Keil Cemetery, Southend - Mary McLouran (McLeoran) and her Thomson family headstone.
(The only McLeoran headstone discovered in Southend to date.)
(The only McLeoran headstone discovered in Southend to date.)
The Southend McLeoran Family in 1800
Records of the McLeoran Family in Southend 1723 - 1800
Prior to 1855, when the Scottish government assumed responsibility for recording births, deaths and marriages, only parish church records are available. Southend's Kirk records present various difficulties:
Valuable sources which reveal the McLeoran family history for the period 1700 - 1800 include the following:
Some of these sources are discussed below.
Prior to 1855, when the Scottish government assumed responsibility for recording births, deaths and marriages, only parish church records are available. Southend's Kirk records present various difficulties:
- there are few records prior to 1770;
- all death records have been lost;
- not all births were recorded;
- some births were not recorded until many years after the event;
- the variety of spellings employed for the McLeoran family surname.
Valuable sources which reveal the McLeoran family history for the period 1700 - 1800 include the following:
- Catherine McLaren's death certificate 1913;
- Jean McLeoran's 1796 birth and 1869 death certificates;
- Malcolm McLaran's 1800 birth and 1884 death certificates;
- Mary McLeoran's 1805 headstone at Keil Cemetery, Southend;
- John and Barbra McVicar headstone at Keil Cemetery, Southend;
- John McMillan MacNeill's headstone at Keil Cemetery, Southend and his birth and death certificates;
- Scotlandspeople's church birth and marriage records for Southend parish;
- the MacNeill of Carskey Journal (aka The Compt Book) 1703 - 1743;
- the 1792 tenant census undertaken by the Duke of Argyle.
Some of these sources are discussed below.
1913 Part of Catherine McLaren's death certificate - annotation by others
1913 Catherine McLaren's death certificate
Catherine passed away in Queensland in 1913 and her death certificate holds an error: the informant, her son-in-law James Connell, named Margaret McVicker (SIC) and not Margaret McQuilkan as Catherine's mother. James obviously had some knowledge of the McLaren family tree, but mistakenly offered Catherine's grandmother's name instead of her mother's. This error has led to the discovery of Malcolm McLaran's true parents, his siblings, his relations in both Victoria and North Dakota, and his connection to the MacNeills of Carskey.
Until now, the 1799 Southend marriage between a Malcolm McLeoran and a Mary McBride was long been accepted by McLaren family historians to be the marriage of Malcom McLaran's parents. However, it has been revealed that Malcolm's parents were Malcom Louran (McLeoran) of Druma Voullin and Margaret McViccar (McVicar) of Amod who married in 1795.
Catherine passed away in Queensland in 1913 and her death certificate holds an error: the informant, her son-in-law James Connell, named Margaret McVicker (SIC) and not Margaret McQuilkan as Catherine's mother. James obviously had some knowledge of the McLaren family tree, but mistakenly offered Catherine's grandmother's name instead of her mother's. This error has led to the discovery of Malcolm McLaran's true parents, his siblings, his relations in both Victoria and North Dakota, and his connection to the MacNeills of Carskey.
Until now, the 1799 Southend marriage between a Malcolm McLeoran and a Mary McBride was long been accepted by McLaren family historians to be the marriage of Malcom McLaran's parents. However, it has been revealed that Malcolm's parents were Malcom Louran (McLeoran) of Druma Voullin and Margaret McViccar (McVicar) of Amod who married in 1795.
1796 Jean Lonan's (McLeoran's) birth record
1869 Part of Jean McLeoran's death certificate
1769 Jean McLeoran's birth and death certificates
Jean McLeoran was born at Amod on 3 Dec 1796 and her name recorded as Jean Lonan. She became the backbone of the McLeoran family, raising possibly her two brothers, Malcolm and Archibald and Malcolm's illegitimate son, Archibald, while raising two daughters of her own.
Her younger daughter Ann Mackay emigrated to North Dakota with her family and laid the foundations for a widespread family in the USA, while the older daughter, Isobel McLeure, married twice and raised a family in Northumberland.
Jean died on 14 Jul 1869 at the shore cottage of Carskey estate. Interestingly, this cottage may be rented today. Her death certificate recorded the following details:
These details fit seamlessly with her birth and her parents' wedding certificates.
Jean McLeoran was born at Amod on 3 Dec 1796 and her name recorded as Jean Lonan. She became the backbone of the McLeoran family, raising possibly her two brothers, Malcolm and Archibald and Malcolm's illegitimate son, Archibald, while raising two daughters of her own.
Her younger daughter Ann Mackay emigrated to North Dakota with her family and laid the foundations for a widespread family in the USA, while the older daughter, Isobel McLeure, married twice and raised a family in Northumberland.
Jean died on 14 Jul 1869 at the shore cottage of Carskey estate. Interestingly, this cottage may be rented today. Her death certificate recorded the following details:
- Jean was 72 years of age;
- her occupation had been seamstress;
- her father was Malcom McLeoran - a shepherd, deceased;
- her mother was Margaret McVicar - deceased;
- the informant was her younger daughter, Ann Mackay.
