Children of Donald Livingstone (1728-1816) of SavaryMorvern
Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2011 3:21 pm
Hi All,
In a 2 part article for the Clan newsletter Parnassus which I wrote a few issues ago, on Donald Livingstone (1728-1816) of Savary, Movern, Jacobite hero of the Appin Regiment at the Battle of Culloden 1746, I suggested that Robert and Ann Livingston of Morvern were probably his grandchildren rather than children. Well some recent research I have done has in fact proven me wrong. In fact Robert and spinster Ann Livingston were two of Donald's children. It also looks like a significant number of his children may have remained in Morvern in their old age in the 19th century as agricultural labors and paupers rather than immigrated to the British colonies as many highland Livingstones from Western Argyllshire did. We know from Norman McLeod son of a Rev. Norman McLeod of Morvern that as a schoolboy he knew old Donald Livingstone of Savary, Morvern and his wife and that Donald was married to a woman named Jane or Jean Stewart. McLeod recalled visiting the elderly Savary Innkeeper who was said to worn have his tartan and enjoyed tellling tales of his exploits in the 1745 Rebellion.
Significantly,the death records of Robert Livingston (1777-1856) and Ann Livingston (1783-1863) who resided for many years at Savary, Morvern have helped to confirm that Robert and Ann were the last surviving children of the famous Donald Livingstone (1728-1816) and his wife Jane Stewart of Savary, Morvern to live at Savary, Morvern. An Alexander Livingston a retired miller (1783-1864) of Barr, Morvern is also noted in his 1864 death record as a son of Donald Livingston and Jean Stewart. I also suspect an Allan Livingston born abt. 1771 who was residing at Savary circa 1841 and whose son Duncan was witness on the Death records of Robert Livingston and Ann Livingston may have also have been a son of Donald Livingston and Jane/Jean Stewart. Then there was an Adam Livingston who was a miller at Savary in the early 1800's who I am told by a descendant of Donald Livingston in Australia was a son of Donald Livingston.
Their father Donald Livingstone it is known was recruited into one of the companies of the Appin Regiment and after all the standard bearers had fallen at the Battle of Culoden in April of 1746, retrieved the banner from the field and wrapping it around himself fled the Battlefield with the intention of returning it to the Appin Stewarts in Appin. Charle Stewart of Ardsheil, commander of the Appin regiment was however a fugitive hiding in Appin, later fled to France and subsequently the original banner ended up in the hands of the Ballachulish Stewarts where it remained until the early 20th century. In the years following Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Jacobite Army's defeat at Culloden in April of 1746, Donald Livingstone found work after Culloden supplying British troops with supplies at Fort William in Invernessshire and in his later years was a hotel keeper at Savary and he and his family was involved with the mill at Savary. It is believed that Donald and Jane had at least six sons and three daughters but it is possible there were a few more. Two of the sons were sailors and drowned. Sadly the census information from Morvern indicates that Donald and Jane's last surviving children, Robert and Ann lived in the later years as impoverished tenants at Savary farm. Neither Robert nor Ann married so there are no descendants to be found.
I have discovered a total of three death records for the children of Donald Livingston and Jane/Jean Stewart of Savary, Morvern in which it refers to Donald's wife as Jane or Jean Stewart. This then confirms Norman Macleod's information from the 19th century that Donald's wife that he knew as a young man visiting the Inn at Savary, Morvern was in fact none other than Jane or Jean Stewart.
