This is the complete archive of older entries from Kyle's News page for the FamilyWiki.
Rob Livingston (b. 11 July 1954, d. 19 Jul 2006), founder of the McLea/Livingstone DNA Project and tireless MacLea family researcher, passed on at 4 a.m. on July 19, 2006; a result of complications from esophageal cancer which had gone into his liver and bones.
There will be no services; remembrances may be sent to Snowline Hospice, Placerville, California. (http://www.snowlinehospice.org/)
Rob is remembered for his love of history and the hours of work he has done for all of us with an interest in McLea genealogy. (http://www.clanmclea.co.uk/forum/show-message.asp?ID=1440)
As you look around the web for MacLea family history, you will find many old gems of lore that Rob has left over his years of research. Here is one that I recently found, and which may relate especially to my own family, which came from Bute: http://www.irishclans.com/cgi-bin/net.Thread.pl/message/4/1/176/50/2?user=&email=&depth=4&detail=description&lastread=7
Thank you, Rob, for all you have done! We couldn't have done this without you!
Kyle=
A few weeks ago I also got a record from the New Hampshire vital records office. They were much faster than Massachusetts, but they are a smaller state (pop'n wise), so no surprise....
My great-grandmother Caroline Alma (MacCartney) MacLea's death certificate verifies:
She died 24 Apr 1987, having been born 8 Dec 1893 in Nova Scotia, Canada. Her parents were David W. MacCartney and Emily J. Pearcy (not Peardon, as I had thought). The "W" was also a surprise, though the "J" stands for Jane.
She died in Laconia, N.H., though she lived in Gilford. She was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Stoughton, Mass., thereby providing me with a place to get the unofficial death record for Peter Richard MacLea as well. Woo-hoo!
She died 24 Apr 1987 after a two week bowel obstruction, aged 93, and was buried 27 Apr 1987. File 1987002081.
And I don't need to tell you she was a sweet lady. I remember her, the only one of my great-grandparents who was still around when I was born, and after! Heck, I was almost 12 when she died! I have a picture of her in my genealogy photo folder and I will link that here at some point.
Kyle=
Transcribed from the 1927 Glasgow Phone Directory:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~glasgow/index-glas.htm
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~glasgow/1927names449.jpg
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~glasgow/1927names451.jpg
(see previous entry)
p. 449
M'Lay, Alex., cashier (M.C. Thomas & Co., Ltd.); res. Norwood, Giffnock.
p. 451
Maclay, Arthur A. (of Wm. Maclay, 19 Waterloo st.); ho., 2 Garrioch dr., Maryhill
M'Lay Bros., provision mrchts., 47, 49 Parliamentary road.
M'Lay, Daniel, fish salesman, Fish Market and 24 East Clyde st.; branch, 261 Cumberland st., s.s.; ho., 20 Aytoun road, Pollokshields; tel. Nos., 2534 Bell and Queen's Park 680.
Maclay, E. D. (of Mathews, Maclay & Manson); ho., 28 Partickhill road, W.
M'Lay, James, general warehouseman, 403 Cathcart rd.; ho. 121 Sinclair dr., Langside.
M'Lay, James, accountant (A. R. Stenhouse, Blyth & Co.), 100 N. Frederick street.
Maclay, James A. (of R. & A. Main, Ltd. And T. Glover & Co., Ltd.), 64 Terregles avenue, Pollokshields.
M'Lay, James Rose (of Ballantine, Haddow & M'Lay, solicitors); ho., Rose Lea, Uddingston.
M'Lay, John (of James Spencer & Co.); house, 7 Gardner street, Partick.
M'Lay, John, 81 Oxford drive, Kelvinside N.
Maclay, Hon. Joseph P. (of Maclay & M'Intyre Ltd.); ho. Duchal, Kilmacolm.
Maclay, Kenneth, stockbroker, 24 George sq., C 2 (tel. Add., "Stag;" tel. No., Central 489); ho., 1 Bute mansions, W 2.
Maclay, Lord (of Maclay & M'Intyre Ltd.); ho. Duchal, Kilmacolm.
M'Lay, M'Alister & M'Gibbon, chartered accountants, 53 Bothwell st.; tel. Add., "Celerity"; telephone No. 1525 Central (2 lines).
Maclay & M'Intyre Ltd., shipbrokers, 21 Bothwell street; tel. Nos. 5913 and 5914 Central.
Maclay, Murray, & Spens, writers and notaries public, 169 W. George st; telegraphic address, "Vindex"; tel. No. 6030 Central (3 lines.)
M'Lay, William (at Babcock & Willcox, Ltd.), ho., 990 Pollokshaws road.
M'Lay, Wm., C.A. (of M'Lay, M'Alister & M'Gibbon, C.A.); res. Belleisle, 75 Stewarton dr., Cambuslang.
Maclay, Wm., grain merchant, 19 Waterloo st.; tel. add., "Maclay;" tel. Nos., Central 125 and 126.
Maclay, W. P. (of Mathews, Maclay & Manson), res. Brantwoode, Helensburgh.
M'Lay, Georgina, newsagent, 590 Eglinton st.
M'Lay's College, commercial college, 125 Douglas street.
Maclay Hall, 17 Park ter., W.
M'Lea, Duncan (John Watson's, Ltd.), house, 57 Fotheringay rd., Pollokshields.
M'Lea, George A., coal and coke merchant, 116 Hope st.; ho., 57 Fotheringay road; tel No., Central 4746.
[last two possible relatives?? Duncan could match a known family member.]
Kyle=
McLea type records from Donegal, 1630 (Muster Roll) and 1665 (Hearth Tax):
ftp://kitenet.net/pub/home/kyle/1630_Donegal_Muster_Rolls.pdf
ftp://kitenet.net/pub/home/kyle/1665_Donegal_Hearth_Money_Roll.pdf
Kyle=
Though at first blush, this record of Peter McLea coming to America in 1858 seems to be an unrelated Peter McLea, I can't help but wonder if this is indeed a relative...
According to Ancestry.com's New York Passenger Lists, 1851-1891, which contains an index of actual images of the passenger lists held by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm, M237, rolls 95-580, we have this record:
Line 32, Microfilm Roll 184, List number 408
Peter McLea
Male, Age 30, with an estimated birth year of 1828.
He departed Glasgow, Scotland for the United States on board the ship Glasgow, arriving at the port of New York 26 May 1858.
An examination of the actual record (which I have somewhere) showed that Peter's occupation was "Smith."
Though no birth record exists for my Peter, all signs point to a birth year of 1828 and an occupation as Blacksmith. I know of no reason for him to depart Glasgow at this time, given the births of his children in 1852, 1854, 1855, October of 1859, 1862, 1868, and 1871. However, he was at least sometimes employed as a "ship smith" and therefore might have had some business in traveling with the ships as they traveled the seas. If he did, it was an infrequent part of his work.
Anyway, though our ancestor James Brown MacLea, Peter's son, is the known emigrant from Scotland, the possibility remains based on this record that his father Peter may have traveled to the United States first, years before, and perhaps even planting the idea in young James' mind...
Kyle=
A while ago, I consulted a CD (268) of Scottish Immigrants to North America, 1600s-1800s, Scots Colonists: America, 1612-1783, Surnames M-N. from Genealogy.com.
I found these McLeas on p. 214 (and have no further information, including what the numbers mean). The first two were 'transported' (against their will) for the crimes of being a Jacobite or a thief, respectively. The last appears to be voluntary, and just before the American Revolution!
- McLea, Dougal, b. 1731, Jacobite, tr. 1747, fr. Tilbury. (P.3.142)(MR177)
- McLea, John, flesher, thief, res. Glasgow, tr. Sept 1775, fr. Glasgow to West Indies. (SM.37.523)
- McLea, William, b. 1746, laborer, res. Islay Argyll, sh. Apr 1775, fr. Greenock to N.Y., in Lilly. (PRO.T47.12)
Hope this is of use to someone!
Kyle=
So, on 19 May 2006, I sent off to the Massachusetts State Archives to get some records for my research. They only cover up to 1916 (100+ years ago), with more recent records held by the Dept. of Public Health. I got some good results and also some intriguing gaps.
Here are records I was looking for:
Marriage of Peter Richard MacLea and Caroline MacCartney, which I have records indicating that it took place on 12 Aug 1910, in Stoughton, Mass. However, the archives were searched 1901-1915 and no records were found.
Birth of Isabel MacLea, first child of Peter and Caroline MacLea, in 1911, was found in Volume 179, pg. 246. However, because this record was later amended (probably said "Baby Girl" like my grandfather's "Baby Boy"), it must be requested from the Dept. of Public Health.
I had better luck with the other records I wanted though.
Birth record of my maternal grandfather, Norman A.B. Clement, born 19 Oct 1908 North Adams, Mass, to Manuel Clement, 1226 Pleasant, Fall River, Mass (born North Adams, Mass, and Overseer) and Augustine Berube, 1226 Pleasant, Fall River, Mass (born Canada). Record was dated 28 Jun 1909. 1908, vol 574, pg 210, no 1237.
My father's mother's mother, Mabel Eva Black, was born 5 Apr 1893, Milton, Mass, to Frederick Black (Milton, born Pembroke, Maine, and a Hostler) and Annie Pierson (Milton, born "Sweeden"). Record was dated 1893. 1893, vol 431, pg 533, no 22. Interestingly, my late grandmother had her mother as "Mabel Evelyn Black" rather than "Eva" but the birth record says Eva.
And here's one I really wanted!
- My great-great-grandfather, James Brown McLea, was widowed in 1897. He remarried Mary Hughes in 1911, I figured sometime after she arrived from Scotland at the end of July. This record verifies they were indeed married in Cambridge, 31 Aug 1911. It confirms known information about James (age, parents Peter McLea and Janet Brown, employed then as a dyer, widower, from Scotland) and Mary (nurse, from Scotland). It also includes these (new to me) pieces of information. Mary was 49, James 50 (although according to his birth record, he was actually 51). This was Mary's first marriage, and confirmed it was James' second. Importantly, Mary's parents are John Hughes and Isabella Sellers information that up until now I did not have! They resided at 4 Williams Street, Cambridge, also useful information, and were married by the Rev. John N. Short "Clergyman" 159 Chestnut Street, Cambridge. Maybe this could be used to figure out the religion of the Clergyman at some point.... Record dated 2 Sep 1911. 1911, vol 603, pg 403, no 799.
A quick search for John N. Short did find this reference. http://www.nazarene.org/archives/introduction/what_do_you.html
"The visit to Boston included time in Cambridge, where the Cambridge Church of the Nazarene donated its earliest church minutes and other records to the Nazarene Archives. The accession included photographs of the church and its founder, Rev. John N. Short, one of the key Nazarene founders in the East."
Indeed, there is more at http://wesley.nnu.edu/wesleyctr/books/0201-0300/HDM0221.PDF. For instance:
"For twenty-two years he was pastor of the Church of the Nazarene in Cambridge, Mass. He brought this group into spiritual existence. For fourteen years the group worshipped in a hall, and then under his leadership they built a beautiful edifice."
If you ever wanted to know more about John N. Short and the Nazarene movement in the U.S., it sounds like he was a mover and a shaker! Another little bit o' history added to the family story...
That's all for now!
Kyle=
In the course of looking through old Glasgow post office directories for my family, you may recall that I recorded a number of unrelated (or at least not-known-to-be-related) McLeas, McLaes, and McLays, as well. 20060318. One of those who cropped up Walter Ewing MacLae, Esquire.
I also found this reference in the University of Glasgow library
Author Wardlaw, Ralph, 1779-1853.
Title A sermon preached in Albion-Street Chapel, Glasgow ... October 31st, 1814; on occasion of the death of Walter Ewing Maclae, Esq. of Cathkin.
Publ. info. Glasgow, 1814.
LOCATION CALL NO. STATUS
Level 12 Spec Coll Sp Coll Mu3-d.36 REFERENCE ONLY
Subject Maclae, Walter Ewing.
Gul class Sp Coll Mu3-d.36
Don't know if he's related to me, but it might be interesting to see this sermon at some point.
Anyway, I put it up here to remind myself.
Jill Larsen wrote me with more information about Walter Ewing MacLae and his family. Since it is unlikely that Walter is a close relative of mine, I am not terribly interested in him. But she has done a lot of work on him, so if you are interested in finding out more, you should contact her directly. She writes:
Having another look at your blog I see you are interested in Walter Ewing MCLAE (various spellings) I spent a lot of time researching him a year or two ago...
John MCLAE (etc) married Elizabeth FINNIE in Glasgow on 06 Dec 1712 and they had at least 12 chn. John was a tailor and merchant in Glasgow and in later life bought the estate of Cathkin south east of Glasgow. There's a golf course there now. John died in 1735 and his eldest living son Walter inherited.
Walter married Lillias SMITH 08 Jul 1764 but she died in 1767 in childbirth. There was a son John, but he doesn't seem to have survived.
When Walter died in 1790 there was no heir so the property was passed to his sister Margaret and her husband Humphrey EWING who had married in 1738. From then on the family were known as EWING-MACLAE (var) and went forth and multiplied, becoming in later years CRUM-EWING and CRUM MACLAE. I have a lot more about the family, including wills, Census etc...
Thanks, Jill! Perhaps I'll follow up at some point if it looks like Walter or John are relatives, but at the moment it seems unlikely.
Kyle=
Fri, 17 Mar 2006
Obituary
Originally appearing in the Suncoast Obituaries compiled from the regional editions of the St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, Pinellas, Florida, USA. Published Thursday, December 13, 2001. Transcribed and supplemented by his nephew and godson Kyle MacLea.
ALBERT EDWARD "BEAVER" CLEMENT, 64, of St. Petersburg, died Tuesday (Dec. 11, 2001) at Sun Coast Hospital, Largo. He was born in Fall River, Mass., and came here in 1977 from Taunton, Mass. He was a truck driver for the Sanitation Department of St. Petersburg for 22 years. He was an Air Force veteran and a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in St. Petersburg and the Sportsman's Club of Tiverton, R.I. He was a Catholic. Survivors include his wife of 26 years, Sandra A.; six daughters, Shirley Simon, Indianapolis, Melissa Clement, Las Vegas, and Michelle Clement, Victoria Ercolani and Terri Jones, all of St. Petersburg, and Lori Riley, Hubbardston, Mass.; two sons, Michael and Steven, both of Las Vegas; three sisters, Yvette Sousa, Portsmouth, R.I., Jeanette Barbato, Rhode Island, and Lorraine MacLea, Marlboro, Mass.; a brother, Richard, Tiverton; and 13 grandchildren. Anderson-McQueen Funeral Homes & Cremation Tribute Center-McLeod Chapel, St. Petersburg.
