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Passenger List: SIR ALLAN McNAB 1853/54

One of my contacts, Gwen Smith in Tasmania (CONTACT INFO), has mailed me a photocopy of a photocopy of a transcription of the list of passengers aboard the Sir Allan McNab on its voyage to Hobart from Liverpool in 1853/54. That list forms the basis of this file. The file only includes the emigrants whose passage was sponsored by the Highlands and Islands Emigration Society. Gwen's ancestors are in McNab 520.

The photocopy has notes on it from Gwen and presumably other people, some of the notes were on the earliest typewritten transcription, and have become barely legible after all the photocopying, it is quite evident there is a lot of interest in the people on this journey, so I have decided to add it to the files on my web page, hoping that others might find it of help, or add data for notes!

Another list of the passengers was made at Tasmania, "the Hiring List". Hugh Campbell (CONTACT INFO) has studied and transcribed that list (he is descended from the Campbells at McNab 517), it is more complete in that it covers all the emigrants, not just the HIES ones, and mentions children born on route. However, the two lists are complementary, and each includes info missing from the other. Most interesting are where there are differences in the lists. Hugh has sent me the hiring list, and I have converted it to HTML; hire.htm

Ron Williams (CONTACT INFO), is descended from Christy Kerr in mcnab 519. Ron and his brother in law, Geoff Butler (CONTACT INFO) have been working on deciphering the complex relationships between Christy and the others.

Each family was assigned an identification number, starting at 517, and continuing to 552. I have made a jump table below to each of the families as identified by their numbers. The photocopy begins its five pages with a paragraph explaining the document, I copy that paragraph, then the families, each family followed by notes included by the transcriber, then notes added by others or myself later. After all the families I include some general notes, you can leap to those notes here.

My name is Donald MacDonald-Ross, I can be emailed at don_niagara@yahoo.ca This file is linked from my web page at index.htm

List of Emigrants assisted by the Highland and Island Emigration Society, and embarked on board the ship "Sir Allan McNab" which sailed from Liverpool for Hobart Town on the 28th October 1853. Arrived Hobart Town 1st February 1854

McNab 517

CAMPBELL,  Neil       42
           Catherine  48
           Alexander  20
           Rachael    17
           Isabella   15
           Kenneth    13
           Annabella  10
           Annabella  31

Original Notes:

From Dornie in Coigach. The second Annabella is listed as sister of Neil. "Excellent Family"

Passage sponsored by the Marquis of Stafford.

Additional Notes:

In the 1851 census this family was at "Big Dornie", see Dornie 51-49.

Alexander was a nephew of Neil Campbell, not a son, his parents were Duncan Campbell and Ann MacRae. The 1851 census has a son of Neil also called Alexander, it appears that son died or bowed out of the emigration, and so his cousin took his place.

In the 1860s Alexander went briefly to the goldfields in New Zealand, and later served in the Municipal Police at both Launceston & Longford. He later married his cousin Rachel (see above), and was grandfather of Hugh Campbell (CONTACT INFO) who today lives near Hobart.

Kenneth above marries Georgina MacKenzie in 1877, a daughter of the family at mcnab 532, who was born within a few years of the emigration. Kenneth and Georgina have four children, including a son Neil who sat in the Tasmanian Parliament from 1923 till his death in 1960.

On the Hiring List (see hire.htm#517), the daughter Annabella's age is given as 11, rather than the 10 in this list.

The Hiring List says all the Campbells were hired by R.Q. Kermode of Mona Vale, Ross, except for the sister Annabella who was hired by Henry Palmer of New Town.

Neil Campbell signed a Promissory Note before leaving Scotland, the details are at hire.htm#12

McNab 518

KERR,      Neil       38
           Ann        32
           Donald     Inf

Original Notes:

From Coigach. "Strong Healthy Couple"

Passage sponsored by the Marquis of Stafford.

Additional Notes:

The Parish Register records the marriage 11 December 1851 of Neil Kerr, a labourer at Achiltibuie, to Ann MacLeod, daughter of Donald MacLeod at Reiff. In 1851 Neil was visiting the home of his cousin Catherine at Tanera 51-9, that Catharine and her family are also part of this emigration, see McNab 522.

Ann was unmarried in the 1851 census, where she appeared at Reiff 51-81 as daughter of the Widow Isabella Macleod. Her father Donald died sometime between the 1841 and '51 censuses. Her age in the 1851 census was 29, which agrees with her age here, and in the Hiring List on arrival at Tasmania (see hire.htm#518).

Neil was a first cousin of the Reiff Kerr family at McNab 519 and Margaret McKenzie in McNab 521.

Ron Williams (CONTACT INFO) is descended from Christy Kerr. Ron and his brother in law Geoff Butler (CONTACT INFO), are digging into possible relationships between Neil and the Reiff Kerrs.

