Sample Report

This report was commissioned in 2013.  The client was specific about the information to be researched.

The cost of this report was £250.

 

Research into the Ancestry of

JAMES MACKINNON

 

The information received stated that James Mackinnon died in Edinburgh in 1952.

 

To confirm the details, a copy of the death certificate was located:

 

On 28th December 1952 at 2.20 p.m. at 59 Priestfield Road, Edinburgh (usual residence 12 Oxford Street, Edinburgh, James Mackinnon (Bookbinder, retired), widower of Margaret Watson, died, aged 81 years.  Parents given as Angus Mackinnon (Brewery Cooper) (deceased) and Margaret Mackinnon m.s. Calder (deceased).

Cause of death: Gastric Carcinoma.

Informant: Agnes Cook (Niece).

(Ref: D - 1952 - 685/06 - 662: Edinburgh)

 

It was known there was a connection to the Isle of Islay, off Scotland’s West Coast and the request was to find these links.  Firstly his birth certificate was located to gain details of his parents’ marriage, which are generally included on Scottish birth certificates:

 

On 12th October 1871, at 6.05 a.m. at 8 Albert Street, Glasgow, James McKinnon was born, son of Angus McKinnon (Cooper, journeyman) and Margaret McKinnon m.s. Calder.

Parents’ marriage: 25th September 1868 in Glasgow.

Informant: Angus McKinnon (Father).

(Ref: B - 1871 - 644/01 - 2095: Glasgow)

 

The relevant marriage was then found:

 

On 25th September 1868 at 2 Lynedoch Street, Glasgow, after Banns according to the Forms of the United Presbyterian Church:

Groom - Angus McKinnon (Cooper, journeyman) (Bachelor) aged 24 years, living at 89 Glebe Street, Glasgow, son of John McKinnon (Bottle Packer) and Agnes McKinnon m.s. Carmichael.

Bride - Margaret Calder (Muslin Darner) (Spinster) aged 21 years, living at 21 Castle Street, Glasgow, daughter of James Calder (Cooper, journeyman) and Margaret Calder m.s. Heggie.

Witnesses: Allan Morrison and Margaret McEwan.

(Ref: M - 1868 - 644/08 - 282: Glasgow)

 

Next, a search through the Census records would give more information.  Census returns are required by law every 10 years in Scotland and have been recorded since 1841.  The details supplied by every household provide invaluable information.  On a specific night the occupants of each house are given by name, age, occupation and birthplace.  Presently the most up to date information available for public examination is from the 1911 Census.

 

The family were located in 1871, as follows:

 

8 Albert Street, Glasgow

Angus

McKinnon

Head

M

26 y

Cooper

born

Argyll, Islay

Margaret

McKinnon

Wife

M

23 y

 

born

Glasgow

John

McKinnon

Son     

 

1 y

 

born

Glasgow

(Ref: C - 1871 - Glasgow - 644/01 - Book 77 - Page 22)

According to this schedule the accommodation contained 2 rooms with 1 or more windows.

 

In 1881 the family were still in Glasgow, as follows:

 

74 St. Mungo Street, Glasgow

Angus

McKinnon

Head

M

35 y

Cooper

 

born

Argyll, Islay

Margaret

McKinnon

Wife

M

33 y

 

born

Glasgow

John

McKinnon

Son

 

11 y

Scholar

born

Glasgow

James

McKinnon

Son

 

9 y

Scholar

born

Glasgow

Margaret

McKinnon

Daughter

 

4 y

 

born

Glasgow

Angus

McKinnon

Son

 

1 y

 

born

Glasgow

William

Dickson

Boarder

U

22 y

Chemist &

Druggist

Born

Lanark, Carstairs

(Ref: C - 1881 - Glasgow - 644/06 - Book 22 - Page 13)

According to this schedule the accommodation contained 2 rooms with 1 or more windows.

 

In 1891 the family were still in Glasgow, as follows:

 

111 John Knox Street, Glasgow

Angus

McKinnon

Head

M

45 y

Cooper

 

born

Argyll, Bowmore

Margaret

McKinnon

Wife

M

43 y

 

born

Glasgow

James

McKinnon

Son

U

19 y

Bookbinder

Apprentice

born

Glasgow

Margaret

McKinnon

Daughter

 

14 y

Scholar

born

Glasgow

Angus

McKinnon

Son

 

12 y

Scholar

born

Glasgow

Marcus

McKinnon

Son

 

9 y

Scholar

born

Glasgow

James

Calder

Father-

in-Law

W

68 y

Retired

Cooper

born

Caithness, Wick

William

Dickson

Boarder

U

33 y

Chemist &

Druggist

born

Lanark, Carstairs

(Ref: C - 1891 - Glasgow - 644/03 - Book 50 - Page 21)

According to this schedule the accommodation contained 3 rooms with 1 or more windows.

