William 'beag' / 'bheg' Gunn of the Clan Gunn Chief line
William 'beag' Gunn
(the Kinbrace lines are also dealt elsewhere in much more detail - I am not convinced of Kinbrace as given here.)
(the Kinbrace lines are also dealt elsewhere in much more detail - I am not convinced of Kinbrace as given here.)
This line is a bit more complicated to follow as it was drawn on two parts of the old tree. Yes, William ‘beag’ also has solid Chief credentials, being the younger brother of Chief William Mor.
But firstly note Mark Rugg Gunn’s comments (from his History of the Clan Gunn) and his chart, pages 186-187. The chart shows
· William beag (2nd son)
· Had two sons Donald the Scholar and William of Kinbrace
· William of Kinbrace had John of Kinbrace
· John of Kinbrace had two children, Donald Gunn of Achaneccan and William of Kinbrace
He says ‘Young William Gunn married a daughter of Sutherland of Langwell and his further history is unknown’. I note his tree page 270 where he says the Osclay Gunns come from this line, see other entries.
I think all this is just a little bit wrong... See the primary evidence below...
I note Sinclair page 111 ‘An Angus Gunn, son of William of Kinbrace, related to the Chief, married the daughter of Alexander Bain Backlasas, whose gravestone in Dirlot says he died at Knockglass in 17-‘ But which William Kinbrace?
and 'From Thomas Sinclair The Gunns page 149. This, though, is from the ‘Appendix’ which my tree is based on...
‘(Donald Crottach’s) eldest daughter Esther married Donald Mackay of Skerray, and was alive in 1723, while the other became Mrs John Gunn of Kinbrace...
But firstly note Mark Rugg Gunn’s comments (from his History of the Clan Gunn) and his chart, pages 186-187. The chart shows
· William beag (2nd son)
· Had two sons Donald the Scholar and William of Kinbrace
· William of Kinbrace had John of Kinbrace
· John of Kinbrace had two children, Donald Gunn of Achaneccan and William of Kinbrace
He says ‘Young William Gunn married a daughter of Sutherland of Langwell and his further history is unknown’. I note his tree page 270 where he says the Osclay Gunns come from this line, see other entries.
I think all this is just a little bit wrong... See the primary evidence below...
I note Sinclair page 111 ‘An Angus Gunn, son of William of Kinbrace, related to the Chief, married the daughter of Alexander Bain Backlasas, whose gravestone in Dirlot says he died at Knockglass in 17-‘ But which William Kinbrace?
and 'From Thomas Sinclair The Gunns page 149. This, though, is from the ‘Appendix’ which my tree is based on...
‘(Donald Crottach’s) eldest daughter Esther married Donald Mackay of Skerray, and was alive in 1723, while the other became Mrs John Gunn of Kinbrace...
Start in the bottom left corner
The ‘Alexander Gunn Edinburgh 1868 tree’ (note the previous post) goes
1. William Bheg had two sons
2. William who settled in Kinbrace and Donald the scholar
3. That William had another William
4. That William had another William
5. That William married a daughter of Sutherland of Langwell
6. They had John who married a daughter of Donald Gunn of Killer: nan
The ‘Alexander Gunn Edinburgh 1868 tree’ (note the previous post) goes
1. William Bheg had two sons
2. William who settled in Kinbrace and Donald the scholar
3. That William had another William
4. That William had another William
5. That William married a daughter of Sutherland of Langwell
6. They had John who married a daughter of Donald Gunn of Killer: nan
Read to the left bubble, starting at the right hand side.
And then from the other side of the chart
1. William Kildonan This branch sprung from ‘Wm Bheg’ and of the Kinbrace line.
2. William
3. Aeneas
4. William Askaig Kildonan
5. Aeneas Tacher d. 1853
6. (Son) Rev. Peter died 1864 Victoria
7. (Other sons, I’m using the rough sheet below as the good sheet is poor here) Wm. Inland Revenue, John, George MD both of Jamaica, James, James Sutherland all dead, Rev. R.I. Gunn, ???? and Aeneas both living 1868.
8. And there’s a further Aeneas William and Peter 1868 but a bit away from the others, I think it names Rev Peter and his two brothers but is a bit of a guess...
And then from the other side of the chart
1. William Kildonan This branch sprung from ‘Wm Bheg’ and of the Kinbrace line.
2. William
3. Aeneas
4. William Askaig Kildonan
5. Aeneas Tacher d. 1853
6. (Son) Rev. Peter died 1864 Victoria
7. (Other sons, I’m using the rough sheet below as the good sheet is poor here) Wm. Inland Revenue, John, George MD both of Jamaica, James, James Sutherland all dead, Rev. R.I. Gunn, ???? and Aeneas both living 1868.
