John McMillan MacNeill's headstone, Keil Cemetery, Southend
John McMillan MacNeill
Three generations of John McMillan MacNeill's descendants
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The progenitor of the Forbes Mackay family, the final owners of Carskey with MacNeill blood, John McMillan was the eldest son of Hugh McMillan and Barbra McVicar.
Margaret McVicar and John McMillan were cousins, hence the connections to the McLeorans, one branch of which became the McLarans of Dalby. Born on 4 Jul 1771 - the same year as the two Malcom McLeorans - at Laigh Gartvain in Southend, John held the army rank of Lieutenant when in 1798 he married Jean MacNeill, the only child of Malcolm MacNeill, the laird of Carskey. Thereafter, in censuses and Kirk Sessions, John was always referred to as John McMillan MacNeill of Carskey and Jean as Jean McMillan MacNeill. As mentioned in the MacNeill Journal, in Southend there was a scarcity of suitable marriage partners for the MacNeills of Carskey. With his military rank, John would have presented as a cut above the other local options for Jean. It is unlikely that Jean would have travelled far from Southend in the late 1790s. Captain Frank Forbes Mackay wrote in the Compt Book that his grandmother Penelope (the oldest McMillan MacNeill child) had never left Southend prior to her 1833 marriage day when she and her husband John Alexander Mackay boarded a ship in Carskey Bay for Campbeltown. Penelope was 33 years old. |
Laigh Gartvain
Hugh McMillan 45 Barbra McVicar 44 John McMillan 20 Isobell McMillan 18 Ronald McMillan 14 Donald McMillan 12 Barbra McMillan 8 Helen McMillan 3 1792 Duke of Argyle Census - Hugh McMillan's family at Laigh Gartvain
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Southend estates c. 1795
This map shows the interwoven Southend property holdings around 1800.
Gartvain and Carskey are underlined in red.
This map shows the interwoven Southend property holdings around 1800.
- Purple lines delineate the Carskey holdings of Malcom MacNeill;
- Blue boundaries indicate the holdings of the MacNeills of Ugadale;
- Yellow lines show the Duke of Argyll's properties.
Gartvain and Carskey are underlined in red.
Comments on John McMillan MacNeill
Around 1800, army officers purchased their commissions and the typical cost was around £400, too large an amount for John or his tenant-farmer father. It is possible that the commission was purchased by Malcolm MacNeill in advance of his daughter Jean's marriage, to assist John's progress up the social ladder. Obviously, John had not joined the army in 1792.
Perhaps the McMillan - MacNeill marriage was essential to introduce new blood into the family - the previous generation had married into the McDonalds of Sanda and there were few local marriage options available for Jean MacNeill.
John McMillan MacNeill and the family that followed him maintained a strong family connection to Margaret McVicar's family throughout his life and for 30 years after his death:
This long and ongoing commitment of the McMillan McNeil towards the McLeoran family spanned at least three generations and around 90 years. Blood certainly was thicker than water at Southend in the 19th century!
John McMillan MacNeill had many cousins, so why did Margaret McVicar's descendants receive such special treatment? Maybe it was because (as postulated elsewhere) Margaret died at an early age, leaving a family in need of assistance.
Around 1800, army officers purchased their commissions and the typical cost was around £400, too large an amount for John or his tenant-farmer father. It is possible that the commission was purchased by Malcolm MacNeill in advance of his daughter Jean's marriage, to assist John's progress up the social ladder. Obviously, John had not joined the army in 1792.
Perhaps the McMillan - MacNeill marriage was essential to introduce new blood into the family - the previous generation had married into the McDonalds of Sanda and there were few local marriage options available for Jean MacNeill.
John McMillan MacNeill and the family that followed him maintained a strong family connection to Margaret McVicar's family throughout his life and for 30 years after his death:
- Margaret's daughter, Jean McLeoran, and Jean's daughter Ann and her daughters lived and worked on Carskey land between 1830 and 1891;
- Margaret's son, Malcolm McLaran, worked continuously on Carskey lands (Feorlin) until the 1840s when he was forced to moved to Lechnicreive in Campbeltown Parish;
- both of Malcolm's wives were servants at Carskey ... a kilometre down the road from Feorlin;
- Margaret's second son, Archibald McLeoran, worked at Carskey and he and his family lived at Shore Cottage beside Jean until they emigrated to Victoria in the 1850s and 1860; Archibald ventured all the way to Southend (Newton Argyll) to find his wife, Isabella McMillan;
- Malcolm McLaran's illegitimate son, Archibald McLeoran, lived and worked at Carskey until he left Southend sometime between 1851 and 1861; until his marriage he lived with his aunt Jean McLeoran at Shore Cottage;
- Malcolm McLaran's first legitimate son was named John McMillan McLeoran - perhaps to honour (or curry favour) with the Laird of Carskey.
This long and ongoing commitment of the McMillan McNeil towards the McLeoran family spanned at least three generations and around 90 years. Blood certainly was thicker than water at Southend in the 19th century!
John McMillan MacNeill had many cousins, so why did Margaret McVicar's descendants receive such special treatment? Maybe it was because (as postulated elsewhere) Margaret died at an early age, leaving a family in need of assistance.
