Looking for my grandfather and his family (McKay)

[SarahE]

I am looking for information about my grandfather, Harry Lauder McKay. He was born around 1900 and married on the 10th September 1938, aged 38, my grandmother Thelma Mona Craker. It was shown on the marriage certificate that he was a 1st Steward in the Merchant Service (retired) and he was living in Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire, England at the time of the marriage. However it has been recorded that he went to the USA a few times on the ships he was working on. According to the marriage certificate his father was called Harry Lauder Mckay and at the time of his son's marriage he was deceased but had previously been a farmer. I would appreciate some help, as my father passed away 9 years ago without passing on too much information about him and I would like to know what happened to him as he left his family.

Thanks.

[SarahND]

Hi SarahE,
Welcome to Talking Scot! There are certainly many many records of a Harry McKay born about 1900 in the New York Passenger Lists from about 1919-1933. I didn't look at them all, but on the ones I saw his job was 3rd class or steerage cook.

As I'm sure you know, there are several Henry or Harry McKays born around 1900. Do you by chance know his birth date (day and month)? That might help figure out which one he is. There is a Henry L McKay born 1900 in Aberdeen, but his father is William, a baker. There is also a Harry McKay born in England, whose father is John, a ship's steward... which may be more to the point. I have certainly come upon many marriage certificates with the wrong info about the parents. Depends on what they had told their future spouse, I guess!

All the best,
Sarah

[Currie]

Hello Sarah & Sarah,

There are only two mentions of a Harry McKay in 19C British Library Newspapers of the Scottish variety and only one of those is a farmer. There are about 35 Henrys in total.

Aberdeen Weekly Journal, Wednesday, February 9, 1898
MORTLACH FARMER FOUND DEAD.
On Tuesday evening Harry M'Kay, a farmer from the Auchindoun district of Mortlach, was found dead in his cart near to his own house. It seems he had been in Dufftown paying his rent, and had left for home along with several farmers from the same district, who parted from him at Raws, as also did his son, to take a short road home through the fields. Knowing that he was on his way home, his family soon became anxious, and went out in search of him. They found the horse and cart in an adjacent field, and the body of the farmer, with the head leaning over the cart, in a reclining position. Deceased was in middle life, and leaves a widow and family to mourn his loss.

The only other one is in the Aberdeen Weekly Journal, 1899, and is about a Captain Harry McKay, Commander of the Esquimaux.

It’s probably not him but maybe there’s a connection.

Alan

[SarahND]

Hi Alan and Sarah,
Took awhile to find the family that the newspaper article referred to, since that Harry was a gamekeeper in 1891 in Inveravon, but here are his widow and children in Mortlach in 1901:

Smithston Farm, Mortlach, Banffshire
Isabella MacKay, 48, Head, born Banffshire, Inveravon, Farm
Charles S MacKay, 14, Son, born Banffshire Inveravon, Farmer's Son
Mary J MacKay, 15, Daughter, born Banffshire Inveravon, Scholar
Flora B MacKay, 11, Daughter, born Banffshire, Inveravon, Scholar
Harry MacKay, 7, Son, born Banffshire Inveravon, Scholar
William MacKay, 4, Son, born Mortlach, Banffshire, scholar
Annie G MacKay, 2, Daughter, born Mortlach, Banffshire
Frank Myron, 26, Servant, born Mortlach, Banffshire, Horseman
Elizabeth McWilliam, 31, Visitor, born Garthy, Aberdeenshire, Domestic Servant

Note that there is a son Harry, but he is a few years older than what we would expect. Still, just as well to bear this one in mind until we find another better candidate!

Regards,
Sarah

[SarahND]

Hello again,
Another way to approach this is to look for McKay/Lauder marriages as a source for that middle name.

There are two M*kay/Lauder marriages in the OPRs. Both between 1844 and 1850, so good timing to be the parents of Harry Sr.

There is only one in the Statutory Register Marriages between 1855 and 1902 (Male surname McKay, Female surname Lauder)-- it occurred in 1894

Have you had a look at these?

Regards,
Sarah

[Currie]

Back again Sarah’s,

I forgot to check the Harry Mackay’s. There are only a couple mentioned that are of the Rural Scottish variety as follows:

Aberdeen Weekly Journal, Tuesday, February 10, 1880
Glenrinnes Ploughing Association – Competition held at farm of Wester Achmore – various prizes to a Harry Mackay.

Aberdeen Weekly Journal, Tuesday, June 7, 1887
The Crofters Commission – Fair Rent decisions – List includes Harry Mackay, Township of Sconser. (Skye)

Alan

[SarahE]

To All who were kind enough to reply

WOW!! Thank you so much for all your help and research, you have certainly given me some food for thought. I will need to consult with my family in Oz to find out more details on Harry's date of birth and try and pin down some more information. Perhaps they will know where he was born too which would obviously help. I always assumed he was born in Scotland as that is what my father told me, but perhaps we are wrong. Will get in touch again soon and thank you all, I am touched by your help.

Sarah

[ted hall]

Hello Sarah & Sarah,

There are only two mentions of a Harry McKay in 19C British Library Newspapers of the Scottish variety and only one of those is a farmer. There are about 35 Henrys in total.

Aberdeen Weekly Journal, Wednesday, February 9, 1898
MORTLACH FARMER FOUND DEAD.
On Tuesday evening Harry M'Kay, a farmer from the Auchindoun district of Mortlach, was found dead in his cart near to his own house. It seems he had been in Dufftown paying his rent, and had left for home along with several farmers from the same district, who parted from him at Raws, as also did his son, to take a short road home through the fields. Knowing that he was on his way home, his family soon became anxious, and went out in search of him. They found the horse and cart in an adjacent field, and the body of the farmer, with the head leaning over the cart, in a reclining position. Deceased was in middle life, and leaves a widow and family to mourn his loss.

The only other one is in the Aberdeen Weekly Journal, 1899, and is about a Captain Harry McKay, Commander of the Esquimaux.

It’s probably not him but maybe there’s a connection

Alan

my great grand parents were living at the Raw and then at the smithden.
she was mary mckay before marrying james duncan in 1883.
could have been related
ted hall