Hi Peter and Margaret: My grandmother drew her family tree for me, starting with her grandmother (Annie Brown) and grandfather (Neil McKechnie), on a piece of paper, with all the brothers and sisters of Christina, and their spouses. There were 6 children in all, the last two were born in Ontario in 1872 and 1876. I guess the bad news is that she didn't give the family names preceeding Neil and Annie. Using scotlandspeople.gov.uk, I found Neil McEachern in the 1861 census of Kilmeny, and his marriage in 1856 to Anne Brown. Also in 1859 I found the birth registration of my ggrandmother Christina, registered as Christina MacEachern who came to Canada as a child with the family. From these documents, Neil was son of John MacEachern and Anne (maiden name Paul) of what looks like "Camby" or "Cambeg" on the marriage registration in Kilmeny. Anne Brown was the daughter of John Brown and Mary (maiden name McAlister) of what looks like "Balachray" or "Malachray". The handwriting is quite ornate, and the actual downloaded image is a bit indistinct. In addition, several words were stroked through and other words squeezed in over them. Please check the Rootsweb site http://www.rootsweb.com/~onmanito/index.html for lots of McKechnies who ended up on Manitoulin Island - far too many to be coincidental and not family, in my humble opinion. As for a John and a Donald, holy cow, there are so many how does one keep them straight? My mother had brothers John and Donald, and her mother had brothers John and Donald. However, so far none as far back as 1814 or 1815. I did find a 'cousin' whose father is a 'Neil McKechnie' in an unbroken line of 'Neil McKechnie's" from the one who was born on Islay around 1832. That was fun. Cheers! Rosemary

> Please check the Rootsweb site > http://www.rootsweb.com/~onmanito/index.html for lots of McKechnies who > ended up on Manitoulin Island - far too many to be coincidental and not > family, in my humble opinion. As for a John and a Donald, holy cow, > there are so many how does one keep them straight? My mother had > brothers John and Donald, and her mother had brothers John and Donald. > However, so far none as far back as 1814 or 1815. Too many named John and Donald? Well, it figures. The best part of the traditional Scottish naming pattern for children is -- most of the time -- it gives a clue as to who the children's grandparents SHOULD be! The downside is -- if Alexander McFee and wife Ann have: James (for his dad) Mary (for her mom) Angus (for her dad) and Eliza (for his mom) Plus others for more randomly selected family members, then: ALL Alexander's brothers will name first son James and second daughter Eliza. So, in one generation, if the "initial" McFee family had LOTS of sons, you could be just swimming in James McFees and (maiden names) Eliza McFees. Enough to make your head swim! Not to mention the mess if one of Ann's sisters up and married one of Alex's brothers! Best of luck sorting them all out. Dixie