ALEXANDER CAMERON AND CATHERINE MCCALLUM

Alexander Cameron was born on the rugged west coast of Scotland in Highland Argyllshire, the son of John Cameron. His birthplace (as listed in the 1861 Scottish Census) was Strontian parish in Argyllshire. Records left by his granddaughter, Catherine Cameron Southam, show him as being "of Mull", Argyllshire, an island near the coastal parish of Strontian. Mull is one of the rocky, beautiful Hebrides Islands. Today a ferry takes you on a 45-minute trip to Mull, which is dominated by the ancient castle of the MacLeans. The same records of Catherine Southam show this family group, listing Alexander Cameron's parentage:
 
 

John Cameron born abt. 1769 of Mull

Mrs. John Cameron " " 1771       "

Children:

Donald 1791    of Mull

Peter 1793           "

John 1795            "

*Alexander 1797  "

Thomas 1799       "

Jennet 1801         "

Kirtsey 1803       "

(Temple Record Book of Catherine Cameron Southam, FHS# 218887)
 
 

The parish of Strontian (or Sunart) was formed from the parish of Ardnamurchan in 1804. The parish of Ardnamurchan is partly in the county of Argyll and partly in the county of Inverness. It includes the districts of Aharacle and Strontian.
 
 

Catherine MacCallum was born (as listed in the 1861 Scottish Census) in the parish of Kilbrandon, Argyllshire. Her christening record has been found, showing her christening on 15 June 1795 (FHS# 102373). Her parents were John MacCallum and Jean McLean of Esdale. Other parish records show two brothers: Archibald, christened 23 January 1788; and John, christened 19 February 1794. These records show John MacCallum, their father, as a storekeeper of Easdale. Easdale was famous for its slate quarries, and this was its principal industry. A Scottish gazetteer describes Easdale: "The village of Easdale contains several hundred persons; most of the houses are neatly constructed, one story high, and covered with slate." The whitewashed houses with slate roofs overlook Easdale Island. On the island is a folk museum, detailing the lives of the slate quarrymen and their families.
 

The MacLeans are a dominant family in the area. The ancient castle of the MacLeans, Duart Castle, is built on the Isle of Mull, and descendants of the MacLeans are made welcome here.
 

Alexander Cameron and Catherine MacCallum were married in the nearby parish of Kilmelford:
 

1813

Alexander Cameron, Servant in Fernoch Melford

Catherine McCallum, Daughter of (blank)

gave in their names for proclamation of Banns on the 4th December and after being legally proclaimed

one Sabbath were married on the 9th

(FHS# 102380)
 
 

A Scottish gazetteer gives this description of Kilmelford: "The general surface of the parish is much diversified, comprising high mountains, hills, and dales, intersected by rivers, and ornamented with lochs, amidst a great profusion of beautiful and interesting scenery." Here in the parish of Kilmelfort these children were born to the Camerons:
 

1814

John, Son of Alexander Cameron workman at Fernoch and Catharine Mac Callum his wife was born the (blank) and baptized the 5th November.
 

1816

Hellen, Daughter of Alexander Cameron workman in Fernoch and Catharine Mac Callum his wife was born the (blank) and baptized the 22nd September
 
 

Christening record for John Alexander Cameron, Kilmelford, Argyllshire, Scotland

1819

*John, son of Alexander Cameron workman in Fernoch and Catherine McCallum his wife was born the (blank) and baptized the (blank) January.
 

1821

Flory, daughter of Alexander Cameron servant Melford and Catherine McCallum his wife was born the 8th July and baptized the 13th
 

The first son, John must have died. It was a common practice to re-use names in the event of a death of a child. Scottish naming customs were that the first son should be named for the husband's father. John Alexander Cameron, the second son, was born 25 December 1818, as shown in records left by his daughter, Catherine Cameron Southam, as well as LDS baptism records for the Glasgow Branch.
 
 

Family records show that a son, Malcolm, was born next, in 1825, but no record has been found of his christening. The family then moved to Catherine's home parish of Kilbrandon, and a son was born here in 1826:
 

1826

Duncan Cameron, lawful son to Alexander Cameron and his spouse Catharine McCallum born 7th June (FHS# 102373)
 
 

The family moved again, to the parish of Inishail, further inland near beautiful Loch Awe. Three more sons were born here:
 

1830 January 27 Peter to Alexander Cameron workman Balemore and Cathrine McCallum his spouse
 

Family records show James Cameron, born in 1831, but no record was found for him.
 

