In the book History of the County of Ayr: with Genealogical Account of the Families of Ayrshire. By James Paterson, Vol II, 1852, pages 136-137 it says: “IV. Robert Boyd of Portincross succeeded, as we have seen, before 1610. His name repeatedly occurs in testamentary documents. He married Jean Montgomery, sister of Sir Robert Montgomery of Skelmorlie, who died in December 1621, and from whose testament and latterwill it appears that besides Robert his heir, he had several sons and daughters. … “Legacie “At Portincross, the xix day of December, the zeir of God jai vi c, and twentie ane zeiris, the quhilk day Jeane Montgomerie nominat Robert Boyd of Portincross, hir husband, executour. Item, my will, and I ordane my husband, to help our bairns, Nans, Elspeth, and Barbara Boyds, eftir this maner, viz, to Nans viii c. merks, to Elspeth vii c merkis, and to Barbara five hundrith merks. And to our eldest sone Robert, ane hundred merks, and ane brone naig, to George, thrie hundrith merkis, to Archibald thrie hundrith merkis, to Gavin thrie hundrith merks, and James thrie hundrith merks. And farder, I request my husband, for the love that has been betwixt my husband and me, and for the favour he beiris to our bairns abonewritin, to give the third part of the movahill guides and geir that appertains to ws, to be equallie devydit amangis our four zongest sones, George Archibald, Williame and James, and our thrie doctors, Nans, Elspeth, and Barbara Boydis. And I leif my brother, Sir Robert Monrgomerie of Skelmorlie, and George Montgomerie, our brother, to be overseers to my bairns; and ordanes thame, with my husband, to gif the portion that is left to ony of my dochteris to the rest of our bairns, incais, as God forbid, ony of thame abuis their bodeys in harlotrie,” &c” Mike Boyd’s notes:- (1) Does anyone have a “modern” English version of this Testament? (2) What is the meaning of “the third part of the movahill guides”? Is this a property? If so where is it located. (3) It would appear from the above article/record that this family of Boyd of Portincross composed of:- A1 Robert Boyd, b / /158x ( ), d / /1658 ( ), bu , m / /160x (church, town, etc), Jean Montgomery, second dau of Robert Montgomery of Skelmorely and Dorothy Sempill, b / /15xx ( ), d /12/1621 ( ), bu , and had issue:- Children from the Legacie of 1621:- B1 Robert Boyd, eldest son, b B2 George Boyd, assume second son?, b B3 Archibald, assume third son, b B4 Gavin Boyd, assume fourth son, b B5 James Boyd, assume fifth son?, b B6 Nans Boyd, assume first daughter?, b B7 Elspeth Boyd, assume second daughter?, b B8 Barbara Boyd, assume third daughter?, b Our four youngest sons B9 George Boyd, b B10 Archibald Boyd, b B11 William Boyd, b B12 James Boyd, b James Paterson in his book suggested that Robert’s parents were married in 1582. Thus suggesting that Robert [A1] himself was born in the mid 1580’s and may not have married until about 1605. Thus leaving some 16 years for his wife to have her children. This list of children, would SUGGEST that Robert and Jean had three daughters living in 1621. And as there were no married names or husbands mentioned, Mike Boyd would suggest that these three daughters were then single and MOST LIKELY born after 1601. It is quite clear that the eldest son was a Robert Boyd – born about 1605-1610. But it is not clear from this “Legacie”, if Robert and Jean had five sons or nine sons. In the two lists, there are two George Boyd; two Archibald Boyd and two James Boyd, but only one Gavin Boyd and one William Boyd. So was Gavin a name interchangeable with William? Or did Gavin have a second name of William? (Oh, could Gavin have been called William by the family rather than his given name of Gavin?) This does not explain why there are two separate lists for the sons and if there are only five or nine sons. The daughter listed hear as “Nans” might have been Agnes Boyd rather than Nans Boyd. Then there is the question if the younger son – either four or eight – remained in Portincross or moved to other parts. Their uncles may have taken part in the Montgomery/Hamilton migration to County Down in 1606 or gone as part of the 1609 Plantation, so it would not be at all surprising to see some of these younger sons of Portincross also moving to Ireland to lease land there. I would like to know what happened to these younger children – both male and female – and did they have any family of their own? So is there anyone researching this family, I would like to hear from you please. The other question is that given that his wife died in 1621 but he did not die until 1658, could this Robert have remarried? This family goes back to the 6th generation of the Head of Clan Boyd, so anyone connected with it can go back to the first Sir Robert Boyd who was born in the 1100’s. Thank you Mike Boyd Historical Committee, HBS
