Duncan Allanach
Duncan Allanach
Duncan Allanach was born in Scotland, before migrating to Canada. He died in July 1894, aged around 81
Parents
- Father – Likely John Stuart
- Mother – Likely Margaret McIntire
Birth
Duncan’s date of birth has been kept as 1812 in line with several other trees online.
There are numerous trees on Ancestry stating a date of 12th February 1812 in Strathdon, but I have not found any records so far in Scotland to substantiate this.
Whilst the last ‘Duncan Allanach’ recorded in Scotland was born in 1795 (you can read his story here), and no ‘Duncans’ born in Strathdon in 1811 or 1812, we do have a Duncan Stuart born to John Stuart and Margaret McIntire in Castleton in 1813. Given the proximity in dates, the same parish and the name of ‘Stuart’ (which appears in several Canadian records as a middle name and even a name reversion upon burial), my presumption would be that Duncan Allanach and Duncan Stuart are one and the same.
1813 STUART – July 3d – John Stuart & Margt McIntire in Castleton had a son baptized called DUNCAN
Siblings
It is unknown as to whether Duncan had siblings
Marriage
Duncan married Jessie Tweedie on 4th August 1843 when he was 31 years old.
Children
Duncan and Jessie had 9 children :
- Samuel Allanach
- Alexander Allanach
- Robert Allanach
- John T Allanach
- Mary G Allanach
- William Allanach
- William T Allanach
- Edward Allanach
- Jessie Allanach
Death
Duncan dies on 27th July 1894, aged 81-82.
Life Story
1813
If my theory is correct, Duncan is born in Castleton, Strathdon parish. Although nothing remains of Castleton today, there are extensive archaeological notes here. This is what the site looks like today. I have marked the approx site of Castleton in red next to Corgarff Castle.
But if the theory is correct, who were Duncan’s relatives? Well if he was born Duncan Stuart in 1813, his parents were John Stuart & Margaret McIntire who we have on record as having a son called Duncan in 1813 and a further daughter called Elisabeth in May 1816 (also in Castletown) .
John Stuart & Margaret McIntire appear to have married in 1811 but were fined £3 as penalty for proclamation of Banns not being properly recorded.
The number of Allanachs/ Stuarts interchanging their names in this period is numerous so we may never be able to fully determine Duncan’s parents. If Duncan’s father was a ‘Stuart’, there were 8 births in Strathdon of ‘John Stuarts’ , none of whom unfortunately resided in Castleton which would have given a stronger ‘hit’. (There were no ‘John Stewarts’ in the same period).
Another possibility is the birth was unrecorded – Strathdon parish did have large gaps in its record afterall! Between 1700-1799 there were 7 John Allanachs born, the 2 born between 1750-99 I have fully documented and could not be Duncan Allanach’s father.
Another intriguing possibility is that the birth of Duncan’s father was unrecorded but was actually at the steading of Toldaquhill. We know a John Stuart resided there at the same time as Duncan Allanach, the patriarch of Family group A. It could be that the two families were interconnected and that he had a further son called Duncan, who was the father of (Canadian) Duncan Allanach.
1829
Duncan arrives in Canada on a Cunard ship, landing at Mirmachi, after which he stayed in Moncton for nine years.
1843
Duncan is married to Jessie Tweedie by Rev John McCurdy. Both reside in Carleton parish (Source ; The Gleaner and Northumberland Schediasma newspaper).
1846
Duncan Allanach and John McCauley lease a saw mill from Joseph Cunard, pay him £30 a year in rent, and deliver lumber by raft to Richibucto.
Joseph Cunard was brother to Samuel and of the famous shipping family.
From MyNewBrunswick “A massive man standing over six feet tall and weighing over 200 pounds, Cunard loved galloping through Chatham from his mills to his store or home and was often seen shouting orders to his men as he supervised their work on horseback. He drove to church in a coach with footmen in livery. His magnificent home was lavishly furnished, and peacocks wandered through its grounds. For the opening of his steam mill in 1836 some 300 people were invited to a large banquet. Often on his return from trips to England, he was greeted in Chatham by salutes of cannon and ringing of church bells. Occasionally he sent word from Richibucto that he was on his way home so that the people of Chatham would have time to organize a suitable welcome. “He was loved and hated, admired and feared, brusque, good-hearted when he wanted to be, grasping, domineering – all the contradictory qualities that made up that hard, crude, lavish Miramichi life of a century ago.”
