The McMahon / McCall Lines, A Narrative — Two

This is Chapter Two of two, where the narrative for this family shifts due to their immigration from Scotland to America during the twilight of the Victorian era. Like many other families from this period, they were seeking a new way: better wages for their skills, the chance to improve their lives, and better opportunities for their children.

Their Immigration to The United States

The McMahons traveled to America in two separate trips. On April 14, 1881, Patrick McMahon aged 47 and his sons, James aged 19, and Phillip aged 13, immigrated to the United States on the ship Parthia. They traveled in steerage. Their entrance point is via Castle Garden, New York. (Ellis Island did not open until 1892).

The steamship Parthia, circa 1881.

Seven months later on November 17, 1881, Elizabeth McMahon aged 35, and children Mary Jane aged 18, Edward aged 10, Ann Elizabeth aged 6, and Pat aged 3, arrive at Castle Garden, New York aboard the ship Bothnia. They also traveled in steerage. This is the last record we see for baby Patrick. We don’t know what happened to him, nor where he is buried. Did he die very soon after reaching America, or did he survive until he was in Ohio?

The steamship Bothnia, circa 1881.

We believe that Patrick and his older sons immigrated first to obtain gainful employment and prove that they could support the rest of their soon-to-be-immigrating family. It is assumed they moved to Ohio so that Patrick and his older sons could work in the quarries. We learned that they settled in Brownhelm Township, Lorain County, Ohio where there was an existing quarry. Also, Edward Bond (Patrick McMahon’s great-grandson) shared with Susan Bond (Patrick McMahon’s great-great-granddaughter) stories he heard as a child that the McMahons’ worked in the quarries near Amherst in Lorain County. It is not known how long the family resided in Brownhelm Township. At some point they moved to South Euclid, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and lived near the Bluestone Quarry where Patrick worked. For further history on the quarries, see the attached article in the footnotes, Quarry Story.

For map title detail: Range 19 Brownhelm TWP 6, map.
(Image courtesy of Larsen Fine Maps Gallery).

Brownhelm Township, Lorain County, Ohio, USA — one child

Upon reaching Ohio, the McMahon family first settled in Brownhelm Township in Lorain County. Records tell us they were living there when their last child was born.

  • Patrick Joseph McMahon born November 20, 1882 in Brownhelm Township, Lorain County, Ohio. We noticed the repetition of his first name from his slightly older brother… then it was not considered unusual to bestow the name of a deceased child to a younger sibling.

His birth information is derived from his 1945 Boyd County, Kentucky death certificate. We observed some errors in the information. It was stated that both his parents were born in Scotland, but they were born in Ireland. It was written that his father’s middle name was Patrick J. This infers that he believed his father Patrick’s middle name was Joseph. We believe that there is more evidence that his father’s middle name could have been Peter.

The patriarch of the family, Patrick McMahon, died from heart disease on July 17, 1886 in South Euclid, Ohio, far away from the Dublin, Ireland of his childhood. His tough life as a manual laborer likely took its toll on his health and well-being. On his death record, he is listed as Pat McMahon being 52 years, 11 months, 6 days old. A reverse dating with these numbers puts Patrick close to his original birthdate. Since he had a difficult time remembering his age, and was not educated, this variance is acceptable. (1)

Mary Jane McMahon, Our Scottish Ancestor

1881 to 1889 Mary Jane McMahon married John McCall

Our direct ancestor, Mary Jane McMahon, was born in Doune, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland on August 4, 1863, the second child in a family of 12 children. She may have been named after her Great Grandmother Mary (Goggins) McKenzie and Grandmother Jane (McKenzie) McMahon.

In 1881, at age eighteen, Mary Jane immigrated to the United States with her mother and younger siblings. The McMahon family probably participated in the 1890 US Census. Unfortunately, the 1890 Census was destroyed by a fire in 1921 at the Commerce Department Building in Washington, D.C. The dates and locations used to reconstruct Mary Jane’s story in America are primarily from marriage records and the Ohio census’ from the years 1900 to 1940. The United States Commerce Department releases the census 74 years after it was officially taken. The 1950 Census was made available in 2022. 

Destruction of the 1890 Census by the Great Fire of 1921 at the Commerce Department Building
in Washington, D.C. (Image courtesy of raogk.org).

In researching genealogy it is not uncommon to find incorrect or inconsistent information in the census. We are sure the McMahon children never had more than an eighth grade education, whether in Scotland, or Ohio. The census always asks the question “can you read & write”. Mary Jane answered “yes” most of the time. While evaluating the 1900 through 1940 census’ which Mary Jane McMahon/McCall/Davin participated in, frequently the dates and ages recorded on them do not always align with the birth records. 

We have surmised that our ancestor did not always know the correct date or location of her birth, or her parents births so she guessed. Sometimes she got it right and sometimes she got it wrong. 

We do know that sometime between her arrival in Ohio in 1881 and 1883 Mary Jane McMahon met John McCall. They were issued a marriage license on February 22, 1884. John McCall signed the license with his mark an X which tells us he could not write. Mary Jane was not required to sign her name. 

John McCall and Mary Jane McMahon were married on February 28, 1884 in St. Paul Catholic Church in Euclid Township in Cuyahoga County. In 2007, St. Paul Church issued a copy of the marriage certificate to Susan Bond.

John McCall and Mary Jane McMahon marriage certificate, February 28, 1884. (2007 copy).

John McCall worked at the Bluestone Quarries as had his father-in-law Patrick McMahon. We do not have any information about John’s whereabouts before his marriage to Mary Jane. In the 1882 Cleveland Directory a John McCall- stonecutter, is listed. He was a boarder in the Clinton Hotel in Cleveland. We cannot know if this was our ancestor, John McCall. It was a very common name in the Cleveland area.

The Bluestone Quarry, South Euclid, Ohio, date unknown.
(Courtesy of the Euclid Historical Museum).

The Bluestone Quarries were situated in the small village of Bluestone. The village is now incorporated into the town of South Euclid. In its heyday, Bluestone was home to about 400 people and contained a general store and post office, two saloons, a temperance hall, a church, and boarding houses. The village sprang from the single industry of quarrying the rock from which the town took its name. Bluestone reached the peak of its growth in the 1890’s when immigrant laborers from Sweden, Italy, Ireland, Scotland, and Canada were working in five quarries.

Life was not at all easy for the women living in the town. There were epidemics, and all too frequently a sudden shrill note on one of the quarry’s whistles would blast an ominous portent, terrifying all who heard it. “Whenever the whistle blew all the women around would run down to that quarry to see if it was her husband who had been hurt or killed”. This description was shared by Mrs. Schroeder in the South Euclid Golden Jubilee booklet, 1917 -1967.

This photo is representative a typical mercantile store
that would have been in the village of Bluestone. (Image courtesy of eBay.com).

Note: All of Mary Jane’s children were born in the village of Bluestone, because the city of South Euclid did not exist until 1917. However, all of the birth records identify South Euclid, Cuyahoga County, Ohio as the childrens’ birth location. 

Mary Jane and John McCall had three daughters born in the four years of their marriage:

  • Elizabeth M. McCall, born October 8, 1884 — died February 12, 1951
  • Margaret Ann (McCall) Taylor, born September 25, 1886 — died October 17, 1950
  • Mary Adele (McCall) Bond, born August 10, 1888 — died March 12, 1965 (We are descended from Mary Adele).

Copies of the baptismal certificates from St. Paul Church for each of the girls. are located in the footnotes under “Baptismal Certificates”. Pastor A. T. Martin recorded the names, and other information, in Latin. Also, on two of the certificates Mary Jane’s birth location is incorrect. 

In 1888, tragedy struck the McCall family. The story passed down is that John was seriously injured in a wagon accident while working at the quarries. We do not know when or how the accident occurred. Unfortunately, John died as a result of it. His injury may have been something he could have survived, but we know that medical treatment had not progressed in 1888. His death left Mary Jane, aged 25, with three very young daughters.

1888 death record for John Coll, from Ohio County Death Records, 1840-2001,
Cuyahoga Record of deaths, 1868-1908.

In Ohio in 1867, it became a statewide law to record deaths at the probate court of the county where the death occurred. Death Records were one-line entries in ledger books, listing additional information such as birthplace, and cause of death. Traditional death certificates were not required in Ohio until 1908.

It is on John’s daughters baptismal certificates and his death record in the Cuyahoga County ledger that we learned some information about him. For some unexplained reason, on his death record his last name is spelled “Coll”. All of the other information on the record is correct so we are confident this is our John McCall. The details we learned are: John “Coll” McCall died on October 12, 1888, aged 38.   His correct birth date is October 9, 1850. The death record also tells us that John was from Ramelton, County Donegal, Ireland. His parents are identified as John and Margaret. His official cause of death was blood poisoning, which leads us to speculate that he may have died from sepsis in an era when antibiotics did not exist. We are continuing to research John McCall’s birth family, and his immigration to the United States.

1888-1889
How Mary Jane McCall supported her daughters after her husband’s death is speculation. She may have lived with, or near, her mother and younger siblings. We know her father died in 1886. Patrick McMahon is buried in the St. Paul Church Cemetery in Euclid, Ohio. He is buried in Section 10, Row 4, Grave 26. John McCall is also buried at St. Paul Cemetery in an unmarked grave. 

Elizabeth McMahon and Mary Jane McCall were both widows with young children.

1890 – 1899  Mary Jane (McMahon) McCall married Michael Davin 
As previously shared, the 1890 Federal census was destroyed in 1921. There are very few resources for the period from 1890 until we see the 1900 census. However, we know that sometime between 1890-1891 Mary Jane met Michael Davin. On the 1900 census, we learned that Michael Davin was born in England in 1863. He immigrated to the United States in 1890. His occupation is listed as a quarryman so he most likely worked at the Bluestone Quarries. 

Michael Davin and Mary Jane McCall marriage application, 1891.

On January 2, 1891 Michael and Mary Jane applied for a wedding license. Michael signed his name with his mark, an X, indicating he could not write. Mary Jane and Michael were married on January 5, 1891 by Reverend A. T. Martin, the same pastor who married  Mary Jane and John McCall. It would be reasonable to assume that they were married in the same church because Reverend Martin was the pastor at St. Paul Church.

Mary Jane brought her three daughters to their marriage. She and Michael Davin had three more children and a set of stillborn twins. They were born in (Bluestone) South Euclid, Ohio.

  • John Martin Davin, born October 21, 1892 — died February 23, 1976
  • William Davin, born May 4, 1893 — died date unknown
  • Teresa Ann (Davin) Loebsack, born June 14, 1896 — died May 3, 1976
  • Unnamed stillborn twin boys, birth year unknown 
1900 — Dawn Of The Century
“New inventions meant exciting prospects for the 1900s”
Sheet music illustration by Edward Taylor Paull, (courtesy of pbs.org).

1900 – 1909  The Growing McCall/Davin Family
In addition to the births of the first three children listed on the June 7, 1900 Federal Census, we learned other important things about the Davin family. They lived in Euclid Township in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Michael and Mary Jane had five children living in the home. Listed are: Marguerite (actually Margaret Ann) McCall 13, Mary (Adele) McCall 11, John Davin 8, William Davin 6, and Teresa Davin 3. Elizabeth McCall, aged 15, was living and working as a servant for a family in Mayfield Township in Cuyahoga County. She was listed on their 1900 Census. The family had a daughter, aged three and twin boys aged one. Perhaps it was her job to care for the children. 

It is on the 1900 Census that we begin to observe a pattern where Mary Jane either guessed, or made up dates, and locations. She incorrectly records that she immigrated to the US in 1882, instead of 1881. She correctly identifies Scotland as her birth country, but lists that her parents were born in Scotland. As we know, this is incorrect. Patrick McMahon and Elizabeth McGuire/ McMahon were born in Dublin, Ireland.

The census asked the question of women “how many children were born” and “how many are living”. Mary Jane answered six children born and six living. This answer leads us to believe that the twins were born between 1901-1909. By the next census in 1910 Michael Davin is not listed with the family. It is assumed that he died between 1901-1909. We have not found any death records for him.

An Interview With Mary Jane’s Granddaughter Roberta
In 2007, Susan Bond, Dean Bond’s daughter, visited with Roberta Fumich. Dean and Roberta were first cousins and Mary Jane’s grandchildren. During the visit Roberta shared stories she remembered from her childhood. Because the stories came directly from Roberta they are included in Mary Jane (McMahon) McCall/Davin’s story.

Roberta (Loebsack) Fumich, circa 1996. (Family photograph).

Roberta speaking: “My Great Grandmother was called “Grandma Jane”. Mary Jane had three girls with John McCall, and two boys, a girl and stillborn twin boys, with Michael Davin. The story about the twins is that Mary Jane was carrying buckets of water, then tripped and fell on the buckets. When the twins were stillborn, they were bruised.”

Roberta said that her mother, Teresa (Davin) Loebsack, had memories of her father being very sick. Michael may have died when Teresa was still a little girl. It is possible he suffered from an illness while working at the quarries. 

One could certainly speculate that working at the Bluestone Quarries was bad for one’s health. In the McMahon/McCall/Davin families three men had worked in the quarries, and all three men died young.

1898 – 1906 Elizabeth McMahon and sons James, Philip, Edward, and Patrick
We wondered what happened to Mary Jane’s mother Elizabeth McMahon and her brothers after Patrick McMahon’s death in 1886. The destroyed 1890 Census might have given us some information, but until 1898 we have no record of them. Beginning in 1898, we find them in the Joliet, Illinois Business Directories. Listed are Elizabeth McMahon, a widow and her sons James, Philip, Edward, and Patrick. The boys are listed as laborers, except Patrick who was in school until the 1904 directory when he is listed as a laborer.  

1900 United States Census, Joliet Township, Illinois.

On the 1900 census for Joliet, Illinois, Elizabeth is the “Head of House” with three sons, James, Edward and Patrick living with her. Philip McMahon is not on this census and is no longer found in the Joliet Business Directories, so we assume that he left the area. James, Edward, and Patrick are identified in the 1900-1906 directories, as is their mother. From 1906 forward we have no additional information on James, Edward, and Philip McMahon. Our research will continue. There is no record of Elizabeth McMahon’s whereabouts from 1906 until her death in 1911.

Penny Postcard View of Winchester Avenue, Ashland, Boyd County, Kentucky.

