Two generations of the descendants of Archibald McLeoran and Isabella McMillan
Archibald McLeoran c. 1807 - 1884
Progenitor of an extensive Victorian family
Summary of the major events in Archibald McLeoran's 77 years:
- c. 1807 Archibald McLeoran (in Australia aka Archibald McLaren) was born at Southend; .
- Probably between 1807 and 1820, both Archibald's parents, Malcolm McLeoran and Margaret McVicar passed away.
- 2 Feb 1836 Archibald married Isabella McMillan. There is no record of an Isabella McMillan born in Southend between 1800 and 1820, so it is unlikely she was a relative of John McMillan's family. It is more likely she belonged to a family that had recently arrived in Southend. It is possible Isabella was born in 1813 at Saltoun, as her age was recorded as 28 in the Southend 1841 census.
- 22 Apr 1836 Archibald's son, Donald McLeoran, was born in Southend - 2 months after the birth of Duncan McLeoran at Feorlin;
- 1838 daughter Mary was born in Southend;
- 1840 daughter Isabella was born in Southend;
- 1849 son Malcolm was born in Southend;
- 1851 son Edward was born in Southend;
- 1851 Census recorded Archibald and his family living beside his sister Jean at Carskey;
- 1856 son Donald and daughter Mary emigrated to Geelong, Victoria;
- 1859 Mary married fellow Scot, Matthew Pollock;
- 1860 Archibald, his wife Isabella, and their children Isabella, Malcolm and Edward emigrated to Melbourne, Victoria;
- 1860 Archibald and his family probably joined Mary and Matthew Pollock in Geelong or Portarlington on the Bellarine Peninsula.
- 1861 the tragic death of younger daughter Isabella at Skipton, Victoria;
- 1862 marriage of son Donald and Jane Nielson;
- There are few clues as to Archibald's employment between 1860 and 1884. On arrival in Victoria, it was recorded that he would be working "on his own account" and he was intending to go to Geelong, no doubt to join his children Donald and Mary.
- 1873 marriage of son Malcolm and Hannah Bell;
- 1877 marriage of Edward and Isabella McKerral;
- 1880 death of Archibald's wife, Isabella McMillan (estimated age 67);
- 1884 Archibald (estimated age 77) passed away at Rokewood, probably at Wurrock, where his eldest son Donald was the estate manager.
The birth of Archibald McLeoran
There is no birth record for Archibald in Southend. This is not an unusual occurrence in the early 19th century.
Archibald's birth is covered on the McLeoran Family 1800 page, which contends (on strong circumstantial evidence) that it is beyond dispute that he was the younger sibling of Jean b. 1796 and Malcolm McLeoran b. 1800.
There is no record of further descendants of Malcolm McLeoran and Margaret McVicar. It is estimated that Margaret was 41 at the time of Archibald's birth.
Support for the theory that Archibald is Jean and Malcolm McLeoran's brother includes the following:
There is no birth record for Archibald in Southend. This is not an unusual occurrence in the early 19th century.
Archibald's birth is covered on the McLeoran Family 1800 page, which contends (on strong circumstantial evidence) that it is beyond dispute that he was the younger sibling of Jean b. 1796 and Malcolm McLeoran b. 1800.
There is no record of further descendants of Malcolm McLeoran and Margaret McVicar. It is estimated that Margaret was 41 at the time of Archibald's birth.
Support for the theory that Archibald is Jean and Malcolm McLeoran's brother includes the following:
- Apart from Edward, Archibald and his wife Isabella chose commonly used names from the McLeoran - McVicar family for their children;
- Archibald's proximity to his elder sister Jean in a house owned by Margaret McVicar's cousin (John McMillan MacNeill, the laird of Carskey). See the 1841 Census below. This document suggests a closeness between Jean and Archibald;
- Archibald was employed at Carskey throughout his days in Southend, as were his siblings Jean and Malcolm and their families.
Other claims about Archibald McLeoran's birth:
A subscriber to ancestry.com claims:
Is it possible that Archibald was not born in Southend and was not a member of the McLeoran - McVicar family?
The answer:
Scotlandspeople lists the birth of an Archibald MacLaren, son of a Donald MacLaren, born on 12 September 1801 in Glenorchy and Inishail, between 100 and 150 km north of Southend.
It appears that the subscriber has, in the absence of a Southend birth certificate, connected the (incorrectly estimated) age (84) recorded on Archibald's death certificate to the only available Scottish birth record that fits, without realising:
One can only conclude that there is no connection between the Archibald MacLaren b. 1801 in Glenorchy and Inishail, so remote from Southend, and the Archibald McLeoran who lived beside Jean McLeoran in Southend, emigrated to Victoria in 1860 from Southend, and died in Victoria in 1884.
