Wee Drams

I have not written to you before as I just came across your online publication. It seems to be interesting. I am Paul Morris Hilton

I have been working on the Hylton, Hilton, etc. Genealogy. I just started recently working on the Giffin,Giffen, Griffen etc. Genealogy for a lady Meg Giffin who lives in the Long Term Care Home.

I was injured in a car accident -a truck went over the roof of my car !! Within the last year I have begun computing and working on the Hilton Family History. I now have 32,000+ names in my Genealogy Program. I have just a few of the Giffins so far and located some more just tonight.

I would be interested in making contact with any Giffins, Hiltons and any of my Mother's (deceased) Morris Family who might live in your area or wherever your Magazine gets to. Would you be able to publish this Email or and edited version if necessary ? I will keep in touch with any contacts, you or otherwise. In finishing "Have a Wee Dram for me". Sincerely, Paul M. Hilton, 1915, Route # 3, Harvey Station, New Brunswick, Canada E6K 3K1.

Paul has an article in this edition of the Mag - Ian

I wish to let you know that having made some very good contacts via your Mag. on the Web, I wish to thank you for such a prompt reply. I accept the fact you are very busy. I spend most of the time in front of the BEAST (my computer) ! I have had several Emails from Ken Ripley of Ontario who is we have concluded a relative of a long time friend from Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada.

We just wish to thank you for the offer of a page in Oct. issue of the Mag. Would you be able to give me the cut off date for the article ? I also have written Janey Giffen whose name I found on your site re MEG Giffin (Name difference !!). MEG is using my computer for her correspondence. I have located a goodly amount of Giffin,Griffen etc. material on several sites. It is strange how far you have to go to make a local contact.

Joyce sends her Best Wishes to you and yours. Her Husband Nelson died a while back and there is a Canadian Legion, and Family Memorial Service on the 19th of July in Amherst. She is quite happy that the contacts have been made.

I wish to just say have a "bonnie day"- my Scottish knowledge is a little weak. Sincerely yours, Paul Hilton. PS. I will be working one or two topics and you can chose the one you wish to use in Oct.

Rambles in Kilkerran; Margaret Macaulay
From: John Rhys rhysw5@yahoo.co.uk

See inscription and poem below

[I am] Interested in article by Margaret Macaulay, and headstone with Poem re Boreas, Neptune etc. Thought you might be interested in similar elsewhere; this seems to be of some antiquity, with many variations to be found on the web, but the earliest I have found is on a flagstone in the nave of Tewkesbury Abbey for Welsh sailor John Evans, dated 1566. But no doubt it predates that.

[I would be] very interested if anyone knows the author ?

Perhaps you could forward to author.

thanks

John Rhys

In memory of
John Evans, Seafareing man who
departed this life the 23rd day of
January 1566, aged 56

Though Boreas blasts and Neptunes waves
Have tosd me to and fro
Yet in despight of both by God’s decree
I Harbor here below
And since at Anchor here I lie
With Maney of our Fleet
I trust I shall sett saile with they
Our Generall Christ to meet

From: Greta Ryan gretalyn@web.de

Hello!

Since you are a long-time resident, I was wondering if you have any tips
on how I can learn more about Bessie and Polly Jordan of Low Askomil (at
least, in 1956......). I think they were related to my
great-grandmother, Kate Jordan, who emigrated with her husband John
Jackson to the States in 1900.

I'm coming for a visit to Campbeltown in two weeks and would love to
meet some folks even remotely related, or see their house, if it still
standing......do a little root-digging and soak up the atmosphere!
Would greatly appreciate any help.
Sincerely,
Greta Ryan

Hello Ian,

Thanks for your reply and the offer of your brother's help.
thought you would like to know, after finding Neil Jordan's article in
your magazine, I sent him a mail of enquiry and was not only shown we
have the same Jordan relatives but he put me in contact with another
descendent in British Columbia, who has done a ton of research and could
also give me a lot of information about my family------including a
photograph of my great-grandparents, Kate Jordan and George Jackson in
1899! I was so, so, happy.
Please keep up the good work!
Best regards.
Greta

I read the notice by David Whitehead and saw 4 of my family names in the listing. I was hoping I could email David. Do you have an email address for him? Its wonderful to find your website and information about Kintyre peninsula.

