Person:John McLean (63)

Islay History and Notes

Many families emigrated to Canada during the 50 years from 1818 - 1868 and a great number came from the crofts. In 1830 or so, the population of Islay was about 15,000. (Now it is about 3,500.) Originally, there were 6 parishes: Kildalton, Oa, Kilmeny, Portnahaven, Bowmore & Kilarrow and Kilchoman. A number of crofters were 'cleared' from the land to allow more profitable sheep grazing. Starting in 1855, it was mandatory to register all births, marriages and deaths. In about 1843, rains ruined some of the crops including potatoes and there was a general famine. Oro Township received a lot of Islay immigrants. Islay folk tended to be quite clannish and preferred to settle near others from Islay. Currently, there are about 8 active distilleries on Islay.

1841 Scotland Census - The census takers usually rounded the ages of those over fifteen down to a multiple of five years. For example, someone who was actually fifty-nine would be listed as fifty-five

1843 - The Free Church of Scotland was formed when 470 ministers seceded from the Church of Scotland. (see History of Bowmore Round Church). The Established Church of Scotland was Presbyterian.

Two of the townships in Ontario to receive Islay immigrants after 1820 were Chingacousy, west of Toronto and Oro Township in Simcoe County west of Barrie. Ten years later the next wave of Islay immigrants went to Eldon and Fenelon townships near Lindsay and finally to the Bruce Peninsula and were the pioneers of Grey and Bruce counties in the 1850's and 60's. Source is Isle of Scotland website.

Name and Relationships

Name: John McLean. Source is 1841 Census of Scotland. His grave marker in Knox Presbyterian Cemetery, Oro Township, Simcoe County, Ontario confirms the spelling of his last name as McLean.

Parents: HAVE NOT FOUND HIS PARENTS.

Siblings: UNKNOWN

Children: Barbara McLean (married Mitchell), Margaret McLean (married Wright), Flora McLean (married Robinson), Isobel McLean (married Smith), Mary McLean (married McNiven), Duncan McLean and Samuel McLean (died young). Source is Mary M Irwin Memoirs, unpublished.

Personal History

1801 - Birth: John McLean was born about 1805. Source is 1841 Census of Scotland. Both the 1861 and 1871 Census of Canada infer that he was born in 1801. Grave marker says he was 88 when he died in 1884 implying that he was born in 1796. Grave marker says he was a Native of Argyllshire (Islay) (BUT DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHERE IN THE COUNTY). UNABLE TO FIND A RECORD OF BAPTISM FOR PORNAHAVEN PARISH

1826 - Marriage: On February 28, 1826, John McLean (spelled MacLean in this document) married Isabella Gilchrist (spelled Isabel) in the County of Argyll, Islay in the parish of Bowmore/Kilarrow. Both were from this parish. Source is transcript of Parochial Registers of Marriages 1820-1854 County of Argyll Parish of Bowmore/Kilarrow. (They were probably married in the Round Church of Bowmore.) WHILE THEIR MARRIAGE IS LISTED IN THE BOWMORE-KILAROW PARISH REGISTERS, NONE OF THEIR CHILDREN ARE LISTED THERE. THEY MAY HAVE MOVED TO ANOTHER PARISH AFTER THEIR MARRIAGE SINCE IN THE 1841 CENSUS THEY ARE LISTED AS LIVING IN PORTWEEMYS. NEED TO CHECK THE RECORDS FOR PORTNAHAVEN PARISH FOR BAPTISMS.

1841 - Census: On June 6, 1841, John McLean 36, Weaver, was living in Portweemys (now spelled Port Wemyss) on Islay with his wife Isabella McLean 24 and children Barbara 12, Margaret 9, Flora 7, Mary 3 and Samuel 1. Source is 1841 Census of Scotland. NOTE: Age of Isabella must be incorrect as she is only 12 years older than her eldest child or this may have been rounded down in the census. No image is provided on website to verify information. NOTE: The childrens' names in the census correspond to those provided in the memoirs noted above so this means that this is the correct family in the census. NOTE: At this time, many of the workers on the Islay Estates were either agricultural workers or weavers as it was a center for woolens and linen manufacturing.