Neil and Ann had a son Alexander born 11 February 1855 at Launceston Tasmania, but registered at Prahan in Victoria. They returned to Scotland, settling at Ullapool, where their son Murdoch was born 27 October 1858, and where they are on the 1861 census. (see Ullapool 61-a)

Neil signed a Promissory Note before leaving Scotland, it gave his residence then as at Reiff. See hire.htm#13. Strict interpretation of the terms of the Note would put Neil in controvention, for leaving Tasmania before three years had passed.

McNab 519

KERR,      Alexander  24
           Christy    20

Original Notes:

From Reiff, Coigach.

Passage sponsored by the Marquis of Stafford.

Additional Notes:

Alexander was in the 1851 census as a visiting "Tailor" to a Graham family at Achiltibuie 51-84, however in 1841 he was at Reiff along with Chirsty and other family members, see Reiff 41-11. Chirsty was in the 1851 census as a visitor to her sister Isabella and Isabella's husband John MacLeod on the Isle Ristol; see Ristol 51-1.

Alexander and Chirsty's parents were Donald Kerr and Ann McLeod. Alexander's christening is noted in the Parish Register 7 February 1824.

Margaret McKenzie at McNab 521 is a sister of these siblings, and Neil in the previous family (see McNab 518) is a cousin. John McKenzie at McNab 520, and Catherine McLeod at McNab 522 are also first cousins through the Reiff Kerrs.

Ron Williams (CONTACT INFO) is descended from Chirsty, he and his brother in law Geoff Butler (CONTACT INFO) have sent the following obituary of Chirsty from the "Daily Telegraph", Launceston, Tasmania dated 23 Aug 1887;

Williams - On August 21, at her residence, Parkham, Christina, the dearly beloved wife of John Williams and second youngest daughter of Donald Keer (sic) of Reff (sic) Rosshire, Scotland, aged 51 years, leaving a large family to mourn her loss. (Victorian and Scotch (sic) papers please copy).

At Tasmania Alexander and Chirsty were separately hired, see hire.htm#519

Interesting that Susan MacKenzie at mcnab 524 was in the 1841 census at Achnahaird 41-11, along with Isabella Kerr, the sister Chirsty was visiting in 1851!

Alexander signed a Promissory Note before leaving Scotland, see hire.htm#14

McNab 520

McKENZIE,  John       29
           Jessie     23
           Donald     Inf

Original Notes:

From Reiff, Coigach. "Very eligible couple"

Passage sponsored by the Marquis of Stafford.

Additional Notes:

John was a son of Murdoch MacKenzie and Mary Kerr of Reiff. You can see them together in the 1851 census at Reiff 51-75.

Catherine McLeod in McNab 522 is John's sister, and Kenneth in the next family, (McNab 521), is a first cousin through the Reiff McKenzies, Kenneth's wife Margaret was a Reiff Kerr, and so is also a first cousin of John! Alexander and Chirsty Kerr in McNab 519 are also first cousins, and Neil Kerr from Achiltibuie at McNab 518 was also cousin.

Jessie was a dimunitive of Janet. She was a daughter of Kenneth Stewart (Stuart) and Margaret MacLeod of Ullapool, her christening was registered 16 March 1829.

John and Jessie married 11 August 1853, a few months before emigrating! This brings forward the question of where the infant Donald above originates; the Hiring List at hire.htm#520 does not list Donald, and the Promissory Note John signed before leaving Scotland (see hire.htm#10) was for only two adults.

John and Jessie are ancestors of Gwen Smith in Tasmania (CONTACT INFO), who sent me the photocopy of the passenger list this file is built from, and are also ancestors of the wife of Greg Wighton (CONTACT INFO), who emailed me an article by Hugh Campbell (CONTACT INFO) about the Coigach emigrants, which Hugh has allowed me to add to this webpage, see corn.htm

McNab 521

McKENZIE,  Kenneth    33
           Margaret   28

Original Notes:

From Reiff, Coigach. "Desirable couple"

Passage sponsored by the Marquis of Stafford.

Additional Notes:

Kenneth was christened 29 November 1824. He had two first cousins on this journey; John in the previous family (McNab 520), and Catherine McLeod in the next (McNab 522).

I cannot see Kenneth in the 1851 census, but in 1841 he was his parents and siblings at Reiff 41-8.

Margaret was a daughter of Donald Kerr and Ann MacLeod, her christening was registered 16 July 1821. I cannot see her in the 1851 census, but in 1841 she was with her parents and siblings at Reiff 41-11.

Kenneth and Margaret were married shortly before the emigration; 25 August 1853.

Margaret also had siblings on this journey; Alexander and Christy at McNab 519, and Neil at McNab 518 was a cousin. Her husband's first cousins, John McKenzie at McNab 520 and Catherine McLeod at McNab 522 are also her first cousins, as their mother Mary Kerr was a sister of Margaret's father, Donald Kerr.

Interesting that Susan MacKenzie at mcnab 524 was in the 1841 census at Achnahaird 41-11, along with Isabella Kerr, who I suspect was a sister of Margaret!

The Hiring List (see hire.htm#521) says both were hired by Mr. Carter of New Town.

