The Cumming families in Balintuim and Milnavaddie of Murlagan

James Stobie's map of 1775, showing settlements in part of Murlagan

"How Milnavaddie got its name" by Robert McIntosh

Outlaws and wolves lived on Rannoch moor, and both troubled the people of Loch Rannoch and Loch Tummel. Robertson of Struan hunted both of them until the broken men fled and only one wolf remained. This fearsome, grey, dog-wolf was cunning. It had a reputation for not being scared of people, and it had killed several children.

On the moor, not far from Bohespic, there was a Robertson who had a corn-mill by the Allt na Moine Bhuide. One day the millar's wife was cooking at the hearth and heard a noise behind her. When she turned she saw the grey wolf stalking towards her six-month-old baby which was in a cradle. In panic, she grabbed a bessom (broom) and hit the wolf with all her strength. So hard did she hit the wolf that she broke its neck, killing it on the spot and saving the child.

When her husband returned and saw what she has done, he cut off the wolf's head and sent it to Robertson of Struan as proof. And that is how it got its name. Mullinavadie - the Mill of the Wolf.

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Alexander Cumming and Janet Stewart in Balintuim of Murlagan, Fortingall parish

Oddly enough, the first reference to a Cumming family living at Balintuim of Murlagan appears in the Blair Atholl OPR, which may indicate that Alexander Cumming or his wife had strong connections with that parish, rather than Fortingall parish. Alexander Cumming may have come from Drumachuine or Drumcastle which were in a detached section of Logierait parish but were part of the Duke of Atholl's property.

19th April 1719, Blair Atholl OPR
Duncan lawful son to Alexander Cumming and Janet Stewart in Balintuim of Murlagan, was baptised.

John Cumming and Donald Cumming probably were another two sons of the couple as both were living at Balintuim of Murlagan when they married.

The Statistics of the Forfeited Estates for the Barony of Kinloch and Murlagan (1756), shows that Alexander Cumming was still the tenant in Balintuim, so he would have been in his seventies. The two other tenants were Alexander Cumming, junior, and Anne Cumming (a cottar who could spin) - possibly his son and his sister.

There were two Cumming families at Loinchopagach of Murlagan.

Statistics for Loinchopagach tenant: Duncan Cumming
People under 10 years: 1 female
People betwixt 10 and 17 years: 2 females
People above 17 years: 1 male, 1 female
Number who spoke English: none
Number who could spin: 2
Livestock: 5 horses; 8 cattle; 3 sheep; 0 swine; and 0 goats
Acres in tillage: 1½ acres

Statistics for Loinchopagach tenant: John Cumming, cottar
People under 10 years: 1 female
People betwixt 10 and 17 years: 2 females
People above 17 years: 1 male, 1 female
Number who spoke English: none
Number who could spin: 2
Livestock: none
Acres in tillage: none

There were no Cumming families living in Culnansaugh, Loinmore and Loinmeanoch).

The Statistics of the Forfeited Estates of Alexander Robertson of Struan, 1755-56, show that both Alexander Cumming senior and his wife could speak English. It is assumed that the youngster were grandchildren.

Statistics for Balintuim tenant: Alexander Cumming, senior
People under 10 years: 2 males, 1 female
People betwixt 10 and 17 years: none
People above 17 years: 1 male, 1 female
Number who spoke English: 2
Number who could spin: 1
Livestock: 4 horses; 8 cattle; 24 sheep; 0 swine; and 0 goats
Acres in tillage: 2½ acres

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Generation 2: The Children of Alexander Cumming and Janet Stewart in Balintuim of Murlagan

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John Cumming and Margaret Stewart in Balintuim of Murlagan

3rd December 1748, Fortingall OPR
John Cumming in Balintuim and Margaret Stewart in Innerhaddon, both in this parish, gave up their names in order to marriage.

There appear to have been no children from the marriage, and it is possible that the marriage banns were retracted. If this is correct, then John Cumming married Janet Cameron instead.

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John Cumming and Janet Cameron in Milnavaddie of Murlagan

None of the OPRs contain the banns of marriage for John Cumming and Janet Cameron, but all of their daughters were described as lawful and were born at either Balintuim or Milnavaddie, which are close to each other.

