MacLea-type names in the OPRs for Argyll from Earliest Times

ftp://kitenet.net/pub/home/kyle/MacLeas_in_Argyll_from_OPR.doc

Earliest records in Argyll are for Inveraray and Glenaray, 1680.

The first 2 records (1680, 1681) are McOnlea. Next are McLeas beginning in 1725. We see more McLeas there in 1726-30, 33, 36-37, 39-40, 43, 45, and 1750.

First Livingstons appear in Argyll in 1729 in Kildalton.

Until 1745, we have only two parishes to look at: Inveraray and Kildalton.

Inveraray is ALL McLeas and Kildalton is ALL Livingston(e) up until that point.

In 1747, we see McLeas in Kilfinan parish.

In 1748, we see Livingstone in Kilmartin parish.

Inveraray shows a MacLea in 1750, Malcolm, who in 1752 with the birth of his son John has become a Livingstone. Despite his family going by McOnlea/McLea from 1680 to 1750. From then on, Inveraray is Livingstone country.

Now, in Kilfinan, where we saw McLeas beginning 1747, 1749, in 1752 they are still going by McLea. Three more MacLeas are born there in 1755.

First records for Kilbrandon and Kilchattan are 1756... all Livingston(e)s.

Ardchattan records start 1759... all Livingston(e). Same with Kilninver and Kilmelfort. Lismore Appin and Duror also.

Cambelltown starts 1762... all Livingston(e)s.

Lochgoilhead 1766... same.

Dunoon and Kilmun starts in 1754 and in 1768 with a MacLea marriage.... Next record in 1788 has Livingstones. And then there's a rogue McLea marriage in 1804 and births in 1806 and 1809! A McLae shows up there in 1855.

There is a McLea marriage in Inverchaolain in 1772 as well.

Strathlachlan starts 1772 and Bowmore or Kilarrow 1773, both with Livingston(e)s.

Inverchaolain has more McLea births in 1773 and 1774.

Glassary has a McLea marriage in 1775. Interestingly, this is between Duncan LEITCH and "More MacLea"... Given that the Leitch family is the same name was see with the other McLeas in Kilmodan, I wonder whether this might be another sibling/cousin marriage here from the same two families. This would be in keeping with the beginning of transition of the names in the Kilmodan family beginning in 1776. The next name in Glassary is a Dugald Livingstone marriage in 1776, interestingly.

Lochgoilhead which had Livingston(e)s from 1766, shows up with McLea in 1775! We have another in 1777, 1778, 1780, 1782, 1784, 1786, 1788, same family. But we have a Livingstone in 1778 in another family there too. And interestingly, there is a mysterious "Archibald Baron MacLea" who marries Mary MacDougal there in 1784 as well.

Glenorchy and Inishail begins 1776, all Livingston(e).

In Kilbrandon and Kilchattan, we've seen Livingston(e)s since 1756, however in 1777 we see a daughter born to a John McLea, and also a marriage of a Mary Livingston in the same year and parish. (Not sure if John was called Livingston originally without looking at the OPRs themselves.... there is no record of his marriage to Sarah Smith in the index.)

South Knapdale begins 1781 with Livingston(e). Same with Craignish 1782. Same with Kilmore and Kilbride in 1783. And Muckairn in 1783. And Glenorchy and Inishail in 1786. North Knapdale 1786.

Saddell and Skipness starts with a MacLea birth in 1787 to Malcolm MacLea and Barbara MacCollum.... Next record in 1803 has Livingstone, unknown if related family.

Kilcalmonell and Kilberry begins 1794 with Livingston(e). Same with Torosay and Kinlochspelvie 1795 and Colonsay in 1797 and Kilchrenan and Dalavich 1800 and Morvern 1806 and Kilfinichen and Kilvickeon 1807 and Ardnamurchan and Strontian or Sunart 1808. Also Gigha and Cara 1808 and Jura 1811 and Kilmeny (Argyll) 1811 and Kilninian and Kilmore 1811 and Muckairn 1812 and Strachur 1816. (At this point, I stopped.)

There is a McLay that shows up in Southend in 1848. And in Campbelltown in 1851 and 1856.

So, with the exception of MUCH later records, for the extant records (as of April 2007 from ScotlandsPeople) in the OPRs for ARGYLL only, we see:

Kilmodan parish has McLeas up until 1795. Lochgoilhead does too until 1788. Glassary until 1775. Inverchaolain until 1774. Kilbrandon and Kilchattan has a rogue McLea in 1777, but no others. Kilfinan has a rogue McLea in 1831… prior to that the last one was 1755. Saddell and Skipness has 1 MacLea in 1787. Only Livingstons at 1803 and after.

Other than as noted above, there are no McLea type names in the vast majority of the existing Argyll registers!