Kenneth signed a Promissory Note before leaving Scotland, see hire.htm#15)

McNab 522

McLEOD,    Alexander  35
           Catherine  35
           Rory       10
           Alexander   7
           Ann         5
ROSS,      Georgiana  14

Original Notes:

From Tanera, Coigach. "Poor but good family"

Georgiana is listed as "Niece & adopted child"

Passage sponsored by the Marquis of Stafford.

Additional Notes:

Alexander was in the 1851 census at Achiltibuie 51-86, the home of Neil Kerr of McNab 518. Neil himself was visiting Alexander's home at Tanera 51-9. Catherine is a first cousin of Neil.

Catherine was a daughter of Murdoch MacKenzie and Mary Kerr from Reiff. She was with them in the 1841 census at Reiff 41-8. Also with her were several siblings, and a two year old Mary Ross. That Mary was the twin sister of Georgiana above; their mother Chirsty was a sister of Catherine, who married William Ross at Alness in Easter Ross, and died within a few years of Mary and Georgiana's birth.

John McKenzie in McNab 520 is Catherine's brother, and Kenneth in McNab 521, is a first cousin through the Reiff McKenzies, Kenneth's wife Margaret was a Reiff Kerr, and so is also a first cousin of John! Alexander and Chirsty Kerr in McNab 519 are also first cousins.

Rory marries a Lexy McKenzie, who was also aboard the McNab. Gwen's notes suggest that Lexy is the child at mcnab 532, but the Hiring List (see hire.htm#532) says the child was a boy, "Alexander"!. Rory and whoever that Lexy was have one child at Launceston, then move to Victoria, where they have six more children. Gwen Smith in Tasmania (CONTACT INFO) is in contact with a descendant of that family, Noreen Allen in Caulfield Victoria.

After arriving in Tasmania Georgiana chose to go to Dunedin (a farming property at St.Leonards near Launceston Tasmania) with her uncle John MacKenzie (see McNab 520).

This family appears on the Hiring List at hire.htm#522

Before leaving Scotland Alexander signed a Promissory Note, see hire.htm#11

McNab 523

McKENZIE,  Colin      45
           Flora      49
           Janet      23
           Rory       21
           John       19
           Isabella   16
           Alexander  14

Original Notes:

From Morefield, Coigach. "Very good family"

Passage sponsored by the Marquis of Stafford.

Additional Notes:

The Hiring List (see hire.htm#523) gives Flora's age as 44, rather than the 49 above.

The Parish Register records 8 February 1828 of Colin McKenzie Morefield to Flora McKenzie Gluaich.

Before leaving Scotland, Colin signed a Promissory Note, see hire.htm#2

McNab 524

McKENZIE,  Murdo      49
           Susan      36
           Kenneth    17
           Margaret   15
           Roderick   11
           Catherine   9

Original Notes:

From Ardindrean, Coigach. "Very good family. Susan appointed matron."

Susan is listed as "sister", the children are listed as nephews and nieces.

Passage sponsored by the Marquis of Stafford.

Additional Notes:

Probably the placename "Ardindrean" was a mistranscription of "Achindrean".

On the Hiring List at hire.htm#524 Susan's age is given as 37, rather than the 36 in this list.

Murdo's age listed above and in the hiring list as "49" lops a decade off his age shown in the 1851 census at Achnahaird 51-61 as "56" (confirmed in the 1841 census at Achnahaird 41-11 as 45-9 years old).

Hugh Campbell in his article at corn.htm says Murdo was brother-in-law of Susan, not brother as recorded above. His brother George, Susan's husband, died shortly before the 1851 census, where he had been at least the fourth generation of MacKenzie Tacksmen of Achnahaird dating back before the 1745 Rebellion. I have been creating a file based on the history and genealogy of that family at; corrie.htm

The children above are Susan's. They were in the 1851 census at Achnahaird 51-58. That listing says Susan was born at Tain in RossShire, though the 1841 census at Achnahaird 41-11 says she was not born in the County. The 1851 listing gives her occupation as "Farmer of 51 acres", clearly the principle tenant, or "Tack" of Achnahaird. As wife, and later widow of a Tacksman she was no doubt more educated then the other emigrants, and certainly used to excerting the sort of authority needed as "Matron" aboard the McNab!

Also with Susan at Achnahaird in 1841 was Isabella Kerr, a sister of the Kerrs at mcnab 519, and of Margaret McKenzie at mcnab 521. Susan was likely familiar with the various Kerrs aboard the Sir Allan McNab through their sister Isabella.

As well as receiving £10 for acting as Matron on the voyage, Susan received £2 for helping at Hobart with the hiring of the unmarried women. She herself was hired for £40 and her son hired as apprentice, by R.Q. Kermode of Mona Vale, one of the largest landowners in Tasmania. Her brother-in-law Murdo took on the role of schoolmaster during the journey, and shared the £10 gratuity with Hector Munro who "did not satisfactorily perform" the duty.