Is there any kind researcher that could find for me in the census a William Gibson in around St Quivox. William married Janet Ritchie on 24th july 1841. In 1851 Janet would be around 37years old Any help would be appreciated. Alan Ritchie Gore New Zealand
This is from freecen.org and matches the births for this couple as shown on familysearch.org. Both sites are free to use. Piece: SCT1851/615 Place: Ayr -Ayrshire Enumeration District: 2 Civil Parish: Stevenston Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: Stevenston Folio: 0 Page: 6 Schedule: 25 Address: J Campbell's Land Surname First name(s) Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks GIBSON William Head M M 45 Agricultural Labourer Ayrshire - Stevenston GIBSON Janet Wife M F 35 Wife Of Agricultural Labourer Ayrshire - Ayr GIBSON Margret Dau - F 6 Scholar Ayrshire - Stevenston GIBSON Allan Son - M 4 Ayrshire - Stevenston GIBSON John Son - M 1 Ayrshire - Stevenston On Sat, Jan 2, 2016 at 7:35 PM, Alan Ritchie via <ayrshire@rootsweb.com> wrote: > Is there any kind researcher that could find for me in the census a > William Gibson in around St Quivox. William married Janet Ritchie on 24th > july 1841. In 1851 Janet would be around 37years old Any help would be > appreciated. > > Alan Ritchie Gore New Zealand > >
. I am researching the RITCHIE family from LAIGH BLACKWOOD east of KILMARNOCK and near MOSCOW . JAMES RITCHIE married MARGARET HIGHET on the 12 june 1827 at KILMARNOCK The family consists of JANET married ANDREW TAYLOR of SHAWWOOD near CATRINE ,MARION who married ALEXANDER FERGUSON of NETHER AUCHINTIBER near KILWINNING ,HELEN who married WILLIAM BURNIE of CROSSHILL,MARGARET born 1833,JOHN who married AGNES MUIR of BRASIDE BUNTINES-LAW,WILLIAM who married AGNES DUNLOP of BEANSBURN ,JEAN married JAMES KENYON and they travelled to NEW ZEALAND,JAMES married ELIZABETH PRYDE in NEW ZEALAND ,ELIZABETH who married WILLIAM McCAA (McCAW)of GARRALLAN . It would be great if there is a connection with some other family group, ALAN RITCHIE
Is anyone researching this Boyd Maxwell family? M2 Elizabeth Boyd, bc / /1579 (town, county, Scot.), d / /16xx, (town, county, Scot.), bu , m / /159x (church, town, county, etc), Patrick Maxwell, son of Hugh Maxwell and ??????, b / /157x, d / /1623, bu Cathedral Churchyard, Glasgow, (a) and had issue:- [Lived: ] Details? (a) From Family Records, By Robert Reid of East Balgary & Caldwell, Irvine, 1912, page 26, said he died “1623”. I have seen this grave against the fence on the right hand side of the Cathedral. He was called Maxwell of Auldhall – I think? (Mike Boyd) NEED TO FIND DETAILS. - From the 1994 IGI for the UK Bessy BOYD (F)............ B: Abt 1575 B: 20 Oct 1928 SLAKE F#: 183525 @ Rel: Ralph MAXWELL , , Scotland E: Pre-1970 P#: 200 (no parents listed) SP: Pre-1970 O#: 6986 Bessie BOYD (F)................ B: 1585 B: 23 Feb 1929 ARIZO F#: 170636 @ Rel: William Baley MAXWELL , , Scotland E: Pre-1970 P#: 538 (no parents listed) SP: Pre-1970 O#: 23801 I am mot sure where Auldhall is located, but Patrick was a merchant in Glasgow and was buried in 1623 the Cathedral Churchyard in Glasgow. His grave is halfway down the fence on the right hand side as look at the Cathedral from the Road. I assume that two different Maxwell researchers in the 1928 and 1929 were researching this family. I would like to find the descendants of Bessie and Patrick. Thank you Mike Boyd
During my recent trip to the Burns Centre at Kilmarnock, I found this book above. They did not appear to have Volume One! Has anyone seen Volume One and what does it contain? Thank you Mike Boyd Brisbane
During my recent trip to the Burns Centre at Kilmarnock, I found the book The Scottish Covenanters, by James Barr, 1946, which said that Lord Boyd, the patron, was an unbending royalist, and he long resisted the settlement of William Guthrie’s ministry. I know that Fenwick was in the Muir of Rowalan Lands, so why would Lord Boyd be its Patron? Thank you Mike Boyd Brisbane, Aust.