The MacLeas of Rothesay, Isle of Bute, Scotland
I transcribed the old parish records of Rothesay Parish, LDS film number 1041085.
This file includes my direct and some collateral ancestors, as I currently understand them, from Rothesay, Bute. The file is here: Film_1041085.doc
If you have any questions or connection to these McLeas/McOnLeas/MacLeas, get in touch!
Kyle=
MacLea-type names in the OPRs for Argyll from Earliest Times
ftp://kitenet.net/pub/home/kyle/MacLeas_in_Argyll_from_OPR.doc
Earliest records in Argyll are for Inveraray and Glenaray, 1680.
The first 2 records (1680, 1681) are McOnlea. Next are McLeas beginning in 1725. We see more McLeas there in 1726-30, 33, 36-37, 39-40, 43, 45, and 1750.
First Livingstons appear in Argyll in 1729 in Kildalton.
Until 1745, we have only two parishes to look at: Inveraray and Kildalton.
Inveraray is ALL McLeas and Kildalton is ALL Livingston(e) up until that point.
In 1747, we see McLeas in Kilfinan parish.
In 1748, we see Livingstone in Kilmartin parish.
Inveraray shows a MacLea in 1750, Malcolm, who in 1752 with the birth of his son John has become a Livingstone. Despite his family going by McOnlea/McLea from 1680 to 1750. From then on, Inveraray is Livingstone country.
Now, in Kilfinan, where we saw McLeas beginning 1747, 1749, in 1752 they are still going by McLea. Three more MacLeas are born there in 1755.
First records for Kilbrandon and Kilchattan are 1756... all Livingston(e)s.
Ardchattan records start 1759... all Livingston(e). Same with Kilninver and Kilmelfort. Lismore Appin and Duror also.
Cambelltown starts 1762... all Livingston(e)s.
Lochgoilhead 1766... same.
Dunoon and Kilmun starts in 1754 and in 1768 with a MacLea marriage.... Next record in 1788 has Livingstones. And then there's a rogue McLea marriage in 1804 and births in 1806 and 1809! A McLae shows up there in 1855.
There is a McLea marriage in Inverchaolain in 1772 as well.
Strathlachlan starts 1772 and Bowmore or Kilarrow 1773, both with Livingston(e)s.
Inverchaolain has more McLea births in 1773 and 1774.
Glassary has a McLea marriage in 1775. Interestingly, this is between Duncan LEITCH and "More MacLea"... Given that the Leitch family is the same name was see with the other McLeas in Kilmodan, I wonder whether this might be another sibling/cousin marriage here from the same two families. This would be in keeping with the beginning of transition of the names in the Kilmodan family beginning in 1776. The next name in Glassary is a Dugald Livingstone marriage in 1776, interestingly.
Lochgoilhead which had Livingston(e)s from 1766, shows up with McLea in 1775! We have another in 1777, 1778, 1780, 1782, 1784, 1786, 1788, same family. But we have a Livingstone in 1778 in another family there too. And interestingly, there is a mysterious "Archibald Baron MacLea" who marries Mary MacDougal there in 1784 as well.
Glenorchy and Inishail begins 1776, all Livingston(e).
In Kilbrandon and Kilchattan, we've seen Livingston(e)s since 1756, however in 1777 we see a daughter born to a John McLea, and also a marriage of a Mary Livingston in the same year and parish. (Not sure if John was called Livingston originally without looking at the OPRs themselves.... there is no record of his marriage to Sarah Smith in the index.)
South Knapdale begins 1781 with Livingston(e). Same with Craignish 1782. Same with Kilmore and Kilbride in 1783. And Muckairn in 1783. And Glenorchy and Inishail in 1786. North Knapdale 1786.
Saddell and Skipness starts with a MacLea birth in 1787 to Malcolm MacLea and Barbara MacCollum.... Next record in 1803 has Livingstone, unknown if related family.
Kilcalmonell and Kilberry begins 1794 with Livingston(e). Same with Torosay and Kinlochspelvie 1795 and Colonsay in 1797 and Kilchrenan and Dalavich 1800 and Morvern 1806 and Kilfinichen and Kilvickeon 1807 and Ardnamurchan and Strontian or Sunart 1808. Also Gigha and Cara 1808 and Jura 1811 and Kilmeny (Argyll) 1811 and Kilninian and Kilmore 1811 and Muckairn 1812 and Strachur 1816. (At this point, I stopped.)
There is a McLay that shows up in Southend in 1848. And in Campbelltown in 1851 and 1856.
So, with the exception of MUCH later records, for the extant records (as of April 2007 from ScotlandsPeople) in the OPRs for ARGYLL only, we see:
Kilmodan parish has McLeas up until 1795. Lochgoilhead does too until 1788. Glassary until 1775. Inverchaolain until 1774. Kilbrandon and Kilchattan has a rogue McLea in 1777, but no others. Kilfinan has a rogue McLea in 1831… prior to that the last one was 1755. Saddell and Skipness has 1 MacLea in 1787. Only Livingstons at 1803 and after.
Other than as noted above, there are no McLea type names in the vast majority of the existing Argyll registers!
Hope this helps! Kyle=
In the event that the original copy of The Account of McLea ever disappears from the web, I decided to repost it here in its entirety. Thanks to Don MacLeay for posting it originally! I don't know if the internal links will work or not, but I'll post for now and edit later... Kyle=
An Account of the Name of McLea
By Thos McLea, Edinburgh Scotland
From a book…., (Verbatim, all spellings and grammar retained)
Research by Donald Macleay, Fredericksburg VA
(Footnotes are highlighted as hyperlinks to the bottom of the page.)
By the courtesy of the Lord Lyon this account of the McLeas is printed from a MS. In the Lyon Office. It gives a good deal of information about that clan.
Copy from the original in the handwriting of Mr. Duncan McLea, Minister at Dull, furnished by Doctor Archibald McLea (1), Minister at Rothsay, his son, 26 May, 1806
At Dull, Jan 3, 1743
Lindsaig or Leavinsaig in the Parish of Kilfinan, Lordship of Cowall and Sheriffdome of Argyle, is a six merk land of old extent, in the Baillrie of the twenty pound Land of Ardmernock (2) wherein are these lands, Rehleck, Barpuntag, Achnaha, Darinacoauch-more and Darinacoauch-beg, Lindsaid and Cramunichan which now belongs to Lindsaig but originally to the Maclachlans of Barpuntag and Achnaha, but was bought and adjoined to Lindsaig some little time ago by the McLeas of Lindsaig.
And I, Mr. Duncan McLea, Minister at Dull, being resolved to transmit to posterity what I know of the name of McLea as far as my own personal information leads me to, or knowledge can attain to; and I reckon it a piece of Justice to the House, and in particular to the family of Lindsaig, of whom I am lineally descended, to be as full and particular in the account that I am to give of them as I can. This family of the McLeas of Lindsaig have been in that corner without interruption for the most part, for the space of about seven hundred years before this time, and it is remarkable that there is no account who had the lands of Lindsaig in possession before that of the McLeas possest them, tho' they are but a Cadet of another family, as shall be told afterwards. And in giving an account of the McLeas, it may be thought proper to describe them in the first place by giving an account of the original of the name, their antiquity and descent, as far as my information leads me.--And first, as to the original of the name. In some old papers belonging to the Family of Lindsaig, if I remember right, it is written 'Leave' or 'McO Leave' Whether this way of expressing the name has proceeded from the Irish way of expressing the name, or from their manner of writing it at that time, I know not, tho' near this hundred years bypast, it is written and exprest by McLea.
As to the Original of the name of McLea, (3) some derive it from Slee or Shavdh, from the place they lived in, in Ireland, they having come at first from Ireland, it being on a Hill or Mountain side that they lived there; and there have been some of the name called Dunslee, or Dunshavdh, or Dunslee McOLea, after the Irish way of expressing it, putting the Scots and Irish way together in the expression.
Others again derive the name from Leigh- Doctor, Physician or Surgeon: and for proof of this, there are some Surgeon's instruments drawn upon the Gravestones belonging to the McLea's of Lindsaig in the Kirkyard of Kelfinan upon the north side of the Kirk there, the designation of the Family being Barron McLea, and it was one of the Barrons of Lindsaig the last that was burried within the Kirk of Kilfinan under their own seat within the Kirk there. And after the Act of Parliament (4) discharging Burrials within the Kirk, they made choice of the northside of the Kirk in the Kirkyard just opposite to the lands of Lindsaig.
As also there was one McLea a Surgeon, who himself and his forebearers for several generations had been Physician in Ordinary to the Family of Lamont, whose house, yeard and kiln, the ruins and remains thereof, are yet to be seen where the mansionhouse of the family of Lamont was at that time at Inveryn, and which Surgeon had also in property the five merk land of Achnaskioch (5) which is now possest by one of the name of Stewart, and the present Achnaskioch is but the third of the name that possesses it since the Surgeon McLea sod it. And this present Lamont's Great Grandfather was the person that turned the then McLea of Achnaskioch off from his being his Surgeon and Physician in Ordinary, upon which McLea of Achnaskioch prophesied that there should never be another Lamont lineally descended after his son to succeed him. For this present Lamont is but a son of Lamont of Kilfinan who was a natural son of Lamont's. and who was married to Lamont of Stealag his eldest Daughter, which Stealag was Lamont's Brother's son, who had no Male Children but Daughters, and so this present Laird of Lamont is Lamont's and Stealag's Grandchild.
And after McLea, Surgeon to the Laird of Lamont, had sold the Lands of Achnaskioch, he bought the Lands of Finbaccan (6) in Strathechag, and thereafter sold these lands also, and went to Glasgow and practised Surgery there, and bought a Cless of Houses there, which being burnt in the great Burning that happened sometime ago at Glasgow, (7) and he dying without any Male Children to succeed him, the ground of the houses fell in to the City of Glasgow, and he leaving but two Daughters, they were left upon the King's charity and lived to a great age and both died unmarried at Edinburgh.
Others derive the name of McLea form Leavensitdh, a Reader, and thus several of that name have been in several stations in the Church, There was a Popish Bishop of the name of McLea that built the Castle of Auchindoun in Lessmore, the name and designation of the Popish and Praelatical Bishops of Argyle being called Bishops of Lessmore, Episcopus Lissmorensis, and the Kirk officer there, from Father to Son these several Generations bypast, is McLea, who hath heritably one half of a merk land for being Beadle or Kirk officer there, and who hath still the Bishop's club (8) akeeping and who is therefore called Baron Bachuill to this day and the last Popish priest that served at the Provostry of Kilmun in Cowal was McLea, and there are and have been several of the name of McLea Priests in Ireland.
It is very ordinary for the McLea's to call themselves 'Livingston" when they come or go to the low country.(9) What is or hath been the occasion of this, I cannot well tell, but it is very ordinary for the 'Livingstons' in the low Country to be very kind to the 'McLeas', and to reckon themselves to have come of the 'McLeas' in the Highlands, and it is alledged upon the Highlanders that for ordinary they have two names, as the McLea's have -- that of 'McLea' in the Highlands, and 'Livingston' in the low country. I remember to have seen one Malcolm McLea who at that time was called Callum Dall and begging, and who had been a Soldier at the battle of Philliphaugh where the Highlanders were defeat, and he being wounded and coming to the Callander, near Falkirk, as he was stragling homeward to the Highlands and begging, and being required what name he was of, answered that he was of the name of McLea; upon which the then Lord Callender (10) who also was Earl of Linlithgow and Livingston, ordered a Surgeon to be sent for from Falkirk, and he to be taken care of at the Callander and kept there for three-quarters of a year, until his wound was cured, and then sent him home to the Highlands and called his son, the then Lord Callander and Linlithgow, and told him that tho' their family at that time made a figure in the world, and that tho' the McLea's in the Highlands made no great figure there, yet that their family were descended of the McLea's in the Highlands, and that at whatever place he met with any of the name of McLea that he should always reckon them as his own name, Livingston, and that he should be kind to them.
It is further remarkable that the name of McLea are and have been scattered up and down the Highlands and elsewhere, and have taken to themselves several other names and designations wherever I have found them or heard tell of them, but all of them own themselves to be originally McLea -- The few of them that are in the head of Banffshire call themselves Mc o Lea or Mc o Lei. In and about Glasgow they call themselves McCloo; In Perthshire the few of them that are there, some of them call themselves McPhetie who, as I am told, take that designation from the first of their name who came to Appin of Dull and was a servant to the then Laird of Weem, and his descendants call themselves McPhetie, his name being Peter of Patrick; but all of them own themselves to be Livingston but own they are McLea's. Others also of them call and design themselves Gorm, the first of them that came to Perthshire having had that designation and yet also own themselves Livingston and that they are come of the McLeas of Argyleshire. And there are some others of them call themselves McKenzies, being in the Earl of Seaforth's Country and under his Lordship there, as shall be afterwards told in this account, yet own themselves originally to be McLea's.
