William McKay (1800 - 1888)

Born Jan 1800 in Erribol, Durness, Sutherlandshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1888 at about age 88 in Kensington, Prince Edward Island, Canada

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Biography

William McKay was born in Jan 1800 in Erribol, Durness, Sutherlandshire, Scotland. He was the third child of John McKay and Ann Calder. William "was a grandnephew of Captain William McKay, son of Doctor John McKay of Falside [Falsaid], and nephew of Lieutenant Donald McKay, a military officer in the British Forces seventeen years, afterward a merchant and shipbuilder in Charlottetown, and other parts of Prince Edward Island." ^[1]

"Emigration from Sutherland... which only began in the early 1800's, was highly focussed around [a specific area]. Lots 20 and 21 received their first group from Durness in 1806, people who would have sailed on the Elizabeth and Ann: from Thurso that year. Established from 1773, the New London and Granville areas, in which they settled, also had long-standing associations with "Lowland Scotch," who were described by an 1851 commentator as "an industrious and thriving race." But it was the Sutherlanders that forged the strongest allegiance to the area which survived over 40 years. Extended families of MacKays formed the backbone of this exodus. William MacKay took up land at Lot 21 in 1806, and he was followed to the same lot by Hugh and Donald MacKay, who arrived in 1815, then by Robert and Hector MacKay who arrived in 1835 and finally by William MacKay who came in 1841." ^[2]

William's father died in the year 1811. His mother (then Mrs. Mcintosh) and her family sailed from Thurso aboard the ship Prince William of Newcastle and arrived at Pictou, Nova Scotia in September 1815. They went to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island a week later. His mother died in 1816 and was buried in Sims Field, New London. "I put a head stone at her grave with her Maiden name on it Ann Calder." ^[3] Donald McKay took over raising the family. "His uncle, Donald McKay, gave him a position in the shipbuilding and merchandizing business." William was a farmer and a carpenter who lived in various places on P.E.I. such as Kildare and Alberton. After his uncle's death in 1823, William settled in Cavendish. ^[4]

William McKay and Catherine Simpson were married in Cavendish, Queens, Prince Edward Island.

"Catherine died in 1847, leaving William very sad." ^[5] William was again married to Eliza Bell, widow of the late James Clarke. ^[6] He farmed in New London in 1871. ^[7] In 1881 he was enumerated in Lot 21, Queen's, Prince Edward Island, Canada. ^[8] William died at the Kensington, Prince Edward Island home of his sister, Amelia Harriet (McKay) McLeod, in the year 1888. ^[9] He was buried in Cavendish Community Cemetery, Cavendish, Prince Edward Island.^[10]

Notes

THE LATE MR. WILLIAM McKAY.

We look back with feelings somewhat akin to pride to a worthy ancestry, and may be pardoned when we would do them honor. On both Father and Mother's side the subject of the present MEMOIR was the descendant of a line that furnished such men as Capt. Wm. McKay and Donald McKay - men of distinction in the British Army. Sir Robert Calder, whose naval victories will live as long as England's history lasts; and a younger man of the same name holding high commission in the East Indies.

The deceased, my Father, Wm. McKay, born in Emboli, Parish of Durness, Sutherlandshire, Scotland, in Jan. 1800, was the third child of John McKay, of Emboli, and Ann Calder, Achastle, Sutherlandshire. His father died in 1811, from an injury received in the service of his country as a volunteer. His oldest brother after finishing his education returning home from Edinburgh by sea, was pressed into the naval service and never met his friends again. Four years later, he with his Mother, brother, and four sisters, sailed from Thurso, for Nova Scotia, in the ship Prince William of Newcastle, arriving in Pictou in September. Dissatisfied, they proceeded the next week to Charlottetown, P.E.I. One year later his Mother (then Mrs. Mcintosh) died leaving him at an early age of 17, and five others of the family in a strange country to provide for themselves. But a kind Providence leads the way. His uncle, a father's brother, Captain Donald McKay, who had been in the British Army 17 years, retired and started shipbuilding and merchandizing in Charlottetown, and gave him a position and other liberal aid. But in January 1824, Capt. McKay sailed for England in one of his timber laden ships, with Capt. McAlpin, wife and crew, but they were overtaken by a violent snowstorm and wrecked on St. Paul's Island (there being no lighthouse on the Island at that time). They succeeded in landing alive, only to meet a more lingering death from exposure on this desolate rock. Their bodies being discovered the next Spring, they were taken by friends to Charlottetown and interred in the old burying ground there. This calamity was a sad blow to the prospects of these struggling young people. My Father next settled in Cavendish as a farmer, married Catherine Simpson, daughter of Wm. Simpson, of same place.

After some years of thrift and industry, comfort and plenty surrounded them. Their family by this union was three sons and three daughters. But the relentless enemy of man did not long delay, and added the most potent grief of his life in the death of his beloved partner, my Mother, in June 1847. 'Years of trouble and sorrow followed, bereavement after bereavement. A daughter declined and died; the eldest son, Capt. Donald McKay, vessel and crew sailed from Spain and never was heard of again. My Father was again married to a Mrs. Clarke, widow of the late James Clarke. After an interval of some twenty-five years of vicissitude and bodily affliction, his second wife died, and his family being all scattered far and wide, he was left alone to feel the woes of burdened years while life lasted. 'Guided by the same teaching, and prompted by the same spirit that inspired his grand-father, (an active, earnest Christian, Elder and Catechist) he has walked humbly and godly in this life, at peace with all men, a kind friend, a good neighbor, an affectionate husband, a tender parent, an exemplary Christian, honest, humane, liberal minded and warm-hearted, lending of his means and influence to promote the cause of Christ and humanity. 'And at last at the advanced age of Ninety years, in the full hope of a glorious Resurrection, he fell asleep in Jesus.'.

Sources

1. ↑ Ann Calders Children, chapter 1, p. 2, quoting material written by William David McKay after his father's death in 1888.
2. ↑ Lucille H. Campey, "A very fine class of immigrants  : Prince Edward Island's Scottish Pioneers 1770-1850" (Natural Heritage Books, Toronto : 2001); p. 60 with footnotes
3. ↑ Ann Calders Children, Preface.
4. ↑ John McKay file, Windermere Valley Museum, display page titled "WILLIAM MCKAY (1800-1888)" The file contained notes from a past display, newspaper clippings, and other notes.
5. ↑ John McKay file, Windermere Valley Museum
6. ↑ Ann Calders Children, chapter 1, p. 2-3, quoting material written by William David McKay after his father's death in 1888.
7. ↑ Lovell's Prince Edward Island Directory 1871, page 254, New London; Canadiana
8. ↑ 1881 census of Canada, Prince Edward Island, Prince, Lot 21, district 2, subdistrict C, p.35, household 140; digital image, Library and Archives Canada (http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1881: accessed 9 Jun 2010)
9. ↑ Ann Calders Children, Chapter 1, pp. 1-2.
10. ↑ Find A Grave William McKay