Over the years, several Southend McLaran / McLaren family historians have been misled by McLaren births in Argyll far from Southend. This is not an unprecedented mistake.
The McLeorans worked for and lived on the lands of the Carskey estate over many generations. Archibald McLeoran, as a member of this family worked and lived there his whole life prior to emigration.
There can be little doubt that the Archibald McLeoran / McLaren who died in Rokewood in 1884:
There is no published evidence indicating that Archibald's descendants in Victoria are aware of their Southend McLeoran family roots. They may be surprised to learn of the existence of Archibald's siblings and their descendants who established their families in Queensland, UK, and USA in the 19th century.
This website has successfully established communications with Jean McLeoran's family in USA. It appears that the most recent communications between Malcolm and Archibald's families may have been via Malcolm's daughter, Catherine, who visited Victoria around 1854, 170 years ago. With luck, communications with Archibald's family in Victoria may be re-established.
A subscriber to ancestry.com claims:
- Archibald McLaren was born on 12 Sep 1801 in Glenorchy and Inishail, Argyll.
- He married Isabella McMillan in 1836.
- They had four (should be five) children in 15 years.
- He died on 25 September 1884 in Rokewood, Victoria, having lived a long life of 83 years.
Is it possible that Archibald was not born in Southend and was not a member of the McLeoran - McVicar family?
The answer:
Scotlandspeople lists the birth of an Archibald MacLaren, son of a Donald MacLaren, born on 12 September 1801 in Glenorchy and Inishail, between 100 and 150 km north of Southend.
It appears that the subscriber has, in the absence of a Southend birth certificate, connected the (incorrectly estimated) age (84) recorded on Archibald's death certificate to the only available Scottish birth record that fits, without realising:
- That not every birth was recorded in the early 1800s.
- The name McLaran / McLaren / MacLaren was NEVER USED EVEN ONCE by any members of the McLeoran family whilst living in Scotland. Certainly, the spelling of the surname varied - Leoran / McLeoran / Loran / McLewrin etc - but was only Anglicised to McLaran / McLaren / MacLeran after emigration to Australia.
- The family connection between Jean and Archibald.
One can only conclude that there is no connection between the Archibald MacLaren b. 1801 in Glenorchy and Inishail, so remote from Southend, and the Archibald McLeoran who lived beside Jean McLeoran in Southend, emigrated to Victoria in 1860 from Southend, and died in Victoria in 1884.
Over the years, several Southend McLaran / McLaren family historians have been misled by McLaren births in Argyll far from Southend. This is not an unprecedented mistake.
The McLeorans worked for and lived on the lands of the Carskey estate over many generations. Archibald McLeoran, as a member of this family worked and lived there his whole life prior to emigration.
There can be little doubt that the Archibald McLeoran / McLaren who died in Rokewood in 1884:
- Lived at Southend prior to emigration on Carskey estate.
- Was the son of Malcolm McLeoran and Margaret McVicar.
- Was born around 1807 in Southend.
- Was not the Archibald MacLaren born in 1801 in Glenorchy and Inisfail.
There is no published evidence indicating that Archibald's descendants in Victoria are aware of their Southend McLeoran family roots. They may be surprised to learn of the existence of Archibald's siblings and their descendants who established their families in Queensland, UK, and USA in the 19th century.
This website has successfully established communications with Jean McLeoran's family in USA. It appears that the most recent communications between Malcolm and Archibald's families may have been via Malcolm's daughter, Catherine, who visited Victoria around 1854, 170 years ago. With luck, communications with Archibald's family in Victoria may be re-established.
1841 Census Carskey Cottages
- Archibald Loeran 35 (Archibald McLeoran)
- Isabella 28 - suggesting she was born in 1813
- Donald 5, Mary 3, Isabella 1
- Jean McLeoran 35 - should be 45
- Bell (Isabella) 13 - Jean's daughter
- Ann McKay 8 - Jean's daughter Ann Mackay
- Archibald Leoran 18 - (Archibald McLeoran) - Malcolm's illegitimate son b. 1822, Jean and Archibald's nephew
1836 Archibald McLeoran - Isabella McMillan marriage certificate
1836 The marriage of Archibald McLeoran and Isabella McMillan
Archibald married Isabella McMillan on the 2 Feb 1836. The marriage record above reveals:
Archibald married Isabella McMillan on the 2 Feb 1836. The marriage record above reveals:
- Archibald was employed as a servant on Carskey Estate;
- Isabella was from Southend village - known as Newton Argyll at that time. It is unlikely she was related to John McMillan MacNeill.
