Clan Maclea/Livingstone and O'Neill connection?

[Kyle MacLea]

Steven,

I hope you'll keep looking and keep us informed of any new discoveries or finds! It's always great to have people stop by, but it's even greater to have people stay, or drop by occasionally. As a side note, we have a Clan Society which publishes a regular newsletter (at least 3 per year so far!) and we've had some excellent articles about Dr David Livingstone that you might enjoy. If you're ever interested in joining the Society, it's only $25 for a year and it gives you access to our complete archive of newsletters. Just something to think about!

Kyle=

[Canadian Livingstone]

Hi Steven,
I think that some of the genealogists from a Fifeshire Historical Society with better insight than I on old Aberdour Parish and Fifeshire Livingstone families in general might be able shed further light on the history of this Lowland Livingstone family. I assume they might be connected long ago to the old aristocratic lowland family of Callendar,Stirlingshire and Lithlithgo,West Lothian Livingstons but those more familiar with the old Lowland Livingston families would probably have better insight on probable origins of the Aberdour Parish, Livingstone family than I.

Basically what we did is trace your ancestors back beginning with the 1900 U.S Census which indicated that your ancestor was born in October of 1872 in Scotland. This information proved very helpful as a starting point for a search by the folks here to locate your ancestors in Scottish parish and census records. This is sourced from the old census and parish records if your family genealogists have any questions.

Quickly summarized your ancestor James Livingstone born in 1871 in Cambusnethan Parish, Lanarkshire who came to America in 1894 was the son of James Livingstone b. abt. 1834 and Margaret Haistie. James Sr. according to his 1857 marriage record was born abt. 1834 in Aberdour Parish, Fifeshire and his parents recorded in that 1857 marriage record were listed as Hugh Livingstone or Livingston and Cecila (last name unknown). I then located Hugh Livingstone b. abt. 1810 and Cecilia Livingstone and family including young James Sr. in the 1841 Census residing in Aberdour Parish,Fifeshire. I am not 100 per cent certain but think that 1806is wrong in the 1841census info and that Hugh was born in 1804 to John Livingstone and Agnes Blaick of Aberdour Parish as indicated in Aberdour Parish records. It is almost certain that this is a Livingstone family of Aberdour Parish, Fifeshire origin. Hope this helps to simplify things even if it does not achieve what you ideally hoped for which was a proven link to Dr. Livingstone. THIs is however as far back as the old parish records allows me to go regretably. No further info on Hughs parents John Livingston and Agnes Blaick or Black in any parish in Scotland.

regards,

Donald

[Canadian Livingstone]

Hi Kyle,

Do you remember some old posts regarding the lowland Livingston coat of arms. There were a number of them from the middle ages to the 1700's. I am going to try to find what I posted but if you find it that would be great also. Dont want to confuse anyone regarding this apparent Aberdour parish, Fifeshire connection for Steven's ancestors. If you have time take a look at what has been submitted by Jewel, Roberta,John,Steven and all and see if you follow the genealogical trail to the old Aberdour parish, Fife Livingstones. The Livinsgtone birth records in the old parish books go back in the mid 1600's in Aberdour Parish so these Livingstones appear to have been rooted in Fifeshire a long time. Later in the 1850's Steven's ancestor James Livingston Sr. born abt. 1834 ended up in Cambusnethan Parish, Lanarkshire where he married his wife Margaret Haistie. It was this James that had a son Jame Livingstone Jr. born in 1871 in Cambusnethan Parish, Lanarkshire that went to America in 1894. This was Steven's great-great grandfather Livingstone. Jewel and Roberta provided us with vital information identifying that this James was born in the month of October in 1872 in Scotland which was later discovered to 1871 but which helped Jewel and Roberta to locate in the parish records a James Livingston who was born in October 1871. And sure enough he had a brother named Hugh which Steven also mentioned. ALso he was a James Livingstone who is in the 1891 Scottish census but not the 1901 Census.

