http://geo.nls.uk/os6inch/ Choose the map with gazetteer; put Blackcraig in the search box; select Blackcraig, D & G NX4464 and zoom in on the name.  You will note Daltamie Hill right above Blackcraig area and just below the word Hill, is Blackcraig Mines with lead in parentheses. ----- Jo-Ann Croft  ----- Original Message ---- > From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Tue, January 4, 2011 1:23:00 PM > Subject: [WIG LIST] Come again with lead mines at Minnigaff? > And how do I find these lead mines on Google Earth? They should have left >highly visible scars upon the earth.  If they aren't indeed still there.  > >

Jim Patterson posted in November, "> Whatever the reality of this wee mystery and whether my John McClure > and his > wife Sarah McClung or McClurg is their son was baptised "In > Lespraig" a > place likely nr Minnigaff and most likely nr the lead mines as > that's where > my kin all lived at Craigtoun/Blackcraig area at this time.." I had googled lead mines and Wigtown, as I really think there was one, and kept coming up with lists of names that included Minnigaff and Newtown Stewart and may refer to nothing in particular. The only McKinstry whose Y DNA has ever been tested is of a line that settled in the U.S. midwest. The only person to research it thoroughly continually questions if men of the line were the biological sons of their fathers. Maybe they weren't. My brother in law's father's Y DNA has been submitted, so this won't remain the only McKinstry Y DNA ever. However, the McKinstry Y DNA that exists appears to be Central European Celtic R1b1b2. It is in the SMGF database, and it is incomplete. (Not all the markers are there.) It may or may not be teh real McKinstry Y DNA lineage. The McKinstry surname traces to Minnigaff and what is now Newton Stewart, between 1499 and 1600. Central European Celts were in Britain beginning 600 BC, their version of the Celtic language familyt, which they didn't develop until 600 BC, took over England and Scotland. The Cumbrian dialect was their kind of Celtic but Gaelic is an older version of Celtic confined to Ireland, that spread to Scotland in the early middle ages. Central European Celts would have been drawn to lead mines, just like every other early group that came to Britain was. I think that Wigtown has megaliths, which were produced by the Neolithic (not Celtic) civilization of the area thousands of years earlier. The place wasn't newly settled by Norse and Gaels, if the Norse even got that far inland at this location. It's actually still a mystery why Welsh Celts came to Galloway, apparently in large numbers. Cumbric was a Welsh dialect, and it was once the main language of Galloway. I keep seeing researchers ask what them Welsh were doing in Galloway. When it comes to lead mines, you think of Wales and southwestern England, and true to form, this discussion and others referred to people involved with mines moving between the Wigtown/ Minnigaff area and Wales. How long have these lead mines been in the area? Please also provide more information on lead mines at Blackcraig. It's the earliest place I so far have those McKinstry's living. Maybe their ancestors were involved with a lead mine at Blackcraig? And how do I find these lead mines on Google Earth? They should have left highly visible scars upon the earth. If they aren't indeed still there. By the way, Google Earth says Blackcraig is in Newtown Stewart, but I see that it is on the Minnigaff side of the river, which I guess separates both the two parishes, and the two counties. Is Blackcraig actually in Minnigaff parish or in the parish of PEnninghame, much of which must have the Newton Stewart postal code? Actually, my tale and Jim Patterson's are full of coincidences. Google Earth shows that Blackcraig is a set of fields in the woods, almost a mile long, and a third of a mile wide at its widest point, less than a tenth of a mile from the main highway. There are no buildings or ruins visible. Certainly not signs of lead mines. In 1499 it was apparenlty farmland. Now, I have, in 1565, when Thomas McKinstry died, three of his fields that were located there were sold to John Creighton. Jim Patterson mentions that latter name as interchangeable with the name of Blackcraig. I also notice that Jim Patterson cites two families who lived at Blackcraig who have really strange sounding Gaelic names, reminiscent of, get ready for this, Mac An Aistrigh. Galloway's Gaelic names don't sound like Gaelic names from anywhere else. Yours, Villandra Thorsdottir Austin, Texas