As to the antiquity of the name of McLea, it is generally thought that they are amongst the eldest of the Macks that came from Ireland to Scotland when the Scots first possest Scotland, and they are at this time so old that they are almost worn out. It is commonly reported that they came over from Ireland with the McDonalds who are reckoned to be amongst the eldest Macks in Scotland. I remember to have been in Company several years ago where McDugald of Dunollich whose ancestors were called McDugalds of Lorn or Lairds of Lorn, Lamont of Stealag who afterwards became Lamont of that Ilk, and McAlister of Tarbert, and several of these were present, where the said McDugald owned, by the best accounts that ever he had or had heard, that the McLeas were three hundred years older in Lorn than the McDugalds had been; and the reason why I mention this, is because that the McDugalds of Lorn were the greatest family of note and made the greatest appearance in the world in their time in Lorn and that the McLea's were always followers of the McDugalds, as shall be told afterwards in the proper place. (11)
I have heard that the McLea's possest Strathchonnen in the North and that they are always as yet in possession of it, and that the whole of that Strath are for the most part McLea's, both man and wife, or either the man or the wife, and that the McLea to whom Stratchonnen belonged, died without heirs male and had one only daughter, and who being heiress of Stratchonnen [sic] and that one of the Earls of Scaforth married this heiress, and that Stratchonnen [sic] now belongs to the Earl of Scaforth who, since that time, keeps the McLea's in their former possession of Stratchonnen,, who generally at this time call themselves McKenzies, tho' they own and acknowledge themselves to be originally McLeas. – There was also the family of Auchindoun in Lissmore of whom I suppose the Bishop McLea descended, who built the Castle of Auchindoun, of which family I can give no particular accounts, being utterly a stranger to it, and was never in that place of the Country, being never in Lissmore. – There was also the family of the McLeas of Faisnacloich (12) in Muckairn which is now called Stonefield, who wanting children, and a son of the family of Lochnell being yellfostered in his house (a common old custom in Argyleshire that sons of familys there of greater note used to be yellfostered in Gentlemen's houses of lower and enferior degree). He gave his Lands of Fcashnacloich to a son of Lochnell's who was fostered in the house, of whom the present Sheriff or [sic]Argyle (Campbell of Stonefield) is descended and who is designed as above. And it is said that the forty merk land of Lochnell belonged to McLea of Lochnell who, not having issue of his own, disponed his Lands of Lochnell to a son of the family of Argyle who was called John Gorm Campbell, of whom the present Lochnell is descended who is but the fifth or sixth out of the family of Argyle.
There were also the McLeas of Achnacree (13) of whom the family of Lindsaig is descended, who were possest of the Lands of Achnacree for a long time, and who made the longest appearance in that corner of any of the McLeas there, until that McLea of Achnacree made a second marriage with one, Campbell of Dannah's daughter to whom he gave the lands of Achnacree in jointure, and he having six or sever sons by a former marriage, and he having not got his tocher with Dannah's Daughter and dying and leaving nothing to his sons and having given his Lands in jointure to his wife, They would not allow her to possess the Lands of Achnacree until they got payment of her Tocher, and she having complained to the then Ardkinglass who was her friend and relation and was at the time Sheriff of Argyle, and he doing diligence against them for possessing her of her jointurelands, McLea of Achnacree his sons went to Rosneath, which at that time belonged to Campbell of Ardkinglass and burnt his Lands there. Upon which, there being Letters of Fire and Sword raised against them, they were dispossessed of the Lands of Achnacree, and they were given to Campbell of Rahaen in Roseneath in Compensation of the lands that had been burnt to him, and Campbell of Rahaen gave the Lands of Achnacree to Lochnell in wadsett, which by virtue thereof, the present Lochnell possesses these Lands, and since that time that family is extinct. But before this happened, they tell a story that happened above more than one hundred years ago, as there were at and before that time in Cowal feuds betwixt several families in the Highlands, so the then McDugald and the family of Inveraw were at variance, and both the familys brought all their sons and strenth to the field to fight it fairly and to decide their quarrell by the sword. And both McDougalds and Inveraw with their families friends and followers having taken the field, the McLeas being the followers of McDugald, McLea of Achnacree brought with him four score of the McLeas to McDugald's assistance against Inveraw. But Campbell of Inveraw his eldest son, being Yellfostered in McLea of Achnacree his house (according to the common and antient custom that prevailed in Argyleshire) says to his Father Inveraw, that tho' he was out or at variance with McDugald, yet that he had no quarrell with his Foster-father Achnacree, and that if his Father would be satisfied, he would go to the McDougald's camp and would bring off Achnacree with his McLea's from McDugald. To which Inveraw agreed and said that his doing so would lessen McDugald's force against him and that he had no grudge or quarrell with Achnacree. Upon which Campbell younger of Inveraw went over to McDugald's Camp and brought off Achnacree his Foster father from McDugald and brought him to his Father's camp. And when he was bringing in Achnacree to his father's tent, a Brother of Invernaw drew his dirk and killed Achnacree betwixt his nephew's arms when he was putting him into his father's tent before him: upon which the Fray began, and both the McDugalds and Campbells fell upon one another, and Achnacree and his fourscore McLeas were killed that day upon that spot, and from that day to this time, the McLeas never made any head or appearance, and this was a very great loss to them, so many of them to be killed in one day.
I come now to give an account of the family of Linsaig, the only family of McLea extant in the Highlands. (14) – The last Barron that was upon that interest, as I told formerly, was burried in the Kirk of Kilfinan under his own seat there, who had three sons; and the family of Linsaig being fast friends to the noble family of Argyle and their superiors, went alongst with the then Argyle (15) when he went to reduce the Marquis of Huntly, and they having both met and fought the battle of Altchoinachan in Glenlivet in the head of Banffshire where the then Argyle was defeat, and the Marquis of huntly went immediately after the Battle to King James the Sixth, the then King of Scotland, and got a remission form him. And thereafter the then Argyle that was defeat, went abroad and served for some time as a General under the then King of Spain in his Army, and brought the three sons of Barron McLea of Linsaig alongst with him, who never returned again to Scotland. And Their Father, the then Barron McLea , dying, that Barron's Brother, Donald McLea , being drowned at sea, he left two sons Archibald and Donald McLea, and at that time, they having no friends to take care of them, they were left upon the Minister of Kilfinan one Mr. James Campbell his care, who dying about three-quarters of a year thereafter, after their father Donald McLea's death, who was drowned at sea, all that those two sons got of their uncle's and father's gear and substance, was only but three dollars, according to the money that was then current and in use in Scotland. And both these sons grew up to man's age; Archibald the eldest settled in Campbelltown of Kyntyre, and Duncan the youngest settled in Rothsay in the Isle of Bute. –Upon Argyle's returning to Scotland and being again restored to the King's favour, Linsaig by this time having fallen into the family of Argyle's hands, and all the Lands in Argyleshire descending to heirs male, Argyle sent to the two Brothers desiring that the one or the other of these two Brothers should enter themselves heirs to their uncle, the deceast Barron McLea, and both declining, still expecting that their cousins German, the Barron's Sons, would return home to Scotland, Argyle disposed of the said lands of Linsaig to Dugald Campbell of Glensaddell, and after the family of Argyle and Glensaddell had possest the lands of Linsaig for the space of Forty years or thereby, Archibald McLea says to his eldest son, Donald McLea, Purchase and buy you the Lands of Lindsaig from Dugald Campbell of Glensaddell, and that he would give him a thousand merks to help him. Whereupon Donald McLea , the said Archibald McLea's eldest son, bought it again from Dugald Campbell of Glensaddell, and got a Charter of confirmation of the purchase from Argyle who always had a great favour for Donald McLea of Linsaig, as also the late Duke of Argyle as shall be told in…(16)
Here ends the original manuscript, the rest of it being lost, and Dr. McLea says he could never find it. But from what is here related the following conclusions may be drawn, namely,
That the McLea's came originally from Ireland, alongst with the McDonalds. That their chief place of settlement was in the district of Cowal in Argyleshire. That they were Cadets, or rather followers, of the McDougalls of Lorn. That McLea of Linsaig in the parish of Kilfinan in Cowal seems to have been the chief or head of the Clan, That the Livingstons and McLeas claim alliance to one another, accounting their names synonymous, That McLea is an Irish or Gallic word, some Gallic Interpreters rendering it in English, 'The living son' from which Livingston is derived, and others render it 'the Physician's son' . But there are no arms in Heraldry for McLea properly so termed, so that the arms of Livingston seem to be those that fall to be adopted or the name, and in order to combine therewith the other interpretation of the word, Physician's son (by which the McLea of Linsaig distinguished themselves in the figures of their Gravestones), some chiurgical Instrument or Instruments may be added, such as a Lancet and Phial, or any other medical Insignia that may occur with these word below—Alt—'McLea '—vie 'Living-son,'—vie 'Physician's son.'
The Livingston's of Westquarter, as representing Livingston, Earl of Callander and Linlithgow, attainted, are now the chief of that name and family.
I have often made enquiry about the origin and Etymology of the name and word McLea , and always found the solution to resolve into the above definition.—From the part of the Country in which my own predecessors were settled viz. Killearn and Balfron Parishes in the Southwest parts of Stirlingshire, and from any tradition I could pick up there, I am led to think that they came from Cowal in Argyleshire and were of the McLeas originally settled there.
N.B. The aforesaid Mr. Duncan McLea , Minster at Dull, had three sons, all ministers at one and the same time in one and same Presbytery, viz. Denoon in Argyleshire, -- John (who was reckoned the bigest man in the Country, in so much that hardly any horse could carry him and he was obliged to sit when he preached), Archibald the present minister of Rothsay in Bute who has no children, and Duncan (17)(now deceast) who left Children, one of whom is now at St. Petersburgh in Russia as an Engineer, in high favour with the Emperor Alexander, who is about to confer some title of Honour upon him in the view of which he wished for having enrolled the proper arms of the name.
(Signed) Thos McLea , Writer in Edinburgh.
1. The author was the son of Archibald Maclea in Rothesay. Prior to 1700 he was schoolmaster of Kilmodan, and then of Inveraray. He became minister of Dull in 1717 and died in 1749. He had three sons, of whom the eldest became minister of Lochgoilhead and the youngest minister of Inverchaolain. The second son, Archibald, born in 1738, became minister of Rothesay in 1765, married Isabella Macleod, grand-daughter of Hector Bannatyne of Kames, and died in 1824. The source from which this history of the family emanates is thus to be treated with some respect, though the importance of the sept seems considerably exaggerated. click-back to text
2. Between 1309 and 1326 John de Menteth (the false Menteith) granted to Ewen, son of Finlay (Lamont of Ardlamont), the two penny lands of Lynsay beg and Lynsay more then within his vaussarage of Ardmernog held by him of the Steward of Scotland and that for the service of one bowman in the Common Army of the King of Scotland (Inventory of Lamont Papers, p.9, Scot. Record Soc.). In 1536 these lands were sold by John Lamont to Argyll (ibid., p.44).
3. The oldest form of the name is Maconlea. In a note contributed to Highland Papers vol. Ii p.258, the Duke of Argyle wrote:--'The Maconleas were originally M'Dunleas. The D disappears through euphonistic elision in Gaelic and there is little doubt that their eponymic ancestor was Dunsleve, the son of Aedh Alain, who through his son Suibhne or Swene was also ancestor of the Mac Suibhnes or M'Ewens, the ancient lords of Otter In Cowal and Argyll and of Castle Sween in Knapdale.'
4. This was not an Act of Parliament, but merely an Act of the General Assembly passed in August 1558, and followed by others.
5. On 5 May 1568 Duncan Lamont of Inveryn granted to Robert Stewart his 5 merk land of Auchnaskey on the resignation of John Leiche M'Douiff [sic ]. Crawford MSS. Cited, ibid., p.426.
6. Near Sandbank on the Holy Loch.
7. 1652. In this year there was a great fire in Glasgow by which a great part of the houses in the Saltmarket, Trongate, Gallowgate, and Bridgegate were destroyed. It began on Thursday, 17 June, at 1 o'clock P.m. and lasted till Friday (Glasgow, Ancient and Modern, edited by I.F. S. Gordon, D.D., p. 171).
8. This is the pastoral staff of St. Moluag, known as the bachuill more, which was apparently carried in battle by the Lords of Lorne. A representation of it is given in the Origines Parochiales, vol. ii. p.163, along with a reference to the hereditary keepers and their holding in Lismore.
9. It is curious that the MacanLeighs and the MacGillemichaels of Lismore have both Anglicised or Scotticised their names, the one into Livingston and the other into Carmichael.
10. This seems to have been Alexander, second Earl of Linlithgow: the first Earl of Callendar was his younger brother, Whatever truth there may be in this story, there is no basis in fact for the idea of blood relationship between the McLea's and the Livingstons of Callendar.
11. Several McLea's (McOnlea) were, with numerous MacDougalls, among those prisoners massacred by the Covenanters at Dunaverty at the instigation of the Reverend John Nevoy (vide Highland Papers, vol. ii. P.257).
12. Fasnacloich is in Appin, so this seems a mistake for Achnacloich, which is in Muckairn. This Achnacloich, which belonged to the abbey of Inchaffray, passed into the hands of Archibald Campbell of Lochnell and after him to his grandson by a son of his fourth marriage. This grandson and his descendants were known as the Campbells of Achnacloich or Stonefield, a name which they transferred to lands which they acquired in Knapdale and still possess.
13. According to tradition the McLeas certainly at one time possessed Achnacree in the Benderloch, and tradition is confirmed by the appearance on record of John M'Dunslaif of Achnacre in 1557 (O.P.S. , vol. ii. P.155). They probably held originally under the Lords of Lorne and thereafter under Campbell of Lochnell. Two other versions of how they were disponed are given by Lord Archibald Campbell in Records of Argyll, pp. 114-17
14. In the Valuation of Argyll for 1751 Alexander M'Lea of Lindsaig appears as proprietor of the 3 merk land of Cramunachan, the 2 merk land of West Lindsaig, and the 3 merk land of East Lindsaig and Tayinluig and the Corn Miln of Linsaig, the total valued rent being L16, 25s.
15. Gilleasbuig Gruamach, the seventh Earl. For information about him vide Highland Papers, vol. iii. p.93. Having returned to the Catholic Church he was forfeited and had to leave the country. Although his forfeiture was rescinded, he never returned to Scotland. He died in London in 1638.
16. On 26 December 1634 Archibald M'Enlay, eldest son and heir of Donald Moir Maconlay, obtained from Lord Lorne a precept for infefting him in the 6 merk land of Lindsaig. On 4 January 1647-8 Katharine Uchiltree, spouse to Donald Mor M'Onlay, was infeft in Lindsaig on precept by Archibald, Marquis of Argyll.
