McMillans in Killean to Taybraun to Carradale

[cathodenj]

Greetings One and All,

I am a descendant of Malcolm MacMillan, bc. 1774 and wife Mary McStockair/Stalker,
b. 1788, dau. of Gilbert & Mary (McMillan) Stalker . They had fourteen children
who survived to adulthood, born in Saddel, Other parts unknown, Killean, Achaloaskin,
and lastly my gggf Charles McMillan b. 29 Jun 1833 Taybraun.

Here' is Malcolm McMillan's death certificate naming all his children and their ages.

Malcom McMillan death cert. 1855 519 14
Malcom, occupation post, aged 81 years, living Carradale (40 years)
Father: John McMillan, occupation shepherd (deceased)
Mother: Flora McCallum (deceased)
Married to Mary McStocker
Children: Mary - 57, Flora - 55, John - 53, Bell - 51, Agnes - 49, Catherine - 47,
Betty - 45, Duncan - 43, Janet - 35, Margaret - 33, Gilbert - 31, Mysie - 29,
Malcom - 26, and Charles - 22.

Mysie married a John Clark, Charles McMillan married Betsey Morison, b. 7 Jun 1845
in Kilfinan, married 24 Dec 1863 in Tighnabruaich, Kilfinan. They emigrated to
Nova Scotia, Canada in 1887. They had a son Malcolm from whom I descend.

Although Malcolm states he lived in Carradale from 1815 to 1855, he is found on
both the 1851 and 1841 census in Tayintruan. Any guesses as to why??

1851 Killean&Kilchenzie Parish, Argyll, Scotland 30 Mar 1851 - Tayintruan
Malcolm McMillan, head, marr., 76, letter carrier Post, b. Saddle, ARL
Mary do. , wife, marr, 60 b. Killean
Janet do. , dau., single, 29, b. Killean
Mysie do. , dau., marr., 24, b. Killean
Charles do. , son, single, 16, b. Killean
Jane Clark, granddaughter, 3 months old, b. Killean

SCT1841/519 Place: Killean & Kilchenzie-Argyllshire Enumeration District: 2
Tayintruam
Surname First name(s) Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
MCMILLAN Mal. M 60 Agricultural Labourer Argyllshire
MCMILLAN Mary F 50 Argyllshire
MCMILLAN Maysie F 15 Argyllshire
MCMILLAN Mal. M 12 Argyllshire
MCMILLAN Chas. M 8 Argyllshire

This family may have been living in Druimnamuchlack in the late 1700's
which, if I understand properly, was a small farm keeping sheep just
south-east of Killean proper. My grandmother remembers her father
waxing poetic about the Kyles of Bute, their home in the 1880's.

Does anything sound familiar to anyone? I am hoping I still have McMillan
cousins on Kintyre. I've been chasing these folks around the peninsula for
many a year and would love the opportunity to grab a hold of one or two.

With Many Thanks,
Cathy

[Mary G]

Hi Cathy

This does sound very familiar ... and I will pass your message onto the member of our family who has 'chapter and verse'.

Can I ask, where are you now? Nova Scotia?

Welcome to the forum!

[cathodenj]

Mary,

Thank you so much for the reply and the nice welcome.
My grandmother emigrated from Nova Scotia to the States
to teach during the war. As a result, I am in New Jersey.

I am looking forward to corresponding with any cousins.
This is a truly wonderful forum, a blend of remembrances,
current culture and history - terrific.

Cathy

[chillgrandma]

I am also descended from Gilbert MacMillan and Mary Stalker. I would like to learn more about your family and where you got your information. Contact me at <chillgrandma@yahoo.com>
Thanks Laura

[Shona]

Hi Cathy,

I've got McStalkers and McMillans in my family tree, too.

As regards why your family appear in Killean parish in 1841 and 1851, there are a couple of explanations.

1) Just because someone appears on the census, doesn't mean they live there. They could be visiting. However, the fact the family appear in Killean in two successive censuses seems to go against that idea.
2) The death cert could be badly worded. Not uncommon. If the family were Gaelic speakers, then the person who recorded the info in English, could easily have made an error. It may mean that he had lived in Saddle for 40 years not necessarily that he was living there at the time of his death. Or it could be that the number has been wrongly written down. Perhaps he had lived in Saddle for just four years. Thus he appears on the 1851 census in Killean, moves to Saddle (the parish of his birth) and dies there four years later.

I think option 2 is most likely to be correct. Malcolm's wife was born in Killean as were all his children.

Looking at Tayintruan in 1851, other members of the same extended family are living there, too.

