Alexander mackay born 1890 Hilliclay, Thurso

[andcrobla]

Hi,
I am trying to find details on my Great Grandfather Alexander (Alex) Mackay who was born 10th June 1890, Hilliclay, Bower, Thuso, Caithness. His parents were John Mackay (d 16th Jan 1895 Stemster, Bower Caithess) and Catherine Bremner (d 9th Feb 1938 Olrig, Thurso) - they were married 7th July 1882 Gros 037/00 0008.

Alexander Mackay married Margaret (Maggie) McLeod 29th May 1914 Gros 041/00 0012 in Thurso, and they had a son Alistair Mackay born 17th Sept 1915, but Magged died 10/10/1915 and their son Alistair was was brought up by Maggie's sister, and as far as I'm aware he had no contact from his father.

I can find no other record of Alexander, and would to love to know what happend to him and if he served in the WW1 or if he remarried etc. There is a chance he may have served in the local regiment which would have been the Seaforth Highlanders. I have found some records in the Commonthwealth War Commission Memorial website, under Alexander Mackay but I'm unsure if any of them would have been my Great Grandfather.

If anyone can shed some light on what happended to him it would be really appreciated.

Regards,
Averil

[SarahND]

Hello Averil,
In the UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 database on Ancestry there is the following record that looks interesting. It would certainly explain why he had no further contact with his son

Name: Alexander Mckay
Death Date: 20 Sep 1917
Death Location: France & Flanders
Enlistment Location: Wick, Caithness
Rank: Private
Regiment: Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, the Duke of Albany's)
Battalion: 4th Battalion
Number: 240720
Type of Casualty: Killed in action
Theatre of War: Western European Theatre

I haven't had much experience with war records, but perhaps one of our members who knows about such things will have an idea of where to find further information to confirm, or not, that this is your Alexander.

Regards,
Sarah

[ChristineW]

Hello Averil
There's also this Alexander Mackay who died in the Great War - details below taken from the CWGC website. (I think the father's name and the Thurso connection may be relevant to your man).

MACKAY, ALEXANDER
Initials: A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Seaforth Highlanders
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 20/10/1916
Service No: S/40033
Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Mackay, of Achnabat, Skerray, Thurso.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: T. 13.
Cemetery: CARNOY MILITARY CEMETERY

Cheers
Christine

[AnneM]

Hello Averil

Once the 1911 census comes out next month you could check the address of his parents to see if it confirms the link to the entry Christine found. Obviously if it is not the same address it does not mean it is not them.

Anne

Scrub that. Did not notice that you said in your original post that his father had died by 1900. It therefore looks unlikely that the second of these is him. Did his son marry and does the marriage record say anything about whether father is alive or dead at that time?

[AnneM]

In 1930 in the US there is an Alexander McKay and family who emigrated to the US in 1922. The wife is Margaret. He is born 1890 and states that he was 24 at date of first marriage. Could be him remarried but in that case he would have remarried in Scotland. Probably not him but would be worth seeing if your man married a Margaret between 1915 and around 1918.

Anne

[SarahND]

The one Anne found was a plumber-- does that fit the occupation he gave on his first marriage certificate?

Unfortunately, I can't find him in the U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 database. It usually gives place of birth, but no such luck. Either he died before 1942 or moved to another country.

Regards,
Sarah

[SarahND]

Scrap Alex the plumber. On his entry to the U.S. he said he was born in Renton

Back to the drawing board, Anne!

Sarah

[Currie]

The Commonwealth War Graves site has the following for the one posted by Sarah. Did Catherine remarry after her husband died? If so, what was her new name?

Name: McKAY, ALEXANDER
Initials: A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Seaforth Highlanders
Unit Text: 4th Bn.
Age: 25
Date of Death: 20/09/1917
Service No: 240720
Additional information: Son of Catherine Nicolson, of Nybster, Keiss, Wick, Caithness. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 132 to 135 and 162A.
Memorial: TYNE COT MEMORIAL

There’s no additional information on the Scottish National War Memorial site for the above, but for S/40033, posted by Christine, the place of birth is ‘Skerry Tongue Sutherland’.

Surname MACKAY
Firstname Alexander
Service Number S/40033
Date Death 20/10/1916
Decoration
Place of birth Skerry Tongue Sutherland
Other 2nd Bn.
SNWM roll THE SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS
Rank Pte
Theatre of death F.& F.

You could check the medal cards on Ancestry for clues. Sometimes the reverse side has something written on it. Ancestry also has copies of the surviving WW1 British Army records, almost two thirds of which were destroyed during WW2 bombing.

There are about 50 Alexander Mackay/McKay WW1 casualties on the SNWM site (click the Services link) http://www.snwm.org/website/frames.html

All the best,
Alan

[SarahND]

The Commonwealth War Graves site has the following for the one posted by Sarah. Did Catherine remarry after her husband died? If so, what was her new name?

This is perhaps the family, then-- so not the same Alex. Catherine is referred to by her maiden surname in the Commonwealth records.

1901
5 Forss Mains, Thurso, Caithness
James Sutherland, 31, Head, born Caithness, Bower, Farm Servant
Catherine Sutherland, 34, Wife, born Caithness, Wick
Donald Mackay, 12, Son, born Caithness, Wick, Scholar
Alexander Mackay, 8, Son, born Caithness, Wick, Scholar
David Sutherland, 5, Son, born Caithness, Canisbay, Scholar
Alexander Sutherland, 6mths, Son, born Caithness, Thurso
William Nicholson, 34, Bro in Law, born Caithness, Wick, Farm Servant
Donald Nicholson, 32, Bro in Law, born Caithness, Wick, Farm Servant

This is presumably the one we are interested in:

1901
Clayock House, Bower, Caithness
Catherine Mackay, 40, Head, born Bower, Caithness, Pauper
John Mackay, 20, Son, born Bower, Caithness, Ploughman
David Mackay, 13, Son, born Thurso, Caithness, Scholar
Alexr Mackay, 10, Son, born Thurso, Caithness, Scholar
James Mackay, 7, Son, born Bower, Caithness, Scholar
Maggie Mackay, 5, Daur, born Bower, Caithness

It might be worthwhile trying to trace some of his siblings, in case the whole family went to Australia or something (have you seen them around, Alan?)

Regards,
Sarah

[andcrobla]

Hi all,
Thanks very much for all of your replies... it is much appreciated. Sorry for not replying sooner....I have not been on the site for a few weeks. I will have a proper look through your replies and will respond soon.
Many thanks again,
Averil