17. According to the Fasti Ecalesine Scoticanae, vol. iv. P.27 Duncan M'Lea, the minister of Inverchaolain, had a son Duncan in service of Emperor of Russia, born 2 Jan. 1773.
(end) (Back to start)
Posted by Bron:
My GG GrandMother Agnes McLay married a John McCartney / McArthur in circa 1860- Scotland. Her Father I am sure (ish) was James McLay, Mother maybe Mary Borthwick. Her son, my Mothers GrandFather, was Robert McArthur (a plumber) 1866-1904. Robert married Marion Muir. The child of this marriage Allison Muir Mcarthur married my GrandFather John Burden Bannatyne.
Dear Bron: Thanks for posting this information on your family. I don't know too much yet about my McCartneys, although interestingly my paternal DNA line has a relationship with several McCarter/MacArthur men from Northern Ireland as well. I don't have any of my McLeas who ever went by McLay but I know it is quite common in other McLea families. Thanks for posting and feel free to add more in the future, if you desire. I would also recommend you contact Jill Larsen, who heads the McLay one-name project (http://www.gwsfhs.org.uk/omid/member.asp?member=699) and who may be able to help with your family history regarding McLays, if you need it. Thanks again, Bron!
Kyle=
The 1927 Glasgow Phone directory contains a number of McLays and McLeas.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~glasgow/index-glas.htm
In particular, these two pages:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~glasgow/1927names449.jpg
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~glasgow/1927names451.jpg
Kyle=
On the ButeshireGenWeb listserv, I was able to find this letter from Bill Langford in Maryland, in reference to his ancestor McBride, but written by Duncan McLea. Since our McLeas may have come from Bute, I am recording that letter here.
My ancestor Hugh McBride was Factor to the Earl of Bute during the approximate period 1730-1760. I am quoting below an excerpt from a letter dated 11 December 1750 from a Duncan McLea. My hope is that this will be of interest to the list and possibly elicit further information on McBride and his activities.
"I can write you nothing as to the affairs on this Island only Mr McBryde of Baidland [near Dalry in Ayrshire] Continuing factor and Sheriff Substitute and Commissary Dept of the Isles and present Provost of the Burgh of Rothesay. He is the low country these twenty days and is not come home as yet. He has built a lint Miln upon the Water of Rothesay just in the Town which knocks and Scutches lint to perfection and the Miller heckels it and makes it fitt for Spindling so that it's expected there will be a great dale more of yearn exposed to Sale next Aprile fair than has been these many years. All the country about are are sending their lint to be Dressed here Mr McBryde has also Cutt two Canalls from the Long loch above the Town which serves both the milns and my Lord Bute will have a medow of sixty aikers which will furnish all your barren country with Sufficiency of hay And it will be planted with trees from the Town to the lochwhich is a mille in length"
The original of this letter is in the Bute Museum.
Regards to all. Bill Lankford in Maryland, USA
Thanks to Bill for posting this in November, 2000. Hopefully, I'll be able to prove that this Duncan is "one of mine" at some point!
Kyle=
My great-grandfather, Peter Richard MacLea, married Caroline MacCartney. Interestingly, Caroline's brother Harold married one of Peter's sisters, Isabel. Well, another branch of the family descends from Caroline and Harold's sister, Rose.
Hugh Jope, a son of Rose MacCartney and William Jope, died in 2002.
This is a very interesting file I just found with his family history wound up in other history:
http://bz.llano.net/gowen/electronic_newsletter/el200012.htm
And probably there's a lot more to know, which hopefully is all written down, because Hugh (as said above) died in 2002. These messages make reference to Hugh's work tracing his family:
http://genforum.genealogy.com/jope/messages/11.html http://genforum.genealogy.com/jope/messages/30.html
And the Social Security Death Index has this to say: HUGH F JOPE born 06 Jun 1923 died 04 May 2002 (Veteran) last zip code: 01832 (Haverhill, Essex, MA)(none specified) SSN: 025-16-8277 Issued in Massachusetts
Ah, yes, here is his obituary as well: http://eagletribune.com/news/stories/20020507/OB_005.htm
Kyle=
Sat, 18 Mar 2006
Searching the Glasgow Directories for my McLea/MacLea Family
I used LDS Microfiche numbers 6340933-6341018, covering the time frame 1787-1886 to search the Glasgow commercial and post-office directories for my McLea family.
Dates for which there are no relevant entries are not listed. Relevant entries include names of this form: M'Lae, M'Lay, M'Lea and similar.
(Page numbers are listed where I wrote them down, but may not have been noted.) NOTE: List is comprehensive for names of this type through 1852.
1853 has a partial list of these names, and afterwards only potential relatives of mine are listed, since it was becoming a pain
to write down all the names which were probably not really related to me!
I found my ancestor John McLea, blacksmith, as well as his son Peter McLea, also a smith, and Peter's son Peter jr. who was an upholsterer and cabinetmaker. Potential other relatives are also included, and some of those not known to be relatives NOW may someday be known to be! These data help me narrow the dates of John's death to 1833-1840. Very useful, though I was hoping for even more specific dates! Of course other McLeas in the books have their wives appear in the book the year after their deaths as "Mrs. John," etc. It would have made my search even more useful if my family had been so accommodating, but I think they must have been hiding from the law or something! (Just kidding! But they did seem to avoid having records made of them!)
Here's the file: 1787-1886_Glasgow_Directories.doc. Hope it's helpful!
Kyle=
Mon, 23 Jan 2006
Welcome
This is Kyle's blog. My aim is to use this to post and discuss my genealogy research in a very simple way.
Nothing fancy here, just an online journal really. I'll post thoughts I've had on the family history of the MacLea family and other branches of my family as well.
My idea is that this will serve as an archive that can remind me of future avenues of research, allow me to archive current thoughts, and allow me to post wacky ideas so others can comment. Mostly, though, it will be for me to collect all my thoughts in one place.
If you're reading this, though, thanks for looking! I've moved this from my original blog entry to the family wiki, to see if it works here.
Kyle=
As those of us who have been researching the McLea family history know, the 'Account of McLea' has some great information which has greatly influenced our scholarship on the McLea family:
http://www.macleay.cncfamily.com/account_of_mclea.htm
I have never been able to determine what relationship, if any, my family might have to this group, the Revs. Duncan and Archibald McLea, et al.
But having re-read it, I see a potential connection with my own family.
As I've stated before, my eldest 100% confirmed ancestor is John McLea, who married Janet McKay, and who probably both came from Rothesay, Isle of Bute. Using this John McLea, b. 1790 as a basis for further research in the Parish Records of Rothesay, I have put together (with others) the idea that my ancestors beyond John (if this is the right John) were:
Parents: Duncan McLea & Margaret Fisher Grandparents: John McLea & Janet Brown Great-grandparents: Archibald McLea & Helen Bannatyne.
Beyond that, there are no good records. Duncan, John, and Archibald were all Tailors.
Now, as a bit of circumstantial evidence of a connection, using the Account of McLea as a basis, we know some things about the Rev. Archibald McLea and his family.
It says:
"The author was the son of Archibald Maclea in Rothesay. Prior to 1700 he was schoolmaster of Kilmodan, and then of Inveraray. He became minister of Dull in 1717 and died in 1749. He had three sons, of whom the eldest became minister of Lochgoilhead and the youngest minister of Inverchaolain. The second son, Archibald, born in 1738, became minister of Rothesay in 1765, married Isabella Macleod, grand-daughter of Hector Bannatyne of Kames, and died in 1824."
The fact that the marriage of the Rev. Archibald to Isabella MacLeod is recorded in the very same parish records as my McLeas is certainly encouraging. The fact that they spent at least a couple of generations on Bute, or nearby in Argyll is also encouraging. It is also interesting to note that The Rev. Archibald's marriage to the "grand-daughter of Hector Bannatyne" provides a connection with the Bannatynes that is also seen with MY Archibald, marrying a Helen Bannatyne. No evidence that my Bannatynes or my McLeas are directly related to his McLeas or his Bannatynes, but the presence of both names in both families in the very same parish is encouraging. Probably they were at least aware of each other!
Anyway, I thought it was interesting and some food for thought. I need to go through the 'Account' more carefully, putting together the family relationships discussed and looking more carefully through the records of film 1041085(scroll down) for McLeas, Bannatynes, McLeods, etc.
Since the author of the Account states that his is a direct lineal descendant of the McLeas of Lindsaig, it might provide some evidence that my family represents part of that line, the cadet line of the McLeas of Lindsaig...
Hey, just wild conjecture at this point! But, that's what this blog is for!
Kyle=
Cornell has an alumni news write-up on my wedding to Holly Beth Portland in the 2006 (Jan/Feb) issue of Cornell Magazine.
It can be found here.
I will actually add that information to my wedding page at some point. But for now, for those looking for that information, they can find some of it at the Cornell Magazine page!
Kyle=
Mon, 20 Mar 2006
Apprenticeship Records based on Appenticeship Tax Payments
I transcribed these records of McLea/McLay/etc from the abstracts of the taxt payments in 1710-1774 Apprentices of Great Britain. They contain a few records which may be of use, although this is only an index. There may be more information if you consult the original registers, although I am not aware if that is true, as I do not have access!
Anyway, have a look at these couple of entries from p. 3734 if you're interested! It contains records from throughout Great Britain, and it is said to contain about ~20% Scottish records. But only a couple of the McLea-type records are Scottish.
Here's the file: 1710-1774_UK_Apprentices.doc. Hope it's helpful!
Kyle=
Consulting CD352 from Genealogy.com and the book on that CD titled "Passengers Who Arrived in the United States . . . 1821-1823", I found a reference to a McLea arriving in Savannah, Georgia Q.E. Dec. 31, 1821:
James McLea, 30, M, G. Britain, intending to become an inhabitant of the U.S.
Ship: Three Sisters
Captain: Bell
Along with James, the ship contained 1 person from "England," 1 from "Ireland," and the rest from "G. Britain." Included in the list were McIntosh, Reid, Burns (Robert no less), Hampsead, McLaren, Alexander, Ross, Frazer, Dreghorn, Bertram, McHenry, and McGrey.
A quick search seems to indicate that a ship named Three Sisters was a schooner that went into port at Halifax, N.S.; Kingston, Jamaica; and Grenada a few times 1810-1820. I don't know any more about this ship or its origin, but I did not look extensively.
I don't have any evidence that this James McLea is related to me, though!
Kyle=
Bute MIs, McLea Family.
Not including the Rev Dr Archibald MacLea's headstone, there are a few other McLea stones on Bute (although some have probably been lost over the years).
These are found at St Mary's Chapel.
From Alison Ramsay:
134 Samuel Duncan d. 18.3.1869 aged 78, wife Jane Duncan d. 28.10.1890 aged 78, children James d. 29.8.1840 in infancy, Archibald Weir d. 30.5.1846 aged 5, James d. 11.1.1850 aged 5, Samuel d. 5.3.1850 aged 12, Walter d. 20.9.1850 aged 14mths, Daniel d. 17.1.1880 aged 37, Jane d. 5.3.1902 aged 54 (husband Robert Service), Catherine McLea d. 6.5.1923 aged 89.
237 Donal McLea (merchant) in Rothesay d. 17-8, wife Janet Jameson 28.2.1728.
250 Stone erected by Robert McLea shipbuilder Rothesay, d. 12.3.1895 aged 77, wife Grace Miller d. 8.8.1906 aged 75, children John Thomas d.1.12.1875 aged 3, Robert Miller drowned at Tuticorin India 20.5.1878 aged 16, Mary Cumming d. 15.4.1879 aged 21, Margaret Cumming d. 19.11.1889 aged 22. (west side) John McLea mariner, d. Rothesay 7.1837, wife Ann Mackinlay d. 4.1826, sons Thomas, late shipmaster d. 7.1847,John, late shipmaster d. 1874 aged 60.
251 Thomas McLea, shipmaster, d. 10.7.1847
427 Stone erected by John & Samuel Duncan, heritors here in memory of father John Duncan late shipmaster d. 1.11.1793 aged 40, mother Catherine McLea d. 5.2.1830 aged 74.
It seems that the latter inscriptions all refer to a family of shipbuilders with the McLea name on the island. I'll have to look through the OPRs to see what I find in terms of births and/or marriages.
I know that none of these are in my direct line, at least to 1800 or so. Before that, my line has a little more guesswork in it in places, so I suppose it is possible that the older headstones could be ancestors.
It's always interesting to read about other McLeas on the island, including one who was living there as late as 1923!
Kyle=
McLea Shipbuilders
Regarding the McLea Shipbuilders of Rothesay on the Isle of Bute, we recently discovered some facts. These McLeas may turn out to be collateral lines of our McLeas.
I have family from Bute and believe that my McLeas originate there. However, my direct line had left Bute by 1818. I know that some remained on Bute until the 1841 census, but there were not many left. I had wondered about the "I McLea Shipbuilders" I had seen record of, but I failed to find any good information about them either.
We had discussed this a couple of years ago on the Clan Forum, and had failed to find much:
http://www.clanmclea.co.uk/forum/show-message.asp?ID=1795
You can see some ships built by I McLea here:
http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/search.asp (choose I McLea Rothesay from the drop down box)
The Mary Colville is shown here, one such ship: http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=20994
This book has a reference to a ship built 1871:
From Alison Ramsay at Bute Sons and Daughters, a history project:
I have managed to obtain some further information about the McLea shipbuilders from one of my colleagues. This is what he has to say:
"The McLea family owned the Rothesay Ship Building Yard. The shipyard was sited roughly where the putting green closest to the War Memorial is. In 1861, McLea is listed as a Master Shipwright, employing 14 men and 21 boys. Ten years later this had risen to over 20 men ( source 1861/71 Rothesay Census ). Funnily at that same period, ancestors of my own had a Slaters Business and Coal and Lime business, right next door to the Shipyard.
It was thought that the yard made Schooners of between 50 and 150 tons, and went into decline when more steel hulled ships were being built on the Clyde. At the same time Lord Bute got up a scheme to help unemployed men on Bute, and a fair bit of land was reclaimed from the sea. At one time there was no promenade or gardens etc, the sea edge being just at the entrance to the Discovery Centre !!.
There were also other McLea,s on Bute at that time, and from the dregs of my memory, had either a Church or a School conection."