Patrick Joseph McMahon
There is quite a bit of information on the youngest son Patrick Joseph McMahon. By 1917 or earlier, he had moved back to Cleveland. In 1917, he registered for the WW I draft. After that the next record we found is the 1940 census. He was living in Boyd County, Kentucky married to Nancy J. Hutchinson, a widow. The 1940 Census asks the question “where were you living in 1935” and Patrick indicates he was living in New Haven, Connecticut.

Patrick Joseph McMahon died in Ashland, Boyd County, Kentucky. His death on May 18, 1945 was from bladder cancer that had metastasized to his lungs. Patrick is buried in Chardon, Ohio, at the Chardon Municipal Cemetery with his sister Ann Elizabeth (Rose) Norton and her husband Will Norton.  

1910 – 1919  A Decade of Change in the McCall/Davin Family
On the May 12, 1910 Census, Mary Jane Davin was the head of the home. Her family was living on Bluestone Road in Cleveland Heights, Cuyahoga County. Elizabeth McCall, 24, was living at home and working as a servant for a private family. Marguerite (Margaret) McCall, 22, was similarly working for a private family. John Davin, 18, was working as a janitor at a Club House, and Teresa Davin, 13, was likely in school. William Davin was 16 in 1910 and was not on this census. Mary Adele McCall, 21, was living and working as a maid for a family on Strathmore Avenue in East Cleveland. She was listed on their 1910 Census. Ironically, later in her life Mary bought a home on Strathmore Avenue.

In October 1910, two of Mary Jane’s daughters were married one week apart. (We bet that was a busy two weeks for Great Grandmother Mary Jane!)

Two examples of 1910 American wedding dress fashions:
Left: The Butterick Wedding Dress 3784, from May 1910, and
Right: The Story of the Seven Sisters: Women’s Magazines at NYPL, from October 1910.
(See footnotes)

On October 19, 1910, Margaret Ann McCall married Oscar C. Taylor. Roberta said that the Taylor family lived across the street from Margaret’s family on Bluestone Road. Margaret and Oscar had three sons: William “Bill” Taylor born March 19, 1914, a stillborn baby boy born 1918, and Malcom “Buck” Taylor born April 3, 1922. Oscar had an automotive repair business in East Cleveland where the family lived. Margaret and Oscar were married for 40 years.

A week before Margaret’s marriage, Mary Adele McCall married Earl Alexander Bond on October 12, 1910. Earl moved to Cleveland in 1903 from Jefferson County, Ohio. Mary and Earl had four sons; Robert Earl Bond born October 28, 1911, John Allen “Al” Bond born March 2, 1914, Dean Phillip Bond born August 15, 1919, and Edward Lee Bond born November 2, 1925.

Mary Adele (McCall) Bond, circa 1908. (Family photograph).

Roberta shared another story: “Mary and Earl Bond, moved to southern Ohio about 1915.” (with very young sons Robert and John Allen “Al”.) “Sometime in 1916, Mary had an (undiagnosed) “nervous breakdown”. Teresa went to southern Ohio on a train to bring the children back to Cleveland. Grandma Jane and Aunt Elizabeth took care of them.” 

Mary and Earl moved back to Cleveland before 1919 when Dean was born. At that time they lived in a house they owned on Alder Ave in East Cleveland. Per Roberta, “They had a difficult marriage, much of it attributable to Mary.”

Elizabeth McMahon, Mary Jane’s mother, passed away on December 25, 1911. She died at the home of her daughter, Ann Elizabeth Norton, in Hambden, Geauga County, Ohio. Her cause of death was a cerebral hemorrhage. On her death certificate it indicates that her burial location is “Euclid Creek”. This location is not a cemetery. (Research on her burial will continue).

While researching Ann Elizabeth (McMahon) Norton, we found that for some unexplained reason her name is often recorded as “Rose”. It is used on her death certificate and grave marker.

1920-1929  Mary Jane Davin Suffered a Serious Accident
When the January 9, 1920 Census was taken, Mary Jane, Elizabeth McCall, and Teresa Davin were renting their home on Bluestone Road in Cleveland Heights. On the census both Elizabeth and Teresa were working at the “electric factory” (General Electric at Nela Park). Elizabeth was an Inspector and Teresa was an Operator.

Three weeks later on January 28, 1920 Teresa Ann Davin aged 23, married Robert Loebsack. At the beginning of their marriage Teresa and Bob lived with Mary Jane and Elizabeth in the duplex on Bluestone Road. They had three children:

  • Roberta Jane (Loebsack) Fumich, born May 12, 1922—  died January 8, 2020
  • Alton Howard Loebsack, born September 25, 1925 —  died January 30, 1987
  • Luanne Terese Anne (Loebsack) Tarro, born February 22, 1935 —  died June 14, 2013
Huron Road Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, Penny Postcard.
(Image courtesy of eBay.com).

In 1925, the Loebsack’s were still living on Bluestone. Roberta said that “Grandma Jane would go to bed when it got dark and would get up with the sun. When she got up she would stoke the coal furnace. One morning, a gas bubble exploded and caught her nightgown on fire. Teresa had just purchased some ointment and quickly covered Mary Jane with it. However, she was very badly burned and was taken to Huron Road Hospital where she stayed for six months.”

“To care for Mary Jane, Teresa and Roberta moved in with Margaret and Oscar Taylor because they lived near the hospital in a caretaker’s house on the Blossom Estate. Every day one of the daughters (primarily Teresa and Margaret) would go to the hospital and help with Mary Jane’s rehabilitation therapy. Mary Adele helped when she could. Elizabeth worked at Nela Park and could not help them during the day but did help on weekends.”  

Thankfully, Mary Jane recovered from her burns and lived to age 89.

Newsboy Selling ‘Grit’, Irwinville Farms, Georgia, USA,
John Vachon for Farm Security Administration, May 1938.
(Image courtesy of alamy.com).

1930-1939 The “Great Depression” Years
On the April 9, 1930 census, five years after her recovery from the burn accident, Mary Jane Davin now 66, and Elizabeth McCall 44, had moved from the Bluestone house. The census tells us they were living at 1776 Urbana Road in Cleveland in a home they were renting for $37.00 a month. Elizabeth was the wage earner working as an inspector at an “electric lamp works” (General Electric at Nela Park).

On the census, one of the questions asked was “Is there a Radio Set in the home”? They reported yes, (they had a radio set in their home). This question was asked to learn how many homes had electricity in 1930. Although electricity was discovered in 1882, only half of the homes in the United States had electricity by 1925. An article in Ohio History Connections tells the story of Ohio’s major role in getting electricity into businesses and homes.

A family listens to the radio in the 1930s — the Census Bureau collected radio ownership data
in 1930 on the population schedule. National Archive photo from Radio In The 1930s.
(Image courtesy of United States Census Bureau).

This census had the fewest number of questions on any of the census’ available to us. As on past census’ Mary Jane’s answers on this census are incorrect. For example, she indicates she immigrated in 1910 (actual 1881) and that she could not read, nor write. On previous census’ she always answered that she could read and write. It appears that Mary Jane never became a naturalized citizen. On both of the 1930 and 1940 census’ she is listed as an alien citizen. Alien is a term used in federal and state law to identify a foreign-born person who lives in the United States, has not naturalized, and is still a citizen of a foreign country. This tells us that Mary Jane was never able to vote in a state or federal election.

The following excerpt from History.com gives a brief description of the Great Depression suffered by many, including our families, (see footnotes).

The Great Depression was the worst economic downturn in the history of the industrialized world, lasting from 1929 to 1939. It began after the stock market crash of October 1929, which sent Wall Street into a panic and wiped out millions of investors. Over the next several years, consumer spending and investment dropped, causing steep declines in industrial output and employment as failing companies laid off workers. By 1933, when the Great Depression reached its lowest point, some 15 million Americans were unemployed and nearly half the country’s banks had failed.

Short video (2:18) from the FDR Library titled The Great Depression. If the video does not load, here is the url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgmeL7sp4hw

The Davins, Taylors, Loebsacks, and Bonds were not exempt from the effects of the depression. Elizabeth McCall continued to work at the General Electric Company in Nela Park and supported her mother. We learned on the 1930 Census’ that Oscar Taylor, Margaret’s husband, owned an auto repair garage in East Cleveland and supported his family. Bob Loebsack, Teresa’s husband, worked in a retail meat market (grocery store) to support his family. Earl Bond, Mary Adele’s husband, owned an auto repair business to support his family, and John Davin, Mary Jane’s son, was in the United States Navy living in California with his wife and daughter.

…in the middle of the night Elizabeth heard a loud noise that woke her up. She got up and could not identify the noise. The next morning they learned that Earl had died by suicide.

Remembrance from Roberta (Loebsack) Fumich

On February 24, 1932, Earl Bond committed suicide. At that time he was not living with his family at the Alder Avenue home in East Cleveland. Earl was living in University Heights with his sister Edna and her husband Bill Wicks. They found Earl hanged in their garage.

Aunt Elizabeth told Roberta that she knew when Mary and Earl were “having difficulties” because he would stutter. The story goes that “when they would fight, she would throw him out of the house. Further, Roberta said “she was sleeping at Aunt Elizabeth’s, when in the middle of the night Elizabeth heard a loud noise that woke her up. She got up and could not identify the noise. The next morning they learned that Earl had died by suicide. Elizabeth always believed the noise she heard in the middle of the night was when Earl died.”

For more about this episode in our family’s history, please see:
The Bond Line, A Narrative — Seven.

1936 Family Reunion at Bluestone Park, South Euclid, Ohio, with all of Mary Jane’s daughters and grandchildren. Missing: John Davin, living in California and William Davin, whereabouts unknown.
First Row: Alton Loebsack, Dean Bond, Roberta Loebsack, Edward Bond
Second Row: Elizabeth McCall, Margaret (McCall) Taylor, Mary Jane (McMahon) McCall/Davin,
Teresa (Davin) Loebsack, Mary A. (McCall) Bond.
Third Row: Robert Loebsack (holding Luanne Loebsack), Malcolm “Buck” Taylor, Oscar Taylor, Al Bond, Bill Taylor, Robert Bond. (Family photograph).

1940-1949 Pre and Post World War II
On the April 5, 1940 Census, Elizabeth McCall and Mary Jane Davin, aged 76, were living at 1751 Clarkstone Road in Cleveland in a home that Elizabeth owned. Elizabeth indicated that she had completed seventh grade. Mary Jane implied that she had completed eighth grade, however, it had to have been in Scotland. Elizabeth continued working as an assembler at the “Lamp Works” (General Electric at Nela Park) and made a monthly salary of $1,172. Before taxes it would have been $14,064 which in 1940, was a very good living for a single woman with a seventh grade education. Elizabeth McCall remained a single woman throughout her life. This is the last census we have available to glean information about Mary Jane. 

We do know her son, John Davin served his country in two World Wars as an officer in the United States Navy. Also during World War II, several of her grandsons served honorably. Dean and Edward Bond and Alton Loebsack served in the United States Navy. Malcom “Buck” Taylor served in the United States Army. Robert Bond served in the American Field Service.

1950-1954
On October 17, 1950 Margaret (McCall) Taylor, aged 64, died from uterine cancer. She is buried at the East Cleveland Township Cemetery, Cuyahoga County, along with her husband Oscar, son William, and Oscar’s parents. Four months later on February 12, 1951, Elizabeth McCall, aged 66, died from cerebral venous thrombosis, a blood clot in her brain. She is also buried with her sister Margaret at the East Cleveland Township Cemetery. Lastly, Mary Jane (McMahon) McCall/Davin died on February 16, 1954, aged 89 (and six months). We don’t have a copy of her death certificate but one could agree that she may have died of old age!

Mary Jane McMahon lived her first 18 years in the Central Belt of Scotland before immigrating to Ohio. There she spent 71 of her 89 years living in and around Cleveland, Ohio. She left a long line of descendants living all over the United States (and maybe the world). She is buried in Knollwood Cemetery in Mayfield Heights, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. 

1965
Mary Jane’s third daughter, Mary Adele (McCall) Bond died, aged 76, on March 12. Her cause of death was congestive cardiac failure caused by cerebral vascular hemorrhage. She is buried with her husband Earl Bond at Whitehaven Cemetery in Mayfield Village, Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

1976
Mary Jane’s fourth daughter Teresa (Davin) Loebsack, aged 79, died on May 3. She in Knollwood Cemetery near her mother. Buried with Teresa is her husband Robert Loebsack, died in 1970, and son Alton Loebsack, died in 1987. Three months before Teresa died, Mary Jane’s son, John Martin Davin, aged 84, died on February 23, in San Diego California. John is buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Fresno, Fresno County, California.

Mary Jane (McMahon) McCall Davin photographed on Christmas Day,
December 25, 1931, aged 67. (Family photograph).

When viewing the photograph of Mary Jane (McMahon) McCall Davin from 1931, it’s intriguing to see that the photographer chose the prop of a spinning wheel lamp to accompany her. She was descended from men who worked to build communities by freeing stone from the earth, and from mothers who spun threads, worked looms, and raised families.

The narrative of our Irish ancestors is built from their history. Like a piece of well-crafted Irish linen, it is woven carefully from the threads of family stories, their long lost records, and our desire to connect with them through time. (2)

Following are the footnotes for the Primary Source Materials,
Notes, and Observations

Their Immigration to The United States

(1) — seven records

We looked at ship manifests for the New York harbor area and found this:
The Parthia, the ship they traveled on, is found in this file at the very top of the list:
https://stevemorse.org/cgi-bin/boat.php?series=&rollStart=&rollEnd=&volumeStart=&volumeEnd=&monthStart=&dayStart=&yearStart=&monthEnd=&dayEnd=&yearEnd=&boatkind=starts&boat=Parthia&&portkind=starts&port=&pageSize=50&database=all&local=yes&auth=&offset=51

Then follow this link for the manifest record: https://stevemorse.org/ellis2/mmminus.html?back=https://stevemorse.org/cgi-bin/boat.php?series=&rollStart=&rollEnd=&volumeStart=&volumeEnd=&monthStart=&dayStart=&yearStart=&monthEnd=&dayEnd=&yearEnd=&boatkind=starts&boat=Parthia&&portkind=starts&port=&pageSize=50&database=all&local=yes&auth=&offset=51&series=0&roll=435&frame=213&display=true

Note: Further guidance for this footnote:

  • At the bottom of the page, buttons are shown >
  • Series M237 Roll 435 Frame 213 >
  • The Display button is located below the Series M237 button. Frame and Display are the only important buttons. >
  • You enter the frame number and then hit display to see data as follows:
  • Frame 217: The ship manifest Frame 222: Patrick and his sons James and Phillip are listed as having traveled in steerage (about 2/3’s of the way down the page.)

