42nd Regiment (Black Watch) at Ticonderoga, October 1758
Capt. John Reid's Company commanded by Capt. James Murray
Alexander Cumming, sergeant,
John Cumming, corporal.
Alexander Cumming, private
Donald Forbes and Ann Cumming in Clachan of Struan
There is a single entry of baptism in the Blair Atholl OPR and the origins of Ann Cumming is unknown.
18th March 1722, Blair Atholl OPR
Elspeth, daughter to Donald Forbes and Ann Cumming in Clachan of Struan.
Alexander Stewart and Katharin Cumming in Crossmount
The origins of Katharin Cumming is unknown but she may have been related to Margaret Cumming in nearby Innerhaddon, the spouse of Angus Stewart.
2nd March 1754, Fortingall OPR
Alexander Stewart in Tullochcrois (Crossmount) and Katrin Cumming in Lassintulloch (proclaimed in order to marriage)
30th May 1756, Fortingall OPR
Grisel, daughter to Alexander Stewart and Katrin Cumming in Crossmount was baptised.
10th August 1758, Fortingall OPR
Margaret, daughter to Alexander Stewart and Katrin Cumming in (Crossmount) was baptised.
11th September 1763, Fortingall OPR
(name missing) to Alexander Stewart and Katharin Cumming in (Crossmount) was baptised.
23rd December 1764, Fortingall OPR
Duncan, son to Alexander Stewart and Katharin Cumming in (Crossmount) was baptised.
20th July 1765, Fortingall OPR
Janet, daughter to Alexander Stewart and Katharin Cumming in Crossmount was baptised.
5th March 1767, Fortingall OPR
Margaret, daughter to Alexander Stewart and Katharin Cumming in Crossmount was baptised.
18th December 1770, Fortingall OPR
Grisel, daughter to Alexander Stewart and Katharin Cumming in Crossmount was baptised.
Angus Stewart and Margaret Cumming in Innerhaddon
There is no marriage recorded and the baptism of just one child. She may have been related to Katharin Cumming in Crossmount
25th March 1754, Fortingall OPR
Christian, daughter to Angus Stewart and Margaret Cumming in Innerhaddon was baptised.
Patrick McGrigor and Elizabeth Cumming in Blackpark and Edinburgh
Elizabeth Cumming probably came from the Murlagan area, adjacent to Blackpark, but her parentage is unknown. The only possible clue is Duncan Cumming, workman in Edinburgh, the witness to the baptism of her daughter 3rd May 1767.
Blackpark of Murlagan was established to re-settle soldiers who could act as a local militia.
22nd January 1764, Fortingall OPR
Elizabeth Cumming in (un-named) and Patrick McGrigor, soldier in the 21st? Regiment were lawfully booked.
15th July 1765, Fortingall OPR
Janet, daughter to Peter McGrigor and Elizabeth Cumming in Blackpark was baptised.
3rd May 1767, St Cuthbert's Edinburgh OPR
Peter McGriger in Potterow, late a soldier, and spouse Elizabeth Cuming, a daughter Helen born 3rd inst. Witnesses: John McGregor, chairmaster,
and Duncan Cumming, workman, Edinburgh.
20th November 1770, St Cuthbert's Edinburgh OPR
Peter McGreger, indweller Potterrow, and spouse Elspa Cumming, a daughter named Margaret born 20th inst. Witnesses: John McGregor, chairmaster,
Edinburgh, and John McGregor, shoemaker, Edinburgh.
30th November 1775, Leith South OPR
Peter McGreger, common-crier, Leith, and Elizabeth Cumming (his) spouse, a son named Charles born 27th, baptised 30th November. Witnesses:
Charles Cowan, merchant Leith, and James Smith, mason there.
Donald McFarlane and Janet Cumming in Little Dunkeld parish
21st February 1765, Little Dunkeld OPR
Donald McFarlane and Janet Cumming, both in this parish, have given up their names to be proclaimed in order to marriage, were, this day,
proclaimed for the first time and no objection, and gave in 12s 6d Scots to the Box (Treasurer).
3rd March 1765, Little Dunkeld OPR
Donald McFarlane and Janet Cumming, both in this parish, (proclaimed) for the second time.
10th March 1765, Little Dunkeld OPR
Donald McFarlane and Janet Cumming, both in this parish, (proclaimed) for the third and last time.
Donald McFarlane appears to have been living at Ballinrich which was about 1 mile north-east of Amulree. There is no indication as to whether Janet Cumming was also living at Ballinrich, or at another settlement in Strath Bran.
16th June 1765, Little Dunkeld OPR
Donald McFarlane and Janet Cumming in Ballinrich had a child in antenuptial fornication baptised this day, named Alexander.
9th October 1774, Little Dunkeld OPR
Donald McFarlane and Janet Cummin ....................Walter.