8. And there’s a further Aeneas William and Peter 1868 but a bit away from the others, I think it names Rev Peter and his two brothers but is a bit of a guess...
The rough chart showing, bottom right, Aeneas Tacher
*****
Now, why is this important? Firstly this is, at the very least, an interesting cadet line and possibly a 'Chief' line. But it’s important as from another source I have been given the following tree. The person who provided this tree had not seen the old family tree I have -
William 'Beg' GUNN (3413), b. circa 1551
+unknown spouse
├── Donald GUNN (the Scholar) (3417), b. say 1576
└── William GUNN of Kinbrace (3418), b. say 1578
+unknown spouse
├── William GUNN (3419)
└── John GUNN of Kinbrace (3420)
+unknown spouse
└── William GUNN of Kinbrace (3421)
+unknown spouse
└── Aeneas GUNN (3422)
+unknown spouse
└── William GUNN in Ascaig, Kildonan (3412)
+unknown spouse
└── Aeneas GUNN of Tacher (2717),1 b. 1764 Braemore, Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland,2 d. after 18513
+Katherine INNES (2718),4 b. circa 1772,4 m. 16 Jul 1790 Wick Parish, Caithness, Scotland,5 d. 07 Aug 1831 Wick Parish, Caithness, Scotland5
├── William GUNN (3345),6 b. 1795 Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
├── Esther GUNN (3346),6 b. 1797 Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ +William COGHILL (3347), b. circa 1794 Wick Parish, Caithness, Scotland,2 m. 03 Dec 1818 Wick Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ ├── David COGHILL (3371), b. 01 Nov 1819 Wick Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ ├── Isobel COGHILL (3376), b. 10 Oct 1820 Wick Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ ├── Aeneas Gunn COGHILL (3377), b. 27 May 1821 Wick Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ ├── Catherine COGHILL (3384), b. 07 Jul 1823 Wick Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ └── Mary Ann COGHILL (3385), b. 08 Apr 1826 Caithness, Scotland2
├── James GUNN (3386),6 b. 1799 Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
├── George GUNN (Dr) (2720),6 b. 1801 Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland,3 d. 01 Feb 1826 Jamaica7
├── John GUNN of Jamaica (2719),6 b. circa 1802 Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland8
├── Barbara GUNN (3348),6 b. circa 1803 Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland,2 d. 17 Aug 1861 Knockglass, Dunbeath Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ +Alexander MUNRO (3349), m. 18 Jul 1834 Watten Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ ├── James MUNRO (3387), chr. 03 Mar 1836 Watten Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ ├── George Innes MUNRO (3388), chr. 14 Jun 1837 Watten Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ ├── Catherine MUNRO (3389), chr. 18 Apr 1839 Watten Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ ├── Peter MUNRO (3390), chr. 13 Aug 1841 Watten Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ ├── Aeneas MUNRO (3391), chr. 12 Aug 1843 Watten Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ ├── Christian MUNRO (3392), chr. 23 Nov 1845 Watten Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ └── Mary Ann MUNRO (3393), chr. 25 Oct 1847 Watten Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
├── Innes GUNN (3394), b. 13 Jun 1806 Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
├── Peter GUNN of Tacher (Rev.) (2722),4 b. circa 1810 Tacher, Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland,9 d. 02 Jun 1864 Campbellfield, Vic10
│ +Jane SCOTT (2725),4 b. 1829 Londonderry, Ireland,10 m. 1852 Geelong, Vic,11 d. 15 Mar 1878 Vic12
│ ├── Catherine Jane GUNN (2726),13 b. 1853 Collingwood, Vic,14 d. 12 Dec 1872 Melbourne, Vic15
│ ├── William John GUNN (2727),16 b. 1855 Campbellfield, Vic,17 (married with children) d. 1942 Armadale, Vic18
│ ├── Innes George GUNN (2728),19 b. 1858 Campbellfield, Vic,20 d. 24 Mar 1859 Campbellfield, Vic21
│ ├── Aeneas James GUNN (2729),6 b. 10 Feb 1862 Woolsthorp, Vic,22 d. 16 Mar 1903 Mataranka, NT23
│ └── Peter Robert Innes GUNN (2730),4 b. Aug 1864 Brunswick, Vic,24 .m. Nellie Mabel Selman Dec. 1902, d. 1952 Canterbury, Vic25
├── Patrick GUNN (2721),4 b. before Jun 1810 Wick Parish, Caithness, Scotland4