Elza Mc Mahon
in the New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957

Date > 1881 > November > 17 > Bothnia
https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=7488&h=11711370&tid=&pid=&queryId=427de71394a3060e85ccd472fd5aaffd&usePUB=true&_phsrc=BnY39&_phstart=successSource
Digital Page: 2/6: (bottom of page)
Note: Elizabeth and her children are listed near the bottom of the page.
and here:
Elza Mc Mahon
in the New York Port, Ship Images, 1851-1891
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2442696:8644?tid=&pid=&queryId=427de71394a3060e85ccd472fd5aaffd&_phsrc=BnY38&_phstart=successSource

Amherst Historical Society
Quarry Story
https://amhersthistoricalsociety.org/quarry-story/

Larsen Fine Maps Gallery
Range 19 Brownhelm TWP 6
https://larsenfinemaps.com/products/819
Note: For Brownhelm township map title detail.

Patrick Joseph McMahon,
Kentucky death certificate #9269
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9TF-H3GF-F?cc=1417491&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AN9VP-XSM
Digital page: 2293/3534
Note: This document provides his birth place and date.

Pat Mcmahon
Death – Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6VG-1ZF
Digital page: 222/701, Left page, bottom, line 7.

Mary Jane McMahon, Our Scottish Ancestor

(2) — forty four records

John McCall & Mary Jane McMahon marriage license
Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016
Marriage records (Cuyahoga County, Ohio), 1810-1941; indexes, 1810-1952
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-BJ7Z-H?i=154&cc=1614804
Book page: 220, Digital page: 155/322, Left page, 3rd entry.

Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness
Fate of the 1890 Population Census
https://raogk.org/census-records/1890-fire/

Encyclopedia of Cleveland History
Bluestone Quarries
https://case.edu/ech/articles/b/bluestone-quarries#:~:text=The%20BLUESTONE%20QUARRIES%20were%20situated,a%20church%2C%20and%20boarding%20houses

Euclid Historical Museum
Bluestone Quarry
https://clevelandhistorical.org/index.php/files/show/5508
Note: For photograph.

The Proud Heritage of South Euclid Ohio; Golden Jubilee 1917-1967
https://www.garrisonhousebooks.com/product/19167/The-Proud-Heritage-of-South-Euclid-Ohio-Golden-Jubilee-1917-1967

Real Photo South Euclid Ohio Store Front Downtown Postcard
https://www.ebay.com/itm/372726256823

Baptismal Certificates, for the McCall Daughters
Note: These copies of the original St. Paul Church baptismal certificates are written in Latin:
Ego infrascriptus baptizavi = I baptized the undersigned,
nat = born / birth,
ex = from,
ex loco = from the place,
et = and,
Patrini fuerunt = we are sponsors

Elizabeth McCall Born October 8,1884 Baptized October 19, 1884
Margaret Ann McCall Born September 25, 1886 Baptized October 10, 1886
Mary Adele McCall Born August 10,1888 Baptized August 22, 1888

John Coll (McCall) death record
Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001, Cuyahoga
Record of deaths, 1868-1908
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6LS-Y5G
Book Page: 303, Digital Page: 384/701, Left page, middle, entry 3.

Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016, Cuyahoga
Marriage records 1890, vol 35
Michael Davin and Mary Jane McCall marriage record
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-BP9S-PC?i=168&cc=1614804&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AZZ1P-NSPZ
Book page: 243, Digital page: 169/319, Right page, entry 3.

1900 — Dawn Of The Century
“New inventions meant exciting prospects for the 1900s”
Sheet music illustration by Edward Taylor Paull
From the article: Summing Up, Looking Forward and The Paris Exposition
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/1900-forward-exposition/

1900 census, Michael and Mary Jane Davin
United States Census, 1900  Ohio  Cuyahoga
Ed 218 Euclid Township (south half)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DZK3-QG1?i=9&cc=1325221&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMMZZ-YG5
Book Page: 5/5B, Digital Page: 10/34, Entries 72 through 78.

Image of Roberta (Loebsack) Fumich, circa 1996.
(Family photograph).

Elizebeth C McMahon
Census – United States Census, 1900, Joliet Township, Illinois
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSCQ-JQ5
Digital page: 36/51, Entries 68 through 71.

1940 Kentucky census, Patrick Joseph McMahon
United States Census, 1940, Kentucky, Boyd, Magisterial District 4
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9M1-S7JY?i=69&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AK7R9-QDF
  Book Page: 35B, Digital Page: 70/85, Entry line 60.

Patrick Joseph McMahon, Kentucky death certificate https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9TF-H3GF-F?cc=1417491&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AN9VP-XSM

1910 census, Mary Jane Davin and family
United States Census, 1910 Ohio Cuyahoga, Cleveland Heights, Ed 435
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRKQ-9HPR?i=4&cc=1727033&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMLZ5-8QJ
Digital Page: 5/14 Entry lines 46 through 50.

Two examples of 1910 American wedding dress fashions:
witness2fashion
Butterick Wedding Dress, May 1910
https://witness2fashion.wordpress.com/2019/05/02/butterick-wedding-dress-may-1910/
and
Huffington Post
The Story of the Seven Sisters: Women’s Magazines at NYPL, October 1910
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-story-of-the-seven-si_b_2989101

Margaret Ann McCall and Oscar Taylor marriage record
Ohio County Marriages, 1789-2016, Cuyahoga Marriage records 1910, vol 76
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-BPS2-LJ?i=223&cc=1614804&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AZ832-4YPZ
Book Page: 355, Digital Page: 224/298, Right page, top entry.

Mary Adele McCall and Earle A. Bond marriage record Ohio County Marriages, 1789-2016, Cuyahoga Marriage records 1910, vol 76
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-BPSG-XL?i=209&cc=1614804&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AZ8Q7-XW6Z
Book Page: 327, Digital Page: 210/298, Right page, last entry.

Elizabeth (McGuire) McMahon 1911 death certificate.

Elizabeth (McGuire) McMahon
Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953, 1911 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPJR-BVT?i=1550&cc=1307272&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AX8D5-F6D
Digital page: 1551/2865
Note: Her actual birth year is 1846, not 1848 as listed.

Mary Jane Davin
in the 1920 United States Federal Census

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/33247675:6061?tid=&pid=&queryId=11f7c7ecd1f87166c178004c58b1f5f0&_phsrc=qGQ3620&_phstart=successSource
Book Page: 2B, Digital Page: 4/29, Entry lines 63 through 65.

Teresa Davin and Robert Loebsack marriage record
Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016, Cuyahoga
Marriage records 1919-1920, vol 115 
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-BJ34-D3?i=158&cc=1614804&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AZ8WM-R2N2
Book Page: 220, Digital Page: 159/201, Left page, entry 4.

Mary Jane Davin
in the 1930 United States Federal Census
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/73457206:6224
Book Page: Sheet 5B, Digital Page: 9/20, Entry lines 81 and 82.

Penny Postcard image of
Cleveland, Ohio, Huron Road Hospital (ClevOH297) https://www.ebay.com/itm/385218122138

Roberta Fumich death, email notes between
Thomas Harley Bond to Susan Deanna Bond on June 15, 2024:
Two quick questions about Roberta Fumich:
What does the “J” stand for in her middle name?
“- The J stands for Jane…”
She died in 2020. Do you know the date and do you have a file for this?
“… and she died on Jan. 8, 2020 – age 97! I don’t have a file for her death — I went to her memorial service.”

Alton H. Loebsack
in the U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/138034360:60525

Luanne Terese Tarro
in the U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/152515702:60525

Newsboy Selling ‘Grit’, Irwinville Farms, Georgia, USA (photo)
John Vachon for Farm Security Administration, May 1938
https://www.alamy.com/newsboy-selling-grit-irwinville-farms-georgia-usa-john-vachon-for-farm-security-administration-may-1938-image185170684.html?imageid=FAF7CE37-F79C-489E-B60A-C781AD84410D&p=240905&pn=5&searchId=fff6f73450e69a474356b250d67936d7&searchtype=0

Ohio History Central
Electricity https://ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Electricity#:~:text=1929.,to%20light%20cities%20at%20night

National Archive photo from the United States Census Bureau article,
Radio In The 1930s
https://www.census.gov/library/photos/radio-in-the-1930s.html

Great Depression History
https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/great-depression-history

Short video (2:18) from the FDR Library titled The Great Depression.
Note: If the video does not load, here is the url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgmeL7sp4hw

Earl Alexander Bond 1932 death certificate.

Earl A. Bond death
Vital – Ohio Death Index, 1908-1932, 1938-1944, and 1958-2007

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VKPN-8YQ

Mary J Davin
in the 1940 United States Federal Census

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/32051230:2442
Book Page: Sheet 2B, Digital Page: 4/22, Entry lines 71 -72.

Margaret McCall Taylor (death)
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/161288506/margaret-taylor

Elizabeth McCall (death)
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/127229270/elizabeth-mccall

Mary Jane Davin (death)
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/172552545/mary-jane-davin
Note: There is an error for her birth year. Her actual birth year is 1863.

Mary Adele (McCall) Bond 1965 death certificate.

Mary Adele (McCall) Bond
Note: The above document is unsourced and certain important information such as her death date is cropped off. See this file for more complete information:
Mary A Bond in the Ohio, U.S., Death Records, 1908-1932, 1938-2022
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/3132441:5763?tid=&pid=&queryId=07feb666-c93b-4a3c-9f62-f1ac3be52813&_phsrc=ZSs1&_phstart=successSource

Teresa A Loebsack (death)
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/172554197/teresa-a-loebsack

John Martin Davin (death) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/167944586/john-martin-davin

Ohio Postcards for Sale
OH.jpg
https://www.oldpostcards.com/uspostcards/ohio.html 

The Gore Line, A Narrative — One

This is Chapter One of eight. We’ve documented very little from our mother’s side of the family, until now. Her “roots” (as she used to say), were from a “proud, noble people”. We’re not sure what she was getting at specifically, but in her mind’s eye, she probably pictured history similar to the way that mid-century Hollywood movies portrayed it.

A scene from the Metro-Goldwn-Mayer movie Plymouth Adventure, circa 1952.

We do know that she was quite the enthusiast for her genealogy studies, as was her mother before her. Their time existed before online research was possible, so it limited what they were able to achieve. As we all know, the world has changed a lot, and we have taken up the mantle to continue in our own way, what they started. (1)

Sometimes Our Ancestral Grandmothers Are More Interesting
Than Our Ancestral Grandfathers

Human societies weren’t always male-dominated. The switch came when we became farmers — about 12,000 years ago in the Mesopotamian region. That was a long time ago, and the transition from egalitarian family unit to a patriarchal family structure was not something that happened overnight.

After years of researching our family lines, we have most often dealt with the histories of men. This is due to the fact that the men are the ones whose stories were / are often recorded, and most of the time we don’t hear the stories about the women. When we do find their stories, they tend to be within the last few hundred years, but generally speaking, they are rare.

A woodcut depicting agriculture farming 13th century.
Image courtesy of alamy.com

Interestingly in genealogy, a woman’s name can provide a valuable link to an entire family history that had remained hidden. So it is with our 20x Great-Grandmother Lady Elyanor Comyn. She lived circa 1355, and was married to Richard Gower. Her life provides the foundational link that connects our family to Scottish Royalty and the Noble Class from that part of the world. We write about her influence in The Gore Line, A Narrative — Two.

We will commence with the history of her forefathers, but remember, the foremothers are quietly there too. (2)

What’s in a Name?
For this blog chapter, we are presenting a deep history of the Scottish Kings and Rulers to provide historical context. Eventually, we will relate this to the Comyn Family and our own history.

Note: many of the personal names and place names written in this history are difficult for the modern reader to read and pronounce. Don’t worry about it. These names are from very old languages: Scots, and Scottish Gaelic. Just let the names wash over you as you read the history — it’s more fun that way!

The Kingdom of The PictsThe Kingdom of AlbaThe Kingdom of Scotland

The Kingdom of the Picts just became known as the Kingdom of Alba in Scottish Gaelic, which later became known in Scots and English as Scotland; the terms are retained in both languages to this day. By the late 11th century at the very latest, Scottish kings were using the term rex Scottorum, or King of Scots, to refer to themselves in Latin.

Illustration of typical Pict clothing, circa 1000.
(Image courtesy of Merlin’s Tales of Britannia Wiki).

“Pictish kingship didn’t pass from father to son but from relative to relative through choice. Some scholars have speculated that royal blood wasn’t patrilineal for the Picts, but matrilineal, meaning that the women of the clan (sisters, nieces, etc.) were the only ones who could give birth to kings.

Matrilineality allowed the Picts a larger pool of kingly candidates to choose from, as opposed to one or two sons of a single monarch. Although scholars aren’t completely sure exactly how the Picts chose their kings, it’s worth noting that if power passed through the mother’s bloodline, this didn’t necessarily mean that women were given more power in society.” 

The reign of Kenneth MacAlpin begins with what is often called the House of Alpin, an entirely modern concept. The descendants of Kenneth MacAlpin were divided into two branches; the crown would alternate between the two, the death of a king from one branch often hastened by war or assassination by a pretender from the other. [Note: This is important to understand, that these two intertwined lines give us the early Kings of Scotland. We have documented Elyanor’s Comyn’s line through direct descendancy as much as possible.]

For Scottish Kings, an illustration of the Stone of Scone in the Coronation Chair at Westminster Abbey, 1855

Note: All births and deaths are in Scotland, unless noted otherwise.

Alpín macEchdach
From wikipedia.com: Alpín macEchdach, born 778 at Dunollie Castle, Argyll – died (unknown date). He was a supposed king of Dál Riata, an ancient kingdom that included parts of Ireland and Scotland. Alpín’s mother was the sister and heiress of Causantín macFergusa, King of the Picts. Alpín married a ‘Scottish Princess’, and fathered two sons: Domnall mac Ailpín and Kenneth MacAlpin.

Alpín macEchdach, born (date unknown) – died in July or August 834, when he was either killed while fighting the Picts in Galloway, or beheaded after the battle. He was succeeded by his son Cináed Mac Ailpin, i.e. Kenneth macAlpin.