These details fit seamlessly with her birth and her parents' wedding certificates.
30 Mar 1800 Malcolm McLouran's (McLaran's) birth certificate
1800 Malcolm McLaran's birth certificate
Once again, the spelling of the McLaren surname changed when Malcolm's birth was recorded:
1884 Malcolm McLaran's death certificate
Malcolm's death certificate offers a few clues to his parents and his birth:
These details are sufficient to establish beyond doubt that Jean McLeoran and Malcolm Mclaren were brother and sister, both children of Malcolm McLeoran and Margaret McVicar.
Once again, the spelling of the McLaren surname changed when Malcolm's birth was recorded:
- date of birth 30 Mar 1800 - supporting the 85 years attributed to him on his death;
- his father was recorded as Malcom McLouran of Drumma Voullin, Carskey, and his mother as Margarat McVicar.
1884 Malcolm McLaran's death certificate
Malcolm's death certificate offers a few clues to his parents and his birth:
- when he died on 17 Sep 1884, Malcolm was recorded as 85 years of age;
- he was born in Argyllshire;
- his father was Malcolm McLaren - a labourer;
- details of his mother were unknown - despite the informant being Catherine McLaren.
These details are sufficient to establish beyond doubt that Jean McLeoran and Malcolm Mclaren were brother and sister, both children of Malcolm McLeoran and Margaret McVicar.
Mary McLeoran's Headstone
Mary's headstone - see top of page - reveals a marriage and subsequent births.
Mary married Alexander Thom(p)son prior to 1770, so there is no record of their marriage. The headstone has only come to light due to the Scottish tradition that married women continued to be known by their maiden names.
1771 McLeoran births in Southend
The following births ("lawful" indicates the parents were married) were recorded in Southend for the year 1771:
From the above, we can be sure that living in 1771 in Southend Parish were:
Some questions need answers:
Ancestral Naming Patterns
Scottish families generally follow "ancestral naming patterns", but not always strictly. Occasionally children were named after a parent's deceased sibling. A possible answer to the first question may be that Donald of Keramenach and Duncan of Glennamucklach were siblings and shared a recently deceased brother named Malcom.
In 1780, Donald McLeoran of Keremenach fathered a son he named Donald. This Donald McLeoran - let us call him Donald of Mucklach - married three times and fathered many children. In 1815, Malcom McLeoran and Mary McBride had a son named Iver. The following year, Donald of Mucklach also had a son .... and he named him Iver. This suggests that it is highly likely that the Malcom who married Mary McBride and Donald were brothers, and Iver McLeoran, son of a Donald McLeoran, born in 1769 at Carskey, may have been their older brother.
If this is a correct conclusion, then Duncan of Glennamucklach was the father of the Malcom McLeoran who married Margaret McVicar.
It may be possible, with some conjecture, to extend the family tree further back in time using the Compt Book, the 1792 Duke of Argyle's census and the information on John McMillan's headstone.
And what became of John McMillan? That is a vital link in the story and deserves a separate page.
Mary's headstone - see top of page - reveals a marriage and subsequent births.
Mary married Alexander Thom(p)son prior to 1770, so there is no record of their marriage. The headstone has only come to light due to the Scottish tradition that married women continued to be known by their maiden names.
1771 McLeoran births in Southend
The following births ("lawful" indicates the parents were married) were recorded in Southend for the year 1771:
- 12 Jun 1771 Mary lawful daughter of Alexander Thompson Keramenach;
- 27 Jun 1771 Malcom lawful son of Donald McLeoran Keramenach;
- ?? Jul 1771 John McMillian lawful son of Hugh McMillan and Barbara McVicar at ???:
- 16 Aug 1771 Angus lawful son of Donald McLeoran Carskey;
- 14 Nov 1771 Malcom lawful son of Duncan McLeoran Glennamucklach.
From the above, we can be sure that living in 1771 in Southend Parish were:
- a Donald McLeoran and a Mary McLeoran, probably siblings or cousins, with their families at Keramenach;
- a second Donald McLeoran and his family at Carskey;
- a Duncan McLeoran and his family at Glennamucklach;
- Hugh McMillan and his family at Laigh Gartvain.??
Some questions need answers:
- why in 1771 were two McLeoran sons born with the same christian name?
- which Malcom McLeoran born in 1771 married Margaret McVicar and which married Mary McBride?
- why is John McMillan included in the list and what became of him?
Ancestral Naming Patterns
Scottish families generally follow "ancestral naming patterns", but not always strictly. Occasionally children were named after a parent's deceased sibling. A possible answer to the first question may be that Donald of Keramenach and Duncan of Glennamucklach were siblings and shared a recently deceased brother named Malcom.
In 1780, Donald McLeoran of Keremenach fathered a son he named Donald. This Donald McLeoran - let us call him Donald of Mucklach - married three times and fathered many children. In 1815, Malcom McLeoran and Mary McBride had a son named Iver. The following year, Donald of Mucklach also had a son .... and he named him Iver. This suggests that it is highly likely that the Malcom who married Mary McBride and Donald were brothers, and Iver McLeoran, son of a Donald McLeoran, born in 1769 at Carskey, may have been their older brother.