So Kyle, I'm afraid I don't think these are the McLeas you are researching but it may help to pad out some other details.
I have also had a look at Headstone Inscriptions for St Mary's Chapel, Rothesay, and there are six McLeas there. I can let you have details if you like."
I asked her for the additional information on the inscriptions.
I will add more information here as I find it!
Kyle=
I need to look this up!
Parish of Rothesay, Isle of Bute:
Dr. McLea's Examination Roll [1769-1819]
11.11-12 in the Glasgow and West of Scotland Family History Society publication list.
Having let my membership in GWSFHS lapse (foolishly before getting a copy of this for just postage), and not having easy access to cheques in pounds sterling by which to order this article for 3 pounds as a non-member... does anyone already have a copy of this article that they would be willing to share with me? Or point me to another source for the material?
I can certainly order it, but it's mostly the hassle of having to get a cheque in pounds sterling that is the annoyance! So if anyone else has looked at it, I'd rather save myself the trouble! =)
Any help appreciated!
Kyle=
Sun, 19 Mar 2006
A Picture of my Grandmother, Edna MacLea
This photo is cropped from a picture of Edna M. (obit in 20060315) and Robert G. MacLea (obit in 20060316) on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary in 1988, the two having married on Christmas Day, 1938. I will post the full photo with my grandfather at a later date.
My grandmother was a wonderful, warm, affectionate woman, who in addition to her many other amazing qualities had a keen memory and an interest in her family and the family of her husband that were the foundation of my efforts to record our family history. Without her, a lot of what I've done would have been much more difficult, if not impossible. I think of Nana as our original family historian. I'll be posting more about Nana in the months and years to come. There's so much to write about! For now, I just wanted to put a picture of her out there where everyone can see her!
I miss you, Nana!
Kyle=
Excerpt of McLeas listed in:
Provosts and Bailies of Bute 1720-1862
This information from J.E. Reid's "History of the County of Bute and families connected therewith" and transcribed by Bill McKinlay
N.B. Prior to 1852 there were two bailies, after that, three.
Year | Provost | Bailies
1747 | Hugh McBryde | Thomas Wallace, Duncan McLea
1748 | Hugh McBryde | Robert Stewart, Duncan McLea
1749 | Hugh McBryde | James Campbell, Duncan McLea
1750 | Hugh McBryde | Alexander Glass, Duncan McLea
1756-57 | Hugh McBryde | Duncan McLea, Daniel McKinlay
1758-59 | John Dunlop | Duncan McLea, Daniel McKinlay
Kyle=
Thu, 16 Mar 2006
Obituary:
Robert Gordon MacLea, avid fisherman, hunter
TAUNTON, Massachusetts - Robert G. MacLea of Berkley, a retired carpenter who had worked for William Harlow & Son Lumber Yard in Hyde Park, died Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2000, at Morton Hospital and Medical Center after a months-long illness. He was 83.
He was the husband of Edna (Spurr) MacLea.
Born in Cambridge, he was educated in Cambridge schools. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
He was a retired member of Teamsters Local 25.
Mr. MacLea was an avid hunter and fisherman.
He attended Berkley Congregational Church.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Robert MacLea of Marlboro and Donald MacLea of Plymouth; a sister, Janet DiGangi of Berkley; a brother, Richard MacLea of Plymouth; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.
His funeral service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Berkley Congregational Church. Burial will be in Cedar Knoll Cemetery, East Taunton.
Obituary:
MACLEA - Of Berkley, November 21, 2000, ROBERT G. MACLEA; husband of Edna M. (Spurr) MacLea, father of Robert MacLea and his wife Lorraine of Marlboro and Donald MacLea of Quincy; grandfather of Robert MacLea of Abington, Todd Silvia of Westford, Kyle MacLea of Norwich, VT and Jennifer MacLea of Marlboro and great grandfather of Patrick MacLea of Abington; brother of Janet DiGangi of Berkley and Richard McLea of Plymouth; brother of the late James McLea, Isabelle Nillson and Doris Worthington. Funeral service to which relatives and friends are invited to attend wil be held in the Berkley Congregational Church, 13 South Main St. Berkley on Saturday at 11AM. Visiting hours on Friday 4-8PM in the Crapo-Hathaway Funeral Home, 350 Somerset Ave. (Route 138 South) Taunton. Interment in Cedar Knoll Cemetery, East Taunton.
Wed, 15 Mar 2006
Obituary:
Edna Myrtle (Spurr) MacLea, aged 85 years, born 18 January 1920, died in Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 5 December 2005, as a result of an accident in Berkley, Massachusetts, on Saturday, 3 December 2005.
Born in Boston, daughter of the late William Cowie Spurr and Mabel Evelyn (Black) Spurr. She was educated in Boston and Canton schools. She was employed for over 25 years as a Stitcher of Stride-Rite Shoe Company. She enjoyed wintering in Florida and especially spending time with her family and friends.
She was the widow of Robert Gordon MacLea and mother of Donald Bruce MacLea of Quincy and Robert Douglas MacLea and his wife Lorraine of Auburn, sister-in-law of Janet DiGangi of Randolph, Julia McLea of Berkley, and Roberta McLea of Plymouth; grandmother of Robert G. MacLea and his wife Terese, Todd M. Silvia, Kyle S. MacLea and his wife Holly, Jennifer L. MacLea; great-grandmother of Patrick D. MacLea; also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Funeral service was held in the Berkley Congregational Church on Saturday, 10 December 2005 at ten in the morning. Interment was at Cedar Knoll Cemetery, 175 Staples Street, East Taunton. Calling hours were on Thursday, 8 December 2005 from 4 to 8 in the evening in the Crapo-Hathaway Funeral Home, 350 Somerset Ave. (Route 138 South), Taunton.
As modified from the other published obituaries and attested by her grandson, Kyle S. MacLea. All towns listed are in Massachusetts, USA.
I found online a bit of poem mentioning "mac an leigh" in Gaelic, which I thought may be some reference to family. I sent it to Barra who was able to translate it roughly for me. He said it's "hard Gaelic for me, sort of archaic." Here it is!
From Reliquiæ Celticæ: Texts, Papers and Studies in Gaelic Literature and Philology Left by the Late... by Alexander Cameron
Do thuit Connan mac an leigh
'S an dorn d'a re'ir
Thuit le laimh gun lochd
Cead fear faobhar nochda"
In more modern Gaelic:
Thuit Conan Mac an Leagha
Is an dorn do areir
Thuit Conan Mac an Leagha
Cead fear faobhar nochda
In English
fell Conan Mac Leagha
It's a first(or punch) to him last night
Fell with a hand without fault
a first man sharp (not sure here, maybe 'uncovered'?) Also Faobhar can mean 'edge' as well as sharp.
Kyle=
Back in March, I sent out info on the McLeas from the Parish Records of Rothesay, Bute, to the McLea/Livingston Discussion Forum:
http://www.clanmclea.co.uk/forum/Show-Message.Asp?ID=1134
When I did that, Rob Livingston was curious if the early records actually used the form "McOnLea" (with all three capitals or something similar) as I had written. I had thought at that time that that was the case and had written so, but I hadn't had a chance to go and scan the pages to show him.
Today, I copied the the first instances of McLeas in the Rothesay records (four births in 1693, 1694, and 1695, when the book begins in 1691). The first McLea is called "McLea" but the next two are called McOnLea (or something like Mc'onLea).
For those who are curious, I scanned those in, and you can see them here.
http://kitenet.nethttp://kitenet.net/~kyle/photos/genealogy/16941125_McOnLea_Rothesay.tiff http://kitenet.nethttp://kitenet.net/~kyle/photos/genealogy/16951102_McOnLea_Rothesay.tiff
(I have the full pages plus the title page in a 32MB PDF file if anyone is interested as well.)
This tells us something of the etymology of the name McLea. Important Gaelic linguistics that I don't quite have a handle on, but I'll post something from someone intelligent at some point.
Kyle=
This entry has moved. I made the mistake of trying to create that page from News, and so it got placed within this blog by mistake.
Kyle=
Marion does not appear to be a close relative, but I am recording her obituary here because I can only find it in the Google cache, and she may later turn out to be family.
COWLING o@ca.on.york.toronto.globe_and_mail 2003-03-05 published
Marion Isabel Patricia MacLEA (née ROBERTSON)
Peacefully on February 24, 2003 at Belmont House in her 91st year. Born in Toronto on July 1, 1912. Predeceased by her devoted husband, Wid, in December 1975. Much loved mother of Pat KING (Doug), Linda THEODOROU (Nick) and Bob MacLEA. Survived by her beloved sister Ruby COWLING. Wonderful grandmother to Andrew, Edward, Peter, Tania, Malcolm (deceased), Michael and Jenna. She led an active and full life. There were annual trips to Greece and several to the Far East, England and New York to be with her family. She grew up in Riverdale and moved to the Beach as a young adult where she met Wid. A long time member of Kew Beach United Church Women's Group, lawn bowler at Balmy Beach and active social and community member. After a stroke in 1995 she was slowed down. She was alert and contented until a week before her death. Many thanks to the wonderful staff, volunteers and Friends at Belmont House. Friends will be received at Kew Beach United Church (Wineva and Queen Street) on Thursday, March 6, 2003 from 1:00 p.m. until service time at 2:00 p.m. A reception will be held in the church parlour following the service. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to Belmont House, 55 Belmont Street, Toronto, Ontario M5R 1R1, or a charity of choice. Arrangements in the care of Sherrin Funeral Home (416-698-2861).
On August 12th, I ordered in (to the Lansing LDS family history centre) the Films for the records of the Relief Church in Hutchesontown, Glasgow, for the early 1800s.
The following records: Films 1485046 (including 1820-1854 baptisms) and 889479 (including 1820-1872 baptisms).
Since my ancestors John and Janet (Jessie) McLea were married in the Hutchesontown Relief Church in 1818, with any luck, these records may contain some useful records about them or their family.
As it happens, John and Jessie had at least four children, Margaret, Duncan, Peter, and Jessie. Of course, the birth or baptismal record of my ancestor, Peter, is missing. Same with Jessie. But Margaret and Duncan are accounted for in other films. I'm hoping that by some fluke, their records turned up in this different book. Let's keep our fingers crossed!
Given normal turnaround times on these things, I expect the records will arrive sometime between the middle of September and the middle of October. I'll hope for the sooner side!
Ironically, the same day I wrote this, the films came in. A quick look at the records indicates no information of immediate relevance, however. Film 1485046 has extensive darkening at the bottom edge of the filmed book. It appears this may represent water damage to the source, and as a result makes a comprehensive screen of the Communion Rolls and Baptismal Registers provided difficult. However, no McLeas were noted in an initial look at the film, which probably won't change upon further inspection. The registers of film 889479 were in better shape, but no McLeas were noted in an examination of the Rolls during time periods when known family members were being born on married. Since some of these records are found in other films, it appears that despite the promise of these films, not additional records appear to be in these either. If they were, it is likely they would already be in the Familysearch.org web records and would have shown up by now, if they were easy to read. A comprehensive look at the difficult-to-read portions would take some time and therefore be a major time sink. I am not planning to undertake this at this time.
I am, however, planning on having a look at the Register of Sasines for Bute, which have useful information on the McLea families of Bute, with any luck. We'll see! Planning on ordering in films sometime soon -- perhaps tomorrow or Saturday.
Kyle=
I found this book online containing "English, Scottish, Irish, and Welsh" tunes, apparently first printed about 1840, by John Rook:
http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~rja14/musicfiles/rook/rook_pages/cover.htm
http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~rja14/musicfiles/rook/rook_pages/index.htm
I don't know who the McLae referenced is, but here is his tune:
http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~rja14/musicfiles/rook/rook_pages/196.htm
Note that my eldest 100% confirmed ancestor (at this point), John McLea, b. 1790, d. 1830s, is referred to as John McLae in his 1818 marriage record.
Kyle=
I finally got around to typing up the McLea (and similar) entries from Bute & Arran Monumental Inscriptions, pre-1855, edited by Alison Mitchell, Scottish Genealogy Society, 1987.
You can look at them here:
ftp://kitenet.net/pub/home/kyle/1855_McLea_Bute_MI.doc
For the Rev. Dr. McLea's Obituary in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine (with slightly different age and length of ministry from that on his tombstone, which is also included in the above file), see:
ftp://kitenet.net/pub/home/kyle/1824_RevMcLea_death_Blackwoods.png
Hope this is useful to others as well!
Kyle=
Research funded by Craig McClay Wilson, posted to the Clan Forum on 10 April 2007
For those interested, below is a detailed description of McLea ownership of the estate at Lindsaig. It appears that the McLea estate was not a feudal barony held "of the crown", but could have been a barony granted by Argyll. Note the connection between the McLeas from Inverary through Lindsaig to Bute. Obtained this information from a researcher located in Scotland. Craig
LINDSAIG
Landholding in Scotland
Landholding was feudal. This meant that there was an superior or overlord and a vassal. A vassal held his land in feu from the superior and so long as the vassal paid the annual feu duty, he was the virtual owner of that land. Each time land changed hands, permission had to be got from the superior. This took the form of a precept of sasine which was merely a letter written by the superior to the baillie to give sasine of the property to the new owner. So, a precept does not actually indicate ownership, although it implies this.
Giving of sasine took place on the actual lands. A baillie (appointed specifically for that occasion and not to be confused with a magistrate in a burgh) would meet with the new owner or his procurator (representative) on the lands and the precept would be read out to those present which included witnesses, and then the new owner or his procurator was given a handful of earth and stones by the baillie which signified that he was now infeft or seised in the property. Also present would be a notary who would note down the details and would then draw up an Instrument of Sasine which he would then have recorded in the relevant Register of Sasines for the particular county
Register of Sasines for Argyll
These start in 1617 and go up almost to the present day, although the feudal system was abolished about 3 years ago and has been replaced by the Land Register. Unfortunately, there is a gap in the Register for Argyll between 1657 and 1673.