Margaret Cameron (CONTACT INFO) in Tasmania is a descendant of Susan, and has done much research on the family. Much of the following info is from Margaret.

Susan's daughter Margaret married James Muirhead from Stirling, at Mona vale Ross Tasmania in 1862 and had a family of six daughters and three sons. Kenneth and Roderick above moved to New Zealand, and the other daughter, Catherine, married James Duncan.

The Tacksmen/tenants of Achnahaird are briefly mentioned in Peoples and Settlement in NW Ross (SOURCE INFO), that book says Roderick Mackenzie became Tacksman of Achnahaird in 1795, took over Inverpolly as well in 1810, and was joint Tenant with his son George from 1833 till 1848. George was sole tenant from 1848, and died in 1851.

Murdo signed a Promissory Note before leaving Scotland, see hire.htm#6

McNab 525

McKENZIE,  William    36
           Mary       26
           Andrewina  26

Original Notes:

From Morefield, Coigach. "Excellent emigrants"

Passage sponsored by the Marquis of Stafford.

Additional Notes:

This family had a daughter Isabella, born on the voyage.

The Parish Register says William McKenzie married Mary Matheson 6 January 1853.

Andrewina is listed on the Hiring List (see hire.htm#525) as sister of William.

William signed a Promissory Note before leaving Scotland, see hire.htm#9

McNab 526

McLEOD,    Murdo      41
           Margaret   40
           Alexander  11
           Ann         9
           Catherine   5

McNab 527

McKENZIE,  John       16
           Donald     14

Original Notes:

From Ardmair, Coigach. "Good family"

Passage sponsored by the Marquis of Stafford.

Additional Notes:

The two McKenzie children, though listed with their own family number, are clearly part of this family, and are noted as "Wife's children by previous marriage". Margaret and her two MacKenzie children are in the 1841 census at Ardmair 41-14. See there notes regarding Roderick "Rod" Edmond, a gt-grandson of young Catherine above.

The Promissory Note Murdo signed before leaving Scotland (see hire.htm#1) was for four adults, and three half fare children, which also points to both families being together, as does the fact that all were hired the same day by W. Stronach of McCree's (McRae's) Hill. See the Hiring List at hire.htm#526

McNab 528

STEWART,   John       40
           Catherine  43
           Mary       15
           Alexander  13
           John       10
           Betsy       7
McKENZIE,  Catherine  18

Original Notes:

From Isle Martin, Coigach.

Young Catherine is listed as "niece".

Passage sponsored by the Marquis of Stafford.

Additional Notes:

The Hiring List (see hire.htm#528) gives the spelling of both Catherines as "Catharine".

John signed a Promissory Note before leaving Scotland, see hire.htm#7

Recently I have been contacted by Chris, a gt-grandson of Alexander who lives at Melbourne, he says Catherine Stewart's maiden surname was Fraser, and that Alexander marries Catherine McLeod, a daughter of Alexander McLeod and Annabella McKenzie of Ullapool, who emigrated separately with her family.

McNab 529

McLEOD,    Murdo      38
           Janet      22

Original Notes:

From Morefield, Coigach. "Eligible young people"

Janet is listed as "sister"

Passage sponsored by the Marquis of Stafford.

Additional Notes:

These siblings are in the Hiring List at hire.htm#529, and details of the Promissory Note Murdo signed before leaving Scotland are at hire.htm#4

McNab 530

McLEOD,    Alexander  24
           Helen      28

Original Notes:

From Isle Martin, Coigach.

Passage sponsored by the Marquis of Stafford.

Additional Notes:

This couple is in the Hiring List at hire.htm#530, Helen's name there is given as "Margaret", and her age as 21! Either there are mistranscriptions involved, or Alexander brought along a different woman!

Alexander and Margaret were married 30 September 1853, the register says Margaret's maiden surname was also McLeod!

Details of the Promissory Note Murdo signed before leaving Scotland are at hire.htm#8

McNab 531

McKENZIE,  John       30
           Catherine  22

Original Notes:

From Morefield, Coigach. "Very excellent couple"

Passage sponsored by the Marquis of Stafford.

Additional Notes:

A handwitten note on the transcription reads "Alexanderina ="Lexy" No. 532 went with this couple to Mr.A. Thompson, Mount Esk Tas.". The Hiring List at hire.htm#532 agrees all three went to Mr. Thompson, but states that the child was a boy, "Alexander"! The 1851 census for Morfield once consulted should clear up the discrepancy. That other McKenzie family was also from Morfield, and I assume John was a brother of the Alexander who was head of household in that family.

John and Catherine were married 8 June 1853, the register says Catherine's maiden surname was also McKenzie!

Catherine's name is spelled "Catharine" on the Hiring List, see hire.htm#531.

John signed a Promissory Note before leaving Scotland, see hire.htm#16

McNab 532

McKENZIE,  Alexander  40
           Rachael    35
           Catherine  14
           Barbara    12
           Jessie     10
           Lexy        7
           Murdo       4
           Mary        1

Original Notes:

From Morefield, Coigach.

