Jan 1822 McLeoran Births: Penelope McLeoran and Archibald McLeoran
Archibald McLeoran b. 1822 d. ?
The birth of Archibald McLeoran
Archibald was born at Southend on 18 Jan 1822 to an unmarried couple, Malcolm McLeoran of Feorline and Euphemia McConochy. He was unnamed at the time the birth was recorded and it is assumed that at a subsequent date he was given his christian name.
It seems reasonable to assume that Malcolm McLeoran Junior b. 1800, who lived at Feorline in the 1820s, was Archibald's father. Euphemia's parentage is unknown.
Archibald's was not the only "natural" birth on that 1822 Southend birth record. It is fortuitous that the Kirk accepted "natural" births for registration in 1822 - 15 years later the Kirk refused Jean McLeoran's pleas to baptise her illegitimate daughter, Ann Mackay. ("Lawful" birth indicated that the parents were married, the term "natural" was assigned to illegitimate births.)
The fate of Euphemia McConachy
As there is no record of Euphemia having further children or marrying after 1822 in Scotlandspeople's, it is most likely that she died around the time of Archibald's birth. It is also possible that Euphemia emigrated to America.
The birth of Penelope McLeoran
Penelope McLeoran was six days old when Archibald was born. Her parents were Malcolm McLeoran b. 1771 at Keramenach and his wife Mary McBride and Penelope was their final child. Mary lived on into the 1840s while Malcolm died prior to the 1841 Census. Malcolm McLeoran Junior and Penelope were probably second cousins at closest, so Archibald may have been Penelope's second cousin once removed.
Archibald was born at Southend on 18 Jan 1822 to an unmarried couple, Malcolm McLeoran of Feorline and Euphemia McConochy. He was unnamed at the time the birth was recorded and it is assumed that at a subsequent date he was given his christian name.
It seems reasonable to assume that Malcolm McLeoran Junior b. 1800, who lived at Feorline in the 1820s, was Archibald's father. Euphemia's parentage is unknown.
Archibald's was not the only "natural" birth on that 1822 Southend birth record. It is fortuitous that the Kirk accepted "natural" births for registration in 1822 - 15 years later the Kirk refused Jean McLeoran's pleas to baptise her illegitimate daughter, Ann Mackay. ("Lawful" birth indicated that the parents were married, the term "natural" was assigned to illegitimate births.)
The fate of Euphemia McConachy
As there is no record of Euphemia having further children or marrying after 1822 in Scotlandspeople's, it is most likely that she died around the time of Archibald's birth. It is also possible that Euphemia emigrated to America.
The birth of Penelope McLeoran
Penelope McLeoran was six days old when Archibald was born. Her parents were Malcolm McLeoran b. 1771 at Keramenach and his wife Mary McBride and Penelope was their final child. Mary lived on into the 1840s while Malcolm died prior to the 1841 Census. Malcolm McLeoran Junior and Penelope were probably second cousins at closest, so Archibald may have been Penelope's second cousin once removed.
1841 Southend Census, Carskey - two McLeoran households:
First household:
In the two adjoining houses lived two Archibald McLeorans - uncle and nephew, and three Isabellas. And if Malcolm McLeoran junior dropped by with his sons Malcolm and Donald ... two Malcolms and two Donalds.
First household:
- Archibald Louran 35 - aka Archibald McLeoran b. 1807 - agricultural worker at Carskey;
- Isabella Louran 30 - Isabella McMillan, his wife;
- Donald Louran 5 - aka Donald McLeoran their first born son;
- Mary Louran 3 - aka Mary McLeoran their first born daughter;
- Isabella Louran 1 - aka Isabella McLeoran their new born daughter.
- Jean McLeoran 35 - should be 45
- Bell McLeoran - aka Isabella McLeure 13, her daughter
- Ann McKay - aka Ann Mackay 8, her daughter - actual age 6
- Archibald Loeran - aka Archibald McLeoran 18, Jean's nephew - actual age 19 - agricultural worker at Carskey.
In the two adjoining houses lived two Archibald McLeorans - uncle and nephew, and three Isabellas. And if Malcolm McLeoran junior dropped by with his sons Malcolm and Donald ... two Malcolms and two Donalds.
1845 A Southend wedding - the marriage of Archibald McLeoran and Penelope McLeoran
The family of Archibald McLeoran and Penelope McLeoran
The pool of potential partners was very small in Southend in the early 1800s, particularly for "original" inhabitants such as the McLeorans who tended to marry similar stock but only from the area west of the road from Southend to Campbeltown, not to the east of it.
Consequently, McLeoran - McLeoran weddings were not unprecedented in Southend. In the early 1800s, a Donald McLeoran (from Mucklach) married a Rachel McLeoran.
When Archibald and Penelope married in Southend on 26 Jun 1845, Archibald had advanced from being an agricultural labourer to a servant at Carskey while Penelope was still living with her mother Mary McBride at the clachan of Carrine.
The two distant cousins had at least two children:
There is no further mention of Archibald or his family members in Scotlandspeople, and they are not included in the 1851 Census. It is very likely that the family emigrated between Jul 1848 and 1851. Many people emigrated to California around this time to join the gold rush. If Archibald did emigrate, then he became the first McLeoran to do so. A list of McLeoran emigrants:
It is hoped that further investigations will uncover the fate of Archibald McLeoran b. 1822 and his family and also that of John McMillan McLeoran and Malcolm McLeoran The Younger.
The pool of potential partners was very small in Southend in the early 1800s, particularly for "original" inhabitants such as the McLeorans who tended to marry similar stock but only from the area west of the road from Southend to Campbeltown, not to the east of it.
Consequently, McLeoran - McLeoran weddings were not unprecedented in Southend. In the early 1800s, a Donald McLeoran (from Mucklach) married a Rachel McLeoran.
When Archibald and Penelope married in Southend on 26 Jun 1845, Archibald had advanced from being an agricultural labourer to a servant at Carskey while Penelope was still living with her mother Mary McBride at the clachan of Carrine.
The two distant cousins had at least two children:
- Edward b. 28 Jul 1845 - a month after his parents' marriage;
- Margaret b. 19 Mar 1848 - probably named after grandmother Margaret McVicar or "step mother" Margaret McQuilkan.
There is no further mention of Archibald or his family members in Scotlandspeople, and they are not included in the 1851 Census. It is very likely that the family emigrated between Jul 1848 and 1851. Many people emigrated to California around this time to join the gold rush. If Archibald did emigrate, then he became the first McLeoran to do so. A list of McLeoran emigrants:
- Archibald b. 1822 and family (presumed) between 1848 and 1850 to places unknown;
- Archibald McLeoran b. 1807 and family - 1852 and 1860 to Victoria
- Malcolm Jnr and family - Catherine, Donald, Duncan, Margaret, Alexander and wife Jane - 1852 to Queensland;
- John McMillan McLeoran and Malcolm McLeoran The Younger (presumed) between 1851 and 1861 to places unknown.
It is hoped that further investigations will uncover the fate of Archibald McLeoran b. 1822 and his family and also that of John McMillan McLeoran and Malcolm McLeoran The Younger.