Prior to 1617
Prior to the start of the Registers of Sasines, there is the Register of the Great Seal, but records in it only involve land held directly from the Crown and not land held from vsuperiors of the Crown. There is therefore no record of the McLeas of Lindsaig, as they held that property from their superior, the Earl of Argyll. The Earl of Argyll’s papers are still held by the family, although there is a Survey of them in the National Register of Archives, but the survey produces no mention of Lindsaig. The Register of the Great Seal records a charter of Lindsaig among many other lands to Archibald, Earl of Argyll on the 16 March 1610 (RMS vii, no.265) and also in a charter of Nova Damus to Archibald, Earl of Argyll on the 15 October 1667 (RMS xi, no. 1105), but both these involve the superiority.
An Account of the Name of McLea
This Account appears in the Scottish History Society’s, 3rd series, no. 22 – Highlands Papers, vol iv, p. 91ff. It was written by Duncan McLea, minister of Dull in 1743 and added to by his son, Dr Archibald McLea, minister of Rothesay.
In a footnote, a precept is referred dated 26 December 1634 issued by Lord Lorne in favour of Archibald McEnlay, son and heir of Donald Moir Maconlay for infefting him in the lands of Lindsay (p.103)
Unfortunately a precept, as you will have noted above, was only a stage in the process of granting sasine and so, as no record appears in the Register of Sasines for Argyll shortly after that date, it would appear that no record of sasine having taken place was ever recorded officially. There is also mention of another precept issued by Marquis of Argyll in favour of Katharine Uchiltree (Ochiltree), spouse of Donald Moir McOnlay dated 4 January 1647-8 (ibid). Again, this is just a precept and not an actual Instrument of Sasine. It is likely to have involved giving of a liferent to her, in terms of a contract of marriage.
The Lands of Lindsaig
These consisted of East and West Lindsaig, Taynaluig, the mill of Lindsaig and Cranunachan. They were in the parish of Kilfinan, Bailliary of Ardmenoch and Lordship of Cowall.
Register of Sasines of Argyll (RS)
Donald McLea of Lindsaig
The first record of the McLeas of Lindsaig appears in the Register of Sasines on the 27 November 1697. It is written in Latin and records Donald McLea of Lindsaig fulfilling the terms of his marriage contract with Agnes Wark (RS10/3 f.23). The details of what he had granted her in 1697 are repeated in sasine dated 26 August 1720, by which time he was dead. She had been given the liferent of his house and yard, malt kiln, barn and byre and also a piece of land belonging to the house, together with a piece or half rood belonging to the kiln which were all part of the 6 merkland of Lindsaig called the Change house which were then possessed by Neill McLea, his brother. She was also to get the mill and mill land and houses, multures and knaveships (income of the miller), then possessed by John Hill, miller, as well as 4 cows, a horse and 10 sheep grazing at the Change house, as well as 2 cows grazing at the mill (RS10/4/2 f.465 recorded 26 August 1720).
There is an earlier record of Donald McLea or more correctly Donald Mconlea of Lindsaig in the records of Argyll Sheriff Court. In 1680, he raised criminal letters of perjury against Donald Ochiltree in Tawlar who owed him £16 Scots for 2 bolls of meal. He had earlier taken Donald Ochiltree to court where he had admitted the debt, but had been unable to pay it then. At this subsequent action, he had denied owing Donald Mconlea anything; hence the action for perjury (SC54/17/2/10/22)
Unfortunately, it is not possible so far to link Donald with the earlier Archibald.
John McLea of Lindsaig
Donald McLea as recorded above was dead by August 1720 and his heir was John McLea of Lindsaig, a merchant in Inveraray. On the 8 April 1727, he wadset (a type of mortgage) his lands of Cranunachan to Mr John Campbell of Otter for 2,000 merks, agreeing to repay the debt by Whitsunday 1748 and by so doing redeem those lands (RS10/6 f.19)
On the 26 September 1730, his wife, Katharine Campbell was infeft in a liferent of £100 Scots out of the two Lindsaigs by John McLea in terms of their marriage contract (RS10/6 f. 395)
John McLea was made a burgess of Inveraray on the 18 October 1718 (The Burgesses of Inveraray, 1665-1963, ed. Elizabeth Beaton and Sheila MacIntyre (Scottish Record Society publication, 1990)
John McLea had died by 1745, when his underage eldest son, Alexander became heir. As he was under age, four curators (guardians) were chosen for him two from his father’s side and two from his mother’s. They were the Rev Mr Duncan McLea, minister of Dull and John McLea, his son and Archibald Campbell of Stonefield and John Campbell, his son, respectively.
The Edict of Curatory recording the above is in the records of the Sheriff Court of Argyll (SC54) and also included with it is a Judicial Inventory of the heritable and movable estate which belonged to his father. The heritable estate consisted of the lands listed above under ‘The lands of Lindsaig’ which gave a yearly rent of £640/-/8d, although feu duty of £100 was due to the Earl of Argyll, as well as tack duty (rent) of a tenement in Inveraray of £16 (it consisted of a house and 2 shops with a back house and brewery) and an annuity payable to Katharine Campbell of £100 and so the total income from the heritable property was actually £424/-/8d.
His father, John McLea had also entered into a co-partnery with Giles Campbell, daughter of the deceased Colin Campbell of Braglen in 1743, but Alexander McLea his heir was in no position to carry this on, having been apprenticed to John McJarrow, a surgeon in Ayr. His father also had tacks of various other lands from the Duke of Argyll. The papers also include a long list of the contents and furnishing of his parents’ house. (SC54/6/2/6/2)
It would appear that Alexander died within 6 years after that, for in 1752, his brother, Archibald McLea, second son of the deceased John McLea and Katharine Campbell became heir to the lands of Lindsaig and he too was underage and there is an Edict of Curatory recording that his curators were Mr John McLea, minister of Lochgpoilhead and Archibald McLea, his son, student of humanity at Auchinloch near Glasgow on his father’s side and Mr Archibald Campbell of Stonefield, advocate and Mr John Campbell younger of Stonefield, his son, also an advocate on his mother’s side (SC54/6/2/8/3). The Rev Duncan McLea had died on the 26 July 1749 (Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, vol 4, p. 176). This source gives the Rev McLea’s father as Archibald McLea, merchant in Rothesay.
Lindsaig thereafter was sold by Archibald McLea to Duncan Ochiltree. Duncan Ochiltree is mentioned as being bankrupt in 1775, two of his creditors being Archibald McLea, late of Lindsaig and Mr John McLea, minister of Lochgoilhead (Unextracted Process of the Court of Session – James Ferrier v creditors of the estate of Lindsaig, 29 January 1778)
The Young Bachuil's addition:
I found this part interesting
John McLea had died by 1745, when his underage eldest son, Alexander became heir. As he was under age, four curators (guardians) were chosen for him two from his father’s side and two from his mother’s. They were the Rev Mr Duncan McLea, minister of Dull and John McLea, his son and Archibald Campbell of Stonefield and John Campbell, his son, respectively.
as it ties in with A McLea of Stonefield (formerly called Achnacloich) in Muckairn who, wanting children, gave his lands to a son of Campbell of Lochnell's who was fostered in the house. see http://www.clanmclea.co.uk/MacLea_Cadets.htm
I then noted...
If indeed the curators were two from the father's family and two from the mother's family, perhaps then the mother is a sister of the Campbell fostered in the house as well...
Kyle=
Recently, I got through my genealogy back-log and have filed everything in my binders (up to 4 main volumes now) and input it, where possible, into the computer. This left some of the items that aren't "inputtable": pictures and photographs.
In the last several weeks, after receiving several family photos from Ann McLea and Cynthia Cook Winterhalter, I had scanned them and photoshopped them, with the goal of incorporating them into the FamilyWiki. I will get to this in short order now that the files are all ready for use.
But this also brought to mind the treasure trove of my own photos I have been meaning to scan. So, last night I got down to business.
I spent about 5 hours just scanning photos.
- Pictures of Holly and I
- Pictures of Holly and her brother as children
- Pictures of my mother's family (the Clements and related families)
- Pictures of my grandmother's family (the Spurrs, Blacks, Cowies, and related families)
- Pictures of my immediate family
- Pictures of my grandfather's family (the MacLeas and related families)
I spent some time thereafter organizing, naming, and photoshopping these photos. But, there's a little ways to go. Hope to get through all of that tonight, and perhaps this weekend I can spend some time putting these photos into the FamilyWiki! Should make this a lot more interesting to read!
Kyle=
I am splicing out the OPR for Bute to its own message, so I can cite it more easily. It was originally here.
The MacLeas of Rothesay, Isle of Bute, Scotland,
As Found in The Old Parish Records
I transcribed the old parish records of Rothesay Parish, LDS film number 1041085.
This file includes my direct and some collateral ancestors, as I currently understand them, from Rothesay, Bute. The file is here: Film_1041085.doc
If you have any questions or connection to these McLeas/McOnLeas/MacLeas, get in touch!
Kyle=
A special thanks to Ann McLea and Cynthia Winterhalter for letting me know that this first cousin, twice-removed, of mine, Jeanne Lucille (McLea) Adzigian, died on 10 Sep 2006, at 4:30 a.m. after a long illness.
I am enclosing the obituary here, which was originally published in the Boston Globe.
Jeanne (McLea) Adzigian
Of Wellesley, MA, 85, died Sunday, September 10, 2006, at the Beth Israel Hospital in Needham. She is lovingly survived by her husband George Adzigian of Wellesley, MA; her daughters, Linda Mills of Lakenheath, England, Sally Mayhew of Greenville, S. Carolina, Caroline Stilp of Berwyn, PA, Betty Ule of West Roxbury, MA. She also leaves her four grandchildren, Patrick and Sarah Mills, Jessica and Jonathan Stilp; her brothers, Kenneth McLea of San Francisco, CA, Norman McLea of Wellesley, MA and Warren McLea of Boston, MA. A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 11AM at the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, 207 Washington St., Wellesley, MA 02481. Flowers are welcome or contributions may be made in memory of Jeanne Adzigian to the American Diabetes Association, PO Box 1131, Fairfax, VA 22038-1131. Arrangements by J.S. Waterman & Sons (http://www.jswaterman.com/), 592 Washington St., Wellesley, MA 02482. J.S. Waterman & Sons & Waring 781-235-4110.
Published in the Boston Globe on 9/12/2006.
From the Wellesley Townsman: http://www.townonline.com/wellesley/obituaries/view.bg?articleid=574482
Jeanne Adzigian, 85; dental assistant, devoted to family Thursday, September 14, 2006
Jeanne (McLea) Adzigian died peacefully on Sept. 10, 2006. She was 85.
Born on Jan. 14, 1921, in Waltham, she and her family moved to Wellesley where she resided for over 75 years.
As Jeanne was growing up, she displayed her musical talent by playing the piano and violin. She had a passion for reading, especially historical novels and mysteries. She loved the beach and ocean, enjoying many summers at the family home on Martha's Vineyard.
For many years, Mrs. Adzigian worked as a dental assistant in Wellesley. She was very active in women's clubs at the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, where she met her future husband, George. Mr. Adzigian fondly remembers seeing her at church wearing a yellow suit. He was taken by her beauty and poise, and they were married on Sept. 10, 1949.
Mrs. Adzigian encouraged her four daughters to work hard, be kind to others and to get a good education.
She loved celebrating with her family at birthdays, holidays and any special occasion. She was totally devoted to her family and church.
Mrs. Adzigian is survived by her husband, George Adzigian; her daughters, Linda, Sally, Caroline and Betty; her four grandchildren, Patrick, Sarah, Jessica and Jonathan; and her three brothers, Kenneth, Norman and Warren.
A Memorial Service will be held Thursday, Sept. 14, at 11 a.m. at the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, 207 Washington St.
Contributions may be made in memory of Jeanne Adzigian to the American Diabetes Association, PO Box 1131, Fairfax, Va., 22038-1131. Arrangements were made by J.S. Waterman & Sons Funeral Home, Wellesley.
Kyle=
Jill Larsen recently sent me a file containing all the McLEA and MacLEA Scottish census entries (index only) from the 1841 Scottish Census. Actually, it omits the counties of Banff, Inverness, Nairn, Stirling, Ross & Cromarty, but these can be had as well with a search on Ancestry. She compiled these from http://www.Ancestry.com, which is of course a very useful way to search the census!
Many thanks to Jill for this information! It includes some that I already know, but I need to look more at it to see if there's some new stuff. For instance, it includes the family of the widowed Janet McLEA and her brood, including my ancestor Peter.
It can be found here:
ftp://kitenet.net/pub/home/kyle/1841_Census_MCLEA.doc
Kyle=
Here is a mention of the MacLeas and Bonnie Prince Charlie, after the Battle of Culloden.
(As they say about the Battle of Culloden: The Battle of Culloden (April 16, 1746), was the last military clash ever to be fought on mainland Britain, between the forces of the Jacobites, who supported the claim of Charles Edward Stuart (aka "Bonnie Prince Charlie") to the throne; and the British army which supported the Hanoverian sovereign, King George II. Culloden brought the 1745 Jacobite Rising to a close.)
I found this also doing another Google Books search.
The source text is:
History of the CHISHOLMS With Genealogies of the Principal Families of the Name
By Alexander Mackenzie, F.S.A. Scot., INVERNESS: A. & W. MACKENZIE, 1891.
Pages 223-224 in the Appendix has this section:
"HUGH CHISHOLM (MACLEA), PROTECTOR OF PRINCE CHARLES
When the unfortunate Prince Charles was wandering in the mountains with a reward of £30,000 for his apprehension, his concealment and his actual preservation depended on three poor Highlanders who knew his retreat, and, eluding the vigilance of the military, carried to his cave the few necessaries they could procure. These three were the last that parted with him when he left Arisaig, and one of them Hugh Siosal (Maclea), after shaking the right hand of his Prince would never more give his own to any man. Finlay Macmillan and Kennedy were the other two and their names deserve to be recorded with the most magnanimous and high minded of mankind.
Mr. Colin Chisholm informs us, on the lady’s own authority, that "as an act of great condescension he (Hugh Chisholm) gave his right hand to Mary, the only child of his chief, The Chisholm. At the same time he took special care to explain to Miss Chisholm (afterwards Mrs. James Gooden, of Tavistock Square, London,) that she was the first and would certainly be the last to shake hands with him after Prince Charles." The same gentleman says that "Kennedy, who fought in the battle of Culloden, was afterwards hanged in Inverness for stealing a cow! Yet this unfortunate Highlander could have secured £30,000 for betraying his Prince." "
For those who don't know, apparently Siosal = Chisholm.
