Where is Christopher Macdonald?.....

CatrionaL · Post by **CatrionaL** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 12:01 pm

Caroline wrote:Thank you very much for all that info eilthireach.

Just one another question - is Inishivale, where he was living in 1881, on any maps? I can find Howbeg and Howmore which were next door, but no Inishivale.

Caroline

Hi Caroline.

On the Multi Map of Uist, almost directly south of Howmore and just north of Loch Fada, you'll find a place called SNISHIVAL (snisheabhal). I think that's your place.

Regards

Catriona

CatrionaL · Post by **CatrionaL** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 12:03 pm

Caroline

Meant to say "Delighted you found your Christopher".

Catriona

ellenavon · Post by **ellenavon** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 1:24 pm

Hi Caroline

Two possibilities for you for futhering your South Uist research.

1. I'm currently transcribing 1851 South Uist for Freecen (slowly, as the quality of the writing is very poor and faint!). If and when I come across your families I'll let you know. With any luck you may get some relatives visiting.

2. Google "Co Leis Thu?" for Bill Lawson's excellent website and lots of info and genealogical publications on the isles.

Best of luck

Ellen.

Caroline · Post by **Caroline** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 3:29 pm

CatrionaL wrote:On the Multi Map of Uist, almost directly south of Howmore and just north of Loch Fada, you'll find a place called SNISHIVAL (snisheabhal). I think that's your place.

Found it Catriona!

I was looking north of Howmore as that's where it appeared to be according to the 1881 census index, but that looks like the correct place.

Thanks,

Caroline

Caroline · Post by **Caroline** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 3:40 pm

ellenavon wrote: I'm currently transcribing 1851 South Uist for Freecen (slowly, as the quality of the writing is very poor and faint!). If and when I come across your families I'll let you know. With any luck you may get some relatives visiting.

Thanks Ellen that's very generous of you. Hopefully Donalds father Gilchrist will be still about which should make it easier to identify them.

ellenavon wrote:Google "Co Leis Thu?" for Bill Lawson's excellent website and lots of info and genealogical publications on the isles.

Just had a quick look at this site and it looks very promising. I was just wondering where to go next as this is new territory for me and you've answered my question. I've never found an ancestor who has lived further north than Dundee before!

Still don't understand why he moved all the way to Greenock though.

Caroline

Caroline · Post by **Caroline** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:43 am

Just thought I'd give you an update on this.

This morning I received an email from Paisley Library saying that they had found a poor relief application for Christopher and his birthplace was listed as SOUTH UIST! So this confirms that Gilchrist was actually my Christopher.

So a big thank you to all who helped me demolish this brick wall that's been there for years. I'd almost given up hope of ever finding him.

Caroline

mallog · Post by **mallog** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 3:51 pm

Don't know what others think but this has made fascinating reading for me. Good information from eilthireach.

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 8:07 pm

Hi caroline
There's a simple answer why he moved to Greenock WORK!

On a croft with limited land he was not the eldest son so would not be likely to get even a piece of the croft so, like many others from the Islands, they came to Glasgow.
Greenock and Port Glasgow are the main entry points to anyone sailing to Glasgow as he had to do. If he found work there he didn't have to go the extra miles to the city.

Port Glasgow saw lots of Irish immigrants too.
It was a major port dealing in tobacco imports and re-exports to the continent. It had sugar processing plants. ropeworks, shipbuilding. An ideal stop for an untrained country lad to get unskilled work.

Emigrants often left from there too so it was an important staging point for lots of activities.
Don't knock it or the locals will come and get you!

Russell

Caroline · Post by **Caroline** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 8:57 pm

Hi Russell,

Thanks for that info I understand a bit better now why he ended up in Greenock. However I wasn't knocking Greenock in my earlier post (wouldn't dare!) - I just couldn't work out why he would pick Greenock instead of one of the bigger towns further North that were nearer South Uist as I thought he would get a boat to Oban initially.

Caroline

karenmcc · Post by **karenmcc** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 12:33 am

Hi Caroline,

If you go to this page

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com ... invmc.html

there is a person listed who is researching Mcdonalds from South Uist. This site also has some census info and other stuff on it. Hope this is of some help.

Karen