(Please contact me if you think your family may be connected)
The main names I am researching are Royan (mainly North East of Scotland) and MacKay (Isle of Harris). I will give brief details on both these families. I am in contact with Royan descendants in Canada, United States and Australia.
Royan
I am a descendant of Alexander Royan and Mary MacDonald. (I started my research with Alexander and Mary and worked backwards to the late 1600’s and forward to the present day)
Alexander Royan born 1 February 1825 – died 7 May 1872 – married 21 November 1850
Mary MacDonald born 1830 – died 13 December 1920.
Isabella Royan, born 1851 (remained in Scotland)
Alexander Royan born 1853 (remained in Scotland)
George Royan born 1855 (emigrated to Queensland, Australia)
John Royan born 1857 (remained in Scotland)
Elizabeth Royan born 1859 (died in childhood)
Robert Webster Royan born 1861 (my great grandfather who remained in Scotland)
Donald Royan born 1864 (emigrated to Queensland Australia)
James Royan born 1868 (remained in Scotland)
Robert Webster Royan married Helen Kelly (born 25 May 1862) on 22 June 1883 at Rafford, Morayshire. Robert died 5 May 1947. Helen died 12 January 1951. Robert and Helen both died at Geddes Mill, Nairn.
Robert Webster Royan and Helen Kelly, taken at Geddes Mill, Nairn.
Robert and Helen had the following family:
Jessie born 17 April 1883 – died 14 August 1960
Alexander born 1885 – died 1953
Mary born 1887 – died 1980
Helen born 1890 (my grandmother) – died 1977
Robert born 1892 (emigrated to Queensland Australia) died 1978
Elizabeth born 1894 – died 1894
Margaret born 1896 – died 1994
James born 1899 – died 1903
Donald born 1902 – died 1993
Isabella born 1904 – died 1995
Duncan born 1907 – died June 2002
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Helen Royan married Andrew Hunter on 26 May 1917. Andrew Hunter died on 18 November 1919, 1 day before his son Andrew was born. Helen and Andrew had the following family:-
Helen (Polly) born 13 June 1916 – died 20 January 2000
John born 6 May 1918 – died 11 November 1995
Andrew born November 19 November 1919 – 23 March died 1997
Robert Royan MacKay born 31 May 1931 – died 27 January 1994 (my father) married Janet Wright in 1952. My grandmother Helen Royan never married my grandfather Neil MacKay – this is where the Isle of Harris comes in. I am married to Ronnie Alexander and we have one son Gary Robert Alexander (born 23 December 1985).
MacKay
The MacKay family starts with Murdo MacKay born around 1760 died around 1830. Murdo married Margaret Morrison born 1769 died 1858. Murdo and Margaret are my great, great grandparents. Murdo and Margaret had the following family:
Mary born 1804
Marion born 1816
Ann born 1819
Catherine born 1821 died 1900
John born 1826 – died 1900
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John married Mary Macdonald (born 1835 –died 1913) on 8 February 1865.
John and Mary had the following family:-
Peggy born 1865 – died 11 May 1939
Murdo born 1866 – died 5 November 1952
Norman born 1868 – died 6 October 1952
Neil born 1870 – died 11 August 1945
Kenneth born 1874 – died 1876
Rachael born 1876 – died 1960
Kirsty born 1877
Mary Ann born 1880 – died 1963
Alexander born 1883 – died 1885
The MacKay family stayed at the Glebe in Scarista in South Harris. Murdo and John MacKay were Cleireich (Church Officers). They claimed to be descendants from the Spanish Armada – unfortunately this is untrue and the Shipwreck at Toe Head that Murdo was connected with was over 100 years after the Spanish Armada.
Neil, Murdo and Norman came to the Mainland to seek employment.
Peggy MacKay was the Grandmother of Finlay J MacDonald, the author of Crowdie and Cream.
I was inspired to visit this beautiful Island of Harris by my second cousin Annie MacFarlane (nee MacDonald). I had only found and started corresponding with Annie for a few months when she died. I only wish I could have met her.
My son Gary and I visited Scarista in May 2001. We stayed in the Scarista House Hotel which we found very comfortable, excellent food, hosts (Tim and Patricia) welcoming and friendly.
