People of Coll, 1776 to 1860

[Pictou-19]

Hi Everyone;
I’m new to this forum and fairly new to genealogy as I’ve only been digging for about a year. I am interested in the people of the Isle of Coll. My family history is thus; Iain McIain (John Johnston) in the 1550’s(?) accompanied his foster sister, Una McDonald, from Ardnamurchan to Coll where she was to marry into the McLean family. From him came the Johnstons of Coll. Between him and the1776 List of the Inhabitants of Coll there are large gaps without names to fill them. My family began to leave Scotland for Canada possibly as early as 1806 but definitely in 1819 on the Brig ‘Economy’. There were succeeding waves to Canada and Australia through the 40’s and 50’s with all but one of the families leaving by the 1860’s. Some of the last families’ only went as far as Rothesay, Oban and Glasgow. The last Johnston on Coll died in 1921. Fittingly he was also John.

With the Parish Records missing before the 1760’s and the Parishes of Coll and Tyree being merged under Tyree from the early 1600’s until the 1864, it becomes hard to determine who belongs where. So my first question is: Are there any other lists or census that would be useful in finding out who was where and when? Dr. Samuel Johnson seems to indicate that there was something when he recorded his journey through the Hebrides but I have been unable to find it as yet. Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Secondly, Does anyone have any suggestions as to books, articles or web sites that I could try? If that fails, does anyone have another plan of attack?

Finally, I would like to invite anyone who has a Johnston lurking in their family tree and think that they may have come from Coll to please contact me. The main name that I know are McLean, Mckinnon, McDonald, McPhaiden (McFayden), and Campbell.

[ErinWhite]

hey there
i'm looking for people from coll as well, i am related to the johnston family (john johnston etc, murdoch would have been my ggg grandfather)and i have most of that family tree but i'm having troubles finding people related to them. if you need any info on the johnstons let me know and i'll see what i can do. also if you know of any johnstons from coll, let me know!
thanks
erin

[ahartry]

I'm from the Johnstons as well, of Coll. My g-g-grandfather was Duncan Johnson, son of Lauchlan. He was born in 1819 on board ship on the way to Nova Scotia. My grandmother was from River John.

Also related to Sutherlands, Mackenzies.

I'd love to know more about the Mackenzie side. My g-grandfather was Captain John Mackenzie.

Thanks,
Ann Mackenzie Hartry

[Brian Johnson]

I have just started a little Johnston of Coll website on facebook and I have quite a bit of Coll Johnston information. I can help the last three requests with data and photographs.

Please contact me and I will invite you to my site.

Brian Johnson

fatalbertacowboy@hotmail.com

780-830-4945

[oursecret]

Hello folks,
I have been having a rough time sorting out my McDonalds from Coll and Tiree. This is not helped by the dates of the 1841 Census being different dates and months on Coll-Tiree and on Iona, Mull, Ulva, Gometra where they seemed to be working and miving around at the time.
I got this far with some certainty:
Effy (Effie/Euphemia McDonald) born 1830, baptised on Tyree. parents Neil (Niel) McDonald and Elisabeth (Betty) McDougall (McDugald). The name variations are the result of different sources: IGI baptism record, 1841 Census, Marriage Certificate in Penola, South Australia, Death Certificate in Victoria.
The first puzzle is why Effy seems to be living with the family of Lachlan McKinnon, seaman, at Castle St. Arinagour on Coll in 1841.
The second is how she migrated to Australia and in whose company. There are many of her name on the shipping lists but the only one of the right age is with other parents and arrives six months too late for her own marriage.
The third is the marriage of her parents, or even their births. Too many Neils to choose from and none of them wed to Betty or variations of the name. Without making bold assumptions (like *******y - which would be recorded anyway) the curtain seems to draw down before 1830. I do wonder how they connect to those on Coll/Tyree of the same surnames: they surely must - somewhere back there.

Chris

Originally Posted by Pictou-19

Hi Everyone;
I’m new to this forum and fairly new to genealogy as I’ve only been digging for about a year. I am interested in the people of the Isle of Coll. My family history is thus; Iain McIain (John Johnston) in the 1550’s(?) accompanied his foster sister, Una McDonald, from Ardnamurchan to Coll where she was to marry into the McLean family. From him came the Johnstons of Coll. Between him and the1776 List of the Inhabitants of Coll there are large gaps without names to fill them. My family began to leave Scotland for Canada possibly as early as 1806 but definitely in 1819 on the Brig ‘Economy’. There were succeeding waves to Canada and Australia through the 40’s and 50’s with all but one of the families leaving by the 1860’s. Some of the last families’ only went as far as Rothesay, Oban and Glasgow. The last Johnston on Coll died in 1921. Fittingly he was also John.

With the Parish Records missing before the 1760’s and the Parishes of Coll and Tyree being merged under Tyree from the early 1600’s until the 1864, it becomes hard to determine who belongs where. So my first question is: Are there any other lists or census that would be useful in finding out who was where and when? Dr. Samuel Johnson seems to indicate that there was something when he recorded his journey through the Hebrides but I have been unable to find it as yet. Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Secondly, Does anyone have any suggestions as to books, articles or web sites that I could try? If that fails, does anyone have another plan of attack?

Finally, I would like to invite anyone who has a Johnston lurking in their family tree and think that they may have come from Coll to please contact me. The main name that I know are McLean, Mckinnon, McDonald, McPhaiden (McFayden), and Campbell.

[Collywobbles]

Originally Posted by Pictou-19

Hi Everyone;
I’m new to this forum and fairly new to genealogy as I’ve only been digging for about a year. I am interested in the people of the Isle of Coll. My family history is thus; Iain McIain (John Johnston) in the 1550’s(?) accompanied his foster sister, Una McDonald, from Ardnamurchan to Coll where she was to marry into the McLean family. From him came the Johnstons of Coll. Between him and the1776 List of the Inhabitants of Coll there are large gaps without names to fill them. My family began to leave Scotland for Canada possibly as early as 1806 but definitely in 1819 on the Brig ‘Economy’. There were succeeding waves to Canada and Australia through the 40’s and 50’s with all but one of the families leaving by the 1860’s. Some of the last families’ only went as far as Rothesay, Oban and Glasgow. The last Johnston on Coll died in 1921. Fittingly he was also John.

With the Parish Records missing before the 1760’s and the Parishes of Coll and Tyree being merged under Tyree from the early 1600’s until the 1864, it becomes hard to determine who belongs where. So my first question is: Are there any other lists or census that would be useful in finding out who was where and when? Dr. Samuel Johnson seems to indicate that there was something when he recorded his journey through the Hebrides but I have been unable to find it as yet. Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Secondly, Does anyone have any suggestions as to books, articles or web sites that I could try? If that fails, does anyone have another plan of attack?

Finally, I would like to invite anyone who has a Johnston lurking in their family tree and think that they may have come from Coll to please contact me. The main name that I know are McLean, Mckinnon, McDonald, McPhaiden (McFayden), and Campbell.

Hi there,

I have the Caolas Website, where you may find some useful info;Caolas | Home

[mariannemckenna]

Hi all,

I too have ancestors who lived in Coll, Tiree, Ulva and Mull and would be prepared on sharing information. Some of these ancestors came to Australia on the Brittish King in Februrary 1839; sadly two of them died on route - both of them children.

Regards,

Marianne.