Thanks

Brewster Johnston

Seattle, WA

My ancestors from Kintyre emigrated to Ohio about 1818, Johnston and Harvey, other ancestors are Greenlees, Dunlop, Langwill. I have corresponded a bit with Betty Johnston of Campbeltown.

From: Lynda Moxon lyndamoxon@lyndamoxon.karoo.co.uk

Help I am looking for details of a ship "THE NORDALE" which went down in 1942 with the loss of 5men.

My partners father James O'Kane swam ashore and raised the alarm which saved the remaining 7 men.

His father is no longer alive but his mother (86) has some newspaper clipping from the rescue in which her husband was awarded a medal at Buckingham Palace by the King.

I have been trying to piece together a few facts from her stories and cuttings.

It was January 15th 1942
The Southend sea rescue where also awarded a shield for the rescue using rocket apparatus.
He swam ashore (when 2 men had tried and drowned) and then climbed a 850 foot cliff.
He then ran miles until he came across a house?
The couple in the house thought that he was a German parachutist.
He collapsed and was taken to a hospital? She say's it was a house owned by a Lord which was being used as a hospital because of the war.
She was in the hospital having her first son when she heard of the award(he was in New York.
The Lord later sent her husband a book of poems & a well-wisher sent her £5 for the new baby.

I would love to be able to show her a picture of the cliffs and find out about the Lord and the people from the house.
We have been to Fleetwood where he sailed from and all they had was a list of the 5 men who died, it would be nice to know the men he saved and any family they had.

As his father died when he was 21 (35 years ago) it would be nice for my partner to maybe visit the place his father was staying in during his visit......
As we live in Yorkshire it is maybe to far for his mother , but if we found out enough even she may want to make the trip.
Hope you can help or give us some idea where to look.

Lynda Moxon

Subject: Tarbet mines
From: Nick Jones nick.jones@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk

Ian

I holiday at Kilberry so was very pleased to find you site when searching on some local place names. I’m aware that this question is not to do strictly with Kintyre but it is almost.

I do a lot of cycling round Tarbet when I am up. I have plans to climb the track to the communication masts above Erines on the A road north out of Tarbet.

On the 1:25k map the track passes a fenced area that is marked ‘mines’ next to the Eas Cruach nan Cuilean stream. GR NR 836 736.

I was wondering if any on your readers might know anything about it? I’ve read the content about the Campbelltown mines and it would seem that they were sea-level affairs, where as this mine is way up a hill!

Finally, congratulations on the site, a great resource.

Yours, curiously

Nick Jones

(in personal capacity)

Assistant director, innovation
Cabinet Office e-Government Unit
t:0207 276 3412 m:079 90 80 42 92
Stockley House, 130 Wilton Road
London, SW1V 1LQ

I replied to Nick:

Hello Nick,

Thanks for your email. I'm pretty sure that you meant 'Tarbert' and not 'Tarbet'. I had a look on the OS map and I not that your grid ref is between Stonefield and Erines. That 'r' makes all the difference!

The grid ref for Tarbet is NN 32092 04680.

I'll post your query in the next online Mag and let's hope that you get an answer. I'll see what I can find out from my brother who knows that area quite well.

Finally, thank you for your kind words re the Mag. It's always nice to be appreciated.

Ca' canny,

Ian

Ian

My apologies, Tarbert it is. I’ve subsequently found reference to the site in a British Geological Survey report

http://www.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/exploration/potential/mrpindex.html#K and click on Knapdale

It reads

143 Gold mineralisation in the Dalradian rocks of Knapdale–Kintyre, south-west Highlands, Scotland
A G Gunn and others (1996)

Following reappraisal of regional geochemical and geophysical data for the northern part of the Kintyre Peninsula, a geochemical survey was conducted to search for the presence of gold in the Dalradian rocks of the area.

Drainage sampling identified gold enrichment in several areas underlain by Argyll Subgroup Dalradian metasedimentary rocks. Associated lithogeochemical sampling confirmed the presence of local elevated gold concentrations in bedrock. The highest levels, up to 22 ppm Au, were found in base metal-bearing quartz veins at the disused Stronchullin lead mine in the north-east of the project area. Similar veins carrying high levels of gold have been found elsewhere in the Stronchullin valley, in the Inverneil area in the north, and in the south of the project area near the shore of West Loch Tarbert. Gold enrichment also occurs in association with discordant copper veins in the Meall Mor area.

