Concerning the next Clan Gunn Chief 4; Corrish line
I have not yet had time to fully explore this line, but for logic (as it follows on from the preceding entries) I am putting out this provisional information. This is an important line as if it could be proved then it would possibly be the main MacHamish line.
PART ONE
· George Gunn of Corrish was 2nd son of Donald ‘Croitach’ of Kilearnan (being brother of Alexander Gunn Mackeamish 1689-1793 from whom William and Morrison Gunns, the last Chiefs) b. c 1691- died before 1780
· Married Isabel Polson
· Son Donald Gunn (Lt) c 1737-1807 who married Mary Gunn b 1733 m 1763 with daughter Anna Isabella Gunn b 1765 died before 1773. (Basically the above is from Burke’s Peerage...)
· BUT from the Appendix of Thomas Sinclair from his book (page 140) ‘George settled in Corrish and his two sons were Alexander and George were tenants in Kildonan parish. Alexander had William, Donald and Robert all living 1812 and the other son George had Thomas Gunn, who went to India, Alexander, William and James' (all this is from the Aeneas Gunn 1868 material)
The 1868 tree goes, and see George Gunn of Corrish; tales from an old Family Tree 1
1. George of Corrish
2. Had sons George and Alexander
3. George has sons Thomas, Alexander, William + James all living 1812
4. Alexander (as in point 2 Alexander) marries Ann Gunn Achinachiul (?)
5. They have sons Donald and Robert.
6. They have another son (he's in the separate circle) William who lived at one time at Airycly (I think that is now Arichline) afterwards in Newton Watten.
7. William has sons; Alexander in Reay, Donald in Banniskirk, Robert 93 Regiment, William in Newton 1852.
· And from Thomas Sinclair page 122 – ‘by his second son George of Corrish, who had sons George (who had William, Alexander, and James) and Alexander of Corrish, the eldest, who had William, Robert, Donald, the first being father of Alexander, Reay, who had William in Westfield, Alexander, David, Daniel and Finlay.
· And ‘Sage’ on Corrish is given Gunns of Corrish 'Chief' again, with discussion of land law and Braemore Gunns; Thomas Sinclair History of the Clan Gunn Tenth Instalment; 3.2.1903.
· George Gunn in Corrish, next and only brother to Alexander, the M’Hamish, who died in 1762, had two sons Alexander and Donald. Alexander was in Corrish and had Thomas, Alexander, William and James. Donald had William (R)obert and Donald. This William was the ...ther of Alexander, eldest representative of the Corrishes, who lived in Thurso in 1868. Alexander’s brother Robert died at the Cape of Good Hope, his brother Doanld at Shebster, the latter’s (so)ns William, Aleaxander, and Magnus leaving for (A)merica in 1870. The Corrish was married to (A?)nne Gunn and their sons were William, Halkirk, and Adam, Houstry. Adam’s sons Alexander and Donald were alive in 1870. William Halkirk, had William, Newton, the principal line... That they are of the blood of the M’Hamishes (Chiefs) gives them to little notice..Thomas Sinclair Clan Gunn History Supplement 16; of Corrish Clan Gunn Chief and various other Gunns...· Support for the Corrish claim; Supporters of the Corrish claim include Angus in Tacher, David Catechist Halkirk, Donald in Reay, William in Badinsog. ‘David’s wife from Achanakin (Achanaichan / Achaneccan ) remembered Alister Mhor the chief and his two sons ...' supporting the Corrish claim... Very much mentioned in earlier entries for 1868/1870 trees.Thomas Sinclair, Gunn Supplement five; 30.12.1902. Concerning Gunn Chief claims, especially Gunn Corrish· Corrish... Latin MS of Ross’s ‘Annals of Sutherlandshire’...’Corrish descendants are the nearest relatives and lawful heirs to the Chief.. (now, with female descent allowed...)..
Thomas Sinclair ‘Clan Gunn History Supplement 36’; the end of Sage, some Gunn Chief genealogy and some errors...· Now if you go to http://www.melville-connections.co.uk/webpages/gunn.htm you find
The family of Alexander worked in the quarries at Achscrabster, Spittal and Castletown. Over the years their jobs changed as they became more proficient until finally William Gunn, son of the Alexander born 1809, was described as Manager of the Pavement Works.
Rev. Alexander Gunn of Watten mentions this Alexander, along with his father William and his grandfather Alexander, in his history of the Clan Gunn. He notes their descent as being from George of Corrish who was a member of the main line of the MacHamish Gunns. As stated earlier, proof of this placement of the main line under examination in the main MacHamish line is not available and is in some quarters disputed.
