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Please note:
THE MacKAYS IN AUSTRALIA
Although during the 1800's the children of DONALD McKAY and CATHERINE DUNCAN of Mudale, Sutherlandshire, Scotland emigrated to:
"On advice from Mr Randles of the Kaffrarian Museum, King Williams's Town, the following letter was sent to the DURBAN SUNDAY TRIBUNE:
WHERE ARE THOSE MACKAYS?
I know that Colour-Sergeant Donald Mackay of the 91st Highlanders retired in 1848 and lived 43 years in King William's Town at Argyle Cottage where he died on January 25th, 1891. He left a widow and 3 daughters - Annie McKenzie, Jane Hughes and Catherine McCallum. Donald's sister, Barbara Mackay, married Murdoch Mackay. They and 7 children emigrated from Scotland to Victoria, Australia in 1852. One of their sons, Kenneth Mackay, visited his uncle Donald, and stayed there dying at Guba, Basutoland. He had no family. My nephew, Ken Byrnes, visited Scotland this year and went to Gortenoorn, 4 miles east of Ballachulish, opposite Callart. This was farmed in 1851 by my great grandfather Murdoch. The present lessee said they had had a visit about 2 years ago from a father and son from South Africa. -- Mrs Donella M. Klages, 672 "Bowden Brae", Pennant Hills Road, Normanhurst 2079, NSW, AUSTRALIA." As a result of the above entry in the Newspaper, Donella Klages later wrote: "The response was stimulating, letters from our real cousins. The first letter came from Bunny (Allen Donald) McKay of Pietermaritzburg with a family tree and an account of their doings. The greatest surprise was that Colour Sergeant Donald McKay had a sister - Christina who married a George McKay of Farr - and urged by her brother, she and her family went to South Africa Dec 1859. Col. Sgt. Donald helped them and also the sons of his married daughters. So McKays and McKenzies were set up with oxen and wagons as traders. Our Kenneth Mackay from Victoria joined his cousins. They lived adventurous lives till they settled down as farmers. Barbara McKenzie - granddaughter of Col. Sgt. Donald, married Robert McKay - grandson of Christina McKay, and so the 2 branches were united. The son of that marriage is the Allen Donald (Bunny McKay) mentioned above." The South African branch had kept photos of the families and among the many, sent by Allen Donald, was our great-grandmother Barbara, evidently taken to South Africa by John Mackay and his son Donald who went on a visit in 1897. We also received copies of letters written by John and Donald after their return." Twice during the 1980's some members of the Australian Mackay family (including Donella Klages) visited South Africa. They retraced the routes taken by earlier members of the South African branch of the McKay family, and met present day family members. After their first visit to South Africa, Donella Klages wrote "The South African Adventure" dated 8th April - 4th May 1980. In this account, Donella mentioned seeing the following Tombstones in Kokstad:
"In Loving Memory, Donald McKay, Born Sutherlandshire, Scotland, 8th Jan. 1848
George Robert Lennox McKay, Died 13.9.1941, Aged 56 years, A Loving Husband and Father" Donella was met at King William's Town by Mr Brian Randles, the historian of the Kaffrarian Museum. After viewing the sights and Museum there was a visit to the cemetery: "Col. Sgt. Donald and his son-in-law, John McKenzie are in a double grave with a surround but no headstone. (There had once been a headstone.) The grave is - iv E 20.
Christina McKay buried 23.1.82 - iv I 38
Ann McKay buried 4.7.93 I B 47.