Analysis of geophysical and remotely-sensed lineations indicates the importance of structural control on the distribution of gold in the area. The drainage geochemical data identify several additional prospective zones possibly associated with east–west lineations.

In the light of recent discoveries of potentially economic gold mineralisation elsewhere in the Dalradian belt in Scotland and Northern Ireland, further investigations in the south Knapdale area of the Kintyre Peninsula are recommended. Priority should be given to the Stronchullin area and the other known base metal vein occurrences

While the gold aspect is fascinating it still doesn’t tell us what the mine was for originally! So I look forward to anything that helps shed light.

Thanks again

Nick Jones

From me:

Nick,

I, too, have been having a look around the web but without much success. I have discovered, however, that we can certainly discount the possibility that the mines were for the production of coal. I found this: http://www.coal.gov.uk/services/miningreports/gazetteer/scotlandgazetteer.cfm which includes Tarbert / Erines.

I suppose, therefore, that it was either copper or gold that was mined.

Does this mean that you'll be sparking a goldrush to the area?

All the best,

Ian

Ian

Good detective work. So it does look promising for copper and gold. My cousin once wrote an article about gold in the Lanarkshire hills so it is in the family. I’ll be up there the firs two weeks of August so will poke around the site. I might bring a bowl for panning.

Cheers

Nick Jones

Subject: Donaldsons
From: Helen Kennedy helenkennedy@blueyonder.co.uk

[I am] trying to find information on Archibald Donaldson B 5 Mar 1888 cooper
father John Donaldson mother Margaret Mcalister parents married 6 dec 1877
Archibald married Catherine Scally 25 December 1914
4 children Flora John Margaret and Catherine Catherine died 29 nov. 1925 family then moved to Glasgow Catherines parents Archibald Scally and Flora Mcilchere 26 Saddell Street Campeltown any help would be apreciated

Subject: Wondering if you can help...
From: Wanda Borley borleys@shaw.ca

I've been working on my family history quite extensively as of late and in doing so I just happened on your site "The Kintyre Mag". What a great little magazine!

My ancestors on my mother's side came from Kintyre, in particular from around Saddell. The family name from that area is McKinlay and the family property was Whitestone farm. My Grandmother was born at Greenhill and raised by her father, John McKinlay at Whitestone farm. Her son, Graham McKinlay farmed Whitestone with his wife Mary for many years and when they left the farm (probably sold it) they moved to a small cottage near Saddell Castle, Cuil na Sithe. I visited them around 1975 and was a guest in this cottage for a time. Graham also looked after the garden at Saddell Castle for the then owners (I don't remember the name, unfortunately). This was before it became the property of Landmark Trust.

One of the stories about the McKinlay's of Whitestone involved smuggling whiskey into Campbeltown which resulted in a great uncle of mine receiving a fine. I believe the individual's name was Charlie McKinlay. I don't have an approximate year but would venture a guess that it was sometime in the mid- to late-eighteen hundreds. Is there a way that I could look up court cases that took place in Campbeltown from Canada? The internet would be ideal but I suspect that would be pushing it. I did see the two articles about the Kintyre Smugglers. I also noted the name of John McKinlay mentioned but somehow the location of their operation doesn't quite fit.

There is also a story about either a great aunt or an aunt of mine that lived in a small cottage on the corner near Saddell Abbey (I believe there is a phone box at this location now -- or at least there was when I visited in 1985). She was apparently burning a log in the fireplace by feeding it into the fire lengthwise (supposedly it was too long to place on the fire properly). She fell asleep and the fire moved down the log, out into the room and burned the place down, taking her life as well. I wondered if there were any newspaper archives that I might research to find if there was an article written about this event. Unfortunately, I don't have an exact date.

The other bit of history that I know concerning these ancestors is that my grandmother, Mary McKinlay, worked in Torrisdale Castle before she met and married my grandfather and moved to Canada. Do you know if there is some way of researching for information about the castle with a view to maybe finding something about servants who worked there, etc. I suppose this too is a long shot.

I appreciate that you are a very busy person what with publishing the magazine and all. So any help you can send my way would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Wanda Borley
borleys@shaw.ca

Subject: Greetings from a Ralson in California
From: Martha Ralston Moyers argylllass@juno.com

Ian,

Thank you for your Kintyre web site magazine. I found you through a link provided by Harold A.Ralston in Wisonsin. For years my brothers have both told me that our family immigrated to the US from your corner of Scotland. My cousin, who lives in Oklahoma, and I are trying to get our family tree together. As she says it is an endless job, but so intriguing.