Passage sponsored by the Marquis of Stafford.

Additional Notes:

"Lexy" went with the previous family (mcnab 531) to Mount Esk Tasmania. This list gives Lexy as the name, and handwritten notes on the list say she was "Alexanderina", however the Hiring List (see hire.htm#532 gives the name as "Alexander", and sex as male! The Morefield census for 1851 should clear up the conflicting records.

Gwen's notes say Lexy married Rory MacLeod who is at mcnab 522, and had one child at Launceston before moving to Victoria where she had six more. Noreen Allen of Caulfield Victoria is descended from Lexy and Rory, and is in contact with Gwen Smith (CONTACT INFO).

Given that "Lexy" went with the McKenzies in the previous household, who were also from Morfield, I think it likely John there was a brother of Alexander in this household.

Catherine's name is spelled "Catharine" on the Hiring List. She was a gt-grandmother of Donald Adams in Tasmania through his father, another gt-grandfather of Donald, through his mother, was Charles Stewart at mcnab 540.

Before leaving Scotland, Alexander signed a Promissory Note, see hire.htm#3

After arriving in Tasmania, Alexander and Rachael had at least one more child, Georgina, who married Kenneth Campbell in mcnab 517. Georgina and Rachel had four children, one of whom, Neil, was a member of the Tasmanian Parliament fron 1923 till his death in 1960.

McNab 533

McINTYRE,  Peter      24
           Marjory    31
           John        5
           James       3

Original Notes:

"P/N £10-17-11 Eligible Couple"

Passage sponsored by the Mr Gibson Craig

Additional Notes:

The Hiring List at hire.htm#533 gives Peter's age as 29, and Marjory's name as "Maryann".

Peter signed a Promissory Note before leaving Scotland, the amount in the note above corresponds with the estimate for outfit in that note, see hire.htm#24

See note at bottom regarding general details of the Strathspey emigrants, including placenames; Strathspey

McNab 534

McPHERSON, Duncan     56
           Christy    45
           Jessie     17
           Andrew     16
           John       12
           Ann         8
ROBERTSON, James      27
           Isabella   19

Original Notes:

From Balvadden, Rothenshire [ mistranscription for "Balradden" ]

"P/N £37-7-6 Excellent family"

Passage sponsored by the Mr Gibson Craig

Additional Notes:

This family, including the two Robertsons, are on the Hiring List at hire.htm#534 That list gives Isabella's name as "Sibella".

Duncan signed a Promissory note before leaving Scotland, see hire.htm#17 That Promissory Note was for only six people, so it seems likely the Robertsons were late sign ons to the emigration, probably Isabella is a daughter of Duncan and Christy.

See note at bottom regarding general details of the Strathspey emigrants, including placenames; Strathspey

McNab 535

McKENZIE,  Grace      19

Original Notes:

From Gullegreel, Rothenshire

Passage sponsored by the Mr Gibson Craig

Additional Notes:

Rules for the Highland and Islands Emigration Society assisted emigrants said that unmarried women must be accompanied by a male relative (see Hugh Campbell's article at corn.htm), so it is unclear how Grace was included.

She is in the Hiring List (marked as unmarried) at hire.htm#535

See note at bottom regarding general details of the Strathspey emigrants, including placenames; Strathspey

McNab 536

FYFE,      Samuel     23
           Ann        26

Original Notes:

From Inverdreil, Rothenshire. Ann is listed as "wife" [ mistranscription for "Inverdruie" ]

"P/N £7-0-9 Eligible young couple"

Passage sponsored by the Mr Gibson Craig

Additional Notes:

Both this list, and the Hiring List at hire.htm#536 agree on the husband's forename as Samuel, however, the Promissory Note he signed before leaving Scotland calls him "Simon". The amount in the note above corresponds with the estimated outfit amount on the Promissory Note.

See note at bottom regarding general details of the Strathspey emigrants, including placenames; Strathspey

McNab 537

GRANT,     Angus      37
           Margaret   22
           Alexander   3
           William     1

Original Notes:

From Tulligrice. [ mistranscription for "Tulligruie" ]

"P/N £13-18-2"

Passage sponsored by the Mr Gibson Craig

Additional Notes:

This family is on the Hiring List at hire.htm#537, and details of a Promissory Note Angus signed before leaving Scotland are at hire.htm#22

See note at bottom regarding general details of the Strathspey emigrants, including placenames; Strathspey

McNab 538

INNES,     Charles    33
           Janet      33
           William     5
           Charles     2

Original Notes:

From Bonnie Side, Tulligrice [ mistranscription for "Tulligruie" ]

"P/N £12-15-4 Very poor family"

Passage sponsored by the Mr Gibson Craig

Additional Notes:

One of the six children born on the voyage was "Allan McNab Innes". He was named after the ship! He is entered with his family on the Hiring List at hire.htm#538

Before leaving Scotland Charles signed a Promissory Note, see hire.htm#21 The amount noted above corresponds with the estimated outfit amount on that Note.

