Mary, Ninian appears to have been an unusual Christian name in Scotland generally, but not in Bute. Gerald Hamilton-Edwards in In Search of Scottish Ancestry refers to Ninian as a hereditary unusual Christian name in the use of family of the Marquess of Bute. However in my experience it seems to have been used by other families on Bute. At a Kingarth Kirk Session meeting of 23 July 1649, for example, three of the members present were called Ninian Stewart. Therefore I don't think your family will have used the name because of a particular fashion in the eighteenth century, although someone else might know better. I can't give examples of nineteenth century use of the name, apart from Lord Ninian Crichton-Stuart, second son of the third Marquess of Bute, but I am pretty sure there were a few. Regards Madeleine Wales

I have just received the marriage transcript for my GGGrandparents. This states..... 1872 on the 31st Day of December at 8 Murray St, Glasgow After Banns according to the forms of the Baptist Church Alexr Thompson, iron moulder, journeyman, bachelor, aged 22 8 Murray St, Glasgow F: James Thomson, farmer, dec M: Margaret M/S McLean Agnes Taylor, powerloom weaver, spinster, aged 23 3 Tobago St, Glasgow F: John Taylor, shoemaker, journeyman, dec M: Agnes M/S Smith Signed: John W Ashworth, Baptist Minister Witnesses: Hugh Thompson, Annie Malcolm ____________ Spellings of Thomson/Thompson as given on record I have found Alexanders address at the time of their marriage in the 1881 Census. There are a lot of people living at this address.... Can anyone tell me what kind of 'residence' this would be with 21 Dwellings being listed at the same address? I have not been able to find a birth record for either Alexander or Agnes on Scots Origins. I have only found Patron Submitted Records on the IGI.....(Alexander in Rothesay and Agnes in Muirkirk). Would this be because they were "baptists"? I have however been able to find the Parents of Margaret MCLEAN (Alexanders mother)in Rothesay, Buteshire. My GGrandfather was John McPherson THOMPSON and Margarets mother was nee McPHERSON. The other thing that confuses me is the occupation of Alexander...marriage states iron moulder, journeyman yet John Mcphersons Birth Certificate states he was a leather cutter.... is it likely that he changed his occupation once he arrived in Middlesex?? I would be grateful for any advise or ideas. Cheers Sue Thompson Bunbury, Western Australia

My 4xgrgrandfather Ninian Baxter, weaver of Rothesay was born in Kelmahalmeg in 1764. I have noted several Ninians in other families about that time but in a departure from the naming pattern the name does not reappear in my own line at any later period. Presumably all these Ninians were named for the Saint, but did they have "fashionable" names in the 18th century as they do today? Also can anyone tell me where Kelmahalmeg is or was? It does not appear on my 1896 Ordnance Survey map. Mary H. in NZ

Does anyone know whether any book has been published about the cotton mills which existed in Bute? I would be interested in obtaining a copy if there is such a publication. Mary H. in NZ

Archie, Madeleines letter of the 9th gives some of the McCurdy/McKirdy landowners from Blains History of Bute. (It is a little difficult to know which period you refer to but hope this is of some use.) Earlier in the book the following references are found.(bits extracted as the list is rather long) In 1503, 78 additional landowners were constituted. .......... Gilchrist MacKwrerdy, the lands of Bransyer Finlay MacKwrerdy, half the lands of Landilealirech John MacKwrerdy, the half lands of Stravanan Gilchrist Mackurich, a 22s 3d land of the 5 merk land of Barone Gilchrist Makwerich, junior an 11s 5d land of the said lands of Barone Donald Makwrerdy the two thirds part of the lands of Brigadill Finlay Makwrerdy, the half lands of Kerrymanach Alexander Makwrerdy, the half of the lands of Cowlenig The spellings are as given in Blain - not my dreadful typing. The family seems to have had more than its fair share of variations. A quote from later in the book, relating to the Kingarth parish ...... Vicar McVurarthie, or, as the name is nowadays expressed, MacKirdy, was also the chaplain of Rothesay castle...... Bill

Does anybody have a little info on the MCURDYS of BUTE Especially GilKrist MaKurerdy or Gilckrist McKirdy another principal landowner of the isle of Bute These are my ancestors at the time of the Stewarts any info will be appreciated archie campbell > >