1832 April 11 Alexander to Alexander Cameron workman Rockhill and Cathrine McCallum his spouse
 
 

Like many other Scottish Highlanders, Alexander Cameron found it necessary to migrate to different areas seeking employment. Times were difficult, due to the Industrial Revolution, and the Highland clearances - estate owners found it more profitable to have sheep on their land than farmers. Many Highlanders lost their homes in this way. Many migrated to large towns like Glasgow. Alexander's son John was one of these, migrating to Glasgow, most likely to find employment in his trade as a shoemaker. It was here in Glasgow that he married Margaret Fairgrieve, and both were baptized into the Latter-day Saint Church. His father Alexander did not travel so far. In the 1841 Scottish census he is found in Inveraray, a few miles east of Inishail. According to the description in the census, Inverary was a small town "consisting chiefly of one street, with the church in the centre, and another row of houses (termed the Newtown) facing the bay. The chief support of the place is the herring fishing. A considerable number of the inhabitants also find employment on the property of his Grace the Duke of Argyll, to whom, indeed, the whole town belongs."
 
 

1841 census, Inveraray, Argyllshire, Scotland

The 1841 census shows:
 

Alexander Cameron  age 50  Ag. Lab.

Cathrine  50

Helen  20

Duncan  15

Peter  10

Alexander  5

(FHS# 101809. Note: In the 1841 census in Scotland, ages were rounded off to the nearest five years. Ag. Lab. means Agricultural Laborer)
 
 

1851 census, Inveraray

The Camerons were still found in Inverary ten years later, in the 1851 census:
 

Alexander Cameron  Head  60  Farm servant

Catharine  Wife  56

Duncan  Son  23  Labourer

James  Grandson  3

(FHS# 103646)
 
 

Letters written to John Cameron by his brother, Peter, in 1854, 1855, and 1857, and by his brother-in-law, James, in 1855, 1857, and 1859, give some information about the personalities and lives of the members of the Cameron family:
 

Alexander Cameron, the father of the family, worked at a variety of jobs. In Peter's letter, he says, "Father is working in a wood with horse. He is carting wood to the church, but small wages. He has his health, but cannot stand the work he used to do." James states that he was "jobbing away at laboring work, but wages are very small at Inverary and everything very high."

James describes a very sad scene after the death of Peter: "It was a terrible fog on the Clyde at the time, and the boat could not sail the appointed day, and your poor old Father sat on Inverary quay all night expecting the boat and got a severe cold which has not left him yet, and is not well since, although working a little with the carting about Inverary."
 

Catherine MacCallum, the mother of the family, was by Peter's description, "frail, but always rising and going about". She asked Peter to have John send some of the hair of the children (Catherine and James). James describes her as "of course not strong, but she holds up well." In 1857, Peter wrote, "Father and Mother is as you may suppose getting frail. Mother is very much so. I have not seen Father this three years. Mother was through this summer seeing us all." In 1859, James wrote, "I have never got Father to come to see us, although your mother has been many a time. She thinks nothing of coming all the way alone, altho she is very frail, and I am afraid will surely not be able to come again...It was sore on mother to take Peter with her a corpse."
 

John Cameron, the first child, died as a child.
 

Hellen Cameron married Archibald Cameron 30 January 1845 in Inveraray. They had seven children, Duncan, Catherine, Anne, Flora, Alexander, Archibald and Helen. All of the children were born in Stralachlan, Argyllshire between 1846 and 1859. Archibald worked for a while at herring fishing, then day labor. James describes their situation in 1859: "Archibald Cameron, Hellen's husband, is still in Strachur. They have a cow, and he works on the same farm. They have six of a family, three boys, three girls, nice children...Arch and Hellen cannot have a great deal more than the necessities of life as the wages are very small there and victuals is very high here this few years, but they are happy, which is better than luxury without happiness."
 

John Cameron, our ancestor, joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Scotland. He emigrated to America because of religious persecution. His sisters knit a shawl for him to take with him. He treasured this shawl through his life. Many of the family remember seeing it lay across his lap as he would sit in his chair.
 

Flora Cameron married James Cameron 26 February 1847 in Inveraray. They had nine children: James, Alexander, John, Peter, Catherine, Jane, Thomas, Jean, and Robina.. The first two children were born in Inveraray, then by 1851 the family had moved to New Cumnock in Ayrshire. They had a "good place" in Ayrshire. In his letters from Knockshinnock, Ayrshire, James said, "I left Inverary and came here as keeper four years past a Whitsuntide last. Beside the game I have now charge of improvements and everything on the property." In 1859 James wrote "I am sorry to say that Flora, my wife, your sister, has not been stout this twelve months past. About this time last year she took seriously ill with dysentery and has not been so well since. At that time our youngest child, a nice little girl, was ten months old...it took a similar trouble to the mother, and it did not get rid of it, and died in July last. It died in July last. It died in Hellen's at Strachur. As Flora and the child was not about, Hellen was very anxious that Flora should go home for a change of sea air, and Hellen came here and took Flora and the child with her. They were only there a week and had not got across the Loch to Father's when the child got worse. A great grief to us all, but especially to Flora."
 