"Next a drive along Oak Street, but Argyle Cottage is no longer there. Other cottages of the same era are being renovated as is the church. We drove out to the country where Col. Sgt. Donald had a farm. Extracts from a letter from Col. Sgt. Donald to his nephew:
King William's Town
My dear Nephew, I received your letter and kind present. I am going to send you a Pamphlet from Clan Mackay, Glasgow and you will never get tired reading it. I joined them last year as ordinary member who shall pay 10 Pounds, 2 Shillings and 6 pence annually. I paid 2 years in advance. I would like that you would join them and Dick as well. I wish you to send me the measure of your head for a Glen Garry Bonnett with motto and crest on it. I would like that Dick would get my poor Hugh's Highland suit out of Emily. It was a fine suit, everything complete. I am happy to say that your aunt and Anny and all the children and myself are all well and as well as could be expected of old people. The 7th of this month was our birthday of marriage, 55 years. We were married on 7th May 1835 and my birthday is past. I was 82 years on the 13th of March last. I played the Pipes and danced to my own Music. I don't say that I would take a prize. But I don't think at my age another would better, but mind I had a glass of Highland Whiskey before I commenced. All last year I was very bad with rheumatics, but this year I banished them with Whiskey and milk, and what whiskey cannot cure, they are not worth curing. Kenneth is well and getting on well. He has finished a good large Stonehouse and is thinking of another visit to Australia this year. He had a letter from his mother. She is quite well and strong. She is three and a half years older than me. I sent her papers about the Clan Mackay and she was glad to have them. Aunt and Anny and all the children join with kind love to you.
Your affectionate uncle,
[This letter must have been to his nephew, Donald McKay. David is Dick.] I hope that the contact between the families last century and now re-newed, will be maintained." According to DONALD McKAY and CATHERINE DUNCAN's eldest son - Col. Sgt. Donald McKay: "His father, who was in very comfortable circumstances, was evicted at the mere dictum of a tyrannical landlord, and family scattered through the four corners of the globe"; is supported by the remarks made by the Col. Sgt's sister, Barbara in Australia, that:
"They left their lands, as they would not work for the hated Sassenach"
Col. Sgt. Donald McKay's birthplace - Mudale - is situated on the western side of the valley of the Naver. In 1819 from Mudale to the sea, 28 miles, was made desolate. The inhabitants expelled to form 2 sheep farms. In less than a week, the whole of this area was devastated and denuded of more than 400 families. The eastern side of Strathnaver had been cleared in 1814, over 20 miles, houses, out-houses, mills, kilns, and every other structure destroyed in order to form 3 sheep farms. 85,000 acres of land, was cleared of the 150 families who had lived there for generations. It is possible that DONALD McKAY and CATHERINE DUNCAN, after being evicted at the time of the HIGHLAND CLEARANCES, were possibly at Lairg. (So far, unconfirmed.) In the 1840's Catherine Duncan and her daughter, Wilhelmina, lived at Clarkhill, Farr. The Col. Sgt. gave this address for his next of kin for Army records (revised in 1844).
BARBARA (c.1804 Farr)
During 1975-77 two great-granddaughters of the above (Donella Klages and Donella Mackay) in collaboration compiled "THE STORY OF MURDOCH & BARBARA MACKAY". Barbara and Murdoch's son, Kenneth, in earlier times, had also visited the family in S. Africa.
DONALD (c.1808 Farr)
DONALD retired with the rank of Colour Sergeant (British Army). He enlisted on 1.8.1825 at Perth, Perthshire. During his term of duty at St. Helena in 1840 Napoleon Bonaparte's body was removed from the Island for re-burial in France. He also served in Jamaica and Ireland. On 9.3.1831 he became a Corporal and on 24.8.1836 he became a Sergeant. He was mentioned in Regimental Orders in May 1845 "for gallant conduct in successfully defending 10 wagons which were in charge of an escort under his command, and attacked by Kaffirs. Signed by M. Lindsay, Lt. Col." WILLIAM (c.1810 Farr)
CHRISTINA (c.1812 Farr)
JOHN (c.1815 Farr)
WILHELMINA (Williamina) (c.1819 Farr)
Now that we have entered a new millennium, it is time to re-new our contact with our Australian cousins. Due to the introduction of the Internet, perhaps we can re-discover our Canadian cousins.
I cannot put it better than Donella Klages originally did:
BARBARA MacKAY
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