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Whitefords from Campblltown
From: Anne Whiteford   awhitefo@bigpond.net.au

I have just found your site after making an enquiry to the RootsWeb genealogy message board.

My ggg grandfather James Whiteford who married Jean Wylie in Mid Glencraig Campbelltown on 27/8/1849. James and Jean migrated to Australia in 1850 on the "Garland" with their children, Mary 2 and Thomas 1 year old.

The groom's father is listed as a Captain Whiteford. I had thought this meant he would be in the armed services but the responder to the message board indicated he may have been a ship's captain or involved in fishing around Campbeltown.

I would be extremely interested to hear from anybody who knows this family. I am waiting for James & Jean's wedding certificate to come from ScotlandsPeople.

In addition, I am visiting the UK later this year. I had planned to do some family history research in Ayrshire, where Jean Wylie came from. I think I will now add Kintyre and Campbeltown to the sites I will visit. The photos I have seen of the area look extremely picturesque.

I've been browsing the online magazine and have thoroughly enjoyed reading it. There was a great photo of Campbeltown covered in snow, looking across the stillest of waters. As it's about 35 here today in sunny Canberra Australia, a bit of snow would be most appreciated. I also found the section on the book about Campbeltown very interesting.

Thanks

Anne

I replied to Anne:

Hello Anne,

Thanks for your interesting and informative email. Thanks, also, for all the nice things you said about the online Mag.

It's always good to hear from new readers - even though they are languishing in the sunshine while I shiver in the UK!

I'll post your email on the Wee Drams page in the next online issue in March.

Until the next time - from a cold, damp Farcet - ca' canny.

Ian

And back from Anne:

Thanks very much. Will look forward to seeing it on line. I have been lucky enough to already have had a response from a poster to one of the Argyllshire notice boards which may have helped me trace the family through the 1841 Census. I can't be sure until I get the 1849 Whiteford marriage certificate from ScotlandsPeople. Am looking forward to its arrival so I can do some further searching.

Re the weather - In Perth today it was 40 degrees - nice and warm all around, too toasty in fact. A bit of your cold damp weather wouldn't have gone astray. Funny old world, isn't it.

Cheers and thanks for response.

Anne

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Heather's Spring visit to your Island
From: Heather McFarlane   heather@yknet.yk.ca

Ian and Helen

I am planning to travelling to your Island in April/May of this spring.

For the first 3 weeks, I am travelling with my grandson, Max. Max is 10 years old, so.. we are going to land in Heathrow, and spend a couple of days in London. Then - in no final order: Leeds (Royal Armouries, Jousting); York (Jorvik; big Cathedral; medieval walls); Alnwick (Harry Potter!!) ; Chillingham Castle (home of Ghosts); Hadrians Wall; And Edinburgh (Greyfriars, Castle, etc etc) , and if time, Stirling (Braveheart).

Then, I deliver him back to Heathrow, and then I am going North again, to spend time in (especially) Lochgilphead Archives; and Edinburgh Archives.

I wish you guys would drive on the Right side of the road!

Anyway. I hope to see you whilst I am there!

Heather

I replied to my friend Heather:

Hi Heather,

Your impending trip to the UK sounds great. When it gets nearer the time and your itinerary is settled, we'll look at meeting up somewhere. It'll probably have to be a Saturday or Sunday, but we'll try to do that. Remember, if there is anything I can do to smooth your path, just let me know.

We are both so busy at our respective work right now it's unbelievable and weekend are all we seem to have free. However, we're hoping to have a break in June. We're thinking of heading off to France for a week to renew the Auld Alliance.

Take good care of yourself until the next time,

Ian

Note: See Heather's website at http://www.kilvicocharmaig.yk.net/

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Rescue of the crew of the Jane 1908
From:  David T MacArthur   david@davidmacarthur.wanadoo.co.uk

I wrote an article on the above subject which I submitted to Angus Martin. I believe it is being printed in the spring edition of the magazine.

The article has also appeared in the ClanArthur society magazine and the following enquiry has resulted ,from Australia.
Two members of the crew involved in the rescue on the Jane were, James and Hugh McLean. I have been asked ,by the McLean Society in Australia if I had any information on
them. I was wondering if you can give me any information on them or point me in the right direction to obtain the information.

Thanks

David T MacArthur

I replied to David:

Hello David,

I'm sorry to say that I, personally, can't give you the info your looking for however, I'll post your query in the March issue of the online KintyreMag and hope that the readers can help.

