Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Photos of the Archibald McKenzie Family

These photos were provided by Dianna, a descendant of Isabella Mitchell McKenzie, Ann Simson McGregor.  Archibald Grewar McKenzie was her step-father.







Archibald Grewar McKenzie
(1825-1914)
and
Isabella Mitchell McKenzie
(1825-1874)
and unknown child

Archibald Grewar McKenzie and Isabella Mitchell McKenzie were married on 24 November 1850 in  Glenisla, Angus, Scotland.  They were the parents of nine children.


This photo was labeled as Archibald Grewar McKenzie and three unknown nieces.  Nieces would have to be children of his siblings.  Catherine McKenzie Anderson two daughters that lived to adulthood would have been in the USA.  His sister, Isabella McKenzie Jones, never had children.  We don't have information on his brother, John, past the 1841 census.   If these are nieces, it would give us some clues in looking for John.  Perhaps these are in fact granddaughters?  I wonder if these are really the three daughters of Archibald's daughter, Isabella (b. 4 Dec 1852).  The daughters are Jesse (30  April 1873) , Jemima (b. abt 1876) , and Jane (b. abt 1879) in Dundee.



Archibald McKenzie,
son of Archibald Grewar and Isabella Mitchell McKenzie. 
He was born in Coupar Angus, Perth, Scotland,
in  8 September 1863.  
Eventually, he lived in Ispwich, Queenland, Australia.


James McKenzie (b. 1859),
son of Archibald Grewar McKenzie and Isabelle Mitchell McKenzie, and
Mary Walton (b. abt 1859)
Married 6 June 1879 in Dundee, Angus, Scotland.  The photo was taken in Brisbane, Australia

Jessie McKenzie, third daughter and fourth child of Archibald and Isabella Mitchell McKenzie
b. 28 July 1857
(Note:  Dianna as the date of 28 July, but I have listed 26 July.  We need to verify which is correct.) 


William Smith Rollo McKenzie (b. 29 August 1851),
first child of Archibald and Isabella Mitchell McKenzie,
with his wife, Margaret Allen. 
They married 24 December 1875 in Dundee, Angus, Scotland.  
In 1881, he was listed as a railway brakemanm living at 69 North Wellington St.in Dundee. 
He died in Warwick, Queensland, Australia on 26 July 1912. 

Monday, July 5, 2010

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.

DAVID McKENZIE (1795-1858)

Submitted by Catherine MacKenzie Kunkel

David McKenzie was born 25 Jan 1795 at Longdrum in Lintrathen, Angus, Scotland, the son of John McKenzie and Christian Gordon.  From Film No 993486 - Lintrathen OPR located at the Family History Library, LDS, Salt Lake City, Utah, christened 25 Jan 1795, David, son of John McKenzie and Christian Gorden (sic) of Longdrum.

Road to Longdrum Farm, Lintrathen
David married Jean Robbie, also known as Jane, in 1815 in Lintrathen, Angus, Scotland. The Official Parochial Registers of Marriages for Lintrathen have been reviewed by multiple people and there is a listing showing the marriage of David McKenzie to Jean Robertson on 17 Jan 1815. It is an educated guess that Jean Robertson and Jean Robbie are one in the same person, and the name was written incorrectly. Entry errors were something very common in those days in the OPR register and names were often spelled phonetically.




Very little is known about David’s early life other than he resided at the Brae of Blackdykes, Lintrathen, Angus on 08 May 1817, which was date of the birth of this daughter Mary. All of David and Jane’s other children were born at Hillockhead, Blackdykes, Lintrathen, Angus.


View from Hillockhead Cottage. Photo taken in recent years.

The 1841 Census find David and Jean living in Padanaram, Kirriemuir, with 3 of their children Helen, 20, linen handloom weaver; William, 15, stone dyker; and John, 13.


It is interesting that most of the McKenzie men (former and future generations) are farm labourers. Often wonder why David became a stone dyker. No doubt work was plentiful, and stone was readily available.


David’s death record reads as follows:

David McKenzie, stone dyker, married (no wife's name), died 21 April 1858 at 1:30pm, Spout Street, Forfar, male, 61 years old, father John McKenzie, crofter (deceased), mother Christian McKenzie ms Gordon (deceased), cause of death acute bronchitis, 11 days, buried New Cemetery, Forfar as certified by David McKenzie, son, signed by David McKenzie, son, not present. Registered 23 Apr 1858 at Forfar, John Webster, registrar.
Stone dykers at work building a stone wall
Jean “Jane” Robbie
Jean was christened 16 Aug 1786 in Cortachy, Angus, Scotland in Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland. She was first of ten children born to James Robbie and Mary Young. Just like her husband David McKenzie, very little is known of the early life of Jean Robbie.