Just now I am reading a fine account of our heritage, The Mark of the Scots by Duncan A. Bruce, Citadel Press - Kensington Publishing Corp. www.kensingtonbooks.com.

"When a nation goes down or a society perishes,
one condition may always be found.
They forgot where they came from."

Congratulations for doing your part in helping us all "remember the men from whom we have come" (Cuimhnich air na daoine o'n d'thainig thu). I wish I could actually speak those words. At least I see the value in the phrase.

If you are a reader another recommendation is Aurthur Herman's How The Scots Invented the Modern World. Both volumes are well researched and annotated. These give one a real sense of why we are the determined and achieving people that we are no matter how far we disperse from the tiny nation of our ancestors. America must pay a great respect to Scotland for becoming the land of the free.

Thank you again. I will look forward to reading future issues of the magazine.

Martha Ralston Moyers, MSN, RN
Orange, CA 92866-1155
714/639-0840
ArgyllLass@juno.com

Subject: The McEwing an McPhail Families
From: Bob Kerr BOB.KERR@xtra.co.nz

Ian
I was reading through some back issues of the mag and was suprised to come across the above article by Alan McGillivray. I am also a descendant of James McEwing, his daughter Sarah married Donald Kerr who were my g grandparants. I would love to hear from Alan if he reads this or anyone else with info.
Regards
Bob

Subject: McGechy and Wilson in Southend
From: Sarah Wilson freecycler@ev1.net

Hi,

I found your website and I am interested if you could point me towards any information on either of these two families. I've been tracing my ancestors who came to North Carolina from Kintyre. I believe they were from Covenanting families. I more or less have the line back to the 1600's but I would like to find out more about where and how these families lived around Kintyre and any records that may be available to research. Earliest information I have relates to Nichola McGechy daughter of Charles McEachen of Tangy, who was was the widow of Andrew Wilsone at Polliwilline in 1690's. I believe that Captain Andrew Wilson may have been imprisoned in Edinburgh following his capture at Bothwell Bridge, but was released shortly before his death. Keen also to find out if anyone else is researching this or a similar tree.

Yours,

Sarah Wilson, Texas, USA.

I have just returned from our very first trip to Scotland, Kintyre in fact and are absolutely knocked out by the beauty of the place. Very intrigued by the Kiel hotel and wondered if there was any information available about it?

Subject: Please help save the cinema
From: Trevor Oxborrow ccb@kirtel.demon.co.uk

Hi Ian,

Would you feel able to help the campaign to keep the Picture House,
Campbeltown, open by linking to our web site from The Kintye Mag, with
text such as "Help Save Campbeltown Cinema!" ?

The URL is http://www.weepictures.co.uk

Please feel free to use one of the pictures of the cinema frontage from
the site for the link.

Thanking you in anticipation of your consideration.

Regards, Trevor Oxborrow
(Webmaster, weepictures.co.uk)

Back to Top

Subject: McNiven Family
From: Tami Walendzak lilvixy@hotmail.com

Hello Ian,

I wanted to let you know that I think the Magazine is TERRIFIC!! I have found so many helpful things and read so many interesting items.. Its wonderful.

I am researching these Surnames from Kintyre and Kilchoman, McNiven, McAllister(McAlester), McIntyre, McGeachy, McDougall and several others.

My GGGgrandfather was Alexander McNiven born April 7, 1808, Kilchoman, Argyll, Isle of Islay, Scotland, he died May 13, 1903, Burnside Twp, Lapeer Co, Michigan.. His parents are Archibald McNiven and Jean/Jane Vise McIntyre. He married Mary McDougall Abt 1832 in Scotland. He emmigrated to Canada with his wife, 5 children, Archibald, Catherine, William, Jane & John, also with them was Mary's sister Margaret McDougall. They left Glasgow on June 9th, 1846, it was a very tough trip that took about 6 weeks. Their daughter Jane passed away while at sea and by one account is buried at sea, by another account she was buried on Quarantine Island. Their youngest John also passed away and is buried in a Protestant Cemetery in Montreal, Canada.