Firstly , thank you to Peter, Madeleine and Alistair. I' ll be in Bute for a few days in May so I am gleaning as much background info as I can get before I get there so I appreciate the help. Madeleine I suspect that any connection between the McKinlay in your family tree and mine would predate the start of parish records in the 1690s although I would be pleased to be corrected. One of the problems I have is that in the 150 years of records from the 1690s until my gg grandfather emigrated there are some 53 Janet McKs of whom I can only track a relationship to of about 3. There was a Mckinlay/Mckinlay marriage in 1880 but there are too few details to reliably form a good ancestral line there. The same, sadly applies I think Alistair to the letters that you have with reference to John McKinlay.(46 of them in the archives) Although my ggg grandfather was a councillor in Rothesay, the rest of the information does not seem to fit. He was a merchant and bussmaster and although he travelled widely from the north of Scotland to the north of England, was not resident anywhere else nor a comptroller of customs. Appreciate the effort all the same Regards Bill McKinlay

Posted on: Buteshire Scotland Queries Board URL: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/Scotland/Bute?read=345 Surname: Macmillan, Bannatyne ------------------------- Hi Lesley, One of the groups of Mcmillan gravestones at Lochranza is as follows (incl. spelling and abbreviations from the SGS Index): 56 (mural) by widow and chn imo Alexander Macmillan publisher, b. Irvine 3.10.1818, d. London 25.1.1896, (his grandfather Malcolm Macmillan tacksman of the North Cock) 57 by Margt Kelso imo h. Neil McMillan, Cock, d. 18(13) 41 58(next 57) by Alex McMillan of Butt Lochranza d. 1.1853 69, w. Cath Kelso 19.1.1867 84, chn. Cath 1810 15m, John 1838, 18 59 Malcolm McMillan tacksman of the North Cock aged 87 yrs, s. Malcolm 20.4.1805 25y9m, w. Janet Kerr, d. at an advanced age, s. daniel aged 76 60 by Janet McMillan 10.8.1877 80 imo stepmo. Mary Kerr innkeeper here d. 12.2.1838 69 I can't find anything in the memorial inscriptions that relates to Duncan Macmillan, however. I have just discovered in our public library an index of burials for Bute(shire) in the nineteenth century. It is accurate but the year given is not necessarily the year of death (for that I guess you have to get the LDS film). It includes: Alexander Bannatyne, Farmer, spouse: May Gray, Kilmory Parish, entry: 0023, year: 1856, LDSfilm: 0256423. Catherine Bannatyne, Deceased, spouse: Donald McMillan, Kilmory Parich, entry: 0019, year 1856, LDSfilm 0256423. Elizabeth Bannatyne, 78, spouse: ? McMillan, Kilmory Parish, entry: 0023, year: 1856, LDSfilm: 0256423. Elizabeth Bannatyne, Deceased, spouse: Robert McMillan, Lochranza Parish, entry: 0019, 1872, LDSfilm: 0300324 McMillan, Donald, Deceased Farmer, spouse: Catherine Bannatyne, Kilmory Parish, entry: 0019, year: 1856, LDSfilm: 0256423 A good book about the Arran Macmillans may be Charles Morgan, "The House of Mcmillan, 1843-1943", London, 1943. Hope this is of some help. Regards Peter

I have three letters signed by John Mackinlay. The first is dated 6 Oct 1849 and starts: My Dear Sir, I have today received your letter of yesterday relative to a claim by the heirs of the late Mrs Mcgregor to the ground immediately in front of her house in Croft Spagoch. I have a perfect recollection of all the locality thereabout which formed the playground of my boyhood, before the present road was formed..................... It is signed John Mackinlay (Comptroller of Customs Whitehaven & formerly Councillor & Baillie of Rothesay) If this is of any interest let me know - He mentions a son, Tom, I think Regards Alistair

Posted on: Buteshire Scotland Queries Board URL: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/Scotland/Bute?read=344 Surname: ------------------------- Hi Peter, Have finally made the trip to Edinburgh and found the following information. Robert McMillan,age 79,died on 26th.February 1856, [not 1836, as recorded in the memorial inscription]at Tormore.He was the son of Donald Mcmillan,farmer and Cathr. Bannatyne.The death was recorded by his son Charles McMillan. Elizabeth McMillan, age78, died on 25th. March 1856,[not 1836, as recorded in the memorial inscription]at Tormore.She was the daughter of Alexander Bannatyne,farmer and May Gray. The death was recorded by her son Ronald McMillan. I also have managed to obtain more infomation on the famous Macmillans. In relation to this have you come across Malcolm Macmillan and Janet Kerr or Duncan Macmillan and Katherine Crawford in your memorial inscriptions for Lochranza or Corrie.The g.grandfather of Harold Macmillan left Arran in 1816. Hope this is of interest to you. Regards , Lesley

Thanks Peter Really appreciated the help. Bill

I have lots of Taylors (from Isle of Arran) also John McCairns/Cairns and his son William Cairns ( b 1907) (they also link with Isle of Arran).Kevin Herring, Bowral NSW Australia. ----- Original Message ----- From: Janelle <aurora@dynamite.com.au> To: <ButeshireGenWeb-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, April 10, 2000 11:21 AM Subject: Rothesay Names > Hi Listers > > Does anybody have any connection with the following names in Bute? > > HALLIDAY > CURRIE > MILLER > MENZIES > TAYLOR > BARR > EWING > CAIRNS > > Janelle > Canberra, Australia > aurora@dynamite.com.au > Researching Davie, Halliday, Barr, Taylor, Menzies > >

I have a query that perhaps someone may be able to help me with. For at least three generations from at least the 1690s through to the 1750s my ancestors were tenant farmers from Glenchromag - this is just one of the spellings - and I wonder if anyone is able to tell me where it may have been located. All I have been able to determine is that it was within the parish of Rothesay which covered the northern 2/3rds of Bute and was a treeless area. Not a lot to go on. Are there any maps still in existence that showed properties etc.? cheers Bill McKinlay

Hi Listers Does anybody have any connection with the following names in Bute? HALLIDAY CURRIE MILLER MENZIES TAYLOR BARR EWING CAIRNS Janelle Canberra, Australia aurora@dynamite.com.au Researching Davie, Halliday, Barr, Taylor, Menzies

Hi Listers Reposting my interests for Bute. Daniel TAYLOR with parents James TAYLOR and Mary SHARP (of Skipness, I think). Captain Daniel TAYLOR died at 4 Craigmore, Rothesay on 24 July 1868, age 75. His daughter, Ann JACKSON, of 70 Taylor Street, Glasgow, was the informant. Also, his wife - Barbara BARR with parents Robert BARR and Ann (aka Isobel) BARR who died at 620 Rutherglen Road, Glasgow on 16 November 1883, age 92. Her daughter, Ann JACKSON, was the informant. Daniel TAYLOR and Barbara BARR married in Rothesay, Bute on 24 March 1817. Daniel's Death Certificate states he was a Ship Master with the Merchant Service. Janelle Canberra, Australia aurora@dynamite.com.au Researching Davie, Halliday, Barr, Taylor, Menzies

Richard -- I will be more than happy to perforn a lookup for you. Just give me a few days. By the way, I am just down the road from you in Campbellville !! Cheers, John > -----Original Message----- > From: Richard MacNeil [mailto:rick.macneil@sympatico.ca] > Sent: Sunday, April 09, 2000 10:46 AM > To: ButeshireGenWeb-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: History of the County of Bute > > > Hello listers, > > Any chance someone might know where I can buy or get a look up in the > following book: > > History of the County of Bute, and Families Connected Therewith > by John Eaton Reid (Main Author) > Published 1864, Glasgow, Scotland by T. Murry > > I've been at my brick wall trying to find parentage of ggg grandfather > Robert MacNeill (or spelling var.) born in early 1790s, possibly at > Rothesay, Bute. He turned in up in Nova Scotia, Canada in 1821 to marry > Mary Crowe. His parents were possibly John MacNeill and Isobel > Gilchrist. > > Thanks in advance, > Rick MacNeil > Toronto, Canada > >

Posted on: Buteshire Scotland Queries Board URL: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/Scotland/Bute?read=343 Surname: MacLeod, MacGregor, Horn ------------------------- Looking for family from Wick,County Caithness.Isabella and Neal MacLeod[lost at sea]had 5 children---William,Kate,Isabella,Nealina,Johan.Nealina and Johan came to Canada. The rest stayed in Scotland.Isabella MacLeod married a man named Manson after loss of husband and came to Canada.No info. on remaining fam. in U.K. MacGregor---Only know 2 of many children--John and Seaney[could be short for Alexanderina]Any help is appreciated.

Hello listers, Any chance someone might know where I can buy or get a look up in the following book: History of the County of Bute, and Families Connected Therewith by John Eaton Reid (Main Author) Published 1864, Glasgow, Scotland by T. Murry I've been at my brick wall trying to find parentage of ggg grandfather Robert MacNeill (or spelling var.) born in early 1790s, possibly at Rothesay, Bute. He turned in up in Nova Scotia, Canada in 1821 to marry Mary Crowe. His parents were possibly John MacNeill and Isobel Gilchrist. Thanks in advance, Rick MacNeil Toronto, Canada

Many, many thanks to Madeleine, Bill and Daphne for taking the time to respond to my request for additional information. I have been a subscriber to this list for a number of months now, and I'm continuously impressed with all of the members' efforts to help each other. You are a wonderful group! Daphne has asked why/how the ownership of the island by the two Clans would obscure my research. I can only answer that I don't know that it would, but I'm looking for any and all clues. Regarding research on the Glass family, I'm faced with the same problem we genealogist have seen time and again - family oral tradition says one thing, but the evidence seems to be pointing in a different direction. Please bear with me a minute while I explain the issues; maybe some of you have run up against the same thing and can provide some advice. What I've been told: 1. The family is a Sept of Stuart of Bute (some Clan websites include the Glass family as a Sept; others don't) 2. The first Glass in the US arrived shortly after the American Revolution. What I've found: 1. This "first" Glass, Alexander, was born in 1752 and appears in the 1790 South Carolina census. By 1800 he was living in North Carolina and remained there until his death. 2. His first child was born in 1780 in South Carolina. Since the Battle of Yorktown, the decisive battle of the American Revolution, wasn't fought until 1781, this would suggest Alexander was here prior to the end of the Revolution. 3. In researching the Glass family neighbors and the families they married into, I've found most fought in the Revolution and migrated from Pennsylvania to North Carolina. Further, they were Scots-Irish. 4. Many Scots-Irish settled in North Carolina. So, did my Glass ancestor come here directly from Scotland, or did he come here from Northern Ireland? And if he came from Northern Ireland, where in Northern Ireland? And how long had the family been in Northern Ireland? If they were one of the first waves of Scots to move there, they could have been in Northern Ireland 100 years before coming to North America! Do I chase a Bute connection right through the time the first Glass supposedly arrived here? Or do I look at the circumstantial evidence of where his neighbors came from and start looking in Northern Ireland (where?) and backtrack from there? If any of you Bute researchers have ancestors who went to Northern Ireland, I would love to know the specifics. When did they leave? Where did they settle? How did you go about finding them? I'm not too proud to say I'm really struggling here! Madeleine - Yes, please! I would love to have the details of the Glass MIs at Rothesay and Kingarth! Daphne - I have searched the Internet in the past for a Clan genealogist, but have come up empty-handed. If you can point me towards a person or website, I would be very grateful. Once more, a million thanks to all of you for your time, enthusiasm, and willingness to help - Candy Cox Charlotte, North Carolina

MSl29@aol.com wrote: > > Candy, > > I started to try to answer your question about the "Campbell/Stuart Bute > split" but quickly realised it was sadly outside my capabilities:-( Hopefully > someone else will step forward. I did dig out some other information that > might be of interest. > > The name of Stuart, Scotland's royal dynasty, is intertwined with the history > of Bute. The family name of the current Marquess of Bute, who lives on the > island, is Crichton-Stuart (the Crichton was added in the early 19th century > because of a marriage). The Crichton-Stuart family can trace their ancestry > back to the 12th century. By 1204, these Stuarts held lands in Bute. In 1315 > Walter Stuart married the daughter of Robert the Bruce, their son becoming > Robert II, the first Stuart king. Robert had 13 children by two marriages and > eight out of wedlock. A John Stuart was appointed hereditary Sheriff of Bute > in 1385 and granted certain lands on the island, but it is uncertain whether > he was one of Robert's second family or one of the illegitimate. The family > was given various hereditary titles over the centuries and continued to > prosper. Most of the island is now owned by the Marquess. > > The ancient family of Bannatyne, originally from Ayrshire, occupied the 14th > century Kames Castle at the north end of Bute. At one time the family had 11 > estates throughout Scotland, although Kames was always the main one. The > last of the direct line of Bannatynes, James, died in 1786. He was succeeded > by his nephew, William Mcleod, who took the name Bannatyne. The estate was > sold in 1812. > > The name Glass appears to be an old one on Bute. It is mentioned in 17th > century records for Kingarth, for example, and in the 1660s a John Glass was > the provost of Rothesay. A list of landholders in the island in 1657 > includes John Glass, portioner of Mid-Ascog. There are Glass tombstones at > Rothesay and Kingarth. > > I *think* the Campbell/Stuart split referred to might be to do with a > document called the National Covenant and also loyalties during the English > Civil War. The Campbells, led by the Duke of Argyll, supported the Covenant > and fought against the king. I believe the Stuarts of Bute were loyalists, > but I am not sure of this. Can someone help me out here? > > As you may know, Charles I (1625-49), raised in England, had little > understanding of Scottish religious reformism and believed in the divine > right of kings. In 1637 he attempted to impose a new prayer book on the Kirk. > The reformers in Scotland denounced his changes as Popery and organised the > National Covenant, a religious pledge that committed the signatories to > "labour by all means lawful to recover the purity and liberty of the Gospel > as it was established and professed." Bute on the whole supported the > Covenant. Hector Bannatyne of Kames signed as a representative of the > landowners of Bute and Matthew Spence for the burgesses of Rothesay. > > As far as I know the Campbells had no family ties to Bute, but I'm prepared > to be corrected on that. There were various Campbell raids on the island. > During the 1685 rebellion the followers of the Duke of Argyll overran Bute, > plundered the town of Rothesay and burned Rothesay Castle, after which it > remained ruined and uninhabitable. > > Most of my information on the Bute families comes from The Isle of Bute by > Norman S Newton (published by David and Charles ISBN 1 898630 00, £7.99). > This is basically a guide book but it gives a good overview of Bute history > and has stunning pictures of the island. The Island of Bute by Ian S Munro > (David and Charles ISBN 0 7153 6081) is also basically a travel book, but > goes into a little more detail about the island's history. It is out of print > but you might be able to get it through a library. > > As you may know, In Search of Scottish Ancestry by Gerald Hamilton-Edwards > (Phillimore) has a good introduction to Scottish history and explains about > the Covenanters etc. I also find Scotland The Rough Guide handy for its > general information on Scotland as well as its explanation of the historical > framework. > > I hope you find your Glass connection to Bute :-) I also hope I'm not going > to regret stepping outside my area of limited knowledge into this fascinating > but complicated period of Scottish history. Fingers crossed but I wait to be > corrected ... > > Regards > Madeleine > Wales > > In a message dated 4/6/00 11:19:44 AM GMT Daylight Time, ccox@carolina.rr.com > writes: > > << Recently Daphne Kilbourn-Jacob posted some information in which she > mentioned the Campbell and Stuart Septs split Bute. I am woefully uninformed > on the history of Bute and was wondering if someone could give me some > background on this split. > > I'm told my family (Glass) was a Sept of Stuart of Bute, so am wondering > how/if this split impacted my (so far, unsuccessful) search for Bute > ancestors. >> Dear Madeleine, Candy and others, My information on the "split" of Bute by the Campbell and Stuart Clans comes from a clan map in A. MacLean's "A Concise History of Scotland". Unfortunately, my copy is in Vermont so I can't give the p. or ISBN numbers. It appears that the two clans owned the land, if I remember right, the Campbells in the north and the Stuarts in the south, I also don't remember the time frame. Sorry to be so vague but I will try to get the correct information and pass it along. Meanwhile, MacLean's book has a pretty good overview of Scotland, is in paperback and can be found in most used bookstores. It gives highlights which can be explored in greater depth by scholars who specialize in specific areas and subjects. Madeleine, I wonder if you could give me an address or bookseller of the book "The Isle of Bute". I would love to purchase it, hopefully in the US. And Candy, I don't see how the ownership of the Island by the 2 Clans would obscure your search for your ancestors. If anything, they may have been septs of one clan or the other and would therefore be listed on their webpages. Might be easier to check, then if you find them, contact the Clan Genealogist for further information. My Bannatyne ancestry dates back to Bute and I am a direct descendant. My immigrant ancestor was William Ballantine, b. 1627, came to Boston, Mass. just about 1650 or before. The line mentioned in an earlier post may not have died out in the late 1700's but I'm pursuing several new leads on Wm.'s place of birth and parentage, as he apparently lied about these in the New World and may have been a secret Jacobite (Stuart), while the family was a sept of the Campbells. Wish I could be more precise but illness has prevented me from being more active in gathering primary documents, as well as part of my own references. Hope this helps a little and doesn't confuse people further. I would be happy to present verification or new material as I get it. Meanwhile, anyone on the list who can give information on the Bannatyne family pre-1650, in Kames would have my gratitude. Daphne Jacob