Fenwick was divided off of Kilmarnock in 1643 as a new parish. It was even originally called "New Kilmarnock" until the local name of Fenwick prevailed. If Boyd was the Patron of Kilmarnock Parish, he may have been the original patron at Fenwick. Ken C. In a message dated 12/29/2015 5:03:32 P.M. Mountain Standard Time, ayrshire@rootsweb.com writes: During my recent trip to the Burns Centre at Kilmarnock, I found the book The Scottish Covenanters, by James Barr, 1946, which said that Lord Boyd, the patron, was an unbending royalist, and he long resisted the settlement of William Guthrie’s ministry. I know that Fenwick was in the Muir of Rowalan Lands, so why would Lord Boyd be its Patron? Thank you Mike Boyd Brisbane, Aust. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to AYRSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message
According to the history of West Kilbride Parish Church (formerly St. Bride's now St.Andrew's), it has been around since at least the Reformation. Barony church was a United Presbyterian building. Elizabeth Russon On Monday, December 28, 2015 3:05 AM, "ayrshire-request@rootsweb.com" <ayrshire-request@rootsweb.com> wrote: Today's Topics: 1. Boyd of Portincross - 15 Robert Boyds in one tomb within the parish Church of West Kilbride (Mike Boyd) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2015 08:43:03 +1000 From: "Mike Boyd" <mikejboyd@bigpond.com> Subject: [AYR] Boyd of Portincross - 15 Robert Boyds in one tomb within the parish Church of West Kilbride To: <AYRSHIRE@rootsweb.com>, <boyd@rootsweb.com> Message-ID: <C49B9B678F564AD690D8F246F215B892@MichaelPC> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" During my recent trip to Scotland, I looked up the book A Genealogical Account of the Principal Families in Ayrshire More Particularly in Cunninghame, by George Robertson, Vol I, 1823 again Under Boyd of Portincross on page 112, it says ?It is rather remarkable that, prior to the last mentioned date [1712], all the lairds of Portincross appear to have been of the name Robert: and this observation is corroborated by a tradition still remembered in the neighbourhood of ttheir ancient residence, the castle of Portincross, viz that fifteen individuals of that name and family were interred in one tomb, within the parish Church of West Kilbryde.? It is known that Robert the Bruce gave the then Head of Clan Boyd these lands in 1306, but it is not until 1372, or the 6th generation, that Robert Boyd is mentioned as being of Portincross. He was brother to Sir Thomas Boyd, third Feudal Baron of Kilmarnock. So we are looking at a period from 1372 to 1712. The term ?one tomb, within the parish Church of West Kilbryde? Does the ?within the parish Church? mean that this family were actually buried inside the Church? The second question is from 1372 to 1712, where was the Parish Church of West Kilbride? I do not THINK it is the old Barony Church, (now used as a community hall) as it looks like it was built in the late 1700?s or 1800?s. So what site might have been used a a Church prior to the Barony Church? And does this site still exist in West Kilbride? (Or will someone find a hole in their cellar, one of these days which has 15 bodies in it?) Thank you for any information Mike Boyd Brisbane, Aust. ------------------------------ To contact the AYRSHIRE list administrator, send an email to AYRSHIRE-admin@rootsweb.com. To post a message to the AYRSHIRE mailing list, send an email to AYRSHIRE@rootsweb.com. __________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to AYRSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word "unsubscribe" without the quotes in the subject and the body of the email with no additional text. End of AYRSHIRE Digest, Vol 10, Issue 137 *****************************************