See note at bottom regarding general details of the Strathspey emigrants, including placenames; Strathspey

McNab 539

WARREN,    Robert     33
           Elizabeth  33
           Christy     7
           William     3
           Jane        1
DAVIDSON,  Jane       22

Original Notes:

From Bonney Hill Rothenshire. [ either a mistranscription for "Boring Mill", or perhaps a placename connected to "Bonnie Side" ] Jane Davidson is listed as "Sister in law"

"P/N £12-2-6 Cottar. Poor family"

Passage sponsored by the Mr Gibson Craig

Additional Notes:

This family is on the Hiring list at hire.htm#539

Before leaving Scotland Robert signed a Promissory Note, see hire.htm#23 That note was for five people, I think it likely Jane Davidson was a late addition to the emigration.

See note at bottom regarding general details of the Strathspey emigrants, including placenames; Strathspey

McNab 540

STEWART,   Marjory    48
           George     25
           Christy    29
           Charles    23
           Elispeth   18
           Mary       15

Original Notes:

From Bonnie Teal, Tulligrice. [ probably mistranscription for "Bonnie Side" or "Bonnie Hill", at "Tulligruie" ]

"P/N £27-17-7 Poor family but very eligible"

Passage sponsored by the Mr Gibson Craig

Additional Notes:

This family are on the Hiring List at hire.htm#540 with a few discrepancies; Marjory is spelled as "Margery", Christy's age is given as 27, and Elispeth's name is spelled as "Elspeth".

A grandson of Charles Stewart above is "Charlie" Stewart in Tasmania. Gwen Smith and her daughter Virginia Ling (CONTACT INFO) recently visited Charlie and his wife Joyce (who is herself a grandchild of McKenzies aboard the Sir Allan McNab!) Charlie confirms that Marjory was the widowed mother of the others. Because of trouble aboard the ship Charles was appointed Constable, and given a shotgun and club, which Charlie still treasures!

Before leaving Scotland "Marjory Stewart" signed a Promissory Note, see hire.htm#26 The outfit amount in that Note corresponds with the amount in the note above.

See note at bottom regarding general details of the Strathspey emigrants, including placenames; Strathspey

McNab 541

MUNRO,     John       55
           Isabella   55
           George     26
           Ann        24
           Alexander  18

Original Notes:

From Bonnie Side Tulligrice. [ mistranscription for "Bonnie Side, Tulligruie" ]

"P/N £39-2-6 Excellent family"

Passage sponsored by the Mr Gibson Craig

Additional Notes:

This family is on the Hiring List at hire.htm#541

Before leaving Scotland John signed a Promissory Note, the details are at hire.htm#18

John and Duncan Munro in the next Household (mcnab 542) are both sons of this household.

See note at bottom regarding general details of the Strathspey emigrants, including placenames; Strathspey

McNab 542

MUNRO,     John       22
           Ann        21
           Duncan     20
           Peggy      21

Original Notes:

From Bonnie Side. Ann and Peggy both are listed as "wife".

"P/N John £5-13-4; Duncan £5-19-51/2 Sons of John 541" (McNab 541)

Passage sponsored by the Mr Gibson Craig

Additional Notes:

These two couples are also on the Hiring List, see hire.htm#542

As reflected in the notes above, both John and Duncan signed Promissory Notes before leaving Scotland, see hire.htm#19, and hire.htm#20

See note at bottom regarding general details of the Strathspey emigrants, including placenames; Strathspey

McNab 543

McHUIEHY,  James      40
           Margaret   38
           John       12
           Margaret   11
           James       8
TELFAR,    Mary       30

Original Notes:

From Church Close, Campbelltown. Mary listed as "Sister in law"

"Appearance cleanly, respectable"

Passage sponsored by the Duke of Argyle

Additional Notes:

The Hiring List at hire.htm#543 spells this family's surname as "McMurchy"!

See note at bottom regarding general details of the Argyle emigrants, including placenames; Argyle

McNab 544

McKELLAR,  John       44
           Agnes      43
           Mary       10
           Archibald   7
           Peter       5

Original Notes:

From Daliutaber, Campbelltown. [ mistranscription for "Dalintobar" ]

Passage sponsored by the Duke of Argyle

Additional Notes:

This family is on the Hiring List at hire.htm#544

See note at bottom regarding general details of the Argyle emigrants, including placenames; Argyle

McNab 545

McCALLAM,  Colin      30
           Mary       25
           James       4
           Martha      1
CAMPBELL,  Margaret   12

Original Notes:

From Big Hill, Kintyre [ mistranscription for "Big Kiln", a place in Campbelltown ]. Margaret is listed as "Orphan sister of McCallams wife", "Eligible Couple"

Passage sponsored by the Duke of Argyle

Additional Notes:

This family is on the Hiring List at hire.htm#545 That list gives the family surname as "McCa(u?)llam".