6th August 1749, Logierait OPR
Elspit, lawful daughter to John Cumming and Janet Cameron in Moulin a'Mhaddie was baptised.

21st September 1751, Fortingall OPR
......, lawful daughter to John Cumming and Janet Cameron in Balintuim was baptised.

8th July 1754, Blair Atholl OPR
Janet, daughter to John Cumming and Janet Cameron in Milnavaddie was baptised.

As John Cumming's parents were still tenants of Balintuim in 1751, it is not unusual that both Milnavaddie and Balintuim are mentioned in the OPRs.

The Statistics of the Forfeited Estates for the Barony of Kinloch and Murlagan (1756), show that two families were living at Milnavaddie, that of John Cumming as tenant and a cottar, Archibald Campbell - a total of ten people, one of whom spoke English. John Cumming, as tenant would have been the miller, unless the cottar worked for him as the miller. Unfortunately the marriages and baptisms in Fortingall parish are not recorded before the mid-1740s, so the name of his wife was not obvious. However, by a stroke of luck, the Blair Atholl register of baptisms for 8th July 1754 states that John Cumming and Janet Cameron in Muillinavaddie had a daughter baptised as Janet, and from this it is possible to identify another two daughters. Unfortunately the page for the 1751 entry is torn which is why the name of the other daughter is unknown. However, it may have been a daughter baptised as Margaret.

The Statistics of the Forfeited Estates of Alexander Robertson of Struan, 1755-56, show that John Cumming had a small farm but quite a lot of livestock.

Statistics for Milnavaddie tenant: John Cumming
People under 10 years: 1 male, 2 females
People betwixt 10 and 17 years: none
People above 17 years: 1 male, 1 female
Number who spoke English: none
Number who could spin: 1
Livestock: 14 horses; 18 cattle; 24 sheep; 0 swine; and 12 goats
Acres in tillage: 3 acres

It is thought that Janet Cameron died after 1756 and that John Cumming subsequently married Janet McIntyre.

In 1763 there was a dispute over the Marches (boundaries) between Murlagan (Dunalistair estate) and Bohespic (Atholl estate), and witnesses were called to resolve the matter.

Caochananuisguair burn (shown in blue) marking the boundary between Murlagan and Bohespic,
with the Blackpark drainage ditch to the west

Donald Stewart, aged 49 years, deponed that a shiel hut had been built 20 years ago by Neil Robertson of Bohespic, on the west side of Caochannamimore, but had been demolished on Strowan's orders.

Alexander Stewart, aged 48 years, deponed that the March was the burn called Caochananuisguair (Streamlet of the cold water), the Clachanruar (The dark red stones), and the foot of the burn called Caochannacriche (Streamlet of the boundary). The miller at Milnvaddie made a millstone at Burn of Caochananuisguair and, in turning the stone, it fell across the stream where it lay for some time. When the miller decided to move it Donald Stewart, possessor of Bohespic, insisted that it be divided in half as it lay on the boundary. The miller, to get his stone, agreed to free Donald Stewart of payment of multures (fees for milling his corn) for the next three years, rather than having the stone broken up.

Christian Cumming, aged 66 years, deponed that the shiel house pulled down by Strowan was erected on the Baddonbow by Neil Robertson, wadsetter of Bohespic.

John Cumming, aged 48 years, deponed that 20 years ago his father made a millstone at Clachanruar and he, himself, had made one there about 10 years ago.

Although the place names used in the depositions do not appear on any Ordnance Survey map, and merely approximated to what the recorder heard, the burn must be the one running north-south at the lowest point between the two hillsides, and slightly east of the ditch dug to drain the land around Blackpark. It also confirms that John Cumming and his father Alexander were millers at Milnavaddie and, from her age, Christian Cumming probably was an unmarried younger sister of Alexander Cumming.

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Generation 3: The Children of John Cumming and Janet Cameron in Milnavaddie of Murlagan

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John Cumming and Janet McIntyre in Milnavaddie

In July 1766, John Cumming would have been in his late forties with teenage daughters, so if Janet Cameron had died it would have made sense to re-marry.

20th July 1766, Fortingall OPR
John Cumming in Milnavaddie and Janet McIntyre in Camserney, parish of Dull, were lawfully booked (in order to marriage).

There do not seem to have been any children from this second marriage.

