Hello,
I'm new to the list but have been following it for quite awhile. I've been researching my family history in Kintyre, notably in the Tayinloan, Campbeltown, Kilcalmonell areas. They appear in records going back into the late 1700s as well in Lochgoilhead. My great grandfather Peter Stalker was born in the Tayinloan area in the mid 1840s. I haven't found a birth record in the Scotlands People website but I know his parents were John McStockair and Catherine Mcdiarmid (m. 1839). The marriage between John and Catherine was both of their second marriages. John was also married to Annabel McStockair in 1814. Catherine was married to a Hector Morrison as well.
My wife, son and I are going to be visiting the Kintyre region in April and I'd like to find some of these place names or get more of a background on whether or not I could find them. I've seen several references to work done by a Mr. Ian McDonald of Clachan on family history and geography in early Scotland but I'm not sure of any books of his that might exist or other writings I could acquire. Is Mr. McDonald still living?
These are the places that figure significantly in my family history:
Torchaonachan in Kilcalmonell - where John and Annabel were living when married in 1814
Brantian in Kilcalmonell - place where some of my great step Uncles were born - Donald McStockair - 1817 and others who I don't have birth records for - Malcolm McStockair, born around 1825-1830, Duncan, and others
Witchburn (possibly a street) in Campbeltown - place where Catherine McDiarmid was from. her father was a Peter McDiarmid, mother was Hellen Galbraith.
Hollaran or Kollaran - Killean/Kilchenzie where Catherine married Hector Morrison
I have some other place names as well and will make another post. I'm having a tough time locating records for my Great Great grandfather John McStockair, though I suspect he was born in the 1790s. Curiously the name of his first born son was Lachlin who later changed his name to John in the States. I'm just wondering if it would be unusual for a person named Lachlan to prefer to use John. There is a record for a Lachlane McStockair born in 1793.
Thanks so much for any help you can provide.
Tim Stalker - Denver, Colorado