THE BROWN FAMILY OF SOUTH KINTYRE IN ARGYLL SCOTLAND TOGETHER WITH RELATED FAMILIES
Kintyre is a long narrow peninsular on the West of Scotland, it’s nearest neighbour on the mainland is Ayr across the Firth of Clyde, but the Isle of Arran is just across the Kilbrannan Sound to the East, a little further North lies the Island of Bute, and to the West are Islay and Jura. It is within a whisker of being an Island itself. Only 12 miles separate Southend at its Southernmost tip, to Antrim in Northern Ireland and from earliest times until quite recently a ferry connected the two.
The early inhabitants were highlanders, many of whom had names that began with mc/mac, they were mainly catholic, spoke the gaelic and early Scottish kings found them wild and rebellious, bearing allegiance only to their clan chiefs. In Kintyre these were the MacDonalds of Dunnyveg. In 1494 King James IV visited the area; in an attempt to impose some discipline he installed his own governor in the MacDonald’s castle of Dunaverty in Southend. Sir James MacDonald had the audacity to hang the new governor within sight of the King as he sailed away. Sir James paid for his effrontery however, initially he fled to Antrim, but although he was eventually pardoned he was never able to return to his homeland.
This paved the way for the coming of the Campbells, eventually known as the Dukes of Argyll. They became all powerful, owning huge amounts of land. By 1607 the Earl of Argyll (as he then was) gained effective control of South Kintyre. There was a problem however; out of 208 merklands in South Kintyre 51 were waste. At this time land in Scotland was not measured in acres, farms were described as being of so many merklands and the merkland was a sum of money (at this time 13s 4d) that the tacksman, or principal tenant, paid in annual rent to the owner for his land. It could have been paid in money or in goods. The tacksman, who may have been the tenant of several farms, lived with his family in one of the farmhouses, and sublet the land to tenants in his turn, making a profit thereby. The subtenants were the ones who came out worst, not only did they have to pay rent which they generally had to pay in kind but they also had to give one or more ‘presents’, which by the end of the 17th century amounted to the value of £7 10s which must have been a considerable burden. In addition when a tenant died his heir had to give the tacksman the family’s best beast, be it horse or cow.
PLANTATIONS With more than half of South Kintyre lying waste and earning no rent the Earl of Argyll had a problem. This was the beginning of a scheme which was then called ‘Plantations’. If farmers living in lowland areas of Scotland such as Ayr and Renfreshire could be persuaded to move to Kintyre, the farmland could be brought back into cultivation. The lowlanders were usually protestant and they brought with them some more progressive farming methods, Kintyre was very backward in this respect. The runrig system was in use until the mid 18th Century, this was similar to the feudal system in mediaeval England. The infield which was closest to the farm was manured annually and grew oats and/or barley, malt was made from oats and used for the brewing of ale, which was drunk by all, being safer than water. The large outfield was simply meadow used for grazing, one part being brought into cultivation each fourth year. Like the mediaeval system, tenants had strips in various parts of the field, they had no choice as to what was grown and were unable to enclose their land so they had no control over it, and no means of making improvements. A 4 horse plough was shared by the tenants, incredibly wheeled carts were unknown until the mid 18th century and mills for grinding corn only appeared in the early 19th century. Horses, cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry were kept but they were the traditional breeds.
During the plantations the original population were not removed, there were no Highland Clearances here, so the Plantations which started in the early 17th Century continued throughout that century and the original highlanders gradually merged with the incomers without any great recorded animosity.
In addition to the Plantations King James VI wanted a new town, or burgh created and the Duke of Argyll was charged with this task. The obvious place was Kilkerran where there was a fine natural harbour, thus Campbeltown came into existence, although in its early days it was called Lockhead. It grew very slowly, in 1636 only 36 householders were recorded, less than half of these had lowland names.
THE BROWN FAMILY.
Until the mid 1860s all those with the Brown name have been firmly established in Southend. So far it has been impossible to discover whether they were amongst the original inhabitants, in which case the name in Gaelic was McBrion, or lowlanders brought over with the Plantations. If they were highlanders they probably owed allegiance to the McMillan Clan. The McMillan name was easily the most numerous to be found in the various lists of tenants which are still in existence.