Mike, 1. Yes, one tomb withing the parish church suggest a family vault in the crypt. 2. http://westkilbrideparishchurch.org.uk/history/ this might help Nuala On 27/12/2015 22:43, Mike Boyd via wrote: > During my recent trip to Scotland, I looked up the book A Genealogical Account of the Principal Families in Ayrshire More Particularly in Cunninghame, by George Robertson, Vol I, 1823 again > > Under Boyd of Portincross on page 112, it says > > “It is rather remarkable that, prior to the last mentioned date [1712], all the lairds of Portincross appear to have been of the name Robert: and this observation is corroborated by a tradition still remembered in the neighbourhood of ttheir ancient residence, the castle of Portincross, viz that fifteen individuals of that name and family were interred in one tomb, within the parish Church of West Kilbryde.” > > It is known that Robert the Bruce gave the then Head of Clan Boyd these lands in 1306, but it is not until 1372, or the 6th generation, that Robert Boyd is mentioned as being of Portincross. He was brother to Sir Thomas Boyd, third Feudal Baron of Kilmarnock. > > So we are looking at a period from 1372 to 1712. > > The term “one tomb, within the parish Church of West Kilbryde” > > Does the “within the parish Church” mean that this family were actually buried inside the Church? > > The second question is from 1372 to 1712, where was the Parish Church of West Kilbride? I do not THINK it is the old Barony Church, (now used as a community hall) as it looks like it was built in the late 1700’s or 1800’s. So what site might have been used a a Church prior to the Barony Church? And does this site still exist in West Kilbride? (Or will someone find a hole in their cellar, one of these days which has 15 bodies in it?) > > Thank you for any information > > Mike Boyd > Brisbane, Aust. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to AYRSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message
During my recent trip to Scotland, I looked up the book A Genealogical Account of the Principal Families in Ayrshire More Particularly in Cunninghame, by George Robertson, Vol I, 1823 again Under Boyd of Portincross on page 112, it says “It is rather remarkable that, prior to the last mentioned date [1712], all the lairds of Portincross appear to have been of the name Robert: and this observation is corroborated by a tradition still remembered in the neighbourhood of ttheir ancient residence, the castle of Portincross, viz that fifteen individuals of that name and family were interred in one tomb, within the parish Church of West Kilbryde.” It is known that Robert the Bruce gave the then Head of Clan Boyd these lands in 1306, but it is not until 1372, or the 6th generation, that Robert Boyd is mentioned as being of Portincross. He was brother to Sir Thomas Boyd, third Feudal Baron of Kilmarnock. So we are looking at a period from 1372 to 1712. The term “one tomb, within the parish Church of West Kilbryde” Does the “within the parish Church” mean that this family were actually buried inside the Church? The second question is from 1372 to 1712, where was the Parish Church of West Kilbride? I do not THINK it is the old Barony Church, (now used as a community hall) as it looks like it was built in the late 1700’s or 1800’s. So what site might have been used a a Church prior to the Barony Church? And does this site still exist in West Kilbride? (Or will someone find a hole in their cellar, one of these days which has 15 bodies in it?) Thank you for any information Mike Boyd Brisbane, Aust.