After David’s death in 1858, Jean went to be with her daughter Grace McKenzie Milne, a widow, who was working as a grocer and living at 102 Castle Street. By 1878, Jean had gone to live with daughter Helen McKenzie and her husband John Marnie in Southmuir, Kirriemuir. She died on 27 Jan 1878 at the age of 97 of natural decline.


Children of David McKenzie and Jean Robbie are:


Helen McKenzie, born Abt. 1816 in Cortachy, Angus, Scotland and married John Marnie on 15 Oct 1843 in Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland. John was born born 25 Aug 1816 in Tannadice, Angus, Scotland to William Marnie and Elizabeth Mitchell Marnie.


John and Helen made their home Padanaram (formerly known as Ellenorton before it changed its name to the biblical Padanaram) and in 1851 they both were working as handloom weavers of brown linen, much the same as most of their neighbors in this small community.

On the day of the census in 1861, Helen was at their home with 3 of her sons, James, David, and Alexander. That same day we found John and son William, 14, working as ag labourers at the Wheen Farm of Alexander and Ann Winter Ogilvy. By 1871, John was the toll collector at the Newton Toll near Kirriemuir and he, Helen and sons John and Alexander lived in the toll house. [I am told that the statue of Peter Pan standing in the town square is in front of the old toll booth.] By 1881 John was employed as a gardener living on Glammis Road, Kirriemuir.


On 28 Jan 1878 John toll collector, Newton Toll, purchased Lair M93 at Kirriemuir Cemetery which was used to bury Jane Robbie McKenzie, Helen’s mother, who died 31 Jan 1878.


Helen died 24 June 1889 at 2:10pm while residing at Logie in Kirriemuir at the age of 73. Cause of death was a strangulated hernia which was complicated by peritonitis. Her death record, witnessed by her husband John, indicated that his occupation was that of a master gardener. Helen was buried at Kirriemuir Cemetery, Lair M, 93-95.


John Marnie, age 79, occupation gardener, died on 9 Jun 1891, cause of death was cardiac disease (mitral) as well as an enlarged prostate. The informant on the death record was son, John M. Marnie. John was buried to next to his wife in Kirriemuir Cemetery.



The headstone at the Marnie grave site reads:


In the memory of John Marnie
who died the 9th June 1891
aged 74 years
and his beloved wife
Helen McKenzie
who died the 24th June 1889
aged 73 years
also their son James
who died the 12 July 1867
aged 16 years
William, who died 18 Dec 1906
aged 60 years
John, who died 20th March 1931
aged 82 years
also Elizabeth Duncan
wife of John
who died 1st Jan 1939
aged 84 years
Anne Young Marnie
widow of John McCrae
died 4th Dec 1966
aged 87 years

Mary McKenzie was born 08 May 1817 in Brae of Blackdykes, Lintrathen, Angus, Scotland and christened on 19 Apr 1817 at the Lintrathen church. The OPR Lintrathen parish records show her father as David McKenzie and mother Jeen Robie. There is a second record which shows her mother as Jean Robb, all one in the same person. She married David Milne 13 Dec 1846 in Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland. David was born in1813 in Lintrathen, Angus, Scotland to James Milne and Agnes Keay Milne.


We located David Milne, age 25 and employed as a sawyer, living in Padanaram, Kirriemuir and residing with his parents. The most interesting part is they are living next door to Mary’s parents Jean and David McKenzie, her aunt Betsy McKenzie and her grandmother Christian Gordon McKenzie. No doubt this is how Mary and David met.


In 1851 we found David and Mary living at Mid Campsie in the Parish of Lintrathen. With them were four children, a son whose name is illegible on the 1851 census but born Kingoldrum, a daughter Barbara age 4, born Aberlemno, and twins Thomas and Helen age 1 born Aberlemno. It is an assumption that all four of these children died before 1855, the year when it was mandatory to register the death, birth and marriages. We also know that there was a son James who died 2nd March 1844 at the age of 16 months. Other children born to Mary and David are Mary Elizabeth Milne born 18 Oct 1844 and Grace born 1847.


David Milne, grocer and spirit dealer, died at home on Spout Street, Forfar on 01 Aug 1857 at the age of 44. Cause of death was apoplexy – an old fashioned term for what is commonly referred today as a stroke. His death record was witnessed by his father James Milne who was living at Cambellton Toll House in Forfar. David was buried at Forfar Cemetery, Lair A397. Mary erected a headstone which read:


In Memory of
her husband
David Milne
who died 1st of August
1857 aged 44 years
also their son
James
who died 2nd March
1844 aged 16 months


Castle Street, Forfar (early 1900’s)

At the time of the 1861 census, Mary was living at 102 Castle Street, a widow and listing her occupation as a grocer. With her were daughters Elizabeth, 16, who was working as a milliner, and Grace, 12, in school; her widowed mother Jane Robbie McKenzie, age 79 and her neice Mary McKenzie, 4, who was the daughter of Mary’s brother, David, and Margaret Millar McKenzie living in Tealing.