See note at bottom regarding general details of the Argyle emigrants, including placenames; Argyle

McNab 546

CAMPBELL,  John       21
           Mariann    19
           Martha     17

Original Notes:

From Big Hill, Kintyre [ mistranscription for "Big Kiln", a place in Campbelltown ]. Mariann is listed as "wife", and Martha is listed as "sister".

"Very eligible emmigrants"

Passage sponsored by the Duke of Argyle

Additional Notes:

This family is on the Hiring List at hire.htm#546

See note at bottom regarding general details of the Argyle emigrants, including placenames; Argyle

McNab 547

McCONNEL,  Roderick   21
           Mary       21
           Ivy        Inf

Original Notes:

From Kirks Street, Campbelltown. [ mistranscription for "Kirk Street" ]

"Eligible young couple"

Passage sponsored by the Duke of Argyle

Additional Notes:

This family is on the Hiring List at hire.htm#547 That list gives the husband's name as "Thomas", and the infant as "Joy"!

See note at bottom regarding general details of the Argyle emigrants, including placenames; Argyle

McNab 548

GRAHAM,    Neil       23
           Mary       22
           Mary        1

Original Notes:

From Argyll Street, Campbelltown.

"Very eligible couple"

Passage sponsored by the Duke of Argyle

Additional Notes:

This family is on the Hiring List at hire.htm#548, with them is an infant; Agnes Jemima.

See note at bottom regarding general details of the Argyle emigrants, including placenames; Argyle

McNab 549

BREADLEY,  Margaret   18
           Ann        16
           Charles    12

Original Notes:

From Lochend, Kintyre. [ "Lochend" is in the town of Campbelltown ]

"Orphans, all in service, very good emigrants"

Passage sponsored by the Duke of Argyle

Additional Notes:

This family is on the Hiring List at hire.htm#549 The family surname there is given as "Broadby"!

See note at bottom regarding general details of the Argyle emigrants, including placenames; Argyle

McNab 550

McPHEE,  Malcolm    19
         Mary       21

Original Notes:

From Isle of Sandac, Kintyre. Mary is listed as "sister". [ "Sanda" is a small island just off Campbeltown ]

"Excellent emigrants"

Passage sponsored by the Duke of Argyle

Additional Notes:

This family is on the Hiring List at hire.htm#550

See note at bottom regarding general details of the Argyle emigrants, including placenames; Argyle

McNab 551

McISAAC,  Janet      21

Original Notes:

From Dartlachan, Kintyre. [ probably mistranscription for "Dalintobar" in Campbelltown ]

Passage sponsored by the Duke of Argyle

Additional Notes:

Rules for the Highland and Islands Emigration Society assisted emigrants said that unmarried women must be accompanied by a male relative (see Hugh Campbell's article at corn.htm), so it is unclear how Janet was included.

She is in the Hiring List (marked as unmarried) at hire.htm#551

See note at bottom regarding general details of the Argyle emigrants, including placenames; Argyle

McNab 552

McSPORRAN, John       44
           Ann        40
           Neil       15
           Mary       13
           Susan      12
           Margaret   10
           Elizabeth   7
           Nancy       4
           John        1

Original Notes:

From Argyll St., Campbelltown.

"Eligible family of female children"

Passage sponsored by the Duke of Argyle

Additional Notes:

This family is on the Hiring List at hire.htm#552 That list gives Ann's age as 41, and refers to Elizabeth as "Eliza".

John McSparron (mcsparron@lineone.net) is a Council member of the Clan MacSporran Association (http://www.macsporran.org.uk), and his special interest is the genealogy of families with the MacSporran name and it's variants. He has done some research on this family, and though not determined yet if there are descendants currently living in Australia, he is sure that they actually settled in Victoria. John's research shows Susan married there in 1861, Mary in 1862, Elizabeth in 1866, Margaret in 1867 and Ann in 1876. He wasn't previously aware of John junior as he was born after the 1851 census. Subsequently he has also discovered that John and Ann both died in Victoria in 1888, and has yet to find what happened to the two boys.

See note at bottom regarding general details of the Argyle emigrants, including placenames; Argyle

ADDITIONAL NOTES

The book, "Cromartie; Highland Life 1650-1914" (SOURCE INFO), mentions this emigration on pages 233-235. The book uses the Cromartie Estate papers as its principle source, but on this item it credits a Tasmanian historian, Hugh Campbell, as a major source of information. Hugh is descended from the Campbell family at mcnab 517, and wrote an article called "There is corn in Egypt. Get you down thither ... The Highlands and Islands Emigration Society and Van Diemen's Land, 1853-1854" in the Tasmanian Historical Research Association, Papers and Proceedings, vol 34 (1987), pp 37-50. Personal correspondence with Hugh is also listed as a source by the authors of the Cromartie book.

Recently, Greg Wighton (CONTACT INFO), who is descended from the Coigach McKenzies on the McNab, has scanned and emailed me Hugh Campbell's article, which I have used as a major source for these notes, along with the passenger list transcription mailed by Gwen, and the Cromartie book, which itsself credited Hugh as a major source.