You could also write to the letters page of the Campbeltown Courier at http://www.campbeltowncourier.co.uk/

All the best for now,

Ian

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Balevain
From: Kate Deans deans@waterheadfarm.freeserve.co.uk

I am looking for descendents of one John Fleming who was at Balevain in 1837.

If you have any information I would be grateful if you would email me.

I am doing this because many years ago in Edinburgh I bought a very tattered King James bible and it belonged to John Fleming of Balvain. I feel if it is possible I should try and return it to his family.

Thanks

Kate Deans

I got back to Kate:

Hello Kate,

Thanks for your email. I'll post your query in the next online issue of the Mag and hope that the readers can come up with something for you.

Regards,

Ian

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Request for permission to use Kintyre Content on my Family website
From: Carlton McEachern   carlton.mceachern@sympatico.ca

In Web Edition #27 - March 1999 there is an article on page 3 titled, MACEACHERN'S CROSS, KILKERRAN CEMETERY, CAMPBELTOWN.by Norman S. Newton. I would like permission to reprint this on my non commercial site with appropriate credits and a link back to your site.

Thanks for your consideration.

Carlton McEachern
The Crazy Canuck

I STARTED WITH NOTHING.
I STILL HAVE MOST OF IT.

I got back to Carlton:

Hello Carlton,

I'd be completely happy for you to use the KintyreMag content on your site.

I'd appreciated it if you'd mention that it was originally published in the 'Magazine of the Kintyre Antiquarian and Natural History Society'.

Thank you for being so kind as to ask first. Some folks don't.

I'll post your request in the next online Mag due up in March so, if you'd like to give me the URL to your site I'm sure that a lot of the readers would love to visit it.

All the best,

Ian

And from Carlton:

Ian, thanks for responding so quickly. The site URL is:

http://www3.sympatico.ca/carlton.mceachern

Navigate to Favourite Links and click on 'Who Are The McEacherns'. This part of the site is still being developed but I have a few pages up or will have by the end of the week.

Do you have an email address or street address for The Weekly Scotsman?

I am planning a trip to Kintyre and Islay at the end of June and look forward to seeing for myself some of the great landscapes of the area - and oh yes - taking some pictures to put up on my pages.

I replied:

Hello Carlton,

Thanks for the URL. I'll put you on my front page as a 'Friends' link'

I couldn't find much on the Subject. However, I noted that it was a "stablemate of the Evening News" which is owned by The Scotsman newspaper group.

It might be worth contacting The Scotsman. Here's their website: http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=479&id=257522004

All the best,

Ian

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B&B farms in Northeast Scotland
From:  Kate Arnott Hawkins   katearnott2002@msn.com

Interesting site. Can anyone tell me of any farms in Northeast Scotland (Working Farms). I would like to know if any of them take in guests.

I saw a reference to Arivore Farms and Bellfield Farms but can't seem to find any information on this kind of lodging. I used to live in Scotland and my ancestors came from the Duke of Argyll's farms. If anyone could give me some info on where to look I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you.

Kate Arnott Hawkins

I replied to Kate:

Hello Kate,

Glad you liked the KintyreMag site.

I'm not all that au fait with farm holidays in North East Scotland but perhaps this site might give you some ideas: http://www.visitscotland.com/accommodation/stayonafarm/?view=Standard

I hope that this helps.

All the best for now,

Ian

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Ian MacDonald's paper on Blues
From: Mary Paton  em.paton86@iinet.net.au

Hello,

First of all, thank you for the brilliant online magazine. It really is terrific - it is very interesting and beautifully presented.

I am researching my family which includes a line of McNeills on the Isle of Gigha. I noted that Ian McDonald, in his paper about Blues, said that:

"Research on the Gigha branch of the family showed Malcolm Blue to be
miller at Ardelay in 1795. In 1827 Ardelay was occupied by Elizabeth
Galbraith, a widow of 64 years. She engaged Donald Blue from Killean as
miller. In an old record he gave his age as 40 years at that time. He
subsequently married Barbra Smith, daughter of a nearby farmer. In 1847 his
mother died at Ardelay aged 84 years to be followed by himself shortly
afterwards. His wife died early in 1849 but it is probable they had a
family as a Donald Blue signed the call to a Mr. Duncan Black to come as
parish minister after the death of the Rev. Dr. James Curdie."

I have a few questions that I'd like to ask either you or Ian McDonald about this.

