robertmackayclan

When I was in Ohio I saw a large collection of items, papers, etc. relating to the branch of our family who settled there.

I believe that once this gets organized they will be in a better position to present it and that we will get a better understanding to where certain things like what Robert S.'s middle name was (or not).

To anyone of you out here who may be from Clinton Co. Ohio and familiar with the Collett-McKay picnic I welcome you to be a part of this website. After all this is your family too since we are all descendants of Robert Mackay Sr.

I don't want any of you to think that I'm being critical of you all when I do not include Robert S. McKay's middle name as being "Shinn" in the little sketch I have, nor when I make the "Editor's note" regarding the sign you have placed on the gate.

Since I don't have any actual evidence in my possession indicating what Robert S. McKay's middle name was I simply believe it is wrong for me to just assume it is "Shinn" based on what someone else says and put it in my records as though it were a fact.

This kind of compilation of genealogical records has caused quite a bit of confusion for other researchers and I just don't want to be a contributor to that.

Also, in regards to the fence sign, this whole page and all the info. therein is meant as a celebration of part of our common heritage and a testimony to the wonderful event that you guys hold every year since about 1866. I'm priviledged to be a part of it whenever I get the chance.

My editor's note on that page is in regards to evidence that we have available here with regards to Robert Sr.'s will and the marriage certificates of some of his children which shows the order in which he married his wives. Also, since I don't have any documented evidence that conclusively says Robert came from Scotland I also feel it is wrong for me to print that he does as though it were fact.

To say "according to family legend" yes, that's acceptable but not to say definite fact unless proven so. That would be bad research on my part.

To all Ohio cousins I say welcome!! It was a pleasure to be at your wonderful event and I hope to be able to attend in the future.

Hi Michael,

Well, I guess I am an extended Ohio cousin now that I am living in Utah. Thanks so much for the info in this message. I really appreciated the fact that you put the gate post and site pics on since I couldn't go to the picnic. As for Robert S's middle name. I really don't know either. My mom, Kate Luby, is the family historian so maybe she can find the documentation you are looking for. I have really enjoyed logging onto the site an seeing the new things going on. I was thinking....what would you say to another part of our site being added for new marriages and births to be posted? I thought that the forum for those who have passed on is a great idea too. I am looking into adding my grandpa who passed away last Thanksgiving. Just need to get some more info so that I can.

Thanks again,
Kim Price
Salt Lake City, UT

I hadn't really thought about that but it does sound good. I guess I figured folks would post announcements like that on the main board but having a separate board for "special announcements" (that's what it will be called) would be a nice addition.

I'll try and have it set up here in a little while.

I'm planning to do a little reconstruction on the website itself by improving the HTML language and creating subdirectories. It should help make things simpler for me in the long run.

I look forward to seeing your write-up on cuz Howard S. Hackney when you get it as well as the recipes you mentioned to me earlier.

I am familiar with your mom's notes and it was mainly that which I was referring to when I said I saw the large amount of data. I believe once it gets well organized a lot of missing pieces can be filled in regarding Moses McKay and his branch of the family.

When I was in Ohio I saw a large collection of items, papers, etc. relating to the branch of our family who settled there.

I believe that once this gets organized they will be in a better position to present it and that we will get a better understanding to where certain things like what Robert S.'s middle name was (or not).

To anyone of you out here who may be from Clinton Co. Ohio and familiar with the Collett-McKay picnic I welcome you to be a part of this website. After all this is your family too since we are all descendants of Robert Mackay Sr.

I don't want any of you to think that I'm being critical of you all when I do not include Robert S. McKay's middle name as being "Shinn" in the little sketch I have, nor when I make the "Editor's note" regarding the sign you have placed on the gate.

Since I don't have any actual evidence in my possession indicating what Robert S. McKay's middle name was I simply believe it is wrong for me to just assume it is "Shinn" based on what someone else says and put it in my records as though it were a fact.

This kind of compilation of genealogical records has caused quite a bit of confusion for other researchers and I just don't want to be a contributor to that.

Also, in regards to the fence sign, this whole page and all the info. therein is meant as a celebration of part of our common heritage and a testimony to the wonderful event that you guys hold every year since about 1866. I'm priviledged to be a part of it whenever I get the chance.

My editor's note on that page is in regards to evidence that we have available here with regards to Robert Sr.'s will and the marriage certificates of some of his children which shows the order in which he married his wives. Also, since I don't have any documented evidence that conclusively says Robert came from Scotland I also feel it is wrong for me to print that he does as though it were fact.

To say "according to family legend" yes, that's acceptable but not to say definite fact unless proven so. That would be bad research on my part.

To all Ohio cousins I say welcome!! It was a pleasure to be at your wonderful event and I hope to be able to attend in the future.

Hello Michael,
For some time I have been looking at your excellently done WEB site, but always hesitant to respond since I can tie nothing to your Robert S., except that I also have a Robert S. and the "S" is also unknown.
I decided to claim to be an Ohio cousin, since my Robert settled in Springfield, Ohio in 1850 and in 1854 went to Knox County Ohio. This gave me an excuse to write.

I have been searching for over 50 years to connect my Robert to his McKay ancestors. I have all kinds of documentation in Ohio, but prior to 1850; very little. My McKays were from Aberdeenshire, but for the life of me I do not know how they got there or when they arrived. I assume they left from Southerlandshire, as many did, for the north-east highlands, as well as other parts of the world. Again I assume it was probably because of the Clearances, but records and documents are few. I have collected many McKay names, and spent many hours and dollars trying to get a clue why the McKays left the north and went to Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Naming patterns don't help. The patronymics being what they were in Scotland cause untold search problems. My Robert S.could be a cousin or a cousin 10 times removed to your Robert S. and so on.

It might be interesting to hear from others who have similar problems with their elusive McKay ancestors. This may not be the place for such a discussion. I have brought the subject up on several other search sites, but to no avail. It is, however, an interesting genealogical problem for some us.

Dave McKay
Michigan Commissioner
Clan MacKay Society of North America