Family names associated with our branch of the family are CLARK
MCKAY/MCCAY MCDONALD PICHEN/PICKAN REID/RID and later, WHITEFORD
Farms and dwellings include Kildavi (1770) Drumavoulin(1772) Shoretown Polivouline (1792) Pollwilline (1792) Kilblane (1795)
Machremore Mill (1800 - 1810) Pennyland Mill (1805 onwards)
Knockstaplemore (Augness Pickan 1807) Brecklate (1828 onwards) Knocknaha (1832) Knockbean (1833) Coaranbeg (1837 - 1839)
In an endeaver to discover where the Brown family fitted and see if it was possible to link them together I chose archives that were separated by 20 or 30 years and noted the names that belonged in our family tree. I started with the Highland Papers.
HIGHLAND PAPERS
The earliest list of tenants in Kintyre that I have seen is to be found in an article by JRN Macphail entitled “Papers Relating to Kintyre 1596 – 1606” published by The Scottish History Society Edinburgh. It commences with a history of the area from the 5th century AD to 1635 when Lord Lorne, later to become the Marquis of Argyll, acquired full control of Kintyre. The only name that relates to our family history is MAKCAY of whom there was FARQUHAR, DONALD, ADAME and JOHNE. Each of these held several merklands, Donald MakCay particularly held land in four different places, but they were all situate in North Kintyre which was the homeland of the MacKay clan. The MacKays sided with Alexander MacDonald when he used the rebellion of 1645/6 to reclaim the lands and power of the MacDonalds in Kintyre. This resulted in terrible suffering and great swathes of the area were laid waste. Duncan MacKay and his son Adam of Crossibeg were excommunicated; many MacDonalds were slaughtered at the massacre of Dunaverty in 1647. The leader Sir Alexander MacDonald escaped execution but was killed in Ireland in late 1647. His father Coll Ciatach was hung, as were two of his sons Archibald and Angus. A full account of this episode can be found in Andrew McKerral’s book “Kintyre in the 17th Century”
If this were not enough there followed closely in 1647 an outbreak of bubonic plague. One account relates that there were only three chimneys left still smoking in Southend. Once more the region needed repopulating, the Marquis of Argyll was still very conscious of the threat posed by the branch of the McDonalds who lived in County Antrim, just across the water. thus the Plantations were renewed with great energy by the Marquis of Argyll. As he had been the head of the Covenanters it was to them that he turned, particularly to those from Ayr and Renfrewshire. The Covenanters were Presbyterians who formed The National Covenant in 1638 when Charles I tried to impose a new liturgy and prayer book on the Church of Scotland. The Covenanters abolished episcopy, or rule by bishops, and quickly became the most powerful religious, political and military force in Scotland.
The new tenants brought over in the Plantations were not poor farmers however, but twelve lairds, landowners, who brought their own tenants. Chief amongst them was William Ralston of that Ilk. He was settled in Saddell Castle, which he agreed to renovate, and he was given over 23 merklands of the old lands of Saddell Abbey as early as 1650. In 1669, after a period of imprisonment, when his lease at Saddell ran out, the Laird of Ralston received another tack of some of the best lands in Southend, which was the first of many appreciable plantations to lowland lairds that were made in that most southerly part of Kintyre. Many members of the Marquis’s own Clan Campbell were rewarded with land. In 1684 a CAPTAIN JAMES BROWNE received a tack at Askomelmore. He was a naval captain who in 1647 had been responsible for bringing Col Ciatach from Islay to Leith where he was hung. He may well have been living in Kintyre before 1684 as he was a ruling elder of the lowland parish of Lochhead in 1658. Whether he had any connection with our Browns is impossible to say. It should be said that the Marquis of Argyll was not giving his lands away, these were nineteen year leases, and the rent in this period was £32.00 for 1 merkland, towards the end of the century it was double this. Every nineteen years each lease had to be renegotiated and went to the highest bidder, which explains why there was a heavy turnover in tenants, as recorded in the Marquis’ rentals.
After the execution of Charles I in 1650 England entered the Cromwellian period and Scotland also came under Cromwell’s rule. Initially the Marquis of Argyll supported the monarchy, but eventually changed his allegiance, this was to cost him his life, and he was executed in 1661, after the restoration of Charles II. His son, Lord Lorne backed the king, though even he was sentenced to death, but was later reprieved.
This must have been a very difficult time for ordinary folk. I have read (Andrew McKerral) that between 1646 and 1672 there was no minister in Southend. The lowland lairds were able to go back to their own parishes in Ayr or Renfrew for baptisms and marriages which must have been inconvenient, but what did the poor people do?
