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Author: lrfaulkner118
Surnames: Cameron, McDonald, McLean, Desmond, Halley, MacDougall, Disher
Classification: queries
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.cameron/1939/mb.ashx
Message Board Post:
I am seeking information and connections for Camerons that moved from
Scotland to Nova Scotia then to Victoria Australia.
The family appears to be descended from Angus Cameron (b. abt 1769)
Aird hotelkeeper and ferryman of Lochalsh Scotland, and his wife Ann
McDonald (b. abt 1777), however I am trying to confirm this and tie
up a few loose ends. I believe they moved to Lochalsh, as they were
listed in the census to be born in Kilmanwad,Inverness. They had
children Donald, Allan, John, Margaret and Ann. I have no
information about Margaret, Ann remained in Scotland and ran the
hotel, Donald immigrated to Australia and ran hotels, Donald and John
to Nova Scotia.
Some of Donald and John's children came to Australia, including Angus
(b.1850 in NS son of John Cameron and Ann McLean m.1843 NS) who
married Eleanor Desmond in 1882. Also siblings Donald (b.1842) and
Sarah Amelia Cameron (b.1860), both born in Mabou Nova Scotia,
children of Allan Cameron and Christina Smith Halley. I am unable to
determine where John, Allan and Christina were born or died but
believe John and Allan were born in Scotland since Allan's sister
remained at Lochalsh Scotland. Ann McLean was born in Nova Scotia
c1820 dau of John McLean and Margaret MacDougall.
Other (unconfirmed) children of Allan and Christina are Ann, George,
James and Margaret all born in Nova Scotia. Children of John Cameron
and Ann McLean are Annie, Murdoch, Angus, Catherine, and Donald.
The story handed down - John and Allan's brother Donald Snr
(c1811-c1875) had come to Australia and was running a hotel in
Portland. When Donald & his wife died it is said that brother Allan
and nephew Donald travelled to Australia c1870s but no records of
Allan were found and presumed to have died on the voyage. Donald had
2 children Donald (b1852) and Angus (b1854). Apparently the children
were sent back to Scotland to live with Donald's, unmarried sister
Ann at Lochalsh. Sarah Amelia later travelled to Australia with Angus
(son of John) after Sarah's mother Christina Smith Halley died,
presumably in Nova Scotia.
The story has been handed down through several generations, and based
on patchy evidence and much guesswork. I question whether Allan
travelled to Australia with his son Donald as I've found an Allan
Cameron on the Canada census living with his son George in 1881, well
after the presumed death c1875 at sea, but I don't have any other
information about George to confirm this.
Whether cousins Angus and Sarah travelled together is another
question as an Angus appears in the Canada census 1881, living with
his brother Murdoch and sister-in-law Christy, also their mother Ann
(nee Mclean) lives with them. Sarah married Robert Disher in Horsham
Australia in 1880. But Angus married Eleanor Desmond in 1882 and was
listed on the marriage certificate as a Hotel keeper at Heywood. It
would seem hotelkeeping was a family trade. Eleanor Desmond's family
also ran hotels in Heywood and perhaps Angus had been working for
him. Of course I could quite easily have the wrong Angus in the 1881
census.
Some of the story does seem to be confirmed. I found a Donald born in
Australia c1855 in the Scottish 1901 census living at Lochalsh. The
Census shows Donald lived at Lochalsh with a cousin, Donald from Nova
Scotia and his young Scottish born family. I believe the Nova Scotia
born Donald is John's son who appears to have travelled to Scotland
in 1892. He may have travelled to take over the family business. His
unmarried aunt Ann died in 1890 and she had been listed as running
the ferry and Hotel in the 1881 Scottish census. Her death
certificate listed her as owner of the Aird Ferry & Hotel. Ann's
parents, Angus & Anne (nee MacDonald, are confirmed as runnig the
Ferry and Hotel on their death certificates and on the 1841 Scotland
census Angus is listed as a Ferryman.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
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