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Original research by Keith Jordan and Ross McLennan via "The McLennan Family in Australia" 1992: Non published research document.
Family history handed down tells us that Alex Mclennan Senior was a fisherman who worked at sea exiting from Lossiemouth. it is reported that he downed at sea off the coasge of Yarmouth Eng aged 55 in 1891. His wife Joan Hannha described herself as a widower and a house servant in the census of 1891.
Alexander married Hannah Finlayson on 10 December 1853 in Lochalsh Cromartyshire, Scotland, United Kingdom.[1]
They had the following children:
1. Mary 1855 Died in infancy.
2. John, b 1856 Lochalsh, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland
3. Maryanne, b 1859 Lochalsh, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland
4. Donald, b 1863 Lochalsh, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland
5. Isabella, b 1864 Drainie, Moray, Scotland
6. Alexander, b 1868 Drainie, Moray, Scotland
7. Catherine, b 1870 Drainie, Moray, Scotland
He passed away about 1891 after drowning at sea .
Joan Hannah McLennan formerly Finlayson – 1838 – 1896 Born 1838 in Lochalsh Plockton Scot Died 1897 age 59 in Glasgow at her home at 378 Garscube St Glasgow. Married Alexander McLennan 10 Dec 1853 Lochalsh Cromartyshire, Scot Mother of Mary McLennan, John McLennan, MaryAnne McLennan, Donald McLennan, Isabella McLennan, Alexander McLennan, Catherine McLennan.
From A Story by Sheila Cleary with updated notes by Bruce Donaldson.[2]
Joan and her children walk from Plockton to Lossiemouth a journey of 100 miles.
The journey was over 100 miles, (160 km). Her husband, Alexander McLennan (1836 –1891 ) was a ships mate on a coastal fishing vessel that was to sail from Plockton to better markets on the East Coast of Scotland. Sailing from the West Coast necessitated a dangerous voyage over the top of Scotland. Because the family was to set up home on the East Coast, Joan took the four children with her and went overland, walking all the way. What is striking is that she was in her early twenties (approx 26 yrs) the children were under 5 years of age, and they travelled on foot. It was the 1860’s (approx 1865), at the time of the Australian gold rushes.
The journey must have taken weeks, (approx 2 1/2 wks.) She would have sought rest and shelter in farm houses through the highlands and along the great glen, pass through Fort Augusta and Inverness and by Bannockburn. The sight of the ruins of Elgin Cathedral would have left a great impression on this highland woman.
Her objective was to reach the fishing village of Lossiemouth to setup home for her husband. She had come from the beautiful village of Plockton, a sheltered clearance fishing settlement on the sea lock across from the Isle of Skye, not far from the village of Balmacarra. Highland and island, mountain and sea would have been her natural surroundings.
The only hill at Lossiemouth is the low headland that shelters the village from the North Sea gales, South is a chain of dunes by the “Long Sea Mouth” of the river that gave the village its name. The small habour was once a wheat terminal for grain shipments from Elgin but in Joan’s time it had become a fish processing port.
Within four years of coming to Lossiemouth her husband was drowned at Yarmouth aged 55 so she had to fend for her young family. She worked in the fish processing factory cleaning and salting fish into barrels. The hours were long and the work hard and she would often end the day soak wet and exhausted.
Her third son Alexander McLennan was born at Lossiemouth in1868, and schooled there by the young student teacher Ramsay McDonald, who became the leader of the first British Labor Government, which possibly accounts for the strong socialist learning of the family to this day. Alexander completed a five year sail making apprenticeship at the Peterkin sail loft at Lossiemouth. His mother appealed to him not to go to sea, having lost her husband to it, but he would not be dissuaded and supported her from then until she died in Glasgow before she was aged 55 in 1896. In Lossiemouth she was never called Joan always Mrs McLennan, she remained a newcomer for 30 years.