King Charles II is portrayed as a jovial, pleasure loving monarch but the Covenanters did not find him so. After The Restoration there was a complete turn around, the bishops were restored with even greater powers, 271 Presbyterian ministers were turned out from their livings and people who refused to attend the new services were fined. It was during this period that the Laird of Ralston was imprisoned without trial for two years. JAMES BROWNE, who has already been mentioned, was also imprisoned because he went surety for William Wallace whose father had led an army against King Charles, James was released after a year upon signing a bond for 1 000 merks.
HEARTH TAX 1694
By this time The Plantation had been underway for nearly one hundred years so we would expect to find a mix of highland and lowland names.
In this list we find ANDREW BROWN at KILDAVI, he had one hearth, which was normal, and shared the tenancy with Walter Mcffarlan and Robert Armour. This Andrew Brown is likely to be the Andrew who was buried in Grave 36 West End of Keil cemetery in 1702. There were several Browns listed on farms in North Kintyre, each with one hearth; IVER BROWN, DUNCAN BROWN and FFERQR BROWN at RUNADALE & ACHNASAVILL. Listed just below was GILBERT BROWN at KERANSHIE. IVER BROWN, either the same or another, was also at AUCHINBRECK. These are unfamiliar Christian names and I wonder if they belong to the same family as ours. At Knockreochbeg there were JAMES and ROBERT BROUNES with two hearths, this was probably just a different spelling of the name. These came under the list of hearths in the parishes of Kilkerran, Killmichell and Killehouslan.
There were 14 MCKAYS, or MCCAYS as it was often spelt, scattered around both North and South Kintyre. 5 CLARKS, 3 of whom, JOHN, DUNCAN and DONALD were living in Campbeltown itself, there were 2 others with the name spelt CLERK. The name Reid, appeared to be spelt RID, JOHN and ANDREW were living at Blasthill with one hearth apiece. JAMES RID was living at Gillchrist & Ochteran, he had one miln and one kiln and two hearths. There were just 2 MCDONALDS which did not surprise me as I had read somewhere that no one with the name McDonald was allowed to live in Kintyre since the rebellion. JOHN MCDONALD and RONALD MCDONALD appeared to live at neighbouring farms Gortonfaill and Ulodell in North Kintyre. There were no PICKENS or PICKANS listed.
RENTAL FOR KINTYRE FOR THE YEAR 1720 (Argyll Papers ref.M/1/1 and/2
There are various Rentals available in transcript from the Argyll Archives at Lochgilphead, I chose these because they were nearly thirty years after the Hearth Tax records. References to Browns and related names were scanty.
For the parish of Kilcolmkill (Southend) :-
Stron Alexander MacDonald brother to Sanda.
Ormsary William Reid.
Killerivan John Pickan
For the parish of Kilblaan (Southend)
Polliwilling William and Hugh Reed with 3 others.
For the parish of Kilmichael (Campbeltown)
Skeroblingorry ½ part Donald Clerk with 1 other
For the parish of Kilchousland (Campbeltown)
Smerabie 1/6 part Malcolm Clerk
For the parish of Killean
Putchantuy Donald MacKay with 1 other
For the parish of Kilchivan
Drumlemmon & Strawbegg Donald Clark
For the parish of Kilkerran (Campbeltown)
½ Knockriochmore John, James & Janet Clark with 1 other.
PROPERTY LAND (This simply means property owned by the Duke.)
1/3 Knockriochbeg in Kilcherran Parish Daniel Clark
1/3 Knockriochbeg in Kilcherran Parish Robert Brown & 1 other.
Campbeltown Houses
High Street Andrew Malcome & James Clarke
Back Street Donald Clark’s tenement
Longrow Donald Clark’s tenement in Abernacurr.
Longrow Thomas Reid 2 houses for himself and More McClarty in part of a tenement formerly belonging to Alexander Huy but now to her Grace.
Low Milknowe John Clark in part of a tenements formerly belonging to John Adams but now to her Grace.
Low Milknowe James Clark in part of a tenements formerly belonging to John Adam but now to her Grace.
Low Milknowe Neil McMurphy’s widow, Jane Brown, Margaret Huy each a house in foresaid tenement but gratis.
COWS GRAZING
Donald Clark maltman
Thomas Brown.
It is interesting that the Clark/Clerk family seem to be proliferating, particularly in the Campbeltown area. It might be significant that DANIEL CLARK and ROBERT BROWN SHARED THE TENANCY OF KNOCKRIOCHBEG IN KILCHERRAN PARISH. At a later date, probably during the mid 1750s, a Barbara Clark married an Andrew Brown, possibly the children of Daniel and Robert. Andrew and Barbara are our earliest known ancestors.
