Have you searched variations of the name? There is a family tree submitted to the LDS site that lists the parents of Duncan McArthur/McCarter (born 10 Feb 1773 in South Leith) as Duncan McArthur (1741- 6 Mar 1777) and Margaret Drysdale. It lists both marriages you referred to. Jacquie Winnipeg, MB Canada > -------------------------------------------------- > From: "Lynne Ingalls" <Lynne.Ingalls@comcast.net> > Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 5:18 PM > To: <midlothian@rootsweb.com> > Subject: Re: [MIDLOTHIAN] Irregular marriages:Duncan M'Carter > andElisabethSimpson > Because I'm trying to find Duncan's >> parents, I am interested in where he may have originated. >> >> Lynne in Tucson >>

Hi, Jacquie - The family changed the spelling of the surname after emigrating to the U.S. On the shiplog, it was spelled Carter. Several people have submitted the names of Duncan's parents as Duncan McArthur and Margaret Drysdale, however they have no proof other than the time-frame seemed right and they found a married couple by that name. Another group of people have submitted the names Duncan McArthur and Jane Butler. There again, there is no documentation or rationale. I try to contact people who have submitted to FamilySearch to find out what they know and how they found the information. All I know so far is he had a relative named John McCarter (of Moudon or Boudon?) listed as a witness to a baptism. I did find there was a McArthur's store in Dunbar from a very early year, but I have no information about who the owners were or when. The store is now a museum, but the historical society running it has no information about the McArthur family. With regard to the other records you found about arrests and transportation, the parish expense records show that Duncan's wife, Agnes Barclay was a widow by 1817. The parish continued to support Agnes and the children until she died in 1825, and continued to support the orphans until 1827. By that time, the youngest, George McCarter would have been about 10 yrs old and may have been given an apprenticeship somewhere. All of the children except James (who emigrated) continued to spell the surname McCarter. It was only when James reached the U.S. was the spelling changed, and only by his son, John McArthur. Perhaps he thought it sounded more "American." I realize the spelling is phoenitic, and I think a "t" sounds like a "th" when pronounced in Scotland. So, I do look at all types of spelling when doing a search. I am so grateful for the outpouring of help that people on the list have shown. It is incredible. I have begun looking into the names of the witnesses to the baptisms of Duncan's children. Perhaps if I go thru the parish records name by name and try to hook up families to one another, I will find a connection. I'm intrigued that Duncan would have had two irregular marriages in a row. You'd think being rebuked and fined once would have sufficed. Perhaps its a family trait (stubborness at all costs). Thanks again, Lynne in Tucson ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jacquie" <jjjcmj@mymts.net> To: <midlothian@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, June 18, 2010 1:26 PM Subject: Re: [MIDLOTHIAN] Irregularmarriages:Duncan M'CarterandElisabethSimpson > Have you searched variations of the name? There is a family tree submitted > to the LDS site that lists the parents of Duncan McArthur/McCarter (born > 10 > Feb 1773 in South Leith) as Duncan McArthur (1741- 6 Mar 1777) and > Margaret > Drysdale. It lists both marriages you referred to. > > Jacquie > Winnipeg, MB > Canada > >> -------------------------------------------------- >> From: "Lynne Ingalls" <Lynne.Ingalls@comcast.net> >> Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 5:18 PM >> To: <midlothian@rootsweb.com> >> Subject: Re: [MIDLOTHIAN] Irregular marriages:Duncan M'Carter >> andElisabethSimpson >> > Because I'm trying to find Duncan's >>> parents, I am interested in where he may have originated. >>> >>> Lynne in Tucson >>> > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > MIDLOTHIAN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message