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Alexander McQueen and Elspet Cumming in Milnavaddie

The Parish Registrar certainly had a problem with the surname of Elspeth's husband. When they married in February 1774 he was given as Alexander McSuine, but in December of the same year he was recorded as Alexander McGuin and by December 1777 he was entered as Alexander McQueen!

5th February 1774
Alexander McSuine and Elspet Cumming, both in Milnavaddie and in this parish were lawfully booked in order to marriage.

The couple had two children, Ann and John, who presumably were both born at Milnavaddie although the entry for their son John is rather vague.

26th December 1774, Fortingall OPR
Ann, lawful daughter to Alexander McGuim and Elspeth Cumming in Milnavaddy (was baptised).

14th December 1777, Fortingall OPR
John, son to Alexander McQueen and Elizabeth Cumming in Brae of Murlagan was baptised.

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Generation 4: The Children of Alexander McQueen and Elspet Cumming in Milnavaddie

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Alexander McIntosh and Margaret Cumming in Balintuim

Although the proof is not conclusive, there is a strong case for Alexander McIntosh's wife Margaret to be the daughter of John Cumming and Janet Cameron in Milnavaddie of Murlagan.

16th September 1774, Fortingall OPR
Alexander McIntosh and Margaret Cumming, both in Loinmurlagan were lawfully booked (for proclamation in order to mariage).

Loinmurlagan describes an area rather than a specific homestead, rather like 'Bohespic' on the other side of the glen, so she could have been living at any of the Murlagan settlements.

If Margaret was born in 1751, then she would have been 23 years old when she married - the typical age for a young female.

Her children, probably, were all born at Balintuim of Murlagan and Margaret's father John Cumming tenanted both Balintuim and Milnavaddie. The death certificate of her son John states that Alexander McIntosh was a tailor by trade. So, if he moved in with his father-in-law's family, he would not have needed land to cultivate but could provide assistance, when needed, at harvest time.

30th January 1776, Fortingall OPR
Jannet, daughter to Alexander McIntosh and Margaret Cumming in (indistinct) was baptised.

24th May 1777, Fortingall OPR
John, son to Alexander McIntosh and Margaret Cumming in Balintuim of Murlagan was baptised.

30th April 1787, Fortingall OPR
Colyear, son to Alexander McIntosh and Margaret Cumming in Balintuim (was baptised).

John McIntosh, married labourer, died 23rd September 1856 at Drumcoiler of Rannoch aged 79 years. His parents were given as Alexander McIntosh, tailor, and Margaret Cumming, both deceased. He was buried at Dunalastair (unmarked grave). The informant was his son Donald McIntosh.

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Generation 4: The Children of Alexander McIntosh and Margaret Cumming in Balintuim

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Duncan Cumming and Margaret Stewart in Milnavaddie of Murlagan

The marriage entry for Duncan Cumming seems to be as follows, but is difficult to read.

30th November 1747, Fortingall OPR
Duncan Cumming in Milnavaddie and Margaret Stewart in Cashlie, both in the parish of Fortingall, were booked for marriage.

Cashlie is over 25 miles away from Milnavaddie, towards the far end of Glenlyon, which is a very long way to go to find a wife, but there is a simpler explanation for the link between Milnavaddie and Cashlie. Duncan's brother William had three children baptised between 1750 and 1755 when he was living at Cashlie, most likely working as the miller. It could well be that Duncan and William were working together at the Cashlie cornmill before 1750.

There are no baptisms recorded for any children from this marriage and it is thought that Margaret Stewart died, whereupon Duncan Cumming remarried, this time to Margaret McVrachater.

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Duncan Cumming and Margaret McVrachater in Milnavaddie

7th December 1761, Fortingall OPR
Duncan Cumming in Milnavaddie and Margaret McVrachater in Balnguie?, both in this parish, (were lawfully booked in order to marriage).

The place where Margaret McVrachater originated is difficult to decipher in the Fortingall OPR, but appears to be something like 'Balnguie'. This may be Balnahainagie in Glenlyon as shown on James Stobie's map of 1775, and given as Balnahanaid on the O.S. map of 1843. A link between Margaret McVrachter and Glenlyon might be expected as the 'McVrachter' families are said to have been the descendants of a Campbell who settled at Roro in Glenlyon. So McVrachter can be considered as an alias name for Campbell.