PROPERTY LANDS IN KILLCOLMKILL PARISH 1767 M/1/4
Achinsavill Borgudalmore Glemanuill Dond McDonald Rent 20 3 7
Vicarage 2 4 5
Killerwan Rent 19 19 9
Vicarage 1 2 2
Alexander Pickan & sons 10 11
Edward Pickan 10 11
This document has been photocopied from the original and there appear to be fractions of a penny which are difficult to read and I have omitted them.
OLD PAROCHIAL REGISTERS OF ARGYLL SOUTHEND 1768 – 1853
This information has been obtained from film No. 1041076 Item 4.
The Register of Baptisms and Marriages (but not Burials) for St Blaan’s Church was filmed by the Church of Latter Day Saints Saltlake City.
This is the most important genealogical aid yet found. It gives names, dates, relationships, abodes and sometimes occupations. From it, and with the added information later obtained from BMD certificates and censuses, we have been able to draw up a genealogical chart for our Brown family which commences, as previously mentioned, with Andrew Brown and Barbara Clark in the mid 18th Century.
ANDREW BROWN & BARBARA CLARK
They may have been the children of Robert Brown and Daniel Clark who are known to have lived at Knockriobeg in Kilcherran Parish in 1720. It is possible to work out Barbara’s approximate date of birth from the published “List of Inhabitants upon the Duke of Argyle’s Property in Kintyre in 1792.” She was living with her daughter Lilleas Brown at South Machrimore, where the tennant was Edward Brown. She was aged 55, so she was likely to have been born in 1737. Unfortunately there is no mention of Andrew, so he was probably dead by this time. It is possible that Edward Brown was a kinsman, there were 26 people living at South Machrimore, as well as Edward’s wife there were 8 of their children, 2 young men and their wives who were probably farm labourers, 1 of them with 4 children, and 7 assorted females ranging in age from 16 to 60. It is interesting, and helpful, that women retained their maiden names, some of these at least could have been kinsfolk who were under Edward’s protection, but doubtless worked for their keep. The reason that we know so conclusively that Andrew Brown and Barbara Clark were ancestors is because their son GEORGE BROWN lived to a great age, beyond 1855 which is when Civil Registration was introduced in Scotland. His death was recorded on a death certificate. Scottish death certificates give the names of parents – and there they were! One other small clue which might eventually lead somewhere is the name – Andrew.
Scottish families kept to the same forenames, Andrew has appeared at Kildavi in 1694 and in Keil cemetery in 1702. Another Andrew was the father of George Brown in about 1765, and George named his eldest son Andrew in 1800. Andrew’s grandson John named his eldest son Andrew in 1888. All unbeknown we named our eldest son Andrew in 1958!
GEORGE BROWN 1765 – 1856 Married 1. MARGARET McKAY
2. AUGNESS or NANCY PICKAN
George has been well documented in the records. Although his baptism is not recorded because it took place before St. Blaan’s Baptismal Register began, we can work it out approximately from his age at death, as shown on his death certificate. He married Margaret McKay on the 26th April 1791 at Southend Church. She was the daughter of John McKay and the family were living at Drumavoulin (also known as South Carrine) when she was baptised on the 21st December 1772. (There is a memorial in Keil Cemetery Southend – No. 88 - which reads – “John McKay late farmer in Achadaduie who departed this life in March 1829 aged LXXIX years. His memory will long be revered for his unbending integrity and moral worth. This stone was erected by his widow Isabella McKerral.”) It would be pleasant to be sure that this was the same John McKay, but Isabella McKerral whom he married in 1783 was not Margaret's mother, although she may have been John's second wife.
In 1792 George and Margaret were living at Shoretown Polliwiline, this is a farm located near the coast on the extreme South Eastern side of Kintyre. The tenant was William McFarlane and George was presumably the farm labourer. It was a comparatively small farm, apart from George and Margaret and William McFarlane, his wife and 3 young children, there were just 2 other women. Although she is not mentioned in “The List of Inhabitants upon the Duke of Argyle’s Property in Kintyre 1792” their first child MARY BROWN must have been born in early 1792 as she was baptised on 28th February 1792. By July 4TH 1795, when their next daughter HELEN BROWN was baptised they had moved to Kildavi, where a possible ancestor, Andrew Brown, had his hearth in 1694. Their next child was also a daughter, JANET BROWN who was probably born in 1797; I did not find her baptism in Saint Blaan’s baptismal register, so we do not know where the family were living at this time. Their first son ANDREW BROWN was baptised on 18th February 1800, they were living at Machrimore Mill where they were to remain for several more years. Their second son THOMAS BROWN was born there and baptised on 25th July 1802, as was their daughter MARGRET BROWN who was baptised on the 11th January 1806. She was to be their last child; Margaret must have died soon after her birth because a year later on 17th January 1807 George Brown married AUGNESS PICKAN, later to be known as Nancy, of Knockstaplemore.
