DAVID McKENZIE (1824-) and his family

Submitted by Catherine MacKenzie Kunkel, a descendant of David McKenzie and Jane Robbie.


David McKenzie, was christened on 23 May 1824 in Blackdykes, Lintrathen, Angus, Scotland, the son of David McKenzie and Jean "Jane" Robbie. He married Margaret Annat Millar 01 Jun 1844 in Forfar, Angus, Scotland. Margaret was the daughter of Thomas Millar and Isabella Millar, born 20 Dec 1823 in Rescobie, Angus, Scotland.


At age 15, David was living at Woodside in the Parish of Oathlaw and working as an ag labourer.


On May 19, 1844 Church of Forfar marriage banns read David McKenzie, farm servent, Parish of Rescobie and Margt.  Millar in this Parish, were three several times proclaimed in the Church of Forfar in order to marriage and were afterwards married.


David’s occupations were that of a farm labourer and ploughman at Tarbrax in the Parish of Inverarity and later a farm grieve at a farm called Finlarg in the parish of Tealing, Angus (Forforshire).

Tarbrax Farm, Parish of Inverarity, (photo taken in in 2005)

1851 Census records indicated that David, age 26, farm labourer born in Lintrathen, was married and living in Tarbrax, Inverarity, Angus along with his wife Margaret, age 26 and born in Rescobie, and his 2 sons William, age 5 and John, age 3, and 1 daughter Margaret, age 1. All three children were born in Inverarity.

By 1861 David and Margaret were living in Tealing, Nether Finlarg Farm. Six children were residing with them, John (13), Margaret (11), Jane (9), Isabella (6), Jessie (2) and David (8 months). Their oldest son William is working as a cattle boy and living at the Farmhouse, Upper and Lower Finlarg Farm. Three more children born between the years 1861 and 1869 completed David and Margaret’s family, Elizabeth, James and Helen.

"Tealing" is said to be of Gaelic extraction, and is understood to denote a "country of brooks or waters." The parish lies along the southern slope of the Sidlaw hills. A line drawn nearly along the summits of the hillswhich have been mentioned, would divide the parish of Tealing from that of Glammis on the north.

Sadly, in 1869, Helen was struck with scarlet fever and died at the age of 7 months. Apparently, Margaret and David separated and by 1871 Margaret and the children had moved to the town of Forfar and were living at 3 Glamis Road, Forfar. By this time, the 3 older children were off living on their own.

1871 Census - Forfar, Sec 9, No. 3, 3 Glamis Road

Margaret McKenzie, head, married, 46, ploughman's wife, born Rescobie

Jane McKenzie, daughter, 18, unmarried, factory worker, born Inverarity

Isabella McKenzie, daughter, 16, factory worker, born Inverarity

Mary McKenzie, daughter, 13, factory worker, born Inverarity

Jessie McKenzie, daughter, 12, scholar, born Inverarity

David McKenzie, son, 10, scholar, born Tealing

Elizabeth McKenzie, daughter, 7, scholar, born Tealing

James McKenzie, son, 3, born Tealing

While registering the death of his daughter Helen, David listed his occupation at Nether Finlarg as farm grieve. The definition of a farm grieve is a manager of a farm, or overseer of any work.

But in the 1871 Census - Tealing, Sec 1, No 49, Nether Finlarg – David is shown as married and living alone, working as an ag labourer and servant.

According to the statistical account of the Parish of Tealing, September, 1836, the chief landowners were, Mr. Scrymgeour of Tealing, and Lord Douglas. There are four farms which belong to four other heritors. The family of Mr Scrymseour of Tealing, is the only one of influence or importance, resident in the parish. A common country labourer received 10shillings in summer, and 9shillings in winter per week. A common farm servant received about £10: 10shillings of yearly wages, 6½ bolls of oatmeal, and 1 Scotch pint of milk per day.

