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Archiver > SCT-ISLEOFMULL > 2010-08 > 1282164911


From: "James Morison" <>
Subject: Re: [SCT-ISLEOFMULL] Mull Genealogy
Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:55:11 +0100
References: <645971.93088.qm@web86707.mail.ird.yahoo.com>


Hello Frances,
I should have realised not to rely on memory when
putting down dates when you are around.
I accept that Margaret Browns marriage was 1844 and not 1846, but it does
not alter the statement that Alexander must have died young (John Johnston
would be 2 instead of 4). If you want to be really pernickity then in fact
all we know definitely about Alexander Johnston is that he is the father of
John Johnston. We do not know he was definitely married or what happened to
him. I have accepted your aunts recollection of what she remembers of what
her father said, and on that basis assumed a marriage.
I did not say that John Johnston was on Islay when young. He was born on
Mull and was there in 1851. On 29 Jan 1874 he married Isabella Gillespie in
Brigend Islay. I do not know where he was in 1861 or 1871.- Glasgow
possibly. There are candidates there but I cannot prove they are the right
John Johnston.
Again I was relying on memory for the Bard title year
. The date was not 1934 as I meant to say but 1929 when he was crowned at
Perth according to the Glasgow Islay Association. The spelling of his name
is always Johnston not Johnstone apart from the Mull registrar who puts an e
in John Johnstons name
I have no great knowledge of how to contact Ian. Indeed I thought I
was already doing so!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Frances Caple" <>
To: <>
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 5:47 PM
Subject: Re: [SCT-ISLEOFMULL] Mull Genealogy


hello Jim,

it is my fault that John Johnstone is not on the Mull website as I gave Ian
the details of the family of Hector McKinnon and Margaret Brown, at the time
I gave the info to Ian I only had the 1861 census so did not know about
Hectors stepson John Johnstone, as Ian says we need to inform him of the
details we have, sorry Ian,
also the information about John Johnstone's father only came to me last year
from you and John Gibb so I could not pass that on to Ian earlier, as you
and John found this info and kindly shared it with me I didn't feel it was
mine to pass on,

>> Alexander must have died young as Margaret remarried in 1846. <<<
Jim I think another typo as according to your ggrandmother's (Ann McKinnon,
Hector McKinnon's daughter) birth certificate it states that Hector and
Margaret Brown were married in Shiaba 1844, it also says 1844 on the Mull
website I submitted the info,

>>> John Johnston later returned to Islay married there.... <<<
Jim do you have info that John J was on Islay when young as on the 1851
census he is said to be born in Scoor Mull so was not born on Islay, also a
couple of years before his marriage to an Islay lass his step (half) brother
Duncan McKinnon married on Islay to an Islay lass and I have wondered if he
went to visit Duncan and then met a girl and fell in love, Duncan is on
Islay on the 1871 census but I did not find John J, if you have details of
where John J was on the 1861 and/or 1871 census I would love to know please,

>>>> ....and had a family which included Duncan Johnston (1881) who became
>>>> renowned as the Bard of Islay winning the Gold Medal and crowned Bard
>>>> at the Mod in 1834. <<<
in my great aunts diary (which you have copy of Jim) she says:
"Duncan Johnstone was crowned of the mod 1930"
she has spelt Johnstone with an 'e'
if you have info that this is wrong or Duncan was crowned twice I would love
to know please, (I think you meant to type 1934)

Jim if you would like John Campbells info on the Mull website site please
send Ian the information, I did mention last year when you and John first
contacted me that the Mull website only has information that people have
been kind enough to take the time to tell Ian about and Ian donates most
time by putting all our information on the website, thank you Ian,

as you and John added so much to my info on our ancestors I had thought you
would have sent info to be added to the Mull website so anyone else looking
for our shared ancestors can view the info and hopefully add to it, I
suppose everyone is on ancestry or genes reunited now except me,

best thoughts Frances

Frances Caple
Isle of Lewis

Hi Ian,
I visited your place in Bunessan in May 2009 and was made welcome,
thank you. Since then I feel I have made considerable progress with my
family tree, and have been comparing it with the info on your site. I am
surprised to find that there seems to be no mention of John Campbell born in
Iona in 1905, died 1999 in Bunessan. John was a postman in Bunessan and part
time policeman and a real local character. He knew everyones family tree,
wrote gaelic poetry and was a mine of folklore. I am sure that a lot of
useful memorabilia were tossed out in 1999 when his house at Fruachmor was
cleared. His mother Euphemia Campbell is on your site born 1/1/1872 and
his grandmother Catherine Campbell nee MacDougall born about 1845.
According to John, Catherine had the second sight.
Catherines mother was a Margaret Brown born about 1821 in Mull, who is
listed on your site as the wife of Hector MacKinnon (Shoemaker of Shiaba).
Margaret did not raise Catherine as Hector was not the father (a John
MacDougall was) so Catherine was brought up by her Grandfather Alexander
MacDougall (born 1781 Torosay).
Another person not mentioned is John Johnston 1842-1904 who is listed
in the 1851 census with the family of Hector Mackinnon and Margaret Brown.
Again Hector was not the father, but an Alexander Johnston (almost certainly
from Islay). Margaret Brown was his mother. Alexander must have died young
as Margaret remarried in 1846. John Johnston later returned to Islay
married there and had a family which included Duncan Johnston (1881) who
became renowned as the Bard of Islay winning the Gold Medal and crowned
Bard at the Mod in 1834. One of his songs is the Barge of Gorry Crovan, as
sung nowadays by the Corries and others.
I have an extensive family tree for John Campbells Iona Campbells,
much of it from John Campbell and subsequently verified.
If you would like more info, let me know.
James Morison

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