Of George and Margaret McKay’s six children it is known that Mary married John Curdy, who was a servant at Ballybroanan on November 19th 1828. Janet remained with her father George at Brecklate, he was described as a cottager there in 1828, and both had to apply to the parish for poor relief. Andrew married Margaret McDonald, he is a direct ancestor so more is known about him and his family. (See below.) Nothing further is known about Helen, Thomas or Margaret, they may have died or married outside the parish
THE PICKAN FAMILY.I have read that the Pickan name is lowland; there is no record of it in South Kintyre until the 1720 rental when a John Pickan is listed at Killerwan. Over forty years later in the list of Property Lands in Killcolmkill 1767, Alex Pickan and his sons, together with Edward Pickan, are shown as living in the same place. The 1792 List of Inhabitants lists several Pickan Families, although none at Kilirvan as it now appears to be spelt. Hugh Pickan appears to be the tenant at North Machrimore with 81 year old James Pickan and 36 year old John and his family. At East Kildavy there was 48 year old Alexander Pickan and his family and there were various others, mainly female who were dotted around, altogether there were 25 Pickans and 2 Pickens which was probably just an alternative spelling. Pickans also appear in St Blaan’s registers and I have noted marriages between them and members of the other Brown families living in South Kintyre. Unfortunately there was no mention of Augness or Nancy. There is a strong clue to Agnes’ parents however in Keil Cemetery. Grave no. 30 in the West End it is dedicated as follows;- “Here lie the remains of WILLIAM PICKAN late farmer of Nockstaplemore who departed this life the 13th February 1820 aged 82 years. Erected to his memory by JEAN CALDWELL his widow and WILLIAM their son. Also JOHN PICKAN father of the deceased William Pickan lies here.”
George and Augness had two sons the first was WILLIAM BROWN who was baptised on the 14TH November 1807. He became a soldier and we are lucky enough to have obtained his colourful army record. As far as we know he never married, when he became a Chelsea Pensioner he lived with his father George and unmarried sister Janet at Brecklate. Later he and Janet went to live with his half brother Andrew in Campbeltown where he died in July 1878. More will be written about him in Part 2.
The second of George and Augness’ two sons was called Charles, he was baptised on 21st January 1810, and the family were still living at Machrimore Mill. Nothing further is known about him.
There were other Brown families who appeared to be more prominent, living in Southend during this period. In 1792 Edward Brown was the tenant at South Machrimore, he and his wife Jean Mitchell had at least eleven children and their children in turn had big families. Thomas Brown and his wife Helen Dunlop also had their family at Machremore according to the registers, although by 1792 he had become the tenant at Kilblaan. These Browns shared the same forenames as our branch, they intermarried with Pichans and Greenlees and Ralstons amongst others. Some, like Patrick Ralston and his wife Jennat Brown emigrated to the United States, Patrick and Jennat founded a dynasty in Illinois. These Browns were also instrumental in establishing a relief church in Southend where the services were taken in English instead of Gaelic. There still exists The Relief Call signed by seventy nine inhabitants of Southend which invited Mr Alexander Laing to be their pastor and preacher of the gospel. A printed copy can still be seen hanging on the wall of St Blaan’s Church. The Relief Church is still there, but the congregations amalgamated in the 1940s. Amongst the Brown signatories there were Archibald, William and Robert, who were sons of Edward Brown, there was also Thos Brown and one of his sons, Charles. There were a plethora of Pickans , John, Alexander Snr. and Jnr., Archibald, James and William. There was also, more surprisingly John and James MacDonald and several Reids. George Brown was not amongst them, perhaps he lacked the status, or perhaps he just preferred the traditional Gaelic of St Blaan’s.
