Duncan Livingston and Christian Beaton of Lettermore, Mull
Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2016 12:53 pm
Around 1821 three Livingston brothers said by kin to be sons of Duncan Livingston and Christian Beaton of Lettermore, Mull,Argyllshire are known to have settled in Dalhousie Township, Lanark County, Upper Canada (Ontario, Canada). They were Duncan Livingston b.1791,John Livingston b. 1792 and Alexander Livingston 1797-1840. Alexander Livingston I discovered is buried in the Highland Line Cemetery in Dalhousie Township, Lanark Township, Ontario and his now broken tombstone states that he is was a native of Mull. Given the sorry state of this pioneer Livingston tombstone of Lanark Settlement in Dalhousie Township one would hope that a descendant someday soon makes some effort to protect the stone from further damage.
It seems to me that Duncan Livingston of Lettermore, Mull the father of those Livingstons who settled in Dalhousie Township, Lanark County, Upper Canada (Ontario) around 1820 was most likely a brother of Dr. Livingstone's grandfather Neil Livingston b.in the 1740's? and therefore Duncan's children Duncan Jr. Alexander, John, Hugh and Mrs Duncan Stewart (Catharine) who settled at the Highland Line, Dalhousie Township, Lanark County would probably have been in my opinion more likely second cousins rather than first cousins of Dr. David Livingstone and his older brother John Livingstone who himself later settled nearby in Lanark County around 1840 1841.
I believe that Duncan Livingston a resident of Lettermore, Mull was likely in the area when Dr. Livingstone's grandfather lived in Lettermore in the 1770's before Neil Livingstone Sr. moved on to the Isle of Ulva by the late 1770's and is likely related but think he likely was too old to be a son of the grandfather Neil Livingston Sr. given that Dr. Livingstone's grandfather youngest child Neil Jr. born in 1788 was born the same year as Duncan Livingston and Christian Beaton's oldest daughter Jean. It strikes me then that Duncan might have been a brother of Dr. Livingstone's Grandfather. Some of Duncan Livingston's daughter Catharines' descendant's understood I think that Catharine (Mrs. Duncan Stewart) 1800-1885 was
a first cousin of Dr. Livingstone and her father Duncan Livingston of Lettermore, Mull was an older brother of Dr. Livingstone's father Neil Livingston Jr. 1788-1856 but others have suggested the connection was a generation earlier making Catharine Livingston (Mrs DUncan Stewart) of Lanark County and later Perth County, Ontario actually second cousins rather than first cousin. Either way I definitely believe they were cousins with a family connection to Mull Argyll originally.
Dr. Livingstone's older brother JOhn Livingstone 1811-1899 who lived in Lanark Township, Lanark County for several years in the 1840's before resettling around 1860 in Listowel, Ontario probably stated in 1872 that Alexander and his brother John Livingston of the Highland Line of Dalhousie Township, Lanark County, Upper Canada were his cousins, though he does not mention the actual family connection regrettably. I suspect by highland line Lanark County Livingstons he was acknowledging that this Livingston family that lived in Letermore, Mull back in Argyllshire were some sort of relation to his Grandfather Neil Lavington who he may have known also lived in the Lettermore, Mull area apparently before moving to the Isle of Ulva where John's father Neil Livingston was born in 1788.
Interestingly a few years ago I received a copy of an old newspaper clipping connected to an old Lanark county Livingston researcher from the 1950's which quoted and older newspaper article from the Winter of 1872 where Dr. Livingstone's brother John Livingstone of Listowel, Perth County, Ontario was interviewed for a London Ontario,newspapers and John did refer to both Alexander and his brother John Livingston of the highland line, Lanark County as his cousins. I can state for certain that Dr. Livingstone's brother in the 1870's when he was being interviewed about his famous brother acknowledged Alexander or John Livingston of the Highland Land in Dalhousie Township, Lanark County, Ontario (I forget which one or the other) he believed was a Livingston cousin. That is all he said about that possible Livingston connection and no mention of how they were connected or the Lettermore connection that revealed by a examination of the Kilninian Parish records of Mull of the 1700's.
I became interested in the Dalhousie Township, Lanark County, Ontario Livingstons as an old Ontario,Canada newspaper article mentioned that John Livingstone (1811-1899) of Listowel,Perth County, Ontario, Canada older brother of Dr. Livingstone had stated in the 1870's to a journalist that he had a cousin named Alexander or John Livingston I forget which whom lived at the highland line of Dalhousie Township, Lanark Township, Ontario. As Dr. Livingstone's brother John Livingstone had lived briefly in Lanark Township, Lanark County,Ontario in the 1840's with his wife Mary Mackenzie when the family first arrived in Canada I had always wondered if he had any family connections to the other Livingston families that settled in Lanark County earlier as pioneers in the 1820's.