John McMillan MacNeill's headstone
The McMillan MacNeill headstone - top of page - in Keil Cemetery, Southend fully explains John's heritage and the lives of all but one of his descendants, eldest child Penelope who most likely commissioned its construction:
The McMillan MacNeill headstone - top of page - in Keil Cemetery, Southend fully explains John's heritage and the lives of all but one of his descendants, eldest child Penelope who most likely commissioned its construction:
IN MEMORIAM
JOHN McMILLAN MACNEILL OF CARSKEY
BORN 4 JULY 1771 DIED 2 MAY 1859
JEAN McMILLAN MACNEILL HIS WIFE
ONLY CHILD OF LIEUT COL
MALCOLM MACNEILL OF CARSKEY
BORN 15 MAY 1769 DIED 15 MARCH 1863
THEIR CHILDREN
ANNE BORN 12 FEB 1806 DIED 14 SEP 1849
JEAN BORN 26 JAN 1808 DIED 6 MAR 1864
BARBARA RONALD AND JOHN DIED YOUNG
MALCOLM McMILLAN MACNEILL OF CARSKEY
BORN 30 APRIL 1802 DIED 23 JAN 1867
HELEN McMILLAN MACNEILL OF CARSKEY
BORN 4 DEC 1811 DIED 17 SEPTEMBER 1886
JOHN McMILLAN MACNEILL OF CARSKEY
BORN 4 JULY 1771 DIED 2 MAY 1859
JEAN McMILLAN MACNEILL HIS WIFE
ONLY CHILD OF LIEUT COL
MALCOLM MACNEILL OF CARSKEY
BORN 15 MAY 1769 DIED 15 MARCH 1863
THEIR CHILDREN
ANNE BORN 12 FEB 1806 DIED 14 SEP 1849
JEAN BORN 26 JAN 1808 DIED 6 MAR 1864
BARBARA RONALD AND JOHN DIED YOUNG
MALCOLM McMILLAN MACNEILL OF CARSKEY
BORN 30 APRIL 1802 DIED 23 JAN 1867
HELEN McMILLAN MACNEILL OF CARSKEY
BORN 4 DEC 1811 DIED 17 SEPTEMBER 1886
Comments on John McMillan MacNeill's headstone
John McMillan MacNeill
John was the grand age of 87 when he passed away. His death certificate described him as "Landed Proprietor".
Jean McMillan MacNeill
Jean also lived a long life (93 years). The MacNeills of Carskey had successfully won the battle of "male lineage genetic Russian roulette" for many centuries, but by the late 19th century the game was finally up for Lt Col Malcolm MacNeill.
Jean, the only child of Lt Col Malcolm MacNeill, was the illegitimate daughter of a Carskey servant, Margaret Shannon. Margaret Shannon's fate is yet to be uncovered. Perhaps her surname was McShenoig? By coincidence, the MacNeill Compt Book records a Margaret McShenoig as a servant of Jean's grandfather, Malcolm MacNeill, around 1720.
Penelope MacNeill
The headstone lists the lives of John and Jean's children - apart from their eldest child, Penelope McMillan MaNeill who was born in 1799 and died in 1888. Penelope alone had issue. The base of the headstone suggests the headstone was erected between 1867 (death of Malcolm) and 1886 (death of Helen) as it reads:
Erected by the surviving children
Penelope Mackay & Helen McMillan MacNeill
John McMillan MacNeill
John was the grand age of 87 when he passed away. His death certificate described him as "Landed Proprietor".
Jean McMillan MacNeill
Jean also lived a long life (93 years). The MacNeills of Carskey had successfully won the battle of "male lineage genetic Russian roulette" for many centuries, but by the late 19th century the game was finally up for Lt Col Malcolm MacNeill.
Jean, the only child of Lt Col Malcolm MacNeill, was the illegitimate daughter of a Carskey servant, Margaret Shannon. Margaret Shannon's fate is yet to be uncovered. Perhaps her surname was McShenoig? By coincidence, the MacNeill Compt Book records a Margaret McShenoig as a servant of Jean's grandfather, Malcolm MacNeill, around 1720.
Penelope MacNeill
The headstone lists the lives of John and Jean's children - apart from their eldest child, Penelope McMillan MaNeill who was born in 1799 and died in 1888. Penelope alone had issue. The base of the headstone suggests the headstone was erected between 1867 (death of Malcolm) and 1886 (death of Helen) as it reads:
Erected by the surviving children
Penelope Mackay & Helen McMillan MacNeill
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Lt Col Malcolm MacNeill
The dates of MacNeill of Carskey's birth and demise are yet to be determined. One publication suggests he passed away in 1824. Here is an extract from his 2 x great grandson's MacNeill Compt Book (Journal of Malcolm MacNeill): A short allusion may be allowed to Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm, he who caused to be cut on the headstone*, in 1820, his intention to be buried beside it. Colonel Malcolm's figure is prominent in the fine grouping of John Copley's painting in the National Gallery, London, of the death of Major Peirson in the action at the taking of St. Helier in 1781. He is the officer depicted with drawn sword directing with his left hand the fire of a negro soldier who has just hit the Frenchman whose bullet a moment before had killed Major Peirson. The Colonel lived to serve through the Napoleonic War period and to retire to his estate. It is told of him still that when he rode the eleven miles from Carskey into Campbeltown on business he carried a pistol down each stocking. * A headstone in the chapel, not the headstone at the top of this page. 1781 Battle of St Helier
During the Anglo - French War 1778 - 1783 the French attempted to take Jersey. The Battle of St Helier took place on 5 Jan 1781, the British were victorious but at the loss of their commanding officer, Major Peirson. |
John Copley's painting in the National Gallery, London.
