John McNay

[MarcMcNay]

Hi all, I'm from Australia and I've hit a brick wall with my Great Great Great Grandfather John McNay. I've searched so many sites with misleading or wrong information.

I only know that he was born in 1832 in either England or Scotland and that he passed away at the age of 26 in Oakbank, Balhannah, South Australia, Australia.
I also know with searching with Ancestry, that he arrived on the "Hyderabad" ship that sailed from London 23rd November 1853 & Southampton 7th December 1853, arrive in Port Adelaide, South Australia, Australia 14th March 1854. Going by that record, he came with Elizabeth Rogerson and she was born in 1833 and passed away in 1875 in Oakbank, Balhannah, South Australia, Australia.

Once in Australia, they had 2 children, George (1855-1923 my Great Great Grandfather) & John (1856-1909), both born in Mount Charles, Onkaparinga, South Australia.

After John senior passed away in 1858, Elizabeth gave birth to Janet McNay (1861-1886) the father is "unknown", she was born in Oakbank, Balhannah, South Australia, Australia.

In 1870, she married David Chamberlain (1828-1902)and had another 2 kids, Albert (1871-1914) & Henry (1873-1959) both in Oakbank, Balhannah, South Australia, Australia.

In 1839 James McNay (1807-1877), his wife Jean (Jane) Johnstone (1804-1847) & children John (1826-1860), Archibald (1829-1909), Jane (1833-1891) & Gilchrist (Born at sea) were aboard the "David Clark" Ship that left Greenock, Scotland on 15 June 1839 and arrived at Port Phillip on 27 October 1839. They had 2 more children once in Australia, Margaret (1842-1918 & Lillias (1845-1932).

I'm not sure if both families are related. A lot of people on Ancestry have the "John" I'm looking for as the "John" from the family I just mentioned, but it cant be, as the "John" from James & Jean McNay, drowned in Victoria, Australia in 1860.

So if anyone can help with my "John" it'll be very much appreciated. His parents, brothers, sisters etc etc.

Regards
Marc

[arthurk]

Hi Marc, and welcome.

Your mention of the "David Clarke" caught my eye, as some members of my family were on the same voyage. The arrivals list for mine gives their native place, so I thought I'd look for your James to see where he was from.

I couldn't find him as McNay, but searching just for the forename Gilchrist (the easiest to find) I found a family that matched yours almost exactly, except that the surname was Menzies. Their native place was Dumfries - in my family's case, 'Perth' refers to the county rather than the town, so the same might be true here. Does this anomaly go anywhere towards explaining your problem?

I also tried to find details of John's arrival in 1854, to see what his native place was given as, but I couldn't find it. Since you seem to have it, what does it say?

[grisel]

On the archives.sa.gov.au site for the Hyderabad 1854 on page7/12 John and Elizabeth McNay age 24 and 22. John a farm servant from Dumfries (poss the county of)
I see some possibilities for John and Elizabeth in Dryfesdale near Lockerbie and will look further.1

[grisel]

On the archives.sa.gov.au site for the Hyderabad 1854 on page7/12 John and Elizabeth McNay age 24 and 22. John a farm servant from Dumfries (poss the county of)
I see some possibilities for John and Elizabeth in Dryfesdale near Lockerbie and will look further.1

Here are the possibilities from Dryfesdale but further checking wouls be needed.
1841 census freecen High St Dryfesdale, John McNay 10 with Grace Chalmers 50 and Agness Carruthers 33

SP baptism 1833 Dryfesdale
Elisabeth Rogerson d/o George Rogerson and Janet Tweedie
Above family I think in Lochmaben in 1841 Elisabeth as Betty age 7

[arthurk]

Thanks for finding the Hyderabad, grisel - I couldn't spot it at Ancestry and didn't have time earlier to look at the government archives site.

I'm a bit inclined to wait for Marc's return before doing any more on this. At present it's looking as though James in 1839 and John in 1854 may have come from the same county, but he may be able to help us with the different surnames.

[grisel]

Yes there do seem to be a number of McNays and Rogersons in this part of the county!
Including in 1841 another 10 yr old John,in Kirkmichael,grandson to Joseph..

[MarcMcNay]

Thanks for finding the Hyderabad, grisel - I couldn't spot it at Ancestry and didn't have time earlier to look at the government archives site.

I'm a bit inclined to wait for Marc's return before doing any more on this. At present it's looking as though James in 1839 and John in 1854 may have come from the same county, but he may be able to help us with the different surnames.

I actually got the document off someone in email, I think they got it from the site grisel said.

[MarcMcNay]

Here are the possibilities from Dryfesdale but further checking wouls be needed.
1841 census freecen High St Dryfesdale, John McNay 10 with Grace Chalmers 50 and Agness Carruthers 33

SP baptism 1833 Dryfesdale
Elisabeth Rogerson d/o George Rogerson and Janet Tweedie
Above family I think in Lochmaben in 1841 Elisabeth as Betty age 7

Yes that's correct, I have her parents as George Rogerson (1800-1869) and Janet Tweedie (1810-1848)