George Brown, during the period 1800 until 1810 when his children were baptised was listed in the baptismal register as living and working at Machrimore Mill which was more like a village than just one building. Historically it had serviced the castle at Dunaverty. As well as the mill and the smithy and the farm there were trades people like shoe makers and tailors. In 1792 there were over one hundred men, women and children living there and I remember having read that at one time there were 167 people living and working at Machrimore Mill. George Brown was a farm labourer and it is not known how long he lived there. The next time we hear of him is in 1828 when his daughter Mary married, he is recorded in the register as living at Brecklate which was a farm situated towards the centre of the parish, where traditionally a member of the Ralston family was tenant. By this time George would have been aged over 60, but probably still working and living with his unmarried daughter Janet, he was described as a cottager so presumably they lived in a cottage on the farm and they were eventually joined there by George’s son William whose army pension was doubtless a welcome addition to the family’s budget. I have been unable to find George and Janet on the 1841 census despite looking in Scotland’s People and Ancestry, but they are all three still living at Brecklate in 1851. By this time George was aged 86 and described as a pauper farm labourer. We have been able to see the accounts of the Southend Session House Parochial Board for various dates in the early 1850s, which are kept with the archives at Lochgilphead. In February 1850 a claim for poor relief from Mary Brown of Brecklate was rejected, this could have been George’s other daughter, perhaps lately widowed. In February 1855 George received 6 shillings, which was a monthly payment. In February 1856 he only received 1s 6d which might have been a weekly payment as it was comparable with the other paupers listed. In another list which was without its date Janet Brown of Brecklate received 6d, which was the smallest amount allocated.
On Harold Ralston’s huge website www.ralstongenealogy.com he has reproduced a letter from an ancestor, Alexander Ralston of Trodigle in South Kintyre, to his brother Peter, who, together with his wife Jennat Brown, had emigrated in 1840 to Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. The letter is dated April 11th 1849. It is a long letter giving his brother all the family news, news of neighbours, prices etc. There was a little snippet concerning George Brown – “George Brown is still in measure of health and gets a little money from the church.” Alexander and Peter Ralston were both born at Brecklate, at the time that this letter was written the tenant was John Ralston whose wife Catherine was the granddaughter of Edward Brown (1745 – 1838) so it is likely that George was very well known to them.
George Brown died at Brecklate on the 23rd February 1856. He was described on his death certificate as a pauper, formerly an agricultural labourer. The names of his parents were given, his father Andrew Brown was also an agricultural labourer, his mother Barbara’s maiden name was Clark, both, unsurprisingly, were deceased. I am not completely sure of the spelling for the cause of his death; it appears to be hematuria, which was blood in the urine. Evidently he had had it for the previous six weeks and a doctor had attended him on the day before he died. His son William was present at his death and he certified that George was buried in the churchyard at Keil Southend.
ANDREW BROWN 1800 – 1878
Andrew was aged 32 before he married Margaret McDonald, the daughter of John McDonald the smithy at Pennyland Mill, on March 23rd 1832. He was described in the parish register as the farmer of Knockbaan. This is described in ‘The Place Names of the Parish of Southend’ as a smallholding, being a pendicle of Machrimore, situated close to St Blaan’s manse. It appears that Andrew was making a great effort to become a tenant farmer, but like a game of snakes and ladders, he sometimes fell back to being an agricultural labourer like his forebears. He was still farming Knockbaan however on 10th January 1833 when their eldest son JOHN was born. The register actually gave dates of birth as well as baptism and John was baptised two days later on the 12th January. Andrew was back being a cottager at Machrimore in October 1834 when their second son GEORGE was born but he had moved to Coaranbeg as herd when daughter MARY was born on the 29th March 1837. Two years later he was still working as a herdsman there when MARGARET was born on the 29th July 1839. I have been unable to identify the whereabouts of Coaranbeg.
The 1841 census tells us that Andrew had moved to the parish of Campbeltown and was farming Knockaruan which is described in The Place names of Campbeltown as meaning “The Hillock of the Red Land.” This was a new farm, formed in 1807 with a steading, built by Archibald McPhail. The 1851 census also gives us the information that the farm was of 60 acres, 20 of which were heath. John, aged 8, George aged 6, and Margaret aged 2 were present but Mary was missing, so it seems likely that she had died.
Andrew and his family were still at Knockaruan when the 1851 census was taken, so Andrew had managed to farm successfully for over 10 years at a difficult time, the potato blight which ravaged Ireland was also present in Kintyre. Son John had left the family home and was working as a farm servant at South Drumore which was another farm in the Campbeltown area. George and Margaret were still living at home and there was another little girl, aged 5, who was named Mary after her dead sister. I have obtained a copy of the baptismal record for Mary from Scotland’s People. She was baptised in Campbeltown on 2nd June 1845, (born 18th April) unfortunately the name of the church is not given and there are 2 churches in Campbeltown. An interesting detail was the occupation of Andrew which was given as collier, either that was a mistake or Andrew also worked in a mine as well as working on the farm.