Mary died 18 Sep 1866 at the age of 49. She was living at 20 Backwynd, Forfar and employed as a milliner. The witness on her death records was her cousin-in-law William Fullerton of Padanaram, Kirriemuir. William was married to her cousin, Mary McKenzie Lawson Fullerton, daughter of Betsy Ogilvy McKenzie. Mary was buried alongside her husband and son at Forfar Cemetery, Lair A397.  On 16 May 1921, that lair was transferred to Mrs. Grace Milne Petrie, daughter, living at 8 Brown Constable Street, Dundee.


Lintrathen, Angus
Jean McKenzie was born at Hillockhead, Lintrathen, Angus, Scotland and christened 21 Apr 1822 in the Lintrathen parish church. No other information is known.

 
Alexander McKenzie, born at Hillockhead, Lintrathen, Angus, Scotland and christened 21 Apr 1822 in the Lintrathen parish church.

We found Alexander living in Glenisla at the Cottoans in the 1861 census. He is listed as a ploughman, age 39 and married, however the record does not show a wife. Living with him is Alexander Carver, age 13 and a shepherd.



David McKenzie (b. 1824)--More about this David in a separate post!



Christian McKenzie was born at Hillockhead of Blackdykes, Lintrathen, Scotland and christened on 15 Aug 1825 at the Lintrathen parish church. No other information is known.



William McKenzie was born 1826.




John McKenzie, born 07 Oct 1827 at Hillockhead, Lintrathen, Angus, Scotland and christened 12 Nov 1827 at the Lintrathen parish church. No further information is known.








Parish Church of Kingoldrum






Sunday, July 4, 2010

JOHN McKENZIE (b. 1766) AND CHRISTIAN GORDON

This information was submitted by Catherine MacKenzie Kunkle:

Much research has been done on John and Margaret Findlay (John’s first wife) by members of the family who are LDS church members. The first noted works were written by Catherine McKenzie Anderson Dye for her great aunt Ellen McKenzie Christie (child of John and Margaret) and her step-grand aunt Isabell McKenzie (child of John and Christian Gordon).


I am a descendant from the 2nd marriage of John McKenzie to Christian Gordon. We do not have any definite information to base the parentage of Christian, as records for that time period from the Glenisla/Lintrathen area are sketchy at best. It is assumed that John and Christian married sometime in 1794/1795.


John McKenzie was christened 19 Oct 1766, Dalnamer (Dallingmar), Glenisla. According to the death record of David McKenzie (John and Christian’s first son) , registered 23 Apr 1858 in Forfar, John and Christian were shown as deceased on that record, and John’s occupation was listed as a crofter.

The definition of a crofter is a person who rents a small piece of ground from the landlord (usually no more than 10 acres) on which he could pasture a cow and grow some subsistence crops. He would be expected to pay some rent to the landlord (although some part of that rent might have been paid in the form of labour) and would have expected a certain amount of seasonal employment from the landlord.


The LDS FHL Film number 993486 - Lintrathen OPR’s - indicates the birth of the four three children of John and Christian:


1. David McKenzie, chr. 25 Jan 1795, son of John McKenzie and Christian Grodon of Longdrum.

2. Shusan McKenzie, chr. 1 Dec 1799, daughter of John McKenzie and Christian Gordon of Balnakillie

3. Isobell McKenzie, chr. 13 Aug 1804, daughter of John McKenzie and Christian Gordon of Blackdykes.

4. Elisabeth McKenzie, chr. 21 Mar 1807, daughter of John McKenzie and Christian Gordon of Blackdykes.

There is also a LDS submission in the IGI that shows a daughter Martha, born to John McKenzie and Christian Gordon, _______________. And to the surprise of Gaye Willis and myself, there is also a LDS submission showing the birth of James McKenzie, christened 08 Jun 1793 in Longdrum, Lintrathen, to John McKenzie and Christian Gordon rather than the mother being Margaret Findlay. There is no evidence, that either one of us has found, to substantiate these submissions. However, I mention them here to simply put the information “out there” for other to consider!

As for the deaths of John and Christian, I have been unable to find burial records for either of them at the present time. The 1841 census does give me some clues, however. There does not seem to be a listing for John McKenzie with the correct age, but I have been able to find Christian Gordon, age 80, listed in the 1841 census living with her daughter Betsy McKenzie, age 30, linen handloom weaver and Betsy’s daughter Betsy Lawson, age 7, at Padanaram, Kirriemuir. Therefore, it is currently being assumed that John died prior to 1841 and Christian died between 1841 and 1851.


I will be traveling to Scotland later this year and will have a search of the Glenisla and Lintrathen kirkyards, as well as any other small cemeteries that I can find in the area, looking for some evidence of the burial of John McKenzie. And, I will be looking at the Kirriemuir cemetery for the burial site of Christian Gordon McKenzie.