The family settled in Erin Twp, Wellington Co, Ontario, Canada for 20 years, where four more children were born, John, Jane, Ann(Nancy) & Duncan. The family left Canada for Burnside Twp, Lapeer Co, Michigan in 1866. They lived there doing what the family had been doing for generation.. Farming.. The family has spread out some, but lots are still in Michigan. I have several of Alexander's sibling names and am hoping to find more information on them as well as their parents...I plan on visiting Scotland next year, and making a special visit to Bowmore.. I can't wait! :)

Thanks for doing such a great job with the Mag.. keep up the Great work!!

Tami Walendzak

From: Lorraine MacPhail lorraine@skernish.abelgratis.co.uk

We would be interested in finding the date of when our house was built. It is Skernish Farm situated in Barr Glen, Glenbarr, By Tarbert PA29 6UZ.

Many thanks for your assistance,

Lorraine MacPhail
Skernish

From: Andrew Cockburn andrew@scotsconnection.com

Hello,

We are updating our Scottish links pages and wondered if you would wish to exchange links with our site.

Your Aye
Andrew Cockburn

Subject: Returning to the source : hello again, I'm back
From: Bronwen Field-Ramey b1b2j3@hunterlink.net.au

Hi from Australia. I’m the Bannatyne McArthur / McCARTNEY, McLay ‘daughter’ who wrote a year or so ago. And that’s only two generations back. Since then I have collected and verified an enormous amount of information about my Mothers side of her Family. All (I can tell) from Scots and then an older Irish connection. I’ve been everywhere in Scotland now and coming from Australia, and not having boarded any kind of transportation ! I am well for it and your magazine kicked off my research. Thank you.

My only regret is that my MacKinnon, Ker Kerr and Bannatyne connections (4 generations only) have been frozen in time. Why, because my GGGG Father Archibald Bannatyne came from Kintyre (b. 1892 d. 1865- Glasgow) and married in to Kilmory Buteshire. An outsider at his own 1815 marriage to Janet MacKinnon. Ten children later, all born on the island, they left for the mainland and elsewhere. Their history seems to have dissolved. However, I have tracked some down by sheer persistence and lots of General Registry Office documentation.

So, I returned tonight, to actually look at the wonderful stories of the other side of my Mothers Family. And since I know where Auchinleck, Cumnock, Tabart, Caithness, “Salt Coates” and Kintyre is, I can do this with much more ease now. The maps, old and new, the surnames; Irish Mc © artney and Scots McAthur, Denoon and Denune. The forenames; Jean, Jane, Agnes, Janet Jonnet, Ian, John, Dugald Donald, don’t confuse me as much. I always been able to access some Scots childhood games and food sweeties sites and get them all right ! Such was my Australian Mother (Bannatyne) legacy, at passing history on.

And tonight I actually settled down to read your beautiful stories. To read the names McLay, McNeil, McPhail, Paton, McKenzie and MacKinnon. All direct Family on my mothers side. Fabulous.

Sadly no Bannatynes. Anyone out there? I won’t reel off a list of connections. All I’d like is a buddy right now to find the older generation, back from Archibald Bannatyne, Barbara Ker Kerr, Janet MacKinnon, Donald MacKinnon and Margaret Craig. Kintyre is the clue, but as Kintyre Archibald married in, my quest seems quite futile at the moment. And I don’t intend to make it up ! More things to track though. The McLay, McNeil, McPhail and McArthurs. I’d also like to know if my Mum has any relatives out there. Her parents came to Australia with one child in tow and Mum was born soon after.

Mum is as adrift, an outsider as poor Archibald was…in a sense. Thank you and best regards. I read on.

Bronwen Field-Ramey

And more:

Ian,

Thank you for giving me a hand up via Kintyre Mag.

I just love the stories. Graceful and beautifully … lovely.

I’d just like a Family member to take over my documentation. It’s pretty water tight. I use birth death marriage certs as my reference from GROS- Edinburgh. Then I go under the layer to Ancestry.com ; the Latter Day Saints stuff. I’m currently keeping a silly dam log on the experience I have with their new format & beta program – connections. I’m paid up for a year Aug-2006 !!!

Hey started the log today- GRRRR

I found my my Kintyre // Kilmory links had ended up attached to Jonnet Bannatyne born 1600’s with children born 1800’s. Namely, mine !!

I don’t know Ian, I could go off producing a Family Web page and be forever batting back crap. I just want to hand my stuff mega qualified to someone who gives a shit and is a local. And as I’ve said to Irene. I have recorded and verified to about mid 1700’s.