├── Robert Innes GUNN (Rev.) (3350), b. circa 1812 Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland, d. 30 Sep 1879 Keiss, Wick Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ +Janet Leslie BARR (3395), b. circa 18252
├── Mary Ann GUNN (2723),4 b. before Jun 1814 Wick Parish, Caithness, Scotland4
│ +Gilbert GORDON (3351)
│ └── Aeneas Gunn GORDON (3352), b. 1846 Nova Scotia, Canada,2 d. 23 Nov 1931 Leuchars, Fifeshire, Scotland2
└── Aeneas GUNN (2724),4 chr. 24 Aug 1816 Tacher, Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland,3 d. 31 Aug 1872 Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland3
Some more on James Munro (3387) MUNRO, James, Esq. M. D. of Brampton Hall, Westmoreland. Eldest son of of Alexander Munro, Esq. of Knockglass House Caithness who d. 1878, by Barbara Gunn, who d. 1862 sau. of Aeneas Gunn Esq. of Tacher; b. 1836. m. 1867 Mary. dau. of the late Reverend Thomas Bellas J.P. and D.L. of Bongate Vicarage, Westmorland. Dr Munro who was educated at Edinburgh University (M.D. 1859) is a Magistrate for co. Durham and for the North Riding of Yorkshire and Surg. Lt.-Col 3rd Batt. Durham Light Horse..... Residence Brampton House, Barnard Castle, Durham..
Now, there are enough similarities between the two to suggest there may well be something in this line. There are enough differences to suggest they have come from different sources. I have not provided the footnotes as they are not needed here. It should not be that hard to find live lines... Proving it all is a different matter, of course.
I note Aeneas James GUNN (2729),6 b. 10 Feb 1862 Woolsthorp, Vic,22 d. 16 Mar 1903 Mataranka, NT23
*****
Now, why is this important? Firstly this is, at the very least, an interesting cadet line and possibly a 'Chief' line. But it’s important as from another source I have been given the following tree. The person who provided this tree had not seen the old family tree I have -
William 'Beg' GUNN (3413), b. circa 1551
+unknown spouse
├── Donald GUNN (the Scholar) (3417), b. say 1576
└── William GUNN of Kinbrace (3418), b. say 1578
+unknown spouse
├── William GUNN (3419)
└── John GUNN of Kinbrace (3420)
+unknown spouse
└── William GUNN of Kinbrace (3421)
+unknown spouse
└── Aeneas GUNN (3422)
+unknown spouse
└── William GUNN in Ascaig, Kildonan (3412)
+unknown spouse
└── Aeneas GUNN of Tacher (2717),1 b. 1764 Braemore, Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland,2 d. after 18513
+Katherine INNES (2718),4 b. circa 1772,4 m. 16 Jul 1790 Wick Parish, Caithness, Scotland,5 d. 07 Aug 1831 Wick Parish, Caithness, Scotland5
├── William GUNN (3345),6 b. 1795 Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
├── Esther GUNN (3346),6 b. 1797 Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ +William COGHILL (3347), b. circa 1794 Wick Parish, Caithness, Scotland,2 m. 03 Dec 1818 Wick Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ ├── David COGHILL (3371), b. 01 Nov 1819 Wick Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ ├── Isobel COGHILL (3376), b. 10 Oct 1820 Wick Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ ├── Aeneas Gunn COGHILL (3377), b. 27 May 1821 Wick Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ ├── Catherine COGHILL (3384), b. 07 Jul 1823 Wick Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ └── Mary Ann COGHILL (3385), b. 08 Apr 1826 Caithness, Scotland2
├── James GUNN (3386),6 b. 1799 Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
├── George GUNN (Dr) (2720),6 b. 1801 Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland,3 d. 01 Feb 1826 Jamaica7
├── John GUNN of Jamaica (2719),6 b. circa 1802 Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland8
├── Barbara GUNN (3348),6 b. circa 1803 Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland,2 d. 17 Aug 1861 Knockglass, Dunbeath Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ +Alexander MUNRO (3349), m. 18 Jul 1834 Watten Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ ├── James MUNRO (3387), chr. 03 Mar 1836 Watten Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ ├── George Innes MUNRO (3388), chr. 14 Jun 1837 Watten Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ ├── Catherine MUNRO (3389), chr. 18 Apr 1839 Watten Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ ├── Peter MUNRO (3390), chr. 13 Aug 1841 Watten Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ ├── Aeneas MUNRO (3391), chr. 12 Aug 1843 Watten Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ ├── Christian MUNRO (3392), chr. 23 Nov 1845 Watten Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ └── Mary Ann MUNRO (3393), chr. 25 Oct 1847 Watten Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