Malcolm Cameron seems to have been the black sheep of the family. James says that "I had Malcolm another winter, but poor fellow he behaved very bad and got another good place. After he left to be a soldier. I don't know where he is now." Peter adds, "We don't know where he is but I think he is at the seat of war, but pray that his soul may be saved for Christ's sake." Malcolm was "saying in his letters he repented the way he had behaved." In 1857 Peter said, "Malcolm is at home, he got his discharge." In 1859 James wrote "As for Malcolm, he has not behaved quite so well, but is doing, I hope, better now. He was also here with me a winter six years ago. He listed out of here to be a soldier in Scots Fusilier Guards through drink. He was at the Crimea, but Sebastapol was taken two days before he arrived. After the Rupian war he got his discharge, being rather undersize. He is now working with a Gentleman near Helenobaugh at Resneash, but I have not seen him since he listed, as he knew I was very much displeased with his conduct, but I learn he is doing better now." Family tradition is that he went to Australia.
 

Duncan Cameron married Jemima Smith. In 1858, Peter wrote, "Duncan is married last May to a woman belonging to Stirling. I think a good deal of her. She served with me here and it was here that he got acquainted with her." They had three children, Alexander (born 1858 in Kirkintilloch, Dunbarton), Catherine Jemima (born 1860 in Kirkintilloch) and Duncan (born 1862 in Neilston, Renfrew). Peter's letter in 1858 said that Duncan had a place in Ayrshire. Later he "left this place and got a place near Glasgow as Coachman." James describes him: "Duncan is also very steady and carries a first rate character. Both (Duncan and Sandy) are very kind in helping their parents."
 

Peter Cameron wrote to John Cameron about coming to America. He was ill, "vomiting blood", and this illness killed him in 1858. During his life he worked at "driving and cutting wood and watching game". After he became ill he went to stay with James and Flora. In 1857 he wrote to John "I am not very strong nor never will I do think." He worked then as an undergardener. In 1859 James wrote "It is my painful duty to inform you that your Dear Brother Peter departed from this worldly scene on the 18th of November last. He had grown a very quiet steady man. He came here to assist me for a few months, and afterwards I got him in with the same master at a place near Kilmarnock halfway between here and Glasgow, and has been there for nearly three years as a general servant...Peter engaged in another place to be gardener but about the time he should have entered his new place he died. Seven weeks before he died he took a vomiting of blood which returned ever fourth or fifth day till it quite exhausted him. His mother was here seeing Flora at the time he took it. About three weeks after he took ill he went to Glasgow to the Doctors there, from there to Duncan's at Kirkintulloch where he died. Hellen and Sandy arrived the night before to see him die, along with Duncan and Mother, but he was dead the night before Flora got there. Duncan took the corpse to Inverary...I miss poor Peter very much. He was a friend indeed, and was always here by first train if any of us were unwell...I am happy to state and it must be very gratifying to you that he died very composed and resigned to the Lord's will, and gave good evidense of having found an interest in Christ, even long before his trouble. His mind seemed to be turned to things unseen."
 
 

Death certificate for Peter Cameron (www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk)

James Cameron "died young".
 

Alexander Cameron, nicknamed "Sandy", worked in Strachur. Peter said, "They pay sheep for the half of his wages. He is a tall strong fellow." James Cameron wrote, "Sandy is shepherd on the same farm (in Strachur, with Archibald and Hellen), but I had a letter from Sandy today and he tells me he has given up his place and intends to try some other work... Sandy is a tall very good looking young man, the brawest of all the family, and remarkably clean, steady and well behaved."
 
 

(To view the full text of the letters written to John Alexander Cameron by his family, click here.)
 
 

1861 census, Inveraray

The last record of the Camerons is found in the 1861 census in Inverary:
 

Alexander Cameron  Head  65  Carter  born Argyllshire, Strontian

Catherine  Wife  66  Carter's wife  born Argyllshire, Kilbrandon

Catherine  Grdau  12  Scholar  born Argyllshire, Strachur
 

A carter was someone who transported goods with a horse and cart: "The carter might work with a pony and trap, even a donkey. Many carters worked carrying produce from the country into the towns on market days. Sometimes a carter worked in conjunction with his wife, fitting her work in with his. They formed a team." ("The Effects of Occupations on British Family Life"; Elizabeth M. Simpson).
 

The Cameron family is not found in the 1871 census of Inverary, and no record of the deaths of Alexander and Catherine MacCallum Cameron has yet been found.