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Isle of Jura Info

The Scottish Isle of Jura off the west coast of Scotland

Jura Genealogy – Trace your Jura Ancestors

November 19, 2009 by Ron 17 Comments

jura-graveyardBetween the late eighteenth and mid-nineteenth centuries many crofters in the Scottish Highlands were forced to continue crofting on inferior lands and many of them chose to emigrate, often to countries such as the US and Canada. For some reason, not known to me, many people that migrated from Jura ended up in North Carolina. This forced movement of people is known as “The Clearances” because the land they lived and farmed on was needed by the estate owners for sheep, a real money maker in those days, and deer, for sports. This was a time of huge depopulation in the Scottish higlands and islands, also on the Isle of Jura. The situation on Jura regarding these clearances were very different from the mainland and the following paragraph from the book ‘Island of Deer’ written by Peter Youngsten shows what happened on Jura:

We studied the population if Jura during the second half of the nineteenth century through the records provided by the national censuses and watched it drop from 1158 to 614 during the fifty years from 1841 to 1891. We know tha tmany families left the island, both to emigrate and to settle on the mainland. Much of the period during which this exodus took place is give the term ‘The Clearances’, in the Highlands and Islands at large. We must now see whether this description applies to Jura. Was Jura ‘cleared’ of people to make way for sheep and deer, and to allow the landowners to gain bigger incomes than those supplied by the rents of the settled tenants? Miss Campbell insisted to the Commission that nothing of the kind ever took place on the island. ‘Not one single family was ever evicted from their dwelling’ she said, ‘and those who left did so voluntarily, because they preferred to go.’

There are other stories from these times that say that there was some sort of clearance which is about the Cnocbreac eviction in the 1840s. Initially there were five families living there and later only one family was left. The others were relocated elsewhere on the island, in better housing than before, and under the same laird. This doesn’t sound like a clearance in the true sense of the word.

Many people who’s ancestors came from Jura, and who are now living far away from their ancestors homeland, have an interest in finding out where their ancestors lived, worked and who they were. Because of the mass migration many records have gone lost but there are still several sources where information can be obtained. If you are searching for your ancestors from Jura the following information, links and resources could be of any help. Providing you have done some basic research and have knowledge of your family tree, it is possible to access a complete range of Parish, Census and Statutory Registers in several places in Scotland to continue your investigation.

ScotlandsPeople is a partnership between the General Register Office for Scotland, the National Archives of Scotland, The Court of the Lord Lyon and brightsolid (formerly Scotland Online). ScotlandsPeople is the official online source of parish register, civil registration, census and wills & testaments records for Scotland. They are holding over 50 million records, making the ScotlandsPeople database one of the worlds largest resources of genealogical information and one of the largest single information resources on the Web. The website address is www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

Jackie Davenport from the Argyll and Bute Council is the Council Archives and Administration Manager. She has a special Archives email address for Genealogy related questions. Your enquiries can be sent to archives@argyll-bute.gov.uk

Another interesting Jura Genealogy resource is provided by the members from the Jura e-mail list. By “subscribing” to this mailing list, you will become part of a loop of people who are researching their ancestors from the Isle of Jura, Scotland, and the related lines of their study. To SUBSCRIBE, send an e-mail to: SCT-JURA-L-request@rootsweb.com with the word subscribe as your message. you will receive a welcome message with instructions for sending messages to the list.

Below is an interesting collection of links to various resources that might be of help. The links are provided by Gavin, a regular visitor of this blog.

General information:

www.theargyllcolonyplus.org

A history of Jura emigration

Argyll Colony Plus

Gary McKay’s website

Some links to family trees/information:

Descendants of Alexander McDougald

Welcome To Clan Lindsay

The Kenneth Black Family

Journey to Jura by by Elizabeth Buie

Alexander McPherson of Jura

Filed Under: Genealogy, History Tagged With: clearances, crofts, Genealogy, History

Comments

  1. AvatarElizabeth Buie says

    November 25, 2009 at 12:19 am

    Thanks for your link to my article! I also have a set of Islay/Jura photos on Flickr, which you’ll find at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ebuie/sets/72157619116074803/ (Only three of these are of Jura at present, but I have more than I will scan and upload in the coming months.)

    Reply
  2. AvatarCarol says

    May 29, 2018 at 1:18 am

    We have traced our line to Jura through Malcolm BLack born 1690. Very interested in his parent and how far back his family lived on Jura. I’m not having any luck on the suggested sites. Curious what clan they would have been also.

    Reply
  3. AvatarMick says

    January 15, 2019 at 12:39 pm

    ANCESTRY DNA says I have relatives from Jura; and none of my family came over(US) after the 1775-1800 period. I’m enjoying learning more about the Isles and hope to find info about my kin. Thanks for this site, it’s helpful!

    Reply
    • AvatarFrank Clark says

      February 15, 2019 at 5:32 pm

      Hello Mick,
      My name is Frank Clark. My family came to North Carolina from Jura in 1736 on a ship called the Thistle. Col. Victor Clark formerly of Tarboro North Carolina now passed is my 5th cousin. He was a wealth of information on all of us from Jura. He gave me a book about the island that has been quite good. He would stay with Ian and Nora Clark when on Jura in his many visits. I do not know if the are still living and still on Jura. The Clark’s, MacLeans and Buies all founded Barbeque Presbeterian Church in North Carolina.

      Reply
      • AvatarRoger Roberts says

        July 25, 2019 at 7:40 pm

        According to Ancestry.com I had Clark relatives living on Jura that emmigrated to America. I also had Clark ancestors living in Cambletown and Ayr and Argyll. I am interested in finding out more about my Clark ancestors. Are you able to help?