I’m sending this email to my friend Irene. Not a Family Member, but a good geneo friend. Maybe both of you could talk to each other about preserving my Family History. My job is done now with regards to documenting from mid 1700’s on. Except Archibald Bannatyne of Kintyre. !!!! Born 1792 Kintyre.

Got his wife, his in-laws but not his Family. Poo ! Way past GRO Edinburgh files.

Bron

I need to add Irene and Ian,

I’ve been on leave from work since April this year. That’s why I have given, have been able to give all my efforts (apart from gardening etc) , to this search. I think I’ve done remarkably well. Even learnt to peel back the layers on my William Muir (of Mearns) G Pop. And found a whole lot by just sleuthing the criminal system (1875-76) c/o NAS , and the wonderful Greater Glasgow Health System (2005), who finally came through without me having to spend £250 . That’s about $600 Australian !

All I want is to re-deposit my research to a good and active (gender inclusive) researcher Family Member in Scotland. I can do any other leg work. The history, given my Family on my Mother’s side started here in 1921 – belongs in Scotland.

b

More Correspondence
From: Mr William Pursell wpursell@cogeco.ca and Mr Porter CPort1214@aol.com

----- Original Message -----
From: CPort1214@aol.com
To: wpursell@cogeco.ca
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 9:49 PM
Subject: The Porters-----Try Again

Hi Willie,
This was originally sent 7 July and was mis-sent to the wrong person. I'll try again; however, it may be of no interest to you.( I will send it in it's entirety )

I am writing to you to try to explain my difficulty in answering your inquiry about the mysterious "Mrs. Porter".
Try as I might, I have not been able to locate any one in our large and scattered family who can even guess the identity of this lady! Any lady, with children or grandchildren, that could fit this description would not have been a Porter....rather someone with another surname. Also, the only lady from Ohio that would fit that description, was one of our most prominent historians; however, much to her dismay, she was never able to visit Scotland.
As I mentioned, our family is large and scattered all over the US. We started in Ohio but eventually migrated into almost every state in the Union. Please allow me to explain:
I am a descendant of the Porters of Smerby Farm, Crossibeg Farm and Baraskomil Farm, all located just North of Campbeltown on the Carradale Road. My GGGGG Grandfather, William Porter, married Jane Kilpatrick in 1678. They had one son, John, at Smerby Farm 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 Robert 1690.
William b. 28 Mar 1680 in Smerby, m. Janet Greenlees 1732 and lived in Crossibeg Farm. Children were: John b. 1733, Thomas b. 1735, Robert b. 1739, Margaret b.1740, Alexander b. 1753, Hugh b. 1745, William b. 1750 and Andrew b. 1753.
William b. 1750, m. Helen Thomson 1758 and they also lived in Crossibeg. Offspring were: Ann b. 1779, Janet b. 1782, Helen b. 1784, Margaret b. 1786, John b. 1788, Elizabeth b. 1794, Robert b. 1796, Jean b. 1798, Isabell b. 1800, Martha b. 1802 and Elizabeth b. 1804.
John b. 1788, was my GG Grandfather. He married Janet McNair of Smerby Farm in 1816. Two children were born while they lived at Crossibeg and Baraskomil Farms: William b. 1817 and Janie b. 1819. Life was hard.... almost unbearable and in 1820, John petitioned The Duke of Argyle for permission to give up his lease to his father and to emigrate to America. By tradition, it took almost a year to clear up one's affairs in order to leave Scotland.
With their two small children, William 4 and Janie 2 and Janey pregnant with a third child: the little family left Campbeltown, Scotland on 25 July 1821. They, along with several other families: the Clarks, Flemings, Alexander Porters , McMurchys, Johnstons, Harveys and Wallaces; boarded the ship "Telegraph" which was out of Liverpool, England. After an eight-week journey, the weary travelers landed at Philadelphia on the 17th day of September. The group traveled (probably by wagon) over the mountains to Pittsburgh. There they purchased a flatboat and floated down the Ohio River (they apparently had directions to the Scottish village of Nicholsville). They landed at a small riverbank settlement called Neville, Ohio.
By now, it was well into the fall of the year and Janet was nearing time to have her baby. So, the group camped by the river over the winter (probably difficult in the most ideal conditions). On 20 November 1821, Janet gave birth to her third child, a son who would later be named William. Just seven days later, John and Janet's daughter Janie died on 27 November 1821. And, if this was not enough, just seven days after Janie's death, on 4 December, their oldest child, William, died. Such disaster and disappointment for these young parents, after their trying journey and such great, high hopes for their future!
In the spring, the family moved a few miles North to the Scotch settlement later to be known as Nicholsville. Shortly after getting settled in their new home, John Porter died, leaving his widow alone in a strange land with a baby not yet a year old.
The story has a happy ending,however. James McMurchy, a widower from Campbeltown that had made the same journey as the Porters a year earlier in 1820, married Janet on 23 December 1824. They later had a son Archie. All are buried in Monroe Township Cemetery in Nicholsville, Ohio.
I have often wondered about how dhanged the Porter history would have been if little William Porter (the second and my G Grandfather) had also died on that riverbank in Neville, Ohio.
As it evolved, William Porter grew up in Nicholsville and married Mary Aseneth Lane in 1845. To that marriage were born thirteen children. One of those offspring was my Grandfather John Porter. As a young man, John Porter enlisted in the Union Army during the American Civil War. His service took him to Tennessee and he fell in love with the land (said it reminded him of what his ancestors had told him about Scotland). After the war, John returned to Ohio, married his sweetheart and they had five children. After the children were a few years old, my Grandparents moved to East Tennessee in 1885. There, my father grew up and was educated. He later moved to Chattanooga to marry and raise two children (my Brother David and I ). My Brother moved to Florida and I (after university and Army) married and moved to Georgia.
Thinking about William Porter and the riverbank birth.... at his death William Porter's descendants numbered approximately 250. And they are scattered all over the map !!!
A Scottish-descended Clergyman, Rev. James Hamilton, said: "No better heritage can a father bequest to his children than a good name; nor is there in a family any richer heirloom than the memory of a noble ancestor."
As I celebrated our Independence Day this week, I was very mindful and grateful of the sacrifices made by those who came before me to make it possible for me to be free. I also paused to give honor to those who paid the price in the early days of Scotland so that my ancestors could have the opportunity to "break away."
God Bless Them All.
Carl Slater Porter

