My Genealogy Page
(Please contact me if you think your family may be connected – IAAlexander@btinternet.com)
The main names I am researching are:-
Royan (mainly North East of Scotland)
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 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 1883 – died 1960
Alexander
born 1885 – died 1953
Mary born 1887 - died1980
Helen born 1890 (my grandmother) – died 1977
Robert born 1892 (emigrated to Queensland
Australia) died
1978
Elizabeth born 1894 – died 1894
Margaret born 1896 – died1994
James born 1899 – died 1903
Donald born 1902 – died 1993
Isabella born 1904 – died 1995
Duncan
born 1907 – died June 2002
*******
Helen Royan married Andrew Hunter 26 May 1917. Andrew Hunter died in October 1919 3 weeks
before his son Andrew was born.
Helen
and Andrew had the following family:-
Helen
(Polly) born 1917 – died 2000
John
born 1918 – died 1995
Andrew
born November 1919 – 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
*******
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
Last updated 26 December 2005