Illustration of Kenneth macAlpin
(Image courtesy of britroyals.com).

Kenneth macAlpin, Cináed macAilpin, born 810 on the ‘Scottish’ Isle of Iona – died February 13, 858, in Forteviot, Perthshire. Kenneth I is traditionally considered the founder of Scotland, which was then known as Alba, although like his immediate successors, he bore the title of King of the Picts. The name of his wife is unknown, but they had four children:

  • Causantín macCináeda, Constantine I, King of Alba
  • Áed of the White Flowers macCináeda, King of Alba
  • Unknown daughter; she married Rhun ab Arthgal
  • Máel Muire ingen Cináeda; she married Áed Findliath

Succession in the kingdom was carried out in the form of tanistry* so Kenneth’s successor was his brother Donald, rather than his eldest son. After the death of Donald I (Domnall MacAilpín), the sons of Kenneth I — Causantín macCináeda and Áed macCináeda, inherited the crown. The Alpínid dynasty, which ruled Scotland until the beginning of the 11th century, was formed during this period.

*Tanistry is a Gaelic system for passing on titles and lands. In this system the Tanist is the office of heir-apparent, or second-in-command, among the (royal) Gaelic patrilineal dynasties of Ireland, Scotland and Mann.

Donald I / Constantine I, King of Alba
(Image courtesy of The National Galleries of Scotland).

Donald I, Causantín macCináeda
He inherited the throne upon the death of his uncle Donald I (Domnall MacAilpín), April 13, 862. Often known as Constantine I, born circa 862 – died in 877, possibly in Fife, Scotland. At the time, his Kingdom was battling the Vikings. The name of his wife is unknown, but they had a son: Donald II (Domnall macCausantín), King of the Picts of Alba.

Donald II, King of The ‘Scottish Picts’ of Alba.
(Image courtesy of The National Galleries of Scotland).

Donald II, Domnall macCausantín
Donald II, King of The ‘Scottish Picts’ of Alba, born 862 Forres, Moray – died in the same location in 900, in a battle with invading Dane Tribes. His death in 900 marks the transition for the use of Picts as a title, to Scots as a title. He married circa 887 Lady Sigurd Orkney (location unknown). They had one son: Máel Coluim macDomnaill. The Chronicle of the Kings of Alba has Donald succeeded by his cousin Constantine II.

Malcolm I of Scotland
(Image courtesy of http://www.britannica.com).

Malcom I King of Alba, Mael Coluim macDomnaill was the son of Donald II. Born October 5, 887, Auchencairn, Kirkcudbrightshire – died December 3, 954, at Dunnottar Castle, Fordoun, Kincardineshire. He became king when his cousin Constantine II abdicated the throne to become a monk. Like the generations before him, he also died a violent death in battle. The name of his wife is unknown, but they had two children: Dubh mac Mhaoil Chaluim (Dub), King of Alba (Scotland), and Kenneth II, King of Alba (Scotland), Cináed macMaíl Coluim.

Kenneth II King of Alba (Scotland), Cináed macMaíl Coluim,
(Image courtesy of Hulton Archive/Getty Images).

Kenneth II King of Alba (Scotland), Cináed macMaíl Coluim, born (unknown date) – died 995, was King of Scots from 971 to 995. The son of Malcolm I, he succeeded King Cuilén (Cuilén mac Iduilb) on the latter’s death in 971. The name of his wife is unknown.

According to John of Fordun (14th century), Kenneth II Alba (Scotland) attempted to change the succession rules, allowing “the nearest survivor in blood to the deceased king to succeed“, thus securing the throne for his own descendants. He reportedly did so to specifically exclude Constantine (III) and Kenneth (III), called Gryme in this source. The two men then jointly conspired against him, convincing Lady Finella, to kill the king. She reportedly did so to achieve personal revenge, as Kenneth II had killed her own son. Again, we don’t have a record of his wife’s name, but we know that he had at least one son, Máel Coluim macCináeda, Malcom II of Scotland.

Malcolm II, Máel Coluim macCináeda, of Scotland.
(Image courtesy of scotclans.com).

Malcolm II of Scotland, Máel Coluim macCináeda
Malcolm II of Scotland was the last king of the House of Alpin. Born circa 954 (location unknown) – died November 25, 1034 in Glamis. The name of his wife is unknown.

He demonstrated a rare ability to survive among early Scottish kings by reigning for 29 years. He was determined to retain the succession within his own line, but since Malcolm II had no son of his own… He strategically undertook to negotiate a series of dynastic marriages of his three daughters, to men who might otherwise be his rivals, while securing the loyalty of the principal chiefs, their relatives. His daughters were:

  • Bethóc ingen Maíl Coluim meic Cináeda, married Crínán of Dunkeld, mother of his successor, Duncan I.
  • Donalda, married Findláech of Moray, mother of Macbeth, King of Scotland
  • Olith, married Sigurd Hlodvirsson, Earl of Orkney, mother of Thorfinn the Mighty

In his reign, Malcom II successfully crushed all opposition to him and, having no sons, was able to pass the crown to his daughter’s son, Duncan I, Crínán of Dunkeld, who inaugurated the House of Dunkeld.

Bethoc Beatrix.
(Image courtesy of http://www.whobegatwhom.co.uk)

Bethoc Beatrix, Bethóc ingen Maíl Coluim meic Cináeda
Sometimes referred to as a princess of Scotland, this mother of the future Duncan I of Scotland, Donnchad Mac Crínáin, was the daughter of Malcolm II of Scotland. She was born circa 984 in Perth, Perthshire – died circa 1045 in the same location. She was married to the Crínán of Dunkeld, who was also known as Crinan de Mormaer.

Abbot Crínán of Dunkeld, who was also known as:
Crinan de Mormaer and Mormaer of Atholl
Artwork: Oil on canvas by Netanel Miles-Yepez, 2006

Crínán of Dunkeld, born circa 976/980 (unknown location) – died 1045 (unknown location) was the hereditary abbot of the monastery of Dunkeld, and perhaps the Mormaer of Atholl. Crínán was progenitor of the House of Dunkeld, the dynasty which would rule Scotland until the later 13th century. He was the son-in-law of one king, and the father of another.

The House of Dunkeld (in Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Chailleann) is a genealogical construct to illustrate the clear succession of Scottish kings from 1034 to 1040 and from 1058 to 1286. The line is also variously referred to by historians as “The Canmores” and “MacMalcolm”.

Bethoc Beatrix and Crínán of Dunkeld had two sons: Duncan I of Scotland, Donnchad Mac Crínáin, (as mentioned above) and Maldred mac Crínán, Earl of Dunbar, Lord of Cumbria & Allerdale, born 1015 – died 1045.

Duncan I of Scotland, Donnchad Mac Crínáin
(Image courtesy of ancestry.com).

Duncan I of Scotland, Donnchad mac Crinain, born circa 1001 (unknown location) – died August 14, 1040 in Bothnagowan. He was king of Scotland from 1034 to 1040. He married Sibylla of Northumbia (anglicized as Sibyl Fitzsiward), born circa 1009/1014 (unknown location) – died 1070 (unknown location). They had three children:

  • Malcolm III of Scotland, also known as Máel Coluim mac Donnchada and Malcolm Canmore, died 1093
  • Donald III of Scotland, also known as Domnall Mac Donnchada and Donalbain
  • Máel Muire, Earl of Atholl, also known as Melmare

He is the historical basis of the “King Duncan” in Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. The early period of Duncan’s reign was apparently uneventful, perhaps a consequence of his youth. His cousin Macbeth (Mac Bethad mac Findláich) is recorded as having been his dux, today rendered as “duke” (and meaning nothing more than the rank between prince and marquess) — but then still having the Roman meaning of “war leader”. This suggests that Macbeth may have been the power behind the throne.

In 1039, Duncan led a large Scots army south to besiege Durham, but the expedition ended in disaster. Duncan survived, but the following year he led an army north into Moray, Macbeth’s domain, apparently on a punitive expedition against Moray. There he was killed in action, at the battle of Bothnagowan, by the men of Moray led by Macbeth, probably on August 14, 1040. He is thought to have been buried at Elgin, before later relocation to the island of Iona. (3)

Let’s Talk About William Shakespeare for a Moment

The first page of Macbeth from the First Folio of William Shakespeare, 1623.
(Image courtesy of wikipedia.com).

All of us are familiar with the name Macbeth from the writings of William Shakespeare. Even though it is a beautiful work of fiction, it is rather intriguing to know that it involves (in name only) some of the people from the Gore family line.

From IPL, the Internet Public Library:
“William Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, turned what people knew as Scottish history into a powerful act of betrayal; a madman murdering a good king out of greed. Shakespeare wrote Macbeth for [the] reigning king of England, King James I of England (James VI of Scotland) who had a strong belief in all things dark and supernatural, like witches.

Macbeth includes multiple historical characters, all previous kings of Scotland; but why? Shakespeare uses the characters King Duncan, King Macbeth, and King Malcolm to explore the royalty of Scotland throughout time and to appease the king with a dark story about history.”

The ‘Chandos Portrait’ of William Shakespeare,
The National Portrait Gallery. (Image courtesy of wikipedia.org).

Furthermore, why did Shakespeare pick a real Scottish King to be the protagonist of his play Macbeth and then not use his actual history?

Because he was forced to.

Shakespeare was commissioned to write a play for James I, who incorrectly believed that he was descended from Banquo.
Of course, Banquo is a fictional character.

He had to write a play about what happens to someone who kills a king, or what James I believed should happen to someone who kills a king. After all, the Catholics had unsuccessfully plotted to kill him [in the Gunpowder Plot].

Joseph Langford, author of
Macbeth – Chapters Unspoken at My House

Observation: Shakespeare wrote the play Macbeth in 1606, about 600 years after Duncan I of Scotland, Donnchad Mac Crínáin was born. For perspective, we are yet another 400+ years distant from Shakespeare. (4)

Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses, Lords and Ladies

Portrait of Donald III of Scotland, by George Jamesone.
(Image courtesy of wikipedia.org).

Donald III of Scotland
The second son of Duncan I of Scotland, and Sibylla of Northumbia, Sibyl Fitzsiward, was Donald III of Scotland also known as Domnall mac Donnchada and Donalbain [now that’s a mouthful!]. He was born circa 1034, Atholl, Perth – died 1099, Rescobie {prison], Angus. In 1059, he married Hextilda fitz Andlaw of Perth in Rescobie, Angus. She was born in 1040, Perth – died 1100, in Argyll (unknown date). They were the parents of one daughter: Bethoc Ingen Domnail Bane, Princess of Scotland.

Following his father’s death, Donald went into hiding in Ireland for 17 years, for fear that he would be killed by Macbeth. It was during this time that Malcolm’s grandfather, Crinan of Dunkeld, who was married to Malcolm II’s daughter, was killed fighting Macbeth. The minor character of Donalbain in William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth represents Donald III.

1072: William The Conqueror invades Scotland. This forced the Royal Court of Malcolm III to sign the Treaty of Abernethy. The extended result was that Scotland became a liege state (subordinate) to William the Conqueror’s England.

The Purple Thistle, the floral symbol of Scotland.
(Image courtesy of Alamy.com).

Bethoc Ingen Domnail Bane, Tynedale, Princess of Scotland, born 1087, Morayshire, Scotland – died 1160 Perthshire, Scotland. She married Uchtred de Tyndale, Lord of Tynedale, about 1121, in Morayshire, Scotland. They were the parents of at least four sons and one daughter:

  • Ranulf of Tynedale, born 1113 – (unknown date)
  • Simon of Tynedale, born 1115 – (unknown date)
  • Adam of Tynedale, born 1117 – (unknown date)
  • Robert Untried de Tynedale, born 1120 – (unknown date)
  • Hextilda of Tynedale, 1122 – 1182

Through Hextilda’s marriage, we will meet the very powerful Comyn family of medieval Scotland. Although Hextilda was not a ruler, in this line she is the first iconic and significant Grandmother we have found. This echos our premise from the introduction, that “sometimes Our Ancestral Grandmothers are more interesting than our Ancestral Grandfathers”. (5)

All Things in Comyn: The Origins of the Clan Comyn in England and Scotland

The Comyn surname is of Norman origin. It is either a place-name possibly derived from Comines, near Lille, in France, or possibly derived from Bosc-Bénard-Commin, near Rouen in the Duchy of Normandy.

This clan is believed to descend from Robert de Comyn, (or Comines, or Comminges), a companion of William the Conqueror who accompanied him in his conquest of England in the year 1066. Shortly after his participation in the Battle of Hastings, Robert was made Earl of Northumberland, and when David I came to Scotland to claim his throne, Richard de Comyn, the grandson of Robert, was among the Norman knights that followed him.

This grandson, Richard de Comyn, quickly gained land and influence in Scotland through an advantageous marriage to the granddaughter of the former Scottish King Donald III, Hextilda of Tynedale. She was a Princess of Scotland.

The Purple Thistle, the floral symbol of Scotland.
(Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com).

Hextilda of Tynedale Countess of Atholl, born 1122, Tindale, Northumberland, England – died 1182, Moulin, Perthshire. She married Richard de Comyn, born 1115 in Northalteron, Morayshire – died 1179, Altyre, Morayshire. The Justiciar of Lothian in 1145, Badenoch, Invernesshire, Scotland. The Justiciars of Lothian were responsible for the administration of royal justice in the province of Lothian. They had at least seven children:

  • Idonea de Comyn, born 1148 – (unknown date)
  • Odinel (Odo) de Commi, born 1150 – (unknown date)
  • John de Comyn, 1146 – 1152/1159
  • Christien, born 1160 – (unknown date)
  • Simon, born 1161 – (unknown date)
  • William Comyn, Earl of Buchan, Lord of Badenoch, born 1163 – died 1233
  • Ada, born – (unknown dates)

The Clan Comyn was very successful for centuries in Scotland, and it has been confusing to keep the names, titles, descendants, etc., properly sorted and noted for this blog chapter. This account from Electric Scotland has great merit for providing a credible record of their times. We cover their history up until the time of Elyanor Comyn and Richard Gower. (6)

The Clan Comyn

THERE WAS NO GREATER NAME in Scotland towards the end of the thirteenth century, than that of Comyn. With their headquarters in Badenoch the chiefs and gentlemen of the clan owned broad lands in nearly every part of Scotland, and the history of the time is full of their deeds and the evidences of their influence.

