Between 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:
Some links to family trees/information:
Descendants of Alexander McDougald
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.)
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.
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!
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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. 😁
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.
Hello Pat, I descend from Alexander & Flora McLean Clark. My line went from North Carolina down to Kemper County, MS in the mid 1840s.
I’d love to discuss it all with you further as I’m finding info online that has our Alexander Clark confused with other ones (There were many, easy mistake to make.) I’d like to get those generations sorted out correctly. My line is:
Alexander Clark & Eleanor Campbell
Gilbert Clark & Elizabeth Floore
John William Clark & Mary Lucy Land
Mildred Clark & E. M. Nelson
myself
There are about three generations before Alexander that have become a jumbled mess. I’m hoping you can help.
All best,
Gnanse
Dear Gnanse,
I, too, am descended (directly) from Alexander Clark and wife Flora McLean. As you say, the family trees online seem to have some confusion. I will need to get out my papers and see if I can provide the information I have. One advantage is that I have genealogical work done by my grandfather, an aunt, and several separate sources. Also, I have had the Y-dna testing and have some information from that source.
One of the reasons for confusion is that the Clarks used the same first or Christian names over and over, in the same generation and in following generations – as did the McLeans and Buies, families that had known each other and had intermarried with before and after they emigrated to America.
In the meantime, I am descended from Benjamin Clark (Sr.), my great-great-great grandfather, who was born in Dobbs Co., NC in 1758. He served in the Revolutionary Army and eventually brought his family to a portion of Arkansas Territory (via Tennessee and Missouri) and first entered Texas about 1815 when it was still part of Spain. Benjamin (Sr.) was an ordained Methodist minister. One of his sons, James Clark, my great-great grandfather, founded Clarksville, Texas.
I don’t know if this site will allow me to post my email address, but here it is: attybearpec@gmail.com
It probably would be easier for me to communicate with you by email, because I have a lot of info to send, once I determine what would be applicable. So, feel free to email me and to give me your email address.
I will get back to you.
Pat
I have recently found papers that state I am also a descendent of Alexander Clark from Jura. My father was a Nelson, grandson of William Thomas Nelson. I am also interested in finding out more about to which clan we belong and more about our family history! It seems as if we may all be distant relatives!
Erin
Frank,
I have also traced my ancestors back to the founders of the Barbecue church and the emigration from Jura to North Carolina in 1730s.. I am very new in my research, but am excited to learn more! Do you have info regarding to which clan we belong? Alexander Clark who married Flora McLean was my 6th (or maybe 7th) great grandfather. I love finding new relatives!
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.
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,
Would enjoy sharing information.John Malcolm McInnis jr
john2mcinnis.net
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.
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.
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?
Where did you get the information that John Campbell’s wife was named Jonet McIntyre, and that they came from Inveraray area? According to Scotlandspeople her name was Jonet Campbell (in Scotland, wives retain their maiden name after marriage, so it seems likely Jonet, or Janet, was born a Campbell.
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.
Hello Pat and Patricia Hornsby,
It’s been a while here on the site for me! Yes, you both are family. Rab Gordon on the shore of Loch Ness is making me a custom sgian dubh knife. His family moved to Jura when he was five. Left for the mainland when he grew up. Nora Clark taught his sister to bake on Jura, small world! Ian and Nora have passed, their son Ron Clark still has their house to stay at when he comes over from the mainland. We Jura Clark’s were under the MacDonald clan for hundreds of years as they ruled southern Jura, a few Clarks were in north Jura and so under clan Maclean.
I am looking for information on Charles McLean who was christened on 15 August 1714 in Jura, Argyll, Scotland. His father’s name was Donald McLean and his mother was Margar Shaw His son was born in Scotland in 1746. His name was Robert McClain. For some reason the last name spelling was changed while he was living in Loudon County Virginia. Can you give me any information??
I am trying to find out names of individuals who appeared in the census for the Garvellach islands off Jura. I have located some in 1851, but can’t find any other mention in later census returns, although there is evidence that people did live there after that. Any assistance would be gratefully received.
Hello, Margaret. I don’t think I have any helpful information other than the following: The names of my direct ancestors who died on Jura were Alexander Clark and his son Gilbert Clark (who died there after 1690). Gilbert’s three sons, Alexander, Archibald and John Clark, emigrated from Jura to North Carolina, and I am descended from one of them.