GENERATION NO. 1
JOHN MACKENZIE
of
Kilcoy, Killearnan Parish, Ross-shire, Scotland
and
ISOBEL STEWART
of
Inverness, Inverness Parish, Inverness-shire, Scotland
REDCASTLE, ROSS-SHIRE, SCOTLAND, 1998
REDCASTLE, ROSS-SHIRE, SCOTLAND, 1950
KILCOY CASTLE, ROSS-SHIRE, SCOTLAND
John MacKenzie is the first documented MACKENZIE I have been able to find in the extant records of Scotland. He was born near Kilcoy, Killearnan Parish, Ross-shire, Scotland ±1745. John Mackenzie was a butcher and was associated with Redcastle and later, Kilcoy Castle. He worked for Colin MacKenzie, the Laird of these estates. A Laird is a person who owns a large estate.
He married Isobel Stewart. Nothing further is known about her. However, there are two baptismal records that seem to fit Isobel Stewart in nearby Inverness Parish: 1) Isobel Steuart, born July 29, 1746, of Thomas Steuart and Isobell McKenzie and 2) Isobel Steuart, born February 26, 1747 of John Steuart and Katherine Clark. If one of these Isobel Stewarts is the correct one I would favor the last Isobel Steuart because her parents are John and Katherine, forenames that are passed on during succeeding generations. Although Isobel and its variants are passed on, Thomas is not.
Notice the spelling as Steuart, not Stewart. The original spelling of the name was derived from Gaelic words for the keeper of the household and certain included accounts (steward) and the royal hereditary position, High Stewart of Scotland, created by King David I. From its beginning as a name, it was spelled with a "t" instead of a "d" on the end. The Stuart spelling resulted from the movement of Scots back and forth to France. At the time there was no "w" in the French language so the Stuart spelling is a French version, brought back to Scotland from France. Other spellings have resulted from the names being changed because they were recorded as some one heard them or because the correct spelling was simply not known. The following are the known variations of the surname "Stewart": Sdiuord, Steuard, Steuarde, Steuart, Stevarde, Stevarte, Steward, Stewart, Stewerd, Stigeweard, Stiuard, Stiubhard, Stiubhart, Stiward, Stuard, Stuarde, Stuart, Stuarte, Stuerd, Stuward, Styward, Stywarde, Steart, Stueart and in Italy & Spain – Estuardo.
The exact places of birth and baptisms for John MacKenzie and Isobel Stewart are not known. But the extant records tell us that they were living in or around Kilcoy and Balnain, Killearnan Parish, Ross-shire, near Redcastle, Scotland during the 1770-1790s.
John MacKenzie came from an ancestry of cotters and, as a farmer/butcher, he was also a cotter. The term "cotter" is derived from the kind of dwelling in which they lived --- a "cot" --- which had one door into the living quarters and no attic. The roof of the humble cot, in which the Highland cotter dwelt, was covered with thinly-cut turf laid much in the fashion of slating. The turf was generally covered with heath, which was not only cheap but could last one hundred years if properly executed. The typical structure was composed of butt, benn and byar (a kitchen, an inner living quarters and a place for cattle). The "benn" was lined with sleeping boxes, and the warmest one was next to the "byar" wall. One sleeping box served as a partition between the "butt" and the "benn".
This is how John Prebble's book, The Highland Clearances, defines the "cotter":
"The cotter was from birth a servant.
Tradition and customary right gave
him a little grazing for a cow on
the township pasture, a kail-yard
and a potato-patch by his round-stone
hut, and for these he paid a life-
time of service to the sub-tenant.
He was what other men were not,
herdsman, blacksmith, weaver, tailor,
shoemaker, armourer, axeman, and
bowman in the last rank of the clan."