1840 Isabella McLeoran birth certificate
The children of Archibald McLeoran and Isabella McMillan
Over 15 years while living at Carskey alongside his sister Jean, Archibald and Isabella had the following children:
Archibald and Isabella's three sons lived long lives, but none of these sons' sons (three were named after their grandfather) survived to adulthood to continue the McLeoran male line. Daughter Mary had a large family of 11 children - seven daughters - but Isabella tragically died at 21.
Over 15 years while living at Carskey alongside his sister Jean, Archibald and Isabella had the following children:
- Donald b. 1836 d. 1917 age 81;
- Mary b. 1838 d. 1888 age 50;
- Isabella b. 1840 d. 1861 age 21;
- Malcolm b. 1849 d. 1919 age 70;
- Edward b. 1851 d. 1924 age 73.
Archibald and Isabella's three sons lived long lives, but none of these sons' sons (three were named after their grandfather) survived to adulthood to continue the McLeoran male line. Daughter Mary had a large family of 11 children - seven daughters - but Isabella tragically died at 21.
1860 Malcolm "McLeran", wife Isabella and their younger children Isabella, Malcolm and Edward arrived in Victoria
1860 Malcolm "McLeran's" arrival - planning to work on his "own account" in Geelong
1884 Death record of Malcolm McLeoran at Rokewood, Victoria
Comment: the scant and inaccurate information was probably provided by his son, Donald McLaren
Comment: the scant and inaccurate information was probably provided by his son, Donald McLaren
1880 Death record of Isabella McMillan, Victoria
Isabella was probably born 1813 and 67 years of age
Isabella was probably born 1813 and 67 years of age
1883 Archibald McLeoran charged with animal cruelty
Comment: It appears Archibald was struggling with farm duties ...
Comment: It appears Archibald was struggling with farm duties ...
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Post 1884 The intestate estate of Archibald McLeoran, Drysdale, Victoria
A suggested obituary for Archibald McLeoran
This pioneering son of Malcolm McLeoran and Margaret McVicar, who contributed to the Geelong community for 24 years, deserved an obituary along these lines:
In 1884, Archibald McLaren, a native of Argyllshire, 77, passed away after a short illness at the home of his son Donald McLaren in Rokewood, Victoria.
A member of a small branch of the McLeoran family of Southend, Scotland, Archibald was raised from infancy by his sister Jean, with whom he remained very close over many years. Archibald followed the McLeoran tradition of working for the MacNeills of Carskey where he acquired skill and knowledge of farming and animal husbandry. He married Isabella McMillan in 1836 and until 1860 they raised a family of three sons and two daughters in a house adjoining Jean's.
Following in the footsteps of their two eldest children who had emigrated to Victoria four years earlier, Archibald and Isabella and their three youngest children said farewell to Southend and sister Jean in 1860. In the following years, Archibald and Isabella lived around Geelong and Portarlington, Archibald being involved in farming.
Soon after Archibald and Isabella's arrival, their daughter Isabella passed away in unusual circumstances at Skipton.
Archibald's wife, Isabella, died in 1880. He was survived by four of their five children, two sons being leading farm managers in the wool industry. While Archibald has no male grandchildren to carry the McLaren name, he was survived by at least a dozen healthy grandchildren of both sexes.
It appears Archibald suffered from Alzheimer's Disease in his final years. Both he and his wife Isabella were laid to rest in Rokewood Cemetery, at the instigation of their eldest son, Donald.
This pioneering son of Malcolm McLeoran and Margaret McVicar, who contributed to the Geelong community for 24 years, deserved an obituary along these lines:
In 1884, Archibald McLaren, a native of Argyllshire, 77, passed away after a short illness at the home of his son Donald McLaren in Rokewood, Victoria.
A member of a small branch of the McLeoran family of Southend, Scotland, Archibald was raised from infancy by his sister Jean, with whom he remained very close over many years. Archibald followed the McLeoran tradition of working for the MacNeills of Carskey where he acquired skill and knowledge of farming and animal husbandry. He married Isabella McMillan in 1836 and until 1860 they raised a family of three sons and two daughters in a house adjoining Jean's.
Following in the footsteps of their two eldest children who had emigrated to Victoria four years earlier, Archibald and Isabella and their three youngest children said farewell to Southend and sister Jean in 1860. In the following years, Archibald and Isabella lived around Geelong and Portarlington, Archibald being involved in farming.
Soon after Archibald and Isabella's arrival, their daughter Isabella passed away in unusual circumstances at Skipton.
Archibald's wife, Isabella, died in 1880. He was survived by four of their five children, two sons being leading farm managers in the wool industry. While Archibald has no male grandchildren to carry the McLaren name, he was survived by at least a dozen healthy grandchildren of both sexes.
It appears Archibald suffered from Alzheimer's Disease in his final years. Both he and his wife Isabella were laid to rest in Rokewood Cemetery, at the instigation of their eldest son, Donald.