Summary.
I find this line fascinating and as yet, not fully explored. Given the depth of material Sinclair has put forward, supported by my 1868 material, I feel the Corrish line has a lot more to it than has so far been explored. Now, don’t get me wrong this is just by using secondary sources... So, again a potential Gunn MacHamish / Mackeamish line which requires further real exploration. It certainly hasn’t been disproved...
*****
AND FURTHER
Northern Chronicle 'The Gunn Papers 22.2.1911 says
George in Corrish, who had several descendants alive in 1812'
Now, the author of 'the Gunn papers' is quite happy to challenge established story lines and beliefs; his version of the Gunn / Keith battle is a prime example. So, he is not just a simple repeater of earlier stories, so his support for the Corrish line adds credence to the view that there is something in the line which needs to be cleared up...
AND even further I note Mark Rugg Gunn writes 'with a few notes on the fly-leaves by William C. Gunn of Spittal and Mr Robert J Gunn of Toronto, both descendants of the Corrish branch of the Gunns'. (page 3).
PART TWO
I am not convinced about the below; but it may be true. If this line could be proved (legally married and such like) it is a strong contender for the main MacHamish line of the Clan Gunn. From the Aeneas Gunn trees
· George Gunn of Corrish marries 1. Miss Polson 2. Unknown had
o William Gunn died without issue
o George Gunn – issue
o Alexander Gunn marries Ann daughter of Robert Gunn of Achanaichan and Isabella Elder
§ William Gunn Arichlinie, Backlass and Houstry 1782-1863 marries Helen Gunn daughter of Alexander Gunn and Catherine Gunn 1783-1868 with issue -
· Alexander Gunn (Westfield, Achadast? and Assery) 1809-1872 marries Elizabeth Swanson of Baillie 1824- with issue -
o William Gunn 1843 (Manager Spittal Works, Watten)
o David 1844
o Robert 1846-1866
o Elizabeth 1848-1866
o Alexander 1850
o Finlay 1851
o John 1854
o Donald 1855
o Helen 1858
o Donald Munro 1861-1863
§ Adam Gunn 1789-1864 marries Euphemia Gunn
· Donald b. 1819
§ Alexander Gunn marries Sarah Gordon, dwi
PART THREE
From
The Scottish Genealogist August 1965
George Gunn of Corrish, Parish of Kildonan, died about 1763 + had two wives - who was his second wife? (I ask who was the first too?)
George Gunn was the second son of Donald Gunn of Killearnan Castle who died Chief of the Clan in 1723.
????? Alex. Sutherland of Lorg? was living in 1690 was the father of Mare (Mary? Marie?) wife of Donald Gunn the Chief named above. David Gunn who early in the 19th Century kept the Skin / Shin Inn ( I think there is a chance this might be the Ship Inn which is near Thirsk) at Thirsk in Yorkshire was grandson or great-grandson of George Gunn of Corrish named above.
Signed by
Edgar H. Cantwell
... West Wrightwood Avenue
Chicago 60614
Illinois, U.S.A.
PART FOUR
An extract;
DESCENT OF THE MACHAMISH GUNNS. The Crowner had a son James, who had a son William, who had a son David, who had a son Alexander. The latter Alexr. married Barbara, daughter of lye Du Mackay, and by her had William, whose son Alexr. married Dame Mary Mackay, daughter of Huistean Du, and by her had John Gunn of Killearnan. " Alexr. Gunn apparent of Killearnan " (Elk. MS.) witnessed a sasine, 4th August, 1676, and married Christina, daughter of the 1st Lord Reay, before 1668 (The Gunns). Probably John and Alexr. were brothers, and the former predeceased the latter, without issue. Alexr., who married the Hon. Christina Mackay, had by her three sons : Alexr. of Badinloch : George of Corrish ; and Cap. Gunn, who died in Holland. The two sons of Alexr. of Badinloch, who were both soldiers, died without issue, and the MacHamish line reverts to George of Corrish, whose sons may be seen in the list of men capable of bearing arms in Kildonan in the '45, preserved in Dunrobin Castle. According to the Revd. Alexr. Gunn. Watten, an authority on Gunn history, the descent from Corrish was as follows : George of Corrish had a son Alexr., whose son William, whose son Alexr.of Backlass was the father of William Gunn, now for many years manager of the Spittal Works, Watten. As far as we have found evidence, it has gone to confirm the contention of the Revd. Alexr. Gunn.
