Alexander O'Kane Cameron

[Paddy]

Alexeander O'Kane (sometimes spelled O'Kain) Cameron, born ca 1801 in Lochaber, Invernessshire, Scotland, immigrated to Canada and settled in White Lake, Renfrew County, Upper Canada. We have most of the data about Alexander after his marriage to Flora Gillespie (also of Lochaber) in 1834, but have hit a brick wall as to his parents in Scotland. Searching the Scottish parish records has yielded no results, and has just cost $$$. Does anyone out in cyberspace have any information about these two, or some advice? If, as it seems, these Camerons followed tradition in naming their children, the first son was Allen, second was Archibald, and the third was Alexander O'Kane. The first daughter was Flora, the second was Isabella, and the third was Catherine. This could be a lead to the parents, but we haven't had any luck so far.

[ChrisDoak]

Hi Paddy,

Welcome to the Forum.

Whilst I am not able to help you identify the names of Alexander O'Kane Cameron's parents,I think I am able to determine which Cameron family in Lochaber he came from.

My guess,going by his middle name,is that he was related to a character called Ocain/Okean/Okane Cameron,who was a tenant on the Estate of Lochiel at the end of the 18th century.Probobly Alexander's grandfather (but maybe even his father,or uncle),Ocain features heavily in the Estate Records of the period,as a tenant on three farms there.

At Glenpeanbeg ,at the west end of Loch Arkaig,he held a tenancy from the late 1760s to 1789,and it was here that he lived.At the adjoining farm Lagganfern,a tenancy till that same year,and at Sallachen,on the north shore of Loch Arkaig,a short tenancy from 1777 to 1782 (when he was evicted).

It is difficult to be too sure of Ocain Cameron's ancestory,but he was definitely closely related to the famous Donald Cameron of Glenpean,who notably assisted Bonnie Prince Charlie on his flight after the Battle of Culloden.Donald's descendants are known to have left Lochaber for Canada in the first decade of the 1800s.

.Ocain was married at least once - to an Isabella McDougall from Appin in 1772,and had at least one son,Donald,baptized in 1786.He seems to disappear from all the Estate documents round about 1789,which would suggest that he died then (or maybe not?).He had a brother John (died 1777 at Sallachen),and a sister Margaret (8 kids with Donald Cameron in Achnasaul),subsequently living at Lagganfern when widowed in 1773.

He seems to have been well thought of by his descendants,and his name was re-used by subsequent generations of his family.So,as well as your ancestor,we should also note that an O'Kane Cameron was an Ensign in the 79th Cameron Highlanders Regiment in 1798,and more recently,a Private Okain Cameron (from Glasgow) of the 15th Battalion,Highland Light Infantry,was killed in France in August 1916.

Where Ocain got his name from is a bit of a mystery,but is surely connected with the old Lochaber fable concerning one "John Kane Cameron". John's mother had lost several children,not one of whom had been spared.When pregnant again,a voice came to her one night,telling her she would have a son.He would survive if named "Cath-ian".She did so,and he was spared!

Hope this has been of interest.

Regards,Chris.

[Paddy]

Hi Chris
Thanks! This might be a breakthrough for us. We are going to assume for now that the Ocain/Okane etc. that you speak of is possibly the grandfather of the Okane that came to Canada we think in 1817, settled in White Lake Ontario, married Flora Gillespie and started having children around 1835.
We have a record of Okane marrying one Isabelle and you say he married an Isabella McDougall. This might make for a stronger possibility.
Again, thanks, and perhaps we'll talk again soon.
Paddy

[jenn]

Hi:

Alexander and Flora were my 3g-grandparents. Both Flora's death registration and gravestone give her place of birth as Isle of Islay, Argyllshire. Is this incorrect, then? Though I've been involved in genealogy since about 2000, I'm relatively new to my Cameron side.

Jenn
Ontario, Can

[jenn]

Oops! Just Flora's death reg gave her pob; I was thinking of another ancestor when I said gravestone! Also, if both Flora and Alexander are from Lochaber, they have no connection to Angus Cameron and Catherine Gillespie, who also settled in McNab Twp from Islay, Argyllshire, Scot?

Thanks,
Jenn

[Paddy]

Hi cousin Jenn. I have Flora born on the isle of Islay in 1812. I'm still at a brick wall as to her parents and Alexander Okain's. I'm still at a brick wall as to any information before that. Are you having luck?.

[redcam]

Hello to Both of you Cousins Jenn and Paddy,
Just reading your threads and it appears we all have found pretty much the same info. I do wonder however Paddy where you found the middle name for our Alexander born in 1801? I do know his son Alexander was O'Kain and the tradition conituned to my greatgrandfather Joseph O'Cain ( known as Cain) Cameron. I have not come across the 1801 Alexander as having this for a mid name-perhaps I am missing something. Jenn-yes- I also have Flora's death record signed by her son stating she was born at Islay Scotland(abt 1807). I do however feel strongly that our Alexander Cameron(1801) and Flora Gillespie are related to Angus Cameron and Catherine nee Gillespie who are a hop & skip away from them when reviewing McNab census info.
But as with you both, we've the proverbial brick wall to scale yet for finding that next generation back.
(I tell you, I do so kick my butt that all the years Grandfather Elwood was alive ( this is Joseph O'Cain's son and my grandfather),I never asked him about family history!!)
redcam
Beaumont Alberta