30th June 1777, Little Dunkeld OPR
Donald McFarlane and Janet Cummin ....................William.
11th December 1779, Little Dunkeld OPR
John McFarlane and Janet Fleeming in Ballinrich had a child born about December 11th 1779 and baptised at Amulree, Christian.
This entry was corrected with the 'John' being replaced by 'Donald' and 'Cummin' replacing 'Fleeming', so that finally read as:
11th December 1779, Little Dunkeld OPR
Donald McFarlane and Janet Cummin in Ballinrich had a child born about December 11th 1779 and baptised at Amulree, Christian.
15th October 1785, Little Dunkeld OPR
Donald McFarlane and Jannet Cummin in Ballinrich had a son born about 15th October and baptised, Joseph.
The next Little Dunkeld OPR entry possibly relates to one of Donald's relatives:
James McFarlane and Jannet McFarlane in Ballinrich had a daughter born about 1st October and baptised Amulree, Anna.
Joseph McFarlane may have been living in Moneydie in 1804. Daughter Jean baptised 1803. Occupation wright or master cooper.
John Cumming and Katharin Fletcher in Loin Bhreac, Leargan and Torrachruie
26th December 1767, Fortingall OPR
John Cumming and Katharin Fletcher, both in Loinbreachd and both in this parish were legally booked (for proclamation to marriage).
3rd March 1771 Logierait OPR
Duncan, son to John Cumming and Katrin Fletcher in Leargan.
31st March 1774, Fortingall OPR
John, lawful son to John Cumming and Katrin Fletcher in Torrachruie was baptised.
There do not seem to be any more references to this couple. The parentage of John Cumming is unknown. Assuming that he was 30 when he married, he would have been born in 1737, well before the first baptisms were recorded in Fortingall parish.
Donald McFarlane and Elizabeth Cumming in Aulich?
3rd February 1771, Fortingall OPR
Donald McFarlane in Aulich and Elizabeth Cumming in Craganour and both in this parish were legally booked (for proclamation to marriage).
The couple appear to have had no children, leastways there are no baptismal entries in any of the OPRs.
The parentage of Elizabeth Cumming is unknown, certainly there are no Cumming families linked to Craganour at this time. It is possible that she came from elsewhere and was employed as a domestic servant by one of the families is Craganour.
Robert Cumming and Margaret McIntosh in the parishes of Dowally and Logierait
18th November 1780, Little Dunkeld OPR
Robert Cummin in Dowally parish and Margaret McIntosh in this parish gave up their names for proclamation and were proclaimed without objection
and gave in 1s 2d to the box (charity for the poor).
The Dowally OPR records the marriage banns of Margaret McIntosh on 11th November 1780, but gives the name of the groom as Robert Campbell.
It would appear that the Session Clerk at Little Dunkeld was in error as there are no baptisms recorded for the children of Robert Cummin and Margaret McIntosh, but at least eight appear in the OPRs of Dowally and Logierait for the children of Robert Campbell and Margaret McIntosh between October 1782 and March 1799.
The names of the children are Elspeth, James, John, Alexander, Robert, Duncan, Patrick and Margaret. As a word of warning, these 8 names are entered 16 times! Sometimes the baptisms are repeated in the same OPR and sometimes they are entered simultaneously in different OPRs.
Duncan Cumming and Elizabeth McDonald in Kinloch Rannoch?
12th January 1782, Fortingall OPR
Duncan Cumming in Kinloch of this parish and Elizabeth McDonald in Auchtilbert in Logierait parish gave up their names (for proclamation) and
were lawfully booked.
Normally, when the bride and groom are from different parishes, one would expect the marriage banns to be read in both parishes. In this case there is nothing recorded in the Logierait OPR.
Likewise the couple do not appear to have produced any children, leastways none have their baptisms in any OPRs.
It is possible that Duncan Cumming enlisted in the army and was never heard of again.
James Crerar and Elizabeth Cumming in Little Dunkeld and Monzie
13th November 1791, Monzie OPR
James Crearor in Little Dunkeld parish and Elizabeth Cumming in this (Monzie) parish (were proclaimed for marriage).
13th November 1791, Little Dunkeld OPR
James Crerar in this (Little Dunkeld) parish and Elizabeth Cummin in the parish of Foulis (Fowlis) were proclaimed (for marriage)
without objection.
There are baptisms for a Cummings family in the 1840s - Alexander Cummings and Elizabeth Kinloch (1841 - 1853) in Fowlis Wester OPR, together with their marriage banns, 1739. Nothing (except 1707) in Fowlis Easter and nothing else in Monzie parish.
John Cumming and Ann Cameron in Kilmallie parish
1st May 1798, Fortingall OPR
James, natural (illegitimate) son to John Cumming and Ann Cameron in Kilmallie parish (was baptised).
It is difficult to say whether both John Cumming and Ann Cameron came from Kilmallie parish, or just the latter. The couple do not seem to have married.
