Shona wrote:Hi Iain,
Do you want me to take this up with some genealogist pals? A number live in Australia, so may be able to uncover some clues Down Under.
Shona, I don't think it's now necessary to contact the Auzzies..., I think I have all that's needed thanks to Rootschat. Here's what I learned.
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1851 for Campbeltown - all born there - you will need to check the original image to confirm spelling of surname
George St
John McKellan 47 flesher
Agness McArthur 46
Archibald 5
Peter 3
Mary 7
Campbeltown ED 1 Page 23 Line 11
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From Family Search
Parents John McKellar and Agnes McArthur
Mary McKellar
Birth:19 Jun 1843
Baptism:12 Jul 1843. Campbeltown
Archibald McKellar
Born: 16 Oct 1845
Baptism: 1 Dec 1845. Campbeltown
Peter McKellar
Birth 1 Jan 1848
Baptised: 30 Jan 1848. Campbeltown
Died: 1881, Victoria Australia
EDIT:
Archibald must have been homesick right enough... He came back to Scotland where he died on 13 Mar 1924
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article ... l-title=13
The matching death is registered in Hillhead, Lanarkshire
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Australian newspaper Melbourne :
"McKellar.- On the 13th March 1924, Scotland. Archibald, the beloved husband of the late Janet McKellar of Kilkerran Farm, Poor-???? near Cressy, Victoria, and beloved brother of the late Mrs. W. Maxwell of McKillop Street, ???long."
Reading between the lines of this newspaper, homesickness provides some info. Calling their farm in Australia “Kilkerran,” could well indicate a fond attachment to the region. Indicating that the family obviously walked to the Island at low tide to tend their sheep (butcher) and a long way to walk for Archibald to go to school.
George Street could have been the shop.