Can anyone please tell me where was Tanedolane, in the Newton Stewart or Minnigaff area (probably). Thomas Mackinnstre had sasine of Tanedolane in Kirkcudbrightshire, 1499 (E.R. xi, p. 462). Martin Makeynsterre of that Ilk was juror on an assize, 1537 ()RMS, III, p.1921), "In doing a search for Tanedolane in my research library, I also looked at the surname, and in the Register of the Privy Seal for 1565 I found a land transfer (effectively a sasine) to Johnne Creichtoun [John Creichton] of 3 chunks of land which belonged to the umquhile [deceased] Thomas McKynnestre of Blakcrage. the late Thomas apparently has two daughters and heirs, the second of whom is named as Bessie. Gordon." I know that someone in November's identify a place name thread, who has some sort of database of place names in the area, said he had ancestors in what is now Blackcraig. Blackcraig is found on Google maps - a clearing in the trees that consisted of several fields, near the main highway, just southeast of the modern village of Newton Stewart (and south of Minnigaff on I think the Wigtownshire side of the river). So maybe he knows where and what Tanedolane was? Yours, Villandra Thorsdottir Austin, Texas

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: maryrichson Surnames: McMECKAN, McMAHON Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.scotland.wig.general/1968.3.2.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Diana Henry ([email protected])posted a reply to your message on the SCT-WIGTOWNSHIRE mailing list: "Dear J. Murray, I am getting this information from the Scotlands People Website: www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk (Sign up and buy credits each value is 20p) I am using my precious credits seeing it is the Season of Goodwill! John McMeckan married Patricia McMahon in 1954 in Townhead of Glasgow. There is no image available as it is too recent. There is no death listed for John McMeckan that would be relevant, so it seems he must still be living unless moved out of Scotland. That is all I can do for you." Since every Wigtownshire message board post is copied to the SCT-WIGTOWNSHIRE mailing list, the list subscribers have seen all of your posts. However, the reverse is not true -- Wig list posts are not copied to the Wig message board, so you are not seeing some of the replies if you are not a subscriber yourself. Therefore, you may wish to join the list. Instructions can be found at http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/SCT/SCT-WIGTOWNSHIRE.html. Please contact me privately if you would like further help. Regards, Mary Richardson SCT-WIGTOWNSHIRE list administrator [email protected] Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Diana Henry <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Cc: [email protected] Sent: Sun, January 2, 2011 9:09:06 AM Subject: Re: [WIG LIST] John McMECKAN, b. 1904 Dear J. Murray, I am getting this information from the Scotlands People Website:- www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk  (Sign up and buy credits each value is 20p) I am using my precious credits seeing it is the Season of Goodwill! John McMeckan married Patricia McMahon in 1954 in Townhead of Glasgow.  There is no image available as it is too recent. There is no death listed for John McMeckan that would be relevant, so it seems he must still be living unless moved out of Scotland. That is all I can do for you. Diana ________________________________ From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Sat, January 1, 2011 11:35:24 PM Subject: Re: [WIG LIST] John McMECKAN, b. 1904 This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: jmurray81_1 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.scotland.wig.general/1968.3.2.2.1.1.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: hiya thank you very much for that information. where are you finding this as i really want to help my mum find her dad. it would be lovely to find him after all these years. i would really love to know where he is now, if he is still alive or sadly passed away. either way it would be a great help. does he still live in scotland, has he moved? iv had so many faulse hope now im hoping fingers crossed that im getting closer to finding my grandfather. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Dear J. Murray, I am getting this information from the Scotlands People Website:- www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk  (Sign up and buy credits each value is 20p) I am using my precious credits seeing it is the Season of Goodwill! John McMeckan married Patricia McMahon in 1954 in Townhead of Glasgow.  There is no image available as it is too recent. There is no death listed for John McMeckan that would be relevant, so it seems he must still be living unless moved out of Scotland. That is all I can do for you. Diana ________________________________ From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Sat, January 1, 2011 11:35:24 PM Subject: Re: [WIG LIST] John McMECKAN, b. 1904 This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: jmurray81_1 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.scotland.wig.general/1968.3.2.2.1.1.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: hiya thank you very much for that information. where are you finding this as i really want to help my mum find her dad. it would be lovely to find him after all these years. i would really love to know where he is now, if he is still alive or sadly passed away. either way it would be a great help. does he still live in scotland, has he moved? iv had so many faulse hope now im hoping fingers crossed that im getting closer to finding my grandfather. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: jmurray81_1 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.scotland.wig.general/1968.3.2.2.1.1.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: hiya thank you very much for that information. where are you finding this as i really want to help my mum find her dad. it would be lovely to find him after all these years. i would really love to know where he is now, if he is still alive or sadly passed away. either way it would be a great help. does he still live in scotland, has he moved? iv had so many faulse hope now im hoping fingers crossed that im getting closer to finding my grandfather. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: theta100 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.scotland.wig.general/1968.3.2.2.1.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hi, The best way to resolve this is to view the actual marriage certificate either in person at ScotlandsPeopleCentre ( or via a kind volunteer) or order a copy online cost £10 through Scotlands People. This will verify John's parents. 1954 John McMeckan/Patricia McMahon. Townhead, Glasgow City GROS Data 644/06 0219 Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

The whole world has gone crazy if there is no celery in central coastal California, or if people there want celery? Yours, Villandra Thorsdottir Austin, Texas ----- Original Message ----- From: "Maisie Egger" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, January 01, 2011 9:58 PM Subject: [WIG LIST] Scottish words > Scottish word/expression to mull over in the new year - Gyte: > > I was bemoaning to Olive McDonald, who grew up in Newton Stewart, that > there was no celery in the supermarket for my foray into attempted gourmet > cooking...I won't "belay" you with the recipe...and told her that there > wasn't a stock of celery to be found in the supermarket as apparently the > rain had interrupted delivery. First time ever we've experienced this in > the Central Coast area of California. Her response, "The whole world has > gone gyte!" In Glasgow we used to refer to someone unflatteringly as a > stupit-lookin' gyte! No doubt no translation is needed, but just in case! > Gyte is a Scottish adjective for crazy or mad. As a noun, it means child: > a first year boy at Edinburgh High School or Academy. Also gait, geit > (get. offspring). > > Gyte is such a robust word to describe a situation which is not quite > normal. > > I should add that I don't think the younger generations are using such old > Scots words anymore. Even when I was growing up donkey's years ago, using > the vernacular, especially the Glesga (Glasgow) patter, was frowned upon. > Now I believe efforts are afoot to try to "teach" the "auld tongue" as > well as (the) Gaelic. Olive should start a wee compendium of all the > words used in the Newton Stewart area when she was growing up before they > disappear the way of the dodo bird. > > Maisie > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: jmurray81_1 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.scotland.wig.general/1968.3.2.2.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: thank you for the information you've just given. I am talking on behlaf of my mother and the only thing i know about the mcmeckan family is that my mothers father is called john mcmeckan, his parents were john mcmeckan and rebecca hopewell i believe. john mcmeckan worked on a farm and had 7 sisters. he was ment to have been married to my grandmother patricia mcmahon. if you anyone knows of this marriage please let me know. thanks Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

