You certainly must go on the trip to Mull and meet with Ian, you couldn't have a better tour guide plus seeing the beauty of Mull. Jacqueline ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ron Harris" <r_harris@sympatico.ca> To: <sct-isleofmull@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2007 12:43 PM Subject: [SCT-ISLEOFMULL] FLETCHER/MCPHAIL/MACKECHNIE > Hello everybody, > > I put the recent question, about the above mentioned families, to my Dad. > Some or all of this may have already been addressed in more recent > messages, but here is his take on things ... > > To - Ian Philips > > I note from your query of 19th September 2007, that there is some > uncertainty about the relationship between Alexander Fletcher, Loch Don, > and his 'cousin' Neilina MacKechnie. > The root of the problem here seems to be in the ages of Neilina's > parents, particularly her mother, whose age is given as 60 in the 1871 > Census. This is highly unlikely as this would mean that the mother was 48 > when the eldest son - John - was born, and 58 when the yougest daughter, > Neilina, was born. The 1881 Census confirms that something is amiss here, > as the mother, Margaret MacKechnie (MacPhail) now a widow, was 51 years of > age, so that her age in 1871 should be 40 not 60. > Clearly this suggests that Margaret MacKechnie (MacPhail) was a neice > of Morag Fletcher (MacPhail) and that her father was Angus MacPhail, a > brother of Morag's, which would make Margaret MacKechnie (MacPhail) a full > cousin of Alexander Fletcher, therefore Margaret's daughter, Neilina, > would be a first cousin once removed. > The term 'cousin' was widely used in the Highlands when referring to > kinsmen, and kinswomen, who were essentially blood relatives .... but > that, of course, could mean just about everyone. > > Angus Fletcher > *********************** > > Hope that helps & doesn't add extra confusion! > > Mary Fletcher Harris > p.s. Plans are in the works for my parents & myself to journey from Canada > to Mull next Aug./Sept. 2008. Fingers crossed! > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > SCT-ISLEOFMULL-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message