After they had married, Duncan Cumming and Margaret McVrachater moved to Culevulan at the west end of Loch Rannoch, where they had at least two children, Christian and Donald. The 1843 O.S. map names their residence as Cul a'Mhuilinn and, as the name suggests, originally there was a cornmill there. The link between Milnavaddie, Cashlie and Cul a'Mhuilinn is that each had a cornmill. As Duncan's father John, probably was the miller at Milnavaddie, it suggests that his sons were millers as well, in some capacity.

15th July 1764, Fortingall OPR
Christian, daughter to Duncan Cumming and Margaret Campbell in Cuilmullin (was baptised).

16th September 1770, Fortingall OPR
Donald, son to Duncan Cumming and Margaret Campbell in Cuilmullin (was baptised).

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Generation 3: The Children of Duncan Cumming and Margaret McVrachater (Campbell) in Milnavaddie
and Cul a'Mhuillin

* There does not seem to be a baptismal entry for Duncan Cumming in the Fortingall OPR, but he was living at Culvullin (Cul a'Mhuillin) when he married Catharine Cameron in 1797. If he was 30 years old when he married, then he would have been born around 1767 which would fit with other Cumming births there.

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Alexander Cameron and Christian Cumming in Culvullin (Cul a'Mhuillin)

2nd December 1796, Fortingall OPR)
Alexander Cameron and Christian Cumming, both in this parish, (gave up their names in order to marriage).

When the OPR merely states that the bride and groom were "both in this parish", it is sometimes possibly to locate the area that they were living from the baptismal records of their children. A search of the baptism after 1796 shows that there are none in the whole of Scotland, let alone Perthshire. However there is one eleven years earlier!

29th September 1785, Fortingall OPR)
Christy, daughter to Alexander Cameron and Christian Cumming in Cullvullin.

The entry does not say "natural child" (i.e. illegitimate), as does the preceeding OPR entry for John, natural son to John McGregor and Christy McDonald in Aulich, but this would seem to be the case as no marriage banns pre-date the birth.

Christian Cumming would have been 21 at the time. As the penalty for such behaviour was to be fined and publicly rebuked in front of the whole congregation of Fortingall parish, the family may have spirited Christian away to distant Milnavaddy to give birth and arrange baptism. In addition, her father Duncan, being the miller at Culvullin (Cul a'Mhuillin), would have been a respected man in the community.

The wedding, eleven years later when Christian Cumming was 32, probably went un-noticed but made Christy Cameron a legitimate daughter.

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Duncan Cumming and Catharine Cameron in Culvullin (Cul a'Mhuillin)

6th December 1797, Fortingall OPR
Duncan Cumming in Culvullin and Catharine Cameron in Finart, both in this parish, (gave up their names in order to marriage).

Although the OPRs do not mention the baptisms for any children, there was at least one - a daughter Catharine, as shown by her death certificate in 1860 which gives her age as 64 years, making her born around 1796. She may have been born antenuptial, or her age on the death certificate might be slightly inaccurate. The death certificate also relates that her father Duncan was a sheep farmer.

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Generation 4: The Children of Duncan Cumming and Catharine Cameron
in Culvullin (Cul a'Mhuillin)

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John Davidson and Catharine Cumming in Achleanie and Edinbugh

Catharine Cumming first appears in the OPRs when she was living at Woodsheal in Glengarry, just north of Calvine. This is a fair distance away from the western end of Loch Rannoch but as her father was a sheep farmer he might not have been so tied to one area.

4th June 1815, Blair Atholl OPR
John Davidson in Clunes and Catharine Cumming in Woodsheal (were booked for marriage).

The settlement of Clunes was on the opposite side of Glengarry from Woodsheal and, after they were married, the couple lived at Achleanie, next to Woodsheal where their first two children were born. Davidson is an unusual surname for this area, and he didn't settle. By about 1826 the family had moved south to Edinburgh where most of their family were born.

12th July 1860, St George, Edinburgh
Catharine Davidson, wife of a retired street porter died at Water of Leith, 12th July 1860, aged 64 years and was buried in the Dean Cemetery. Her parents were given as Donald Cumming, sheep farmer, and Catharine Cameron, both deceased. The informant was William Davidson, her son. (Her father's name was given as Donald Cumming, instead of Duncan Cumming, in error.

