Help with McLaughlin/MacLachlan ancestors.....

[PAULMAC]

I need help locating John, Daniel and Alexander Andrew McLaughlin in Scotland prior to 1789. In 1789 Alexander Andrew was approx. 20 years old. I believe the other two to be older brothers. After they immigrated these men were farmers and speculated in land.

These McLaughlin's appear in the North Carolina frontier town of Greenville in 1789 with no record of where they came from or how or when they arrived there. There was a cluster of McLaughlins in this one small frontier town and I cannot help but believe they were were all part of some migration group or pact. immigration records in this time period are spotty at best and consist mostly of ship records of passengers.

My only sure source for their origination is a vanity biography by a grandson who states that they were definitely "from Scotland". I know that
this is a tall order but hope someone can guide me. I feel they were farm boys from Argyll but realize they could have come from anywhere. Any tips on how to proceed??

[marilyn morning]

Hello Paul,

Welcome To TalkingScot! In regards to Alexander Andrew McLaughlin, the following information is listed in the IGI and can be viewed at

www.familysearch.org

Alexander Andrew McLaughlin b. 1760 Argyll, Scotland
m. 29 December 1789 Greene, Tennesse
d. 1835

Father: Andrew McLaughlin
Mother: Mary Wier
Wife: Asiah or Arsa Shilman b. abt 1764 Greene, Tennesse

Children:
1. Alexander McLaughlin b. 1793 Greene, Tennesse
2. Daniel McLaughlin b. abt 1795 Greene, Tennesse
3. Joseph McLaughlin b. abt 1800 Greene, Tennesse
4. Henry McLaughlin b. abt 1803 Greene, Tennesse
5. William M. McLaughlin b. abt 1804 Greene, Tennesse
6. James McLaughlin b. abt 1799 Greene, Tennesse
7. Mary McLaughlin b. abt 1795 Greene, Tennesse
8. Margaret M. McLaughlin b. 14 May 1797 Greene, Tennesse
d. 6 August 1866 Shiloh Cem.
Jefferson, Alabama

Regards
Marilyn

[PAULMAC]

Marilyn,

I truly appreciate your response. I enjoy the questions and knowledgable responses on this site. Mine is a cautionary tale regarding the IGI and submitted tree data. I am familiar with this data set and must note it as "unproven".

This is my Alexander Andrew. I did the research on these ancestors and it circulated through my kinfolk via E-mail with A. A.'s parentage noted as possible but not proven.

A. A.'s father was/is unknown but this connection was made based partly on a conversation with a local Wier family member. This person mentioned a family tale that the Wiers were related to the McLaughlins of our area from "way back".

This couple also have another son with the same name as one of A.A.'s brothers but cannot find the 3rd sibling. Someone unknown to me submitted the data I provided to the IGI with the "possible parentage" note left out. I have no absolute proof of this connection.

I note you reside in Rhode Island. Are there many McLaughlin's up there? I once met a fellow McLaughlin at Grandfather Mtn. Highland Games from the Northeast U.S. and his spelling was Claflin (No Mac).

Thanks again.

Paul

[marilyn morning]

Hi Paul,

Yes, there are many McLaughlins here in Rhode Island, but none that I'm related too yet My McLaughlin relative is also from Argyll, Scotland, although I've not begun this area of research in my family. Maybe we have a connection along the line? Good Luck with your continued research.

Regards
Marilyn