Robert Livingston agricultural laborer age 79 died June 8th 1856 (born abt. 1777) at Savary, Morvern buried Kilcolm Hill
Parents: Donald Livingston farmer and Jane Stewart
witness: nephew Duncan Livingston 1799-1875 son of Allan Livingston and Margaret Maclean
Ann Livingston pauper age 80 died April 22, 1863 (born abt. 1783) at Lochaline Village, Morvern
Parents Donald Livingston farmer and Jean Stewart
witness: nephew Duncan Livingston probably Duncan Livingston 1799-1875 son of Allan Livingston and Margaret Maclean
Alexander Livingston retired Miller husband of Peggy Stewart died December 9th 1864 at Barr, Morvern age 81
Parents: Donald Livingston and Jean Stewart
Witness: nephew Duncan Livingston 1799-1875 son of Allan Livingston and Margaret Maclean
also these with no death records to confirm parentage
Allan Livingston b. 1771 d. between 1851 and 1855 Wife: Margaret Maclean
Adam Livingston Miller at Savary in the early 1800's m. Margaret MacDonald (Tradition is that Adam was also a son of Donald and Jane and their son Robert b.1825 is recorded in the 1841 census as agricutural laborer at Savary living with a Cameron family. Robert an agricultural laborer and ploughman in early years later settled in Rutherglen and Cumbuslang Parish, Lanarkshire and death record from 1906 from Cambuslang Parish confirms his parents were in fact Adam Livingston crofter and Margaret MacDonald. Robert and his wife Agnes Nicol raised a large family so it may well be some descendants still reside in Lanarkshire. Adam's son Robert Livingston is very much alone in 1841 at Savary living at the 1841 Census with a neighbouring Cameron family at Savary, though Livingston relatives abound in the area. Looks like his father Adam Livingston and his mother Margaret McDonald died sometime before 1841 as they are not recorded in 1841 Census. I believe the Camerons he was living with may have been relatives. What happened to his parents Adam and Margaret Livingston and other family members prior to 1841 is a bit a mystery. By this point I think the Livingstons were no longer working at the Savary Mill. One daughter of Adam and Margaret Livingson has been traced by an Australian descendant Daryl Povey to having settled in Australia in the mid 1800's. Margaret MacDonald was probably Adam's second wife as there is as Adam Livingston of Savary according to the parish records had a child Sarah Livingston born abt. 1815 at Savary. They only had one child so it appear that his first wife Mary and some years later Adam married Margaret MacDonald. Adam and Mary's only child Sarah is in fact an ancestor of Donald Livingstone of Alberta Canada a Morvern family line that I discuss in another posting.
In the 1850's Robert and Ann were the last of Donald and Jane`s children to reside at the Savary Farm before Robert died in 1856.
By the time of the 1861 Census after the death of her brother Robert in 1856, Ann is a pauper living with her (brother) Alexander Livingston age 77 of Barr, Morvern and his wife margaret (peggy Stewart)age 69, children Margaret age 31, Robert 29, Betty 24
Now it turns out that Alexander was Ann and Robert's brother and yet another son of the famous Donald Livingston of the Battle of Culloden and his wife Jean or Jane Stewart. Alexander a retired miller died in 1864 at the age of 81. Now the Livingston family worked at Mill at Savary in the early 1800's and probably before that and there was a miller in the early 1800's at Savary named Adam Livingston who was possibly another son of Donald Livingston.
Duncan Livingston 1799-1875 nephew of Robert Livingston and Ann Livingston both unmarried of Savary and Alexander Livingston of Barr, Morvern was the son of Allan Livingston b.1771 and his wife Margaret MacLean.
Duncan Livingston son of Allan Livingston and Margaret (Peggy) Maclean died Feb. 3rd, 1875 age 76 years at Lochaline. His death record stated that he was married to Christy Cameron but infact Christy maiden name Livingston was a widow of the late Samuel Cameron of Morvern and there is no record of her remarrying Duncan Livingston in her later years. Duncan appears to have been single and without children. Duncan's father Allan Livingston b.abt. 1771 then appears to be another son of Donald Livingston 1728-1816 of Savary and his wife Jane/Jean Stewart.
