Harkness – MacGillivray Stories

This post discusses the events surrounding the death of Morag and Roderick in 1895 and 1921 respectively.

The Death of Morag Campbell’s (nee McKinnon) in 1895

Her death certificate lists her as Sarah. She died on March 26^th, 1895, just two months after the birth of her youngest child John (b. 15th Jan 1895). She died after ‘eight years of paralysis – not certified’ (see certificate above). The certificate seems to validate what my mother, Rhoda Campbell Harkness, told me: “Morag’s husband Roderick used to carry her around … my aunt Kate who was married to the other Hugh (Morag’s son) told me this.”  

During this time (the eight years of paralysis) she gave birth to four children. 

As mentioned, Morag McKinnon’s father is called Ewen on her marriage certificate rather than Hugh, i.e. the Gaelic variation. Her mother was Mary MacKay; on the death certificate of 1895, her mother Mary McKay is now called ‘Mary MacKay ‘now’ Campbell’, which seems to suggest she married a Campbell. However, I have failed to conclusively ‘track down’ Mary McKay, not being able to find out where she lived or whom she married, or when she died. Neither have I been able to conclusively track down Ewen/Hugh McKinnon, although I have established a tentative theory.

However, before Sarah McKinnon married, she lived with her grandparents at Galmisdale, Donald and Mary MacKay nee McDonald, so it has been possible to find their death certificates, which report that their parents were called Lachlan McKay and Ann MacKay, nee MacLean; and Roderick MacDonald and Mary MacDonald nee MacDonald. They must have been born before 1780, but I have been unable to link any of them with the 1764-1765 census on the Small Isles.

In conclusion, Morag seems to have had a hard life! First being born illegitimate, and having to live with her grandparents. She married young at the age of 21, and died about 18 years later after giving birth to ten children! In other words, she was pregnant every second year. It also seems unbelievable that she managed to give birth to four children while ‘paralysed’, and was perhaps bedridden most of that time, possibly with multiple sclerosis!

My grandmother was given her name when she was born 12 years later in 1892.

The Death of Roderick Campbell’s in 1921

Roderick died at Kildonnan. His death certificate states that his parents were called Donald Campbell and Peggie Campbell, nee McLean. Peggie was also called Margaret Campbell nee MacLean on marriage certificate; the certificate states that he died of influenza/old age. 

As mentioned elsewhere here, due to the replication of Christian- and surnames on Eigg, it is easy to get confused. As you can see on this certificate, Ann Campbell, also died in 1921. Her parents had the same names as Roderick’s parents, Donald Campbell and the mother a MacLean. But this is Donald Campbell, the shoemaker, and not to be confused with Donald Campbell the crofter.