1. Was the Barbra Smith referred to the daughter of Archibald and Barbara
(McNeill) Smith on Carnavickoye Farm?
2. Was this Elizabeth Galbraith, who was a widow aged 64 in 1827, actually
the mother of Donald Blue?
3. It said his mother died aged 84 in 1846 which suggests she was the same
person?
4. On the 1841 Gigha census at Ardenlay (sic) were Donald Blue aged 50 and
Isabella --- aged 70. Are these again the same people? Donald is described
as a 'wright' - could this mean miller??
5. On the 1851 Barbara Smith, widow at Carnavickoye, had with her three
grandsons including Archibald and Donald Blue aged 10 and 4. I would guess
that these are the sons of the now deceased Donald and Barbra (Smith) Blue.

There is also a paper about a court case regarding a 'witch' of Gigha. I wonder if the James Smith could have been Barbara Smith's brother at Cairnavickoye?

Thank you for any advice or help you can supply.

Best wishes,

Mary Paton

I took great pleasure in replying to Mary:


Hello Mary,

Thank you for the nice things you said about the Magazine. It's always lovely to hear that I'm doing something right!

Thanks, too, for your enquiries. I'm no genealogist so I can't answer most of your questions however, you could write to Ian McDonald at the following address:

Mr Ian McDonald
38, High Bank Park
Lochgilphead
Argyll
PA31 8NN
SCOTLAND

Tel: +44 (0)1546 602261

On question 4, though, a 'wright' usually meant a 'wheelright' - someone who made wagon or cart wheels - or this from the 'net: "An occupational name meaning "craftsman, builder," from the Old English "wryhta" meaning "worker."

I will, of course, post your email in the next online edition in March so you may get some info from that.

Until the next time, take care.

Ian

And from Mary:

Hi Ian,

Thanks for your help - I have started to write to Ian McDonald. I wonder if perhaps Donald Blue was a skilled wheelwright as well as miller.

Best wishes,
Mary

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Review
From: Diarmid Campbell   diarmid@diarmid.fsnet.co.uk

You may already have had a review of this book, but I was sent a copy of the book by A&B library services who asked me to write a review for any historical societies here who might be interested, and for the Campbell North America mag.

So in case bits of it might be useful to you I send it for you to put it where you like.

Diarmid Campbell,
Tullich Cottage,
Kilmelford,
PA34 4XA)

I got back to Diarmid:

Hello Diarmid,

Thank you for the book review. I'm looking forward to featuring it in the next Mag issue in March.

It's good folks like you who help to keep the online Mag alive.

All the best,

Ian

Note:  You can see the Diarmid's Book Review on Page 5

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McMillans of Campbeltown
From:  Carl Porter  CPort1214@aol.com
To: reg@rmmusic.freeserve.co.uk
CC: IanPEForshaw

Greetings from Georgia, USA and a Happy New Year to you.

I noticed your query to Ian Forshaw in the latest "Kintyre Mag" and thought I would attempt to offer a little aid in filling in one of the gaps in your search. (I know all too well how difficult this can be ).

I am a descendant of the Porters of Smerby (Smerbie) Farm, Crossibeg Farm and Baraskomil Farm from 1678. My GGGGG Grandfather, William Porter married Jane Kilpatrick in 1678. They had one son at Smerbie Farm, John in 1679. Jane apparently died in childbirth and William married Jane Wilson (date unknown). To this marriage were born 4 children: 1. William- 1680, 2. James- 1682, 3. Jane- 1683 and 4. Robert- 1690.

1. William, b. 28 Mar 1680 in Smerbie, m. Janet Greenlees 1732 and lived in Crossibeg Farm. Children were: John 1733, Thomas 1735, Robert 1739, Margaret 1740, Alexander 1753, Hugh 1745, *William 1750 and Andrew 1753. *William b. 1750, m. Helen Thomson 1778 and also lived in Crossibeg. Offspring were: Ann- 1779, Janet- 1782, Helen- 1784, Margaret- 1786, *John- 1788, Elizabeth- 1794, Robert- 1796, Jean- 1798, Isabell- 1800, Martha- 1802 and Elizabeth- 1804.

*John b. 1788 m. Janet McNair of Smerby Farm. Children were : William- 1817, Janie- 1819 and William- 1821. They emigrated to America in 1821. My GGrandfather, William, was born just after they arrived in Ohio in 1821.

