Further notes to my earlier post: Still searching McLean (aka MacLean) from Invernesshire.... William McLean came to Nova Scotia in 1801 from Scotland as a boy. Searching on the Dove, no boy named William. Another ship that left Fort William at the same time, The Sarah, lists a group of McLeans on their ship as follows: Wm. McLean, Farmer; with Margaret McLean Don McLean, Laborer; with Mary McLean; Kath. McLean John McLean (10), William McLean (8) - this boy being my great great great grandfather. Our previous assumptions have been that, given the traditional Scottish naming patterns and the way in which William (aka the boy) later named HIS children, Don McLean would be the father of our William, with the other gentleman William McLean being the grandfather. However, further research unveils that the age given for the boys might have been written down incorrectly. When William (aka the boy) died in 1865, there were three different accounts written of the age of William when he died. The first, being recorded by what has appeared to be the favored son James was registered in the Death record as 75 years old (making him 11 years old in 1801, being born in 1790); the second was 74 years old recorded 9 months after James' record by the eldest son Donald (making him 10 years old when on the Sarah); and the third being the inscription on the tombstone in the cemetery where William was born, erected by his youngest son - of 9 children - Alpine McLean who stated he was 73 years old when he died (making him 8 years old in 1801). All records state him being from Invernesshire, Scotland. Something peculiar - there were many accounts of William and his life in New Glasgow. He was a much respected man, with a great many properties when he died, so he invested well in his years. He seemed generous to the sons and daughters who worked and earned their keep. The first story tells of how he worked for the ship merchant for a few years prior to purchasing his first piece of property. Nowhere in the historical records of New Glasgow does it even mention his parents or who they were. So William appears to have been on his own. So if either of the couples depicted on the Sarah happened to be his parents, what could have happened to them? One would think that a parent might have showed up in a census record or at the cemetery where William's decendants were buried. So we're not really sure that either of the couples were William's parents at all - could be uncles or not even related. So in searching for the roots of William McLean, I'm wondering if anyone has any connections to this family and/or any ideas as to how to figure out this puzzle. Any help is much appreciated, Rob McLean