Hi, Maisie-- You and others are doing a pretty good job of making sure gyte and other such vocabulary does not go the way of the dodo by recording them in your (great) e-mails to this list. All of these emails are duly archived and available to researchers in the foreseeable future. Not to say that the words will necessarily recur in common usage--although as you suggest many should--but at least they are recorded for posterity. Cheers and Happy New Year. Dan MacMeekin Silver Spring, Maryland, USA -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [WIG LIST] Scottish words From: "Maisie Egger" <[1][email protected]> Date: Sat, January 01, 2011 10:58 pm To: "[2][email protected]" <> Scottish word/expression to mull over in the new year - Gyte: I was bemoaning to Olive McDonald, who grew up in Newton Stewart, that there was no celery in the supermarket for my foray into attempted gourmet cooking...I won't "belay" you with the recipe...and told her that there wasn't a stock of celery to be found in the supermarket as apparently the rain had interrupted delivery. First time ever we've experienced this in the Central Coast area of California. Her response, "The whole world has gone gyte!" In Glasgow we used to refer to someone unflatteringly as a stupit-lookin' gyte! No doubt no translation is needed, but just in case! Gyte is a Scottish adjective for crazy or mad. As a noun, it means child: a first year boy at Edinburgh High School or Academy. Also gait, geit (get. offspring). Gyte is such a robust word to describe a situation which is not quite normal. I should add that I don't think the younger generations are using such old Scots words anymore. Even when I was growing up donkey's years ago, using the vernacular, especially the Glesga (Glasgow) patter, was frowned upon. Now I believe efforts are afoot to try to "teach" the "auld tongue" as well as (the) Gaelic. Olive should start a wee compendium of all the words used in the Newton Stewart area when she was growing up before they disappear the way of the dodo bird. Maisie ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [3][email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message References 1. mailto:[email protected] 2. mailto:[email protected] 3. mailto:[email protected]

Scottish word/expression to mull over in the new year - Gyte: I was bemoaning to Olive McDonald, who grew up in Newton Stewart, that there was no celery in the supermarket for my foray into attempted gourmet cooking...I won't "belay" you with the recipe...and told her that there wasn't a stock of celery to be found in the supermarket as apparently the rain had interrupted delivery. First time ever we've experienced this in the Central Coast area of California. Her response, "The whole world has gone gyte!" In Glasgow we used to refer to someone unflatteringly as a stupit-lookin' gyte! No doubt no translation is needed, but just in case! Gyte is a Scottish adjective for crazy or mad. As a noun, it means child: a first year boy at Edinburgh High School or Academy. Also gait, geit (get. offspring). Gyte is such a robust word to describe a situation which is not quite normal. I should add that I don't think the younger generations are using such old Scots words anymore. Even when I was growing up donkey's years ago, using the vernacular, especially the Glesga (Glasgow) patter, was frowned upon. Now I believe efforts are afoot to try to "teach" the "auld tongue" as well as (the) Gaelic. Olive should start a wee compendium of all the words used in the Newton Stewart area when she was growing up before they disappear the way of the dodo bird. Maisie