I have managed to contact Hugh directly (CONTACT INFO), and he has granted his permission for me to post his article on the web. I have made a file of it at corn.htm

The following notes are based primarly on the Cromartie book, and Hugh Campbell's article, I reccomend people interested in the emmigrants aboard the Sir Allan Mcnab read Hugh's article!

The Sir Allan McNab was a new, metal sheathed ship of 840 tons at the time of this voyage, with homeport of Liverpool.

There were about 300 emigrants, half are those people listed above who were sponsored by the Highland and Islands Emigration Society, the others were "ordinary" Land & Emigration Commissioners emigrants.

The Highland emigrants had three sources, as shown by the listed sponsors of the various families, who each paid part of the fare of their tenants through the Highlands and Islands Emigration Society.

The aims of the Emigration Society were to help poor people leave Scotland. It was time of the infamous Highland Clearances, when poor tenants were being evicted by their Lairds to allow the creation of large sheep farms, and the three sponsors of this emigration all saw personal benefit in encouraging people to leave the homes their families had lived in for centuries.

My personal interest is with the first sixteen familys that were sponsored by the Marquis of Stafford. Many of those people were from Reiff in the Coigach district (or Barony) of the Parish of Lochbroom, in the County of Ross and Cromarty.

This was part of a planned emigration of 5,000 people to Australia began in 1852. The Cromartie factor, Andrew Scott, was caught unawares when the Society asked him if the Coigach people wanted to be involved, as he had thought the announced emigration was directed toward people from the Isle of Skye. He was concerned about cost to the estate of such a large emigration, and worried that if it was not made up of entire families aged people would be left behind in control of the land, and as a continuing expense to the estate.

Scott approved in 1853, and this journey aboard the Sir Allan McNab was the only large scale emigration encouraged and sponsored by the estate (though individual families were occasionaly also sponsored). The total cost of the Coigach emigrants passage was £1425.

The emigrants departed Coigach in October 1853, they were accompanied on the first part of their journey to Glasgow by the local factor, Kenneth Mackenzie. The boat from Coigach was partially disabled en route, and was two days late to Glasgow, a steamer towed it into port.

The emigrants were unhappy. The following quote appears in the Cromartie book written 11 October 1853 from the local factor Mackenzie to the estate factor Scott;

"I parted with the Emigrants on Saturday afternoon, they were in very bad spirits; independent of the weather, I never had a more disagreeable trip in my life, there was no pleasing them, they were mostly all sea sick by the way when their families were thus distressed they thought that I could command the Boat to return or run to some harbour, they were again too ill to please in their food, and so troublesome to the hands on Board the Steamer. At parting I got the greatest insolence and abuse from some of them for not paying Porters for putting their luggage on Board them to Liverpool, while they were going themselves with their hands in their pockets. Several of them were most anxious to return home from here [Glasgow], I am certain if I had not been with them, that one half of them would not have come the length."

The ship left from Birkenhead, Liverpool 28 August 1853. The other emigrants aboard included fourty young unmarried Irish women. The 99 day journey was marred by disputes between the Highlanders and Irish, and the ships surgeon was forced to construct a partition on the passenger deck to separate them!

On arrival at Hobart the emigrants found employment relatively quickly. Susan McKenzie, one of the Coigach emigrants (see mcnab 524), was appointed Matron during the journey, she also received £2 for helping at Hobart with the hiring out of the young women. She and her son were both hired by R.Q. Kermode, one of the largest landowners in the colony.

Notes regarding the Strathspey and Argylle emigrants;

The names and placenames above are as shown in the typeset transcript sent to me, it is clear that in the several transcriptions of transcriptions some mistakes have crept in, for instance sponsor of the Coigach emigrants shown as the "Maquis" of Stafford, when clearly from numerous other records the title should be spelled "Marquis". Roddy Balfour (EMAIL: Roderick.Balfour@highland.gov.uk) has sent notes regarding the Strathspey and Argylle emigrants. He writes;

"The Strathspey emigrants were from the estate of John Peter Grant of Rothiemurchus which was held, if I remember correctly, under a complicated trust arrangement by his sister Jane, Mrs Gibson Craig, whose husband was a prominent Edinburgh lawyer. The places from which the emigrant families were drawn were – Balradden, Boring Mill (this was a mill, with attached houses, where the large trees, for which the estate was, and is still, famous, were bored to make water pipes) Inverdruie and Tulligruie – three of the five families from there were from a small settlement known as Bonnie Side.

"The Kintyre families were drawn from within the burgh of Campbeltown or its immediate environs. Those from Campbeltown were from Church Close (a close is a narrow lane between high buildings), Kirk Street, Argyll Street, Big Kiln, Dalintobar and Lochend. These were the only urban families conveyed by the HIES. The remaining family was from the small island of Sanda just off Campbeltown, but in the parish of Southend."

This file, and others dealing with history and genealogy of Coigach, links from my homepage at: http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~coigach Any suggestions for additions or edits please feel free to email me, Donald MacDonald-Ross, at:

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