1847
In November 1847 Joseph Cunard declares bankruptcy. A panic ensued in Chatham where hundreds of men depended on him for work. An angry crowd confronted him in the streets with cries of “Shoot Cunard,” but with two pistols in his boots Cunard stood his ground and is supposed to have demanded, “Now show me the man who will shoot Cunard.” The crowd then dispersed. According to the newspapers, between 500 and 1,000 people were out of work as a result of Cunard’s failure and many left the area in search of employment elsewhere. A number of small firms in the area also went bankrupt. The timber trade of the Miramichi area was depressed for many years partly as a result of Cunard’s failure, but shipbuilding revived and boomed in the 1850s.
In the autumn of 1847, Cunard having assigned his property to trustees and being unable to continue supplying Duncan Allanach and M’Cauley. Caie, the agent of Cunard’s assignees, directed them to apply to other persons for supplies, and the following agreement was entered into:
“Memorandum with Duncan Allanach and John M’Cauley. [A number of articles were then described.] “Dry goods to the amount of £50 or £60. Payment-pine deals, 9, 11 and broad, “at £6; at least one-fourth No. 1-remainder No. 2; delivered “at Richibucto. Dated 21st December, 1847.”
1850
A complex law case known as Desbrisay vs Mooney involving the contracts Duncan Allanach originally signed with Cunard in 1846. The extensive notes on the case give an insight into the type of work he did in Canada. It also confirms he briefly eaves Canada in 1848.
The full text of the Supreme Court Case can be found here.
1851
Duncan resides in Westmorland, New Brunswick, where he works as a sawyer. According to the census he resides with wife Jesse (27), son Alexander (8), son John (6), daughter Jesse (4) and son Samuel (1), as well as Robert Tweedy, possibly Jesse’s brother. Interestingly, Duncan states his age as 30, and estimates his birth year as 1821!
1861
According to the census, Duncan Allanach lived in Richibucto, New Brunswick, Canada, in 1861.It states his age as 55 (stating birth date as 1806!) and living with wife Jessie (35), son John (16), daughter Jessie (14), son Samuel (11), son Robert (9), daughter Mary (7), son William (5) and a baby infant newborn son.
1871
According to the census, Duncan Allanach lived in Wellington, Kent, New Brunswick, Canada, in 1871. His religion is stated as Presbyterian, origin ‘Scotch’ and occupation as ‘sawyer’. Birth year is given as 1814, and age 57. Included on the census return are wife Jesse (47), son Alexander (27), son Samuel (21), son Robert (19), daughter Mary (17), son Edward (11) and son William (4).
1881
According to the census, Duncan Allanach lived in Wellington, Kent, New Brunswick, Canada, in 1881, along with wife Jesse (66), son Alexander (37), son Samuel (30), son Robert (28), daughter Mary (26), son Edward (20) and grandson William (14). He works as a ‘jounalier’ and states birth year as 1811.
1891
According to the census, Duncan Allanach lived in Wellington, Kent, New Brunswick, Canada, in 1891.
1894
Duncan dies on 27th July 1894, aged 81-82.
Duncan is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, McKees Mills, Kent County, New Brunswick, Canada
From : Daniel F. Johnson : Volume 92 Number 1694, Date August 2 1894 County Kent, Place Richibucto Newspaper Review
The ‘Times’ of Saturday records the death of Duncan ALLANACH of Buctouche (Kent Co.) Deceased was 83 years of age and went to Moncton about two months ago to visit his son, John T. ALLANACH and was in good health for a man of his age and had never been sick. He was prostrated by diphtheria about a week ago and the ailment proved fatal, despite the best medical aid. Mr. Allanach, a native of Aberdeen, Scotland and brought to this country 55 years ago by the Cunard Co., then extensive lumbermen and shippers from those ports. He landed at Miramichi and after being in Moncton for nine years removed to Buctouche where he has since resided. The deceased was one of the charter members of the first masonic lodge ever established in Moncton and is probably the only survivor of the original members of Keith lodge. Deceased leaves a widow and six sons and two daughters living, viz. Samuel ALLANACH of Buctouche, Robert ALLANACH of Kouchibouguac, John T. ALLANACH of Moncton, Mrs. John McKEE of McKee’s Mills, Mary ALLANACH and William ALLANACH of Newport, R.I. and Alex. ALLANACH and Edward ALLANACH of Pennsylvania.
