The Imlay City library gave me a lead. They found a book that lists two Wallaces that came to Lapeer County from Scotland via Canada: George Addison Wallace and John Wallace.

In the 1870 census for Michigan, I found a David and Catharine Wallace with four kids, one of which was Sarah, age 11, which would put Sarah at a little over thirty when she had Mabel, if Mabel was her daughter. The other kids were William age eight, John age five, and a name I couldn't read, looks somewhat like Emma age three. David and Catharine would be about 40 when the 1870 census was held. It also lists David and Catharine's country of origin as Scotland. It looks promising except that I thought Sadie and Robert came from Scotland via Canada (no, because Sadie was born in Lapeer County and had to have married Robert Rutherford there).

"Since I was in Lapeer, I decide to go the extra 12-15 miles to Imlay City to the Imlay Twp Cemetery. The township hall is directly across from the cemetery, but they too were closed. I walked through the cemetery, but could not find a stone for either Sarah or Robert Rutherford. It is probably there, but due to the size of the cemetery, I just did not find it. However, I did find a monument for:

Wallace
David
born 28 Sep 1831
(no death date)

Catherine
born 29 Feb 1831
( no death date)

Emma F.
their daughter
died 16 June 1909
age 42 yrs.

August 8, 2002:

I found David Wallace's death records in Lapeer. His parents were John Wallace and Margaret Mare (Mair? Maybe this is a derivation from the popular Scottish name "Muir"); place of residence: Scotland. David died at age 81 on October 7, 1912 in Goodland Township, Lapeer County. He applied for US citizenship on April 12, 1860.

Catharine was born February 29, 1831, and died July 5, 1910 at 79 years in Goodland Township, Lapeer. There is no mother's name, but the father's is given as McEwan. It is interesting to note that nobody could spell in the early years (or understand accents well) so names were spelled phonetically and often very different from one time to the next. "McEwen" seems to be the most popular spelling in Scotland.

Emma Wallace is buried next to her parents in the Imlay City Cemetery. She died June 15, 1909.

I found several Catherine McEwan's born in 1831 in Scotland. The date I have for my Catharine is: born Feb 28, 1831.

The first one was Christened October, 1831 in Klichoman, Argull, Scotland (Father Duncan and Mother Jean McCaffer). This could be her, although the Christening is quite late.

The second born November 23, 1831; Christened Sept 20, 1831, born in Auchtergower, Perth Scotland (Father Alexander, Mother Susan Stewart). Can't be my Catharine.

The third, born in 1831 Christened Oct 2, 1831 in Kilfina, Argull Scotland (Father Colin, Mother Mary Shaw?). Could be her.

The fourth, Christened Sept. 30, 1831 in Abernethy Perth Scotland (Father James, Mother Elisabeth Pearson). Could be.

The fifth, Katherine McEwen Christened 21 December, 1831 in Killin Perth Scotland (Father John, Mother Katherine McIntyre. Could be.

I found a Catherine McQuinn arriving on the ship Montreal in 1857.

Catherine WALLACE
Age: 21
Year: 1851

Description: 1851 Census of QUEBEC CITY: selected records of names of those who have stated a place of birth giving a specific locality or county within a country outside of Canada . Also includes names of those who have given name of country of birth (other than Canada, England, France, Ireland, Scotland, and United States); names of others in household; occupation; religion; marital status; and more.

I ordered the above record, but it was not my Catherine. This Catherine came from Ireland, I think; mine came from Scotland (?) Except..... The date and age fit very well, and the McEwan's of Ayrshire might have come from Ireland (still a mystery out there).

1892 Portrait & Biographical Album of Genesee, Lapeer & Tuscola Counties, Chapman Bros. Pages 517 - 524

WILLIAM WALLACE. Our subject is a farmer and stock-raiser, located on section 36, Almont township, Lapeer County. Bearing the illustrious name which he does, it is not surprising to learn that he comes from Scotland, where he was born July 10, 1809. He is a son of William and Jean Donald Wallace. In the early days at home he received but a modicum of education, but like most of the Highland Scots. learned to read, his thoughtful and earnest mind was ever eager for literary food of the best class. His father died when he was about eight years old, and our subject was obliged to go to work in the cotton mills, continuing in that employment until just previous to his departure for America.

Even with the small wages that the workmen in the factory cities of Scotland received, our subject was enabled to pay up a small amount of money, for he was prudent and economical, and was moral in every way, being temperate in his habits, neither smoking nor drinking. He was married July 6, 1844, when he was about thirty-five years of age. His bride was Miss Janet Bowes, a daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Stark) Bowes. Five days after the solemnization of this nuptials they took vessel for America. On the way over Mrs. Wallace took the fever, and they were quarantined at Staten island for on month after their arrival. On her recovery the couple started for Michigan and came to Romeo.

Soon after locating here our subject procured eighty acres of land in Metamora township, Lapeer County. He here built a log house, which served them as home for about three years, at the end of which time they exchanged farms with another man and got the eighty acres upon which they now live. Since that time they have added to it from time to time until they now possess two hundred and sixty acres. They have recently sold forty acres to a son.

Mr. and Mrs. Wallace are the parents of ten children: William B., Margaret, Thomas, James, Jean, Janet and Agnes, who are twins, John, Alexander and Isabel. William was born in Lapeer County, September 8, 1845; he served in the army for two years and eight months; his home is now in Tacoma, Wash. Margaret, whose natal day was May 10, 1847, married Hugh Glover, a farmer of North Branch; Thomas, who was born March 13, 1849, married Janet Thomson, and lives near Barr City, Col., where he is engaged in farming; James, who was born in July, 1851, resides in Colorado, and is the owner of a large herd of cattle and horses; he is still unmarried. Jean married A. Bolton; her home is now in Colorado. Janet married John Balhoff and lives in Sanilac county; Agnes is the wife of James Clubine, and lives in Almont; John lives in St. Clair county; Alexander rents hi father's place and lives at home; Isabel is still unmarried.

David Wallace: book 2/page 65/ 4/24/1860/G.B allegiance, Code I

Also at about the same time was:

Alexander Wallace: book 1, 171, 2/28/1857/ born in Scotland (no allegiance), Code I

Check this site: www.intersurf.com/~rcollins/ruthnote.html. This site has a history of the Rutherfords and in particular the first Rutherfords to come to America. What is of interest to me is that the names of the early Rutherfords were John, Robert, Archie, so these are very old clan names and may also suggest an early relationship with my group.

The above looks like it might be a link to our Wallaces (these are Mississippi Wallaces)

Google search: Thomas Bowes married Margaret Stark in late January or early February (1st) in Govan or Gorbals, Lanark Scotland. Lanark is southeast of Glasgow in a direct line east from the historic Wallace Clan area. This is significant because it ties the pioneering William Wallace family to the Ayrshire region of Scotland.

Familysearch: Found a John Wallace born 1801 in Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland married to a Margaret Muir, born 1805 in the same location. This fits wonderfully except that the death date for the father is 1830 which is a year before David was born. Unfortunately, no children are listed. The dates are so close it is worth copying all the information. John Wallace's father is also John Wallace, born in 1705 (same location). His mother was Isabella Allen born in January 1773. Isabella's parents are George Allen (b Sept 20, 1740; d about 1768 or 69) and Mary Lockhart (b 1743); both parents born in Galston. George's parents were David Allen (b March 10, 1706; d March 23 1734; b and d in Galston, and Christian Johnstoun (b about 1714 in Mauchline, Ayrshire Scotland).

Here's an interesting clue! From Ayrshire, Scotland genealogy pages:

"Once you get earlier than the 1841 census then it becomes more problematic. A lot depends on where your ancestor lived and the condition of the surviving records and much depends on his name. In the 19th century a naming pattern became popular in Lowland Scotland where the first son was called after the father's father, the second son after the mother's father and the third son after the father; the first daughter after the mother's mother, the second after the father's mother and the third after the mother. Now if you have a couple who married in 1810 and called their first four children Samuel, Charlotte, Peter and Henrietta then the chances of picking out the grandparents are fairly high. It is most important to keep in mind that the naming pattern was neither universal nor compulsory. There is some truth in the idea that you can only tell for sure that they used the naming pattern when you have found all four grandparents."

If this naming pattern holds true for David, then we would expect his first son, John to be named after his father's father, ie. John. Hey, that fits! His second son is William which means that I should be looking for a William Muir (Mare) as Margaret's father. The first daughter Sarah would be named after Margaret's mother (this is like a "riddle me this" thing), William's wife! So I need to look for a Sarah and William Muir. David was born in 1831, so his mother Margaret would be born between 1800 to 1820 (?) and her parents between 1770 to 1790 (?).

Okay, I found a William Muir (b about 1779) and Sarah Moreson married in Lanark Scotland in 1804. Emma would have been named after the father's mother John Wallace's mother was Isabella; does that fit? Not quite.

Hello Doug,

I would love to make a connection but it doesn't appear so.

Catherine McEwan the daughter of Duncan McEwan, Saddler, and Margaret McCalman, of Kilchoman Parish, Island of Islay. Catherine's age in the 1841 and 1851 censuses varied so I am not sure if she had been born in 1825 or 1829. Islay is in the Inner Hebrides just off the coast of Argyll and I understand Gaelic was their first language in the early 1800s and I doubt if they could count too well.

Catherine was not at home in the 1861 census and I have not found her marriage on the island so she most probably left there after 1851 due to marriage or to work elsewhere, and Glasgow is where many Islay people went.

Her son, Donald, my great-grandfather, married my great-grandmother, Margaret McCallum, in Glasgow in 1873, and they eventually emigrated to Brisbane, Australia, in 1885 with their children. Margaret was also from Islay.

Sorry I could not be more helpful but good luck with your research.

Marjorie Eldred
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Two Catherine McEwens born 1831 show up in the search. The first is to Duncan McEwen and Jean McCaffer ("McCalman" probably, nothing shows up for "McCaffer"; see email above from Marjorie Eldred); Frame 70, in the Parish at Kilchoman, which is on the Isle of islay (GROS data: 540/00 0001). The second to Colin McEwen and Mary Shaw (Fr 414 and 628), Kilfinan Parish (this parish is in Argyll ("Kilfinan parish Church of the Church of Scotland in the area held by the clan McEwen (disperse in the middle of the 15th century) 518/00 0002. The Eldred email indicates that her Catherine had a son Donald and that she probably went to Glasgow. That doesn't seem to fit. Also, the guy who is the expert on the Islay Isle Wallaces says that my branch is not related to those on the island. The other Catherine was born on Arygill which is far from Aryshire.

The spelling keeps jumping back and forth between "McEwan" and "McEwen."

From an earlier search I found this: Catherine McEwen, born in 1831, Christened Oct 2, 1831 in Kilfina, Argyll Scotland (Father Colin, Mother Mary Shaw?). The McEwen clan originates along Loch Fyfe near Kilfina.

RICCARTON PARISH

Also found this: John Wallace married Margaret Mair (Fr 904) in the Parish of Galston in 1825. (Gros 593/00 0004). Galston is where all the Wallaces I was tracing seemed to be ending up.

From a search: Wallaces from the Galston area of Scotland went to Flos Township, Hillsdale, Simcoe County, Ontario (Eastern Ontario?).

I found a David Wallace who had relatives in Lapeer County. When I asked him about his ancestral history, he gave me an entirely different account of a Wallace migration pattern. Here is his email to me:

Hi Doug,

I will try to answer these questions without being too lengthy.

Douglas Baldwin asked:

Where did your ancestors come from in Canada?

My ancestors settled in Walkerton, Ontario (Bruce County) where they divided their land for a subdivision that now has 2 houses and is owned by the City of Walkerton Public Works Dept.

Where did they settle in Lapeer?

My g grandfather came from Ontario and was married in Lapeer and then settled for awhile in Elba and then Flint.

Where were they from in Scotland?

They were from the Maxwelton (Paisley) area of Scotland.

I know that there was a William Wallace who was an original settler in Lapeer County. Are you related to that family?

I don't think I am related to your William Wallace but my ggguncle came from Ontario and settled in Yankton, SD and also fought in the Spanish American War.

I hope this is of some interest to you.

David Wallace

Here are the last of the 1872 deaths I have:

Muirkirk:

Robert Richmond, 36, January 25
Mary Campbell, 21, January 29
Margaret Wallace, 52, February 2

I probably have made this statement before, anyway. It seems possible that the Wallaces came to Lapeer not to follow Wallace relatives, but because Catherine had relatives from her mother's side (or they both had relatives?). There were "Mares" and "Muirs" in the old pioneer records of Lapeer County. There are also McQuinns, but very few McEwans.

Hello Douglas,

Here is the list of all my MARGARET MAIRs -

1. Main (Mair?) Margaret born 19 May 1816 in Galston ? Parents & spouse unknown
2. Mair Margaret born abt 1817 married John Young in Loudoun on 7 Jan 1837 parents unknown
3. Mair Margaret born 1815 married John Young in Loudoun on 7 jan 1834 parents Hugh Mair & Margaret Brown
4. Mair Margaret born in Galston 10 Jun 1813 spouse unknown; parents Thomas Mair & Elizabeth Campbell
5. Mair (Main) Margaret born in Galston 11 Feb 1817 spouse unknown; parents Alexander Mair (Main) & Elizabeth Craig

If the marriage between Wallace and Margaret Mair took place in 1825, you'd expect the bride to be around 18-21 or so. That would make her born at the earliest in 1807. So it doesn't look as if I can help. However, I have other MAIRs on my db and could look them up if you gave me alternative names.

Catherine

This is really wonderful: I got an email from Malcolm Rutherford who lives in the Northumberland region of Ontario. He is related to me and has records of Robert Rutherford marrying Sarah Wallace. What fascinates me is that there is another Wallace marriage mentioned in his email (copied below). Maybe the Rutherfords and Wallaces had a Scottish connection. Here's the email from Mack Rutherford:

"Just a few days ago, my daughter came across your web-site and subsequently advised me of same. It would appear that we have a common heritage and I may be able to help you in your search.

"Our family tree indicates that John Rutherford born 1783 and his wife Isabella (Douglas), resided near Berwickshire, Scotland. In 1837 or 38, they emigrated to Canada along with their eight children and settled for the most part near Colborne, Ontario which is in Haldimand Twp., Northumberland County. One of their children was Walter Rutherford, born 1819. He subsequently married Janet Johnston and resided in Colborne. They in turn had nine children namely:- John who married Hanna Donaghy; George who married Jennie Johnston: Robert who married Sarah Wallace; Archie who married Elizabeth Steel: Walter who married Minnie Wade; Andrew who married Agnes Weatherson and Emma Engles; James who never married; Mary who married William Wallace and Thomas who married Ella Fowler.

"The records indicate that Robert Rutherford and his wife Sarah (Wallace) resided in the U.S.A. and had the following children:- Mary who married Blackmore; Howard; Mabel who married Baldwin; Walter, and Beatrice who married Smith.

"If this is of interest to you feel free to contact me, and I am Malcolm Rutherford, 97 Little Ave., Bowmanville Ontario L1C 1J9 Telephone 905-623-4264 After Nov 27th, we will be traveling to Florida for the winter and our telephone no. is 727-725-2006 (Clearwater) ... Mack Rutherford."

Looking over the information that Malcolm Rutherford sent to me from Canada, I see that my great grandfather Robert Rutherford (Sarah's husband) had a sister Mary Rutherford who married a William Wallace. These families tended to inter-marry, so I am guessing that William Wallace might be Sarah's brother or a close relative. I should look for Mary and William in Lapeer.

Imlay City has a historical museum with old newspaper records. I wrote to them searching for information about the Wallaces and Rutherfords. There was an area outside Imlay City called the Scottish Settlement. It has dissolved with time, but in the 1800s it was where many Scottish families came together. I need to learn more about this Scottish Settlement.

The Scottish Settlement is east and slightly south of Almont. There is a Scottish Cemetery and a Scottish road. Family names from that area (given to me so far) include the Hamiltons, Borlands, Downies, Bordmans, Wallaces, and Rattrees (not sure of any of the spellings). Evidently, there was a small book written in Imlay City that talked about the Scottish Settlement. I think that I ordered the book from the Imlay City Historical Museum. Scottish Settlement Road runs very near the border of three Michigan counties, Macomb, St Clair, and Lapeer. I may not be finding records in Lapeer County because they might be in one of the others. I also see from the map that there is a Cochrane Road almost on the border with St Clair County.When I was looking through property records for Lapeer County I found a transaction involving David Wallace and Anges Cochrane. It appears to be part of David Cochranes will. Here is what I have from that record:

Book 7, page 554, under "Warranty Deed" (in the books/records that deal with property) transactions. David Cochrane by Admin(?) To David Wallace June 23 1870, 6 PM (John Abbott Register). Made this sixth day of January, 1870 between Agnes Cochrane Administrator of the estate of David Cochrane deceased of the County of St Clair and David Wallace of the County of lapeer, $500, and to his heirs all the following land: South east quarter of the north west quarter of section 14 in Township eight, north of range twelve east in Lapeer County.

This strongly suggests some connection between the Cochrane and Wallace families and between Lapeer and St Clair Counties. There is also a Marr Road that branches off Scottish Settlement Road, and a Bordman Road that is the dividing line between Macomb and Lapeer and between St Clair and Macomb Counties. What this clearly shows is that the Scottish Settlement extended over three counties.

In the Scottish Cemetery there is a William Wallace who was born July 10, 1809 and died December 13, 1894; a John Wallace born December 22, 1858, died 1943; a Janet Wallace born August 24, 1821, died 1899; Eva Wallace born march 1893, died 1901; and an Elizabeth Wallace born November 12, 1864, died 1941.

David Wallace filed for naturalization papers April 24, 1860. A William Wallace filed February 5, 1849. David (my ancestor) shows up in the Almont census for 1860, adding further evidence that his family was related to the Scottish Settlement group.

I found another piece of history during my Imlay City trip. There is recorded the death of a Wallace child (no first name given) March 13, 1871 in Goodland Township, Lapeer. The child died at 9 days of age, a male to Catherine and David Wallace.

"I recently obtained a short history of "Grindstone City," Michigan. In the early 1870's a James Wallace, of Detroit, visited the area later to be named Grindstone City. James Wallace took into partnership Robert Wallace, father of Lee R. and Samuel J. Wallace of Port Austin, Michigan who came to Grindstone City, Michigan from Canada. There is no other genealogical data in the article. Anyone interested in the complete but short history can address me directly. "

James Wm. Wallace in Michigan

jwallace@firststep.net

(In 2004, I received an email from Liz Montgomery a relative of the above Wallace branch. Here is her comment about the above paragraph: "Just for your records on James and Robert - The origins of the partnership are as yet unclear to me but both research and oral history in both families strongly indicate they were not related. My line does not appear related to yours. Robert Wallace -> WH Wallace -> Ora Wallace -> John Symons, my grandfather.")

I couldn't figure out why Sarah's grave was not at the Imlay City Cemetery where her death certificate said she was buried. So I had sent a letter to the Baird funeral home Lapeer asking for information about Sarah's grave location and funeral details. A reply came from the Baird Home on August 20th. I opened the letter thinking that I would find a one page photocopied sheet concerning the funeral day. Instead, there was a letter from Pat Fromwiller who worked for Bairds. I'll copy some of the letter below.

"Returning to work today, I was quite surprised when opening the weekend mail... Let me explain my surprise.

"I've worked at this funeral home for more than 22 years. Several years ago I decided to look up records of many of my own relatives, as I knew many of them had been buried from here (Bairds). I couldn't believe my eyes as soon as I read your letter. It seems that you and I share the same great grandmother! In fact, I remember her. She lived with my own grandmother, Beatrice (Rutherford) Smith, in Lum, at the time of her death.

"My father was one of 11 children (one died soon after birth, they had named her Sara as well). I know that great grandmother, Sara, lived with my grandparents before my parents met. I can remember her speaking with a pronounced Scottish brogue, in fact my own grandmother could imitate her very well. I also remember that she was blind (from cataracts... my note from my father's comments) and had to be led around the house by others. ...I would have been 6 years old when she died.

"I called my Aunt Bonnie Seames, who is the oldest of the children still living, and have obtained this information for us:

"Great grandmother Sara is buried in the Imlay City Township Cemetery. She is buried on the Wallace lot. There is a large Grey "Wallace" monument there and the Rutherford families are buried behind or in back of that monument. Unfortunately, for "us" and them, Sara and her husband Robert Rutherford's graves are unmarked with monuments....."

Also, from a LDS search: a John Wallace and a Margaret Mair gave birth to a David Wallace September 26, 1829 in Tarbolton, Ayr, Scotland (if I understand the batch readout correctly). Batch number is 7610516, sheet 70, source call no: 1058319.

Descendants of William Wallace

1. WILLIAM1 WALLACE was born 30 September 1771 in Mauchline, Ayrshire, Scotland, and died Abt. 1817. He married JEAN DONALD 3 January 1797. She was born Unknown in Particknigh, Glasgow, Scotland, and died Unknown.

Children of WILLIAM WALLACE and JEAN DONALD are:

i. AGNES2 WALLACE, b. 6 October 1797 (another Gedcom puts the date at 1791), Linlithgow Bridge, Scotland; d. 17 December 1867, Metamora (Metamora), Michigan; m. JAMES STEPHENS; b.Unknown; d. Unknown.
ii. JOHN WALLACE, b. 11 September 1799, Linlithgow Bridge, Scotland; d. Unknown.
iii. MAGDALAN WALLACE, b. 18 January 1802, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland/Kilmarnock, Scotland; d. 15 October 1809, Riccarton, Scotland.
iv. JEAN WALLACE, b. 8 June 1804, Riccarton, Scotland; d. Unknown.
v. MARY WALLACE, b. 2 October 1806, Riccarton, Scotland; d. Unknown.
2. vi. WILLIAM WALLACE, b. 10 July 1809, Riccarton, Scotland; d. 13 December 1894, Almont, Michigan.
vii. JAMES WALLACE, b. 27 August 1811, Riccarton, Scotland; d. 27 June 1862, Richmond, Virginia.
viii. ALEXANDER WALLACE, b. 21 April 1814, Riccarton, Scotland; d. 28 April 1815, Riccarton, Scotland.
ix. (UNNAMED STILL BORN SON), b. 29 March 1816.
x. ALEX WALLACE, b. 19 March 1817, Riccarton, Scotland; d. 27 March 1817, Riccarton, Scotland.

Generation No. 2

2. WILLIAM2 WALLACE (WILLIAM1) was born 10 July 1809 in Riccarton, Scotland, and died 13 December 1894 in Almont, Michigan. He married JANET BOWES 5 July 1844 in Glasgow, Scotland, daughter of THOMAS BOWES and MARGARET STARK. She was born 24 August 1821 in , Scotland, and died 20 February 1899 in Almont, Michigan.

Children of WILLIAM WALLACE and JANET BOWES are:

i. WILLIAM3 WALLACE, b. 7 September 1845, Metamora, Michigan; d. 10 June 1923, Oakland, California.
ii. MARGARAT WALLACE, b. 10 May 1847, Metamora, Michigan; d. 28 October 1913, North Branch, Michigan; m. HUGH GLOVER, Unknown; b. Unknown; d. Unknown.
iii. THOMAS B. WALLACE, b. 13 March 1849, Metamora, Michigan; d. 25 August 1935, Arvada, Colorado; m. JANET THOMSON, Unknown; b. Unknown; d. Unknown.
iv. JAMES B. WALLACE, b. 20 July 1852, Almont, Michigan; d. 15 August 1926, Grand Junction, Colorado.
v. JEAN D. WALLACE, b. 4 November 1854, Almont, Michigan; d. 29 December 1922, Sandusky, Michigan; m. A. BOLTON, Unknown; b. Unknown; d. Unknown.
vi. JANET WALLACE, b. 2 March 1857, Almont, Michigan; d. 27 April 1942, Sandusky, Michigan; m. JOHN BALHOFF, Unknown; b. Unknown; d. Unknown.
vii. AGNESS WALLACE, b. 2 March 1857, Almont, Michigan; d. 29 December 1922, Meeker, Colorado; m. JAMES CLUBINE, 17 December 1884; b. Unknown; d. Unknown.
3. viii. JOHN B. WALLACE, b. 22 December 1858, Almont, Michigan; d. 2 December 1943, Oakland Co., Michigan.
ix. ALEXANDER WALLACE, b. 23 May 1861, Almont, Michigan; d. Unknown.
x. MARY ISABELLA, b. 3 June 1865, Almont, Michigan; d. 2 May 1898, Port Huron, Michigan.

Generation No. 3

3. JOHN B.3 WALLACE (WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 22 December 1858 in Almont, Michigan, and died 2 December 1943 in Oakland Co., Michigan. He married ELIZABETH POWERS 22 December 1881 in Almont, Michigan, daughter of LEVI POWERS and JANE ROBINSON. She was born 12 November 1864 in Armada, Michigan (Source: 1880 Census, roll 592, pg 289), and died 22 September 1941 in Almont, Michigan.

Children of JOHN WALLACE and ELIZABETH POWERS are:

i. ELVA B.4 WALLACE, b. 11 March 1883, Armada Township, Michigan; d. 22 January 1901, Berlin Township, Michigan.
4. ii. ELMER JAMES WALLACE, b. 16 December 1884, Berlin Township, Michigan; d. Unknown.
5. iii. FLOYD OLIVER WALLACE, b. 4 January 1887, Armada, Michigan; d. 26 May 1967, Waterford Township, Oakland Co., Michigan.
iv. HELEN AGNES WALLACE, b. 10 March 1893, Berlin Township, Michigan; d. Unknown; m. ? THOMPSON.
6. v. HOWARD WILLIAM WALLACE, b. 18 April 1897, Berlin Township, Michigan.

Generation No. 4

4. ELMER JAMES4 WALLACE (JOHN B.3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 16 December 1884 in Berlin Township, Michigan, and died Unknown.

Child of ELMER JAMES WALLACE is:

i. KATHERINE5 WALLACE.

5. FLOYD OLIVER4 WALLACE (JOHN B.3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 4 January 1887 in Armada, Michigan, and died 26 May 1967 in Waterford Township, Oakland Co., Michigan. He married ELIZABETH AMERMAN 25 October 1911 in Almont, Michigan, daughter of (JOHN) AMERMAN and JENNY MOONEY. She was born 21 September 1885 in Mio, Michigan, and died 10 November 1958 in Clarkston, Michigan.

Marriage Notes for FLOYD WALLACE and ELIZABETH AMERMAN:

AMERMAN -WALLACE
Wednesday, Oct., 1911
A pretty wedding occurred at the home of Dewitt Amerman when his daughter Besse was united in marriage to Floyd Wallace, both of Almont. At three-thirty the bridal party descended to the parlor where the ceremony was performed by Pastor Geo. L. Rogers, of the Almont Baptist church, amid a background of foliage. The young couple were unattended and only a few friends and relatives were invited. They were the recipients of some very beautiful presents. The best wishes of their many friends go with them. (Wedding announcement from newspaper)

Children of FLOYD WALLACE and ELIZABETH AMERMAN are:

7. i. MAXWELL OLIVER5 WALLACE, b. 5 September 1914, Almont Township, Lapeer Co., Michigan; d. 7 April 1995, DeLand, Florida.
8. ii. GERALDINE JANE WALLACE, b. 4 January 1916; d. 20 June 1989.
iii. JOHN DEWITT WALLACE, b. 17 October 1918; d. Abt. 1939.
iv. DONNA MAE WALLACE, b. Unknown; d. Unknown; m. (1) MILTON MIELKE, Bef. 1970; b. Unknown; d. Unknown; m. (2) WILLIAM KEMPF, Aft. 1970; b. Unknown; d. Unknown.
v. PHYLLIS ANN WALLACE, b. Unknown; d. Unknown; m. WILLIAM FEATHERSTON, Unknown; b. Unknown; d. Unknown.

6. HOWARD WILLIAM4 WALLACE (JOHN B.3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 18 April 1897 in Berlin Township, Michigan. He married MARTHA.

Child of HOWARD WALLACE and MARTHA is:

i. ROBERT5 WALLACE.

Generation No. 5

7. MAXWELL OLIVER5 WALLACE (FLOYD OLIVER4, JOHN B.3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 5 September 1914 in Almont Township, Lapeer Co., Michigan, and died 7 April 1995 in DeLand, Florida. He married ELIZABETH MANSFIELD LOUDON 26 April 1941 in East Lansing, Michigan, daughter of WILLIAM LOUDON and GEORGE WILSON. She was born 15 March 1919 in Indianapolis, Indiana, and died 20 May 1999 in DeLand, Florida.

Children of MAXWELL WALLACE and ELIZABETH LOUDON are:

i. KAREN LEE6 WALLACE, b. 28 April 1944, Columbus, Georgia; m. DAVID IRVIN LAWSON.
ii. MELINDA ANN WALLACE, b. 22 April 1948, Lansing, Michigan.
iii. WILLIAM MAXWELL WALLACE, b. 26 December 1951, Lansing, Michigan; d. 11 October 1970, Sheppard, Michigan.
iv. REV. JAMES STEVEN WALLACE, b. 30 March 1955, Lansing, Michigan; m. PENNY MAC FRANTOM, 17 December 1977, Shreveport, Louisiana; b. 17 February 1953, Weisbaden, Germany.

8. GERALDINE JANE5 WALLACE (FLOYD OLIVER4, JOHN B.3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 4 January 1916, and died 20 June 1989. She married LAWRENCE OLDENBURG Unknown in ?. He was born Unknown, and died Unknown.

Children of GERALDINE WALLACE and LAWRENCE OLDENBURG are:

i. DOROTHY6 OLDENBURG.
ii. BARBARA OLDENBURG.
iii. LARRY E. OLDENBURG.
iv. WILLIAM F. OLDENBURG.

David Wallace, farmer, age 53. This would make his birth date at 1831.
Catharine Wallace, housewife, 53.
William, aged 22; farm laborer
John aged 20; farm laborer
Emma aged 17
The census indicates that they all can read and write.

I had a record from IGI family search that showed a David Wallace, with parents John Wallace and Margaret Mair, born 26 September, 1829 in Tarbolton, Ayrshire. Tarbolton is in South Ayrshire. All through my records I had david and catharine's birth years at 1831. During an Ancestry search of the 1870 US Federal census, however there is my David Wallace (Goodland Township, Lapeer) listed at age 40 with an estimated birth date of 1829 (also for Catharine). Finally, I feel like this could be the evidence I have been looking for. David very probably was from the Tarbolton area of Scotland (not Galston).

This same night I did a search for Margaret Mair, David's mother and came up with the Mauchline census for 1851. Here I found a reference to Bilboa (Z/03/30); probably a census area near Mauchline. I'll record what I found:

Margaret/Wallace/Widow//60/Housekeeper/Ayr/Newmills/; so Margaret was born in 1791; a widow, so John died before th 1851 census
William/Wallace/Son/U/25//AG Labourer/Ayr/Tarbolton/; born in 1826
Hugh/Wallace/Son/U/23//AG Lab/Ayr/Tarbolton/; born in 1828
Archibald/Wallace/Grandson//8//Scholar/Ayr/Tarbolton

Z/51/Bilboa/

Alexander/Wallace/Head/Mar/42//Ag Lab/ Ayr/ Newmills/
Mary/Wallace/Wife/Mar//23//Ayr/Monkton/

I did a quick LDS Family Search and found this:

William Wallace, born July 11, 1823 Tarbolton Ayr Scotland, parents Margaret Mair and John Wallace
Hugh Wallace, born October 16, 1825 Tarbolton Ayr Scotland, parents Margaret Mair and John Wallace

There is a date variation with the 1851 census, but this confusion is common.

They sailed from Glasgow, Scotland to New York City, arriving in New York on August 2, 1852 on the ship Mortimer Livingston. They are the last two passengers listed on the page that I viewed (Ancestry.com records). Their names are given as David Wallace, followed by Cathe McEwin. This has to be them because the time period is exactly right (when they would have left Scotland), and the ages match. David is listed as 22, and Cathe as 21, putting their birth dates at 1830 for David and 1831 for Cathe. David's birth date ranges from 1831 to 1829, as does Catharine's.

So, they did not go first to Canada as I was speculating. They might still have traveled through Canada on their way to Michigan, or they might have even lived in Canada a few years before coming to the USA. These remain mysteries. We also know that McQuinn is not Catharine's last name. It is at least "McEwin." But this Scottish name has many varied manifestations, including McEwan, McEwen, MacEwin, MacEwen, and MacEwan (even McQueen and it's variants may have come from this root).

Another amazing finding is that they did not carry the same last name on the ship register! So, they may not have been married yet. This puts the record in doubt for the marriage I found in Galston at the Riccarton Parish, although that record says 1852 was the marriage date, so it is still possible. The Galston record is suspect anyway because of the David Wallace I found in Tarbolton who has the exact same birth date that my David had. Maybe they were married on the ship, or in New York, or any way along the journey from New York to Michigan.

The ship shows only 52 passengers for the page I saw. Maybe it carried more or maybe this was a small ship. One thing for sure, the internet carries very little information about the vessel. Another mystery. Pictures of ships are available on the net at www.mysticseaport.org; www.pem.org; and www.mariner.org. I'll have to check these sources.

The McEwen clan comes from Argyll, quite a distance from Ayrshire. However, there was a branch of the McEwens in South Ayrshire called the "McEwen's of Bardrochat." Bardrochat hardly registers on detailed Scottish maps (actually it doesn't), although it is listed as a "post office" in South Ayrshire near Craigneil (south of Girvan, Colmonell, and Calreoch).

I turned my attention to how they might have gotten to Michigan from New York in 1852. 1852 turns out to be the peak of travel on the Erie Canal which connected New York City to Michigan. I need to study the route and operation of the Canal. I know it connected to New York via the Hudson River. The Ellis Island, Castle Island and Barge Office emigration centers do not have online records (and maybe no records) for arrivals in 1852 (and many other years on either side of this date). Naturalization at this time period had to do with getting citizenship papers; many people never bothered. Naturalization could happen anytime after an emigrants arrival and could take place in any size government facility, federal to local. There was also a railroad from New York that stretched all the way through New York to Buffalo and on to Chicago. It was called The New York and Erie Railroad Company. Probably you could go from Buffalo through Canada and then to Michigan. This railroad was completed in 1851. Piermont New York was the starting point; it went to Dunkirk on lake Erie. I need to study the migration routes from Buffalo to Michigan.

This migration route opens many avenues for investigation. Were there Erie Canal passenger records? Were there passenger records for the Erie Railroad? Were there records at the Buffalo border crossing? Were there border records at Detroit or Sarnia?

The "Marine Intelligence" column of the New York Daily News (which was operating in 1852) had a detailed description of ships that arrived each day in New York harbor. It contained facts like who died on the voyage, who got married, and so on. This would be a very valuable research objective.

There was an Emigrant Savings Bank in New York where new arrivals could put their cash. There is a rich amount of information on the emigrants who used this resource.

There is a painting of New York harbor in 1852 by Fitz Hugh Lane. The picture is not yet on the internet and I don't know where it is housed.

Recent reading strongly chronicles that whole families, crofts (people on small farming plots), and even whole communities of Scots came to America as a group. This underscores my suspicion that David and Catharine came to Lapeer, Michigan because they had relatives and friends already there. The potato famine had not only ravaged Ireland, it had also severely affected Scotland; more so in the islands and highlands than lowlands, where the soil was better, but nonetheless all across Scotland. The industrial revolution was also going strong in Great Britain and it was displacing many workers. Also, 1850 wages in the United States were 50% higher than in Scotland, and food prices were 30% less in the USA. 1852 was a time of great turmoil and great opportunity. Millions were leaving for American. David and Catharine were part of a massive movement of human beings across the Atlantic. Many had gone before them, and I strongly feel that they had heard in letters from these people and were on their way to join friends and family. (I wonder if any of those letters were preserved in Scotland?). The potato famine was from 1846 to 1849, but the aftereffects went through 1851. 500,000 people died, and about a million emigrated to (primarily) Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.

When Scots got to America, they stayed together. They created the Presbyterian Churches. They created the St Andrews Societies. They farmed close by each other. Therefore, there might be a match between the families living and farming together in Goodland Township and a community in Scotland where these people had previously lived and farmed. Look at the plats where David and Catharine farmed; find the names of all their neighbors. Find out the genealogy of these neighbors to locate a general area in Scotland. The people on the Mortimer Livingston might be part of the group. Where did they come from and where were they going? Were any Presbyterian Churches founded in Lapeer County? When and by whom; what is the history of the church?

I looked at the historical boundaries for the Lapeer area. Michigan was under British rule in 1790, and did not get statehood until 1837. Lapeer became a county in 1837 also. In the 1810 federal census, Lapeer was in a large area called Huron County. In the 1820 census, it was in another large area called Macomb County. In the 1830 census, it was in another large tract called Oakland County. In the 1840 census, Lapeer had it's modern boundaries except that it included a strip of present day Genesee County. From 1850 onward, Lapeer had its present boundaries. This means that David and Catharine arrived in a Lapeer County that had modern day boundaries. Unless they lived elsewhere, outside the county for a while, all their vital records (for their kids too) should be somewhere in Lapeer. For more historical perspective, California entered the union in 1850, Oregon in 1859. Abe Lincoln ran for the Senate in 1858 (Sarah's date of birth).

Consider looking for passport records, voter registration records, and US Customs passenger lists.

LDS family internet files show the following records (that I need to locate): "Scotland, Ayr, Tarbolton Census parish 619, 1841 to 1891;" "Church of Scotland. parish Churches of Tarbolton, Parish Registers 1730 to 1855;" "Computer printout of Tarbolton, Ayr, Scotland."

There is a book (published only in England evidently) called "Old Mauchline and Tarbolton," by John Hood.

Okay, I'll do some internet work before bed:

Looking at the history of early Lapeer pioneer William Wallace, I see that he had land in section 36 of Almont Township in the Scottish Settlement. This is the very area where my David Wallace inherited land from David Cochrane. The coincidence is just too great. There must be a connection between the Wallace line that I am following and the pioneering Wallace family that established the Scottish Settlement. I need to see the plat maps for several years to find out where that original Wallace family settled and where my David's family settled.

The thought just occurred to me, based on my growing realization of how often amateur genealogists (like me) jump to wrong conclusions or record secondhand information as fact, that an earlier researcher might have looked at a plat map and assumed the Wallaces listed were the ones they were researching. It is not clear to me for sure that the Wallaces listed on that plot are from either family. More research and validation is needed.

I am thinking that it might be a nice contribution to the community and may help with my research efforts if I wrote an article about the Scottish Settlement and gave it to the Lapeer community of genealogists. I could start with the history of the folks who lived in the settlement.

Okay, I will write a history of the Scottish Settlement.

William Wallace's first three children were born in Metamora Township. In 1852, his fourth child was born in Almont Township. 1852 is when David and Catharine came to America. I will bet they made straight for Almont.

Okay, this is falling into place. It has been sitting on these pages for weeks. William Wallace had a brother born in 1799, John Wallace. Here's another bet: this John Wallace is David's father! John Wallace, born the 11th of September, 1799 in Linlithgow Bridge, Scotland. John's sister Agnes came with her brother William to Lapeer County; she died in Metamora Township (earlier records say Metamora, but there is no such place). The old village of Linlithgow Bridge is in West Lothian near the town of Linlithgow. It is named after a railroad viaduct, a very famous bridge. These places are west of Edinburgh.

Ship Mortimer Livingston, Barstow, Glasgow, 47 days, mdse. and passengers to Chamberlain, Robinson and Co. July 3, lat 37, lon 38 had a very heavy gale from SW to NW. On the 4th saw a ship bound west with loss of main topgallant mast: also one bound east with loss of fore topgallant mast. July 29, lat 40 30, lon 99, Lawrence Harding fell overboard and was lost.

The voyage of Catharine and David lasted 47 days. From the latitude and longitude readings I should get an idea of the route they sailed from Glasgow to New York. I wonder of Chamberlain, Robinson and Company lodged the new arrivals. Also, I am wondering if "Barstow" refers to the captain of the ship. They arrived Sunday, August 1; the paper came out August second.

I looked for the ship that the pioneer William Wallace might have taken, but nothing shows up. This may be because the lists I am checking are of ships that came to New York. It is probable that they came into Canada or some other part of the US. As I was thinking about William, I realized that he got married in Scotland in July 1844. His first child was born in Michigan in September 1845. This is a 14 month window for the trip to the US. Travel in the winter months is unlikely, so we have a very narrow window when he and Janet would have traveled. I also realized that he was 35 when he got married and 35 or 36 when he came to America. It also means that David and Catharine came a mere 8 years after William. If William was a pioneer, then so were David and Catharine.

I got great help right away from Tom Barclay, a genealogist at the Ayrshire library (in Ayr). The 1841 census for Scotland is not yet indexed, but I was able to find a very significant record with Tom's help. In the Parish of Tarbolton records I found a Margaret Wallace listed (but not her husband- whom I presume had died by 1841). Margaret was living in Burnfoot, Scotland. Her age was given as 50, but in the 1841 census ages were rounded up to as many as five years. Margaret's occupation is given as "gatekeeper." There is a bridge and a roadway that led into a manor called the Barskimming Estate. Presumably then, Margaret Wallace was a gatekeeper at the entrance of the Barskimming Estate.

I knew from earlier research that Margaret Mair and John wallace from Tarbolton Parish had (at least) three sons, Hugh, William, and David. The 1841 census for Burnfoot lists these siblings (and others) with their relative ages:

Alexander, age 30 (about 1811 birth)
Andrew (Archibald? the writing is not clear, age 20 (about 1821 birth)
John, age 20 (about 1821 birth); remember ages were rounded up
William, age 15 (about 1826 birth)
Marian (a girl), age 15 (about 1826)
Hugh, age 15 (1826)
David, age 11 (about 1830)

Burnfoot is right on the edge between the Parish of Mauchline and the Parish of Tarbolton. It sits along the River Ayr.The nearest town of any size is Mauchline, and the next largest is Tarbolton.

Tom searched the cemetery records for Mauchline Parish and came up with this gem:

There are records in books of all the headstones in Scotland, which is good because so many of them are just about worn away, especially the older ones. In the Old Mauchline Cemetery (there is a newer one outside of town) is a headstone "Erected by William Wallace (William is "a farmer from a farm called Highaird") in memory of his father John Wallace, a gardener at Barskimming, died at the age of 54". There is no indication of the date of death, but he died at a young age which may be why he does not show up in the 1841 census.

Tom brought out an old map that showed a Burnfoot ridge (and a nearby lodge) leading into the Paulskill Plantation. Very nearby on this map is Highaird (looks like a dwelling) and Highaird Plantation. Also nearby is a Barskimming House (new and old), Barskimming Bridge, Barskimming Mill, Barskimming Cottage, and barskimming Mains. Other names in the area are Lockhartskill Plantation, Third Part Wood, Netheraird Holm, Barskimming Quarry, Kipplemoss Plantation, Barskimming Old Avenue (?),and Stairaird Bank. After I copied all these names, Tom shoed up with a photocopy of the map for me to take home!

Next, Tom looked in the 1851 census and found a David Wallace age 20 from Tarbolton working as a farm laborer on the Miller farm in Dollars, Scotland. Dollars is southeast of Riccarton and northeast of Craigie.

1851 was a year or less before David and Catharine came to Michigan. The Millers may have been represented in the Scotch Settlement in Almont, Lapeer County Michigan. This is what the 1851 census says exactly:

"David Wallace, age 20, from Tarbolton Parish is working on John Miller's farm called Dollars as a servant. Also on the farm are sons John Miller age 11 and Thomas Miller age 6."

These census records are from Riccarton parish. Notice that no women are listed. I wonder why this would be?

From the Tarbolton Parish records I found this: "David Wallace lawful son of John Wallace and Margaret Mair was born at Burnfoot 26th of September and baptized 18 October 1829 by Reverent David Ritchie."

On David's tombstone in Lapeer, Michigan, his birth date is given as "born 28 September 1831". The month certainly matches up, although the year is off by two.

William Wallace, the patriarch who came to Michigan is listed in a family bible as being born September 30, 1771 in Mauchline. I have speculated that his brother John Wallace might be this very same Barskimming gardener, and the father of David Wallace. This is the only connection I could make on the trip. Further research will have to be done to make a solid connection.

Earlier research had turned up a marriage between David Wallace and Catharine Mc Ewen in 1852 in Riccarton. This is now connected with the knowledge that David was in the Riccarton Parish in 1852 working on the Miller farm.

I'll write a little every few nights as I go over my records. We are off to Washington DC and will be back Monday in October.

I believe a tombstone I saw in Mauchline is the wife of David's brother William. The record reads "Erected by William Wallace, Highaird Farm 20/12/1895 age 71; in memory of his wife Jane Stirling 12/9/1888 76"... there is more on the tombstone but my records are unclear: "brother and 18/2/1890, 70, and Blackwood, farmer Highaird 31/3/1902, 60 (w Margaret Lithgow 12/5/1920, 77"

There is a two volume book of Wallaces by Reverend Charles Rogers called "The Book of Wallace.

We stayed in a B&B in Ayr our first night in Scotland. When I got up for an early morning walk the next day, I was stunned to realize that next to the B&B was a hotel called the Almont. This seemed like too much of a coincidence. I never did like the notion that Almont was named after a Mexican general. All the names in the Scotch district are Scottish. I recently learned from a member of the Almont Historical Society that he had talked with the people who owned the Almont hotel in Ayr and was told that it referred to burial mounds that were seen in the Ayrshire region of Scotland (Almont means "auld mound", an old or ancient burial mound). It is a nice clue to where we should search in Ayr.

I have seen records referring to Newton-on-Ayr. This turns out to be a district that is now within the boundaries of the modern city of Ayr. It also is a parish north of the Ayr Parish.

Reference to the Miller estate is interesting because David Wallace worked in Riccarton on a Miller farm. It could be two different Miller families, but the connection is worth researching. I am also wondering if this area near Tarbolton and Mauchline is somehow relevant to the Scotch Settlement.

I made a list in Scotland of areas of further research:

The Miller farm in Dollars
The Highaird Farm ("aird" means area or land, or place)
Burnfoot
Barskimming
David's siblings and their ancestry
John Wallace and his job as Barskimming gardener
Contact Jim Wallace and lapeer and get a photocopy of the Wallace Bible

The parish records for Riccarton say: "Catherine McEwen married David Wallace June 1, 1852 in the parish of Riccarton." Note that "Catherine" is spelled with the "er" (not Catharine). This is the first time I have seen this spelling. Note also that her last name is McEwen with and "e" (not McEwan).

The census records in Great Britain for 1841 and 1851 have many built in ambiguities. Ages in 1841 as I mentioned above were rounded upward as much as five years. So several members of a family could be listed with the same age. I learned as I researched that it was unwise to speculate why people were not in the census. You can't assume that John Wallace was dead for example because he did not show up in the 1841 census. He might have simply not been at home at the time it was taken.

Looking at the actual Riccarton Parish records it reads: "Wallace + McEwen, 15th of May 1852 (the banns date- a notification of intent to wed). David Wallace and Catherine McEwen both in this parish entered their names (and) were proclaimed on three sabbaths and married 1st (of) June.

David's birth record from the parish records reads: "October 18, 1829 (619/3 Tarbolton F537)

I looked for John Wallaces born between 1790 and 1800 who could be David's father. There were 28 listed- none from Linlithgow bridge:

In 1795, there were three John Wallaces, two from Fenwich Parish and one from Stewarton Parish
In 1796 there are also three: One in the Mauchline Parish February 7, 1796 (604/2 F336), Robert Wallace and Agnes Mitchell parents, one in St Quiox Parish; and one in Kilmarnock March 20, 1796 to parents Robert Wallace and Jean Weir
In 1797 there is one born in Girvan Parish
In 1798 there are two, one in Craige, father is Robert (584/1); and one in Galston of parents John Wallace and Jean Paton 593/2 FR 381

The Wallace + Paton connection is very interesting. It would be remarkable if it was the Paton family and not the Wallaces or McEwens who drew David and Catharine to Michigan.

in 1799 there are four listings: one in DunDonald, one in Kilmarnock (587/3 frame 885) parents Thomas Wallace + Margaret Stewart; one in Auchinleck; and one in Kilwinning
In 1800 there are three: Dreghorn, Stewarton, and Dalmellington
In 1801 there are two: Stair; and Tarbolton. My notes are not clear as to which record I intended to connect these parents (James Wallace + Mary Train) 614/1 Fr 117; 619/2 Fr 307

It is important to know that the Reformed Church of Scotland records (Presbyterians) do not show up on the parish records. Not sure what to make of this. Also the Catholics do not show up on the parish records. The Catholic churches kept their own records.

The Dollars Estate is listed as "a mansion in Riccarton Parish on the left bank of Cissnock water, four and a quarter miles SE of Kilmarnock.

On the last day in Ayr at the genealogy library I met Graeme Savage who was not only researching his Galston Wallaces, but also was the treasurer of the South Ayrshire Genealogy Association (not sure of the name). It's my intension to join the society.

As we traveled around Ayrshire we became aware that this was Robert Burns country. He writes about Mauchline and Tarbolton and he and family members are buried in Ayrshire. He was a contemporary of John Wallace and Margaret Mair, David's parents, who lived very near the poet and probably knew about him

.

I looked for information on clan Mac Ewen in two reference books in the library at Portree, Isle of Skye. The correct spelling is "Mac Ewen", the prefix "Mc" is not technically correct, although it is frequently used. It is a Gaelic prefix meaning "son". It corresponds to the tutonic "son" as in Johnson or Watson. There are many variations: (Mac or Mc in each case) Mac Ewan; Mac Ewen; Mac Ewin; Mac Ewyn; Mac Ewing; Mc Keoun; and in Gaelic Mac Eoghaenn.

The follow is a passage from a surname book for Scottish clans: "The sons of Ewen hold that they descended from Ewen of Otter on the shores of Loch Fyne in Argyll. The chiefs of the clan seem to have stayed around Loch Fyne and shared a common heritage with the Mac Lachlans and Mac Neils until 1432, when by a charter of James I, the barony of Otter was confirmed to Sween Mac Ewen with a destination to the heirs of Duncan Campbell of Loch Awe. Sween is the last Mac Ewen chief on record, and thereafter they appear only as dependents of the Campbells or as broken (clanless) men. They are listed in 1602 as subjects of the Earl of Argyll."

According to the librarian in Inverness Argyll and Ayrshire were closely linked politically and culturally for centuries. Intermarriage over the decades was common. So, when looking for Catharine Mc Ewen, I'll have to be aware of all those spelling variations, especially for the 1841 and 1851 census records. I had notes (I thought) that indicated there were Mc Ewens in the Tarbolton area (?). Okay, here's the note" There is a branch of the Mc Ewen's in South Ayrshire, the McEwen's of Bardrochat. Bardrochat is near Craigneil, south of Girvan, Colmonell and Calreoch- still a long way from Tarbolton."

Let's review what I know about Catharine Mc Ewen:

1. On her grave stone it says: born February 29, 1831. That can't be much clearer, and yet I mistrust it. At least it is an honest ballpark.
2.On her death report only a father is given an dhis name is spelled McEwan and Catharine's last name is written McQuinn. That last name (McQuinn) is pretty much discredited based on the other information I have attained. It has to be wrong anyway if her father's last name is McEwan!
3. On another census report in the United States Catharine's birth year is given as 1829.
4. Ship records show a Cath McEwin and a David Wallace arriving in New York in August 1852
5. Catherine McEwen married David Wallace June 1, 1852

Parish records turn up 16 variations of Catherine McEwen, but only one comes close to fitting (and that not well): Catharine McEwen Christened 16 May 1824 in Ayr, Girvan (Batch C 115945 sheet 0612). Associated with this record is a Catharine McEwen married to a John Dryman November 4, 1790 (M115944 0086). There are tons of Sarah McEwens (assuming that Catharines mother was a Sarah- using the naming pattern. All of the McEwens seem to be from the area around Girvan or Old Cumnoch. A Katherine McKeown was christened in Ayr, Old Cumnock August 6, 1830 (116104 0768)

Two sources of McEwens come from Argyll and one source comes from Galloway. The ancient linages of these groups has been worked out- I have several photocopies.

Children were baptized routinely, but to be registered in the parish required a fee to be paid. If no fee was paid, the child did not get recorded.

Looking through the Galston Parish records for 1841 (it is not indexed! The 1851 is) I find many mairs, few wallaces, and no McEwens.

The 1851 census for Ayr for Riccarton Parish show no McEwens, one Mc Ewing (John age 74) and no McEwans. There is a Catherine McEwan who is 45 in 1851 in Dalry Parish.

There is a ferry between Ballycastle in Northern Ireland and the Scotish Coast near Campbelltown in Argyll. Quinn and McQuinn are Irish names. Catharine might have been Irish- check her birth date against LDS Irish records- just a hunch.

I did an LDS search in the Sligo library for catharine McEwen 1831 in Ireland and up popped a single file, same spelling. The Gedcom was a dead end.

Also (another household on the Bilboa farm) Alexander Wallace, head, married, age 42, agricultural laborer, born Newmills, Ayr. Wife is Mary Wallace, age 23, born in Monkton. Also on the Bilboa farm is a Smith family, Black family, Richmond family, and Ramsey family.

Comparing the 1841 census with the 1851 census we find that William and Hugh are still living at home with their mother, Alexander is married and living and working at Bilboa. David, John, Andrew (? not sure of this name), and Marian are all out of the household.

The 1861 census shows Alexander, age 52 (born in Loudoun it says) in the Mauchline Parish, Mary age 32. (I have a note that says there were "Mairs" from Loudoun)

I searched for birth records for Margaret Mair for about 1790. There is one birth that shows a christening on July 25th 1790 in Loudoun (603/1) to parents Michael Mair and Ann Reid (FR 229). The same parents have a listing for a second child named Margaret Mair (?) christened on June 7, 1792 (FR 239). From 1780 to 1796 there are several Margaret Mairs and they all come from Loudoun.

I searched for John Wallace's birth records between 1785 and 1794. There are of course many of them.

1785: in Ayr (578/4) July 24 christening; parents William Wallace and Elizabeth Robb (FR 608)
1786 and 1787: none listed
1788: Two are listed: Kilmarnock (597/3) March; parents Robert Wallace to Janet Mitchel (FR 7910, child 4; and at St Quivox (612.1/1) September 7, parents James Wallace and Mary Ralston (FR 53v2-1)
1789: none
1790: Three: Two in Kilmarnock, January 31 (597/3) to parents William Wallace and Agnes Kirkland (FR 800, child four); (597/3) February 14 to John Wallace and Christian (?) Lindsay (FR 574); In Kilwinning (599/2) August 27 to James Wallace and Jean Bone (FR 574)
1791: Three: Girvan (594/2) March 9 to James Wallace and Elizabeth Hunter (FR 292); Kilmarnock (597/3) September 18 to John Wallace and Elizabeth Machowl (FR 900), and Mauchline (604/2) December 15 to Robert Wallace and Jean Johnstonne (FR 309)

The father of pioneer William Wallace, William Wallace senior, was christened October 6, 1771 in Mauchline. His father was John Wallace (604/1). So he was not a Highland Scot.

A parish search turned up a Margaret Mair married to a John Wallace. Her parents were James Mair and Margaret Browning. She was Christened Nove 18, 1787 in Loudoun, Ayr, Scotland (film # 184779). Four children are listed, all born in Loudoun: Margaret born August 18, 1807, Alexander born February 20, 1809; Martha born March 18,1811; and Mary, born November 22, 1812.

On our last day in Scotland, the librarian at the genealogy center in Kilmarnock called an expert and handed me the phone. I could hear the expert (Archie, Ann Geddes' assistant) do some quick magic on his computer ( I could hear the keys clacking) and then he said: "There is a Catharine McEwan in the 1851 census for Dundonald Parish". (District 9, Page 4). The census was for Halfway Farm (or estate?). John McEwan (born about 1796), head of the family is 55. He is a laborer, a surface man (working on roads- I guess?) And here is the kicker- he was born in Ireland. His wife is Mary, no age given, and she is from Ireland. The first child is Sarah, age 28, born in Ireland. The other kids are Mary, age 25, born in Newton on Ayr in Scotland, Catharine age 23 (so 1828 birth date) born in Irvine (Sarah, Mary, and Catharine are muslin sewers), John is 20, born in Irvine, James is 18, born in Irvine, Helen is 16, a house servant born in DunDonald, and Felix is 10, a scholar.

This could very well be my Catharine McEwan. First, on her death certificate it lists her father as McEwan. Secondly, the birth date is close enough. Thirdly, DunDonald is in Aryshire not far from Riccarton. This places Catharine in the right place at the right time. It also opens up some avenues for investigation. Maybe the family was Catholic and that would explain the hard time I have had finding records. Also, the information that she sewed muslin might be a link to work she did when she got to Michigan.It also opens the possibility of finding birth records in Irvine; maybe in Catholic records. She might have been a Catholic in the Scotch Settlement in Michigan and there may be records there. It is also interesting that Catharine had a sister Sarah whom my GG grandmother was probably named for, as well as a sister named Helen. Sarah's middle name starts with "H" which might very well be a family name- Helen.

William Wallace (born 1771 in Mauchline) had at least two syblings, Jean Wallace (born 1763 in Mauchline) and Elizabeth Wallace (born May 1766 in Mauchline). Their father is John Wallace (born about 1737 in Auchmiller, Ayr, Scotland). A couple things are significant here. First, they are all born in Mauchline. I should look for David's dad in Mauchline first. Secondly, there are large age gaps between the three siblings, Jean born 1763, Elizabeth born 1766, and William born 1771. Scottish families tended to have a child every two to three years. So, there is a kid missing about 1768. The father would have been 26 when Jean was born, 29 when Elizabeth was born, and 34 when William was born. He could have had a child when he was 31, and he was certainly young enough to have a few more after William in 1771. So, I need to look for more of William's siblings from 1767 to 1770 and from 1772 to 1782. When I find brothers I will need to find a son named John born about 1786 to 1790. No problem!

The History of the Surname

Mysteries/Research Avenues/Stray Thoughts

1. Was there a newspaper in Riccarton in 1852 that might have recorded David and Catharine getting married and then (also, two months later) taking the boat to New York?
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