1847 - Immigration: It appears that John McLean immigrated to Canada in 1947 - so says 1901 Canada census for his wife Mary McNiven (nee McLean) and her sister, Margaret Wright (nee McLean). CANNOT FIND A IMMIGRATION RECORD FOR J. McLean. ISABELLA (his wife) DIED ON THE VOYAGE AND HE MARRIED AGAIN. Source is Mary M Irwin Story About My Ancestors, 1992, unpublished. NOTE: Unable to verify this - does not appear to be any record of a new wife but he is listed as a widower in 1861 Census of Canada. "Mrs. McNiven was born in Islay and came to Canada in 1847 locating at Oro." Source is The Wadena Herald Nov 11, 1909. NOTE: This 1847 date should be reliable since her son-in-law was the editor of The Wadena Herald at the time.

1847 - Residence: The family settled in the Rugby area. Source is Mary M Irwin Memoirs, unpublished. NOTE: In 1836, William Kyle, an Indigent Settler (meaning needy or homeless) was listed as occupying Lot 11 east half, concession 12, Oro Township. Only one acre had been cleared. Source is OntGen Web, Simcoe County, Ontario Archives RG1 A-VI-9 Vol 9 microfilm reel MS5393. In 1842, a survey of the indigent settlers showed that the majority had simply left the land vacant. Source is Gilchrist Ancestors, Rootsweb. NOTE: This may have been the situation when John McLean came to Oro Township.

1851 - 1951 Census of Canada records for Oro Township have not survived. Source is Library and Archives Canada.

1861 - Census: In 1861, John McLean 60, Farmer, widowed, was living with his children: Mary? (very indistinct image) 20, Samuel 18 and Duncan 16 in a one-story, log house in Oro Township. Two family members are listed as missing from the census. All of the family members are listed as Free Church. Source is 1861 Census of Canada. His farm was located at Concession 12, Lot 11 West half, Oro Township. He farmed 100 acres of which in 1861, 11 acres were under crop and 2 acres were pasture - the rest was woodland. Source is the 1861 Canada Agricultural census - Ancestry.ca, frame no 951, page 60, Line 18. NOTE: The current address for this location is 1651 Old Barrie Road East, (corner of Old Barrie Road East and 11 line north) and about one mile west of Rugby. It has been split into two parcels.

1871 - Census: In April, 1871, John McLean 70, Farmer, widowed, born in Scotland, was living with 4 of his children: Margaret 32, Isabella 28, Duncan 24, and Mary 22 in Oro, Ontario. All of his children were listed as born in Scotland. Source is 1871 Census of Canada, Oro Township, North Simcoe District, Ontario, Page 35.

1881 - CANNOT LOCATE JOHN MCLEAN IN 1881 CENSUS

1884 - Death and Burial: John McLean 88, died on January 19, 1884. He was buried in the Knox Presbyterian Cemetery, Oro-Medonte, Simcoe, Ontario. Source is image of grave marker in that cemetery.

Grave Marker: In memory of JOHN McLEAN Died Jan 19, 1884 Aged 88 years Native of Argyleshire Scotland. Erected by Mrs J McNiven (i.e. his daughter Mary McLean). Inscription reads: He walked with God and was not, for God took him. NOTE: This was taken from Genesis 5:24. On another side of the same stone, his sons Samuel and Duncan are listed. Under them it says Sons of John and Bella McLean. Knox Presbyterian Cemetery, Oro-Medonte, Simcoe, Ontario. NOTE: This cemetery is only a few miles down the road from Rugby where he farmed.

NOTE: There is another John McLean in Oro Township also born in 1801 and died in 1904 - he came to Canada in 1837 and settled on Lot 4 1/2 east, Concession 10. He lived to be 103. Note: This is the wrong John McLean!! Source is The History of Simcoe County, by Hunter. However, in the book Kith 'N Kin 1978, there is no mention of John McLean or John McNiven in Oro Township.