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: theta100 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.scotland.wig.general/1968.3.2.2.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The message below was posted on WigList which I believe you are not registered with, Dear McMeckan researchers,I am not too sure of this "Gateway" business. I see you have to be a member to reply. I hope this reaches the people concerned.Here is an MI from Irvie/Kirkcolm parish Churchyard which will be the same family living at Glen Cottage.No 38 in DGFS Booklet" Erected by Thomas McMECKAN, in memory of his mother in law Elizabeth MURRAY, died 3rd July 1890, aged 82 years. Also his wife Isabella MURRAY who died at Glen cottage, Kirkcolm 6th June 1928, aged 79 years. Also the above, Thomas McMECKAN who died at Glen Cottage, Kirkcolm 4th Feb. 1932, in his 82nd year. "Gone but not forgotten". I looked up the marriage of John McMeckan and Rebecca Hopewell.They were married on 12 June, 1931 at the Manse in Kirkcolm. They lived at Glen Cottage, Kirkcolm. Marriage performed by the Rev. Albert Torbett B.D. Minister of Kirkcolm.Witness was Mary Ann McMeckan, post Office, Kirkcolm.John was aged 36 he was a labourer and Rebecca Hopewell was aged 33 a Dairymaid! .His parents were John McMeckan and Maria McMeckan, m.s.McMeckanHer parents were Joseph Hopewell and Mary Murray.I hope this adds a little to your research. Diana Henry Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

In the book "Wigtownshire Charters" vol. 51, by Scottish Record Society, Google book, snippet view at : http://books.google.co.uk/books?ei=gNoeTYnsFIyKvQPh68iDDg&ct=result&id=QvdAAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22Wigtownshire+Charters%22&q=McKinquhay#search_anchor page 127, no.96, Sep 30 1523, a Michael McKinquhay, N.P. and Symon McKristen, bailie, re Finla McCullact of Torhous, burgh of Wigton. Patrick Mure was Provost of the Burgh. Symon McKristen / McCristen , may have been father-in-law of Houston of Cottreoch, Whitehorn. page 128, 98, Jan. 31 1531/2 mentions Mr. Michael McKynquhay deceased, his protocol book. Mr. Gilbert Gibson may have been Notary Public after Michael McKynquhay. Was his name McKinstry ?

Dear McMeckan researchers, I am not too sure of this "Gateway" business.  I see you have to be a member to reply. I hope this reaches the people concerned. Here is an MI from Irvie/Kirkcolm  parish Churchyard which will be the same family living at Glen Cottage. No 38 in DGFS Booklet " Erected by Thomas McMECKAN, in memory of his mother in law Elizabeth  MURRAY, died 3rd July 1890, aged 82 years.  Also his wife Isabella MURRAY  who died at Glen cottage, Kirkcolm 6th June 1928, aged 79 years.  Also the above, Thomas McMECKAN who died at Glen Cottage, Kirkcolm 4th Feb. 1932, in his 82nd year.  "Gone but not forgotten".   I looked up the marriage of John McMeckan and Rebecca Hopewell. They were married on 12 June, 1931 at the Manse in Kirkcolm.  They lived at Glen Cottage, Kirkcolm.  Marriage performed by the Rev. Albert Torbett B.D. Minister of Kirkcolm. Witness was Mary Ann McMeckan, post Office, Kirkcolm. John was aged 36 he was a labourer and Rebecca Hopewell was aged 33 a Dairymaid. His parents were John McMeckan and Maria McMeckan,  m.s.McMeckan Her parents were Joseph Hopewell and Mary Murray. I hope this adds a little to your research.   Diana Henry

Thanks, Shirley, but Scottish names are very similar, with very different Gaelic meanings. McKinquhay isn't one of the variant forms of McKinstry that I've encountered. McKinty, from the other side of Scotland where some McKinstry's allegedly lived, allegedly is a variant form of McKinstry, but Kough gives a completely different Gaelic meaning for it, and if he's right, it isn't the same name. (I frankly wonder if it could have been mangled from MacKenzie, but from Galloway it seems to have had various phonetic spellings of McKinstry with high though not perfect consistency, and the most common variation was to drop the Mac.) I'm specifically looking for Marion McInnistrie, a baillie. Also the source of the information that M'Kynnistrie, which was dated 1574, Records of Galloway, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. That came from an online coat of arms sales thingy. It doesn't say where in Galloway this person is found. Nor the first name of the person. Though that is probably the exact spelling that was found. Someone on the Galloway-Dumfries list sent me a vague reference to a 1499 entry, from a different edition of Black's Surnames of Scotland than that which is available to me. Mine has one entry for MacKinstry, not three, and the earliest time cited for fidning the name is 1474. Thanks alot! Yours, Villandra Thorsdottir Austin, Texas ----- Original Message ----- From: "Shirley Walsh" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, January 01, 2011 2:55 AM Subject: [WIG