Now, back to the beginning: William Porter and Jane Wilson's no. 4 child, Robert b 1690, married Margaret Campbell 1728. To this marraige were born: Janet- 1728 and Jean- 1730. Robert next married Isabell Watson- 1731. Children were: Jean- 1733, William- 1737, Isabell- 1739 and Margaret 1742.
Jean- 1733 m. Mathew Mitchell 1778, Isabell 1739 m. Daniel McMillan- 1758 and Margaret m. Andrew Ferguson 1762.

I hope this in some small way helps you in your search

My wife and I have visited Campbeltown several times and have fallen in love with the "Wee Toon" and all of it's people. In spite of what some say, we think it is a delightful place and wish we could live there. To walk on the farms where my ancestors toiled and stand at their gravesites in Kilchousland Cemetery have been some of the highlights of my life. I hope you enjoy you visit as much.

Warmest regards,

Carl S. Porter

Georgia, USA

I thanked my good friend:

Hello Carl,

Thank you for copying that email to me. It's no less than I would expect from folks such as yourself. That's part of what the Mag is all about.

I know that your help with the McMillans will be appreciated.

I hope that this email finds you and Anne well, as it leaves us just grand.

All the best for now.

Ian

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Change of e-mail address
From: Iain McKenzie    iain.mckenzie10@ntlworld.com

Dear All,

This is just to let you know that my new e-mail address is    iain.mckenzie10@ntlworld.com

The old sol.co.uk address will be discontinued.

Kind Regards,

Iain


I sent to Iain:

Hello Iain,

Long time no e.

Happy New Year to you and yours. I hope that this email finds you well as it leaves my Helen and me just fine.

Thank you for the e-address update.

All the best,

Ian

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KintyreMag - Langwill
From:  Kay Staub   kstaub5@comcast.net

Dear Ian,

I have been trying to discover a current e-mail address for David Whitehead who shared his Campbeltown research back in 1999; it was published in 5-parts. I copied and filed his information at the time because he had Langwills. Though I've not been successful in finding a new address for David, I did find my way back to KintyreMag. Now it occurs to me there may be a more efficient path to the information I seek which is to ask you if there are local resources in Campbeltown that can help locate information.

I have a John Langwill born February 27, 1801 according to his gravestone. I would like to confirm this information and if a birth record exists learn his parents name. Most likely, he married his wife Mary MacDonald (born abt. 1812) in Campbeltown because both were born there according to the death certificate of a daughter. After they emigrated, probably about 1830, they settled in Ripley County, Indiana.

The Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness network doesn't have a volunteer for Argyll. Is there Campbeltown churchwarden I could write?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Kay Staub

I replied to Kay:

Hello Kay,

The only e-address I have for David is the one you've probably tried yourself i.e. david.whitehead@siemens.ch

I've sent an email to that address advising him of yours. Unfortunately, unless a reader contacts me to advise of a change of e-address then I'm pretty much stuck.

I'll post your email in the March online edition of the Kintyre Mag and, possibly, some of the readers might be able to assist.

There are quite a few churches in Campbeltown so I wouldn't know where to start however, you could email the letters page of the Campbeltown Courier. If you know which church to which your Langwill belonged, I can get someone in Campbeltown to find an address for you.

All the best in your searches.

Regards,

Ian

Then I had a further thought:

Hi Kay,

Just a thought but have you had a search through the Surnames and Searchers Archives?

There's a Langwill mentioned here http://www.kintyremag.co.uk/query2.html

All the best,

Ian

And from Kay:

Hi Ian,

Thanks for the quick response. Yes I tried the same address for David and received a failed delivery message.
Your willingness to post my email in the upcoming online edition of Kintyre Mag is also appreciated. Perhaps I'll make a useful connection. In that regard, I probably should adjust or at least flag the estimated birth year for Mary (McDonald) Langwill. Looking back over her four US census entries, there is a good chance she was closer to husband John Langwill's birthyear.
1880 Census Mary age 79 est. birth yr (1801)

1870 Census Mary age 69 est. birth yr (1801) John age 70 (1800) Mataggot 67 (1803)

1860 Census Mary age 45 est. birth yr (1814) John age 33 (1827)

1850 Census Mary age 40 est. birth yr (1810) John age 39 (1811)

Something went very much askew in the 1850 & 1860 entries, but the 1870 entry is consistent with his gravestone and her 1880 entry. I loose her after 1880. There is no stone for her in the cemetery where her husband, son, daughter & daughter-in-law are buried. By 1880 she was widowed and had the children of one of her sons living with her so perhaps there wasn't money for a stone and she is in that cemetery. [The 1870 census entry includes a similarly aged person, named Mataggot (Margaret?) Langwill, also born in Scotland - perhaps John's sister?]
At any rate, it is possible Mary and John married as early as 1820-ish and had children born in Scotland. The only known children were born in Ohio; the oldest Malcom born about 1833. Their three sons - Malcom, Peter & Daniel - fought in and two lost their lives in the Civil War; all three were recognized for "distinguished service." The older daughter Mary Ann Langwill is my direct line; the younger daughter Agnes died age 18, the year after she married.