This 1891 Census also notes that Angus McKinnon (senior) can speak Gaelic & English.

Also noted that son John is no longer within the household.

 

In 1901 the family were still in Glasgow, as follows:

 

111 John Knox Street, Glasgow

Angus

MacKinnon

Head

W

54 y

Cooper

 

born

Argyll, Islay

Angus

MacKinnon

Son

S

20 y

Cooper

Apprentice

born

Glasgow

Marcus

MacKinnon

Son

S

19 y

Optician

Apprentice

born

Glasgow

William

Emslie

Lodger

W

59 y

Cooper

born

Glasgow

(Ref: C - 1901 - Glasgow - 644/03 - Book 65 - Page 26)

According to this schedule the accommodation contained 3 rooms with 1 or more windows.

This 1901 Census also notes that Angus McKinnon (senior) can speak Gaelic & English.

Also noted that Angus (senior) is now a widower and that children James and Margaret are no longer within the household.

 

In 1911 sadly Angus was resident in Barnhill Poorhouse in Glasgow:

 

Barnhill Poorhouse, Glasgow

Angus

McKinnon

Inmate

W

64 y

Cooper

born

Argyll, Bowmore

(Ref: C - 1911 - Glasgow  - 644/05 - Book 38 - Page 09)

 

From the above Census records it is now known that the link with the Isle of Islay is through James’ father Angus McKinnon.

 

From the details of the marriage of Angus McKinnon and Margaret Calder in 1868, it appears Angus’ parents names were John McKinnon and Agnes Carmichael.  To confirm this, the death certificate for Angus McKinnon is obtained:

 

On 8th June 1917 at 5.30 a.m. at Barnhill Poor House, Glasgow (usual residence 45 Polmadie Street, Glasgow) Angus Mackinnon (formerly Cooper, journeyman), widower of Margaret Calder, died, aged 73 years.  Parents given as John Mackinnon (General Labourer) (deceased) and Agnes Mackinnon m.s. Carmichael (deceased).

Cause of death: Bronchitis, 3 days.

Informant: Margaret Mackinnon (Daughter-in-Law) 12 Oxford Street, Edinburgh.

(Ref: D - 1917 - 644/05 - 702: Glasgow)

 

At this time the death certificate for James’ mother, Margaret (Calder) Mackinnon was also obtained:

 

On 23rd March 1897 at 9.10 p.m. at 111 John Knox Street, Glasgow, Margaret McKinnon, married to Angus McKinnon (Cooper, journeyman), died, aged 49 years.  Parents given as James Calder (Cooper) (deceased) and Margaret Calder m.s. Heggie (deceased).

Cause of death: Hypertrophy of liver, 3 months.  Dropsy, 1 month.

Informant: A McKinnon (Widower) (present).

(Ref: D - 1897 - 644/03 - 643: Glasgow)

 

With Angus’ parents confirmed as John McKinnon and Agnes Carmichael, the search can now continue for details of the previous generation.  In 1868 when Angus McKinnon and Margaret Calder married, it was noted that none of the parents were listed as deceased.  The death certificate for John McKinnon should supply his parents’ names.  It was located as follows:

 

On 10th June 1875 at 9.00 p.m. at 120 Glebe Street, Glasgow, John McKinnon (Packer in a Chemical Work) married to Agnes Carmichael, died, aged 66 years.  Parents given as Hugh McKinnon (Shoe Maker, master) (deceased) and Mary McKinnon m.s. McKinnon (deceased).

Cause of death: Bronchitis, years. Paralysis, a month.

Informant: Angus McKinnon (Son) 105 Kennedy Street, Glasgow.

(Ref: D - 1875 - 644/06 - 892: Glasgow)

 

At this time the death certificate for Agnes (Carmichael) MacKinnon was also located:

 

On 1st September 1882 at 1.10 p.m. at 74 North St. Mungo Street, Glasgow, Agnes MacKinnon, widow of John MacKinnon (Chemical Works Labourer), died, aged 67 years.  Parents given as Angus Carmichael (Farmer) (deceased) and Mary Carmichael m.s. Campbell (deceased).

Cause of death: Hemiplegia, 35 days.

Informant: A MacKinnon (Son).

(Ref: D - 1882 - 644/06 - 866: Glasgow)

 

It will now be possible to locate John McKinnon and his family on the 1871 census.  They are located in Glasgow, as follows:

 

81 Parliamentary Road, Glasgow

John

McKinnon

Head

M

60 y

Bottle

Packer

born

Argyll, Kilarrow

Agnes

McKinnon

Wife

M

56 y

 

born

Argyll, Salen

John

McKinnon

Son     

U

15 y

Printer

Compositor

born

Glasgow

(Ref: C - 1871 - Glasgow - 644/01 - Book 87/01  - Page 09)

According to this schedule the accommodation contained 1 room with 1 or more windows.

