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| Burford Congregational Cemetery, Burford, Ontario, Canada |
John U. Muir (1) was born about 1770-1774 in Ayrshire, Scotland (1,2,3,4), married Diana Winnett about 1793 (birth of first child) and immigrated to Ontario, Canada, probably on the ship "Commerce" from Greenock, Scotland to Québec, Canada, in 1821 (5). I say probably, because the number of children is off by one, and the ages for all do not match well. They had 9 children:
1. Thomas White Muir, born 10 Jun 1795 in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, baptized 14 Jun 1795 in Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland (6,7), married Mary Wiley 2 Sep 1831 in Bathurst District, Ontario, Canada (8), and died 16 Jan 1876 in Middlesex, Ontario, Canada (1,7).
2. Margaret Muir, born 16 Aug 1797 and baptized 20 Aug 1797 in Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland (6), married William Bennett 20 Feb 1822 in Perth, Lanark, Ontario, Canada (8) and died after 1883 (1).
3. John Muir, born 7 Jun 1802 [calculated] in Ayrshire, Scotland (9), married 1st Charlotte Thompson 3 Oct 1823 in Perth, Lanark, Ontario, Canada and 2nd Elizabeth Thompson Crosker 28 Sep 1847 in Burford, Brant, Ontario, Canada (8), and died 27 Apr 1885 in Woodstock, Oxford, Ontario, Canada (9,10).
4. James Muir, born about 1806 in Ayrshire, Scotland (11,12), married 1st Christiana Campbell about 1833 (13) and 2nd Susanna Kipp Laurence 2 Jan 1849 in Burford (8), and died 24 Jan 1881 in Lambton, Ontario, Canada (1,12).
5. Robert Cuthbertson Muir, born 11 Feb 1809 in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland (1,7,14), married Margaret Elizabeth Thwaites 3 Aug 1852 in St Quivox and Newton-on-Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland (15), and died 10 Mar 1905 in Burford (7,16).
6. Janet Muir, born about 1812, probably in Renfrewshire (7,17), married Matthew Virtue 27 Sep 1832 in Bathurst District (8), and died 10 Jan 1896 in Burford (7,17).
7. Allan Brown Muir, born about 29 Apr 1814 [calculated], probably in Renfrewshire (7,18), married Barbara Jane McWilliams about 1843, probably in Burford (birth of first child), died 29 Jan 1892 in Burford (10,18).
8. Agnes Cuthbertson Muir, born 17 Dec 1818 [twin] in Eaglesham, Renfrewshire, Scotland and baptized 31 Jan 1819 in Paisley Abbey, Renfrewshire, Scotland (6). No further record, probably died in Scotland before the family emigrated.
8. Grace Mitchell Muir, born 17 Dec 1818 [twin] in Eaglesham and baptized 31 Jan 1819 in Paisley Abbey (6). No further record, probably died in Scotland before the family emigrated.
John's surname was spelled Mair in the baptisms of the first two children and Diana's surname was spelled Winnacoat, Winacot, Winacoat and Wincioat in the baptisms of the first two and final two of her children (6).
John Muir and Diana Winnett's ancestry has long been a brick wall, so I hired John McGee of Wheech Scottish Ancestry Services to see if he could learn more about the family by searching through the National Archives in Edinburgh. He didn't have much success with the Muir line, but he did with Margaret Brown's. Here are the results of his research, along with further research by myself --
John U. Muir's parents were probably John Muir, born about 1750, probably in Ayrshire (4), and Margaret Brown, baptized 7 Apr 1752 in Stewarton, Ayrshire, Scotland (4,20). Their marriage bann was dated 26 Feb 1769 in Kilmaurs, Ayrshire, Scotland (19). They had 5 known children:
1. John U. Muir, see above
2. William Muir, born 28 Sep 1771 and baptized 8 Oct 1771 in Kilmaurs (4,20).
3. probably Margaret Muir, born about 1776, who married Thomas White, living 1841 in Galston (21). I believe Thomas White is the namesake of John U. and Diana's firstborn son. John Orr, age 15 was living with them. This same John Orr was living with Robert Muir, his uncle, in 1851 in Galston (22). [See #5 below].
4. Barbara Muir, baptized 13 May 1781 in Kilmaurs (20).
5. Robert Muir, born 7 Jun 1790 and baptized 1 Jun 1790 in Galston (20). Living with John Orr, his nephew, in 1851 in Galston [see #3 above].
6. James Muir, born 8 Mar 1792 and baptized 11 May 1792 in Galston (20), married Janet Scott 27 Nov 1814 in Galston (19) and was a mason by trade (21).
Margaret Brown, baptized 7 Apr 1752, was the daughter of John Brown and Janet Cuthbertson of Blacklaw, Stewarton, Ayrshire, Scotland. John was born about 1715 (20,23) in Stewarton, married Janet 25 Mar 1737 in Neilston, Renfrewshire, Scotland (4) and died 21 Dec 1759 and is buried in Stewarton Cemetery (23). Janet died 11 May 1782 and is buried in Stewarton Cemetery (23). They had 5 known children:
1. Agnes Brown, baptized 2 Feb 1738 in Stewarton (4,20)
2. John Brown, born about 1740 (23), married Grizel Mitchel 19 Apr 1771 in Stewarton (19) and died 10 May 1778 and is buried in Stewarton Cemetery (23). I believe Grizel Mitchell may be the namesake of John U. and Diana's child Grace Mitchell Muir.