There was also an Archibald Livingston at Savary briefly in the early 1800's parish records who might also be a son of Donald. Interestingly he had a son named Robert not that common a name amongst Western Argyll Livingstons at the time but there were a few over the years with the Savary related Livingstons i believe. If so then Robert, ALexander Allan, Adam and Archibald were brothers. Given that at least three of Donald's sons appear to be chosen with a name that starts with the letter A a fourth might not be so inconceivable. On the other hand if Donald only had six sons and two drowned at sea then perhaps Archibald is not a son of Donald and I am just looking at Robert, Alexander, Allan and Adam. I am close but havent perhaps figured it all out. It is however likely that Robert, Alexander, Allan and Adam were sons of Donald Livingstone and Jane Stewart. Archibald is little more speculative.
It appears that some or all of these children of Donald and Jane Livingston are buried in old Keil cemetery near Lochaline, Morvern where Donald Livingston's parents John Livingstone and Ann McInnis were laid rest in an elaborate table tomb in the 1700's. Only Robert Livingston's death record from 1856 records that he was buried at Kilcolm Hill. This is infact the old Movern Parish cemetery at Keil Churchyard refered to in an 1856 Ordnance Survey Map as Cil Culumchille. Also in the past referred to as Kiel Colmkil, Kilcolmkil or Cillcholumchille meaning Church of St. Columba. I am hoping that our Scottish clan members who reside in Scotland and whom might visiting this cemetery in the near future might be able to help locate any children of Donald Livingston and Jane Stewart in this old graveyard. I also understand some research of this graveyard has been done, so I am hoping this can be some help in locating the graves of Donald's family.
Finally, some time ago I found this interesting list of Livingstons from the early 19th century residing in Western Argyllshire which clearly indicates Adam Livingston as residing at Savary in 1813 to help futher reinforce the notion that Adam was a son of old Donald Livingstone of Savary who died there a few years later in 1816.
To the Right Honorable Alexander Wentworth, Lord MacDonald of the Isles 1813
The 1813 List of Livingston Subscribers for a publication "Exploits of Warriors of Our Country published in Scottish Gaelic
by Patrick Turner.
Allan Livington Old Mill Appin
Duncan Livingston Ballachulish
John Livingston Corran
Allan Livingston Fort Willliam
Duncan Livingston Hayfield
Donald Livingston Tobermory
Adam Livingston Savary
John Livingston Craignish
Allan Livingston Fort William
In a 2 part article for the Clan newsletter Parnassus which I wrote a few issues ago, on Donald Livingstone (1728-1816) of Savary, Movern, Jacobite hero of the Appin Regiment at the Battle of Culloden 1746, I suggested that Robert and Ann Livingston of Morvern were probably his grandchildren rather than children. Well some recent research I have done has in fact proven me wrong. In fact Robert and spinster Ann Livingston were two of Donald's children. It also looks like a significant number of his children may have remained in Morvern in their old age in the 19th century as agricultural labors and paupers rather than immigrated to the British colonies as many highland Livingstones from Western Argyllshire did. We know from Norman McLeod son of a Rev. Norman McLeod of Morvern that as a schoolboy he knew old Donald Livingstone of Savary, Morvern and his wife and that Donald was married to a woman named Jane or Jean Stewart. McLeod recalled visiting the elderly Savary Innkeeper who was said to worn have his tartan and enjoyed tellling tales of his exploits in the 1745 Rebellion.
Significantly,the death records of Robert Livingston (1777-1856) and Ann Livingston (1783-1863) who resided for many years at Savary, Morvern have helped to confirm that Robert and Ann were the last surviving children of the famous Donald Livingstone (1728-1816) and his wife Jane Stewart of Savary, Morvern to live at Savary, Morvern. An Alexander Livingston a retired miller (1783-1864) of Barr, Morvern is also noted in his 1864 death record as a son of Donald Livingston and Jean Stewart. I also suspect an Allan Livingston born abt. 1771 who was residing at Savary circa 1841 and whose son Duncan was witness on the Death records of Robert Livingston and Ann Livingston may have also have been a son of Donald Livingston and Jane/Jean Stewart. Then there was an Adam Livingston who was a miller at Savary in the early 1800's who I am told by a descendant of Donald Livingston in Australia was a son of Donald Livingston.