Page 123 Angus Mackay, The Book of Mackay,1907
PART ONE
· George Gunn of Corrish was 2nd son of Donald ‘Croitach’ of Kilearnan (being brother of Alexander Gunn Mackeamish 1689-1793 from whom William and Morrison Gunns, the last Chiefs) b. c 1691- died before 1780
· Married Isabel Polson
· Son Donald Gunn (Lt) c 1737-1807 who married Mary Gunn b 1733 m 1763 with daughter Anna Isabella Gunn b 1765 died before 1773. (Basically the above is from Burke’s Peerage...)
· BUT from the Appendix of Thomas Sinclair from his book (page 140) ‘George settled in Corrish and his two sons were Alexander and George were tenants in Kildonan parish. Alexander had William, Donald and Robert all living 1812 and the other son George had Thomas Gunn, who went to India, Alexander, William and James' (all this is from the Aeneas Gunn 1868 material)
The 1868 tree goes, and see George Gunn of Corrish; tales from an old Family Tree 1
1. George of Corrish
2. Had sons George and Alexander
3. George has sons Thomas, Alexander, William + James all living 1812
4. Alexander (as in point 2 Alexander) marries Ann Gunn Achinachiul (?)
5. They have sons Donald and Robert.
6. They have another son (he's in the separate circle) William who lived at one time at Airycly (I think that is now Arichline) afterwards in Newton Watten.
7. William has sons; Alexander in Reay, Donald in Banniskirk, Robert 93 Regiment, William in Newton 1852.
· And from Thomas Sinclair page 122 – ‘by his second son George of Corrish, who had sons George (who had William, Alexander, and James) and Alexander of Corrish, the eldest, who had William, Robert, Donald, the first being father of Alexander, Reay, who had William in Westfield, Alexander, David, Daniel and Finlay.
· And ‘Sage’ on Corrish is given Gunns of Corrish 'Chief' again, with discussion of land law and Braemore Gunns; Thomas Sinclair History of the Clan Gunn Tenth Instalment; 3.2.1903.
· George Gunn in Corrish, next and only brother to Alexander, the M’Hamish, who died in 1762, had two sons Alexander and Donald. Alexander was in Corrish and had Thomas, Alexander, William and James. Donald had William (R)obert and Donald. This William was the ...ther of Alexander, eldest representative of the Corrishes, who lived in Thurso in 1868. Alexander’s brother Robert died at the Cape of Good Hope, his brother Doanld at Shebster, the latter’s (so)ns William, Aleaxander, and Magnus leaving for (A)merica in 1870. The Corrish was married to (A?)nne Gunn and their sons were William, Halkirk, and Adam, Houstry. Adam’s sons Alexander and Donald were alive in 1870. William Halkirk, had William, Newton, the principal line... That they are of the blood of the M’Hamishes (Chiefs) gives them to little notice..Thomas Sinclair Clan Gunn History Supplement 16; of Corrish Clan Gunn Chief and various other Gunns...· Support for the Corrish claim; Supporters of the Corrish claim include Angus in Tacher, David Catechist Halkirk, Donald in Reay, William in Badinsog. ‘David’s wife from Achanakin (Achanaichan / Achaneccan ) remembered Alister Mhor the chief and his two sons ...' supporting the Corrish claim... Very much mentioned in earlier entries for 1868/1870 trees.Thomas Sinclair, Gunn Supplement five; 30.12.1902. Concerning Gunn Chief claims, especially Gunn Corrish· Corrish... Latin MS of Ross’s ‘Annals of Sutherlandshire’...’Corrish descendants are the nearest relatives and lawful heirs to the Chief.. (now, with female descent allowed...)..
Thomas Sinclair ‘Clan Gunn History Supplement 36’; the end of Sage, some Gunn Chief genealogy and some errors...· Now if you go to http://www.melville-connections.co.uk/webpages/gunn.htm you find
The family of Alexander worked in the quarries at Achscrabster, Spittal and Castletown. Over the years their jobs changed as they became more proficient until finally William Gunn, son of the Alexander born 1809, was described as Manager of the Pavement Works.
Rev. Alexander Gunn of Watten mentions this Alexander, along with his father William and his grandfather Alexander, in his history of the Clan Gunn. He notes their descent as being from George of Corrish who was a member of the main line of the MacHamish Gunns. As stated earlier, proof of this placement of the main line under examination in the main MacHamish line is not available and is in some quarters disputed.