├── Innes GUNN (3394), b. 13 Jun 1806 Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
├── Peter GUNN of Tacher (Rev.) (2722),4 b. circa 1810 Tacher, Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland,9 d. 02 Jun 1864 Campbellfield, Vic10
│ +Jane SCOTT (2725),4 b. 1829 Londonderry, Ireland,10 m. 1852 Geelong, Vic,11 d. 15 Mar 1878 Vic12
│ ├── Catherine Jane GUNN (2726),13 b. 1853 Collingwood, Vic,14 d. 12 Dec 1872 Melbourne, Vic15
│ ├── William John GUNN (2727),16 b. 1855 Campbellfield, Vic,17 (married with children) d. 1942 Armadale, Vic18
│ ├── Innes George GUNN (2728),19 b. 1858 Campbellfield, Vic,20 d. 24 Mar 1859 Campbellfield, Vic21
│ ├── Aeneas James GUNN (2729),6 b. 10 Feb 1862 Woolsthorp, Vic,22 d. 16 Mar 1903 Mataranka, NT23
│ └── Peter Robert Innes GUNN (2730),4 b. Aug 1864 Brunswick, Vic,24 .m. Nellie Mabel Selman Dec. 1902, d. 1952 Canterbury, Vic25
├── Patrick GUNN (2721),4 b. before Jun 1810 Wick Parish, Caithness, Scotland4
├── Robert Innes GUNN (Rev.) (3350), b. circa 1812 Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland, d. 30 Sep 1879 Keiss, Wick Parish, Caithness, Scotland2
│ +Janet Leslie BARR (3395), b. circa 18252
├── Mary Ann GUNN (2723),4 b. before Jun 1814 Wick Parish, Caithness, Scotland4
│ +Gilbert GORDON (3351)
│ └── Aeneas Gunn GORDON (3352), b. 1846 Nova Scotia, Canada,2 d. 23 Nov 1931 Leuchars, Fifeshire, Scotland2
└── Aeneas GUNN (2724),4 chr. 24 Aug 1816 Tacher, Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland,3 d. 31 Aug 1872 Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland3
Some more on James Munro (3387) MUNRO, James, Esq. M. D. of Brampton Hall, Westmoreland. Eldest son of of Alexander Munro, Esq. of Knockglass House Caithness who d. 1878, by Barbara Gunn, who d. 1862 sau. of Aeneas Gunn Esq. of Tacher; b. 1836. m. 1867 Mary. dau. of the late Reverend Thomas Bellas J.P. and D.L. of Bongate Vicarage, Westmorland. Dr Munro who was educated at Edinburgh University (M.D. 1859) is a Magistrate for co. Durham and for the North Riding of Yorkshire and Surg. Lt.-Col 3rd Batt. Durham Light Horse..... Residence Brampton House, Barnard Castle, Durham..
Now, there are enough similarities between the two to suggest there may well be something in this line. There are enough differences to suggest they have come from different sources. I have not provided the footnotes as they are not needed here. It should not be that hard to find live lines... Proving it all is a different matter, of course.
I note Aeneas James GUNN (2729),6 b. 10 Feb 1862 Woolsthorp, Vic,22 d. 16 Mar 1903 Mataranka, NT23
He is the key person in Mrs Aeneas Gunn’s book of reminiscences ‘We of the Never-Never’ which was also made into a film. It is a key part of Australian colonial literature. His father, the Reverend Peter Gunn, was also a prominent early pioneer in Australia. One would love to find the Family Bible which he took to Australia with him in 1844...
And a fascinating snippet from ‘The Brisbane Courier’ of 31 March 1927, page 19. It concerns the Australian Prime Minister Stanley Melbourne Bruce and his Gunn (Braehour) roots. (It is the subject of an earlier ‘blog’): ‘Mrs Jeannie Gunn, the Australian authoress, who has authentic knowledge of the Prime Minister’s ancestors...’ The ‘beag’ line and the ‘Braehour’ line are not that far apart...
And a fascinating snippet from ‘The Brisbane Courier’ of 31 March 1927, page 19. It concerns the Australian Prime Minister Stanley Melbourne Bruce and his Gunn (Braehour) roots. (It is the subject of an earlier ‘blog’): ‘Mrs Jeannie Gunn, the Australian authoress, who has authentic knowledge of the Prime Minister’s ancestors...’ The ‘beag’ line and the ‘Braehour’ line are not that far apart...