On 4 Feb 1875, Margaret took her own life. This is documented by her death record which stated:

Margaret Millar McKenzie, F, age 52, married to David McKenzie, contractor, formerly ploughman, died 4 Feb 1875 between 6-9am, Prior Road, Forfar. Cause of death: Suicide by Strangulation, as certified by William F. Murray, MD. Informant: David McKenzie, widower. Registered 5 Feb 1875 at Forfar by W. H. Thomson, registrar. Father: Thomas Millar, pendicler (deceased) Mother: Isabella Millar, ms Millar (deceased). The definition of pendicler, “a sub-tenant with some grass and arable land”.

Shortly after Margaret’s death, David erected a stone at the gravesite in Forfar Cemetery, Section H, Lair No. 131, which reads

“Erected by David McKenzie in memory of his daughter

Helen, who died Nov 22nd 1869 age 7 months,

Margaret Miller his wife who died 4 Feb 1875 age 50 years”

     Added later to the stone were the following words

“his daughter Jane who died 21 Nov 1876 age 24 years,

Alexander Coventry Morton died 13 June 1945 age 92 years,

and his wife Margaret McKenzie died 1 May 1930 age 80 years”

David McKenzie remarried on 16 Dec 1879 at St. James Manse, Forfar. He was 55 at the time and living at 9 Littlecauseway, Forfar. His new bride was Agnes McDonald, daughter of David McDonald, a baker, and Margaret Guild. Agnes was 42 and a spinster living at 2 Bell Place, Forfar. Witnesses at the wedding were Brimer Mollison and Jane Ann Millar. David’s youngest son, James Marnie, came to live with them and is listed in the 1881 census as a linen factory worker, age 13.

Little Causeway, Forfar (a modern photograph)

David seems to be a “missing person” after 1881, but the 9 Nov 1893 death record of his daughter Isabella Orrock McKenzie Robertson lists David as still living and working as a night watchman.

Children of David McKenzie and Margaret Millar are:

William McKenzie, christened 26 Oct 1846 in Inverarity and Methy, Forfar, Angus, Scotland. At the age of 15, William was living on his own and working as a servant and cattle boy at the Farmhouse on Upper and Lower Finlarg Farm, Tealing. The 280 acre farm was being overseen by James Robertson and his wife Jane Stewart Robertson. Just down the road, living at Nether Finlarg, were his parents and siblings.

On 18 Jan 1867 at Paradist Road, Dundee, William married Isabella A. Bisset, a 17 year old farm servant living at Robert’s Canal, Butterburn, Dundee. Isabella was the daughter of William Bisset and Euphemia Bisset ms. Taylor. The couple gave birth to a daughter, EuphemiaTaylor, born 21 Jan 1867, 1AM, Nicoll's Land, Rose Street, Dundee. William was listed as a farm servant on the birth record.

Sometime between 1867 and 1877, the family emigrated to New Brunswick, Canada.

And finally settled in the town of Nelson, Northumberland, New Brunswick where William obtained land grant #16757 for 100 acres, registered in Perth, Victoria on 19 Mar 1877.

On 2 Apr 1886, Isabel McKenzie obtained land grant #207897 for 200 acres, registered in Perth, Victoria. This parcel of land was listed as a shared ownership with 8 others, all brothers and sisters of Isabel Bisset McKenzie.

William died 24 Dec 1908 in Caribou, Maine, USA. No burial information has been found as of 2010. Isabella A. Bisset McKenzie, died 20 Aug 1907 at the age of 58 and is buried in the Melville United Church Cemetery, Kincardine, Victoria County, New Brunswick.

There is a small private cemetery located on the Scotch Colony Road in Upper Kintore, Victoria County, New Brunswick known as the Bissett Cemetery. There is only one stone remaining, that of Archibald and Euphemia Winter, and is located on property once belonging to the Bissett family.  Euphemia Bisset married Archibald Winter and they lived on the property until their deaths in the 1930's, followed by their daughter Elizabeth Winter. Another daughter, Margaret Winter, married Ernest Pimlott and lived on a property across the road. Margaret and Ernest's daughter, Alice, married first to Burton Barclay, and later in life, to Archie Christie, is believed to still maintain the cemetery property.