Ach, I have at least 3 ancestors with whom I would like to talk with for a day. 1) My GGGgrandfather, John McQueen, who fought under the future Lord Wellington in the 74th Infantry of Foot in Spain in the Peninsular War:http://www.pbase.com/cjmax/image/147656074 2) My GGgrandfather, Robert "Red Robin" Johnston, who married John McQueen's daughter, Mary McQueen:http://www.pbase.com/cjmax/image/39350512 3) and lastly, but certainly not the least, John Johnstoun who founded our Johnston line in Scotland which gave rise to Clan Johnston/e. Then I could die happy :-) Cliff. On Friday, December 18, 2015 5:21 AM, em.paton86 via <ayrshire@rootsweb.com> wrote: Thank you for that Peter, There are quite a few of my ancestors I'd like to invite - and they may not get on too well together! But who knows? It is a lovely idea. I'll choose GG-Grandmother Mary McNeill from Gigha - I would love too know more about how/when she reached Ayrshire and whether she was able to go home for visits. There are also Welsh ancestors but this is the Ayrshire list. Merry Christmas! Mary Bigger. Stronger. Faster. Sign up for a New Free Email Account at http://myemail.com/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to AYRSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message
Jennifer Many Scottish Historians and Genealogist have the Stewart and Boyd relationship WRONG. Walter Stewart and Simon Boyd were Step Brothers not brothers. They had a common mother but separate fathers. The Boyd DNA, I am told does not match the Stewart DNA. Mike Boyd -----Original Message----- From: Jennifer Myers Sent: Monday, December 21, 2015 7:51 PM To: Mike Boyd ; AYRSHIRE@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [AYR] "The Clans, Septs, and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands",by Frank Adam Mike, my old Kith & Kin denotes... (Surname) = BOYD, (Clan or District) = Ayrshire 13th c, (Source) = STEWART (Stewart Earldoms of Angus, Lennox and Galloway). Septs: There are 20 Septs of this particular STEWART which includes BOYD. This is different to Stewart of Appin and Stewart of Atholl whose Septs do not include Boyd. Don't know if this helps you... if you don't have a Kith & Kin, most libraries have it. Merry Christmas, Jenny
Mike, my old Kith & Kin denotes... (Surname) = BOYD, (Clan or District) = Ayrshire 13th c, (Source) = STEWART (Stewart Earldoms of Angus, Lennox and Galloway). Septs: There are 20 Septs of this particular STEWART which includes BOYD. This is different to Stewart of Appin and Stewart of Atholl whose Septs do not include Boyd. Don't know if this helps you... if you don't have a Kith & Kin, most libraries have it. Merry Christmas, Jenny -----Original Message----- From: Mike Boyd via Sent: Monday, December 21, 2015 6:52 PM To: AYRSHIRE@rootsweb.com ; sct-renfrew@rootsweb.com Subject: [AYR] "The Clans, Septs, and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands",by Frank Adam In the contents of the above book it has a Chapter called:- “The Septs of the Highland Clans.” Has anyone seen a similar book, that might have Septs of the Lowland Clans? In Clan Boyd, even though the name started in 1111 A. D. – according to King George II in 1746 when he executed the 4th Earl of Kilmarnock, William Boyd and did his family tree. But there was no outline of the various Cadet Branches or Septs of Boyd given. Thank you Mike Boyd Brisbane, Aust. . ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to AYRSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus
In the contents of the above book it has a Chapter called:- “The Septs of the Highland Clans.” Has anyone seen a similar book, that might have Septs of the Lowland Clans? In Clan Boyd, even though the name started in 1111 A. D. – according to King George II in 1746 when he executed the 4th Earl of Kilmarnock, William Boyd and did his family tree. But there was no outline of the various Cadet Branches or Septs of Boyd given. Thank you Mike Boyd Brisbane, Aust. .