LIST] McKinstry - McKinquhay - McKynquhay > > > > > > > > > > > In the book "Wigtownshire Charters" vol. 51, by Scottish Record Society, > Google book, snippet view at : > > http://books.google.co.uk/books?ei=gNoeTYnsFIyKvQPh68iDDg&ct=result&id=QvdAAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22Wigtownshire+Charters%22&q=McKinquhay#search_anchor > > page 127, no.96, Sep 30 1523, a Michael McKinquhay, N.P. and Symon > McKristen, bailie, > re Finla McCullact of Torhous, burgh of Wigton. Patrick Mure was Provost > of the Burgh. > Symon McKristen / McCristen , may have been father-in-law of Houston of > Cottreoch, Whitehorn. > > page 128, 98, Jan. 31 1531/2 mentions Mr. Michael McKynquhay deceased, his > protocol book. > Mr. Gilbert Gibson may have been Notary Public after Michael McKynquhay. > > Was his name McKinstry ? > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

To the Wig. Listers and administration. Happy New Year, to all those wonderful people the worl' o're, thank you, for your support, and personal efforts. The reputation of the listers are second to none, all for one, and one for all. I hope that 2011 will see a continuation of this good work, in the same vein, and may prosperity lay a hand on every one. Good wishes and a Happy New Year to all. Le3n.

----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Diana Henry <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Sat, January 1, 2011 9:55:31 AM Subject: Re: [WIG LIST] What 1512 record in Galloway would contain this reference? There is of course a Newton Stewart in Northern Ireland http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Tyrone%2C_Ireland the last paragraph refers to a castle there. Hope this helps. There is a family of McKinstrys living now in Wigtownshire. Diana Henry ________________________________ From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> To: [email protected]; [email protected] Sent: Sat, January 1, 2011 3:21:26 AM Subject: [WIG LIST] What 1512 record in Galloway would contain this reference? Below is what I can find on the name McKinstry, which is apparently from Galloway, Scotland.  Historical records place the name all over Galloway and nowhere else.  I am particularly interesting in placing the following vague reference. ****  an exciting reference to a Marion McInnistrie being a Baillie in Newton Stewart in 1512. **** According to a topographical dictionary, Newton Stewart was founded by a son of the second Lord Stewart of Galloway or someone of that sort, in the 17th century and so did not exist in 1512.  "The town was founded in the mid 17th Century by William Stewart, youngest son of the 2nd Earl of Galloway. The "New Town of Stewart" was granted Burgh status by charter from KingCharles II allowing a weekly market and two annual fairs to be held." (This actually from Wikipedia) So this reference to Marion NcInnistrie might be somewhere in the area, near the southern coast of Galloway off of one of the inlets, and I gather that a Baillie was a mayor.  Was Marion McInnistrie a female?  If a male, that sure is one peculiar name for a rural Scotsman.  I'd like to find the reference if I could.  Does anyone know where to look for it? Black's surname dictionary, which does not contain the reference about Marion McInnistrie being a Baillie in Newton Stewart in 1512, and hardly gives sources for the information it does give, appears to cite someone else.  Does anyone know who and what Woulfe is?  I'd also love to find where the notion that McKinstry is Gaelic for "son of a traveller" came from, as distinct from the name is a local corruption of a more common Scottish name like McKenzie or McIntire.  I just submitted to Family Tree DNA a Y DNA sample of the father of my brother in law, who is a male line descendant of William Mckinstry of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, who came allegedly from Carrickfergus, Ireland, just across the North Sea from Galloway, and married Mary Morse, in the 18th century.  I would love to find any McKinstry descendants who may appear on this list.  I tried writing Brian McKinstray, quoted above, several times but got no answer, though it sounds as if he and his wife really didn't keep track of that source they refer to, and therefore could be of no further help finding it. I wrote to Brian McKinstray, who comes across as a male line McKinstry,  asking him about donating a Y DNA sample as well, but for all his seeming excitement about tracing the McKinstry family history, I didn't hear back from him.  