 

Angus McKinnon was aged 24 years at the time of his marriage in 1868 to Margaret Calder, and therefore born approximately 1844.  In the hope that he was still at home with his parents in the 1861 Census, this record was located:

 

71 Parliamentary Road, Glasgow

John

McKinnon

Head

M

48 y

Labourer

 

born

Islay, Bowmore

Agnes

McKinnon

Wife

M

47 y

 

born

Mull, Bowmore

Hugh

McKinnon

Son

U

19 y

Bottle

Blower

born

Islay, Bowmore

Angus

McKinnon

Son

U

17 y

Sawyer

born

Islay, Bowmore

Agnes

McKinnon

Daughter

 

9 y

Scholar

born

Glasgow

John

McKinnon

Son

 

6 y

 

born

Glasgow

(Ref: C - 1861 - Glasgow - 644/01 - Book 95/01  - Pages 02 & 03)

According to this schedule the accommodation contained 2 rooms with 1 or more windows.

 

At this time the 1851 Census was also located:

 

135 Garngad Road, Glasgow

John

McKinnon

Head

M

38 y

General

Labourer

born

Argyll, Bowmore

Agnes

McKinnon

Wife

M

36 y

 

born

Argyll, Tobermory

Hugh

McKinnon

Son

 

9 y

Scholar

born

Argyll, Tobermory

Angus

McKinnon

Son

 

7 y

Scholar

born

Argyll, Bowmore

(Ref: C - 1851 - Glasgow - 644/01 - Book 40 - Page 21)

 

In Scotland, statutory registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths commenced in 1855 and all the foregoing certificates have been acquired using these records.  Prior to 1855 records were kept by the individual parishes of the Established Church (Church of Scotland) and these are referred to as the “Old Parish Registers” or “OPR’s”.  They comprise records of births & baptisms, banns & marriages and deaths & burials and were maintained by the individual Parish Minister or Session Clerk.  Since there was no established format, record keeping varied enormously from Parish to Parish and also from year to year.  As a result, the information may be sparse, unreliable and difficult to read.

 

To find a birth or baptism record for Angus McKinnon it is necessary to consult the above mentioned OPR’s.  A very useful index has been created and compiled by the Latter Day Saints (Mormon Church).  This is known as the International Genealogical Index (IGI) and contains most births and marriages up to approximately 1875 including a mass from the OPR’s.  This IGI index is not perfect, indeed in some areas of Scotland, only the female baptisms from the OPR’s have been included.  It is hoped that as time elapses, the male baptisms may be added.

 

A search through the IGI index provides the following information:

 

Children of John McKinnon and Agnes Carmichael:

 

            Janet - 25th August 1848 - Glasgow.

            Agnes - 1st January 1852 - Glasgow.

           

A further search for the marriage of John McKinnon and Agnes Carmichael produced an interesting entry for 9th August 1840 in Erskine, Renfrewshire, which may be worth further investigation at a later date.

 

As John McKinnon’s parents are already known from his 1875 death certificate, this family group can now be established.

 

No mention can so far be found for the marriage of Hugh McKinnon and Mary McKinnon.

 

An IGI search for children of Hugh McKinnon and Mary McKinnon produced a total of 6 daughters.  As it is known there was at least one son, a detailed inspection of the actual Old Parish Registers was undertaken for the Kilarrow Parish on the Isle of Islay in the County of Argyll.  The following 9 children were located:

 

            A Son                         16th December 1799

            Twin: Mary                  4th January 1802

            Twin: Florence           4th January 1802

            Katherine                   18th February 1804

            Nancy                         29th April 1806

            Peggy                         2nd July 1808

            John                           9th December 1810

            Marrion                      30th May 1813

            Alexander                  1st November 1815

 

All the details are noted as being baptisms.  At the time of the births of their first born son, twins Mary & Florence, and Katherine, Nancy and Peggy, it is noted that Hugh & Mary McKinnon were living in a hamlet named “Kynagarry”.  When John, Marion and Alexander were born, the family were living at the nearby hamlet of “Neriby”.

 

It can therefore be estimated that Hugh McKinnon and Mary McKinnon were married in approximately 1798.  A presumed age at marriage of 23 years would give an approximate birth year for both Hugh & Mary of 1775.

 

No record has been found for Hugh McKinnon in the 1841 Census, so it could be assumed he was no longer alive at that time.

 

To further add to the family circle of James Mackinnon, details for his wife Margaret are researched.