In fact some information has emerged regarding the Dalhousie Township Livingstons which seems to possibly link them to Dr. Livingstone and his brother John's family. It is known that three Scottish settlers Alexander, John and Duncan Livingston settled in Dalhousie Township by about 1820/1821 and received land grants from the Government of Upper Canada as they opened up settlement in what was then the Lanark Military settlement in Upper Canada. All three Livingston were assigned land grants in close proximity to one another. Alexander was first located at Concession 11 Lot 5 East in 1820, then John was located at Concession 10 Lot 6 East August 30th 1821 and Duncan Livingston at Concession 9 Lot 7 a few days later on September 1st 1821. After the War of 1812, this part of Upper Canada was opened up to settlement and British settlers, and military veterans were offered 100 acre land grants. In 1820/1821 Scottish weavers and others from Lanarkshire were encouraged to settle in what became Lanark County, Upper Canada and number of them were known to have settled in Dalhousie Township. Many of these Scots who may resided in Lanarkshire or Perthshire Scotland in the lowlands were actually of highland Scot origin in Argyllshire as was the case we have found of all the Livingstons who settled in Lanark County, Upper Canada at this time. We dont precisely where the three Livingstons that settled in Dalhousie Township in 1820/1821 resided at the time they received their 100 acre land grants and it could have been in a lowland county where they were working. We do however have information linking them to highland Livingston family origins.
Given that Dr. Livingstone's brother John referred to ALexander and John Livingston of highland line, Dalhousie Township as his "cousins" it is especially interesting that these Livingstons apparently have a Lettermore, Mull connection. It is clear from the Kilninian Parish, Mull baptism records that Dr. Livingtone's grandfather Neil Livingstone and his wife Mary Morrison lived at Lettermore for a few years in the 1770's before moving on the nearby southern shore of the Island of Ulva.
The Kilninian Parish records back in Mull, Argyllshire Scotland indicate that Duncan was the eldest of the sons of Duncan Livingston and Christian Beaton born abt. 1791. John was born abt. 1792 a date which seems to be confirmed in the 1851 Dalhousie Township census which records him as age 49. He was married to Catharine. Alexander was born abt. 1797 and does not appear in the Kilninian parish records but is almost certain he is a son of Duncan and Christian Beaton. He died in 1840 in Dalhousie Township and was married to Mary Currie. Alexander is buried in the Highland Line Cemetery in Dalhousie Township, Lanark County, Ontario and is almost certainly the Alexander Livingston that Dr. Livingstone's brother believed was a "cousin". There is or was a cemetery stone in the old Highland Line Cemetery in Dalhousie Township which stated Alexander Livingston died April 11, 1840 Native of Isle of Mull.
There was also a sister Catharine Livingston born abt. 1800 to Duncan and Christian Livingston at Lettermore according to the kilninian parish, Mull records who was married to a Duncan Stewart and in 1800's lived near to Alexander and John Livingston in Dalhousie Township. She appears as Catharine Stewart age 50 in the 1851 Dalhousie Township, Lanark County, Ontario residing with husband Duncan and appearing to be neighbours to Alexander Livingston's widow Mary and her son Duncan Livingston Farmer. Presumingly the younger Duncan was named after his grandfather back in Lettermore, Mull.
Known Children of Duncan Livingston and Christian Beaton of Lettermore, Mull
Jean [Janet] (bap) 26 Nov 1788 d. Feb.9,1864 Brock, Ontario married Neil McNeil b. Oct. 28,1786 Mull d. June 28,1870 Brock, Ontario
Duncan (bap) 15 Apr 1791 - ?
John (bap) 22 Aug 1792 - ? married Catharine Sinclair
Alexander born abt. 1796 in Lettermore, Mull? d. April 11, 1840 m. Mary Currie b. abt. 1795 at Bailibeg, Strachur, Argyllshire d.