Willie, sorry to be so long-winded...however, I am proud of all of these folks. I just wish I could find which one of them you met.
Maybe one of these days I will solve the riddle. If so, you will certainly hear from me.
Carl

----- Original Message -----
From: william pursell
To: CPort1214@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2005 6:27 PM
Subject: THE PORTERS

Carl--thank you for your e-mail of Aug 17th. I found it very interesting indeed and it is clear that your roots in Campbeltown and Kintyre are very long and very deep.You have every justification to be proud of your ancestors and their origins and I admire you. I hope that, in generations to come, my own descendents have similar feelings and interest.
I emigrated to Canada in 1951 with 56 dollars as my total wealth, a set of wooden shafted golf-clubs, my university degree, a small suitcase, and no job! Eventually I had a very successful career in the tire and then the petrochemical industries and traveled to many parts of the world.
My fiancee from the Isle of Skye joined me in May, 1952, and we eventually produced five children and now have eleven grand-children. Since there are no male members of the Pursell family left in the U.K., my six male grand-children will be left to carry the name forward in future generations in Canada, or wherever they choose to make their homes. Thank you for the opportunity to have correspondence with you and perhaps the mystery of my original Mrs. Porter, and her quest to find Porter's cottage on the Campbeltown- Carradale road, will be solved.
In the meantime, very best regards,
Willie

Subject: RE: Site Update
From: Cameron McLellan webmaster@machrihanish.net

Hi Ian,
Hope this finds you and yours well :)
I was asked today to put a news release on my site: http://www.machrihanish.net/grab_trust.html and you can view it here.
I thought immediately of you and your readers so I thought I would let you know about it.
Hopefully the trust will already have it well publicised but just in case.
The release is available as a PDF download if you want to share it with anyone.
I will be home next week and might still be there on the day of the meeting, if so I will try to get there and see what is said.
All the best
Cameron.

Hi Ian,

We have been getting some great feedback on our Breakenridge and Greenlees lines, many thanks for your help.

Wondering if you happen to know anyone in Mull willing to make a perusal of the Murdock McLean of Lochbouie collection held at their small archives in the Mull Museum in Tobermory?

Best,
Andrew and Kathy

Hello you two,

Sorry to take so long to get back to you. I'll post your query in the October online Mag with, of course, any answers through me.

Have you seen this http://www.mullgenealogy.co.uk/ ? If not, it might be worth a wee look.