Donald McMillan, 60, ag lab, born Killean
Mary McMillan, 59, sister-in-law, born Killean
Barbara McMillan, 23, niece, born Killean
Anable McMillan, 15, niece, born Killean
Duncan McMillan, 17, nephew, born Killean
Donald McMillan, nephew, born Killean

Hope this helps,

Shona

[cathodenj]

Many thanks Shona! Your second scenario does sound the most likely. With all the tidbits I've collected, I could not justify him being in Carradale for forty years but four sounds exactly right. My thanks, Cathy

[Shona]

When I first started our researching, I believed everything I read on official certicates. However, every now and then, there can be errors and mistranscriptions. I always keep in my mind that most of the community were illiterate and spoke a Gaelic, so some things may get lost in translation.

Also with death certificates the accuracy of the information will depend on whether the informant knew all the details. They may not have known exact age, where someone was born, maiden names, etc.

I noticed that you mentioned the late 17th century. I presume the information is from the 1972 Duke of Argyll census of his tenants. I have a copy of the Killean section of the census and have the following:

Drummamucklach and Braid
Margaret McMillan, 61

Gilbert McMillan, 65
Margret McMillan, 52
Cathrine McMillan, 20
Ann McMillan, 18

James McMillan, 40
Jane McMillan, 30
Effy McMillan, 35
Isobel McMillan, 2

There are lots of other McMillans in the parish as well.

This may also be of interest to you.

South Crubasill [Crubasdale]

Gilbert McStocker, 52
Janet McFattar, 50
Malcolm McStocker, 8
Gilbert McStocker, 3

The Hearth Tax records of 1694 has the following - the spellings are as how they appear in the records, not modern spellings:

Ulodell - John McStocker
Arnod - Neill McMillan
Ernicle - Donald McStockert
Achadaduy - Allexr McMillan
Killigrewer - Gilbert McMillan
Clenegart - Robert McStocker
Corputachan - Catrin, McMillan, Duncan McMillan, John McMillan

Good luck with your Kintyre Research!

Shona

[JOEMAC]

Hi Shona,
I am descended from Donald McMillan born 1700`s in the Killean & Kilchenzie area of Argyll.
He married Ann McGill and they had 8 children that i know of
JOHN b.1818 Achalochan
MARY b.1802 Achalochan
CHRISTINA b.1811 Achalochan
ARCHIBALD b. 1804 Achalochan
DUNCAN b.1808 Achalochan
ANN b.1810 Achalochan
ROBERT b.1816 Achalochan
BARBRA b.1800 Achalochan
Do any of these names feature in your research.Hope to hear from you.
Joe McMillan,
South Australia [formerly of Dumbarton,Scotland]

[Shona]

Hi Joe,

Checking the Duke of Argyll's census for Achaloskin (as it is now), I have the following:

Laigh Auchaloskin

James McMillan, 13
Marian McMillan, 10
Cathrin McMillan, 8
Malcolm McMillan, 6

Mid Auchaloskin

Donald McMillan, 56
Barbara McKinlay, 44
Charles McMillan, 26
Archibald McMillan, 20
Mary McMillan, 17
Barbra McMillian, 15
Cathrine McMillan, 10
Margaret McMillan, 7
Ann McMillan, 4

The only reference I can find to McGill is at Putichantuigh.

John Greenless, 36
Jean McGill, 32
Mary Greenlees, 11
Peggy Greenlees, 8
Hugh Greenlees, 5
James Greenlees, 3
John Greenlees, 1

Also at Putchichantuigh

Hugh Greenlees, 70
Mary Paterson, 65

Note: Women are recorded by their maiden names, not married names.

Have you checked out the following site for McMillan biths in Killean parish?

http://www.reocities.com/heartland/mead ... mill2.html

I think this was the work of Cathy, who has has posted on this thread.

On this I can find four of the births/baptisms you mention at Auchalochan.

Barbra, 9 Oct 1800
Mary, 17 Oct 1802
Archibald, 10 Nov 1804
Duncan, 23 June 1808

Hope this is of use to you.

Shona

[cathodenj]

Thank you again, Shona.
Yes, the geo/reo cities site was mine which I was forced to abandon after Geocities reorganized. The McMillans posted there were abstracted by me from the LDS Film 1041070 Killean Parish records. My particular McMillans and McCallums are present in a small shepherd's cottage called Achnalaoskin.
I would highly recommend anyone researching McMillans or McCallums in Killean to keep a local copy of the websites extracts before it gets moved again. I still refer to mine from time to time. I hope they are still helpful to others.
Cathy

[cathodenj]

Oops, the cottage is Druimnamuchlack and it's located in Auchnalaoskin.
Happy Ancestor Hunting, Cathy

[JOEMAC]

THank`s for that Shona,it looks like you have located most of my McMillan family.I did have some info on them but not a lot so this has filled in a few gaps.Now i have to try and find marriages for them all.It is never ending but great fun.
Cheers,
Joe McMillan,
South Australia [formerly of Dumbarton]