John “Jack” McKenzie, christened 21 Nov 1847 in Inverarity and Methy, Forfar, Angus, Scotland.  In 1851, John was living with this parents and siblings at Tarbrax Farm, Inverarity, Angus.  Between the years of 1851 and 1878, we know that John emigrated to New Brunswick, Canada and on 31 Dec 1878 he married Wilhelmina Joan Priest in Kincardine, New Brunswick. Wilhelmina “Minnie” was born in Unst, Shetland Islands, Scotland to George Priest and Martha Sinclair.

By 1881, John was farming land in Upper Kincardine, Victoria, New Brunswick and with Minnie and his 1 year old son, William, and newborn daughter Martha Jean. While his farm prospered, his family grew and by end of 1896, John and Minnie had eight more children: Georgina Joan born 1883, John Andrew born 1885, Wilhelmina John born 1887, David born 1888, Samuel Russell born 1890, Andrew born 1891, Mary Ann born 1894 and James born 1896.

The poor tenant farmers, labourers, and tradesmen, who left Scotland for New Kincardineshire, in the 1870s, were looking for independence and an opportunity to improve their economic circumstances. Despite numerous obstacles and disappointments, many of them succeeded in building new lives for themselves and their families in New Brunswick. The area around Upper Kincardine was often referred to as “Scotch Colony”.

According to records on file with the New Brunswick Family History, John (Jack) McKenzie death -- lost 28 Apr 1899, found 20 June 1906 -- burial 21 June 1906.

Melville United Church Cemetery, Kincardine. New Burnswick

There is a headstone in the Melville United Church Cemetery for John McKenzie, his wife Minnie, who died 31 Jan 1904 at the age of 47, and their son William who died 27 Sep 1900 at the age of 22. It will be interesting as we unravel the story behind John’s death.

Photo of a “Ploughman” provided by Scotsindepedent.org

Margaret Low McKenzie, christened 02 Mar 1851 in Inverarity and Methy, Forfar, Angus, Scotland. She lived with her parents through 1861. Her whereabouts are unknown until she married Alexander Coventry Morton 09 Jun 1876 at North Mains in Forfar, Angus, Scotland22,23. Alexander was 20 years old at the time, working as a ploughman and living at Coul in the Parish of Tannadice. Margaret was 26 years old and working as a domestic servant at North Mains. Serving as witnesses on the marriage record were Andrew Morton and Mary McKenzie.

Alexander, born 02 Dec 1855, was the son of Euphemia Coventry, a 22 year old domestic servant working at Hallyards in Alyth, Perthshire who later married Robert Morton, a linen dresser.

In 1881, Alexander Coventry Morton and Margaret Low McKenzie are living in Glamis at the Mains, Cottar Houses, where Alexander was employed as a farm manager. With them are three of their children, Euphemia Jane age 4, Isabella age 3, and Robert age 1. Visiting them at the time of the census was Margaret’s sister, Mary who was working as a factory linen worker. In April of 1884, both Isabella and Robert died from the diphtheria epidemic.

By 1891 they had moved their family to Mains of Brighton Cottage, Kinnettles Parish, where Alexander and Margaret were both working as farm servants.

Along with their children Margaret, age 4, and Alexander, age 2, they also had living with them a niece Cassie McKenzie age 7 who had been born in Philadelphia. Cassie was the daughter of Margaret’s brother David Millar McKenzie and Kate Kelly.

As was true of most farm labourers, moving frequently was a way of life. We find Alexander living at Castleton Farm Cottage, Eassie and Nevay Parish by the time of the 1891 census. With Alexander and Margaret are daughter Margaret, and 3 sons Alexander, James and John.