John Davidson seems to have died before 1871.

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Generation 5: The Children of John Davidson and Catharine Cumming in Achleanie and Edinbugh

16 Nov 1869, Death Certificate
William Davidson, coachman, aged 63 years, married to Elizabeth Rankine died 16th November 1869 at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. His parents were given as John Davidson, porter, and Catherine Cumming both deceased.

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William Cumming and Susan Stewart in Cashlie, Glenlyon

Cashlie was a small settlement towards the far end of Glenlyon, just before Pubil, but big enough (or remote enough) to have its own cornmill. William Cumming was far away from other Cumming families and, like other Cummings, might have been at Cashlie because he was a miller.

3rd July 1750, Fortingall OPR
Duncan, son to William Cumming and Shusan Stewart in Cashlie was baptised.

13th March 1753, Fortingall OPR
Katrin, daughter to William Cumming and and Janet Stewart in Cashlie, was baptised.

9th November 1755, Fortingall OPR
Alexander, son to William Cumming and Shusan Stewart in Cashlie was baptised.

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Generatiom 3: The family of William Cumming and Susan Stewart in Cashlie, Glenlyon

* The mother of Katrin is given as Janet Stewart, a clerical error by the Session Clerk.

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William Cumming and Christian McIntyre in Cashlie, Glenlyon

It would appear that Susan Stewart died giving birth to Alexander, leaving her husband with three very young children, one only days old. In these circumstances it was not surprising that William Cumming immediately found himself a new wife. Within a month of Alexander's baptism, he had found one in Milnavaddie. Considering that Cashlie is over 25 miles away from Minavaddie, this strongly supports the notion that William Cumming originated from Milnavaddie, and that he was the miller at Cashlie

30th November 1755, Fortingall OPR
William Cumming in Cashlie and Christian McIntyre in Milnavaddie, both in this parish, were legally booked (for proclamation in order to marriage).

The 1756 census for the Forfeited Estates does not mention a McIntyre family living at Milnavaddie, nor anywhere near there. In some ways it is surprising that William Cumming was able to convince a woman to marry him and adopt his three children in less than a month. The couple do not seem to have added any more children to the family.

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Alexander Cumming and Sarah Cameron in Balintuim of Murlagan

It is thought that Alexander Cumming and Sarah Cameron married around 1750 as the baptisms of two children are recorded in 1751 and 1753. Leastways it is assumed that they are two separate children but it is an odd co-incidence that the baptisms took place on 30th June for both years. Unfortunately the entries are only partial legible as the edges of the OPR pages are badly damaged. No name for either child exists, but at least the first entry states that it is a son.

The Statistics of the Forfeited Estates of Alexander Robertson of Struan, 1755-56, show that Alexander Cumming junior was farming 4 acres

Statistics for Balintuim tenant: Alexander Cumming, junior
People under 10 years: none
People betwixt 10 and 17 years: 1 male
People above 17 years: 2 males and 2 females
Number who spoke English: none
Number who could spin: 2
Livestock: 4 horses; 10 cattle; 24 sheep; 0 swine; and 0 goats
Acres in tillage: 4 acres

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Generation 3: The Children of Alexander Cumming and Sarah Cameron in Balintuim of Murlagan

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Alexander Cumming and Janet Cumming in Blackpark of Murlagan

Although Alexander Cumming and his wife Janet Cumming had three children between 1774 and 1780, there is no marriage recorded in any of the OPRs, but at least this would indicate that they came from the same parish and were married around 1773. The three children were born at: Milnavaddie, 1774; Dall (of Carie), 1778; and Blackpark (of Murlagan), 1780, so this just provides a rough area of where they came from.

The parentage of Janet Cumming is unknown as she probably was born around 1748, prior to the existing Fortingall OPRs.

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Generation 3: The Children of Alexander Cumming and Janet Cumming in Blackpark of Murlagan

Note: * Another Duncan, the son of Alexander Cameron and Janet Cumming, was baptised on exactly the same day in Logierait.

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Donald Cumming and Janet McGrigor in Balintuim of Murlagan

2nd December 1759, Fortingall OPR
Donald Cumming in Balintuim and Janet McGregor in Torrachruie, both in this parish, were booked (in order to marriage).

