Genealogy Chat

Bella - you'ld do best to click on Elizabeth's name above and send her a private message - she'll get that providing she's still using the last email addy GR has for her.

PS http://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/NG4967

I am sitting here looking on to Garafad - it is in the parish of Kilmuir and it is correct it is in the district of Stenscholl - I have also got Macpherson ancestry - and some of the Macdonalds are still around here. I am a bit late noticing this post so hopefully you are still around.

Hi Liz I have been doing some research for you and been checking some census. I am searching in the skye area as that is where Garafad is. It would be right for Ronald to put down Invernessshire as at that time Skye was part of the county od Inverness. If you could possibly give me the three possible dates of birth I might be able to narrow it down a bit. The problem is that sometimes people did not registar births and that can be a pain for us. I also done a search for a Malcolm Macdonald and Mary Macpherson marriage and no luck. The only marrige for a Malcolm Macdonald is to an Isabel Macpherson in 1807. You really have got it hard with this lot, I dont mind helping and if you to not want to post too much information on here you can email me. Julie

This might help,various links. replace * with . http://www*cyndislist*com/sct-shi*htm Marion

Hello again Julie Unfortunately I don't know any of Ronald's siblings names but I know his childrens names if they can be of help. He must have followed Scottish tradition as the first born was Malcolm followed by Ronald, Angus Sylvester, Mary MacPherson, Neill, Frederick, Flora Campbell, Ada Windsor, Alexander and Hector. There is a family story that he was from the Shetland Islands but on his marriage cert it says Invernesshire was where he was born. Another story is that he was a Scottish dancer who had either deserted a ship in Australia or deserted the dancing troupe but I haven't found his name on the ships deserters list or entertainers lists. His death cert states Garafad as birth place. I did send and receive a death cert for a Malcolm MacDonald farmer who died in the district of Stenscholl 1877 ages 72 yrs. He was married to Mary McPherson and their son John was present. It also states that Malcolm's parents were Malcolm McDonald farmer and Margaret McDonald MR Ross both deceased. I assume Margaret's maiden name was Ross.Its a beautiful cert with the Scottish seal on as well. I'm going to hold onto it till I find out if this Malcolm is my gggranfather. Sorry not much to go on. Haven't tried Scotspeople again as I keep losing my money with them. Will wait to hear back from you Regards Liz

Hi Elizabeth, Done a search for a Ronald McDonald. T he only Ronald Macdonald I can find was born in 1815 to a John Macdonald and a Mary Macpherson at a place called SLEAT which is on the Isle of Skye, which is where Garafad is. The only one I can find born around there in 1840 is a Alexander Mcdonald born to a Mary Mcpherson and a Neil Mcdonald. There is quite a lot of Mcdonalds and Mcphersons born in SLEAT. If you know if he had brothers sisters, just let me know names and rough births and I will have a look for you.

Julie Thanks for offering to do a lookup for me I appreciate it. His name is Ronald MacDonald/McDonald Parents were Malcolm MacDonald and Mary MacPherson/McPherson. He came out to Australia at a guess the 1860s but no record so far of entry. If he was born in 1840 then he was 62 when his last cild was born. Regards Liz

Hi Elizabeth. If you would like to give me the name you are looking for I will have a look on Scotlands People to see if I can find a birth. Julie

Thanks girls for your suggestions I think it may be part of Staffin on Isle of Skye. The english translation is long wall or dyke. Couldn't find it on old map but I'll try for parish now. Regards Liz

Hi Elizabeth Have you checked Scotlans People. They have a list of the parishes. Julie

there seems to a garafad on the Isle of Skye.

If you go in to a search engine you can find Scottish maps from that era and you hope fully find it

Was Garafad a town in Invernesshire? This is the closest I've come to pinning down a place where my ggranfather may have been born as all I was told that he came from Invernesshire. If there is such a place what would the parish be? The year was 1840 to 1847 as I have 3 dates of possible birth. Thanks for your time Liz