A huge painting 2400 x 3600 approx. 
A key to the officers portrayed on John Copley's painting
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Malcolm McMillan MacNeill
As the only son who survived infancy, Malcolm eventually assumed the social, church and property duties of his father. It appears that Malcolm never married or had issue. He passed away in 1867.
Barbara, Ronald and John McMillan MacNeill
Barbara (named after John's mother, Barbra McVicar) was born in 1804. Ronald (named after John's brother) was born in 1810. Son John was born in 1815, the couple's final child. The death years of these three children are unknown.
Helen McMillan MacNeill
It is interesting that she, her brother Malcolm, and her sister Penelope (see below) were all recorded as "of Carskey". This terminology suggests that she and Malcolm lived together at Carskey until their deaths and the ownership of the estate transferred from John and Jean initially to Malcolm, then perhaps to Helen and finally to Penelope's family. The word "of" usually suggests ownership - the word "in" usually indicates tenancy. Helen passed away in 1886.
Penelope is buried at Grange Cemetery, Beaufort Rd Edinburgh.
As the only son who survived infancy, Malcolm eventually assumed the social, church and property duties of his father. It appears that Malcolm never married or had issue. He passed away in 1867.
Barbara, Ronald and John McMillan MacNeill
Barbara (named after John's mother, Barbra McVicar) was born in 1804. Ronald (named after John's brother) was born in 1810. Son John was born in 1815, the couple's final child. The death years of these three children are unknown.
Helen McMillan MacNeill
It is interesting that she, her brother Malcolm, and her sister Penelope (see below) were all recorded as "of Carskey". This terminology suggests that she and Malcolm lived together at Carskey until their deaths and the ownership of the estate transferred from John and Jean initially to Malcolm, then perhaps to Helen and finally to Penelope's family. The word "of" usually suggests ownership - the word "in" usually indicates tenancy. Helen passed away in 1886.
Penelope is buried at Grange Cemetery, Beaufort Rd Edinburgh.
Penelope McMillan MacNeill's headstone, Grange Cemetery, Edinburgh
Penelope McMillan MacNeill's headstone
Penelope's headstone covers 4 generations: her husband and his parents, two of her children and several of her grandchildren.
Penelope's headstone covers 4 generations: her husband and his parents, two of her children and several of her grandchildren.
Comments on Penelope McMillan MacNeill's headstone
Alexander Mackay of Blackcastle
Alexander b. 1771 d. 1832 - his well-recorded family story may be found online.
Alexander's wife Isabella Hogg
Isabella died at a relatively young age in 1813.
John Alexander Mackay
The only child of Alexander and Isabella Mackay, John was born in 1802 and died in 1872. John married Penelope McMillan MacNeill in 1833. John's father, Alexander Mackay of Blackcastle, was a renowned expert on Clan Mackay and Clan Forbes. Experts claim Clan Mackay and Clan Forbes are both descended from the same progenitor - perhaps this was the source of inspiration for John to adopt "Forbes Mackay" as the family surname?
Penelope McMillan MacNeil of Carskey
"Of Carskey" indicates that she inherited Carskey. Her grandson Frank Forbes Mackay, relates stories of Penelope in the MacNeill Journal he published in 1955. John and Penelope had one son and twin daughters.
The Forbes Mackay family of Carskey
Penelope McMillan MacNeill's illustrious family deserves a website of its own, more than the two pages included here.
Alexander Mackay of Blackcastle
Alexander b. 1771 d. 1832 - his well-recorded family story may be found online.
Alexander's wife Isabella Hogg
Isabella died at a relatively young age in 1813.
John Alexander Mackay
The only child of Alexander and Isabella Mackay, John was born in 1802 and died in 1872. John married Penelope McMillan MacNeill in 1833. John's father, Alexander Mackay of Blackcastle, was a renowned expert on Clan Mackay and Clan Forbes. Experts claim Clan Mackay and Clan Forbes are both descended from the same progenitor - perhaps this was the source of inspiration for John to adopt "Forbes Mackay" as the family surname?
Penelope McMillan MacNeil of Carskey
"Of Carskey" indicates that she inherited Carskey. Her grandson Frank Forbes Mackay, relates stories of Penelope in the MacNeill Journal he published in 1955. John and Penelope had one son and twin daughters.
The Forbes Mackay family of Carskey
Penelope McMillan MacNeill's illustrious family deserves a website of its own, more than the two pages included here.