The early deaths of three of the five children is one of the reasons I have so little family information to work from. So any and all leads and connections will be appreciated. I did see the Langwill entry in the Surnames and Searchers Archives, but noted that their Langwill was a maternal line and a couple of generations earlier than mine. On second thought and your suggestion, I will contact them, recalling the old adage, "nothing ventured, nothing gained." I'll also try a letter to the Campbeltown Courier per your suggestion -- I found their website so I won't need to trouble you for an address.

Thanks again for replying.

Kay

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Campbeltown Info
From: Neil Jordan    westlaser@btinternet.com

Please see the attached email that I sent to e.marrison@virgin.net before I located your email on the Kintyremag webpage.

Regards,

Neil Jordan.

Note: forwarded message attached.

My Great Great Grandfather Frederick Jordan lived in Campbeltown and had a business in Back Street (now named Union Street), he was a Cabinetmaker, Upholsterer and Funeral Undertaker. I have notice his named crop up a few times in Kintyremag.co.uk.

I have very recently come into possession of a 1891 billhead [see below] from his business, I have attached a copy. The billhead is addressed to a Colonel F MacKay of Carskey, I think that this may be related to the article in your magazine on the link http://www.kintyremag.co.uk/1998/20/page9.html

There is a Toddy Ladle in Campbeltown museum that was donated by F Jordan.

If you are interested in any of the info that I have on Frederick Jordan I have presented all of the information/photos that I have obtained on a comprehensive set of webpages.

Below I have put links to the webpages so that you can have a look at some of the photos and items that relate to Frederick Jordan and I give a brief summary below:-

Frederick Jordan was born in Ireland about 1842 and travelled over to Campbeltown with his parents probably because of the potato famine in Ireland. He was a cabinet maker and had a shop in Campbeltown called Messrs Jordan, Leydon & McKinnon, Cabinet Makers.

Interesting items on the website include:-

1) Family photo showing his first 8 children circa 1882.
2) Photo of Fredeick Jordan in Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
3) Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Cap badge of Frederick Jordan that has been passed down family
4) Obituary of Frederick Jordan in Argyllshire Herald 1916.
5) Article from ONE HUNDRED & ELEVEN YEARS AGO. From The Campbeltown Courier by Efric Wotherspoon that mentions an advert in the Campbeltown Courier for Messrs Jordan, Leydon & McKinnon, Cabinet Makers.
6) Photos of Tool chest of Frederick Jordan passed down family.
7) Photos of 1882 inscribed writing chest presented to Frederick Jordan.

In particular I suggest that you click on the Obituary on the website to read the interesting summation of his life in Campbeltown. (Although this obituary incorrectly states that he was born in Campbeltown).

Link to photos and information on Frederick Jordan
At the start of the webpage there is a lot of text and bits of information that I have not organised yet but the photos follow the text:
http://ferrycrossthemersey.com/jordan/406_frederick_jordan_c1842/
PLEASE NOTE CLICK ON PHOTOS for Larger High Quality Images

Link to photos and information on Jordan family tree
http://ferrycrossthemersey.com/jordan/
PLEASE NOTE CLICK ON PHOTOS for Larger High Quality Images

Regards,

Neil Jordan
Wallasey, Merseyside

This is the billhead mentioned by Neil:

To Amount of a/c lenduel lendent?

Paid per receipt above

I replied to Neil:

Hello Neil,

Thanks for your interesting email. I'll post it in the March edition of the online Mag.

Thanks, too, for the copy of the billhead. I love to read old stuff like that and I know that the Mag readers will love it too.

All the best for now.

Ian

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Return to Page One

Wee Drams   E-mails, comments, queries and enlightenment from around the world

Page  2:       A History of the Gilchrists...............continued

Page  3:       A Series of Emails from Mr W A Pursell

Page  4:       'The Larch Tree' - from some memories of growing up in Kintyre

Page  5:       Book Review - Letters by the Packet

Page  6:       A Kintyre Family's Contribution to Australia

Page 7:        By Hill and Shore - Angus Martin