Catherine [/born Lettermore, Mull abt. 1800 (bap) 10 Sep 1800 - d. 1885 Fullerton Perth County, Ontario m. Duncan Stewart
Despite what some later published Canadian genealogy information regarding Duncan, John and Alexander arriving at Quebec in 1821 with other Livingstons aboard the David of London, interestingly the original passenger list (PRO CO 42/189 ff 512-69) which includes the nine lowland Emigration societies that were aboard the David of London does not list the Duncan, Alexander or John Livingston that settled in Dalhousie Township. I checked the original list and the children of Duncan Livingston and Chistian Beaton that arrived about 1821 in Lanark County do not appear to have been passengers aboard the David of London and with the other Livingstons from Perthshire on that boat traveling to Canada who also settled in Lanark County in 1821.
1. Alexander Livingstone arrived Quebec with wife probably about 1820 rather than 1821 as has been indicated elsewhere Located at Lot 5FE, Con. 11, Dalhousie Twp., Lanark County, Ontario.
2. Duncan & John Livingstone, arrived Upper Canada about 1820 ( Note: Duncan and John Livingstone and other family members are not listed on the list that saw of persons in the the Emigration Societies aboard the David lot London in 1821.)
Duncan was accompanied by his wife & 6 children, John by his wife.
3. Catherine Livingstone from Isle of Mull about 1820 to Lanark County 1850, moved to Perth County 1852, & married Duncan Stewart
Catharine and her husband Duncan Stewart were neighbours of her brother Alexander Livingston and his wife Mary Currie in Dalhousie Township, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada. After Alexander Livingston died in 1840, his son Duncan took over the farm with his mother Mary. Alexander and Catharine;s brother JOhn and his wife Catharine are also living on a farm not far from them. Alexander, John and Catharine also had a brother Duncan who settled with them in 1820 or 1821 in Dalhousie Township but I dont know what became of him. He is not in 18511852 census only his nephew Duncan Livingston son of late Alexander According a descendant of Duncan and Catherine Stewart, Alexander, John, DUncan Livingston and Mrs Duncan Stewart were all children of Duncan Livingston and Christian Beaton of Lettermore, Kilninian Parish, Mull. From the information I have looked at I believe she is correct.
John Livingstone found some info on Jean Livingston, suggesting that Duncan and Christian's eldest child Jean Livingston b. 1788 also settled in
Ontario:
"I've come across another probable daughter, Jean b. abt. 1788, who married Neil McNeil, b. abt 1786 at Kilninian & Kilmore, Mull, no marriage date available at present.
They had four or five children born at Kilninian & Kilmore, the last child listed, Hugh was baptised on 19 March 1823, religion Presbyterian at Perth, Lanark, Ontario."
More info that was found by John Livingstone:
The reference ICS refers to "Immigration: Canada from Scotland." Selected records in the Ontario Department of Public Records and Archives (not The Archives of Ontar
It seems to me that Duncan Livingston of Lettermore, Mull the father of those Livingstons who settled in Dalhousie Township, Lanark County, Upper Canada (Ontario) around 1820 was most likely a brother of Dr. Livingstone's grandfather Neil Livingston b.in the 1740's? and therefore Duncan's children Duncan Jr. Alexander, John, Hugh and Mrs Duncan Stewart (Catharine) who settled at the Highland Line, Dalhousie Township, Lanark County would probably have been in my opinion more likely second cousins rather than first cousins of Dr. David Livingstone and his older brother John Livingstone who himself later settled nearby in Lanark County around 1840 1841.
I believe that Duncan Livingston a resident of Lettermore, Mull was likely in the area when Dr. Livingstone's grandfather lived in Lettermore in the 1770's before Neil Livingstone Sr. moved on to the Isle of Ulva by the late 1770's and is likely related but think he likely was too old to be a son of the grandfather Neil Livingston Sr. given that Dr. Livingstone's grandfather youngest child Neil Jr. born in 1788 was born the same year as Duncan Livingston and Christian Beaton's oldest daughter Jean. It strikes me then that Duncan might have been a brother of Dr. Livingstone's Grandfather. Some of Duncan Livingston's daughter Catharines' descendant's understood I think that Catharine (Mrs. Duncan Stewart) 1800-1885 was
a first cousin of Dr. Livingstone and her father Duncan Livingston of Lettermore, Mull was an older brother of Dr. Livingstone's father Neil Livingston Jr. 1788-1856 but others have suggested the connection was a generation earlier making Catharine Livingston (Mrs DUncan Stewart) of Lanark County and later Perth County, Ontario actually second cousins rather than first cousin. Either way I definitely believe they were cousins with a family connection to Mull Argyll originally.