        Reply
      • AvatarPat Clark says

        June 21, 2020 at 11:43 pm

        To Frank Clark:

        Archibald Clark, my ancestor, came from Jura and settled in Bladen County, N.C. in 1741. He came with his two brothers, Alexander (wife: Flora McLean) and John, both of whom also settled in N.C. My guess is that you are descended from one of these three Clark brothers.

        Their father was Gilbert Clark (of Jura).

        I am familiar with the history of my line in the U.S., and some of the Clark line in Scotland.

        Reply
        • AvatarPatricia Davis Hornsby says

          October 3, 2020 at 2:34 am

          My 6th great grandfather was Alexander Clark and his wife was Flora Finwal Mc Lean. Both were born on the Island of Jura, Argyle, Scotland. So you and I have a small genetic link!! My search ended with Malcome Clark and wife, Mary McRannie. Both were born and died on Jura, Argyle, Scotland. I wish that I could take it further, but this may be it for this set of 6th Great Parents.

          Reply
          • AvatarPat Clark says

            October 4, 2020 at 8:46 pm

            I, too, have had no success in finding the links in the chain of my earlier Scottish/Irish/Norse ancestors. Most of what I have found is the names of the clans to which our Clark line belonged, and possibly the identity of the first Clark (or cleric or Clerig) in our line.

          • AvatarPatricia Davis Hornsby says

            October 4, 2020 at 10:32 pm

            How do you go about finding clan information? Also is there an online subscription site where I can get information about the Clarks, cemeteries, etc. I am a novice in genealogy. 😁

        • AvatarFRANK CLARK says

          October 15, 2020 at 11:25 pm

          Hello Pat,
          Yes, they are my family. Don’t know if any Clark’s are still on Jura as the population is 180-195, once 2500ish. They came to America and later New Zealand and elsewhere. Ben to Barbeque Church north of Fort Bragg NC.

          Reply
  4. AvatarWilma Reath says

    February 20, 2019 at 3:17 pm

    We visit Jura a few years ago and met with the Patterson sister, and Archie Black. Archie died in 2000 and is buried on Jura. I was wondering if there is a gravestone with his name on it. Does anyone know where he is buried? We visit the house in Keils.
    Looking for any information of the gravesite or on the Patterson sister, If believe one of them as passed away. Where is she buried?
    My husband mother family came from Jura and her maiden name was Black
    Thanks for any information I could receive.

    Reply
  5. AvatarMary Ann McInnis says

    May 1, 2019 at 11:06 pm

    I am Mary Ann McInnis of Aberdeen, North Carolina. I have been able to trace my ancestors back to Jura with clear lineage back to Malcolm McInnis ( born 1760 ) and even 5 generations beyond Malcolm. I would like to communicate with others with a McInnis ancestor and try to learn if there are any of the clan still on Jura. Please contact me with any information you may have.

    Many thanks and may God bless you richly,

    Reply
    • AvatarJohn McInnis says

      July 29, 2020 at 5:33 pm

      Would enjoy sharing information.John Malcolm McInnis jr
      john2mcinnis.net

      Reply
    • AvatarChristie McInnis says

      March 28, 2021 at 5:28 pm

      Hi Mary Ann,

      Malcolm McInnis (born 1760) is my 5th GGF. I was born and lived in NC until 10 years ago, when I moved to Charleston, SC. My Uncle Leroy McInnis lived in Aberdeen. I went to college at SCC and worked at Moore Regional Hospital. I would enjoy collaborating with you.

      Reply
  6. AvatarKate says

    May 29, 2019 at 5:16 pm

    My husband and I both researched our DNA through Ancestry.com and interestingly, we both have family from Jura. It shows that they emigrated to the US prior to 1800. I was wondering if anyone has information about the Campbell surname in Jura and also the surnames Adams/McReynolds or Sexton. I would appreciate any help. I’ve been told that the Adams would be related to the McDonald or McInnis families.

    Reply
  7. AvatarCassie says

    July 20, 2020 at 12:10 am

    My ancestor Charles Campbell was born on Jura in 1709. His parents were John Campbell and Jonet McIntyre Campbell, both of Inveraray. Charles came to North Carolina and the rest of my Campbell family continued there, up until my mother. I was hoping to get some more information. Why, I wonder, did John and Jonet leave Inveraray for Jura? Were they Campbells of Cawdor? Which Campbell line did they originate from? Another interesting fact is that after Charles Campbell came to North Carolina, he married, but his wife’s parents (living in North Carolina also at the time) were originally from Islay! Small world?

    Reply
  8. Avatarmarnie Pummell says

    April 11, 2021 at 11:47 pm

    I have been able to find a document on Scotlands People that confirm the marriage of my G.Great Grandfather Duncan McDougall 1806 & G.Great Grandmother Isabella McDougall 1816 on Jura in 1840. As both last names are listed as McDougall I assume they were related perhaps cousins. Through Census reports 1851-1881 I have been abe to confirm Jura as birthplace for both.
    However I have been unable to find any birth records or names of parents for either Duncan or Isabella which has made it very difficult to go back any further in my family tree. I do know the family relocated to Gigha as it is listed as the birthplace for my G. Grandfather Neill McDougall 1845.
    If anyone has any suggestions to further my search it would be appreciated.

    Reply

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About Jura Info

AvatarThis website, formerly known as Jura Info, is run by Ron from the Isle of Islay. I frequently visit Jura and post my pictures, news and other info here. Thanks for visiting.




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