Writers who seek to derive this clan from a Celtic source cite the existence of two abbots of lona of the name who held office in the years 597 and 657 respectively. The latter of these was known as Comyn the Fair, and from one or another of them the name of Fort Augustus, “Ku Chuimein,” was probably derived. Another origin of the family is recounted by Wyntoun in his Cronykil of Scotland. According to this writer, there was at the court of Malcolm III, a young foreigner. His occupation was that of Door-ward or usher of the royal apartment, but, to begin with, he knew only two words of the Scottish language, “Cum in,” and accordingly became known by that name.

He married the only daughter of the king’s half-brother Donald, and his descendants therefore represented the legitimate line of the old Celtic kings of Scotland, as against the illegitimate line descending from Malcolm III. The Comyns themselves claim descent from Robert de Comyn, Earl of Northumberland, who fell along with Malcolm III, at the battle of Alnwick in 1093. That Robert de Comyn, again, claimed descent, through the Norman Counts de Comyn, from no less a personage than Charlemagne. The probability appears to be that a scion of the house of Northumberland came north in the days of Malcolm III, and obtained lands in the county of Roxburgh, where one ‘of the name’ is found settled in the reign of Malcolm’s son, David I.

Map of the erritories of Regional Rulers and other Lordships in Medieval Scotland, c. 1230.
Image courtesy of wikipedia.com.

A few years later, in the reign of Alexander III, there were in Scotland, according to the historian Fordun, three powerful Earls: Buchan, Menteith, and Atholl, and no fewer than thirty-two knights of the name of Comyn. There was also Comyn, Lord of Strathbogie. As Lords of Badenoch they owned the formidable stronghold of Lochindorb in that district, and a score of castles throughout the country besides. Stories of their deeds and achievements well nigh fill the annals of the north of that time.

In the boyhood of Alexander III, when Henry III of England was doing his best by fraud and force to bring Scotland under his power — it was Walter Comyn, Earl of Menteith, who stood out as the most patriotic of all the Scottish nobles to resist the attempts of the English king.

When Henry, at the marriage of his daughter to the boy-king of Scots, suggested that the latter should render fealty for the kingdom of Scotland, it was probably Walter Comyn who put the answer into Alexander’s mouth “That he had come into England upon a joyful and pacific errand, and would not treat upon so arduous a question without the advice of the Estates of his realm.” And when Henry marched towards the Scottish Border at the head of an army, it was Walter Comyn who collected a Scottish host, and made the English king suddenly modify his designs. Alas! at the very moment when he seemed to have achieved his purpose, when the English faction had been driven out, and Alexander and the Comyns, with the queen-mother, the famous Marie de Couci, had established a powerful government in Scotland, the Earl of Menteith suddenly died.

William Comyn, Earl of Buchan, Lord of Badenoch grave marker.
Image courtesy of findagrave.com.

William Comyn, Earl of Buchan, Lord of Badenoch
William Comyn was Lord of Badenoch and Earl of Buchan. He was born 1163, in Altyre, Moray – died 1233 in Buchan, Moray, where he is buried in Deer Abbey.

William made his fortune in the service of King William I of Scotland fighting  rebellions in the north. William witnessed no fewer than 88 charters of the king. and he was sheriff of Forfar (1195–1211). Between 1199 and 1200, he was sent to England to discuss important matters on King William’s behalf with the new king, John.

William was appointed to the prestigious office of Justiciar of Scotia, the most senior royal office in the kingdom, in 1205. Between 1211 and 1212, William, as Warden of Moray (or Guardian of Moray) fought against the insurgency of Gofraid mac Domnaill (of the Meic Uilleim family), whom William beheaded in Kincardine in 1213. Upon finally destroying the Meic Uilleim(s) in 1229, he was given the Lordship of Badenoch and the lands it controlled.

Deer Abbey is a Cistercian monastery in Buchan, Scotland founded by William Comyn, Earl of Buchan in 1219; where he is buried. Image courtesy of wikipedia.com.

William Comyn married two times. His first wife Sarah Fitzhugh (aka Sarah filia Roberti) born 1155/1160 – died 1204, married 1193. (Her birth, death, and marriage are unknown locations). Their children are:

  • Walter, Lord of Badenoch, born 1190 – died circa 1258,
    married Isabella, Countess of Menteith
  • Richard, Lord of Badenoch, born 1194-died 1249,
    married Eve Amabilia de Galloway
  • Jardine Comyn, Lord of Inverallochy, born 1190 (or before) – died (unknown location)
  • Johanna (aka Jean), born 1198 – died 1274,
    married 1220, Uilleam I, Earl of Ross
  • John Comyn, Earl of Angus, born – died (unknown dates),
    married Matilda, Countess of Angus (aka. Maud)
  • David Comyn, Lord of Kilbride, born (unknown date) – died 1247,
    married Isabel de Valoigne

William’s second wife and family are:
Marjory (aka. Margaret), Countess of Buchan (aka Margaret Colhan of Buchan), born circa 1190/1194 – died 1244 (unknown locations). They married circa 1209/1212 in (unknown location).

  • Idonea (a.k.a Idoine), born circa 1215/1221, (unknown locations)
    married 1237, Gilbert de Haya of Erroll
  • Alexander, Earl of Buchan, born 1217 – died 1290, (unknown locations)
    married, Elizabetha de Quincy
  • William, born 1217 – died (unknown date)
  • Margaret, born 1215 – died (unknown date),
    married Sir John de Keith, Marischal of Scotland
  • Fergus, Lord of Gorgyn, born 1219– died 1260,
    married 1249 to (unknown wife)
  • Elizabeth, born 1223 – died 1267, (unknown locations)
    married Uilleam, Earl of Mar
  • Agnes, born 1225 (unknown location) – died (unknown date),
    married 1262, Sir Philip de Meldrum, Justiciar of Scotia
The Purple Thistle, the floral symbol of Scotland.
(Image courtesy of Etsy.com).


Richard Comyn, Lord of Badenoch, the eldest son of William Comyn and Sarah Fitzhugh, is unique. There is little information about his life which has yet come to light. He appears to have continued the tradition of managing his family’s extensive landholdings and estates in England and South Scotland. When his brother Walter died in 1258, he was also bestowed the title Earl of Menteith.

He was born 1194, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland – died 1249, in the same location, and is buried in Kelso Abbey. He married Eve Amabilia de Galloway, born 1215, Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland – died 1280, (unknown locations). They had three sons:

  • Sir John I, The Red, Comyn, Lord of Badenoch
  • William Comyn, born 1227 – died 1258
  • Richard Comyn, born (unknown date) – died 1264
Comyn Family Crest


Sir John Comyn I Lord of Badenoch, was a land Baron known as Rufus and the Red Comyn, a nickname more commonly applied to his grandson, John Comyn III. He was born 1215 – died 1274, (unknown locations).

The Comyn family were important and powerful in Scotland when Alexander III of Scotland was a minor, and John was one of those with court influence. He was an ambassador from Alexander II of Scotland to Louis IX of France in 1246. On the death of his uncle Walter Comyn in 1258, he received all of Walter’s titles (as the new Lord of Badenoch) and estates, and became the head of his family. He was appointed justiciary of Galloway in March 1258 – 1259. John Comyn I was entrusted by Alexander III of Scotland with the defence of Scotland’s northern territories from invasion by the Vikings and the Danes.

His first wife was called Eve Stewart, born 1224 – died (unknown date);
married 1240 (unknown location). They had seven children:

  • John of Badenoch, who succeeded his father
  • William of Kirkintilloch, born 1240 – died (unknown date);
    married Isabella Russell, daughter of John Russell and Isabella, Countess of Menteith
  • Alexander, married Eva, widow of Alexander Murray.
  • Marian, married Richard Siward
  • a daughter, married Geoffrey Moubray
  • a daughter, married Alexander of Argyll
  • a daughter, married Sir Andrew Moray

His second wife was Lady Alice de Roos (possibly Lindsay), born (unknown date) – died April 29, 1286; married circa 1260. They had four children:

  • John “le jeon” born 1260 – died (possibly) 1279 
  • Robert, married Margaret Comyn (a cousin), daughter of William Comyn of Lochaber
  • a daughter, Alice
  • an unknown daughter, married Sir William Galbraith, 4th Chief of that Ilk, Lord of Kyncaith

John “le jean” Comyn II of Badenoch, nicknamed the Black Comyn, was a Scottish nobleman; a Guardian of Scotland. He was born 1215 (unknown location) – died 1302, Inverness, Scotland.

In 1284, he joined with other Scottish noblemen who acknowledged Margaret of Norway as the heir of King Alexander. John Comyn is credited with the building of several large castles or castle houses in and around Inverness. Parts of Mortlach (Balvenie Castle) and Inverlochy Castle. As his father before him, he was entrusted by Alexander III of Scotland with the defence of Scotland’s northern territories from invasion by the Vikings and the Danes.

From Electric Scotland [again]: On the death of the Maid of Norway, the infant queen of Scotland, in the year 1290, John Comyn, Lord of Badenoch, known popularly as the Black Comyn, was one of the twelve claimants to the Scottish throne, and the tradition of the marriage of the young Comyn of Malcolm III’s time with the daughter of Donald, King Duncan’s legitimate son, is proved to be authentic by the fact that the Lord of Badenoch’s claim to the throne was based upon that descent. He was among the knights who supported King John Baliol against Edward I’s invasion in 1297, but was one of those forced to surrender in the castle of Dunbar after the defeat of the Scots at that place.

The ruins of Inverlochy Castle, painted by Horatio McCulloch in 1857.
(Image courtesy of wikipedia.com).

Comyn married Eleanor (Alianora) de Balliol, born 1245 (unknown location) – died 1302 in Badenoch, Inverness, Scotland, at his castle of Lochindorb. She was the daughter of John I de Balliol of Barnard Castle, sister of King John of Scotland.

They were the parents of at least one son: John Comyn III of Badenoch.

A recovered badge that adorned the horse of Sir John Comyn, the Lord of Badenoch, 
​found in a boggy field in Kinross. Image courtesy of The Jordan Family.

John Comyn III of Badenoch, nicknamed the Red, was born 1274 (unknown location) – died February 10, 1306, at Greyfriars Church, Dumfries.

He was a leading Scottish baron and magnate (a man of higher nobility) who played an important role in the First War of Scottish Independence. He served as Guardian of Scotland after the forced [1296] abdication of his uncle, King John Balliol (reigned 1292–1296), and for a time commanded the defence of Scotland against English attacks. At this time there were 12 or 13 contenders for the throne of Scotland through different birth lines: John Comyn III and Robert The Bruce among them. There was much tension in the air…

John Comyn III of Badenoch, married Lady Joan de Valence of Pembroke, born 1230 – died after September 20, 1307, (locations unknown) daughter of William de Valence, 1st Earl of Pembroke, who was the half-brother to Henry III of England, and uncle of Edward I of England.

Robert The Bruce stabs John Comyn III to death before the high altar of the Greyfriars Church in Dumfries.

Bruce and Comyn met to discuss their differences on February 10, 1306 at the Church of the Grey Friars in Dumfries, leaving their swords outside the church. An argument between the pair ensued and Bruce drew his dagger in anger and stabbed Comyn in front of the high altar of the church. He then fled the church, telling his followers outside what had occurred. Sir Roger Kirkpatrick went back inside and finished off the seriously wounded Comyn, and also slew his uncle, Sir Robert Comyn, who tried to save John. A letter from the English court to the Pope stated – 

‘Bruce rose against King Edward as a traitor and murdered Sir John Comyn, Lord of Badenoch, in the church of the Friars Minor in the town of Dumfries, at the high altar, because John would not assent to the treason which Bruce planned… to resume war.. and make himself king of Scotland.’ 

It is unlikely that Bruce had gone to the meeting with the intention of murdering Comyn in a church. However, the deed was done and there was no going back. He proceeded to attack the strongholds of the Comyns in Southern Scotland. The Bruce confessed his crime to his supporter, Robert Wishart, Bishop of Glasgow, and received absolution, on condition that as King, he would be respectful of the church, he was, nonetheless, later excommunicated by the Pope for the act. 

On March 25, 1306, Robert the Bruce, was crowned Robert I, King of Scots at Scone. John (III) the Red Comyn’s only son, died at the Battle of Bannockburn, while fighting on the English side. After the Battle of Bannockburn, the estates of the Scottish Clan Comyn were distributed to other families. (7)

Let’s Learn About The Irish Comyns

Parallel to the busy marriages, alliances, fighting, murdering, etc., that was going on with the Comyn families in England and Scotland, it seems that there is another aspect to this family which needs to be explained. There were also Comyn(s) living in Ireland.

From the journal article, The Early Irish Comyn’s, the author wrote: “There is little reason to doubt that the ancestors of the various Anglo-Irish families of Comyn (Cumin) in Ireland came to this country in the wake of John Comyn, the first Anglo-Norman archbishop of Dublin. John Comyn became archbishop in 1182 and died in 1212. No Comyn’s are known in Ireland before this time.”

He wrote further: “There is little doubt that a family contemporary with him, that of Comyn of Newbold Comyn, Warwickshire, Walcott, Wiltshire and Kinsaley, County Dublin* was closely related to him. It has been suggested that his family was ultimately the same as the great Scottish house of that name.”

Swords Castle was built for the Archbishops of Dublin in the 12th century.
(Image courtesy of wikipedia.com).

We researched the Irish branch of the Comyn family and the history of Newbold Comyn, because we have come across files on several genealogy websites which purport to record that Lady Elyanor Comyn’s father was named Newbold Comyn. When studying these files, there is no documentation whatsoever to support this viewpoint. Additionally, this error keeps being repeated again-and-again by other would be tree-makers.

David Comyn, the author of Notes On The Comyn Pedigree, wrote: *“These land holdings came into the Comyn family through the marriage of Elias Comyn to the heiress Johanna, the heiress of Newbolt and Walcott in Warwickshire. In about 1293 he [Elias or Helias] was granted the lands of Kinsale by the Abbot of The Holy Trinity, Dublin to Elias Comyn circa 1281.” It seems however, the Elias’s older brother John was the first trustee of these holdings. We found the record of an agreement from 1246 – 1247, between John Comyn and Geoffrey de Semele, allowing the Comyn’s “the right to fish in the River Leam” at Newbold Comyn.