Both Alexander and Margaret lived many more happy years together at Newton of Glamis, Parish of Glamis. At the age of 80, Margaret passed away of senile debility on 1 May 1930, and Alexander lived to be 95, spending his final days at 4 Arbroath Road, Forfar. Registering both deaths was their nephew, James Robertson, son of Margaret’s sister Isabella Orrock McKenzie Robertson. They are resting at Forfar Cemetery, Section H, Lair No. 131.

Jane Robbie McKenzie was born 11 Apr 1852 and christened 13 May 1852 in Inverarity and Methy, Forfar, Angus, Scotland31. Jane was named after her grandmother Jane Robbie, and after leaving the family home, she worked in the yarn factory as a winder and living at Gassockwells, Parish of Forfar. Mill workers in the 19th century had to endure hard working conditions. The number of people in a confined place, combined with the heat, dust and fumes of oil and grease, caused a condition known as Mill Fever, and encouraged respiratory diseases like bronchitis. Working long hours in close proximity to extremely noisy machinery resulted in many workers going deaf.

Working hours were long and exhausting, even for children. In 1833, boys worked 18 or 19 hours a day in the flax mills. They were paid very low wages, and the machines could be placed closer together if little bodies cleaned and maintained them. Often children fell asleep over their work, increasing the risk of industrial accidents

At the young age of 24, Jane died on 21 Nov 1876 of valicular disease of the heart (mitral value), a chronic illness that she had suffered for a number of years. Jane is buried at the family resting place in Forfar Cemetery, Section H, Lair No. 131

Isabella Orrock McKenzie --There does not seem to be a birth registration for an Isabella McKenzie, however, we have located the birth of Isabella Orrock on 06 Oct 1856. We must note in 1856, David and Margaret McKenzie are living and working as farm labour at Tarbrax Farm, Inverarity. Living at North Mains, Tarbrax, is James Orrock, age 61, the farmer of 20 acres, and his unmarried sister, Isabella, age 52. According to the birth record for young Isabella, her mother is the older Isabella Orrock and the father is in question. It is our assumption that David and Margaret took the baby into their family and raised her as their own. Isabella indicated on her marriage registration that her parents were David McKenzie and Margaret Millar McKenzie.

By 1871, Isabella has taken a job in the linen factory and is living with her mother and siblings at 3 Glamis Road, Forfar. After her mother’s death in 1875, Isabella moved in with her aunt and uncle William and Betsy Millar Orchison at 12 Archie’s Park, Forfar.

On 19 Apr 1884 Isabella married the handsome widower James Robertson, age 33, and father of one son Alexander. The ceremony is held at the home of her father and stepmother at 9 Little Causeway, Forfar and is officiated by Alexander Cummings, minister, Free Church, Forfar. Serving as witnesses were Alexander Robertson and Mary McKenzie. Two months later, Isabella gives birth to their first child, David McKenzie Robertson. Two more children were added to the family, daughter Catherine Donald Robertson and son James. In 1891 James, Isabella, Alexander, David, Catherine and James were residing at 13 Watt Street, Forfar and James was working as a lapper in a factory.

Isabella met an early death at the age of 38, when she contracted Bright’s disease of the kidney and was hospitalized at the Forfar Infirmary. She died 09 Nov 1893, leaving James a widower for a second time. He never remarried, but raised the children himself with the help of this mother and sister.

James Robertson was the son of Alexander Robertson, handloom weaver and Ann Winter. He died at the age of 77, a retired factory worker, still living at 13 Watt Street, Forfar.

Mary McKenzie was born 28 Apr 1857 at Kirkton in Inverarity and Methy, Angus, Scotland, where her father David was a farm servant. We found that by the time Mary was 4 years old, she was living with her grandmother Jane Robbie McKenzie and her aunt Mary McKenzie Milne at 102 Castle Street, Forfar. At the time, her aunt Mary was widowed and was making her living as a grocer. By the age of 13, Mary was working in the linen factory along with her sisters Jane and Isabella, and was back home living with her mother at 3 Glamis Road, Forfar. After her mother’s death, Mary went to live with her sister Margaret Low McKenzie Morton and her husband Alexander in Glamis. In the spring of 1884, Mary met Donald Duffy, a general labourer living at 5 Charles Street. They married 11 Dec 1884 in Forfar, at her father’s home on Little Causeway. Witnesses were her brother James Marnie McKenzie and her sister Lizzie McKenzie. Exactly one month later, on 11 Jan 1885, Mary delivered a son, Walter. Young Walter only survived 3 months when he died of convulsions.

