I have been trying to find out any information available about Wester Balnaban and St. Ninians near Drumnadrochit, eg are these locations still viable communities and any other known information. Also if there is any information about some of my forebears. My GG GM was Ann McKenzie, parents Alexander McKenzie & Isobel MacIntosh - married 17/12/1801. Their issue as follows :- Janet Born 15/4/1803 Cathouse(may not be correct spelling), Alexr Born 4/8/1805 Cathouse, Anne Born 11/2/1808 Cathouse, St. Ninians, Mary Born 24/6/1811 St. Ninians. My GG GF was Donald McDonald (who was not born in Urquhart). This couple were married 20/12/1827 and resided in Wester Balnaban. Their offspring were 1. John, 2.Alexander baptised 29/8/1831, 3. John baptised 28/7/1834, 4.James baptised 20/9/1836, 5. Mary baptised 30/12/1839, 6. Isabella baptised 29/6/1842, 7.Margaret baptised 19/2/1845. 8. William baptised 19/6/1848. All children were born in Balnaban. Donald & Ann migrated to Australia in December 1853 aboard the ship "Persia" arriving in Melbourne, Australia in March 1854. Donald unfortunately did not survive the sea voyage, dying of dysentry seven days before landfall. I would be most grateful if anybody could help me in my research. Yours Hopefully, Keith.

Dear Keith A quick note for future reference: I have been researching a McKenzie family who lived in Glenurquhart - William McKenzie (c1764-1837) and his wife Margaret McDonald or Macdonell (c1766-1846). I do not know if they were originally from Glenurquhart, as they married at Boleskine in 1789 and their first three children were born at Fort Augustus. Between 1795-1801 they moved to Glenurquhart where four more children were born at Kilmore. William was a crofter/carpenter and is also listed as Session Clerk and Precentor. I am afraid I can't help with records on St Ninians/Balnaban, but I know that there are various surviving rentals in the Seafield (Grant) Papers at the National Archives of Scotland. The catalogue is searchable online at www.nas.gov.uk. Good luck with your research. Regards, Peter Grant (London, UK) -----Original Message----- From: Keith & Shirley [mailto:keith-shirley@bigpond.com] Sent: 21 March 2006 06:23 To: SCT-INVERNESS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: McDonald/McKenzie I have been trying to find out any information available about Wester Balnaban and St. Ninians near Drumnadrochit, eg are these locations still viable communities and any other known information. Also if there is any information about some of my forebears. My GG GM was Ann McKenzie, parents Alexander McKenzie & Isobel MacIntosh - married 17/12/1801. Their issue as follows :- Janet Born 15/4/1803 Cathouse(may not be correct spelling), Alexr Born 4/8/1805 Cathouse, Anne Born 11/2/1808 Cathouse, St. Ninians, Mary Born 24/6/1811 St. Ninians. My GG GF was Donald McDonald (who was not born in Urquhart). This couple were married 20/12/1827 and resided in Wester Balnaban. Their offspring were 1. John, 2.Alexander baptised 29/8/1831, 3. John baptised 28/7/1834, 4.James baptised 20/9/1836, 5. Mary baptised 30/12/1839, 6. Isabella baptised 29/6/1842, 7.Margaret baptised 19/2/1845. 8. William baptised 19/6/1848. All children were born in Balnaban. Donald & Ann migrated to Australia in December 1853 aboard the ship "Persia" arriving in Melbourne, Australia in March 1854. Donald unfortunately did not survive the sea voyage, dying of dysentry seven days before landfall. I would be most grateful if anybody could help me in my research. Yours Hopefully, Keith. ______________________________