The couple had at least four children, but the name of their eldest son cannot be read in the Fortingall OPR as the edge of the page is missing.

16th December 1764, Fortingall OPR
....., son to Donald Cumming and Janet McGregor in Balintuim was baptised.

8th August 1767, Fortingall OPR
Janet, lawful daughter to Donald Cumming and Janet McGregor in Balintuim was baptised.

5th May 1770, Fortingall OPR
Margaret, daughter to Donald Cumming and Janet McGregor in Balintuim of Murlagan was baptised.

22nd August 1775, Fortingall OPR
Alexander, lawful son to Donald Cumming and Janet McGregor in Balintuim was baptised.

There is then an odd development. The Fortingall OPR records the marriage banns of a Donald Cumming to Elspeth Robertson on 3rd August 1775 nineteen days before the baptism of Alexander, his son by his wife Janet McGregor, and the subsequent birth of a son named Alexander to Donald Cumming and Elspeth Robertson in Balintuim of Murlagan dated January 1777. Although it sounds unlikely, could there have been two Donald Cummings in Balintuim?

This second Donald Cumming in Balintuim cannot be a son of John Cumming, as John only had daughters. Likewise he cannot be the son of Duncan Cumming in Milnavaddie as he had a son baptised as Donald in 1770. Similarly he cannot be the son of Donald Cumming and Janet McGregor in Balintuim as they didn't marry until December 1759. Finally Alexander Cumming in Blackpark didn't have any children until 1774, so it would seem that there was only one Donald Cumming in Balintuim. Is there a possible explanation for the apparently conflicting OPR entries?

It is highly likely that Donald Cumming's wife, Janet McGregor, died in childbirth and Donald Cumming quickly decided that he needed a new wife - Elspeth Robertson. As the child born in January 1777 was also baptised as Alexander, it suggests that the first Alexander was a weak baby and had to be quickly baptised before he died, with Janet McGregor being cited as the infant's mother to avoid any confusion as to the mother.

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Generation 3: The Children of Donald Cumming and Janet McGrigor in Balintuim of Murlagan

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Donald Cumming and Elspeth Robertson in Balintuim of Murlagan

3rd August 1775, Blair Atholl OPR
Donald Cummin in Fortingall parish and Elspeth Robertson in Over Bohespic (were booked for marriage)

There is no corresponding entry in the Fortingall OPR.

4th January 1777, Fortingall OPR
Alexander, son to Donald Cumming and Elisabeth Robertson in Murlagan was baptised.

14th November 1778, Fortingall OPR
Duncan, son to Donald Cumming and Elisabeth Robertson in Balintuim of Murlagan was baptised.

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Generation 3: The Family of Donald Cumming and Elspeth Robertson in Balintuim of Murlagan

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John Dewar and Janet Cumming in Tempar

24th September 1791, Fortingall OPR
John Dewar and Janet Cumming, both in this parish, entered their names for proclamation (in order to marriage).

Unfortunately the Fortingall Session Clerk did not bother to record exactly where John Dewar and Janet Cumming were living at the time of their marriage. As all of their children were born at Tempar, Bunrannoch, then this probably was where he was living. Janet Cumming is more difficult but, assuming that her baptism was recorded in the OPRs, then the possibilities are limited.

It is most likely that Janet Cumming was baptised on 8th August 1767, the daughter of Donald Cumming and Janet McGregor in Balintuim of Murlagan. If this is correct than she would have been 24 years old when she married, which is the sort of age which would be expected.

The next possibility would have been the 30 year-old daughter of Allan Cumming and Isabel Robertson, but it is less likely. She was an illegitimate daughter and born at Bohespic in 1761, but the Blair Atholl OPR does not state which farm in Bohespic and this incident is not mentioned in the minutes of the Blair Atholl Session. The other two possibilities for Janet would both have been aged 35, or older, making them unlikely 'candidates' as John Dewar's last child was born in late 1801.

John Dewar's first child, Margaret was baptised 22nd February 1793 but she must have been born in 1792 as a second daughter was baptised 28th May 1793. The last child, Janet, was baptised in 1801 with all of the children being born at Tempar, so John Dewar probably was a tenant farmer.

John was not the only Dewar living at Tempar. Robert Dewar was married to Margaret McDonald, and Duncan Dewar was married to Ann McDonald.