Great collaborative effort from the team. Thanks to Steven for providing us with some helpful clues.

regards,

Donald

regards,

Donald

[Steven Meyer]

Thank you! It's nice to know that there's still Livingstones out in the world when I was younger and my great grandmother passed she was the last one in our family line with the last name Livingstone and I believed she was the last Livingstone, I never knew there was more out there! Is it true that all Livingstone/Livingstons are related in some small way?

[Kyle MacLea]

It seems likely that most are related in some way, Steven.

Check this out from 1743!

…and then sent him home to the Highlands and called his son, the then Lord Callander and Linlithgow [Earl of Linlithgow and Livingston, of the lowland House of Livingston], and told him that tho' their family at that time made a figure in the world, and that tho' the McLea's in the Highlands made no great figure there, yet that their family were descended of the McLea's in the Highlands, and that at whatever place he met with any of the name of McLea that he should always reckon them as his own name, Livingston, and that he should be kind to them.

http://kitenet.net/~kyle/family/wiki/ne ... aclea.html

Basically the McLeas mostly became Livingstons or Livingstones, but there was an earlier lowland Livingston family that believed they were all related at heart. We treat all Livingston/es as one of our own!

Kyle=

[Canadian Livingstone]

Hi Steven,

It seems pretty clear from the research done by Clan Maclea Livingstone in the past five years or so that all Scottish Livingstones/Livingstons do not descend from one ancestor or family. This I would imagine however would be the case with the Campbells and other old Scottish clans and families I would suspect. THe complexities of Genealogy DNA research are beyond my understanding but this appears to me to be one conclusion that can be probably be drawn from our own DNA research project on Livingstones/Livingston worldwide.There is also an interesting ancient tradition a that our highland Maclea Livingstone clan had some family connection with the old aristocratic lowland Livingstone family but we have yet to prove this conclusively. DNA testing so far I think has indicated that old Lowland Livingstones of Callendar,Stirlingshire and Linlithgo in West Lothian were not of the same family line as highland Livingstones who ancestors originated in Western Argyllshire.

I have finally found out that I was correct about your ancestor Hugh Livingstone being born in 1804 and not 1806 as the 1841 Scottish census stated. Hugh was born October 16,1804 to JOhn Livingston or Livingstone and Agnes Black . Also Hugh Livingstone's wife was Cecilia Henderson and they were married apparently on November 25, 1825. I am going to verify that with the existing old parish records from Aberdour Parish which is where I assume they were married and get back to you on this tommorow. Looks like this source from familysearch.org is probably correct however. At least I hope.

regards,

Donald Livingstone Clink
Historian
Clan Maclea Livingstone Society

[Steven Meyer]

Would my family line be connected to the Maclea?

[Canadian Livingstone]

Hi Steven,

A family connection between old Highland Macleas and the old Lowland Livingstones was apparently understood by some Macleas in the 18th century but we have not been able to prove it. I have updated that ancestral line that I did on page 3 and may make a few additions to it tomorrow if something else is found. I think I may be able to locate info on John Livingston born abt. 1766 in Aberdour Parish father of Hugh tommorrow. I have a hunch who his parents were in Aberdour Parish but no proof as yet. No marriage record exists for John Livingston and Agnes Blaick or Black in the parish or elsewhere in Scotland regretably. Again I would reccomend you contact a Fifeshire Historical Society as they may know of Livingstones who have done alot of research on this Livingstone families origins in Scotland. Looks like an old family perhaps connected to old lowland Aristocratic Stirlingshire Livingston families of Callendar and Linlithgo,Scotland but not 100 percent certain of that.

regards,

Donald

[Steven Meyer]

There was one thing that I wonder about though, The James Livingstone you found was born in 1871 and was married to a Katherine, yet he was really married to Marion Stewart, I have photos and documents proving that he was married to Marion and not Katherine. My great grandmother was named Katherine but not her mother.

[Steven Meyer]

I've also come to discover that the scrapbook that I have is one of two scrapbooks made, the one I have is book two which explains James Livingstone and onward. If I could locate book one I believe I could answer the questions I have about my roots. I'm hoping one of my aunts or uncles is in possession of the book.