Oh - forgot to say welcome to the Kintyre Forum!
I wonder if you would mind saying where you got the info about the Mcleans from, please. I noticed that there are some publlic trees on Ancestry and a user-submitted tree on Family Search which contains the same info. These trees are very helpful, but I find it wise to double-check the info to make sure it is correct - especially with a more common name like McLean. I've got several McLeans in my family tree, but can't trace them further back with any certainty
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Here's what I've checked and confirmed so far, using a combination of Family Search, Ancestry and Find my Past. Unless otherwise stated, all births are in Campbeltown.
1891 census - Smith's Land, Lady Mary Row, CampbeltownAlexander McLean, head, 32, baker
Mary Mclean, wife, 27
Charles, son, 6
John, son, 4
Duguald, son, 2
Alexander, son, 7 months
1881 census - High StreetDugald McLean, head, 47, fishermen
Helen McLean, wife, 41
Alexander, son, 23, baker
Dugald, son, 21, mason
Charles, son, 18, Apprentice ship riveter
Robert, son, 16, baker's apprentice
Maragret, daughter, 14, dom servant
Donald, son, 6, scholar
William, son, 3
1871 - High StreetDonald McLean, head, 38, distillery workman
Ellen McLean, wife, 31
Alexander, son, 13
Dugald, son, 11
Charles, son, 8
Robert, son, 5
Margaret, daughter, 4
Flora, daughter, 10 months
1861 - High StreetDougald Mclean, head, ??
Helen McLean, wife, 21
Alexander, son 3
Dougald, son, 1
I have confirmed the following birth dates for the children of Dougald and Helen. Donald married Helen McNaughton 15 December 1857, so Helen was pregnant when she married.
- Alexander, 20 Feb, 1858
- Dugald, 10 Dec 1859
- Charles, 11 April 1862
- Robert, 24 June 1864
- Margaret, 10 Aug 1866
- Flora, 24 June 1870
- Barbara, 21 July 1872
- Donald, 11 June 1874
There is a birth for a Dugald McLean in Campbeltown on 7 October 1793, son of Duncan McLean and Margaret Hair - Hair isn't a Kintyre name that I've come across before. Could it be McNair which has been mistransribed?
Duncan McLean and Margaret Hair married in Campbeltown on 24 December 1792 and had the following children:
- Dugald, 7 Oct 1793
- Robert, 16 Dec 1795
- Margaret, 29 Dec 1799
- Daniel, 15 Feb 1802
- Rose, 27 March 1803
- Janet, 23 May, 1805
As the same names keep cropping up, then I would say that this is the correct branch.
I've also found the following in the 1841 census:
Ballegreggan, CampbeltownRobert McLean, head, 45, ag lab
Agnes, 40
Flora, 10
James, 8
John, 6
Margaret, 80
Although the 1841 census rarely gives familial relationships, we can assume the Margaret above is Margaret Hair.
Although there are several Duncan McLean births in Campbeltown in the 1770s, the one that is the best fit is the one baptised on 24 April 1764, son of Dugald McLean and Barbara McDougall. There are just three baptisms for children of Dugald McLean and Barbara McDougall in Campbeltown:
- Dugald, 4 Aug 1760 - likely to have died young
- Dugald, 24 Feb 1764
- Mary, 8 Feb 1769
Unfortunately, the 1860 record appears to be the earliest McLean record in Campbeltown which implies that your McLean family moved to Campbeltown from elsewhere. If it was Tiree, then you will find there are an awful lot of McLeans on that island!
It gets more difficult going further back because not all parish records survive or indeed go back that far. So you will have to look at other sources, as well as Scotland's people and Family Search (which has the benefit of being free).
Here are a a few of the other sources I use - most are available online, but some require a subscription to view. The problem is that most tend to track the better off, so many people aren't included.
- Kintyre Hearth Tax, 1694
I had a quick glance but couldn't see any McLeans in Campbeltown who were eligible for the Hearth Tax. However, there is a Soirle McDougall.
- Kintyre rentals - from 1600s
- Land tax rolls, 1645-1831
- Carriage tax, 1785-1798
- Cart tax, 1785-1798
- Tax on non working dogs, 1797-1798
- Working Horse Tax, 1797-1798
- Duke of Argyll inhabitants, 1792 - I only have Killean parish, so can't check for you.
- Hugh Ralston's Kintyre genealogy website - excellent for Kintyre cemeteries
- Inverary Jail records, in case you have some crims in the family. As you are a Mclean, then you may be related to Kintyre's very own Resurrection Man, John McLean, my gg grandfather. There is info on him on this website.
All the best,
Shona