It does rather look as if McKinstry's are likely to be of a single lineage or possibly two, if the line that supposedly lived in Edinburg weren't the same family; and it would be worthwhile to do Y DNA testing of different McKinstry lines.  Since Brian McKinstray's line is apparently from Scotland and certainly not one of the New England lines, and tehre is real reason to suspect that the three New England lines are related to each other, if my brother in law's father should happen to match the Y DNA of someone like Brian MacKinstray, that would make a strong case for just one McKinstry family group.  Yours, Dora Smith Scots Kith and Kin, Revised 2nd edition. Mackinstry  Galway, 16th century Black, The Surnames of Scotland, 1979. MacKinstry.  Formerly a Galloway surname.  M'Kinstrie 1593, M'Kynnistrie 1574.  Woulfe says Ir. Mac an Astrigh, 'son of the traveller' (Ir. aistrightheach), an Ulster surname, probably of Scottish origin.  http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Mckinstry  This is an anglicized form of the Olde Scots Gaelic name Mac An Aistrigh, a compound of the Gaelic elements "mac", meaning "so of", plus the definite article "an", and the personal\nickname Aistrigh (from "Aistreach", a traveller). The surname was originally chiefly found in Galloway and is first recorded there in the late 16th Century, (see below). A further variant M'Kinstrie appears in 1593. Today, the name is widespread in Northern Ireland, having been introduced by the Scottish settlers  ....  The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of M'Kynnistrie, which was dated 1574, Records of Galloway, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Good Queen Bess, 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. From: [email protected] Subject: Re: [WIG LIST] Scottish names in Ulster Plantation..& McKinstry Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2004 17:38:34 -0600 Yes - my wife dug up this info some years ago while she was working with a college libraray in Hamilton (Scotland, that is, not Ontario!), successfully bringing me back down to earth & stopping me from chasing all sorts of gaelic definitions (I was assuming Kin = head or top, as in Kinlochleven & getting excited when I found a Glen Strae). I think she found Blacks plus one other source, which I can't remember, but which had ****  an exciting reference to a Marion McInnistrie being a Baillie in Newton Stewart in 1512. ****  There is also Buittle churchyard, which apparently has a fine collection of Kinstrey & even Kingstree (pity the Buittle site is now pay to access). (I found the Kingstree listings in the Buittle churchyard - all from 18th and 19th centuries.  The Buittle churchyard covers no other time period.) I thought that Black's surname dictionary existed online, but it does not.  Yours, Villandra Thorsdottir Austin, Texas Yours, Villandra Thorsdottir Austin, Texas ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Here's wishing you and yours a guid New Year. May your glass always be half full and ready to be topped up, may your purses and sporrans have enough change to get you oot and back hame again. May the memories of Hogmanays past, warm the cockles of your heart, may the shortbread you eat be as good as your mother's or the ones in a tin. Here's tae you, the salt of the earth, now we are awa to enjoy ourselves. Happy New Year and may it be a guid ane for you. Ian & Margo McClumpha Need help with your Scottish Family History research? Let Imchad Ancestry assist you. Please look at our website: www.imchad.freeola.com

Below is what I can find on the name McKinstry, which is apparently from Galloway, Scotland. Historical records place the name all over Galloway and nowhere else. I am particularly interesting in placing the following vague reference. **** an exciting reference to a Marion McInnistrie being a Baillie in Newton Stewart in 1512. **** According to a topographical dictionary, Newton Stewart was founded by a son of the second Lord Stewart of Galloway or someone of that sort, in the 17th century and so did not exist in 1512. "The town was founded in the mid 17th Century by William Stewart, youngest son of the 2nd Earl of Galloway. The "New Town of Stewart" was granted Burgh status by charter from KingCharles II allowing a weekly market and two annual fairs to be held." (This actually from Wikipedia) So this reference to Marion NcInnistrie might be somewhere in the area, near