3. Thomas Brown, baptized 1 Feb 1748 in Stewarton (4,20).
4. Margaret Brown, see above.
5. Allan Brown, baptized 5 Nov 1754 in Stewarton (4,20), married Mary Barr before 3 May 1783 in Ayrshire (20,21,24), and was buried 21 Oct 1850 in Fenwick, Ayrshire, Scotland. He was a farmer (21). I believe he was the namesake of my 4th great-grandfather Allan Brown Muir (1814-1892).
John Brown, born about 1715 in Stewarton (20,23), was the son of John Brown and Mary Fulton. They had 5 known children.
1. Anne Brown, baptized 22 Jun 1707 in Stewarton (20).
2. Matthew Brown, born 22 Oct 1714 and baptized 24 Oct 1714 in Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland (20).
3. John Brown, see above.
4. David Brown born 27 Apr 1717 and baptized May 1717 in Kilwinning (20).
5. Joseph Brown born 4 May 1720 and baptized 8 May 1720 in Kilwinning (20).
Janet Cuthbertson, wife of John Brown, was the daughter of Thomas Cuthbertson and Jean Paton.
Thomas, son of William, and Jean, daughter of James, married 26 Jan 1704 in Kilmarnock, after bann dated 12 Jan 1704 (4,19). Thomas, a farmer of [Little] Blackwood, Kilmarnock (4,20) was buried 4 Mar 1746 in Kilmarnock (25). Jean was buried 5 Feb 1736 in Kilmarnock, aged 55 years (24). They had 6 known children:
1. Janet Cuthbertson, see above.
2. Jean Cuthbertson, born 7 Feb 1708 and baptized 15 Feb 1708 in Kilmarnock (20).
3. Margaret Cuthbertson, born 3 Jan 1710 and baptized 5 Feb 1710 in Kilmarnock (20) and buried 28 Apr 1732 in Fenwick (25).
4. Elizabeth Cuthbertson, born 11 Oct 1717 and baptized 27 Oct 1717 in Kilmarnock (20).
5. Mary Cuthbertson, born 7 Apr 1720 and baptized 5 May 1720 in Kilmarnock (20).
6. William Cuthbertson, son of Thomas, married Agnes Lymburner 15 Dec 1743 in Kilmarnock (19).
Sources:
1. The History of the County of Brant, Ontario, Warner, Beers & Co., Toronto, 1883, Hathitrust.org
2. Find a Grave, memorial #42016992, Burford Congregational Cemetery, Burford, Ontario, Canada.
3. The Early Political and Military History of Burford, Major Robert Cuthbertson Muir, La Cie d'Imprimerie Commerciale, Québec, 1913
4. John McGee, Wheech Scottish Ancestry Services, 7 Hillside Drive, Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire, Scotland, G61 3QH, 24 Oct 2021
5. "Canadian Immigrant Records, Part Two," ancestry.com
6. Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950, ancestry.com
7. Ontario, Canada, Deaths and Deaths Overseas, 1869-1948, ancestry.com
8. Canada, Ontario, Marriages, 1800-1910, familysearch.org
9. Find a Grave, memorial #139476945, Woodstock Baptist Cemetery, Woodstock, Ontario, Canada
10. Ontario Deaths, 1869-1937 and Overseas Deaths, 1939-1947, familysearch.org
11. Canada Census, 1871, familysearch.org
12. Find a Grave, memorial #216707076, Bear Creek Cemetery, Lambton, Ontario, Canada
13. Marriages, 1869-1927, familysearch.org (married of their child)
14. Canada Census, 1901, familysearch.org
15. Scotland, Marriages, 1561-1910, familysearch.org
16. Find a Grave, memorial #42017230, Burford Congregational Cemetery
17. Find a Grave, memorial #45851921, Burford Congregational Cemetery
18. Find a Grave, memorial #41914711, Burford Congregational Cemetery
19. Scotland, Parish Marriages & Banns 1561-1893, findmypast.com
20. Scotland, Parish Births & Baptisms 1564-1929, findmypast.com
21. 1841 Census of Scotland, findmypast.com
22. 1851 Census of Scotland, findmypast.com
23. Ardrossan Library & Carnagie Library, Compiler, Some Ayrshire Monumental Inscriptions, Ayrshire Roots, https://www.ayrshireroots.co.uk/Genealogy/Records/MIs/some%20Ayrshire%20MIs.htm
24. An Inquiry into the Origin, Pedigree & History of the family, or clan, of Aitons in Scotland, William Aiton, A. Miller, Hamilton Scotland, 1830, Hathitrust.org
25. Scotland, Parish Deaths & Burials 1564-2017, findmypast.com
