I have no reason to think Duncan left his family or that he was transported. The money collected and paid out from the Whittingehame parish poor fund specifically mentions each person receiving assistance. Some are women listed alone, or women and children, or widows and children, or orphans. For example, money was paid out to Jean Allen and daughter, in distress; Widow Douglas, Susan Nielans, Christian Bertram, Mary Brown, and Widow McCarter's children and Widow McCarter's rent. I should think the church elders were consistent in their description - either the woman was a widow or she was not. I don't know about the census takers - whether they were all consistent in their entries - or whether other parishes listed women and widows differently. Duncan disappeared or died in 1817. I don't think emigration to Australia began until 1820, and I don't know when prisoners began to be transported to Tasmania, but I think it was much later than 1817. Perhaps he could have been sent to Canada or So Africa. I suppose Duncan could have abandoned his family, but my gut feeling is that he died. Its not that important to my research as I'm looking for his lineage and will probably have to go thru collateral relatives to figure it out. It would be interesting to know though. Lynne ----- Original Message ----- From: "CandROverson" <overson12@btinternet.com> To: <midlothian@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, June 19, 2010 3:38 AM Subject: Re: [MIDLOTHIAN] Duncan M'Carter > My GGG Grandfather was transported to Tasmania for life in 1836. He was > still alive (in Tasmania) in 1853 but his wife was entered as a Widow in > the > 1851 (Cupar, Fife) Census. > > Rhoda > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jacquie" <jjjcmj@mymts.net> > To: <midlothian@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Saturday, June 19, 2010 2:21 AM > Subject: Re: [MIDLOTHIAN] Duncan M'Carter > > >> If Duncan abandoned his family would Agnes be listed as being widowed? >> >> Jacquie >> > > > > ------------------------------- > 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

Hi Lynne I think that transportation to Australia began at the end of the 18th century. But I think you are probably right that transportation to Tasmania (or Van Diemens Land as it was then) began some years later, once NSW began to get a bit full up! How certain are you that your Duncan was born in or near Dunbar? Rhoda ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lynne Ingalls" <Lynne.Ingalls@comcast.net> To: <midlothian@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, June 19, 2010 7:24 PM Subject: Re: [MIDLOTHIAN] Duncan M'Carter ...... Duncan disappeared or died in 1817. I don't think > emigration to Australia began until 1820, and I don't know when prisoners > began to be transported to Tasmania, but I think it was much later than > 1817. Perhaps he could have been sent to Canada or So Africa. > > I suppose Duncan could have abandoned his family, but my gut feeling is > that > he died. Its not that important to my research as I'm looking for his > lineage and will probably have to go thru collateral relatives to figure > it > out. It would be interesting to know though. > > Lynne > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "CandROverson" <overson12@btinternet.com> > To: <midlothian@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Saturday, June 19, 2010 3:38 AM > Subject: Re: [MIDLOTHIAN] Duncan M'Carter > > >> My GGG Grandfather was transported to Tasmania for life in 1836. He was >> still alive (in Tasmania) in 1853 but his wife was entered as a Widow in >> the >> 1851 (Cupar, Fife) Census. >> >> Rhoda >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Jacquie" <jjjcmj@mymts.net> >> To: <midlothian@rootsweb.com> >> Sent: Saturday, June 19, 2010 2:21 AM >> Subject: Re: [MIDLOTHIAN] Duncan M'Carter >> >> >>> If Duncan abandoned his family would Agnes be listed as being widowed? >>> >>> Jacquie >>> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> 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 > > > ------------------------------- > 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 >

The records at Ancestry indicated that Duncan McCarter/McArthur was transported to and died in New South Wales. The Australian Convict Transportation Records at Ancestry are dated from 1791 to 1868. The three court records I referenced seem to be the same man and the first one was dated 1818 but the transportation date wasn't until 1826. The district/parish where he died in 1836 was Liverpool which I understand is close to Sydney. Jacquie -----Original Message----- From: midlothian-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:midlothian-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Lynne Ingalls Sent: June 19, 2010 1:25 PM To: midlothian@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [MIDLOTHIAN] Duncan M'Carter Duncan disappeared or died in 1817. I don't think emigration to Australia began until 1820, and I don't know when prisoners began to be transported to Tasmania, but I think it was much later than 1817. Perhaps he could have been sent to Canada or So Africa. I suppose Duncan could have abandoned his family, but my gut feeling is that he died. Its not that important to my research as I'm looking for his lineage and will probably have to go thru collateral relatives to figure it out. It would be interesting to know though. Lynne