Donald Cameron, shepherd, Kilmallie

[jennimac]

I am a new member (Mackenzie) with two strands of Cameron ancestry. Donald Cameron in Garryualach in Glengarry as a shepherd 1851-1881 and probably in Fassfern 1829 - 1841, and his wife Jessie (Janet Cameron, probably from Ratalichbeg). Also a Catherine Cameron 1813 - 1845 from Ross and Cromarty who married John Mackenzie, they lived in Corriemoille, Contin.
1 Are there any tenant records for this period for the Fassfern or Garryualach holding?
2 I haven't found Janet Cameron's birth in Kilmonivaig (her death cert doesn't give her parents name) so are there records of tenants in Ratalichbeg that might help? we think her first son Donald was born in Kilmonivaig in 1824 before she married in Jan 1829.
3 My grandfather mentioned a Sir John Cameron of Fassiefern who fought at Waterloo as a family connection. Donald Cameron's death cert gave his parents as John Cameron and Ann Cameron.
4 Has anyone any further info on the Ross and Cromarty Camerons?
Many thanks Jenni

[gaelgal]

You might find some interesting research materials at www.familytree.com or www.familysearch.org... both sites can get you started with your search. Good luck!

[ChrisDoak]

Hi Jenni,

At the period you are looking at,the Farm of Fassifern was held by Sir Ewan Cameron (father of Col.John Cameron,who served at Waterloo) and subsequently his son Duncan.Unfortunately these two are the only names which are recorded on the Rent Rolls/Lochiel Estate documents,so it is very difficult to establish the names of the dozen sub-tenants and servants also living there (I suspect Donald was one of the latter,hence the family tale of a connection).It would be difficult to establish whether Donald's parents John Cameron and Ann Cameron also lived on the Fassifern Farm,and I reckon it would be difficult to track them down elsewhere in Lochaber,as the coupling of a John Cameron with an Ann Cameron was relatively common.

Garryualach was a farm on the former Estate of Macdonell of Glengarry,but by the 1840s,had been purchased by a Lowlander (his name escapes me).Not too sure that any Estate documents will give you anything more than what you can interpret from the Census entries.

Ratalichbeg was on the Lochaber Estate of the Duke of Gordon,and the Estate Papers in existance are very thorough.Hence,the Rental Rolls reveal the following tenants:

1819:Angus Cameron,Samuel Cameron,Duncan Cameron,John Cameron,Ewan Cameron,and Donald Cameron.

1809:Alexander Cameron,Samuel Cameron,Duncan Cameron,John breck Cameron,Ewan Cameron,and Donald Cameron.

1799:Alexander Cameron McEan vain,Samuel Cameron,Duncan Cameron,John breck Cameron,Ewan Cameron McInish vic Sorley,and Donald dhu Cameron.

The Rental for 1828 unfortunately lists the tenants along with those in Ratalichmore,and by lumping them together,makes it difficult to work out who was where.Anyway,it reads as follows:John Cameron,Angus (son of Alexander) Cameron,Donald van Cameron,Alexander Cameron,Donald Roy Cameron,Alexander jnr.(son of Martin) Cameron,Angus Cameron,Duncan Cameron,John (Samuel) Cameron,Donald Cameron,John ban Cameron,and Donald"Canclaon"Cameron.

Regarding a son Donald born in Ratalichbeg in 1824,I think it is unlikely that the parents are your Donald and Janet.Janet would be too young,and the entry in the Parish Register does not state that it was an illegitimate birth,as it would have done.Donald and Janet would seem to have had a son Donald born in about 1835,which would sort of confirm this.(I assume that this is your Donald and Janet in the 1841 Census entry at "Uenergie(?)",not far from Garryualach).

Unfortunately I cannot help you with the Camerons in Ross and Cromarty.

Hope this has been a wee bit of a help.

Regards,Chris.

[jennimac]

Thank you for all that information, extremely helpful and really interesting. I am off to Scotland tomorrow and hope to visit the Cameron museum, your comments and info really help.
With regard to the Donald Cameron born to Donald/Janet Cameron in ratalichbeg, there is a mystery because Donald Cameron (of the correct age) went to New Zealand and had a sheep holding in Ashburton, Canterbury, he never married and money was left to his younger sisters, Sarah Mackenzie and Joan Rolls ( I have a copy of the will) According to the further census, Janet would have been 16 at the time of his birth. Was it always usual to put whether a child was illegitimate? A lot of food for thought and more questions raised for me to look at
Many thanks
Jenni

[SherbrookeJacobite]

Hi Jenni,
My family belive that we are descended from, or at least related to, the Camerons of Ratlichmore. The Cameron's of Ratalichmore and Ratalichbeg had common ancestry - that being the MacMartins of Letterfinlay. You might find the following census information from 1841 for the Fort William area useful : freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ked1/ftwillcen.html

The Australia branch of the Clan also has a lot of excellent genealogical info on their website (largely thanks to the efforts of Bob Cameron ) located at: www.clan-cameron.org.au/index.php

Good Luck with your searching - and please let us know what you find.

Slainte,

John

[drcatcameron]

I have a link I believe...
We have Donald Cameron b. 1791 Mull married in 1821 to Catharene McMasters b. 1791 --Donald was the son of John Cameron b. 1769 Mull married to Anne ? b. ?....

I have that this John Cameron b. 1769 and Anne had
5m/2f --Donald 1791; Peter 1793; John 1795; Alexander 1797; Thomas 1799; Jennet 1801 and Kirtsey 1803.

Email me and I can send you the entire tree.
Cathy