Summary.
I find this line fascinating and as yet, not fully explored. Given the depth of material Sinclair has put forward, supported by my 1868 material, I feel the Corrish line has a lot more to it than has so far been explored. Now, don’t get me wrong this is just by using secondary sources... So, again a potential Gunn MacHamish / Mackeamish line which requires further real exploration. It certainly hasn’t been disproved...
*****
AND FURTHER
Northern Chronicle 'The Gunn Papers 22.2.1911 says
George in Corrish, who had several descendants alive in 1812'
Now, the author of 'the Gunn papers' is quite happy to challenge established story lines and beliefs; his version of the Gunn / Keith battle is a prime example. So, he is not just a simple repeater of earlier stories, so his support for the Corrish line adds credence to the view that there is something in the line which needs to be cleared up...
AND even further I note Mark Rugg Gunn writes 'with a few notes on the fly-leaves by William C. Gunn of Spittal and Mr Robert J Gunn of Toronto, both descendants of the Corrish branch of the Gunns'. (page 3).
PART TWO
I am not convinced about the below; but it may be true. If this line could be proved (legally married and such like) it is a strong contender for the main MacHamish line of the Clan Gunn. From the Aeneas Gunn trees
· George Gunn of Corrish marries 1. Miss Polson 2. Unknown had
o William Gunn died without issue
o George Gunn – issue
o Alexander Gunn marries Ann daughter of Robert Gunn of Achanaichan and Isabella Elder
§ William Gunn Arichlinie, Backlass and Houstry 1782-1863 marries Helen Gunn daughter of Alexander Gunn and Catherine Gunn 1783-1868 with issue -
· Alexander Gunn (Westfield, Achadast? and Assery) 1809-1872 marries Elizabeth Swanson of Baillie 1824- with issue -
o William Gunn 1843 (Manager Spittal Works, Watten)
o David 1844
o Robert 1846-1866
o Elizabeth 1848-1866
o Alexander 1850
o Finlay 1851
o John 1854
o Donald 1855
o Helen 1858
o Donald Munro 1861-1863
§ Adam Gunn 1789-1864 marries Euphemia Gunn
· Donald b. 1819
§ Alexander Gunn marries Sarah Gordon, dwi
PART THREE
From
The Scottish Genealogist August 1965
George Gunn of Corrish, Parish of Kildonan, died about 1763 + had two wives - who was his second wife? (I ask who was the first too?)
George Gunn was the second son of Donald Gunn of Killearnan Castle who died Chief of the Clan in 1723.
????? Alex. Sutherland of Lorg? was living in 1690 was the father of Mare (Mary? Marie?) wife of Donald Gunn the Chief named above. David Gunn who early in the 19th Century kept the Skin / Shin Inn ( I think there is a chance this might be the Ship Inn which is near Thirsk) at Thirsk in Yorkshire was grandson or great-grandson of George Gunn of Corrish named above.
Signed by
Edgar H. Cantwell
... West Wrightwood Avenue
Chicago 60614
Illinois, U.S.A.
PART FOUR
An extract;
DESCENT OF THE MACHAMISH GUNNS. The Crowner had a son James, who had a son William, who had a son David, who had a son Alexander. The latter Alexr. married Barbara, daughter of lye Du Mackay, and by her had William, whose son Alexr. married Dame Mary Mackay, daughter of Huistean Du, and by her had John Gunn of Killearnan. " Alexr. Gunn apparent of Killearnan " (Elk. MS.) witnessed a sasine, 4th August, 1676, and married Christina, daughter of the 1st Lord Reay, before 1668 (The Gunns). Probably John and Alexr. were brothers, and the former predeceased the latter, without issue. Alexr., who married the Hon. Christina Mackay, had by her three sons : Alexr. of Badinloch : George of Corrish ; and Cap. Gunn, who died in Holland. The two sons of Alexr. of Badinloch, who were both soldiers, died without issue, and the MacHamish line reverts to George of Corrish, whose sons may be seen in the list of men capable of bearing arms in Kildonan in the '45, preserved in Dunrobin Castle. According to the Revd. Alexr. Gunn. Watten, an authority on Gunn history, the descent from Corrish was as follows : George of Corrish had a son Alexr., whose son William, whose son Alexr.of Backlass was the father of William Gunn, now for many years manager of the Spittal Works, Watten. As far as we have found evidence, it has gone to confirm the contention of the Revd. Alexr. Gunn.
Page 123 Angus Mackay, The Book of Mackay,1907