My Internet-friend, Grace Mackenzie, found the reference to the headstone of John MacKenzie and Isobel Stewart in The Highland Family History booklet: 'Monumental Inscriptions - Killearnan Churchyard'. Here is the inscription on a flat stone:
"In memory of JOHN McKENZIE farmer in Wellhouse of Kilcoy who died 2nd Jan. 1800 aged 70years; and of Isobel McKENZIE, his spouse who died 4th March 1783 aged 55 years; also in memory of Kenneth McKENZIE, son of Colin McKENZIE, farmer in Redcastle who died 19th March 1818 aged 21 yrs; and of Duncan his son who died 10th August aged 36 yrs. This stone is erected by Colin McKENZIE & Barbra McLENNAN"
My friend, Kyle McAllister, took these photos of the gravesite and gravestone of John MacKenzie and Isabel Stewart. Click each one to enlarge:
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Gravestone of John MacKenzie & Isabel Stewart
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Gravestone of John MacKenzie & Isabel Stewart
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Gravestone of John MacKenzie & Isabel Stewart
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Until recently the only known children of John MacKenzie and Isobel Stewart were Donald and William. But this inscription on the headstone indicates that John MacKenzie had another son, Colin McKenzie, and a grandson, Kenneth McKenzie, who died at age 21 and another grandson, Duncan McKenzie, who died at age 36 (year unknown). Kenneth Mckenzie was born ± 1797 and would have been the same age as the children of Wlliam MacKenzie and Flora MacMillan: Isobel MacKenzie in 1795 and John MacKenzie in 1797.
This also explains the cryptic notation on the baptism record of William MacKenzie that states he was born 3rd of John MacKenzie and Isobel Stewart. As the last born son of John MacKenzie, William would have been the last to inherit anything from his father, if, in fact, there was anything to inherit. So ... he, his wife Flora and children went to Nova Scotia. And the rest, as they say, is history!
Donald MacKenzie, born about 1768 in Balnain, Ross-shire, Scotland.
Colin MacKenzie, born about 1769 in Balnain, Ross-shire, Scotland.
William MacKenzie, born 1 Sep 1770 in Balnain, Ross-shire, Scotland;
baptized, 2 Sept 1770 in Urray Parish, Ross-shire;
died 11 Mar 1868 in West Branch, East River, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada.
URRAY PARISH, ROSS-SHIRE
There may have been other children of John MacKenzie and Isobel Stewart, but they are unknown. I have a copy of the baptism record of William MacKenzie. According to his baptism record, William was "son to John MacKenzie & Isobel Stewart his spouse in Balnain of Braes born 1st (3rd?) was baptised 2 Sept 1770 in Presence of the Congregation." (OPR #118766)
MAP OF BALNAIN, ROSS-SHIRE, SCOTLAND
Name: John MACKENZIE
Birth: Ross-shire, Scotland
John was present at the baptism of his grand-daughter, Isobel. He was listed as a butcher in Kilcoy, Killearnan Parish. He was also present at the birth of his grand-son, John in Killearnan Parish.
Spouse: Isobel STEWART
Birth: Inverness-shire, Scotland
Children
1 M: Donald MACKENZIE
Birth: 1768 Balnain, Ross-shire, Scotland
Spouse: Catherine MACLEAN
Donald McKenzie lived and worked in the Ruilick area of Ross-shire in the parish of Kilmorack, Inverness, Scotland. Unlike his brother, William, Donald remained in Scotland. Interestingly, Fort William is just along the road from the Ruilick, Kilmorack district, and also the Ross-shire district.
Donald MacKenzie and Catherine MacLean had one known child: Catherine MacKenzie. She was born ± 1796. She married Andrew MacKay and they had one known child: Donald MacKay, born 1824. Donald MacKay married Margaret Ross, born 1838 in Urray, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland. They had six known children: Catherine, Alexander, John, Christina, Donald and Isabella. Nothing further is known about this family.
2M Colin MACKENZIE
Birth: 1769 Balnain, Ross-shire, Scotland
Spouse: Barbara McLELLAN
Colin MacKenzie worked as a farmer in Redcastle. He had two children: Kenneth, born 1797 - died 19 March 1818; and Duncan who died 10 August (year unknown) at age 36. They are both buried in Killearnan Churchyard with their grandparents John MacKenzie and Isoble Stewart.
3 M: William MACKENZIE
Birth: April 2, 1771, Balnain, Ross-shire, Scotland
Death: 11 MAR 1868 West Branch, East River, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada
Spouse: Flora MACMILLAN
Marriage: ABT 1795 Scotland