I would invite my 2x grandfather Adam SCOTT (1835-1915) from Windsor Mills and his wife my2x grandmother Catherine Elizabeth HICKEY(1840-1928). Adam was bn in New Cumnock Scot and immi to eastern Townships in 1851 with his parents and siblings plus various other family members ie Farquhar's, Wilson's. He travelled from Windsor Mills to Bangor Maine, USA (I don't know why, originally?) by horse an after lets say 2-3 trips married my 2xgrandmothe Katie (Catherine) she was bn in either Limerick or Dublin (?) she travelled by ship in 1850 to eastern seaboard with sister Ann bn 1835, to meet their father William. William was a fisherman and died at sea eventually, Ann married a ? MARTIN and lived in Maine; and in 1860 Katie marr Adam in Augusta then moved to Windsor Mills and farmed then rest of their lives. They lived thru hard times Scarlet fever, drownings, fires, births and deaths. One of their dau became my gr grandmother Elizabeth Catherine (Lizzy) Scott (1869-1901). I would like to hear of their homelands, their day to day activities. I would like to know them and understand them. I want them to know me and my family, my ancestors and descendents. My husband would cook a nice meal, and they could talk about their early Christmases. What a day that would be, especially if Lizzy stopped in! Eliz'th Argall-Andrews Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
I would like to invite my 3xgreat grandfather John BOYD, and his wife Janet McMillan. I know very little about this couple, except that John was named as a Pilot on his daughter Elizabeth's (born Troon c1834) my 2x great grandmother) 1861 Ayr Marriage record. I'm guessing it wasn't Concord ???? - but it seems he would have been working out of Troon. As you can imagine, I have lots of questions for them, and would like them to meet their descendants! The Boyd surname has carried on down through to my Grandmother! Have a great Christmas everyone! ???????????????? Thanks Jeanne NZ Sent from my iPad > On 19/12/2015, at 9:00 pm, ayrshire-request@rootsweb.com wrote: > > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: WHO WOULD YOU INVITE TO CHRISTMAS DINNER > (em.paton86@iinet.net.au) > 2. Who I would Imvite for Christmas Dinner (The Pools) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2015 06:18:30 -0500 > From: em.paton86@iinet.net.au > Subject: Re: [AYR] WHO WOULD YOU INVITE TO CHRISTMAS DINNER > To: Peter STRAUSS <p.strauss@iinet.net.au>, <PASCHUYL@rootsweb.com>, > <isle-of-man@rootsweb.com>, <AYRSHIRE@rootsweb.com>, > <new-zealand@rootsweb.com> > Message-ID: <5673eb86.ed.cd3b.1192238948@ml3.myemail.com> > > > > > Thank you for that Peter, > > There are quite a few of my ancestors I'd like to invite - > and they may not get on too well together! But who knows? It > is a lovely idea. > > I'll choose GG-Grandmother Mary McNeill from Gigha - I would > love too know more about how/when she reached Ayrshire and > whether she was able to go home for visits. There are also > Welsh ancestors but this is the Ayrshire list. > > Merry Christmas! > Mary > > > Bigger. Stronger. Faster. > Sign up for a New Free Email Account at http://MyEmail.com > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2015 15:01:33 +1300 > From: "The Pools" <p.ml.pool@xtra.co.nz> > Subject: [AYR] Who I would Imvite for Christmas Dinner > To: "Aryshire roots" <ayrshire@rootsweb.com> > Message-ID: <9C3F5FE1745849498959679C4CE3BAD8@Margaret> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > I would invite my gg grandmothe Margaret McIntyre who was born in the Fort William area c 1833, she married Angus McMillan in 1849 and soon after set sail to New Zealand. > Margaret had 5 children and sadly died of TB 1859. > > I have chosen Margaret because she is the ancestor I know the least about and I would be asking her all about her family, hoping she would?nt think I was too nosey. > > Second choice would be John Mackie b c 1770 Ayr, and his wife Annie Young b c 1775 Lochwinnoch, because I cannot get my research back beyond these people. > > Merry Christmas everyone and may 2016 solve all your genealogical problems. > > Margaret > NZ > > ------------------------------ > > To contact the AYRSHIRE list administrator, send an email to > AYRSHIRE-admin@rootsweb.com. > > To post a message to the AYRSHIRE mailing list, send an email to AYRSHIRE@rootsweb.com. > > __________________________________________________________ > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to AYRSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com > with the word "unsubscribe" without the quotes in the subject and the body of the > email with no additional text. > > > End of AYRSHIRE Digest, Vol 10, Issue 132 > *****************************************