Their father Donald Livingstone it is known was recruited into one of the companies of the Appin Regiment and after all the standard bearers had fallen at the Battle of Culoden in April of 1746, retrieved the banner from the field and wrapping it around himself fled the Battlefield with the intention of returning it to the Appin Stewarts in Appin. Charle Stewart of Ardsheil, commander of the Appin regiment was however a fugitive hiding in Appin, later fled to France and subsequently the original banner ended up in the hands of the Ballachulish Stewarts where it remained until the early 20th century. In the years following Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Jacobite Army's defeat at Culloden in April of 1746, Donald Livingstone found work after Culloden supplying British troops with supplies at Fort William in Invernessshire and in his later years was a hotel keeper at Savary and he and his family was involved with the mill at Savary. It is believed that Donald and Jane had at least six sons and three daughters but it is possible there were a few more. Two of the sons were sailors and drowned. Sadly the census information from Morvern indicates that Donald and Jane's last surviving children, Robert and Ann lived in the later years as impoverished tenants at Savary farm. Neither Robert nor Ann married so there are no descendants to be found.
I have discovered a total of three death records for the children of Donald Livingston and Jane/Jean Stewart of Savary, Morvern in which it refers to Donald's wife as Jane or Jean Stewart. This then confirms Norman Macleod's information from the 19th century that Donald's wife that he knew as a young man visiting the Inn at Savary, Morvern was in fact none other than Jane or Jean Stewart.
Robert Livingston agricultural laborer age 79 died June 8th 1856 (born abt. 1777) at Savary, Morvern buried Kilcolm Hill
Parents: Donald Livingston farmer and Jane Stewart
witness: nephew Duncan Livingston 1799-1875 son of Allan Livingston and Margaret Maclean
Ann Livingston pauper age 80 died April 22, 1863 (born abt. 1783) at Lochaline Village, Morvern
Parents Donald Livingston farmer and Jean Stewart
witness: nephew Duncan Livingston probably Duncan Livingston 1799-1875 son of Allan Livingston and Margaret Maclean
Alexander Livingston retired Miller husband of Peggy Stewart died December 9th 1864 at Barr, Morvern age 81
Parents: Donald Livingston and Jean Stewart
Witness: nephew Duncan Livingston 1799-1875 son of Allan Livingston and Margaret Maclean
also these with no death records to confirm parentage
Allan Livingston b. 1771 d. between 1851 and 1855 Wife: Margaret Maclean
Adam Livingston Miller at Savary in the early 1800's m. Margaret MacDonald (Tradition is that Adam was also a son of Donald and Jane and their son Robert b.1825 is recorded in the 1841 census as agricutural laborer at Savary living with a Cameron family. Robert an agricultural laborer and ploughman in early years later settled in Rutherglen and Cumbuslang Parish, Lanarkshire and death record from 1906 from Cambuslang Parish confirms his parents were in fact Adam Livingston crofter and Margaret MacDonald. Robert and his wife Agnes Nicol raised a large family so it may well be some descendants still reside in Lanarkshire. Adam's son Robert Livingston is very much alone in 1841 at Savary living at the 1841 Census with a neighbouring Cameron family at Savary, though Livingston relatives abound in the area. Looks like his father Adam Livingston and his mother Margaret McDonald died sometime before 1841 as they are not recorded in 1841 Census. I believe the Camerons he was living with may have been relatives. What happened to his parents Adam and Margaret Livingston and other family members prior to 1841 is a bit a mystery. By this point I think the Livingstons were no longer working at the Savary Mill. One daughter of Adam and Margaret Livingson has been traced by an Australian descendant Daryl Povey to having settled in Australia in the mid 1800's. Margaret MacDonald was probably Adam's second wife as there is as Adam Livingston of Savary according to the parish records had a child Sarah Livingston born abt. 1815 at Savary. They only had one child so it appear that his first wife Mary and some years later Adam married Margaret MacDonald. Adam and Mary's only child Sarah is in fact an ancestor of Donald Livingstone of Alberta Canada a Morvern family line that I discuss in another posting.