Inverarity Kirk, where most of the McKenzie children were christened.

Photographed in the year 2000.

Janet "Jessie" McKenzie was born 28 Sep 1858 at Kirkton in Inverartity and Methy, Angus, Scotland. At the time, David McKenzie was employed as an ag labourer. Jessie lived with her parents until she moved with her mother to Forfar around 1866. In 1871, Jessie was in school and by 1881, she was a boarder at 26 ½ West High Street, Forfar, in the household of John Ormond and his wife Jane Barron Ormond and working in the linen factory. Little else has been found on the whereabouts of Jessie, but it is thought that she may have immigrated to the United States.

David Miller McKenzie born 06 Aug 1860 at Nether Finlarg in Tealing, Angus, Scotland, where his father David was employed as a ploughman, foreman. David, like his other siblings, moved to Forfar with his mother and in 1871 was living at 3 Glamis Road where he was attending school. By 1881, David was out on his own working as an under-gardener, living in the gardener’s bothy, at the Castle Huntly.

The Castle Huntly, Longforgen, Perthshire

David immigrated to the US in 1885, sailing on the S.S. Aurania and arriving in New York on 27 April 1885. Quite an adventure for a 23 year old! While aboard ship, David met Kate Kelly who had also boarded in Liverpool although she was born in Ireland.

The S.S. Aurania In 1885 the S.S. Aurania inaugurated Cunard Line's Wednesday sailing, instead of Saturday, spreading out the transatlantic passenger facilities. Soon afterwards, however, it was involved in a collision with the White Star Liner Republic. During the period 1899-1903 it was requisitioned by the government to serve as a Boer War transport. In this service it carried over 30,000 officers and men in addition to repatriating troops to India and Australia and carrying Boer prisoners.

David and Kate left New York and took up residence in Philadelphia were he found work as a car conductor. In late December, 1885, Kate gave birth to their daughter, Catherine (better known as Cassie). For reasons unknown at this time, Cassie returns to Scotland to live with her aunt and uncle, Alexander Coventry Morton and Margaret Low McKenzie. In the 1891 census, she is listed as Cassie McKenzie Morton, niece, and on her marriage record she uses the last name of Morton although shows her parents as David McKenzie and Catherine McKenzie ms. Kelly.

Little else is know about David Millar McKenzie or Kate Kelly. Research is continuing to be done to determine more.

Elizabeth Robertson McKenzie was born 02 Dec 1863 at Nether Finlarg in Tealing, Angus, Scotland, and like her other siblings, she too moved to Forfar with her mother. In 1881, we find “Lizzie” working as a domestic servant for Mrs. Ellen Douglas living at Brigton House, Forfar. Ellen Douglas, the widow of landed proprietor William Douglas, suffered from heart disease for many years and died in March 1883. Shortly as Mrs. Douglas’ death, it is thought that Lizzie immigrated to the United States. Research is still continuing on this matter.

James Marnie McKenzie--(17 Apr 1867 - Death: 22 Feb 1937 - Chicago, Illinois, USA)-

More will follow on James in a furture post!

Helen McKenzie was born 21 Apr 1869 in Forfar, Angus, Scotland. During that year, an epidemic of scarlet fever swept through the Forfar area and little Helen succumbed to the disease on 23 Nov 1869 at the age of 7 months. She was with her mother at 3 Glamis Road, Forfar. Helen was buried in Forfar Cemetery Section H, Lair No. 131 where David McKenzie a gravestone reading in memory of his daughter Helen, who died Nov 22nd 1869 age 7 months.