New member introducing myself

Question

29.11.20. I have been interested in genealogy for a number of years.  I have taken the Family Tree DNA Y700 test, as has my remaining brother.  My most annoying problem, in genealogy, is that I have been unable to trace my McLeod ancestors, beyond my 3x grandfather, Murdoch McLeod of Achnacarnin, Assynt, Scotland.  He we born circa 1776 and on/about February.03.1801he married Effie McNicoll, a daughter of John McNicoll of Achnacarnin.  They Assynt Parish register indicates that John McNicoll registered two marriage, or perhaps marriage bans for his two daughters.  Effie with Murdoch and Isobel with Don'd (assumed to be Donald) to Isobel.  A circa 1800 Assynt census indicates the McNicoll household consisted of 2 males (Dad and Lad) and 3 females, Mrs. McNicoll, Effie and Isabel.  I have been unable to trace Murdoch's parents/siblings.  Census' available, in that time period list several Murdoch McLeods being born in Assynt.  It is possible that Murdoch's father was a tacks man of a farm on Stoer Point.  Two McLeod tacks men were listed, in a 1745 Survey of Stoer Point, Assynt. But, then, there could have been McLeods who were farm workers living in the stone cottages surrounding the farm.  (I visited Stoer Point in 2008).  

Murdoch and Effie and their children, emigrated to Nova Scotia, according to my great grandfthers gravestone, in 1820. It is possible they first arrived in Pictou or Prince Edward Island before relocating to Englishtown, Cape Breton, N.S.  Their last child, Norman was born there circa 1821.  Norman married Christine McAskill of Englishtown.  They lived on a farm in Baddeck Bay and were buried in Englishtown. Some belive that Murdoch and/or Effie, came to live with Norman and Christine in their old age.  I have located a number of Norman McLeod graves in the Baddeck/St. Anns/Englishtown areas, with later possible death dates, during several visits to Cape Breton (I lived in the Halifax, N.S. region).  If anybody is interested in more of my ancestry, please send me an email. nova.don@hotmail.com.  "I Shine, Not Burn".

Comments

Welcome to Wikitree!  You should remove your email from your post, however.  Wikitreers can easily connect just by clicking on a member’s name and sending a private message.  That way your email can remain private.

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Hi Donald, please remove your email addy to prevent spammers from accessing you or Wikitree. If any one wishes to contact you they can use the private messaging .

Answer 1

Welcome to WikiTree, Donald of the Cape Breton McLeods!

My ancestor Lachlan MacKinnon married Moira McLeod on the Isle of Skye about 300 years ago, so we could be far (far) cousins. Although his grandsons settled on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, I have other ancestors of Scottish descent who were came to Pictou and PEI.  As you get going on WikiTree, I'll be interested to see how else we are connected.  

You're in good hands with the Greeters, and please don't hesitate to reach out to other folks who are researching the same area. You can find some of us through the Nova Scotia team, and I'm sure you'll find others as you build your tree. All the best!

Comments

Thank you Peggy!

Answer 2

WikiTree has a Murdoch MacLeod born about 1775 in Isle of Skye, Scotland, whose father is Neil MacLeod and mother is Sophia Nicholson. This Murdoch MacLeod is identified as MacLeod-885

He die 16 Mar 1859 in Uigg, Queens, PEI Canada.

Comments

Thank you Frank!  Further to your suggestion, I had a look at PEI sources and found 19 distinct McLeod families.  Not all are in WikiTree yet.  I'm not sure how many had a son named Murdoch, and this is secondary information, but it could provide useful clues. 

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There a 69 individuals listed at WikiTree with the name Murdoch MacLeod. If you want to see birth year and location, click on the word "Find" at the top right of the WikiTree page.

Look down that menu to where it says "Surnames" and then enter the first and last name.

Answer 3

Donald: Welcome to WikiTree. I have read your blog on genealogy.com. I hope that we can help you break through your brick walls.

My mother was born in Cape Breton Island. My ancestors in Cape Breton include the Johnstones, the Ritchies, the Almons, the Dodds, and Kavanaughs. I imagine that we are related.

Answer 4

Hi Donald, and welcome to WikiTree. THank you for introducing yourself in our g2g forum. I would suggest your next step would be to upgrade to a family membership. After you have upgraded you would be able to add tags to your profile. These tags could include your ancestors name and/or locations where they lived.  After you have added these tags, you will immediately be connected to other members of WikiTree that are also researching these same names and locations.

Thanks again for introducing yourself in WikiTree, and I hope you learn to love it as much as I have.