By the time of the 1861 census many things had changed. Andrew was now farming 57 acres at Pennyland Mill which was back in the parish of Southend. According to “The Place names of the Parish of Southend” penny lands was a system of land division introduced by the Norsemen. I do not think that Pennyland Mill was owned by the Duke of Argyll as it does not appear in “The List of Inhabitants upon the Duke of Argyle’s Property in Kintyre in 1792.” Andrew’s father – in – law John McDonald was the blacksmith at Pennyland Mill. Daughter Mary was still living with the family together with another daughter named Elizabeth, who was aged nine. There was also another George, aged 5, he was described as a son, but as Margaret Brown was now aged 56, this is hard to believe, the situation was resolved in the 1871 census, when George, then aged 15 was more accurately described as a grandson. Also living with the family was a lodger, named John Kelvie aged 30. For reasons which will become apparent, he could be significant.
News of the rest of the family has been quite difficult to obtain. Originally I could find no further information about the eldest son JOHN BROWN who was born in 1833, and I wondered whether he had died or emigrated. I searched for a death or a marriage for John on Scotland’s People but there was no match. I have recently looked on the Beta Version at www.familysearch.org and discovered a marriage at Campbeltown which would appear to fit. On 27th November 1855 a John Brown married Margaret Carmichael. It would be useful to have this confirmed with a certificate, but I have had similar experiences with Scotland’s People and I am beginning to lose faith with them. However I have failed to find the couple on the 1861 and 1871 censuses and there is no record of John’s death before 1881 in Argyll.
A further search of Family Search has revealed the birth of a son called George to John Brown and Margaret Carmichel on 19th January 1856 at Biggar, Lanark, Scotland. I feel sure that this is the mysterious grandson who appeared on the 1861 and 1871 census living with his grandparents. But what of John and Margaret? Did they die or did they emigrate?
The second son GEORGE BROWN born in 1834 was less elusive. The poor lad died of tetanus at Lochruan on November 11th 1856 according to his death certificate which included the name of his parents. Lochruan today is a ruined farm steading, the loch is linked to Auchalochy reservoir. George was buried at Keil Cemetery.
In 1861 MARGARET BROWN aged 19 was working as a servant at Kilkellan Road Campbeltown. She was one of 2 maids employed by a 60 year old widower named John Beith, whose occupation was given as collector of stamps; he was, in fact, a prominent and well connected citizen of Campbeltown. More will be written about Margaret Brown as she was a direct ancestor.
Scotland’s People again appear to have no record of a marriage for MARY BROWN who was born in 1846, but once again Family Search provides a strong possibility. On 31st January 1870 Neil Brodie married Mary Brown. This time the 1871 census provides evidence that this couple did at least exist, Neil and Mary Brodie were living in Main Street Campbeltown, both were described as being aged 20, which was incorrect for Mary who would have been 25, and both had been born in Campbeltown. Neil was a fisherman and they had a 4 month old son called Michel.
I could find neither a death nor a marriage for ELIZABETH BROWN who was born in 1852, I searched up to 1880. I did, however, find her in the 1871 census working as a servant on a farm in Campbeltown. The farm was Pennygowan, the farmer was Elizabeth's uncle, 62 year old John MacDonald farming 250 acres, of which 100 acres were arable. His wife was 49 year old Elizabeth Reid and 7 children, all unmarried were living with them, ranging in age from John, aged 31, James aged 25, Mary aged 20, Margaret aged 16, Alexander aged 14, William aged 12 and Agnes, the youngest, aged 9. They had all been born in Southend except for Agnes and Elizabeth Brown who had been born in Campbeltown. There is a memorial, No.63 in the West End of Kilcomkeil Churchyard Southend to John McDonald – it reads:- “Erected by Elizabeth Reid in memory of her husband John McDonald of Pennygown who died 2nd March 1895 aged 87 Also of their daughter Isabella died 3rd June 1869 aged 26. Elizabeth wife of William Lightbody died 9th November 1882 aged 30. The above Elizabeth Reid died 3rd July 1915 in her 95th year.
THE McDONALD FAMILY OF PENNYLAND MILL
Some of the first entries in the Baptismal Register for Southend are of the baptisms of the children of JOHN McDONALD of Pennyland Mill. The name of his wife could be Marrian. Those children that we know, because their baptisms appear in the register are Isabel, bap. 16.3.1769. JOHN bap. 29.3.1771. Daniel bap. 18.5.1773 and Robert bap. 16.7.1776.
