Hi everyone I have watched the postings the last couple of days and felt that I should share with you some of the information I have gathered about these families that fill in some of the blanks Sue referred to in her data. Sue shared the 1841 census with us. According to the 1851 census sons Malcolm and Thomas were also born in Ireland 1851 - Scotland, County of Argyll, Parish of Kildalton (#541), Division 4, Page 15, Frederick Street, Port Ellen, FHL film # 0103649 John McCuaig / head/ mar / age 50 /crofter 2 acres / born Ireland Betty McCuaig / wife / mar / age 40 / born Kildalton Stewart McCuaig / son / unm / age 20 / Ag lab / Malcolm McCuaig / son / unm / age 15 . / born Ireland Thomas McCuaig / son / unm / age 13 / born Ireland Elizabeth McCuaig / daug / female age 6 / born Kildalton This is again declared in the 1861 census (along with son William). They must have gone back and forth as son Stewart seems to be born on Islay and then three sons in Ireland and then the girls (well at least Elizabeth) back on Islay. I am just assuming Agnes was also born in Kildalton but I suppose she could have been born in Ireland too. I assume she died before the 1851 census so I guess I'll stick with the 1841 which says she was born in Argyll. CENSUS 1861 - Scotland, County of Argyll, Parish of Kildalton (#541), Division 2, Page 22. Frederidk St, Port Ellen, FHL film # 0103798 Betty McCuaig / Head / Widow / age 60 / born Kildalton Stewart McCuaig / son / unm / age 29 / farmer 18 acres / born Kildalton William McCuaig / son / unm / age 27 / joiner / born Ireland Malcolm McCuaig / son / unm / age 25 / joiner / born Ireland Thomas McCuaig / son / unm / age 23 / joiner / born Ireland Eliza McCuaig / daug / unm / age 15 / Dairy maid / born Kildalton On the 1841 census there is a William McCuaig age 85 and Cirty McCuaig 80 with the family. I believe they are Betsy's (Elizabeth's parents) Here are my notes Name Found as Betty on the 1851 and 1861 census and as Betsy on the 1841 census with her parents William and Cirty McCuaig and in addition her husband and her children. Because the 1841 census does not state relationships it was unclear that these were her parents for sure. However her siblings, Janet and William, death registrations state the names of their parents. But the connection was established when her sister Janet died in 1861 (married name McMillan). The informant on Janet's death registration was nephew Stewart McCuaig. "Stewart" is very uncommon as a given name and he is probably the only one found in the McCuaigs so far. If Stewart is a nephew - it follows that one of his parents is a sibling of Janet. We know that Stewart is the son of John McCuaig and Betty (Elizabeth) McCuaig and we also know that William and Cirty are not John's parents (from John's death registration - his parents are Malcolm McCuaig and Janet Stewart). It follows that William McCuaig and Christian Graham MUST be the parents of Elizabeth. I don't think the headstone mentioned for Stewart McCuaig could be this Stewart McCuaig as he went to New Zealand. Margaret said that he came back and got his mother and sister Elizabeth and her husband (Duncan Campbell) and took them to New Zealand also. I never found a marriage record for Stewart McCuaig and Ann Campbell. In fact little Sarah's death registration does not say they were married, just that they are her parents. I have not found a birth registration for Sarah just the death registration. Stewart is the informant on her death registration so it is not like he didn't have anything to do with her. It is just a few years after her death that he left for New Zealand. The headstone they were asking about for Janet McCuaig who died 8 Dec 1861 is probably for Janet McCuaig McMillan (seeing as that is her death date) and if so is the Janet that I have been discussing earlier in this e-mail. She is a widow (husband's given name not given) daughter of William McCuaig and Christian Graham and a aunt of Stewart McCuaig. I suppose it is possible that the John McCuaig headstone is for John (her brother-in-law) the father of Stewart and husband of Elizabeth but there really is no way of knowing with no dates. Hope this helps to fill in a few blanks and questions Monta