Hi Toni Thanks for your interesting thoughts. Although I guess that Annie was John's sister, all I can document is that they shared a grandfather - John senior. I know Hugh McEwan and Sarah Kennedy had four children: John, Nancy, Betty and Peggy, all listed in Ted Larson's wonderful site. Ann (Agnes) McEwan is new to me, but there she is in Islay Records.xls - I would be interested to hear if you ever find your source for her parents. My presumed grandfather was recorded as: 1891 age 7 - scholar (census) 1901 age 17 - bricklayer's apprentice (census) (John McEwan St. Clair from here on) 1916 age 32 - Ammunition inspector (marriage certificate) 1917 - Tool Setter (son's birth certificate) 1919 - Commercial Traveller (fire extinguishers) (son's birth certificate) 1951 - Clerical Officer Ministry of Labour (retired) (son's marriage certificate and, in 1959, his own death certificate) So no printing, I'm afraid. His Uncle Alexander Sinclair was a plowman at his marriage in 1861 but was a vanman (1891 census) after he and Elizabeth moved to Glasgow. I seem to recall finding he became a baker then a bread van driver, but I can't immediately put my hands on my source for this. I imagine vanman was an unusual occupation in 1891. Ashley Ashley St. Clair -----Original Message----- From: sct-islay-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:sct-islay-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Toni Sinclair Sent: 27 September 2006 13:52 To: sct-islay@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [SCT-ISLAY] McEwan St Clair Name Change Hi Ashley, I'd say that it is quite possible that your grandfather adopted the name "St. Clair", if he was raised by his aunt Elizabeth McEwan and uncle Alexander Sinclair for a great part of his life. As you found his sister's birth registration showing her to be illegitimate, and suspect that he was as well, it would be a fair reason to adopt the name of the family who cared for him. However, the spelling on Islay was never "St. Clair". If your theory is correct, why not also adopt a new spelling for himself? I believe there is also another connection between the McEwans and the Sinclairs > Ann (Agnes)McEwan from Cruach married Archibald Sinclair from nearby Mullindry in 1835. I have a note that she was the daughter of Hugh McEwan and Sarah Kennedy, and sister of John McEwan. Unfortunately, I didn't note the source, but it might have come from Iain Sinclair. That would make your Elizabeth the niece of Ann. Ann and Archibald went to Glasgow and started a printing business called the Celtic Press. I believe Alexander Sinclair also went to Glasgow and was in the printing occupation. I was wondering if your grandfather also went into this type of work? Also, were there other children named in the 1901 census in the Sinclair household? Toni Sinclair tracing all Islay Sinclairs <snip> -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.8/455 - Release Date: 22/09/2006