Hope this helps! Kyle=

Bute MIs, McLea Family.

Not including the Rev Dr Archibald MacLea's headstone, there are a few other McLea stones on Bute (although some have probably been lost over the years).

These are found at St Mary's Chapel.

From Alison Ramsay:

134 Samuel Duncan d. 18.3.1869 aged 78, wife Jane Duncan d. 28.10.1890 aged 78, children James d. 29.8.1840 in infancy, Archibald Weir d. 30.5.1846 aged 5, James d. 11.1.1850 aged 5, Samuel d. 5.3.1850 aged 12, Walter d. 20.9.1850 aged 14mths, Daniel d. 17.1.1880 aged 37, Jane d. 5.3.1902 aged 54 (husband Robert Service), Catherine McLea d. 6.5.1923 aged 89.

237 Donal McLea (merchant) in Rothesay d. 17-8, wife Janet Jameson 28.2.1728.

250 Stone erected by Robert McLea shipbuilder Rothesay, d. 12.3.1895 aged 77, wife Grace Miller d. 8.8.1906 aged 75, children John Thomas d.1.12.1875 aged 3, Robert Miller drowned at Tuticorin India 20.5.1878 aged 16, Mary Cumming d. 15.4.1879 aged 21, Margaret Cumming d. 19.11.1889 aged 22. (west side) John McLea mariner, d. Rothesay 7.1837, wife Ann Mackinlay d. 4.1826, sons Thomas, late shipmaster d. 7.1847,John, late shipmaster d. 1874 aged 60.

251 Thomas McLea, shipmaster, d. 10.7.1847

427 Stone erected by John & Samuel Duncan, heritors here in memory of father John Duncan late shipmaster d. 1.11.1793 aged 40, mother Catherine McLea d. 5.2.1830 aged 74.

It seems that the latter inscriptions all refer to a family of shipbuilders with the McLea name on the island. I'll have to look through the OPRs to see what I find in terms of births and/or marriages.

I know that none of these are in my direct line, at least to 1800 or so. Before that, my line has a little more guesswork in it in places, so I suppose it is possible that the older headstones could be ancestors.

It's always interesting to read about other McLeas on the island, including one who was living there as late as 1923!

Kyle=

McLea Shipbuilders

Regarding the McLea Shipbuilders of Rothesay on the Isle of Bute, we recently discovered some facts. These McLeas may turn out to be collateral lines of our McLeas.

I have family from Bute and believe that my McLeas originate there. However, my direct line had left Bute by 1818. I know that some remained on Bute until the 1841 census, but there were not many left. I had wondered about the "I McLea Shipbuilders" I had seen record of, but I failed to find any good information about them either.

We had discussed this a couple of years ago on the Clan Forum, and had failed to find much:

http://www.clanmclea.co.uk/forum/show-message.asp?ID=1795

You can see some ships built by I McLea here:

http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/search.asp (choose I McLea Rothesay from the drop down box)

The Mary Colville is shown here, one such ship: http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=20994

This book has a reference to a ship built 1871:

http://books.google.com/books?id=ARRUAAAAMAAJ&q=mclea+rothesay&dq=mclea+rothesay&num=20&ei=QrVsSYWmNYWcMvS5xccI&pgis=1

From Alison Ramsay at Bute Sons and Daughters, a history project:

I have managed to obtain some further information about the McLea shipbuilders from one of my colleagues. This is what he has to say:

"The McLea family owned the Rothesay Ship Building Yard. The shipyard was sited roughly where the putting green closest to the War Memorial is. In 1861, McLea is listed as a Master Shipwright, employing 14 men and 21 boys. Ten years later this had risen to over 20 men ( source 1861/71 Rothesay Census ). Funnily at that same period, ancestors of my own had a Slaters Business and Coal and Lime business, right next door to the Shipyard.

It was thought that the yard made Schooners of between 50 and 150 tons, and went into decline when more steel hulled ships were being built on the Clyde. At the same time Lord Bute got up a scheme to help unemployed men on Bute, and a fair bit of land was reclaimed from the sea. At one time there was no promenade or gardens etc, the sea edge being just at the entrance to the Discovery Centre !!.

There were also other McLea,s on Bute at that time, and from the dregs of my memory, had either a Church or a School conection."

So Kyle, I'm afraid I don't think these are the McLeas you are researching but it may help to pad out some other details.

I have also had a look at Headstone Inscriptions for St Mary's Chapel, Rothesay, and there are six McLeas there. I can let you have details if you like."

I asked her for the additional information on the inscriptions.

I will add more information here as I find it!