Other line of research
10th May 1858, Kilmallie OPR
Robert Cumming, unmarried, died at Banavie on 10th May 1858 aged 15 years. His parents were given as David Cumming, lock-keeper, and
Christian Cameron. the informant was Isabella Cumming, his sister.
From this it would appear that David Cumming was one of the lock-keepers on 'Neptune's Staircase'. This was a staircase lock system comprising eight locks on the Caledonian Canal, built by Thomas Telford between 1803 and 1822, being the longest staircase lock in Britain. The system was originally hand-powered.
David Cumming, married lock-keeper, died at Banavie on 5th January 1860, aged 78 years. His parents were given as Robert Cumming, farmer, and Ann Hay, both deceased. He was buried in Kilmallie churchyard. This informant was his daughter Mary Cumming.
Robert Cumming and Ann Hay married 26th March 1765, Ardclach parish (about 12km south east of Nairn).
John Forbes and Elizabeth Cumming in Little Dunkeld
5th July 1801, Little Dunkeld OPR
John Forbes at Balnana (Balnaguard?) in this parish and Elizabeth Cumming in the parish of Fortingall gave up their names (to be proclaimed
in order to marriage).
The use of 'at', rather than 'in' indicates that Balnana (Balnaguard?) was not John Forbes's usual residence.
The identity of Elizabeth Cumming is difficult to determine. There are baptisms recorded for only four girls by the name of Elizabeth or Elspet Cumming in the year between 1760 and 1783 (if she was aged between 18 and 40 years) for the whole of Perthshire. One was born in Perth, so can be discounted. Of the other three: one died unmarried and the other two married and have established family trees.
Likewise there are no baptisms recorded in the Perthshire OPRs for any children.
William Lamont and Janet Cumming in Croftmore
27th November 1809, Blair Atholl OPR
William Lamont in Croftmore and Janet Cumming in Dailntuich (Dalnabrick?) Kirkmichael parish (were booked for marriage).
Dalnabrick is just to the south of the village of Kirkmichael. There is no known link between this place and Croftmore in Glentilt.
There is no indication as to Janet Cumming's parentage. Certainly none of the Perthshire OPRs record her baptism and there are no Cumming baptisms nor marriages in Kirkmichael parish before 1800. It is possible that she came from further north and was a farm servant, just working for the season. Likewise, there is no sign of the family after the birth of Archibald in 1832. Did they emigrate?
The children of William Lamont and Janet Cumming
| Name | Born | Married | Date | Residence | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander | Nov 5 1810 | . | . | Croftmore | d. |
| William* | Nov 14 1823 | . | . | Kilmaveonaig | d. |
| Archibald | Feb 14 1832 | . | . | Dull parish | d. |
*Although the baptisms of Alexander and Archibald appear in the Blair Atholl OPR, William was baptised by the Episcopalian minister.
James Cumming and Janet Stewart From Ross-shire
The ancestory family of James Cumming is uncertain and he may not have been from the Blair Atholl / Fortingall area. This in the only Cumming marriage in the Moulin OPR, and there are no baptisms either.
14th September 1850, Moulin OPR
James Cumming in the parish of Ross-shire and Janet Stewart in this (Moulin) parish, married 16th instant.
The 1851 census return shows the couple with a young baby in Rosskeen, Ross-shire (6/12). James Cumming aged 25 years, Jane Cumming aged 22 years and James A. Cumming aged 0 years. James Cumming does not appear in the 1861 census return for Rosskeen.
The James Cumming, a carpenter, who died at Kingussie in 1860 aged 32 years appears to have been unmarried. The informant on his death certificate was William Cumming his brother, another carpenter and undertaker, who probably came from Inverness. James may have been in Alvie or Inverness in 1841, prior to his marriage.
John Cumming, shepherd
Ewen Cumming was born at Struan, parish of Blair Atholl, on 21st December 1871 the illegitimate son of John Cumming, shepherd at Invervack, and Jane Williamson (maiden surname Fergusson), day labourer. James Williamson in Monzie and Jane Ferguson in Balimore, Rannoch, Logierait, married 3rd December 1854.
This would appear to be the same John Cumming who married Mary McGregor in 1876.
On 6th June 1876 John Cumming, bachelor and shepherd at Dalriach, aged 42 years married Mary McGregor, spinster and farm servant at Dalriach, aged 24 years. His parents were given as Alexander Cumming, deceased shepherd, and Mary Davidson. Her parents were given as Alexander McGregor, labourer, and Margaret McGregor.
The 1881 census for Dalchalloch in Glenerrochty shows John Cumming, 48 year old shepherd, born Kingussie, Inverness-shire, and his wife Mary aged 28 years. She was born at Lochbroom, Ross and Cromarty. They had two children: Margaret aged 4 years; and Alexander aged 3 years.