Our research has determined that Newbold Comyn, on the Eastern edge of Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England, has never been a person’s name. It is the location of a very old estate. From the Leamington History Group: “Newbold Comyn, in [the] Domesday [Book] is recorded as having 5 Hides of land (1 Hide is generally thought to be sufficient land to support 1 family). Newbold was divided between two landlords: 3 Hides were held by Malmesbury Abbey, the gift of the former owner Wulfwine, to enable him to retire to the Abbey as a monk. The remaining 2 were held by the Count of Meulan, a major landowner in Warwickshire.” (8)

The Domesday Book, 1085
Land of Malmesbury (St Mary), abbey of.., Warwickshire folio 3, page 3.
Newbold [Comyn], 25 households
The Domesday Book, 1085
Land of Count of Meulan, Warwickshire folio 6, page 6.
Newbold [Comyn], 25 households

Kith, Kin, and Clan

Your kith are the people you know very well, but who aren’t related to you. If you’re asking all of your best friends over for dinner, you can say that you’re inviting your kith. Your kin are “family” or “relatives”. Call them what you will, but you’re stuck with those people related to you by blood or marriage. It is a bit old-fashioned now, but when when someone refers to their kith and kin, they mean their friends and family. 

clan is an extended family. Your clan might include your parents and siblings, but also your cousins, and second cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents. Families that are related to each other, whether through marriage or as distant cousins, are members of the same clan. If you get together with a big family group every summer, you can say [that] you vacation with your clan. In Scotland, a person’s clan has a specific name, like “Clan Comyn.” The word comes from the Gaelic clann, “family” or “offspring,” with the Latin root planta, “offshoot.”

Truthfully, we have not been able to determine exactly which specific branch of the Clan Comyn, Lady Elyanor Comyn emerged from. Her family represented lines of people from Flanders, Scotland, England, and Ireland — areas which came to be very important for our family history.

Sadly, the names of many, many daughters were not recorded and in a sense, they become submerged by recorded history. What we do know about our 20x Great-Grandmother is that she married Richard Gower. From their union, the Gore family line from which we descend, came to be. Her life provides the foundational link that connects our family across England in The Gore Line, A Narrative — 2. (9)

Following are the footnotes for the Primary Source Materials,
Notes, and Observations

Preface

What Does Take Up the Mantle Mean?
https://writingexplained.org/idiom-dictionary/take-up-the-mantle

(1) — one record

Sometimes Our Ancestral Grandmothers Are More Interesting
Than Our Ancestral Grandfathers

(2) — three records

New Scuentist
Society
The origins of sexism: How men came to rule 12,000 years ago
by Anil Ananthaswamy and Kate Douglas
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23831740-400-the-origins-of-sexism-how-men-came-to-rule-12000-years-ago/

Ranker
14 Facts About The Picts, A Scottish Tribe That Gave The Roman Empire Hell,
under the subhead: They Might’ve Chosen Royalty Through Female Bloodlines
by Carly Silver
https://www.ranker.com/list/ancient-pict-facts/carly-silver

Scots language
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scots_language

The Kingdom of The Picts… then The Kingdom of Albathen Scotland

(3) — twenty three records

List of Scottish monarchs
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Scottish_monarchs

Fandom: Merlin’s Tales of Britannia Wiki
Clothing and fashion,
under the subhead: Clothing
https://merlins-tales-of-britannia.fandom.com/wiki/Clothing_and_fashion

Alpín mac Echdach
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alp%C3%ADn_mac_Echdach

Kenneth MacAlpin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_MacAlpin
and
Britroyals
King Kenneth MacAlpin
https://britroyals.com/scots.asp?id=kenneth1
Note: For his portrait.

Constantine I of Scotland
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q317457#/media/File:Constantine_I_of_Scotland_(Holyrood).jpg
and
National Galleries of Scotland
Constantine I of Scotland
https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/104719/constantine-i-d-879-king-alba
Note: For his portrait.

Causantín mac Cináeda
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causant%C3%ADn_mac_Cináeda
and
National Galleries of Scotland
Donald II Legendary King of Scotland
https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/104734/donald-ii-legendary-king-scotland
Note: For his portrait.

Family History of Philip Wilson
Donald KING OF SCOTLAND (c. 860-900)
Donald II, King of the Picts of Alba
https://www.whobegatwhom.co.uk/ind1996.html
Note: For his portrait.

Monarchy of Britain Wiki
Malcolm I, King of Scotland
https://monarchy-of-britain.fandom.com/wiki/Malcolm_I,King_of_Scotland?file=Malcolm_I_of_Scotland%2528Holyrood%2529.jpg
and
Britannica.com
Malcolm I of Scotland
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Malcolm-I

Scotclans
Kenneth II (971-995)
https://www.scotclans.com/pages/kenneth-ii-971-995

Kenneth II of Scotland
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_II_of_Scotland

Scotclans
Malcolm II (1005-1034)
https://www.scotclans.com/pages/malcolm-ii-1005-1034

Malcolm II of Scotland
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_II_of_Scotland

Genealogy Online
Family tree Cromer/Russell/Buck/Pratt » Dunegal (Duncan) Eryvine (988-1040)
https://www.genealogieonline.nl/en/family-tree-cromer-russell-buck-pratt/P23383.php

Family History of Philip Wilson
Bethoc ( – )
https://www.whobegatwhom.co.uk/ind1991.html
Note: For the portrait image of Bethoc (Beatrix) of Scotland.

Bethóc
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethóc
and
Genealogy Online
Bethoc (Beatrice) Macalpine, Princess of Scotland
https://www.genealogieonline.nl/en/family-tree-cromer-russell-buck-pratt/P23371.php

Abbot Crinan of Dunkeld
http://netanelmy.com/saints-and-exemplars/br36kw39ac1qagidmytj1aqm3ni72r
Note: For the portrait image of Abbot Crinan of Dunkeld.

Crínán of Dunkeld
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cr%C3%ADnán_of_Dunkeld
and
Genealogy Online
Crinan “The Thane” Grimus of Dunkeld
https://www.genealogieonline.nl/en/family-tree-cromer-russell-buck-pratt/P23371.php

Britroyals
King Duncan of Scotland
https://britroyals.com/scots.asp?id=duncan1
Note: For his portrait.

Duncan I of Scotland
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncan_I_of_Scotland
and
Genealogy Online
Duncan I “The Gracious” King of Scotland
https://www.genealogieonline.nl/en/family-tree-cromer-russell-buck-pratt/P23284.php
and Duncan of Scotland I
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/47708080/person/382110416930/facts

Suthen Sibylla of Northumbria
https://www.geni.com/people/Suthen-Sibylla-of-Northumbria/6000000000424732452

Let’s Talk About Shakespeare for a Moment

(4) — four records

IPL
Shakespeare’s Macbeth-Changes In The Name Of History:
An Exploration Into The Historical Characters of Shakespeare’s Macbeth

https://www.ipl.org/essay/Historical-Events-In-Macbeth-FJE9G8ERU

Macbeth
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macbeth

Quora
Why did Shakespeare pick a real Scottish King to be the protagonist of his play Macbeth and then not use his actual history?
https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Shakespeare-pick-a-real-Scottish-King-to-be-the-protagonist-of-his-play-Macbeth-and-then-not-use-his-actual-history

Gunpowder Plot
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpowder_Plot

Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses, Lords and Ladies

(5) — five records

Donald III of Scotland
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_III_of_Scotland
and
Genealogy Online
Donald III “The White of Fair” King of Scotland
https://www.genealogieonline.nl/en/family-tree-cromer-russell-buck-pratt/P23318.php

Tyndall
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyndall#William_Tyndale

Hextilda fitz Andlaw of Perth
https://ancestors.familysearch.org/G8N5-3RG/hextilda-fitz-andlaw-of-perth-1040-1100

Bethoc Ingen Domnaill Bain
https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/GDBS-1JV/bethoc-ingen-domnaill-bain-1087-1160

Waltheof, Earl of Northumbria
https://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/normans_13.html
Note: “Uchtred of Tynedale married Bethoc…” within text 1050 – 31 May 1076 at (3)

All Things in Comyn: The Origins of the Clan Comyn in England and Scotland

(6) — seven records

Clan Cumming
http://www.1066.co.nz/Mosaic%20DVD/whoswho/text/Clan_Cumming[1].htm

Clan Cumming
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Clan_Cumming

Genealogy Online
Hextilda of Tynedale, Countess of Atholl
https://www.genealogieonline.nl/en/family-tree-cromer-russell-buck-pratt/P17126.php
and
Hextilda of Tynedale
https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/9MT8-HNV/hextilda-of-tynedale-1122-1182
Note: The references for their children: confuse the possible children from her first marriage to Richard de Comyn, and her second marriage to Máel Coluim, Earl of Atholl.

Peerage of Scotland
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peerage_of_Scotland

Richard Comyn
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Comyn
Note: The file references for their children are credible
and
Genealogy Online
Richard de Comyn, Justiciar of Lothian, Lord of Tyndale…
https://www.genealogieonline.nl/en/family-tree-cromer-russell-buck-pratt/P17125.php

The Clan Comyn

(7) — twenty records

Clan Comyn, Cumming
https://electricscotland.com/webclans/atoc/cumming2.html
File:Scotland grevskap.png

forgottenbooks.com/en/download/TheHighlandClansofScotland_10863025.pdf,
or:
TheHighlandClansofScotland_10863025-2.pdf
Book pages: 59-66, Digital Pages: 104-115/384

William Comyn, Lord of Badenoch
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Comyn,_Lord_of_Badenoch
and
Genealogy Online
Sarah Fitzhugh…
https://www.genealogieonline.nl/en/family-tree-cromer-russell-buck-pratt/P15279.php
and
William Comyn
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/98653470/william-comyn

Deer Abbey
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deer_Abbey

The Hennessee Family Genealogy Pages
Richard Comyn, of Badenoch
http://www.thehennesseefamily.com/getperson.php?personID=I45621&tree=Hennessee
and
Lord of Badenoch Richard Comyn
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/226086011/richard-comyn
and
Eve Amabilia de Galloway Comyn
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/227331245/eve-amabilia-comyn

SCOTCLANS, Clan Cumming Crest & Coats of Arms
https://www.scotclans.com/blogs/clans-c2/clan-cumming-crest-coats-of-arms

John Comyn
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Comyn-32
and
Lord of Badenoch John “The Red” Comyn I
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/226086500/john-comyn
and
Lady Alice de Ros (second wife)
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106529821/alice-de-ros

John Comyn II of Badenoch
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Comyn_II_of_Badenoch
and
Alianora Balliol
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Balliol-3
and
https://www.geni.com/people/Alianora-de-Baliol/6000000000337440467

Scots Connection
Cumming Clan Crest
https://www.scotsconnection.com/clan_crests/cumming.htm
Note: For the image of the crest.

An American Quilt
https://www.anamericanquilt.com/red-comyn.html
Note: For the image of the John The Red Comyn badge (The Jordan Family).

John Comyn the Red, Lord of Badenoch
John Comyn [III] the Red, Lord of Badenoch
https://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/bruce_7.html

Let’s Learn About The Irish Comyns

(8) — eight records

JSTOR
The Early Irish Comyns
E. St. John Brooks
The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland
Vol. 86, No. 2 (1956), pp. 170-186 (17 pages)
https://www.jstor.org/stable/25509253

John Comyn (bishop)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Comyn_(bishop)

Swords Castle [in 1792]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swords_Castle#/media/File:Swords_Castle_(Co._Dublin).jpg

Open Domesday
Newbold [Comyn]
https://opendomesday.org/place/SP3365/newbold-comyn/

Leamington History Group
Newbold Comyn
https://leamingtonhistory.co.uk/newbold-comyn/

Newbold Comyn
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbold_Comyn

Notes on the Comyn pedigree
http://www.limerickcity.ie/media/nmas%2003%2001,%2002%20Notes%20on%20the%20Comyn%20pedigree.%20By%20David%20Comyn.pdf

Warwickshire County Record Office
Heritage and Culture Warwickshire
Warwickshire’s Past Unlocked
02123 – WILLES FAMILY OF NEWBOLD COMYN – 12th century-20th century
…fishing rights…
https://archivesunlocked.warwickshire.gov.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=02123%2f2%2f1%2f21%2f5%2f1&pos=165

Mutual Art
John Rawson Walker 1855 – Newbold Comyn, 19th century
https://www.mutualart.com/Artwork/John-Rawson-Walker-1855—Newbold-Comyn/0603E2489773D39C9ED437D7963E949E

Kith, Kin, and Clan

(9) — three records

Definitions from vocabulary.com:
kith
https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/kith
kin
https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/kin
clan
https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/clan

The McMahon / McCall Lines, A Narrative — One

This is Chapter One of two, being the very first of our many family lines which we have researched over the last few years. Some of our ancestral lines have enough complete history that we are able to travel very far back in time, and others, we can only link back for a couple of centuries due to the historical circumstances. The McMahon and McCall lines are of the latter category, as you will see…

Ireland — A Country in Transition

The story of the McMahon and the McGuire families requires a brief explanation about the times and places within which they lived. Their history takes place during the past 225 years, primarily in Ireland, and Scotland, and then eventually the United States.

Ireland around the year 1800 was already a country in transition, evolving from a strictly agricultural society, to one where the impact of the Industrial Revolution was altering the landscape of life. Watt’s invention of the steam engine in 1786 was beginning to have an influence on where railroads were built, what materials factories eventually came to manufacture, and where people lived.

A Map of Ireland, by William Faden, 1798.
(Image courtesy of David Rumsey Historical Map Collection).

Most people started to work at a very young age, and what was important in their lives was their labor and their productivity. The very idea of having an education must have seemed like a luxury to them. We see this in the documents that survive from the time period, where our ancestors had to sign their names using an X. Hence, they had to rely on others (witnesses and administrators) to write for them. Sometimes this resulted in errors in the spelling of family names, errors in relying on memory for place names, etc. Not being able to read, nor write, these individuals had to trust that what was recorded was accurate. In actuality, they truly couldn’t verify much. The spelling of names for the same person could vary over time. For example: The Mc prefix on the surname was used to designate the relationship as “son of…” Sometimes this prefix was dropped, sometimes it was altered to M’ or Mac. The same person at different times of their life could be Mahon, M’Mahon, or Macmahon; McGuire could be Maguire, M’Guire, or McGuire.

Our Irish ancestors were Roman Catholic, and by 1800 were emerging from two centuries of oppression by other political and religious movements.