the southern coast of Galloway off of one of the inlets, and I gather that a Baillie was a mayor. Was Marion McInnistrie a female? If a male, that sure is one peculiar name for a rural Scotsman. I'd like to find the reference if I could. Does anyone know where to look for it? Black's surname dictionary, which does not contain the reference about Marion McInnistrie being a Baillie in Newton Stewart in 1512, and hardly gives sources for the information it does give, appears to cite someone else. Does anyone know who and what Woulfe is? I'd also love to find where the notion that McKinstry is Gaelic for "son of a traveller" came from, as distinct from the name is a local corruption of a more common Scottish name like McKenzie or McIntire. I just submitted to Family Tree DNA a Y DNA sample of the father of my brother in law, who is a male line descendant of William Mckinstry of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, who came allegedly from Carrickfergus, Ireland, just across the North Sea from Galloway, and married Mary Morse, in the 18th century. I would love to find any McKinstry descendants who may appear on this list. I tried writing Brian McKinstray, quoted above, several times but got no answer, though it sounds as if he and his wife really didn't keep track of that source they refer to, and therefore could be of no further help finding it. I wrote to Brian McKinstray, who comes across as a male line McKinstry, asking him about donating a Y DNA sample as well, but for all his seeming excitement about tracing the McKinstry family history, I didn't hear back from him. It does rather look as if McKinstry's are likely to be of a single lineage or possibly two, if the line that supposedly lived in Edinburg weren't the same family; and it would be worthwhile to do Y DNA testing of different McKinstry lines. Since Brian McKinstray's line is apparently from Scotland and certainly not one of the New England lines, and tehre is real reason to suspect that the three New England lines are related to each other, if my brother in law's father should happen to match the Y DNA of someone like Brian MacKinstray, that would make a strong case for just one McKinstry family group. Yours, Dora Smith Scots Kith and Kin, Revised 2nd edition. Mackinstry Galway, 16th century Black, The Surnames of Scotland, 1979. MacKinstry. Formerly a Galloway surname. M'Kinstrie 1593, M'Kynnistrie 1574. Woulfe says Ir. Mac an Astrigh, 'son of the traveller' (Ir. aistrightheach), an Ulster surname, probably of Scottish origin. http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Mckinstry This is an anglicized form of the Olde Scots Gaelic name Mac An Aistrigh, a compound of the Gaelic elements "mac", meaning "so of", plus the definite article "an", and the personal\nickname Aistrigh (from "Aistreach", a traveller). The surname was originally chiefly found in Galloway and is first recorded there in the late 16th Century, (see below). A further variant M'Kinstrie appears in 1593. Today, the name is widespread in Northern Ireland, having been introduced by the Scottish settlers .... The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of M'Kynnistrie, which was dated 1574, Records of Galloway, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Good Queen Bess, 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. From: [email protected] Subject: Re: [WIG LIST] Scottish names in Ulster Plantation..& McKinstry Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2004 17:38:34 -0600 Yes - my wife dug up this info some years ago while she was working with a college libraray in Hamilton (Scotland, that is, not Ontario!), successfully bringing me back down to earth & stopping me from chasing all sorts of gaelic definitions (I was assuming Kin = head or top, as in Kinlochleven & getting excited when I found a Glen Strae). I think she found Blacks plus one other source, which I can't remember, but which had **** an exciting reference to a Marion McInnistrie being a Baillie in Newton Stewart in 1512. **** There is also Buittle churchyard, which apparently has a fine collection of Kinstrey & even Kingstree (pity the Buittle site is now pay to access). (I found the Kingstree listings in the Buittle churchyard - all from 18th and 19th centuries. The Buittle churchyard covers no other time period.) I thought that Black's surname dictionary existed online, but it does not. Yours, Villandra Thorsdottir Austin, Texas Yours, Villandra Thorsdottir Austin, Texas