In the 1850's Robert and Ann were the last of Donald and Jane`s children to reside at the Savary Farm before Robert died in 1856.
By the time of the 1861 Census after the death of her brother Robert in 1856, Ann is a pauper living with her (brother) Alexander Livingston age 77 of Barr, Morvern and his wife margaret (peggy Stewart)age 69, children Margaret age 31, Robert 29, Betty 24
Now it turns out that Alexander was Ann and Robert's brother and yet another son of the famous Donald Livingston of the Battle of Culloden and his wife Jean or Jane Stewart. Alexander a retired miller died in 1864 at the age of 81. Now the Livingston family worked at Mill at Savary in the early 1800's and probably before that and there was a miller in the early 1800's at Savary named Adam Livingston who was possibly another son of Donald Livingston.
Duncan Livingston 1799-1875 nephew of Robert Livingston and Ann Livingston both unmarried of Savary and Alexander Livingston of Barr, Morvern was the son of Allan Livingston b.1771 and his wife Margaret MacLean.
Duncan Livingston son of Allan Livingston and Margaret (Peggy) Maclean died Feb. 3rd, 1875 age 76 years at Lochaline. His death record stated that he was married to Christy Cameron but infact Christy maiden name Livingston was a widow of the late Samuel Cameron of Morvern and there is no record of her remarrying Duncan Livingston in her later years. Duncan appears to have been single and without children. Duncan's father Allan Livingston b.abt. 1771 then appears to be another son of Donald Livingston 1728-1816 of Savary and his wife Jane/Jean Stewart.
There was also an Archibald Livingston at Savary briefly in the early 1800's parish records who might also be a son of Donald. Interestingly he had a son named Robert not that common a name amongst Western Argyll Livingstons at the time but there were a few over the years with the Savary related Livingstons i believe. If so then Robert, ALexander Allan, Adam and Archibald were brothers. Given that at least three of Donald's sons appear to be chosen with a name that starts with the letter A a fourth might not be so inconceivable. On the other hand if Donald only had six sons and two drowned at sea then perhaps Archibald is not a son of Donald and I am just looking at Robert, Alexander, Allan and Adam. I am close but havent perhaps figured it all out. It is however likely that Robert, Alexander, Allan and Adam were sons of Donald Livingstone and Jane Stewart. Archibald is little more speculative.
It appears that some or all of these children of Donald and Jane Livingston are buried in old Keil cemetery near Lochaline, Morvern where Donald Livingston's parents John Livingstone and Ann McInnis were laid rest in an elaborate table tomb in the 1700's. Only Robert Livingston's death record from 1856 records that he was buried at Kilcolm Hill. This is infact the old Movern Parish cemetery at Keil Churchyard refered to in an 1856 Ordnance Survey Map as Cil Culumchille. Also in the past referred to as Kiel Colmkil, Kilcolmkil or Cillcholumchille meaning Church of St. Columba. I am hoping that our Scottish clan members who reside in Scotland and whom might visiting this cemetery in the near future might be able to help locate any children of Donald Livingston and Jane Stewart in this old graveyard. I also understand some research of this graveyard has been done, so I am hoping this can be some help in locating the graves of Donald's family.
Finally, some time ago I found this interesting list of Livingstons from the early 19th century residing in Western Argyllshire which clearly indicates Adam Livingston as residing at Savary in 1813 to help futher reinforce the notion that Adam was a son of old Donald Livingstone of Savary who died there a few years later in 1816.
To the Right Honorable Alexander Wentworth, Lord MacDonald of the Isles 1813
The 1813 List of Livingston Subscribers for a publication "Exploits of Warriors of Our Country published in Scottish Gaelic
by Patrick Turner.
Allan Livington Old Mill Appin
Duncan Livingston Ballachulish
John Livingston Corran
Allan Livingston Fort Willliam
Duncan Livingston Hayfield
Donald Livingston Tobermory
Adam Livingston Savary
John Livingston Craignish
Allan Livingston Fort William