In the 1920’s, a fire In Dublin from the Irish Civil War destroyed almost all of the previous century’s records which were held at the Public Record Office of Dublin’s Four Court complex.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Courts

Initially, census records in Ireland were haphazard, to nonexistent. The first full census was conducted in 1821 and today only fragments of it exist. In the 1920’s, a fire In Dublin from the Irish Civil War destroyed almost all of the previous century’s records which were held at the Public Record Office of Dublin’s Four Court complex. Very, very few records survived and are generally referred to as census fragments. However, the church parishes had kept marriage and baptismal records — many of those records survived. Forenames and family names were common and tended to be repeated in families over time. This makes it difficult to discern if particular records belong to our ancestors.

Ireland’s history in the 19th century is known for The Great Famine (or The Great Hunger), which devastated Ireland from 1845 to 1852. The population of Ireland greatly declined through disease and emigration and the generational effects from this period lasted much longer than those few years. The accompanying article on The Potato Famine is a good overview of the conditions the Irish lived through.

The Irish Famine: Scene at the Gate of the Work-House
 by Thomas Horsfall of the English School.

This history greatly affected our Irish ancestors, and by fate, our family history. In the case of the McMahon and McGuire families, some of them moved to Scotland seeking work, to build their families, and our futures. (1)

The McMahons and The McKinzies

The research of our McMahon roots via Mary Jane McMahon/McCall/Davin begins with her father Patrick McMahon, born and baptized in Dublin, Ireland.

We first encounter our ancestor Patrick McMahon in the register for his baptism in the Parish Church of Finglas and St. Margaret’s in Dublin, Ireland, in 1834. He was the youngest of four sons from the marriage of Philip Mahon/McMahon and Jane McKenzie. His baptism, as well as the baptisms of his brothers, had been dutifully recorded in the church record “Parish of Finglas and St. Margaret’s Register of Baptisms and Marriages 1821—1841”.

Image from Fingal And Its Churches by Robert Walsh was published in 1888. Fingal is an area of north Dublin that extends from the River Tolka in the south to the River Devlin in the north.

For these ancestors we have baptism dates, but not birth dates. For Roman Catholics, the baptism of a child was considered essential due to the high infant mortality rate of those times. This meant that the baby was baptized as soon as this could be accomplished with the church. Outside of a religious context, Ireland did not require the civil registration of a child’s birth until 1864.

William Mahon was the first born son in December 1825, followed by John Mahon in October 1828, then Philip Mahon (likely) in December 1830 since his baptism date is January 2, 1831.

Patrick Mahon/McMahon was the last born son, in July 1834, (we are descended from Patrick). His baptism date was August 3, 1834. If Philip and Jane had other children, it is probable that the births would also have been recorded in the Finglas Parish Register. No other records have been identified.

Inset details from A Map of Ireland, by William Faden, 1798.
(Image courtesy of David Rumsey Historical Map Collection).

We don’t know how or when Philip McMahon and Jane McKenzie met, but it’s clear that they were married sometime between the May 1821 Irish census, and the end of December 1825 when their first son William was baptized. (We are still searching for their actual marriage record.) We found that Jane McKenzie’s surname is frequently misspelled on the baptismal records. If they were not married, a proxy for each person would have had to stand-in for them and the parish record would reflect that. We are confident that these ancestors are the parents because of the consistent use of the same parish church for baptisms and importantly, Jane’s surname (McKinzie) is found on Philip and Patrick McMahon’s respective wedding certificates.

A Mackenzie clansmen.
(Image courtesy of highland titles.com).

Patrick McMahon’s mother Jane McKenzie was born in Ballinacargy, Drung & Larah Parish, County Cavan, Ireland, on December 29, 1800, the daughter of Alexander McKinzie and Mary Goggins. We have no evidence of her beginnings, but we did find a clue about her in a census twenty years after her birth.

Through a surviving 1821 Census fragment, we know that Jane was living in County Cavan, at the home of her grandmother Elizabeth Goggins. Also living in the home is her mother Mary McKinzie. Both Elizabeth Goggins and Mary McKenzie were identified as widows. Jane is identified as a granddaughter to Elizabeth Goggins. All of them list their occupation as spinners. The growing of flax fibers and the spinning of those fibers into linen thread, was a strong industry in the north of Ireland.

A young Irish woman working at a spinning wheel.
Engraving by Francis Holl after F.W. Topham, via Wikimedia Commons.

Jane’s mother, Mary (Goggins) McKinzie was the first born in a family of four children, with her siblings being brothers. Their names were John, William, and David Goggins. We know much about the Goggins family, but very little about Mary’s actual life. It appears that she was part of a large extended family, through her brother John’s marriage, but the evidence is circumstantial. 

It’s interesting to note that it was traditional to name your children after other family members such as grandparents, parents, aunts or uncles. It’s one of the biggest challenges in genealogical research to keep all of those overlapping names sorted out! So perhaps Jane’s inspiration for naming her two oldest sons with Patrick Mahon was from her maternal uncles’ names William and John.

The MacMahon Coat of Arms,
(Image courtesy of wikipedia.org).

We think that Patrick’s father Philip Mahon/McMahon, was born somewhere between 1799 and 1805. We have not been able to trace ancestors on this line further back than Philip Mahon/McMahon due to the fact that names like his were very, very common in Ireland. We have several different couples who could have been his parents, but the evidence is not concrete enough at this time to publish the names. We are still researching his origins.

We learned that Irish and English history had an impact on how Irish family names were recorded. Philip McMahon’s forename Mahon in the Finglas Parish baptismal records for his sons, is better understood by reviewing this article from The Irish Times. We don’t know exactly why his name is recorded as Mahon for those records. We know that in that era, some people were starting to restore prefixes to their family names which had been dropped in earlier times. Certainly, surviving records indicate that his sons returned to using the full family name of McMahon. (2)

The Maguires

Patrick and Anne Maguire’s daughters were born in the midst of the Great Famine years in Ireland. The oldest daughter, Mary Francis Maguire was likely born in May 1845 and baptized on June 1 that same year. Our ancestor, Elizabeth Margaret Maguire was born in June 1846 and baptized on July 3. The youngest sister, Margaret Ann Maguire was baptized on November 22, 1847.

The Maguire Coat of Arms,
(Image courtesy of COADB.com).

We know nothing about Elizabeth Maguire’s Irish childhood, nor how long she lived in Ireland.  Across the Irish Sea, Scotland did not suffer the same deprivations and impacts that Ireland had endured during The Famine. Ultimately, many Irish people emigrated to Scotland in search of work and a better life.

We believe that the Maguire/McGuire branch of the family was living in Dublin, Ireland. We noticed on the marriage document that both Patrick and Anne have the same surname Maguire. Was this a coincidence, or were they perhaps cousins? Often second or third cousins married each other. This location, The St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral in Dublin City, is the same location where their three daughters were baptized. (3)

Their Emigration to Scotland

We know that both Patrick McMahon and Elizabeth Maguire are in Scotland by 1860, because they are living in the village of Doune, and are married in on October 1, 1860 in nearby Stirling, Scotland.

Doune Castle in an 1803 engraving in the publication Scotia Depicta.
In Sir Walter Scott’s first novel, Waverly (1814), the protagonist Edward Waverley
is brought to Doune Castle by the Jacobites.

There are several things to note about their marriage certificate. Both Patrick and Elizabeth lacked education and could not sign their names, so instead they made an X. Witnesses were required to vouch for the signee, so we see other names like Michael McGuire, Richard McGuire, and Edward Maguire. We do not know if these people were relatives, but it’s probable. 

1860 Marriage certificate for Patrick McMahon and Elizabeth McGuire, from
http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk.

It’s important to note another observation we have about Elizabeth Maguire’s mother, Anne Maguire. Her name is recorded as Nancy C______ on the marriage document. She is also the only one of the four parents, who was not listed as being “dead” by the time of the October 1860 marriage. In that era, a woman with the name of Anne, is often called Nancy. The name Nancy was originally a diminutive form of Anne or Ann.

We believe that she remarried, hence her surname changed to C______, and she was known as Nancy C______. Due to the obscure penmanship on that 1860 marriage document, we have not been able to decipher the exact spelling of Anne Maguire/Nancy C______’s (new) surname. We did see that her “maiden name Maguire” is written just below her new surname. On Elizabeth’s 1911 death certificate, her mother’s maiden name is written as Kerns. We believe that this is more likely a phonetic spelling for her re-married surname.

For those of us living in current times, it seems strange that Patrick and Elizabeth had difficulties in keeping track of their actual ages. On the marriage register, even though he was 26 when he married Elizabeth, Patrick stated that he was 25. As for Elizabeth, she gave her age as 19 when she was actually only 14. Throughout her life, Elizabeth (and sometimes her daughter Ann Elizabeth) would state ages and locations that were not correct. It’s clear that they were guessing. For her 1860 marriage, perhaps Elizabeth wanted to appear older?

Throughout her life, Elizabeth (and sometimes her daughter
Ann Elizabeth) would state ages and locations that were not correct. It’s clear that they were guessing.
For her 1860 marriage, perhaps Elizabeth wanted to appear older?

An observation we made after analyzing documents

We know that Patrick McMahon’s older brother Philip McMahon had emigrated to Scotland in the 1850s. By 1860, he is living in nearby Kilmadock, Scotland. In 1857 he and Margaret Duncanson were married. 

This map below shows the layout for the region within which they lived in the village of Doune in Stirlingshire. The map is interactive, so if you navigate the map in a “north-westerly fashion” you can see the layout of the Doune Village and the Deanston Cotton Works where Elizabeth worked as a weaver.

This is a screen shot of the map. To navigate through the actual map, go to this link:
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15.598859239260301&lat=56.19056&lon=-4.06328&layers=5&b=1

There were many woolen mills and linen factories in the larger surrounding area. The fact that Elizabeth worked as a weaver on a steam-powered loom is noteworthy. She was likely employed as a child-laborer in the factories and worked her way up to that position. Prior to this time, women, like Jane McKenzie, were confined to making thread and men ran the looms. A little more than a generation later, women had advanced and were considered skillful enough to do some of the jobs that men used to do. (4)

Moving Around Frequently — The Central Belt Of Scotland

During the next period of slightly more than 20 years, Patrick and Elizabeth moved around  a lot. Their children’s births and deaths were in the areas of Perthshire, Stirlingshire, and North Lanarkshire, Scotland. On a map these locations are in the Central Belt of Scotland, all in a relatively close area. On most of the children’s birth registrations Patrick McMahon is identified as a quarryman, or laborer. With an ever growing family, perhaps he was following the best employment opportunities open to him.

Eventually, we learned from the 1900 census, Elizabeth was asked two questions:For mothers,
“How many children has the person had?” and
“How many of those children are living?”

1900 United States Census Question

On the 1900 census, Elizabeth answered that she had had twelve children and that six are living. We have been able to confirm eleven children. Their records are woven together with census and administrative records.

Scotland holds its census very ten years beginning on the first year of the decade (1861, 1871, 1881). The 1861 census has them living in Kilmadock, Scotland. Patrick is listed as an agricultural laborer, and Elizabeth is a cotton weaver.

In the 1871 and 1881 census’ we see the growing McMahon family.

View of the Town of Perth, County Perthshire, Scotland 1837.
(Image courtesy of media storehouse.com.au).

In Kilmadock Parish, Perthshire County, Scotlandtwo children

  • James McMahon born January 24, 1862 in Doune, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland.
  • Mary Jane McMahon born August 4, 1863 in Doune, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland. (We are descended from Mary Jane).
St Ninians, by Jane Anne Wright (1842–1922). (Image courtesy of artuk.org).

In St. Ninians Parish, Stirlingshire County, Scotlandthree children

  • Margaret McMahon born August 12, 1865 in Craigforth, St. Ninians, Stirlingshire, Scotland. Margaret died of hydrocephalus on July 7, 1866 aged 11 months, in Bannockburn.
  • Philip McMahon born May 2, 1867 in Bannockburn, St. Ninians, Stirlingshire, Scotland.
  • John McMahon born December 10, 1868 in Bannockburn, St. Ninians, Stirlingshire, Scotland. John (also) died of hydrocephalus on October 2, 1869 aged 10 months.

By the time of the 1871 census, Elizabeth and Patrick are registered on two separate censuses. There was a pattern of Patrick seeking out work and Elizabeth following with the children. Elizabeth was living in Shotts, Lanarkshire, and with her are James, Mary Jane, (both scholars) and Phillip. Patrick was a boarder living at the home of Mrs. Thomas Mulligan in Wishaw, Lanarkshire. Between the time of the census in the Spring, and Edward’s birth in October, the family had relocated to Wishaw.

Scottish Post Office Directories, Pigot and Co.’s National Commercial Directory
for the Whole of Scotland and of the Isle of Man, page 636.

In Cambusnethan Parish and Shotts Parish, North Lanarkshire County, Scotlandfive children

  • Edward McMahon born October 19, 1871 in Berryhill Rows, Wishaw, Cambusnethan, North Lanarkshire, Scotland
  • Thomas McMahon born August 16, 1873 in Auchinlea, Shotts, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. Thomas died of bronchitis on March 30, 1875, aged 19 months.
  • Ann Elizabeth McMahon born August 15, 1875 in Crossgates, Shotts, North Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Shotts Parish, General Register of Poor, 1870-1894, page 397.

It seems that 1879 was a very difficult year for the McMahon family. We found a poorhouse record indicating that the family needed help. The records states that Patrick was “wholly disabled” and “partially destitute”. Curiously, his name is listed as Peter McMahon, so perhaps his name was Patrick (Peter) McMahon? This cannot be confirmed, but the spouse and children are definitely his family. It also indicates that at 17, James is already working in a mine and that at 15, Mary Jane is described as “sitting at home doing nothing”. Perhaps instead of working in an outside location, Mary Jane was helping her mother with the children?

This document is the only place where their daughter Helen appears. Helen never appeared on a census. Finding her name on the poorhouse document led us to her birth certificate, which we would have never looked for otherwise. Also on the document, a 5-month-old baby boy named Pat appears.

  • Helen McMahon born February 22, 1877 in Crossgates, Shotts, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. Helen died of whooping cough and bronchitis on August 14, 1879, aged 18 months, in Auchinlea, North Lanarkshire.
  • Patrick McMahon born November 9, 1878 in Crossgates, Shotts, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. Patrick died between November 17, 1881 when they arrived in America, and November 1882, when his younger sibling was born in Ohio.

