Looking for descendants in Forfar/Angus Glamis McDonalds....

[mu8shark]

I am researching the McDonald family of Glamis. My ancestor is Daniel"Donald" McDonald born in Tealing Angus in 1838 but he lived in Glamis Angus (Forfarshire) for most of his life with his brothers and sister. prior to his marriage and immigration. . Daniel's parents are Peter McDonald and Margaret Crocket, however as he was illegitimate child of this unmarried couple, he would have grown up with his stepmother Margaret Stewart in the household with Peter McDonald. His half brothers and sister are as follows Alexander born Nov 29, 1840 Glamis, Peter Stewart born Aug 28,1842 Lundie and Fowlis , James march 14, 1844 Glamis, Robert born August 21,1852 Glamis, Stewart born Dec 13, 1857,Glamis George Feb 10, 1860 Glamis and Anne born June 10, 1862.Glamis. This family or some of it, is living in Hayston Glamis in 1851 and 1861 according to census. While there are other brothers named Andrew, David and William, who immigrated to the US I am trying to find the families or descendants of those that may have been left behind in Scotland and may not have immigrated to the United States. That is not to say that they did not come here or to Canada or elsewhere but I am unaware of the fate of the rest of this family. Here are the names of the children in the next generation that I have been able to place as members of this clan. Alexander McDonald (born 1840 Glamis) marriage to Janet Archer in Dundee June 17, 1864. Children of that union are Margaret Stewart McDonald born July 3, 1865, Peter born March 21, 1867, Amelia Chalmers McDonald born April 26, 1869, John McDonald born Aug 3, 1871, and Jane Ann McDonald born Nov 22, 1873 all Dundee. Peter Stewart McDonald b 1842 marriage to Margaret McIntosh March 4, 1864 in Alyth Perth. Children of this union are Jessie McDonald born June 8, 1865 Eassie and Nevay, Margaret McDonald born Oct 13, 1867 Liff and Benvie, Invergowie Angus, Ann Stewart McDonald, April 24, 1870 Lundie and Fowlis, Jemina Brown McDonald born Jane 28, 1873 Auchterhouse, Angus. Next family is James McDonald born 1844 married to Jane Fairweather June 7, 1861 Kirriemuir Angus. Children of that union are James McDonald Aug 17, 1861, Isabella Nov 30 1864 Kirriemuir, Amelia McDonald born Jan 14, 1867,Kirriemuir Helen born March 28, 1869. William Stewart Aug 31, 1868 Brechin Angus, William Fairweather Oct 19, 1874 Tealing Angus. and David Esplen McDonald no date. If anyone recognizes any of this family or its descendants please let me know. I would love to have contact and share info with Scottish distant cousins.

[DavidWW]

Welcome to TalkingScot !

If you are fortunate, then a distant cousin will see your post and make contact. I assume that you have made the same post on a number of discussion groups.

If not then it is perfectly possible to trace forward in the Scottish records, even with a surname like M[a]cDonald. As is often the case, there are a good few children with middle names, which makes life a lot easier.

For instance, only a few minutes was necessary to find the death records for Margaret Stewart (single, but informant her sister), Amelia Chalmers (d. aged 3), Jemima Brown, and David Esplin (both married).

The most time-consuming task will be to find the births of children of this generation, but given name patterns and the use of family surnames as middle names can make it a practical task even with a surname such as M[a]cDonald.

If you haven't already done so, some research in the later census records, and for the deaths of the parents of the above children is worthwhile.

Once you get forward to births in the very early 1900s, you're home and dry, so to speak, since, from 1974 onwards the death indexes start to show the mother's maiden name.

Obviously, for the 1974 indexes you have to visit Edinburgh or get someone to do it for you. The 1929+ birth indexes are also useful in the same way, as they show the maiden name of the mother from that year on, if it's necessary t o find children from a marriage, but the shortcut to 1974 and later deaths is often very worthwhile.

It's important to realise that the object of such a forward trace is not to research exhaustively every last possible living relative, but to find just 1 or 2 who, hopefully, will have contact with cousins, not only in Scotland but elsewhere, - either William Fairweather survived to the age of 80+, not at all impossible, or he was registered as plain William, or the death took place outside Scotland.

