I'm looking for any leads on a John McKay who joined the fur trade from Montreal, sometime before 1790. We have lots of info on him after that but virtually nothing before. He died in 1810 in Brandon, [now Manitoba] leaving 8 children.
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Hi, Christine As I said, all I know is that he came from Montreal sometime before 1790. His children are: John Richards McKay, b. 1792, Moose Factory, William, Edward, Isobel, Elizabeth, Alexander born May 18, 1805 Brandon House, Charles b. Feb 18 1808, Mary b. March 19, 1810 Brandon House. Other clues: the names John, William and Edward repeat through generations, Elizabeth's nickname is "Bethsy", and John refers to himself as being brought up in the "bush" and is Anglican. Thank you for your offer to help. Sorry for the lack of info. Margaret
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Hi Margaret, lovely to see you paid us a visit. You may recall we met in Red Deer. If you send me some info on your John Mackay, as much as you know before he left Sutherland, I will have a look for him. Please also send the names of his children in correct order. Best wishes Christine
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That definately looks possible, Christine. Any way of finding about about father's occupation, etc.? And I'm sure that Donald can't be the fur trade Donald, as he was from Brora, and I believe was older than John. Most fur trade genealogists agree that they were probably not brothers, even though they joined the HBC together.
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Since writing my last message I took a look at the IGI. Believe there was a brother Donald who also came to Canada. The only family would appear to be: Donald Mackay married Margaret Mackay on 7 Dec 1751 in Reay, Sutherland. They had: John, born 17 July 1753; Angus, born 21 Sep 1755 and Donald, born 13 Sep 1757. All children born in Reay. Reay was partly in Sutherland and partly in Caithness. Mostly Mackays lived there. Many later moved down into Clyne and Kildonan.
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Thank you, Christine. I'm not familiar with the book you cite. What sources does he cite? Thank you for following the trail to Clyne for me.
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Hi Margaret, Donald Whye's "A Dictionary of Scottish Emigrants to Canada before Confederation" shows on page 212: John McKay, born about 1753 from Clyne, Sutherland, died 5 July 1810. Entered Hudson Bay co. service, 1790. Served in the Albany district 1790-97. Apprears as Master at Brandon House, 1797-98. Osnaburgh 1798-1800, and again at Brandon House, 1800-10. Married Mary, daughter of John Favell, junior, about 1791. Children John R, William, Edward, Isobel, Elizabeth, Alexander, Charles and Mary. We now know he came from Clyne and I will look there for you. Best wishes Christine
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We are indeed looking at the same family. Are you a descendant? I am a descendant of the Edward you mention. His wife was Caroline Cook. I'm descended from their daughter Jemima who married JHG Bray. Where did Edward serve the HBC? I know his brother William served for years at Ft. Ellice. And there are some records of Edward hunting for him? By the way, most people studying John and Le Malin are fairly certain that they are not brothers. I would be happy to discuss the family with you directly, if you wish.
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It would appear as this is the same family I'm researching. They were in the fur trade, Hudsons Bay Company. John entered the service 11 October 1790,son John Richards Mckay 1808.John had a brother that came to Canada as well, his name was Donald.Believed to be his brother anyways,he had been nicknamed "Le Maine" or Mad Mckay, because of his temperment. John Richards son Edward entered the service 1845. Darthy
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Okay, yes I'm aware of that branch of the family. I met a few of them at a reunion west of Leduc I think in 1984, and again at the Bray reunion in the Cypress Hills in 1992. Have you done much work on the family? I've worked mostly with Pat McCloy's information on the early generations of the family. My current project is re-writing my Master's thesis of John McKay's years in Brandon House [1790 - 1810] into a popular history. Why don't you email me directly and we can exchange addresses, etc.
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