I believe these to be Linda Townes family. I'm wondering if you know who this Archibald McDonald/McLachlan/McArthur belongs to as he appers in 1871, 1881 as a McArthur, 1891 as a McLachlan and finally in 1901 as a McDonald If you can shed any light on him great. thanks Ida 1901 Ulva House and Smithy McDonald Charles 60 Head Blacksmith Argyll Kilfinichen and Kilvicheon 1 Mar 1851 Knocknafenaig KLF, 1861 Park House Iona, 1871 North Bay KLF 1881, 1891 Balligown KLN, House and Smithy McDonald Catherine 48 Wife Argyll Kilfinichen and Kilvicheon 1 Mar McLachlan House and Smithy McDonald Jessie 21 Dau Argyll Kilninian and Kilmore 1 Single House and Smithy McDonald Charles 18 Son Argyll Kilninian and Kilmore 1 Single House and Smithy McDonald Neil 16 Son Argyll Kilninian and Kilmore 1 Single House and Smithy McDonald Marion 60 Sister in law Argyll Kilfinichen and Kilvicheon 1 Single House and Smithy McDonald Archibald 32 Nephew Blacksmith Argyll Tiree 1 Single 1871, 1881 as McArthur 1891 as McLachlan 1891 KLN Balligown (Cottage) McDonald Charles 47 Head Blacksmith & crofter Argyllshire KLN & KLM 7 Mar 1851 Knocknafenaig KLF, 1861 Park House Iona, 1871 North Bay KLF 1881 Balligown KLN, Balligown (Cottage) McDonald Catherine 44 Wife Smiths' wife Argyllshire KLN & KLM 7 Mar McLachlan Balligown (Cottage) McDonald Donald 17 Son Smiths' son Argyllshire KLN & KLM 7 UnMar Balligown (Cottage) McDonald Annabella 16 Dau Smiths' daughter Argyllshire KLN & KLM 7 UnMar Balligown (Cottage) McDonald Margaret 15 Dau Scholar Argyllshire KLN & KLM 7 Balligown (Cottage) McDonald Hugh 13 Son Scholar Argyllshire KLN & KLM 7 Balligown (Cottage) McDonald Jessie 12 Dau Scholar Argyllshire KLN & KLM 7 Balligown (Cottage) McDonald John 10 Son Scholar Argyllshire KLN & KLM 7 Balligown (Cottage) McDonald Charles 8 Son Scholar Argyllshire KLN & KLM 7 Balligown (Cottage) McDonald Neil 7 Son Scholar Argyllshire KLN & KLM 7 Balligown (Cottage) McLachlan Annabella 84 Mother in law Smiths' mother in law Argyllshire KLN & KLM 7 Widow McDonald husb Donald 1841 Airglass Iona, 1851 Smith House Iona, 1861 Loch Head Iona, 1871 North Bay KLF Balligown (Cottage) McLachlan Marion 56 Sister in law Smiths' sister in law Argyllshire KLN & KLM 7 UnMar Balligown (Cottage) McLachlan Margaret 42 Sister in law Table Maid Domestic (Unemployed) Argyllshire KLN & KLM 7 UnMar Balligown (Cottage) McLachlan Archibald 23 Nephew Blacksmith Argyllshire Tyree 7 UnMar both 1871, 1881 has him as McArthur Balligown (Cottage) Knox Mary 16 Niece Scholar Renfrewshire Greenock 7 1881 KLN Farm House McLachlan Donald 75 Head Smith & Crofter Kilfinichen, Argyll, Scotland 8 M 1841 Airglass Iona, 1851 Smith House Iona, 1861 Loch Head Iona, 1871 North Bay KLF Annabella 70 McDonald, 1891 Balligown KLN Farm House McArthur Archd. 13 Grand Son Scholar Coll, Argyll, Scotland 8 M Farm House McDonald Charles 32 Son In Law Smith Kilfinichen & Kilvickeon, Argyll, Scotland 8 M 1851 Knocknafenaig KLF, 1861 Park House Iona, 1871 North Bay KLF 1891 Balligown KLN, Farm House McDonald Catherine 30 Daur Smiths Wife Kilfinichen & Kilvickeon, Argyll, Scotland 8 F McLachlan Farm House McDonald Elsie 10 Grand Daur Scholar Kilfinichen & Kilvickeon, Argyll, Scotland 8 F Farm House McDonald Donald 8 Grand Son Scholar Kilninian & Kilmore, Argyll, Scotland 8 M Farm House McDonald Annabella 6 Grand Daur Scholar Kilninian & Kilmore, Argyll, Scotland 8 F Farm House McDonald Margaret 5 Grand Daur Scholar Kilninian & Kilmore, Argyll, Scotland 8 F 1871 KLF 10 North Bay MacDonald Charles 28 Head Blacksmith (Journeyman) Kilfinichen, Argyllshire Mar 1851 Knocknafenaig KLF, 1861 Park House Iona, 1881 Balligown KLN, 10 North Bay MacDonald Catherine 26 Wife Iona, Argyllshire Mar McLachlan d/o below couple 10 North Bay MacLachlan Donald 65 Head Blacksmith (Master) Kilfinichen, Argyllshire Mar 1841 Airglass Iona, 1851 Smith House Iona, 1861 Loch Head Iona 10 North Bay MacLachlan Anabella 63 Wife Kilfinichen, Argyllshire Mar McDonald 10 North Bay MacLachlan Marion 32 Daughter Dressmaker Kilfinichen, Argyllshire Unmar 10 North Bay MacLachlan Margaret 23 Daughter Dressmaker Iona, Argyllshire Unmar 10 North Bay MacArthur Archibald 3 Grandson Tyree, Argyllshire

Hi Ida & Linda, I could ask a similar question about my MCKINNONs (and I have done so a few times) because something funny sure seems to be up there too. MCARTHUR factors in there too. I'm beginning to think that some name changing was going on at that time, in Kilninian, and likely other places too. Why? Not sure, but my guess would be something to do with avoiding the government and other authority figures, perhaps after being dealt a bad hand during clearances previously. My great great grandparents, Archibald MCKINNON & Catherine MCARTHUR disappear from all records after appearing on the 1841 census at Burg, KLN, with 4 year old daughter, Catherine. No birth records of their sons, Donald or Neil (my great grandfather) born in 1840s. In 1851, Donald was still in Burg with MCARTHUR relatives ... where were the rest of them? A subsequent census ( it escapes me which one, right now) has both MCKINNON brothers working together, but lists them as MCARTHURs ... mistake or deliberate name change? Not sure. All 3 (known) MCKINNON offspring turn up on census & in marriage records etc., in the area, in the coming years, so obviously they did not move far away at all (no immigration etc.) That makes me think that their parents weren't too far away either ... so how did they avoid all further census? Stranger still, how did they avoid having their deaths recorded? Sounds to me like they were deliberately 'hiding' rather than being missed all those times. Mary

Ida - Yes, I'll claim these too. Archibald MacLachlan was born 2 Apr 1868 in Tiree, illegitimate son of Marion MacLachlan and John McArthur(a labourer). Marion is the daughter of Donald and Annabella (McDonald) MacLachlan and was born 1832. I've found that it's not uncommon amongst illegitimate Mull folks to switch between their mum's and dad's surnames so I think that covers the McArthur bit. As for the McDonald - I can only assume that it was an error since the rest of the household is McDonald especially since Marion (his mum) is also shown as McDonald. I'll look into this a bit further. Mary Knox who is shown in 1881/1891 was the illegitimate daughter of Mary MacLachlan and Archibald Knox. She was born 3 Jul 1876 in Greenock. HTH Linda