Dr. Livingstone's older brother JOhn Livingstone 1811-1899 who lived in Lanark Township, Lanark County for several years in the 1840's before resettling around 1860 in Listowel, Ontario probably stated in 1872 that Alexander and his brother John Livingston of the Highland Line of Dalhousie Township, Lanark County, Upper Canada were his cousins, though he does not mention the actual family connection regrettably. I suspect by highland line Lanark County Livingstons he was acknowledging that this Livingston family that lived in Letermore, Mull back in Argyllshire were some sort of relation to his Grandfather Neil Lavington who he may have known also lived in the Lettermore, Mull area apparently before moving to the Isle of Ulva where John's father Neil Livingston was born in 1788.
Interestingly a few years ago I received a copy of an old newspaper clipping connected to an old Lanark county Livingston researcher from the 1950's which quoted and older newspaper article from the Winter of 1872 where Dr. Livingstone's brother John Livingstone of Listowel, Perth County, Ontario was interviewed for a London Ontario,newspapers and John did refer to both Alexander and his brother John Livingston of the highland line, Lanark County as his cousins. I can state for certain that Dr. Livingstone's brother in the 1870's when he was being interviewed about his famous brother acknowledged Alexander or John Livingston of the Highland Land in Dalhousie Township, Lanark County, Ontario (I forget which one or the other) he believed was a Livingston cousin. That is all he said about that possible Livingston connection and no mention of how they were connected or the Lettermore connection that revealed by a examination of the Kilninian Parish records of Mull of the 1700's.
I became interested in the Dalhousie Township, Lanark County, Ontario Livingstons as an old Ontario,Canada newspaper article mentioned that John Livingstone (1811-1899) of Listowel,Perth County, Ontario, Canada older brother of Dr. Livingstone had stated in the 1870's to a journalist that he had a cousin named Alexander or John Livingston I forget which whom lived at the highland line of Dalhousie Township, Lanark Township, Ontario. As Dr. Livingstone's brother John Livingstone had lived briefly in Lanark Township, Lanark County,Ontario in the 1840's with his wife Mary Mackenzie when the family first arrived in Canada I had always wondered if he had any family connections to the other Livingston families that settled in Lanark County earlier as pioneers in the 1820's.
In fact some information has emerged regarding the Dalhousie Township Livingstons which seems to possibly link them to Dr. Livingstone and his brother John's family. It is known that three Scottish settlers Alexander, John and Duncan Livingston settled in Dalhousie Township by about 1820/1821 and received land grants from the Government of Upper Canada as they opened up settlement in what was then the Lanark Military settlement in Upper Canada. All three Livingston were assigned land grants in close proximity to one another. Alexander was first located at Concession 11 Lot 5 East in 1820, then John was located at Concession 10 Lot 6 East August 30th 1821 and Duncan Livingston at Concession 9 Lot 7 a few days later on September 1st 1821. After the War of 1812, this part of Upper Canada was opened up to settlement and British settlers, and military veterans were offered 100 acre land grants. In 1820/1821 Scottish weavers and others from Lanarkshire were encouraged to settle in what became Lanark County, Upper Canada and number of them were known to have settled in Dalhousie Township. Many of these Scots who may resided in Lanarkshire or Perthshire Scotland in the lowlands were actually of highland Scot origin in Argyllshire as was the case we have found of all the Livingstons who settled in Lanark County, Upper Canada at this time. We dont precisely where the three Livingstons that settled in Dalhousie Township in 1820/1821 resided at the time they received their 100 acre land grants and it could have been in a lowland county where they were working. We do however have information linking them to highland Livingston family origins.
Given that Dr. Livingstone's brother John referred to ALexander and John Livingston of highland line, Dalhousie Township as his "cousins" it is especially interesting that these Livingstons apparently have a Lettermore, Mull connection. It is clear from the Kilninian Parish, Mull baptism records that Dr. Livingtone's grandfather Neil Livingstone and his wife Mary Morrison lived at Lettermore for a few years in the 1770's before moving on the nearby southern shore of the Island of Ulva.
The Kilninian Parish records back in Mull, Argyllshire Scotland indicate that Duncan was the eldest of the sons of Duncan Livingston and Christian Beaton born abt. 1791. John was born abt. 1792 a date which seems to be confirmed in the 1851 Dalhousie Township census which records him as age 49. He was married to Catharine. Alexander was born abt. 1797 and does not appear in the Kilninian parish records but is almost certain he is a son of Duncan and Christian Beaton. He died in 1840 in Dalhousie Township and was married to Mary Currie. Alexander is buried in the Highland Line Cemetery in Dalhousie Township, Lanark County, Ontario and is almost certainly the Alexander Livingston that Dr. Livingstone's brother believed was a "cousin". There is or was a cemetery stone in the old Highland Line Cemetery in Dalhousie Township which stated Alexander Livingston died April 11, 1840 Native of Isle of Mull.