Kyle=

Rev. Duncan MacLea of Dull, father of Dr. Archibald of the Bute MacLeas

I think this borne out in other records, but I thought I would keep this record anyway:

http://books.google.com/books?id=llgJAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA378&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1

In giving Established Ministers of Kirkmichael, the 8th minister is listed as:

Duncan MacLea (eldest son of Arch. M'L., mercht., Rothesay, schoolmaster at Kilmodan 1699, and at Inverary, which he left in 1708.) Ord. Sep. 1712. Trans. to Doul (Dull) in 1717.

Kyle=

R. Kenneth MacLea of 79 Worth Street, NYC, 1908, before Congress

Other interesting MacLea find. I don't (yet) have R.K. in my family, but he may be related, there were several branches of my family that apparently came over separately from Glasgow (ignorant of each other) in the late 19th century.

http://books.google.com/books?id=QnAvAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA5674&vq=maclea&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1

http://books.google.com/books?id=VK4sAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA4567&vq=maclea&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1

More about R.K.: http://books.google.com/books?id=CuE3AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA129&vq=maclea&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1

http://books.google.com/books?id=wvhMAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA155&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1#PPA155,M1

http://books.google.com/books?id=I-EvAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA220&vq=maclea&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1

He seems to sometimes be referred to as R.B., although this may be a relative or a mistake: http://books.google.com/books?id=IJMNAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA911&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1

R.K. MacLea was representing cotton importers from NY apparently. Beyond that and his address, it's hard to know much about him. I'll have to look for him in the 1910 and other Censuses at some point.

Kyle=

Descendant of Dr MacLea of Rothesay

Well, a recent Google books search did yield substantial information on one of the descendants of Dr. (Archibald, presumably) MacLea (of Rothesay, presumably, although only "Church of Scotland" is mentioned).

Charles Gascoigne Maclea, Esq. (1793-1864)

http://books.google.com/books?id=esIHAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA516&vq=maclea&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1

He lived in Leeds and married, though he apparently had no issue. There is apparently a carved font in St. Mark's Church, Woodhouse that he presented to that church. His business (Maclea and March) was flax-spinning equipment, among other things. He was an alderman of Leeds and on the Boards of several companies or organizations.

An interesting read!

Some more about his machines: http://books.google.com/books?id=lG5gRONydrkC&pg=PA27&vq=maclea&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1 http://books.google.com/books?id=UywDAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA1-PA25&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1#PRA1-PA25,M1 http://books.google.com/books?id=SKhLAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA21&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1

And the man as Alderman: http://books.google.com/books?id=JVsJAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PT29&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1#PRA1-PT29,M1 http://books.google.com/books?id=XSIwAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA417&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1

His entry in the Leeds directory: http://books.google.com/books?id=C8cHAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA582&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1

And other interests: <http://books.google.com/books?id=04gPAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA592&dq=MacLea&as_brr=1

Kyle=

Welcome to Emmet!

About two weeks ago, Holly and I welcomed our newest nephew to the fold.

Announcing: Emmet Padraig Muldowney Portland

Born to Erin Eileen and Adrian Portland at 6:41 pm a couple of Tuesdays ago, Emmet measured 6 pounds, 9 ounces, and a leggy 21 inches!

Young Emmet displayed some prize-fighter traits, having secured a couple of bumps and bruises in the birth process, but was otherwise undeterred. His parents are proud of him, a beautiful boy!

Congrats to Erin and Adrian!

Kyle=

Alice Baynes MacLea, a member of the Baltimore MacLea family, was the subject of a recent email from Jim MacLea in Texas. Seems he found his relative on eBay, with a cabinet card for sale of her. Great find, Jim!

Here it is:

Alice B. MacLea was the daughter of William W. & Sarah E. Baynes. She married Daniel MacLea about 1896. In the 1910 census, the MacLeas are enumerated at a Charles Street address where Daniel is identified as a lumber dealer. Children included Daniel C., Robert H. & Thomas R.

This cabinet card was made in the G.C. Mueller Photo Studio probably in the late 1890s. It was purchased on E-bay from a dealer in Oregon

Jim MacLea

I'll upload the picture when I think of it!

Kyle=

My wife Holly and I are moving to Delaware in the next week or so, which is why I've been out of touch these past couple of months. I should be adding more to this wiki again soon.

Kyle=

I found this book online containing "English, Scottish, Irish, and Welsh" tunes, apparently first printed about 1840, by John Rook:

http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~rja14/musicfiles/rook/rook_pages/cover.htm

http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~rja14/musicfiles/rook/rook_pages/index.htm

I don't know who the McLae referenced is, but here is his tune:

http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~rja14/musicfiles/rook/rook_pages/196.htm

Note that my eldest 100% confirmed ancestor (at this point), John McLea, b. 1790, d. 1830s, is referred to as John McLae in his 1818 marriage record.

Kyle=