This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/TeC.2ACE/1411.1.1.2.1.1 Message Board Post: Hi Joan, I had read that the Gillespies had rented Glenquoich and Greenfield in the late 1700s,and reading that they had farmed Ardochy as well,I assumed it was the Ardochy next to Greenfield.That will teach me to add 2 and 2 together,and get 5! Regarding the names:In an area where many people with the same surname lived,and where there was only a limited number of first names to call children (traditionally after the grandparents),it was a real benefit to have these wee added descriptions added to your name to identify you from your neighbour.Hence "ban/bain" means you had fair hair,"dhu/dow "- black hair,"don" - brown,"roy "- red,"breck" - a freckled or spotty complexion,and "og" - the younger (most often used when the father had the same first name). As a rule these extras to the names lasted well into the 19th century,but unfortunately for us,disappear generally from official records in the late 1700s,along with those long patronomic names which are very useful in tracing families back a further hundred years or so.I mentioned the 8 Kennedys declared outlaws in 1745 - they are good examples: -Duncan McCoinich alias KENNEDY (Duncan,son of Duncan),who was "son-in-law to Glengarry's Pyper" in Wester Aberchalder. -Kenneth KENNEDY McInish vic Conchie (Kenneth, son of Angus,son of Duncan),at Glester of Clunes. -Kenneth KENNEDY in Glesterbeg. -Duncan KENNEDY alias McAlister vic Conchie (Duncan,son of Alexander,son of Duncan) in Achadrome. -Duncan's brother Angus,also in Achadrome. -Duncan's other brother Archibald,also in Achadrome. -John McEan vic Ean dow KENNEDY (John,son of John,son of black-haired John),in Achadrome. -John bain KENNEDY,alias McEan vic Ean duie (fair-haired John - seemingly a brother of the previous entry),also in Achadrome. I don't believe that the Kennedys were picked upon because of their Religion or political beliefs,as I would imagine that many of them in the 1700s would have been nominally Protestant anyway,and only likely to have changed their religion through intermarrying with the McDonnells.Certainly they weren't the only Tribe or Clan involved in serious crime - the McDonells had their fair share of bad yins,as did the Camerons,McPhees,and McMillans in neighbouring Lochaber. For the poor in the Highlands,their cattle was the sole means of providing nutrition for the family,and when the cows calved,the sole means of generating income to pay for the next year's rent.For anybody,especially a neighbour,to sneak up in the middle of the night and steal their cows was a despicable act against a community with so little in the first place.Cattle thieves,whatever their Clan or religion,were universally despised and feared by all decent,hard-working Highlanders. I am not too up on the circumstances and conditions of life in Glengarry in the 1840s,though I am sure it didn't differ too much from the rest of the Highlands at the time.Indifferent Landlords (often absentees) with little inclination to assist in improving the standard of living of their tenants.Added to this was the failure of the potato crop in the period of 1846 - 9,and widespread famine resulting,and you can understand why emigrating to Canada,Australia,or New Zealand seemed so attractive. Hope this has been of interest, Regards,Chris.

Hi Chris, I have been watching this thread and I found your explanation of names interesting. I have a Scottish convict named Donald Kennedy. Here is a little about him. I don't think many people would have had an ancestor who was "whipped through the streets of Inverness, the stripes falling upon his naked back". He also had the pleasure of looking forward to the event, as the sentence which was passed on 23rd April, 1790 was ordered to be carried out two weeks later, on 7th May. I wonder if you could give me the explanation of the extra name given to him, probably a place name (?), also the others sentenced with him. Donald was about 30 years of age. Donald Kennedy, alias Donald in Risch (or Riach) was sentenced with three others - Donald McDonald, alias Donald the Duke, Roderick McDonald alias McJames Vic Gorry and John Dow Kennedy, son of Alexander Breck Kennedy of the Strian of Glengarry. After the whipping they were returned to the Tolbooth of Inverness to await transportation for Life to the colony of New South Wales, Australia. They were found to have stolen no less than ten horses from as many farms in the area of the Braes of Lochalsh, Shire of Ross. I have a copy of the whole trial. Happy if you could help with these extra names. Donald was my ggg.grandfather and did very well for himself in Australia. Thanks, Shirley in Sydney > Regarding the names:In an area where many people with the same surname > lived,and where there was only a limited number of first names to call > children (traditionally after the grandparents),it was a real benefit to > have these wee added descriptions added to your name to identify you from > your neighbour.Hence "ban/bain" means you had fair hair,"dhu/dow "- black > hair,"don" - brown,"roy "- red,"breck" - a freckled or spotty > complexion,and "og" - the younger (most often used when the father had the > same first name). > > As a rule these extras to the names lasted well into the 19th century,but > unfortunately for us,disappear generally from official records in the late > 1700s,along with those long patronomic names which are very useful in > tracing families back a further hundred years or so.I mentioned the 8 > Kennedys declared outlaws in 1745 - they are good examples: > -Duncan McCoinich alias KENNEDY (Duncan,son of Duncan),who was "son-in-law > to Glengarry's Pyper" in Wester Aberchalder. > -Kenneth KENNEDY McInish vic Conchie (Kenneth, son of Angus,son of > Duncan),at Glester of Clunes. > -Kenneth KENNEDY in Glesterbeg. > -Duncan KENNEDY alias McAlister vic Conchie (Duncan,son of Alexander,son > of Duncan) in Achadrome. > -Duncan's brother Angus,also in Achadrome. > -Duncan's other brother Archibald,also in Achadrome. > -John McEan vic Ean dow KENNEDY (John,son of John,son of black-haired > John),in Achadrome. > -John bain KENNEDY,alias McEan vic Ean duie (fair-haired John - seemingly > a brother of the previous entry),also in Achadrome. > > I don't believe that the Kennedys were picked upon because of their > Religion or political beliefs,as I would imagine that many of them in the > 1700s would have been nominally Protestant anyway,and only likely to have > changed their religion through intermarrying with the McDonnells.Certainly > they weren't the only Tribe or Clan involved in serious crime - the > McDonells had their fair share of bad yins,as did the Camerons,McPhees,and > McMillans in neighbouring Lochaber. > > For the poor in the Highlands,their cattle was the sole means of providing > nutrition for the family,and when the cows calved,the sole means of > generating income to pay for the next year's rent.For anybody,especially a > neighbour,to sneak up in the middle of the night and steal their cows was > a despicable act against a community with so little in the first > place.Cattle thieves,whatever their Clan or religion,were universally > despised and feared by all decent,hard-working Highlanders. > > I am not too up on the circumstances and conditions of life in Glengarry > in the 1840s,though I am sure it didn't differ too much from the rest of > the Highlands at the time.Indifferent Landlords (often absentees) with > little inclination to assist in improving the standard of living of their > tenants.Added to this was the failure of the potato crop in the period of > 1846 - 9,and widespread famine resulting,and you can understand why > emigrating to Canada,Australia,or New Zealand seemed so attractive. > > Hope this has been of interest, > > Regards,Chris. > > > ============================== > Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the > areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. > Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx > > >