WEST William, Ayrshire Scotland
sweetfizz
William West we understood was born in Campbelltown in Perthshire Scotland and came to Dalry when a young lad, he spoke Gaelic and had hardly any English, he retained his Gaelic all his life. I understand that he might not have been born in Campbelltown at all but have no further information. One of his descendants visited Scotland and found that there was no Campbelltown in Perthshire but there was one in Ayrshire but they could find no birth records for him there.
What I do know is that he received his education at the parish school where he became a pupil teacher. He then went to Edinburgh where he studied at the Normal Academy of the Church of Scotland, having completed his course there he obtained an appointment as teacher at Maybole, Ayrshire, and it was there he married Elizabeth Wales. In 1863 they left Scotland and travelled to New Zealand on sailng ship "War Spirit" He landed in Auckland where he remained for awhile undecided whether he would continue teaching. For a time while he was in Auckland he was in charge of commisarait of the British troops stationed ther on account of the Maori wars. The salary that was offered was 13 Pounds per month after a time he enquired why it was not being paid to him and was told that they never paid the last man because he was making more out of the job than the salary was to be to which Mr west replied "it's not an officer in charge you want, it's a rogue" and promptly resigned. He eventually became a Presbyterian Minister and spent most of his time as Minister of the Southbridge Parish in Canterbury New Zealand.
He had a large family of 15 children, 2 sons Donald and Bruce West emigrated to the United States, Bruce and a Kirkland West visited New Zealand when I was a young girl living in Hokitika Westland, New Zealand.
by sweetfizz
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Contact | Subscribe | Block this user on 2012-08-12 07:09:25
Always been interested in where I came from and have always wanted to find out what the truth is behind all the family stories and legends. In my fathers family it was always said we were descended from royalty, well I have pretty well disproved that one but found a drunken Vicar instead. And in my mothers family it has always been said that we were related to Tam of Shanter's Farm made famous in Robbie Burns poem, well we have a sampler from way back which supports this and also a cup and fishing line said to belong to Tam O' Shanter who of course was actually Tam Graham of Shanters farm, the family story is that coming back from weekly market drunk as usual feel off his horse and drowned in a few inches of water.
Comments
SilverVixen on 2012-08-12 07:23:22He shows up in the Scottish 1861 Census living at Whitchall E , Maybole Ayreshire and he state that his place of birth was Stewarton Ayreshire census information is
WEST William, Head, married 24 (1837) Certified School Master born Stewarton, Ayreshire
WEST Elizabeth, wife, 22 (1839) born Maybole, Ayreshire
WEST John R D, son, 7 months (1861) Maybole,
MCLEAN Mary, Servant, unmarried, 19 (1842) Domestic servant, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire
SilverVixen on 2012-08-12 07:26:40A William West was born 13/09/1835 in Stewarton, Ayreshire, to John WEST and Jean MCDONALD
sweetfizz on 2012-08-12 07:41:10Thank you so much for this information, another step on the way.
My paternal grandfather wrote the West family history and it was all oral history all though you would think he would have been able to get his father inlaws birth place right. My paternal grandfather laments the lack of family history handed down.
SilverVixen on 2012-08-12 09:57:49You might find more information on
http://scotlandspeople.gov.uk/
You can register and search for free but to view the information you have to buy credits
Good luck
sweetfizz on 2012-08-12 15:26:16Thank you for that I have that as a back up but am trying to find out as much as I can before I use that. I will probably use them for my other Grandparents John McMillan Born Girvan Ayreshire (known as old Saalachan) and Agnes Dick. They lived on Salachan Farm Arshire, Scotland.
SilverVixen on 2012-08-14 09:21:49I have a John McMillan in the 1861 Scottish census who was born in Girvan about 1841. He was living at Hamilton Street, Girvan with his sister Isabella. He is a "Flesher" and is the head of the family (either his parents are deceased or he has his own place) and his sister is a Housekeeper aged 24 (1837) also born in Givan.
I also have a John McMillan in the 1841 Census but he was born in 1836 and he is living with parents and family.
Can you give me any more information so that I can try and tie it down for you
sweetfizz on 2012-08-17 02:06:57Thank you for all your help, I have a John McMillan in the 1841 census, born about 1805 I have him with a birth date around 1802 in the parish of Ballantrae address Salachan occupation Farmer he had a family of 8, 2 sons both named Peter died, one at 11 years and the other at 11 months, and there is a William yet to be born. 3 boys David, William and John all emigrated to New Zealand. Thomas McMillan of Bents buried in Colmonell Churchyard was a relation of of "Auld Sallachan" who had 2 sisters but don't know any thing about them or who the parents were. There is a headstone in Colmonell churchyard which apparently sets out most of the facts of Auld Sallachan's family but apparently the Peters are a bit mixed up. I know a bit about Agnes Dick his wife but nothing about him.
SilverVixen on 2012-08-17 06:27:30I have this John McMillan in the 1851 Scottish census living at Sallachan Ballantrae, dont know if you have this information but it is as follows;
John, Head, 46 (1805) Farmer of 129 acres, 75 of which is arable and 54 Hill Pasture and employing two labourers. Born Kirkoswald, Ayreshire
Agness, 48 (1803) born Colmonell, Ayre
Hellen, daughter, unmarried, 19 (1832) Colmonell
David, son, unmarried, 15 (1836) scholar, Ballantrae
John, son, 13 (1838) Scholar, Ballantrae
Elizabeth, daughter 11 (1840) Scholar, Ballantrae
Robert, son, 9 ((1842) scholar, Ballantrae
William, son, 7 (1844) Scholar, Ballantrae
In 1861 Census the address is Sallachan Farm House, Colmonell Road, Ballantrae
John is now a farmer of 162 acres employing 5 labourers and 2 boys, place of birth Girvan
Agness is now stating place of birth as Kirkoswald
John, Elizabeth, Robert and William are with them listed ans Farmer's son or daughter all born in Ballantrae
there is now a grandson Thomas Guthrie aged 8 (1853) a scholar born Ballantrae
In 1871 address is Sallachan, Ballantrae, John states he is a farmer of 160 acres, 110 Arable, employing 1 Man and 2 Boys
Agnes is still with him and in addition we have
Helen MCILWRAITH, daughter a widow, 39 (1832) Farmers daughter born Colmonell
John is still there and still unmarried
Agnes MCILWRAITH, grand-daughter, 12 (1859) scholar born Newton on Ayr
David MCILWRAITH, grand-son, 11 (1860) scholar, Newton on Ayr
John is not in the 1881 census, the search on Scotlands people shows 1 John Mcmillan born 1805 + or - 1 year in Ayreshire died between 1871 and 1881 so I assume it is him but will need credits to check it out
Cannot find anything on Agness
In the 1881 Census John the son is now the head of the family so I assume both parents are dead. He is living at Sallachan, Ballantrae, a farmer of 156 acres of which 112 are arable employing 1 man, 2 girls and 1 boy. He is still unmarried. His niece Agnes McIlwraith is living with him, she is unmarried and shown as Farmers niece.
Hope this helps
sweetfizz on 2012-08-25 00:41:14Thank you so much you have been of enormous help, I knew that Helen married Thomas McIlwraith and had a daughter and son, but didn't know their names. I think the daughter Agnes married a Thomas Boyd and died at Knokdolian Farm while living with her daughter on July 23rd 1909 aged 77 years.
The John you mentioned left Sallachan soon after his mother died it was always understood that he would also come out to New Zealand as soon their parents died. I don't know if he married in Scotland or here in New Zealand my grandfather didn't record that fact but only the family he had here.
I would like to buy you some credits for Scotlands people or send some money to reimburse you for all the trouble you have been to for me please let me know how I can do this. I know you haven't asked but I would like to do this.
SilverVixen on 2012-08-25 04:29:20Thank you sweetfizz for the offer but I have access to the Scottish census through another site which I subscribe to anyway for my own tree. However I do not have access to BMD's for Scotland that is when I (and you) need Scotlands People and the credits. All the best
SilverVixen on 2012-08-25 06:04:37Have found Agnes in the Scottish 1891 census, living at Bougang, Colmonell, Ayr
Thomas Boyd, head, 34 (1857) Farmer, born Coylton, Ayreshire
Agnes, wife, 32 (1859) Farmers wife, Ayr
William, son, 7 (1884) Scholar, Crosshill, Ayr
Thomas, son, 3 (1888), Colmonell, Ayr
John, son, 1 (1890) Colmonell
Ellen (sic), McIlwraith, mother-in-law, widow, 59 (1832) Colmonell
they also have 3 Farm Servants and 1 domestic servant living with them
In the 1891 census the address is Knockdolian, Colmonell, Ayr
Thomas, Agnes, William Thomas, John and Ellen as above but we now have in addition
Ellen Boyd, daughter, single, 18 ( 1883) Farmers daughter, born England
Annie, daughter, single 8 (1893) Scholar born Colmonell
Doing a search on Scotlands people there is one marriage listed of a John Mcmillan in Ballantrae between the years 1881 and 1891 so a pretty good chance it is your John but you will need credits to find out who he married and when
My McMillans come from Dumfries so not related to yours at all.
ianboydyoung on 2012-11-27 04:16:25hello, I have a little information on this side of the McMillan tree
as Thomas Boyd is my great grandfather , I even have a photo of him
and his wife Agnes (nee McIlwraith)! regards Ian.