I would invite my gg grandmothe Margaret McIntyre who was born in the Fort William area c 1833, she married Angus McMillan in 1849 and soon after set sail to New Zealand. Margaret had 5 children and sadly died of TB 1859. I have chosen Margaret because she is the ancestor I know the least about and I would be asking her all about her family, hoping she would’nt think I was too nosey. Second choice would be John Mackie b c 1770 Ayr, and his wife Annie Young b c 1775 Lochwinnoch, because I cannot get my research back beyond these people. Merry Christmas everyone and may 2016 solve all your genealogical problems. Margaret NZ
I would invite my Stevenson family from the Dunlop area of Ayrshire. I would particularly like to know when they went to County Down, and which of them stayed. I have gone back as far as James Stevenson, who farmed in Townland of Lisnafiffy (I haven't any dates for him), because my great-great grandfather, Thomas Stevenson, was born there in 1826. Thomas' son, Robert (born in the Townland of Drumnagally), came to Canada in 1887 with his wife's family, the Anthonys from the Townland of Ballykelly. This family is rather fragmented, as I suspect James had three wives over the years. With the Irish records in particular, they have been very hard to trace. Have a very Merry Christmas everyone. Best wishes Kathy Stevenson Elmira, Ontario, Canada
A County Down List that I am on came up with the idea of Who of your ancestors would you invite for Christmas dinner. I thought that this was an idea that may be of interest on other lists so I have posed it here and included my suggested ancestor. The question was:- If you were given the opportunity, which of your ancestors would you most like to invite to your Christmas dinner to talk about their life? My suggestion was :- I have an Irish convict GGG grandmother Sarah Lynchey, sentenced on the Isle of Man to 14 years transportation, she arrived in Australia in 1835 with three of her 5 children one became my GG grandmother. >From several documents Sarah was born C 1785 in County Down and she is listed as a County Down Convict by the County Down Museum. >From a Dissenter Baptism on the Isle of Man her husband appears as Michael Lynchy and her maiden name as Mullan. A misspelt Michael Lynchey is recorded as dying in a cholera outbreak on the Isle of Man in 1832 and Sarah is recorded as a widow in her trial in 1835 and on the Convict Indent. Sarahs death in New South Wales lists her maiden name as Mullins. With a son Thomas who was also transported Sarah was convicted of stealing £34-2-0, about a week later she was arrested with £27-10-0; it cost the British Government £8-5-3 for the trial of Sarah and Thomas and a further £31-0-9 to move Sarah and three children to the Thames for transportation-OH the cost of justice Lord Melbourne gave permission for Sarah to take with her male children to the age 8 years and female children to the age of 12 years. How children that young would support themselves is hard to imagine. Sarah was granted her freedom on 06/04/1848 and seems to have lived with her elder daughter until she died in 1860. Sarah was buried in the Devonshire Street or Sandhills Cemetery in Sydney. This cemetery became the site of Sydneys Central Railway Station and many burials were reinterred at other Sydney cemeteries; Sarah is not listed as being one of the burials moved and like many others apparently now lies below this large rail terminal. When I think of the countless times I travelled to or through Central in my younger years, and walked through the pedestrian tunnel that is approximately where Devonshire St. was I wish I had known and could have thought of Sarah at the time. At Christmas dinner we could discuss so many things in her life that I wish I knew. I could tell her what I know of her descendents, citizen soldiers some of whom died on the Western Front or served in the Pacific. Farmers, business men, engineers, teachers and a host of other occupations in this new land. Mostly I would like to thank her for her fortitude in times more difficult than we today can imagine and for her contribution to what has become a fortunate and free society Peter Strauss Melbourne Australia --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus