I posted this request a number of years ago and have never heard from anyone, so I thought I'd repost again. Al Doherty Hi! I am researching the background and family links and information regarding my great-grandfather and great-grandmother who were both from Scotland: Great-Grandfather: ------------------------- (David??) Alexander "Sandy" Docherty/Doherty, born May 24th, 1837 plus or minus one year. I'm not sure of the David, but I think my father was named after him and my father's full name was David Alexander. "Sandy" or "Sandie" was his nickname and was basically used as his given name most of his life. His name was Docherty. His gravestone says he was a "Native of Rutherglen, Scotland". There are a couple of family stories about why the name changed from Docherty to Doherty, which is its modern spelling: - When emigrating to Canada the name was mispelled by Immigration officials (like Schmidt being made Smith in the old days) on all the paper-work and Doherty just got used everywhere -- then as now the redtape to get it corrected was too much of a hassle. - The name got mispelled on all the bags/wagons/carts etc. to be used as identification for the farm, and Sandy was either too poor, or too busy to get it done over again. From that day on, the family's been known as and spelled Doherty. Great-Grandmother: -------------------------- Catherine McKechnie (nee McKillip), born February 18, 1837 plus or minus one year. I'm not sure whether there were other names than just Catherine. We always thought her maiden name was McKecknie, but I just recently found some old papers of my grandmother's which showed a maiden name of McKillip. I guess she must have been married before she and my great-grandfather got together. Her gravestone says she was a "Native of Argyleshire, Scotland". It's presently unknown when Catherine emigrated to Canada, and whether she came with Sandy or not. Family verbal history says they were married about 1860, so, if Sandy actually emigrated at 16 years of age we figure about 1853-4), they must have met and married in Canada about 1860, so I don't think there would be marriage records in Scotland. Any help in this regard would be greatly appreciated. Al Doherty (Docherty/ClanGregor/MacGregor) P.S. as follows: I was just recently supplied information from my ggm/ggf's marriage certificate records: Sandy & Catherine's marriage: ---------------------------- Found in: Ontario, Canada 1858-1869 Marriage Index Catharine McKechnie Age: 24 Birth Place: Scotland Residence: Markham Township Father: Niel McKechnie Mother: Margaret McKechnie Spouse: Dougherty, Alexander Age: 24 Birth Place: Rutherington, Scotland Residence: Markham Township Father: William Dougherty Mother: Agnes Hampsey Marriage Date: 5/29/1860 Marriage Place: Toronto County: York (Toronto) Microfilm Roll: 1030065 and 1030066 Rutherington should likely be Rutherglen Also, seems our mispelling of Doherty could have been Docherty, Dorherty, or Dougherty. All these spellings have been found on different documents referring to the same people. Catharine's gravestone says she was born in Argyllshire, Scotland. Sandy's says Rutherglen. I can only assume at this point then that perhaps McKillop was Margaret McKechnie's maiden name, and not Catharine Doherty's.