The 1881 census shows us there have been many changes at their Scotland home. Patrick, James, and Phillip are not listed. Living with Elizabeth in Shotts, Lanarkshire, are: Mary Jane (brickwork laborer), Edward, and Ann Elizabeth (both scholars), and baby Patrick, listed at the top of the next page. Curiously, baby Patrick is listed as Peter even though his birth certificate clearly states that his name is Patrick. (5)

In the next chapter, we follow the McMahons as they make a new life in America.

Following are the footnotes for the Primary Source Materials,
Notes, and Observations

Ireland — A Country in Transition

(1) — five records

David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
Ireland
by William Faden, 1798
https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~24813~960021:A-map-of-Ireland-divided-into-provi?qvq=q:List_No=’2104.009′” ;sort:Pub_Date,Pub_List_No_InitialSort;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&sort=Pub_Date,Pub_List_No_InitialSort&mi=0&trs=1
Full Description: A map of Ireland divided into provinces and counties, shewing the great and cross roads with the distances of the principal towns from Dublin. By Willm. Faden, Geographer to His Majesty and to HRH the Prince of Wales. London, 1798. Pubd. by W. Faden, Charing Cross, Septr. 17, 1798.

National Records of Scotland
Old Parish Registers
https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/guides/birth-death-and-marriage-records/old-parish-registers

When America Despised the Irish: The 19th Century’s Refugee Crisis
https://www.history.com/news/when-america-despised-the-irish-the-19th-centurys-refugee-crisis

Irish Potato Famine
https://www.history.com/topics/immigration/irish-potato-famine

The Irish Famine: Scene at the Gate of a Workhouse
https://www.meisterdrucke.ie/fine-art-prints/English-School/467381/The-Irish-Famine:-Scene-at-the-Gate-of-a-Workhouse-.html

The McMahons and The McKinzies

(2) — seventeen records

Ask About Ireland, Walsh: Fingal and its Churches (illustration)
https://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/digital-book-collection/digital-books-by-county/fingal/walsh-fingal-and-its-chur/

David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
Ireland (Map inset detail)
By William Faden, 1798
https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~24813~960021:A-map-of-Ireland-divided-into-provi?qvq=q:List_No=’2104.009′” ;sort:Pub_Date,Pub_List_No_InitialSort;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&sort=Pub_Date,Pub_List_No_InitialSort&mi=0&trs=1
Full Description: A map of Ireland divided into provinces and counties, shewing the great and cross roads with the distances of the principal towns from Dublin. By Willm. Faden, Geographer to His Majesty and to HRH the Prince of Wales. London, 1798. Pubd. by W. Faden, Charing Cross, Septr. 17, 1798.

Highland Titles
Clan Mackenzie: History, Tartan, & Crest
https://www.highlandtitles.com/blog/clans-scotland-mackenzie/

Parish of Finglas and St. Margaret’s
Register of Baptisms and Marriages 1821—1841

Dublin > Canice´s (Finglas and St Margaret) > 1828-1841
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6068/images/41885_b154493-00000?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=31e294f58f1c630bcf08b050c740fe9e&usePUB=true&_phsrc=TLl3&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.171396128.148489502.1615786366-1914680158.1615680192&pId=15285622
Digital Page: 1/91 (Cover image only)

Ireland, Select Catholic Birth and Baptism Registers, 1763-1917 
for Philip Mahon
Dublin > Canice´s (Finglas and St Margaret) > 1784-1827
William, of Philip Mahon and Jane McKingly,
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6068/images/41885_b154492-00150?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=31e294f58f1c630bcf08b050c740fe9e&usePUB=true&_phsrc=TLl12&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.3148720.148489502.1615786366-1914680158.1615680192&pId=15283288
Digital Page: 148/160, Entry 3 for December 11.

Ireland, Select Catholic Birth and Baptism Registers, 1763-1917 
for Philip Mahon
Dublin > Canice´s (Finglas and St Margaret) > 1828-1841
John, of Philip Mahon and Jane McKinzey
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6068/images/41885_b154493-00008?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=31e294f58f1c630bcf08b050c740fe9e&usePUB=true&_phsrc=TLl4&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.191644586.148489502.1615786366-1914680158.1615680192&pId=15285492
Digital Page: 9/91, Entry for October 13.

Ireland, Select Catholic Birth and Baptism Registers, 1763-1917 
for Philip Mahon
Dublin > Canice´s (Finglas and St Margaret) > 1828-1841
Philip, of Philip Mahon and Jane Kenzy
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6068/images/41885_b154493-00020?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=31e294f58f1c630bcf08b050c740fe9e&usePUB=true&_phsrc=TLl3&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.171396128.148489502.1615786366-1914680158.1615680192&pId=15285622
Digital Page: 21/91, Entry 2 for January 2.

Our ancestor —
Ireland, Select Catholic Birth and Baptism Registers, 1763-1917 
for Philip Mahon
Dublin > Canice´s (Finglas and St Margaret) > 1828-1841
Patrick, of Philip Mahon and Jane McKenzie
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6068/images/41885_b154493-00042?treeid=&personid=&rc=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=TLl9&_phstart=successSource&pId=15285826
Digital Page: 43/91, Entry 2 for August 3.

Jane Mc Kinzie
Vital – Ireland, Births and Baptisms, 1620-1881

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F5P2-QW5
On page 662 of 746, the page reads:
“The Parish Book of Drung & Larah Diocese of Kilmore”
And on page 664 of 746, it reads:
“Register book for the parishes of Drung and Larah received in Drung Church on the 7th August 1785 by the Revd Thomas Cradoc — The registry of such families of ancient parishioners as could in any wise be calculated from Ruins of the Old Register Book are inserted in the first six Leaves of this book”

Modern transcription of Jane McKinzie’s birth record
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSZZ-N9S9-M
Book Page: 17, Digital Page: 368/746

Jane McKenzie
Census – Ireland, Census, 1821

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV9S-PC6M
Digital Page: 1/4, 7th entry from the top.

“A young girl is sitting at a spinning wheel.”
Engraving by Fr Wellcome V0039573.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_young_girl_is_sitting_at_a_spinning_wheel._Engraving_by_Fr_Wellcome_V0039573.jpg

How War Revolutionized Ireland’s Linen Industry
https://daily.jstor.org/how-war-revolutionized-irelands-linen-industry/

Mary Goggins
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/112231347/person/430099691879/facts
Note: We know very little about Jane’s mother Mary McKinzie.

John Goggins
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/112231347/person/430099690441/facts
Note: We know much more about the Goggins family through Mary Goggins brother John.

The murder of Shane O’Neill: In the mid-1500s, Sean or Shane O’Neill, the Earl of Tyrone,
was causing so many problems for the English crown that Elizabeth I
banned the name O’Neill, on punishment of death and forfeiture of property.
She would not be pleased to know that today O’Neill is a top ten Irish surname,
and Sean is a top ten Irish given name. (Photograph: Getty Images)

The Irish Times
“A dozen things you might not know about Irish names” https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/a-dozen-things-you-might-not-know-about-irish-names-1.2842791

McMahon clans
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMahon_clans
Note: For family heraldry.

The Maguires

(3) — six records

Patk Maguire
in the Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915

Dublin > St Mary´s (Pro-Cathedral) > Dublin city, 1826-1855 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/10222307:61039?tid=&pid=&queryId=f3fe1a0d6d34316a54f6ee169d859e96&_phsrc=mWS24&_phstart=successSource
Book page: 260, Digital Page: 433/518, Right page, Entry 3 or August 18.

Pro-cathedral
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro-cathedral

Patrick Maguire
in the Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915

Dublin > St Mary´s (Pro-Cathedral) > Dublin city, 1826-1855
for Mary Francis Maguire
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/158048265:61039?tid=&pid=&queryId=41e200fd6cdf1d158ecce8410e21a2cb&_phsrc=FiW6&_phstart=successSource
Book page: 345, Digital Page: 179/518, Right page top, entry for June 1.

Our ancestor —
Elizabeth Margaret Maguire
in the Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915

Dublin > St Mary´s (Pro-Cathedral) > Dublin city, 1826-1855
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/8048529:61039?tid=&pid=&queryId=cb6f43b2a8f050540b0b85efce6aa4a0&_phsrc=qdi4&_phstart=successSource
Book page: 361, Digital Page: 187/518, Left page top, entry for July 3.

Patk Maguire
in the Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915

Dublin > St Mary´s (Pro-Cathedral) > Dublin city, 1826-1855
for Margaret Ann Maguire
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/158048797:61039?tid=&pid=&queryId=7022b3fde5c88bfe281bf2075f8a484f&_phsrc=FiW8&_phstart=successSource
Book page: 377, Digital Page: 195/518, Left page, Entry 10 for November.

COADB Eledge Family
Maguire Coat of Arms
https://coadb.com/surnames-rough/maguire-coat-of-arms-family-crest
Note: For family heraldry.

Their Emigration to Scotland

(4) — thirty records

Doune Castle
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Doune_Castle

Scotland’s People
McGuire, Elizabeth (Statutory registers Marriages 490/95) 1860
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/image-viewer/saved-image/38254302

Philip McMahon
Vital – Scotland, Marriages, 1561-1910

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XY3C-JBW?from=lynx1UIV8&treeref=9S75-SX3
and here:
Scotland’s People
Duncanson, Margaret (Statutory registers Marriages 362/12) 1857
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/image-viewer/saved-image/40267065

National Library of Scotland
Map Images / Georeferenced Maps
Doune interactive map: https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15.598859239260301&lat=56.19056&lon=-4.06328&layers=5&b=1
Note: Navigate the map in a “north-westerly fashion” where you can see the layout of Doune village and the Deanston Cotton Works where Elizabeth worked as a weaver.

Moving Around Frequently — The Central Belt Of Scotland

(5) — twenty four records

Elizebeth C McMahon
Census – United States, Census, 1900
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSCQ-JQ5
Book page: Sheet 18, Digital page: 318/1069 Entry lines 68 through 71.
Note: Joliet township, Illinois. Included here for the census questions.

Patrick McMahon
in the 1861 Scotland Census
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/714093:1080?tid=&pid=&queryId=9ed874df43ff76043a60ba1ca7703b56&_phsrc=qGQ1730&_phstart=successSource

Media Storehouse
View of the Town of Perth, County Perthshire, Scotland 1837
https://www.mediastorehouse.com.au/mapseeker/old-views-vistas/19th-18th-century-scottish-views-portfolio/view-town-perth-county-perthshire-scotland-1837-20346987.html
Note: For illustration.

James McMahon, birth certificate
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/image-viewer/saved-image/40534060

Our ancestor —
Mary Jane McMahon, birth certificate
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/image-viewer/saved-image/38232612

St Ninians, by Jane Anne Wright (1842–1922)
The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum
https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/st-ninians-235170
Note: For illustration.

Margaret McMahon, birth certificate
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/image-viewer/saved-image/38232

Margaret McMahon, death certificate
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/image-viewer/saved-image/38233234

Philip McMahon, birth certificate
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/image-viewer/saved-image/38232803

John McMahon, birth certificate
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/image-viewer/saved-image/38232537

John McMahon, death certificate
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/image-viewer/saved-image/38233010

Scotland’s People
Mcmahon, Elizabeth (Census 559/25/10) Page 10 of 35 1871
St. Ninians, Stirling, Scotland
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/image-viewer/saved-image/38232038
Book page: 10, Entry 43 near page bottom.

Scotland’s People
Mcmahon, Patrick (Census 282/43 7/9) Page 9 of 19 1871
Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, Scotland
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/image-viewer/saved-image/38232012
Book page: 9, Entry line 15, near page middle.

Scottish Post Office Directories
Pigot and Co.’s National Commercial Directory for the Whole of Scotland
and of the Isle of Man

https://digital.nls.uk/directories/browse/archive/85592128?mode=transcription
Book page: 636

Edward McMahon, birth certificate
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/view-image/nrs_stat_births/40541839?image=1&viewed_images=true

Thomas McMahon, birth certificate
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/image-viewer/saved-image/38232675

Thomas McMahon, death certificate
Note: Patrick McMahon is written as Peter McMahon for some reason.
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/image-viewer/saved-image/38233184

Ann Elizabeth McMahon, birth certificate
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/image-viewer/saved-image/38232744

North Lanarkshire, Scotland, Poor Law Applications and Registers,
1849-1917, for Peter McMahon
Shotts Parish > General Register of Poor > 1870-1894
Note: Patrick McMahon is recorded as Peter McMahon for some reason.
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61702/images/48962_273022002859_0085-00542?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=beb2167c40a186786da9955cac271563&usePUB=true&_phsrc=UdG3&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.261243978.630361696.1639162321-1660942128.1639162321&pId=102859
Book page: 397, Digital page: 541/1260

Helen McMahon, birth certificate
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/image-viewer/saved-image/40497775

Helen McMahon, death certificate
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/image-viewer/saved-image/40534106
Note: Her name is misspelled as Ellen.

Patrick McMahon, birth certificate
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/view-image/nrs_stat_births/41531543?image=1&viewed_images=true

Elizabeth McMahon
in the 1881 Scotland Census
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1668435:1119
and
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1119/records/1668439
Note: This is one place where we see baby Peter McMahon (baptized Patrick), and the other is on the November 1881 Bothnia ship manifest.

Bond British Colonies Canada Coutinho de Azeredo de Azevêdo de Oliveira DeVoe Doty Dutch Edward Doty English Family Genealogy George Soule Gore Ilhéus Lençóis Massachusetts Mayflower McCall McClintock New York Ohio Oliveira Ontario Peterman Pilgrims Plymouth Plymouth Colony Portugal Presbyterian Puritans Revolutionary War Salvador da Bahia Scotland Scots Shaw Soule Thanksgiving Vermont Vieira Viera Viveiros Western Reserve White

Bond British Colonies Canada Coutinho de Azeredo de Azevêdo de Oliveira DeVoe Doty Dutch Edward Doty English Family Genealogy George Soule Gore Ilhéus Lençóis Massachusetts Mayflower McCall McClintock New York Ohio Oliveira Ontario Peterman Pilgrims Plymouth Plymouth Colony Portugal Presbyterian Puritans Revolutionary War Salvador da Bahia Scotland Scots Shaw Soule Thanksgiving Vermont Vieira Viera Viveiros Western Reserve White