There were no Dewar families living at Tempar by the early 1830s - some may have emigrated.

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The Children of John Dewar and Janet Cumming in Tempar, Bunrannoch

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William McGilliwie, or Lamont, and Margaret Cumming in Gaskan of Bohespic

10th May 1798, Blair Atholl OPR
William McGillivrie in Gaskan, Bohespic, and Margaret Cumming in Achtarsin, Fortingall parish, were married.

Around this time the Parish Registrars started to anglicize some of the Gaelic names, and as a result the McGilliwie surname became Lamond or Lamont.

William McGilliwie, or Lamont, was the eldest son of Duncan McGilliwie and Janet Douglas, born at Gaskan 2nd October 1765.

Their only child appears to have been Margaret Lamont who was born around 1806, but was not formally baptised so does not appear in the Blair Atholl OPR list of baptisms. Margaret was unmarried and worked as a domestic servant. The 1841 census shows her living at one of the four houses at Gaskan, along with 80 year old Duncan Cumming, a farmer, probably retired. Margaret's age was given as 30 years, but the ages of people tended to be rounded down in the 1841 census - or was it vanity? Duncan Cumming was her uncle, the step-brother of her mother, the son of Donald Cumming and his second wife, Elspeth Robertson, baptised 14th November 1778.

Margaret Lamont, unmarried domestic servant and pauper, died at Gaskan, 20th February 1876, aged 70 years. Parents given as William Lamont, crofter, and Margaret Cumming, both deceased. The informant was the Inspector of the Poor.

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Generation 4: The Children of William McGilliwie, or Lamont, and Margaret Cumming in Gaskan of Bohespic

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Donald Cumming in Gaskan of Bohespic

Duncan Cumming does not seem to have married and probably lived together with his brother Duncan.

The Blair Atholl rental books for 1807 show that Donald Cumming was one of five tenants farming Over Bohespic, for which he was paying £10 Scots. By 1819 he had moved to Gaskan of Bohespic and shared a farm with Donald McDonald for which they paid an annual rent of £18 6s 8d Scots. There were another two other tenant farmers at Gaskan. Donald McDonald was married to Christian McGilliwie (or Lamont)

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Duncan Cumming and his daughter Jane Cumming in Gaskan of Bohespic

Duncan Cumming never married and lived most of his life at Gaskan of Bohespic. The 1841 census for Gaskan lists Duncan Cumming, farmer aged 80 years, and (his niece) Margaret Lamond aged 30 years who was employed as a domestic servant. She was the daughter of William Lamont (or McGilliwie) in Gaskan and Margaret Cumming in Auchtarsin, who married 10th May 1798. The 1841 census gives Duncan's age as 80 years old, although he really was just over 60. His daughter's death certificate describes him as a general labourer, so probably he was a crofter with a few acres of land to sustain himself.

Duncan Cumming had an illegitimate daughter, Jane, by Barbara Shaw. In 1841 Jane Cumming was aged 35 years and living at Upper Gaskan with Catharine Shaw, who probably was her aunt, so the census has Jane Cumming listed as 'Jane Shaw'. Jane's mother, Barbara Shaw, had several other illegitimate children.

The 1851 census shows that Jane (Jean) Cumming, aged 50, was living in the next house to Margaret Lamont and Duncan Cumming was dead. In 1861 the Atholl Estate Factor wrote the following of her - "Jean Cumming, about 50 years of age, unmarried and peculiar in her habits. Sometimes she begs, at other times she will not accept assistance, and often refuses to open her door to any person. She has never been resident on any other, but Athole property. Receives six shillings monthly from Blair parish. Died November 1860".

Jane Cumming, unmarried pauper, died of chromic bronchitis at Bridge of Fender, on 27th October 1860, aged 49 years, and was buried in the churchyard of Blair Atholl. Her parents were given as Duncan Cumming, general labourer, and Barbara Shaw, both deceased. Obviously the Inspector of Poor, who was the informant on the death certificate, did not know her exact age and also was unaware that Barbara Shaw was still 'alive and kicking' at Tighnacoille, where she was living with another of her three illegitimate children, Peter Lamont.

So Barbara Shaw in Gaskan had illegitimate children by both Donald, the younger brother of William McGilliwie or Lamont, and his brother-in-law.