Alexander completed seven voyages around the world. Seven times around the horn, on Loch line ships as sail maker and able seaman. Most of the voyages departed Glasgow to Melbourne and discharged at London and took up to approx 180 days. He refused to marry whilst supporting his mother and for 8 years courted Catherine Sloan of Melbourne who he married after his mother’s death in 1896. Last century of Joan Hannah Finlayson had a hard life. She was survived by 7 of her 9 children, 4 daughters and 3 sons, having lost 2 children when they were young.
widow Mary in 1871 has names, ages, locations similar to 1861 with Alexander. This may be different family that has similar names and dates. In 1871 Mary, age 36, was a widow in Commerce, Drainie, Moray.[19] Census for Joan McLennan . - no previous sources has her name as Joan, so this could be a different family with similar names In 1881 Joan, age 46, was the head of household at 11 High St, Drainie, Moray. She was a General Serv Domestic.[20] In 1891 Joan, age 57, was the head of household at 378 Garscube Rd, Glasgow St George, Lanarkshire.[21] There may be other children born in Ross and Cromarty, including some born when other listed / linked children were born in Moray. There are other children born in same location as earlier children. Possibly they are different family with similar parent names. These other births indicate there are probably other McLennan married to Finlayson and having children in same area.
Janet McLennan was born in 1862. Her birth was registered in Lochalsh. Mother's maiden name Finlayson.[22] Alexander McLennan was born in 1862. His birth was registered in Lochalsh. Mother's maiden name Finlayson.[23] Duncan MacLennan was born in 1864. His birth was registered in Lochalsh. Mother's maiden name Finlayson.[24] John MacLennan was born in 1865. His birth was registered in Lochalsh. Mother's maiden name Finlayson.[25] Duncan MacLennan was born in 1865. His birth was registered in Lochalsh. Mother's maiden name Finlayson.[26] Christina MacLennan was born in 1867. Her birth was registered in Lochalsh. Mother's maiden name Finlayson.[27]
Ann Mcdonald Head F 36 Joiner's Widow Plockton, ross shire Christian Mcdonald Daughter F 18 Plockton, ross shire Ann Mcdonald Daughter F 11 Plockton, ross shire Mary Mcdonald Daughter F 9 Plockton, ross shire Murdoch Mcdonald Son M 7 Plockton, ross shire Margaret Mcdonald Daughter F 5 Plockton, ross shire Alexander Mclennan Lodger M 29 Seaman Lochalsh, ross shire Hannah Mclennan Lodger's wife F 28 Lochalsh, ross shire John Mclennan Lodger's son M 5 Plockton, ross shire Mary Ann Mclennan Lodger's dau (lodger) F 2 Plockton, ross shire Mary Matheson Visitor F 64 Servant Plockton, ross shire Farquhar Matheson Lodger M 44 Seaman Plockton, ross shire Eliza Matheson Lodger's wife F 40 Shieldaig, ross shire
Mary Mclennan Widow F 36 Lochalsh, balmacarra John Mclennan Son M 13 Scholar Lochalsh, plockton Alexander Mclennan Son M 3 Morayshire, branderburgh Cathrine Mclennan Daughter F 11 Mo Morayshire, branderburgh
Joan McLennan Head F 46 General Serv Domestic Lochalsh, Ross Donald McLennan Son M 18 Tailor Lochalsh, Ross Isabella McLennan Daughter F 16 Serv Domestic Drainie, Elgin Catherine McLennan Daughter F 10 Scholar Drainie, Elgin Alexander McLennan Son M 12 Scholar Drainie, Elgin
Joan McLennan Head F 57 Lochalsh, Rosshire Donald McLennan Son M 27 Tailor Lochalsh, Rosshire Bella McLennan Daur (daughter) F 24 Domestic Servant Lossiemouth, Morayshire Alexander McLennan Son M 22 Sail Maker Lossiemouth, Morayshire Kate McLennan Daur (daughter) F 20 Domestic Servant Lossiemouth, Morayshire Maggie McLennan Grandchild F 9 Scholar Lossiemouth, Morayshire Ann Ross Visitor F 46 Lossiemouth, Morayshire Maggie Ross Visitor F 17 General Servant Lossiemouth, Morayshire
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