There was also a sister Catharine Livingston born abt. 1800 to Duncan and Christian Livingston at Lettermore according to the kilninian parish, Mull records who was married to a Duncan Stewart and in 1800's lived near to Alexander and John Livingston in Dalhousie Township. She appears as Catharine Stewart age 50 in the 1851 Dalhousie Township, Lanark County, Ontario residing with husband Duncan and appearing to be neighbours to Alexander Livingston's widow Mary and her son Duncan Livingston Farmer. Presumingly the younger Duncan was named after his grandfather back in Lettermore, Mull.
Known Children of Duncan Livingston and Christian Beaton of Lettermore, Mull
Jean [Janet] (bap) 26 Nov 1788 d. Feb.9,1864 Brock, Ontario married Neil McNeil b. Oct. 28,1786 Mull d. June 28,1870 Brock, Ontario
Duncan (bap) 15 Apr 1791 - ?
John (bap) 22 Aug 1792 - ? married Catharine Sinclair
Alexander born abt. 1796 in Lettermore, Mull? d. April 11, 1840 m. Mary Currie b. abt. 1795 at Bailibeg, Strachur, Argyllshire d.
Catherine [/born Lettermore, Mull abt. 1800 (bap) 10 Sep 1800 - d. 1885 Fullerton Perth County, Ontario m. Duncan Stewart
Despite what some later published Canadian genealogy information regarding Duncan, John and Alexander arriving at Quebec in 1821 with other Livingstons aboard the David of London, interestingly the original passenger list (PRO CO 42/189 ff 512-69) which includes the nine lowland Emigration societies that were aboard the David of London does not list the Duncan, Alexander or John Livingston that settled in Dalhousie Township. I checked the original list and the children of Duncan Livingston and Chistian Beaton that arrived about 1821 in Lanark County do not appear to have been passengers aboard the David of London and with the other Livingstons from Perthshire on that boat traveling to Canada who also settled in Lanark County in 1821.
1. Alexander Livingstone arrived Quebec with wife probably about 1820 rather than 1821 as has been indicated elsewhere Located at Lot 5FE, Con. 11, Dalhousie Twp., Lanark County, Ontario.
2. Duncan & John Livingstone, arrived Upper Canada about 1820 ( Note: Duncan and John Livingstone and other family members are not listed on the list that saw of persons in the the Emigration Societies aboard the David lot London in 1821.)
Duncan was accompanied by his wife & 6 children, John by his wife.
3. Catherine Livingstone from Isle of Mull about 1820 to Lanark County 1850, moved to Perth County 1852, & married Duncan Stewart
Catharine and her husband Duncan Stewart were neighbours of her brother Alexander Livingston and his wife Mary Currie in Dalhousie Township, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada. After Alexander Livingston died in 1840, his son Duncan took over the farm with his mother Mary. Alexander and Catharine;s brother JOhn and his wife Catharine are also living on a farm not far from them. Alexander, John and Catharine also had a brother Duncan who settled with them in 1820 or 1821 in Dalhousie Township but I dont know what became of him. He is not in 18511852 census only his nephew Duncan Livingston son of late Alexander According a descendant of Duncan and Catherine Stewart, Alexander, John, DUncan Livingston and Mrs Duncan Stewart were all children of Duncan Livingston and Christian Beaton of Lettermore, Kilninian Parish, Mull. From the information I have looked at I believe she is correct.
John Livingstone found some info on Jean Livingston, suggesting that Duncan and Christian's eldest child Jean Livingston b. 1788 also settled in
Ontario:
"I've come across another probable daughter, Jean b. abt. 1788, who married Neil McNeil, b. abt 1786 at Kilninian & Kilmore, Mull, no marriage date available at present.
They had four or five children born at Kilninian & Kilmore, the last child listed, Hugh was baptised on 19 March 1823, religion Presbyterian at Perth, Lanark, Ontario."
More info that was found by John Livingstone:
The reference ICS refers to "Immigration: Canada from Scotland." Selected records in the Ontario Department of Public Records and Archives (not The Archives of Ontar