Livingston Family Trees from HG McColl's research

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heatherbell
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2012 9:06 pm

Livingston Family Trees from HG McColl's research

Post by heatherbell »

When visitng the Lochaber Archives last year I copied two trees that are held in the body of work that was only released last year after being held for fifty years as part of the collection by HG MColl which was accumulated during two decades(1930s-50s). The papers were held in a barn following his death

I am not sure whether they are accurate as one appears to be the basic outline and the other features much more detail.

If anyone is interested in having a copy please contact me.

heathebell
Canadian Livingstone
Posts: 2770
Joined: Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:00 pm

Re: Livingston Family Trees from HG McColl's research

Post by Canadian Livingstone »

Hello Heather,

From your description these Livingston family trees in the Mr. McColl's collection would be of interest to the society. Can you briefly identify where these Livingstons originated in terms of what parish and whom their original ancestor was?

regards,

Donald
heatherbell
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2012 9:06 pm

Re: Livingston Family Trees from HG McColl's research

Post by heatherbell »

Hi Donald,

The copy is numbered MN/22/45

He lists the "Nine Johns" with no further reference to origins. His note against the last John listed states (killed at Culloden where he was with his son Niall mor and Donald)

On an updated second work a solid line is constructed under the eigth John, he notes that Neil left Ulva for Blantyre in 1792. He married Mary Morrison daughter of Charles Morrison and Margaret McDougall. Above Mary's name is noted 27/12/1724.

At the other end of the solid line as if denoting brothers, is Duncan who married Christina Beaton. They are shown as having three Children Jean, Duncan and John but there are no dates.

From the ninth John he charts Eoghan Ban (taillear), Niall Mor, Domhuill (Molach), John and Angus who married Margaret McInnes

From Neil and Mary he charts Mary bp Lettermore, Mull, Feb 1776, John bp April 1777, Charles bp May 1779 in Cove, Duncan Margaret bp 1783 at Cove, Catherine bp 1785 and Neil bp 30/11/1788 in Ferininardory, Mull who married ....... Hunter and was the father of DR David the explorer

He charts a nephew of Duncan as Archibald (weaver( married to Ann MacInnes whose grand-daughter was Kate, but there are missing links in the chart

I hope that this is of use but suspect that researchers will have surpassed his efforts with greater accuracy.

heatherbell
Canadian Livingstone
Posts: 2770
Joined: Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:00 pm

Re: Livingston Family Trees from HG McColl's research

Post by Canadian Livingstone »

Hi Heather,
Thanks for this information.
Mr. McColl is drawing from the story of the Nine John McLeas who were said to have resided at Ballachulish and said to have been the ancestors of Neil Livingston of the Isle of Ulva, Dr. Livingstone's grandfather who married the mentioned Mary Morrison in 1774 in Mull. This full story can be found in K.W. Grants book "Myth,Tradition and Story from Western Argyll" published back in the 1920's. One of my personal favorite books on Western Argyllshire folklore but apparently out of print for years. The tale of the Ballachulish origins of Dr. Livingstone;s family however interesting has never been proven to be correct. There is a family tree in the K.W. Grant book which Mr. McColl appears to be familiar with a Genealogy of the Livingstone of Ballachulish included which among other things suggests that a John Livingston killed at Culloden was the father not only Neil Livingston's father but the father of Domhnuill Molach (Donald Livingstone 1728-1816) who rescued the Appin Regiment banner at the Battle of Culoden. Unfortunately K. W. Grant was not aware that this chart created by Alexander Fraser was incorrect in that Dr. Livingstone's grandfather Neil Livingston and Donald Livingstone were not brothers. It was infact well known to Morvern Parish residents that there famous hero Donald Livingstone 1728-1816 buried his father John Livingston in 1760 in Keil Cemetery, Morvern Parish and had an elaborate table tomb created for his father and mother Ann McInnis. There is no historic evidence that Donald's family ever resided in Ballachulish. Their family information suggests that they resided in Morvern Parish since about 1600 and prior to that originated at Achnacree, Benderloch, Argyll.


Dr. Livingstone was oddly vague regarding his ancestors origins considering he spent alot of time with his grandfather Neil as a boy, who was the family storyteller. In his book he states that his family resided on the Isle of Ulva and that his grandfather's father was a Jacobite that died at the Battle of Culloden. He unfortunatley does not tell of us the name of his great-grandfather but I suspect his name was John Livingston. Interestingly Dr. Livingstone was either not aware or had forgotten when he wrote his first book in the 1850's that his family had resided at Lettermore, Mull in the 1770's before Neil and Mary ended on the nearby Isle of Ulva. In 1792 Neil and the family ended up Blantyre, Lanarkshire where Neil found work at a mill owned by the Monteith family.

Mr McColl may also have been familiar with a family tree of Neil Livingston and Mary Morrison which includes Children Mary, John, Charles, Duncan, Donald, Catharine, Margaret and Neil Jr. who married Agnes Hunter in 1810 in Blantyre, Lanarkshire were the parents of Dr. David Livingstone. These children of Neil Livingston and Mary Morrison grandparents of Dr. Livingstone were born in the 1770's and 1780's at Mull and neighbouring Isle of Ulva. I assume that the late ALexander Fraser of Laroch, Ballachulish who was created the Genealogy Chart included in the K.W Grant book and perhaps others at that time believed that there was Ballachulish Argyllshire connection to Dr. Livingstone's family and that of the famous Morvern, Argyllshire hero of the Battle of Culloden Donald Livingstone 1728-1816 but certainly Dr. Livingstone and his family were not aware of this story and there is no strong evidence to support it.

regards,

Donald
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