Ancestor search for MacDonald

[irishuna]

Im sure this will be a needle in a hay stack! Im looking for any information on either Hugh MacDonald or Agnes Hynde. They are my great-great-grandparents!! I feel a bit stupid, its like searching for 'Paddy o' Flaherty' in Ireland.

Hugh MacDonald was the "chief Stockman" or caretaker for an "english gentleman" ; absentee landlord called Boswell Hewsen (?) for Killary Lodge,in a townland called Thawlaban, Louisburgh, Co. Mayo Ireland, just before the turn of the century.

Hugh had a number of children, Donald, Agnes and James - my great-grandfather - who married a local girl named Honor Durkin!

Hugh was a "giant of a man" and an extremely popular person on this estate both with colleagues and tenants. His wife AGNES HYNDE is buried in the local C Of I graveyard in Louisburgh, however, he is buried, we think in Cockburnspath - or perhaps Old Hamstock.

Our dates are very sketchy, he would have come over to Ireland perhaps 1870's and returned back home to scotland 1890's - 1900. Im sorry for the length of this querey, but any info would be greatly appreciated as I am travelling to Scotland in feb next yr. If you could even point me in the right direction regarding research it would be great.

Una O Malley

[Derek_Cassidy]

Hello cousin!

I can't tell you very much more about Hugh and Agnes than you already know, but I can fill you in on what this particular great-grandson of theirs has been doing for 50 odd years! and fill in a few gaps on names and spellings.

Hugh was a MacDonell (the Glengarry sept). He was a tall man, 6'3". His brother John was 6'4". He worked for a family called Houston-Boswell at a place called Killary Lodge (no connection with the place at Leenane). I've got an old map of Mayo somewhere that shows it. Agnes was Agnes Hynd and came from Dunfermline. My grandmother was Isabella, their youngest daughter. There were also brothers called Arthur and John. Arthur, I think went to NZ, John came over to Scotland - he lived with my family when I was young - lived to be 91.

Please contact me - I think you can email me through this site, bur if not try Derek.Cassidy@AbbeyNational.co.uk

regards Derek

[Derek_Cassidy]

Una, I've done some research (not before time) and have come up with the following-
Hugh died 19/11/1920 at Nether Monynut not far from Oldhamstocks which itself is not far from Cockburnspath. He is shown as being 80 at the time.
I've also found his and Agnes' wedding certificate which gives the following details-
29/11/1864 at Perth, Hugh MacDonell, bachelor (occ shepherd) of Beechwood Farm, Inverness aged 24 son of James MacDonell (occ shepherd)and Ann MacPherson married Agnes Hynd, spinster (occ domestic servant) of Crossgates,Dunfermline aged 25 daughter of William Hynd (occ Engine Driver) and Agnes Beveridge
Hynd and Beveridge are both real Fife names - they're still very common there. The engine driver description could be one of two things - either he drove a train (obvious!) or he was a miner - either driving a coal train underground or operated the mine engine that raised and lowered the cages.

I'll keep on looking. Hope you enjoyed (are enjoying?) your trip to Scotland. Look forward to hearing from you soon

Derek

[irishuna]

GREAT to hear from you!! I just logged on by chance, I had nearly forgotten my quest.

I have not yet managed to get to Scotland. But still very much on the cards.

It was such a shock to see someone had replied to my e-mails. Im delighted to hear from you.

My work address is: una.omalley@mhb.ie

PLEASE let me know if you get this. I have also e-mailed your abbey national address.

Hoping to hear from you very soon - so we can begin proper correspondence.

Una O Malley

[HollyElise]

Irushuna, the next time you are about to post you might want to check off the little box at the bottom of the blank Reply box to receive an email if there is a reply to your post. This way you will know immediately when someone has replied.

[irishuna]

You are so right, albeit, too late! I didnt know how to use this site very well when I started. I couldnt even find my original e-mails! Anyhow, I am now waiting for my long lost cousin to contact me.

I wonder will it take a year for him to contact me.??

[HollyElise]

He has a "mail" icon, did you try clicking on that and trying to send him an email?