JOHN McDONALD – eldest son of John, is our direct ancestor. His wife was MARY REID who came from Auchenclaree. They were married at Southend in 1804. They had 10 children, all born at Pennyland Mill where John McDonald was the smith. MARGARET bap.20.6.1805. (Married ANDREW BROWN in March 1832.)
John bap.20.4.1808. (married Elizabeth Reid.)
Mary bap.27.9.1809, (she married James Montgomery 1839.)
James bap.10.8.1811. (married Elizabeth.)
David bap.14.10.1812.
William bap. 8.1.1815. (He must have died young.)
Alexander bap. 4.1.1817. (He married Margaret Huie.)
Catherine bap. 23.7.1819.
Duncan bap. 18.10.1821.
William bap. 21.4.1827.
John McDonald died in 1845, he is buried in grave 64 in the West end of Kilcomkeil Cemetery and the inscription reads:- “Erected 1895 in memory of John McDonald of Pennyland Mill born 1771 died 1845. Also his wife Mary Reid born 1785 died 1865 and their sons David born 1812 died 1848 William born 1827 died 1854.”
I feel certain that the McDonald family remained close to the Brown family and gave them support when times were hard. I have sometimes wondered why Andrew Brown called his eldest son John, which was not a normal Brown forename; I thought he could have been named after his maternal grandfather John McDonald. Of the family outlined above we know most about Margaret, the eldest daughter. The eldest son John must have deserted the smithy at Pennyland Mill in favour of farming, as outlined above. Presently I do not know if any of the other sons continued the blacksmith tradition. The second son James McDonald deserted rural life altogether, the 1861 census reveals that he was working as a bank messenger in Glasgow. He was married to Elizabeth and they had 4 children at that time – John R. aged 14, Anne, aged 10, James aged 6 and the youngest, Thomas H. aged 2. The family lived at 136, Ingram Street Glasgow St George. I think that I have been told, by Darlene Nelson a descendant of Alexander Mc Donald, that Alexander and his wife Margaret Huie emigrated to America.
SOURCES
Kintyre in the 17th Century by Andrew McKerral. First published 1948.
I have relied heavily on this book for historical information.
List of Inhabitants upon the Duke of Argyll’s Property in Kintyre in 1792 Edited by R.I.B. Stewart.
Sometimes references to this useful book have been made simply by date – 1792.
The Place Names of the Parish of Campbeltown
The place names of the Parish of Southend. The original lists for both these booklets were compiled by Duncan Colville and revised and supplemented by Angus Martin.
The Archives, Manse Brae, Lochgilphead, Argyll, PA31 8QU. In particular Assistant Archivist Marina Campbell who has been most helpful, initially providing me with lists of the archives concerning Campbeltown and Southend, then in person during a short but productive visit, and subsequently by e-mail. Those documents listed below indicated with a * have been provided by the Argyll Archives.
*Highland Papers. Papers relating to Kintyre 1596 – 1606 by J.R.H. McPhail
*Typescript copy of the Hearth Tax 1694 Kintyre Parishes by A.I.B. Stewart.
Keil Cemetery www.ralstongenealogy.com
*Typescript copy list of tenants on the Duke of Argyll’s Kintyre Estate 1720 Campbeltown, Southend, Killean and Kilkenzie Argyll Papers
Ref. m/1/1&2
*Property Lands in Killcolmkill Parish 1767 ref. m/1/4
Old Parochial Registers of Argyll Southend 1768-1853.
Filmed by the Mormons of Salt Lake City Film No. 1041076 Item 4.
Baptisms and Marriages St Blaan’s.
The Catalogue of The national Archives. Royal Hospital Chelsea Service Documents No.97/830/114
The Relief Call 1799. A Photo of the Original Document which hangs in St Blaan’s Church. With thanks to Mary Jo Ayton who photographed it and posted it onto www.myfamily.com.southkintyrescotland web site.
*Accounts of the Southend Session House Parochial Board. (Poor Law Payments.)
Web Sites
www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
www.familysearch.org
www.ancestry.co.uk
www.ralstongenealogy.com
www.myfamily.com.southkintyre
Scottish censuses. 1841 1851 1861 1871
PART 2 OF THIS ACCOUNT WILL BE ADDED IN DUE COURSE It is an ongoing project and will be revised as and when new information is found.