 

Margaret’s death certificate was located, as follows:

 

On 13th November 1948 at 4.30 p.m. at 12 Oxford Street, Edinburgh, Margaret Mackinnon, married to James Mackinnon (Bookbinder, retired), died, aged 71 years.  Parents given as John Watson (Joiner) (deceased) and Martha Watson m.s. Shea (deceased).

Cause of death: Chronic Asthma, Cardiac Degeneration.

Informant: Agnes Cook (Niece) 59 Priestfield Road, Edinburgh (Present)

(Ref: D - 1948 - 685/06 - 656: Edinburgh)

 

An IGI search for further children of John Watson and Martha Shea produced the following results:

 

            Robert            29th August 1860                  born Anderston

            Janet              28th July 1862                       born Anderston

            John               9th November 1864               born Blythswood

            James           21st June 1867                       born High Church

            Martha            31st August 1871                  born Clyde

            Francis           15th October 1873                born Clyde

 

(Anderston, Blythswood, High Church and Clyde are all districts within the City of Glasgow).

 

In 1891 the family are still in Glasgow, as follows:

 

22 Portugal Street, Glasgow

John

Watson

Head

M

52 y

Joiner

 

born

Glasgow

Martha

Watson

Wife

M

51 y

 

born

Ireland

James

Watson

Son

U

23 y

Brass

Finisher

born

Glasgow

Martha

Watson

Daughter

U

19 y

Umbrella

Coverer

born

Glasgow

Francis

Watson

Son

U

17 y

General

Labourer

born

Glasgow

Margaret

Watson

Daughter

 

13 y

Bookfolder,

Apprentice

born

Glasgow

William

Watson

Son

 

9 y

Scholar

born

Glasgow

(Ref: C - 1891 - Glasgow - 644/12 - Book 80 - Page 11)

According to this schedule the accommodation contained 2 rooms with 1 or more windows.

 

As a starting point for further investigation into this family, the death certificates for John Watson and Martha Shea, parents of Margaret, were located:

 

On 24th October 1910 at 3.35 p.m. at 65 South Portland Street, Glasgow, Martha Watson, married to John Watson (Joiner, retired), died, aged 71 years.  Parents given as John Shea (Soldier) (deceased) and Mary Shea m.s. McKinnon (deceased).

Cause of death: Cerebral Apoplexy, 8 days.

Informant: James Watson (Son).

(Ref: D - 1910 - 644/07 - 625: Glasgow)

 

On 25th January 1914 at 00.15 p.m. at 65 South Portland Street, Glasgow, John Watson (Sheet Iron Works Engine Keeper), widower of Martha Shea, died, aged 75 years.  Parents given as Robert Watson (Joiner) (deceased) and Margaret Watson m.s. Marshall (deceased).

Cause of death: Cerebral Haemorrhage and Exhaustion.

Informant: William Watson (Son) (present).

(Ref: D - 1914 - 644/17 - 63: Glasgow)

 

Finally to round off this investigation, details are below of the marriage of James Mackinnon and Margaret Watson in 1899:

 

On 29th December 1899 at 28 Glassford Street, Glasgow, after Banns according to the Forms of the Established Church of Scotland:

Groom - James McKinnon (Bookbinder, journeyman) (Bachelor) aged 28 years, living at 138 Farringdon Road, London, son of Angus McKinnon (Cooper, journeyman) and Margaret McKinnon m.s. Calder.

Bride – Margaret Watson (Spinster) aged 22 years, living at 12 Portugal Street, Glasgow, daughter of John Watson (Joiner, journeyman) and Martha Watson m.s. Shea.

Witnesses: Angus McKinnon and Janet Johnston.

(Ref: M - 1899 - 644/07 - 1210: Glasgow)

 

The young newlyweds headed off to London to welcome in the new century.

 

In the 1901 Census, James and Margaret were still in London:

 

11 Owens Row, London

James

Mackinnon

Head

M

29 y

Bookbinder

born

Scotland

Margaret

Mackinnon

Wife

M

23 y

 

born

Scotland

(Ref: C - 1901 - London  - RG 13 - Folio 65 - Page 51)

 

By the time of the 1911 Census, James and Margaret had returned to Scotland and were living in Edinburgh:

 

4 St Patrick Square, Edinburgh

James

Mackinnon

Head

M

39 y

Printer’s

Bookbinder

born

Glasgow

Maggie

Mackinnon

Wife

M

33 y

 

born

Glasgow

Agnes Murray

Mackinnon

Visitor    

 

3 y

 

born

Glasgow

(Ref: C - 1911 - Edinburgh - 685/05 - Book 56  - Page 02)

 

James and Margaret were married for almost 49 years.  Although they had no children of their own, they did adopt a little girl in 1909.

 

Family Tree Chart

Notes for abbreviations on Census Records:

 

M = Married

U = Unmarried

S = Single

W = Widowed