For more information on Harris visit Virtual Hebrides
I am a Royan with McKay’s also in my family tree. My Royan ancestors came from County Mayo in Ireland in a district called Irelandedie. My McKay great grandmother came from North east Scotland. She was Rebecca McKay. I am interested to find out how the Royans in Scotland might be connected. My Greatgrandfather was James Royan and he came across to Liverpool in the late 1860’s and married Mary O’Hara. They came out to Australia and settled farm land at John’s River on the North coast of N.S.W. Their youngest son Patrick Leo Royan married Helen/Ellen Smith who was a granddaughter of Rebecca MacKay.
Ellen Royan
Dear Irene, I cannot tell you the excitement I got when I opened your website and saw the photograph of the old man and woman (my great grandparents). I remember this lovely old couple very well as I spent most of my childhood summer holidays at Geddes Mills. I ran for an old photograph album and I have several photographs of me sitting on that same wooden bench in front of the house, two with my great grandmother, one with Bunty Campbell (only child of Minnie and Tom Campbell of 25 Anne Crescent, Nairn), one with Peggy Royan, one with my Mammy and greatgrandmother, one with Jimmy Royan and one holding my greatgrandfather’s hand. I was 2 years 8 months.
My Daddy was John Royan and his mother was Mary Royan who lived with her mother and father (Robert and Helen) at Geddes Mills. My daddy was a very quiet, genteel and gentle man. He never talked much about his relatives other than his granny and grandad and mother. I think his granny and grandad reared him as his mother never married. He also had a sister called Jean, all that I knew of anyway.
Even though I was very young I can remember my days at Geddes Mills very vividly. I had a lovely time there. I went walks with my great grandfather and my great grandmother used to let me watch her milk the cow and help her feed the chickens.
I can remember my Mammy walking from Geddes Mills to Nairn every day with me in a pushchair through a pine forest and up by the riverside to Anne Crescent and then spending the day with Auntie Minnie. Bunty worked in a greengrocers in the main street and Uncle Tom worked down by the caravan park. Auntie Minnie was disabled and was more or less housebound having to use crutches to get about. She was a wonderful knitter and used to do all my fairisle jumbers and outfits. In fact, I still have a beret and scarf that she knit. Where is she connected because it is like a dream I heard somewhere that she was a cousin of Daddy’s.?
Every time I smell pine now my memory goes right back to Geddes Mills.
Ally, who married Bunty and who still lives in Nairn sent me a cutting from the Inverness Courier showing someone in Australia who is writing a book about his father. I am hoping to make contact with him as well.
My greatest wish is to know whether my brother and I have a tartan for I would dearly love to wear a shawl accordingly. (I am a shawly person).
My darling husband and I and my brother (Thomas Campbell Royan) came here to live in Spain in 2004, but I lost my dear husband in February 2006 at the age of 59.
I went been back to Scotland two years ago after 40 years and was taken to Geddes Mills, but the old house was being renovated and extended quite a bit. The owner let me walk around but I could not recognise much. I shall forever have wonderful memories though.
I look forward to hearing from you. And thank you once again.
Kindest regards.
Ellen (Ella) Margaret Dring (Royan)
email: kenela2003@yahoo.co.uk.
Mobile: 0034600084009
Skype Phone: 0161 408 3833 (Just leave a message and I shall
ring you back)
Hello, I was surfing the net and came across your family tree. Do you know any Royans who lived in in Elgin. I remember a Robert (Bob) Royan from many years ago when his ship used to dock in Liverpool U.K. He would be in his eighties now. My email is norman.jones54@sbcglobal.net
Maureen Masterson Jones
I was very interested in reading the comments with reference to Geddes Mills.My maternal grandmother was born at the mills in 1883. Her name was Catherine Dallas. Her father was named Alexander Dallas and he was the Master Meal Miller at the mills, I believe that he was also the owner. He was born circa 1848 and died in 1909 aged 62. His father John William Dallas was also the Master Meal Miller. He was born circa 1800 and died in 1880.
I recently produced my family tree and all of the above came to light. I and all the rest of my family are from South and West Wales with the exception of my maternal grandmother mentiond above. Her branch of the family are the only Scottish connection.
Incidentally, my name, Alistair was the name of my grandmother’s brother, Alistair Dallas.
With kind regards,
Alistair Phillips