I have no idea why Hugh Chisholm was also known as Maclea, but perhaps someone out there does!
The file containing this transcription is here: ftp://kitenet.net/pub/home/kyle/1891_Mackenzie_History_of_the_Chisholms.doc
Kyle=
One last article I grabbed from the Clan forum, about the Examination Roll of Dr McLea, from an old newsletter of the GWSFHS:
THE Parish OF ROTHESAY
Dr McLea's Examination Roll
The Rev. Archibald McLea was presented to the parish of Rothesay in 1765 and remained there for the next fifty-nine years, until his death in 1824. During his ministry , he visited the entire parish each year to examine then in the Scriptures. His Examination Roll is the record of these visits, and part of it is now to be found in the S.R.O.
In the country part of the parish the examination was held in the barn of the elder for the district, and the people are listed under the name of their farm-town. Those in the town were examined in the church, and are listed by their street. Each member of the family's included, even the youngest child, and the wife is given her maiden name. As in the census, the family is listed with parents first and children in order of age. Other relationships are also given, for instance 'brother' and 'niece'.
Servants are included, and are indicated by an 'S' before their name.
Each name also has a letter before it. 'C' indicates a communicating member, probably over 18 years old. Children have either 'cE' or 'c', and it would seem that those with 'c' are 10 years old or under, possibly meaning that they were not examined.
A sample would be the following family, whose ages I know; these I have given in parentheses:
Eadan Hor
- C Thomas Stevenson Elder
- C Janet Lochhead
- C John (21)
- cE James (17)
- cE Janet (15)
- cE Elizabeth (13)
- c Mary (10)
- c Thomas (ti)
- c Margaret (4)
- c Jean (2 Months)
- S Margaret McLean C
- S Jean McLean C
From the family groups in the farm-towns, it is often possible to determine an older geneiation as well as brothers and sisters and their families. As can be seen, this is similar to a census, but at a much earlier period.
Rothesay parish does not have a Register of Burials, and from an Examination Roll it may be possible to establish an approximate date of death,' or a mother's maiden name. This I was able to do for a James Little who was married in 1772 and said to be the son of William Little. However his birth was not recorded in the Parish, and his father, a Widower, was married in 1776. The Examination Roll for 1771 lists as his mother Janet Fullarton, information which could not be found otherwise,
The Rev. Dr McLea's papers, which are very numerous, were deposited in the S.R.O. over a period of years, and are listed under G.D.1/456. Many of them are letters on private or church matters, but there is also a list of scholars in 1812 and 1813. I understood that the Examination Roll for each year of the ministry had survived, but I have traced only five years.
It may be that the other years arc still in private hands, but what has been deposited is a most valuable source:
- 1769 O,D.1/456/263
- 1771 G.O,l/45G/200
- 1816 G.D.1/456/235
- 1818 G.D.l/456/92
- 1819 G.D.l/456/267
Margaret S. Bain, Glasgow
Update 15 March 2007:
Saw this message about Dr. McLea and his report in 1818: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/buteshiregenweb/1999-11/0942587426
'Dr M'Lea says of the parish school in Rothesay. "It is believed that all are taught to read and by far the greater number of all the males and many of the females to write.
"The average number of scholars attending the School may be about 70. The fees paid by each scholar per quarter depends upon what they are learning. The Schoolmaster cannot afford to teach many gratis, but there are a number whose quarter wages are paid by the Marquis of Bute and some other well disposed individuals.
"The branches of education which the Schoolmaster, by terms of his election, is required to teach, are Latin, English, Writing, Arithmetic, Bookkeeping and Navigation."
Besides the parochial school there were eight others in the Burgh - six taught by males and two by females "none of which are established by any public body or carried on by private individuals money". Dr M'Lea estimates that there were 330 scholars in these nine schools and adds, "There has lately been a night school opened in the cotton mill at the sole expense of the proprietor for the benefit of the children employed in it. The number of children entered is about 130."'
R. Kenneth MacLea of 79 Worth Street, NYC, 1908, before Congress
Other interesting MacLea find. I don't (yet) have R.K. in my family, but he may be related, there were several branches of my family that apparently came over separately from Glasgow (ignorant of each other) in the late 19th century.
http://books.google.com/books?id=QnAvAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA5674&vq=maclea&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1
http://books.google.com/books?id=VK4sAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA4567&vq=maclea&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1
More about R.K.: http://books.google.com/books?id=CuE3AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA129&vq=maclea&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1
http://books.google.com/books?id=wvhMAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA155&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1#PPA155,M1
http://books.google.com/books?id=I-EvAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA220&vq=maclea&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1
He seems to sometimes be referred to as R.B., although this may be a relative or a mistake: http://books.google.com/books?id=IJMNAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA911&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1
R.K. MacLea was representing cotton importers from NY apparently. Beyond that and his address, it's hard to know much about him. I'll have to look for him in the 1910 and other Censuses at some point.
Kyle=
I have been looking around to learn more about the McLeas of Bute, who I believe may be my family. The famous minister of Rothesay, Dr. MacLea, may or may not be related to the other McLeas on the island (from which my family derives, having no obvious learned branch that I can find!).
I thought I would post a little more about the Rev. Dr. Archibald MacLea, who served in Rothesay for so long. I have found some on him in addition to what I already mentioned in the Bute Monumental Inscriptions Thread.
He and the other McLeas of the island may not be well-remembered now, but back in the late 1800s, they were apparently still very well known.
From the book
The Isle of Bute in the Olden Time With Illustrations, Maps and Plans
By James King Hewison, M.A., F.S.A. (Scot.) Minister of Rothesay
Vol. II
Published in 1895, by William Blackwood and Sons (and available on books.google.com for reading)
This excerpt comes from a section on the history of the reformed church on Bute and the ministers who served in Rothesay over the years.
"1765. Archibald MacLea, minister of Kilarrow and Kilchoman, was presented by the Earl of Bute, and admitted on 31st October 1765. The present parish church was built in 1796. He was made D.D. of Glasgow in 1801; wrote the first "Statistical Account of Rothesay"; lived to be father of the Church of Scotland, in 1818. He married, on 29th March 1787, Isabella, daughter of Roderick MacLeod, W.S., Edinburgh. He was an exceedingly able and successful parish minister, his name being still a household word in Bute. The following is the epitaph on his monument behind the parish church:--
"Sacred to the memory of the Reverend Archibald Maclea, Minister of Rothesay, and of Isabella Macleod his wife, daughter of Roderick Macleod, Esq., and of Isabella Bannatyne, only daughter of Hector Bannatyne, Esq. of Kames and Bannatyne. As private individuals, happy in their warm attachment to each other, and equally possessing the esteem of all who knew them. In that public situation as minister of Rothesay, which he held for 59 years, the exemplary fidelity with which Dr. Maclea discharged his duties will be long gratefully remembered by the inhabitants of this large and populous parish, while the manly zeal he, on all occasions, manifested for the interest and honour of the Church of which he was a member recommended him to the general regard and esteem of his brethren, to which it gave him so just a claim. Mrs Maclea died on the 11th day of May 1812, aged 74; and Doctor Maclea on the 11th day of April 1824, aged 86 years and 6 months." "
Interesting guy! Anyway, since he comes to us from the "Account of MacLea" I thought I would learn a little more about him!
The file which I have typed up and contains this text, along with some of the context, is here: ftp://kitenet.net/pub/home/kyle/1895_Hewison_Bute_in_the_Olden_Time.doc
Kyle=
My wife Holly and I are moving to Delaware in the next week or so, which is why I've been out of touch these past couple of months. I should be adding more to this wiki again soon.
Kyle=
My great-uncle, William James McCartney, the eldest brother of my great-grandmother, Caroline (MacCartney) MacLea was an Episcopal priest in Mauston, Wisconsin (Diocese of Milwaukee), in 1917. I discovered this on his World War I draft card.
He was described as being medium height and slender build, with light blue eyes and light brown hair.
The Rev. William James McCartney was born 26 Feb 1888 in St. John's, Newfoundland. He served under the Rt. Rev. William W. Webb, Bishop of Milwaukee, in Mauston, Wisconsin in 1917. At the time he had a wife and one child.
Steve Lucht at the Episcopal Archives was kind enough to look him up for me and was able to determine that "he served at St. John's in Mauston and then at St. Peter's in North La Crosse until around 1923. After that he was listed in the journals as having no cure and by 1927 was not listed in the journals at all. I could not find what happened to him after that. I suggest you contact the dioceses of Milwaukee and Eau Claire (Eau Claire split off from Milwaukee in 1927)."
The Venerable Jeanne Stout, Archdeacon of the Diocese of Eau Claire, responded to the follow-up query that she could find no mention of Fr. McCartney in their diocesan convention records for the years 1928-1944. Many thanks to Mr. Lucht and Archdeacon Stout for their help in locating some information on my great-uncle!
There is still a pending inquiry with the Archivist of the Diocese of Milwaukee. But based on the information I've gleaned so far, it appears that either Fr. McCartney moved back to the eastern part of Wisconsin after 1927, or that he departed both dioceses, or that he retired from active ministry around that time.
My father has a memory that he may have ended up in Iowa as an Episcopal priest there, so perhaps that would be a good place to check as well.
But for now, we know a little more about Fr. Bill, and perhaps we'll find out more in the days or years to come.
Kyle=
Recently, I got word of the burial place of Caroline MacLea when I requested her death certificate: Evergreen Cemetery in Stoughton, Massachusetts.
Since at that time, I knew her husband had long pre-deceased her, and she was living in New Hampshire and not Stoughton, I figured that this place must also be where her husband Peter, my great-grandfather, was buried.
Through the Stoughton History website of David Allen Lambert, I was able to get in touch with the family of former Superintendent of the Evergreen Cemetery, Robert Cushing.
Bob MacEachern at the Evergreen Cemetery Association replied to my query with the information I had been hoping for!
He enclosed a lot card and marked cemetery map showing the dates and locations of the burials of Peter and Caroline. In addition, some additional information is provided.
Caroline bought the plot, Lot 51 in the Forest Lawn East section of the Cemetery, the day before her husband was buried there, on 27 Jul 1948. It seems they hadn't thought it likely he would have died so soon.
He was buried on 28 Jul 1948 and she on 27 April 198*7*, as previously shown on her death certificate from N.H.
Interestingly, the ashes of Peter's daughter Doris (MacLea) Worthington are also buried in the plot, but not those of her husband. Her ashes were interred on 13 Sep 1991.
This should give me the information I need to find Peter's death certificate, which will be a wonderful thing for closing the loop on the all the information I have and tying everything together.
Also, there is a marker on the grave, which will make it a good place to visit some day.
Kyle=
Rev. Duncan MacLea of Dull, father of Dr. Archibald of the Bute MacLeas
I think this borne out in other records, but I thought I would keep this record anyway:
http://books.google.com/books?id=llgJAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA378&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1
In giving Established Ministers of Kirkmichael, the 8th minister is listed as:
Duncan MacLea (eldest son of Arch. M'L., mercht., Rothesay, schoolmaster at Kilmodan 1699, and at Inverary, which he left in 1708.) Ord. Sep. 1712. Trans. to Doul (Dull) in 1717.
Kyle=
It has always been family lore that James Brown McLea and his wife Margaret Turner had traveled from Scotland to live in Paterson, New Jersey, where James worked as a jeweller.
However, in recent months, looking in Massachusetts directories (where the family lived after Margaret's death in 1897), James was always a dyer, machinist, or similar. Indeed, it was thought that he may have injured himself and no longer have been able to work as a jeweller, requiring different work to support his family.
One digitized directory from Paterson, 1890-1893, available on Ancestry had confirmed him as a jeweller, so I sought to see what I could find out from other directories. I got a letter today from the Passaic County (N.J.) Historical Society Library, where I had written for help.
They couldn't find him ("McLea, James B, jeweller") in any other records that they hold, but they did find him in the directories for 1886-7, 1887-8, 1889-90, 1890-1, 1891-2, 1892-3, 1893-4, 1895-6, 1897-8. They are missing in 1867-8, 1884-5, 1896-7, and the single year 1898.
- From 1886 through 1890, they are at 39 Vine in Paterson.
- From 1891 through 1895, they are at 71 Vine. (This may be simply a number change.)
- In 1896, they are at 94 Cedar.
- In 1897 (Margaret's death), they are at 14 Temple st.
- In 1897-8, they are at 206 Cliff.
A John McLea also shows up in 1895-6, a laborer at 496 Main. In 1896-7, he is at the same address. In 1897-8, he is a boilermaker at 160 Oak, and in 1898, he is a laborer at 543 Totowa ave. His relationship to my McLea family is unknown.
Kyle=
Dear Family,
If you are a Livingstone, Livingston, McLea, MacLea, MacLeay, McLay, or related name, and your families have emigrated from Scotland somewhere else in this great big world, please add your emigrant family members to the Livingstone and MacLea Emigration Registry!
http://MacLea.net/family/registry/ (or http://kitenet.nethttp://kitenet.net/~kyle/family/registry/)
Please list your emigrants in the Register, and you may create any separate pages you like to provide more information on your family. I can even add images to the site for you, if you email them to me.
This is a wiki--anyone who registers can edit it! If you're confused, just try typing in something and I can worry about the particular syntax and getting it to look pretty. Just come on by and type something in to the Register!
This is meant to be a tool for generations to come... one to help us all with our family history. Come join the fun!
Questions? Email Kyle at ksm6 -at- cornell -dot- edu. I am happy to help when I have time, though I might take a little while to get back to you.
Kyle=
Descendant of Dr MacLea of Rothesay
Well, a recent Google books search did yield substantial information on one of the descendants of Dr. (Archibald, presumably) MacLea (of Rothesay, presumably, although only "Church of Scotland" is mentioned).