I hope that this email finds you both well as it leaves Helen and me just grand.

All the best,

Ian

Subject: McKeithan families
From: Frances Cullom Harper fharper@triad.rr.com

Hello, Ian -

I was searching the web for Dougald McKeithan and ran across emails sent to you by Henry "Hank" McKeithen in Web Edition 54, Sept/Oct 2002. I have done a great deal of research concerning the records of Donald McKeithan who arrived in the Cape Fear area in 1739 and Dougald McKeithan who held land on the Black Mingo River near Georgetown, SC much earlier. I can add to some of what Hank mentioned and provide the records for proof. See "A Collection of Records Associated with the Descendants of Dougald McKeithan of Craven Co, SC and Donald McKeithan of New Hanover Co, NC and Bladen Co, NC" at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~fcharper/mckupdate.html

Dougald McKeithan purchased land on the Black Mingo River in SC from Alexander Trench, agent of John Bayley, some time between 1722 and 1726. H T Cook in Rambles in the Pee Dee Basin, South Carolina gave the date as 1725. The record that proves this transaction was actually undated, so the date can only be estimated. Dougald continued to acquire land in the area, but was killed by his slaves in 1744 or 1745. He was listed as a juror in 1744, but was dead by March 7, 1745 when the slaves were convicted of his murder. He left only one child, Thomas McKeithan who died at about the same time. Thomas's widow Deborah Thomson/Thompson, daughter of John Thompson and Martha Duprea, married as her second husband James McRee, and they appeared in records later. One record concerned the slaves that had killed Dougald McKeithan.

Donald McKeithan and four unnamed family members arrived on the "Thistle of Saltcoats" in 1739. Their passage had been paid by Dougald McNeil. A Colonial Court Record dated July 1740 states that Dougald McNeil complained that Donald McKeithan had not repaid him for his passage. A scan of this record appears on my webpage. The 1750 Bladen Co, NC will of Dougald McKeithan names his father as Donald McKeithan. It also names Dougald's brothers and sisters and their children. One of the brothers named was Alexander McKeithan. The will also mentions 394 acres in SC to be sold.

On 5 Oct 1747 and again on 12 Oct 1747, an ad appeared in the "South Carolina Gazette" - scanned on my webpage. It stated that tracts of land and a house "in the Parish of Prince Fredericks within 18 Miles of George-Town.....belonging to Donald M.Keithen" would be sold on Oct 22. The tracts and house were described in the ad. The description matches exactly the tracts purchased through the years by Dougald McKeithan. No deeds have been found for this land later, but three of the tracts made up the 394 acres mentioned in the 1750 Bladen Co, NC will of Donald's son Dougald McKeithan.

We do not know how Donald McKeithan of NC acquired the estate lands of Dougald McKeithan of SC, but the records prove that this had happened.

Very shortly after this, in 1753, Donald's son Alexander McKeithan purchased a lot in Wilmington, NC. The deed was witnessed by Gilbert McKeithan. This is the first record we have for Gilbert, and he had probably just come of age. Gilbert McKeithan was not named in Dougald McKeithan's 1750 will as the son of one of his brothers or sisters. We have no reason to believe that Gilbert was a grandson of Donald McKeithan. Later records for Gilbert McKeithan indicate he had lived and married in Prince Frederick's Parish, SC. His wife Sarah Milliken, daughter of Moses Milliken and Mary Murrell, was raised between the Black and Black Mingo Rivers in SC near the land that had belonged to Dougald McKeithan on the Black Mingo. There is no record that provides absolute proof, but a tremendous amount of circumstantial evidence indicates Gilbert must have been the son of Thomas McKeithan by an earlier marriage. He could not have been a son of Dougald McKeithan of SC as the records state that Thomas was Dougald's only child. Thomas's widow Deborah Thomson/Thompson was born 3 Jan 1724/5, too late to have been Gilbert's mother. Years later, about 1773, Gilbert McKeithan left SC and moved to Bladen Co, NC, settling near the descendants of Donald McKeithan and later moving to Brunswick Co.

There must have been a close kinship between Dougald McKeithan of SC and Donald McKeithan of NC - probably brothers, but there is no proof. Although we know that Donald arrived from Scotland in 1739, we have no records that explain how or exactly when Dougald arrived so many years earlier.

The records to prove all this and more may be found on the webpage mentioned above. I hope this will be of help to other researchers.

Frances Cullom Harper

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