Good hunting

David

[mu8shark]

Thanks for the advice regarding the later census's. I am at a point where I can't afford to look for the boys in the census and there are several McDonalds that fit this particular first name pattern. I got as far as I did by looking at the middle names of Stewart as a guidepost. However, I am intrigued and a bit confused by this particular passage.

"For instance, only a few minutes was necessary to find the death records for Margaret Stewart (single, but informant her sister), Amelia Chalmers (d. aged 3), Jemima Brown, and David Esplin (both married). ."

Did you find a death record for Margaret Stewart McDonald? It is a bit confusing in this passage as it appears that her sister Amelia Chalmers McDonald is the one who died at age 3. Do you mean to say that Margaret Stewart McDonald died at age 3 and her sister Amelia Chalmers was the informant? What does it tell about Jemima Brown McDonald and David Esplin McDonald in regard to her death certificate? Also you gave no date. Thanks very much for the reply, I just need some clarification.

Julie

[DavidWW]

.....snipped ..............However, I am intrigued and a bit confused by this particular passage.

"For instance, only a few minutes was necessary to find the death records for Margaret Stewart (single, but informant her sister), Amelia Chalmers (d. aged 3), Jemima Brown, and David Esplin (both married). ."

Did you find a death record for Margaret Stewart McDonald? It is a bit confusing in this passage as it appears that her sister Amelia Chalmers McDonald is the one who died at age 3. Do you mean to say that Margaret Stewart McDonald died at age 3 and her sister Amelia Chalmers was the informant? What does it tell about Jemima Brown McDonald and David Esplin McDonald in regard to her death certificate? Also you gave no date. Thanks very much for the reply, I just need some clarification.

Julie

Hmmm....... I see the ambiguity now .......

Let me reformat that ....

4 deaths............

Margaret Stewart McDONALD (single, but informant her sister Jessie, also married)),
Amelia Chalmers McDONALD (d. aged 3),
Jemima Brown McDONALD (married),
David Esplin McDONALD (married).

(Can't recall which were McDONALD and which MacDONALD....)

David

[AlannaGrace]

Hello I was interested to read your post on Glamis, and Donald/Daniel Macdonald. My Great Grandfather Donald Macdonald (also known as Daniel) came from Brechin to Australia in 1886. An elderly family member told me that there was a family story that Donald/Daniel's father - also Donald - had worked at Glamis Castle and as a youngster Donald Jnr had been in trouble for playing with the pups which were to be the hunting hounds. I haven't been able to find any records to verify this. I have however found Donald Jnr's birth certificate (1863) based on details in his marriage certificate in Australia, advising that his father was Donald McDonald and mother, Ann Sinclair (mother's maiden name Miller). Donald Snr died in 1879 in Brechin. I have - through census records - traced the family back and believe I have the correct family at each point. It appears Donald was married previously to Ann's sister, Margaret Sinclair in 1838 in Brechin. The marriage record does not give ages nor parents names. Donald Snr's death certificate which was recorded by Donald Jnr states that Donald Snr's parents were Charles and ----. Not terribly helpful. The only other clue is that on census records Donald Snr has consistently recorded his place of birth as Rossshire Rosskeen. It appears that Macdonald/McDonald children were born with Margaret - and also Ann, but Donald Jnr seems to be the only one who survived past young adulthood, although I have not been able to confirm deaths of some. For Donald Snr's parentage, I have found a possible birth in Rossshire Rosskeen to a Charles McDonald and Katherine Ross. If this is the right connection (possible with the use of 'Miller" and "Ross" in some of the children's middle names) then Donald Snr had a twin sister - Margaret McDonald - both born in 1809. This Margaret appears to have married a James Bain and had a son John. John Bain is shown living with Donald McDonald's family described as 'nephew' in 1851 census and by the next census is shown as part of the family, no longer 'Bain'. To add to confusion, Donald Snr's first wife Margaret (nee Sinclair) appears to have come to their marriage with a son, George Pilmer. If any of these names dates or places can fit into any of your story, I would be interested to hear from you. P.S. Apart from Margaret bringing George into the family, and John Bain becoming part of it, the other children Donald and Margaret seem to have had were Charles, Ann and possibly another John . Donald and Ann then had Georgina Ross, Isabella Miller and Donald. Charles appears to have died in 1855. Georgina in 1871 and Isabella in 1877. I have found a death in 1871 of John McDonald who was living with the family at the time, whose age fits with that of John Bain.
Anne