Early South Uist church records

Discussion: Might I be able to access early (Church?) records of births, baptisms, marriages or deaths in South Uist?

I have fairly good family records of my ancestors who immigrated to Prince Edward Island (then St. John's Island) in the 1700s, but just a few names of ancestors who left Scotland (probably from South Uist and Morar). My husband and I will be visiting in September. Thank you, Barbara

Hi Erin
Re MacCORMACK Family Tree

I am wanting any information on my Paternal Grandfathers Family from South Uist. Angus MacCormack married Catherine Johnstone, and Neil Gordon MacCormack was born from their marriage. Neil Gordon MacCormack is my Grandfather.
Neil emigrated to New Zealand in early 1900,s and never made it back home
I would love any information on any living Family as will be visiting South Uist in 2020 and its my lifelong wish to connect with my Scottish heritage. Thank you

In a posting above, Justin Kirby writes:

"My ancestor Angus Ban (Macdonald) of Inch married in Kilmonivaig in Lochaber in, 31st March 1752, Christina, daughter of Archibald Macdonald of Achnancoichean in Lochaber."

I have an Angus Ban MacDonald in my family tree, who was my 5th great grandfather. I have a Christina MacDonald MacDonald [c1731-1800] as his daughter, who married Neil Rankin of Kinlochleven. Christina is buried on Eilean Munde.

I am wondering if the Angus Ban MacDonald's are the same and whether you have any more information?

Cheers,
Richard

Hi Barbara, I have a MacCormack family tree. We have Dugald as a direct ancestor in common.
Erin

Do you think Achnancolcheau could be 'Achanancoichean' rather than Ardnamurchan. As Barabara, point out below: "it would appear that he [Angus who married Magdalen Fraser and then Janet or Johanna MacDonald] was the 5th. Laird of 'Achanancoichean'. It's just that I have found the following:

"I'm researching CAPTAIN ANGUS MACDONALD, b 1727, ACHNANCOICHEAN, LOCHABER, SCOTLAND,who emigrated to P.E.I., Canada in 1772.His first wife was MAGDALENE FRASER; second wife, JANET JOANNA MACDONALD"

http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.macdonald/1085.1/mb.ashx

This shows the Descendants of Archibald MacDonald V:

1 Archibald MACDONALD V b: in Achnancoichean, Lochaber, Scotland

2 Angus MACDONALD 1726/27 - 1806 b: January 01, 1726/27 in Achnancoichean, Lochaber, Scotland d: Abt. 1806 Occupation: Captain

+Janet "Joanna" MACDONALD 1747 - b: 1747 in Scotland

*2nd Wife of Angus MACDONALD:

I wondered whether spelling might be the issue for my research into the MacDoanld's of Inch, until I realised that Inch is also spelt Insch and Insse. My ancestor Angus Ban (Macdonald) of Inch married in Kilmonivaig in Lochaber in, 31st Marh 1752, Christina, daughter of Archibald Macdonald of Achnancoichean in Lochaber.

I found a reference on the Clan Cameron Reference Guide below that made me think that Achnancoichean was another spelling of Achnacochine:

ACHNACOCHINE / ACHNACOICHINE/ ACHADH NAN COTHAICHEAN:

“Field of the Disputants.” This location was once a favored rendezvous place for cattle reivers, while on their way to foras in either Perthshire or Strathspey. Located southeast of Achluachrach, in the Braes of Lochaber.

Achnacochine
Achnacoichine
Achadh-nan-cothaichean

= Achnancoichean?

There are ruins at Achnacoichine very close to the ancient Keppoch burial grounds at Cille Choirill, which you can you can reach by crossing the Spean on the Monessie Gorge suspension bridge nearby.

Achnacochine is also in close proximity to where my other ancestors lived in the region around the same time, which are all located between Roybridge and Laggan (e.g. Keppoch House, Torgulbin, Garvabeg, and Sherrobeg. I’ve also noticed that many of the other principle cadet families of the Macdonald of Keppoch’s hail from nearby, such as Bohuntine, Cranachan, Fersit, Inverroy, and possibly Gellovie in Badenoch. Aberarder, Murlaggan and Tulloch seemed to be further away though, and I haven’t found Dalchosnie, Tullochrom, Clianaig, Tirnadris and Killiechonate yet.

Anyway, hope my theory might be of interest.

Barbara,

I have sorted quite a few things out on this. Clan MacDonald of Keppoch lists Achnancoichean as a princible Cadet family, see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_MacDonald_of_Keppoch

http://archive.org/details/clandonald03macduoft

contains the lineage of The Macdonalds of Achnancoichean:

http://archive.org/details/clandonald03macduoft

When you get time, please let me know. You can also get in touch with me at john dot loughney at gmail dot com

Dear John and Angus,

I've just seen your most recent posts. Thank you. I have committments for the next few days, but plan to use your information shortly.

Barbara

Angus,

Looking through Place names, Highlands & islands of Scotland (1922) (Place names, Highlands & islands of Scotland (1922)) I found this reference:

Achnacoichen (Rothiemurchus), \' Field of the Owls \' ; so in Lochaber — Achnacochine, in 1509 Auchancheithin.

Wikipedia says there are three places of that name:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achnacloich

One on Skye, one in Argyll, and a lake in Ross and Cromarty.

Oh, and small correction, when I referred to Prince Charlie, I was thinking of Loch nan Uamh in Druimindarroch, where Bonnie Prince Charlie\'s Cave is, where he reported hid after the Culloden. I have McGillvray ancestors from that area (Arisaig / Glen Mama). Reportedly, one is descended from John Mor McGilvray who fell at Culloden, but I am still looking for evidence.

Hi Angus,

Thanks for your response, let me be clearer. I have an (Captain?) Angus MacDonald born 1727 in Achnancolcheau, Lochabar, Scotland. He married Madeline Magdalen Fraser born 16 Apr 1731 in Scotland.

Their daughter, Christina MacDonald was born on 14 May 1755 in Achnancolcheau, Lochabar, Scotland married an Alexander Fisher, born 1750 in the same place. I believe all of these left Scotland in 1772 on the ship Alexander.

I was referring to Barbara\'s post about:

\"Angus (Officer Angus) MacDonald b. January 1, 1727, Achnancolcheau, Lochabar, Scotland, lived in: St Peters Lake, occupation Captain, m. (1) 1751, Madeline \\\"or Magdalen\\\" Fraser, m. (2) 1768, in Scotland, Janet \\\"Johanna\\\" MacDonald. Angus died ca. 1806, Prince Edward Island, Canada, interred: Prince Edward Island, Canada. He came before 1776 and made his will in 1802. He had rented the estate of Borodale on South Uist where Prince Charles Edward landed in 1745 to begin his unsuccessful effort to regain Scotland from England. It would appear that he was the 5th. Laird of Achanancoichean (??)\"

The details that he rented the estate of Borodale on South Uist and that he was the 5th Laird were new to me.

John

Barbara: I don't know if you made progress on your list but though I might fill in one line. Alexander was indeed Laird or Chief of Morar. He was Alexander MacDonald of Meoble and VI of Morar. He married first Mary dau of Sir Donald MacD XI of Sleat [Allan Roy VII; Aleander; Ranald of Cross; Lachlan; Mary] and second Mary dau of Ranald III of Kinlochmoidart and Margaret Cameron of Lochiel [Bishop Hugh MacD of the Isles; John of Guidale; Catherine]

Alexander was born about 1665 son of Alilean IV of Morar of Ailean III of Morar of Alexr II of Morar of Ailean I of Morar of Dougall VI of Clanranald, murdered in 1520 by his clan for being mad or bad or both. Angus