If this is a correct conclusion, then Duncan of Glennamucklach was the father of the Malcom McLeoran who married Margaret McVicar.
It may be possible, with some conjecture, to extend the family tree further back in time using the Compt Book, the 1792 Duke of Argyle's census and the information on John McMillan's headstone.
And what became of John McMillan? That is a vital link in the story and deserves a separate page.
1800 Farms around Southend
Southend Farms
Keramenach is a farm close to Carskey. In 1751 and in 1792 it was owned by a blood relation of the McNeills of Carskey, Neil MacNeal of Ugadale. Today there is a stone building on the site.
Carskey was the home of the head of the McNeill family, one of two major landowners in the Southend Parish from 1505 until around 1900. The McNeill story extends as far back as the 13th century.
Achinsavel was a clachan several hundred metres north of Carskey. In the early 1700s it was the home of Malcom McNeil's uncle and part of the Carskey estate. Today it is several bumps in a field.
Balinacuissag was part of Carskey, located between the road to the Mull and Carskey Bay.
Glennamucklach was in the north of Southend parish and should not to be confused with Mucklach, which is adjacent to Keramenach and Carskey. Glennamucklach (sometimes spelt Glenmucklach) was owned in 1750 by Alexander McMillan of Dunmore.
Keramenach is a farm close to Carskey. In 1751 and in 1792 it was owned by a blood relation of the McNeills of Carskey, Neil MacNeal of Ugadale. Today there is a stone building on the site.
Carskey was the home of the head of the McNeill family, one of two major landowners in the Southend Parish from 1505 until around 1900. The McNeill story extends as far back as the 13th century.
Achinsavel was a clachan several hundred metres north of Carskey. In the early 1700s it was the home of Malcom McNeil's uncle and part of the Carskey estate. Today it is several bumps in a field.
Balinacuissag was part of Carskey, located between the road to the Mull and Carskey Bay.
Glennamucklach was in the north of Southend parish and should not to be confused with Mucklach, which is adjacent to Keramenach and Carskey. Glennamucklach (sometimes spelt Glenmucklach) was owned in 1750 by Alexander McMillan of Dunmore.
29 Nov 1795 Marriage of Malcolm McLeoran / McLouran / Louran (Senior) and Margaret McVicar.
Malcom McLeoran and Margaret McVicar's family
Apart from their marriage, the 1796 birth of Jean and the 1800 birth of Malcom McLaran, details of the lives of Malcom McLeoran and Margaret McVicar are difficult to uncover.
It is possible that Margaret McVicar was born in 1766 - refer the 1792 Duke of Argyle census.
The 1841 and 1851 Southend Censuses indicate that an Archibald McLeoran born around 1807 in Southend lived in the house adjacent Jean McLeoran on Carskey estate. Archibald's birth was not recorded. It may be a reasonable assumption that Margaret McVicar died around the time of his birth.
Archibald died in Victoria in 1884, but unfortunately his death certificate - which (apparently) erroneously records he was 84 years of age - does not contain any details of his parents.
The discovery of Jean McLeoran 1796 - 1869 due to the error on Catherine McLaren's death certificate, has cast a new light on the McLeorans in Southend between 1690 and 1891 and uncovered siblings for Malcolm McLaran.
Below is an attempt at a family tree covering the McLeorans of Southend around 1800. It appears that the McLeoran family from which the McLarans of Dalby are descended was a small unit - mother, father, and three children.
Apart from their marriage, the 1796 birth of Jean and the 1800 birth of Malcom McLaran, details of the lives of Malcom McLeoran and Margaret McVicar are difficult to uncover.
It is possible that Margaret McVicar was born in 1766 - refer the 1792 Duke of Argyle census.
The 1841 and 1851 Southend Censuses indicate that an Archibald McLeoran born around 1807 in Southend lived in the house adjacent Jean McLeoran on Carskey estate. Archibald's birth was not recorded. It may be a reasonable assumption that Margaret McVicar died around the time of his birth.
Archibald died in Victoria in 1884, but unfortunately his death certificate - which (apparently) erroneously records he was 84 years of age - does not contain any details of his parents.
The discovery of Jean McLeoran 1796 - 1869 due to the error on Catherine McLaren's death certificate, has cast a new light on the McLeorans in Southend between 1690 and 1891 and uncovered siblings for Malcolm McLaran.
Below is an attempt at a family tree covering the McLeorans of Southend around 1800. It appears that the McLeoran family from which the McLarans of Dalby are descended was a small unit - mother, father, and three children.
1770 - 1807 Partial McLeoran Family Tree
- parents' birth and death years are assumed in absence of any records
- absence of names of mothers and presence of two Donald McLeoran's add uncertainty to the above tree.
- most of these family members lived on Carskey land and not the Duke of Argyle's farms, so the 1792 Duke of Argyle's census is not of assistance in tracing the McLeoran family ... but it is useful in tracing McVicar members and John McMillan.