Charles Gascoigne Maclea, Esq. (1793-1864)
http://books.google.com/books?id=esIHAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA516&vq=maclea&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1
He lived in Leeds and married, though he apparently had no issue. There is apparently a carved font in St. Mark's Church, Woodhouse that he presented to that church. His business (Maclea and March) was flax-spinning equipment, among other things. He was an alderman of Leeds and on the Boards of several companies or organizations.
An interesting read!
Some more about his machines: http://books.google.com/books?id=lG5gRONydrkC&pg=PA27&vq=maclea&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1 http://books.google.com/books?id=UywDAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA1-PA25&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1#PRA1-PA25,M1 http://books.google.com/books?id=SKhLAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA21&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1
And the man as Alderman: http://books.google.com/books?id=JVsJAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PT29&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1#PRA1-PT29,M1 http://books.google.com/books?id=XSIwAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA417&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1
His entry in the Leeds directory: http://books.google.com/books?id=C8cHAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA582&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1
And other interests: <http://books.google.com/books?id=04gPAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA592&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1
Kyle=
I am taking a break from genealogy work, at least most of it, for the spring and summer of 2007. But don't hesitate to contact me if you have mistakes to correct, information to add, or just want to be in touch! I'll write back as soon as I can.
All best, Kyle=
My great-great-grandmother, Margaret (Turner) McLea, was born in Glasgow about 1859. I have been searching for her and her family in the Scottish records but hadn't found a definitive birth record for her yet, nor a census record I was convinced was here, given her common name.
My relative Cynthia Winterhalter has sent along some 1861 Census returns which appear to show Alex and Margaret Turner (Margaret's parents) in Glasgow, along with a young Margaret. This appears definitely to be them, to me, because of what follows.
The Turners lived at 8 Hospital Street in Glasgow.
The McLea family had for some time lived at 13 Hospital Street in Glasgow.
James Brown McLea's grandfather, John, lived at 13 Hospital Street.
You can see that in the Post Office directories
I think that John's son Duncan (James's uncle) lived there after John's death with his mother and his family, but I am recalling that only from memory, so it may be wrong. Still, it does make you wonder whether the young James may have met his future bride Margaret while visiting his uncle/family... and later run away with her to America!
Interesting stuff. Thanks, Cynthia!
Kyle=
Peter: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=16300949
Caroline: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=16301052
A special thanks to Paul Auerbach for taking the photos of the gravestones!
Kyle=
This week, we welcome a new member to our collective family!
My brother, Todd and his fiancée Bobbie Jo had their first child. Allow me to introduce:
She was born at 10:40pm on Election Day, and weighed in at 6 pounds and 5 ounces. Though measuring a mere 19 inches, she was said to have more than made up for that with her mighty cry, wide-open blue-eyed gaze, and copious dark hair!
Welcome, my new niece!
Being as you came into our lives on Election Day, I now make the prophecy that we will be seeing you in politics some day. Perhaps President in 2041? Much love to Kate.
Kyle=
For any family member that can contact me (and prove you're not a spammer), I am willing to provide an @MacLea.net email address! Drop a note to Kyle and I'll see what I can do. I run the MacLea.net email through Google Mail, so everyone will get the current 2GB space limit, but it's bound to grow in time.
This is a great way to stay in touch with family!
Kyle=
Jill Larsen recently sent me a file containing all the McLEA and MacLEA in the Bute Old Parish Records.
I had previously typed up some of these (scroll to the second section), but have yet to compare them directly to the file she provided. She may have found/recorded some that I failed to notice. Anyway, it's useful to have both files to look at!
Many thanks to Jill for this information! It includes some that I already know, and some probable ancestors.
It can be found here:
ftp://kitenet.net/pub/home/kyle/McLea_BUTE_OPR.doc
Kyle=
For some time, I have known that members of my Scottish ancestral family were employed as blacksmiths. Some of these have been known by other names at other times, such as blacksmith and bell-hanger, or shipsmith, but the basic occupation is the same. They work with metal, and make it do what they want it to do.
My "smithing" relatives include Peter McLea who was the father of the immigrant James Brown McLea, Peter's father John McLea, and Peter's grandfather, Peter or Patrick McKay.
As there are so few records of John, I've been looking around for some time to see if I might find him in obscure records of the non-Birth/Marriage/Death variety. One of these was the Glasgow directories, which had useful information. Another I tried were English apprenticeship records, although this was not helpful for John or his father-in-law Peter.
Where else to look?
Well, it turns out there is a volume of history of the professional organization or guild of smiths in Glasgow, Scotland. Known as the Hammermen, they are chronicled in History of the Hammermen of Glasgow by Lumsden and Aitken, published in 1912. MSU library had it, and I checked it out, actually back in 2004.
This volume has more than you'd ever want to know about the Hammermen, and I kept it around (and kept renewing it) on the hope I'd read it and get a better appreciation for them. But I don't really need to know about what year the first Seal of Cause was struck, for instance, but it's all in there (1536, was it?). Anyway, the Hammermen are a long-standing Guild in Glasgow. (Note that they involved much more than the Blacksmiths, too: Goldsmiths, Locksmiths, Plumbers, Engineers, Merchants, you name it.)
So, my family, of many Blacksmiths, should be listed on the List of Members. It begins in 1616, and ends in 1911, shortly before publication. Perfect for including them all.
Of course, they are not listed.
Name, Number, Date of Entry, Occupation, Class, Date of Ticket, essay
Wm. M'Lay, 855, 25 Aug 1815, blacksmith, stranger, same as entry, horseshoe and nails
Wm. M'Lea, 879, 19 Sep 1816, smith, --, --, no essay
John M'Aulay, 1219, 26 Aug 1836, tinsmith, apprentice, 30 Jun 1836, a bellied jug
David Thomson M'Lay, 1910, 22 Feb 1871, writer, stranger, same, --
John M'Lay, 2387, 7 Sep 1877, flesher, stranger, 19 Sep 1822, --
James M'Lay, 2759, 1 Sep 1886, writer, stranger, 31 Aug 1886, --
Joseph Paton M'Lay 3277, 11 Dec 1896, shipowner, stranger, 2 Mar 1895, --
Very little else of note. There are a few more M'Aulays I missed, but probably unrelated and none of them Smiths. No more M'Leas or M'Lays. None of the M'Kays are Peter or Patrick, and there is only one Livingstone listed:
John Livingstone, 484, 23 Aug 1789, smith, -- 28 Aug 1789, a lock and a pair of hinges
I'm guessing my ancestors must have flown "under the radar" of the guild -- although they are listed in those aforementioned directories, so they weren't TOO far under the radar...
So, another minor reference can be checked off, but nothing of interest noted.
Kyle=
Unearthing the family history of my mother, Lorraine Louise Clement (1950-), has been a disappointing enterprise thus far, because even though I knew the names of her grandparents, it seemed that ever finding the names of their parents might turn out to be a losing proposition. You see, all of my mother's ancestors were of French-Canadian extraction, and none of them had unique or even particularly rare surnames. It meant that narrowing down which person with a given name was which, in order to narrow the ancestral homes of these French-Canadians (to a particular place in Canada), might be impossible.
But, some recent inquiries on Rootsweb message boards have proven fruitful.
My mother's paternal grandparents were Emmanuel Clement and Augustine Berube, of Fall River, Massachusetts. Though I don't yet know when/where Emmanuel and Augustine married, a helpful friend on the Clement message board was able to look Augustine up in the marriage records of the Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church in Fall River, and find one of her re-marriages. (She married three times, was widowed each time, and died after the last of her three husbands had died. Her first marriage was to Emmanuel, but she had two afterwards: Arthur Smith and another.) This helpful researcher found the marriage to Arthur Smith. (This was probably the second marriage of Augustine, because it took place four years after the death of her first husband Emmanuel.) Importantly, this information included not only her parents names', but also her place of baptism.
Augustine Berube was the daughter of Louis Berube and Philomene Charet. She was baptised on 20 Aug 1883 in Riviere Blanche, Quebec. Her remarriage to Arthur Smith took place on 29 Dec 1934 Notre Dame Church, Fall River, Massachusetts.
That same researcher was able to locate the two marriages of my mother's maternal grandmother, Elmire Cloutier, and more about her as well.
Elmire Cloutier, daughter of Joseph Cloutier and Emma Rioux, was baptized 28 Aug 1881, in St. Gabriel de Rimouski, Quebec. She married Onesime Thibodeau, son of Paul Thibodeau and Marie Bellefleur on 11 May 1903 at Notre Dame de Lourdes, Fall River, Massachusetts.
She later married Joseph Paradis, son of Theophile Paradis and Cecile Morin (baptized 17 May 1881 in Rimouski, Quebec) on 26 Feb 1927 at Notre Dame, Fall River.
Wonderful news! Lots of information! I was also able to determine that my mother's two oldest siblings did not marry at Notre Dame, or at Blessed Sacrament, in Fall River. I knew that her third oldest sibling had married at St. Roch's in Fall River, so perhaps they might have married there or elsewhere.
Anyway, a step towards understanding some of my mother's family!
Kyle=
Goals of this project
These are the two biggest goals I had in mind for setting up my online family history, the MacLea FamilyWiki:
- Allow my relatives to learn more about their family history without:
a. requiring me to send out hard-copies
b. requiring me to visit them and show them my computer records, or,
c. requiring them to visit me!
- Have the online family history wiki act as something of a benevolent "honeypot" for attracting other MacLea or McLea researchers and to advertise myself as an American genealogist and go-to person for those interested in seeing how the various MacLeas/McLeas in America relate!
Distinct MacLea families
You see, so far in my researches, I have uncovered several distinct McLea families in America.
My own family--a Scottish-American family descended from James Brown MacLea and his descendants, who came from Glasgow to Paterson, New Jersey, and then later to Massachusetts. The family has spread from there but still has its biggest footprint in Massachusetts. The family originates in Scotland in Glasgow, and is probably from the Isle of Bute before that.
The Baltimore MacLeas. This is the family of the famous lumber merchants of Baltimore, who have their origins in Scotland as well, but they are instead from the burgh of Greenock, which is across the Firth of Clyde from the Isle of Bute. This may imply a common stock, but since the records of Jim MacLea (from Texas, and the genealogist of that family) and my own do not coincide within the time of genealogical record-keeping, we have not yet been able to establish a relationship. Y-chromosomal testing may allow us to establish this relationship even without records, but at this point we are unsure. One side note is that the Baltimore MacLeas pronounce their name as "Mack-LAY" in contrast to our own "Mack-LEE." This family lived in Baltimore for many years, but has spread out from there, including the aforementioned Texas MacLeas!
Irish McLeas. Before my own family's arrival about 1880, there were several McLeas already living in New Jersey and Philadelphia, all of whom seem to be of Irish extraction, at least directly.
Other McLeas. Some other McLeas show up in old American records, going back to the Revolution and colonial times, as well as later in the Civil War.
Uses
As you can see, attracting other American MacLeas or McLeas to these pages will be useful to:
Find out whether they are of immediate Irish or Scottish extraction.
Find out what they know of their own derivation, in case it helps us all understand our origins!
See if I can plug them into the files I already have!
Explain what happened to all the missing McLeas of the Isle of Bute and elsewhere in Scotland. Some changed their names to Livingston(e), some to other names, and many, many left their homeland for better prospects elsewhere. Certainly, some of them must be out there somewhere!
Results: The New York MacLeas
Indeed, I did manage to find one long-lost relative in my web searches. The family of Rod MacLea, descends from John McLea, the brother of James Brown MacLea, and came to the US independent of him. Through some other searches on John's family, as well as the World War I draft card of his son, Robert John Yuile MacLea, I was able to connect him definitively to Rod, who I was thankfully able to email just before he left one job to take another. As a result, I was able to gain a lot more knowledge about a whole huge family that no one knew about before! These are the MacLeas of New York, originally living upstate, but later spreading to other parts of the state, as well as into Connecticut. They, like James Brown MacLea's descendants, pronounce the name "Mack-LEE", a further verification of our close relatedness!
So, why are you writing about this now?
As it happens, in the course of my regular web-searches for other MacLeas out there, I found a library record for another MacLea: Florence MacLea. In this record, she is writing, in a book published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society, about a family of Billings from Concord, Massachusetts. She also has a couple of other specific genealogy tomes you can find if you poke around a bit. They were all published in and around 1927 and are all in the genealogy vein. No idea if these disparate families Florence is writing about happen to tie in with her own MacLea family, or if she was researching these families on contract or for academic reasons, but it was certainly tantalizing that she might have some clues as to her own MacLea family within them. I have not pursued this lead, but it is possible that Florence may be a relative. (Though it should be noted that I have no Florences in my files, to my knowledge.) This was a long time ago, though, so I would need a relative of Florence's to contact me to really know for sure. (Or a visit to a library in New England, which I may do one day when I live closer.) Anyway, hence the "MacLea honeypot." If someone out working on their own MacLea family wants to contact me (whether or not they count Florence in their family!) we can work together to try to put our families together.
This is the fun part of genealogy! I hope this site is highly successful in that regard!
Kyle=
Welcome to Emmet!
About two weeks ago, Holly and I welcomed our newest nephew to the fold.
Announcing: Emmet Padraig Muldowney Portland
Born to Erin Eileen and Adrian Portland at 6:41 pm a couple of Tuesdays ago, Emmet measured 6 pounds, 9 ounces, and a leggy 21 inches!
Young Emmet displayed some prize-fighter traits, having secured a couple of bumps and bruises in the birth process, but was otherwise undeterred. His parents are proud of him, a beautiful boy!
Congrats to Erin and Adrian!
Kyle=
Alice Baynes MacLea, a member of the Baltimore MacLea family, was the subject of a recent email from Jim MacLea in Texas. Seems he found his relative on eBay, with a cabinet card for sale of her. Great find, Jim!
Here it is:
Alice B. MacLea was the daughter of William W. & Sarah E. Baynes. She married Daniel MacLea about 1896. In the 1910 census, the MacLeas are enumerated at a Charles Street address where Daniel is identified as a lumber dealer. Children included Daniel C., Robert H. & Thomas R.
This cabinet card was made in the G.C. Mueller Photo Studio probably in the late 1890s. It was purchased on E-bay from a dealer in Oregon
Jim MacLea
I'll upload the picture when I think of it!
Kyle=