Interpreting Gigha marriage record - Galbraith/McDiarmid

[STG]

I wonder if anyone on the forum could help me work out exactly what is written on the attached marriage record, from Gigha, in 1800.
The marriage of interest is of Peter McDiarmid and Helen Galbraith and although much of it is legible, I'd welcome ideas on the following points:

1 Helen is described as a SISTER - as far as I can see - rather than daughter of X, as is usual. Is there any particular significance in this? If the father had died, I'd expect to see "daughter of the late...."

2 What is the name of the brother? Various names have been suggested.

3 Is the location of the brother likely to be Ardailly, or is there another similar name locally?

Thanks in advance for your help.

STG

[Shona]

Peter McDarmaid in Glen was married to Helen Galbriath, sister of Dn'l Gal'th in Arda...

I'd day the name was Donald, as there seems to be a flick after the n.

The place name may be Ardailly, but could also be Ardachy. Given that you get a lot of vowel shifts in these old records, it may also be Ardeglamy.

Below is a link to Gigha tenants that may help you. If you check out the Galbraiths, there are a lot of Donalds.

http://knapdalepeople.com/gighapeople.htm

As to why Helen's brother is mentioned, I'll pass that one by the genealogists on another forum that I am a member of to see if they have some answers.

[Shona]

The family are in Campbeltown in 1841.

Witchburn

Peter McDermid, 60, ag lab, born Scotland
Helen McDermid, 60, born Argyll
Archibald McDermid, 35, ag lab, born Argyll
Peter McDermid, 30, ag lab, born Argyll
Isabella McDermid, 25, born Argyll
Helen McDermid, 5, born Argyll
Helen Smith, 12, born Argyll

[Shona]

I was looking through the Gigha rental lists an noticed Archibald Smith at Ardachy. May be connected in some way as Peter and Helen named one of their children Archibald and there is a Helen Smith living with them in 1841.

[Shona]

The genealogists reckon that 'sister of' was used because both parents were dead and so her brother gave permission for her to be married.

[STG]

Shona

Many thanks for giving the topic so much thought. I've got a couple of other suggestions for the brother's name, so I'll wait to see if a consensus emerges.

Best regards

STG

[Shona]

What was I thinking!

The first letter is an A - the same capital A is used in the word April. So it could be Adnr or Alnr.

As far as I can make out, Helen and Peter had the following children:

- Margaret, born 1800, Gigha
- Archibald, born 1802, Campbeltown
- John, born 1803, Killean and Kilkenzie
- Kate, born 1805, Killean and Kilkenzie
- Alexander, born 1806, Killean and Kilkenzie
- Peter, born 1808, Killean and Kilkenzie
- Isabella, born 1811, Killean and Kilkenzie
- Mary, born 1811, Killean and Kilkenzie
- Donald, born 1816, Campbeltown

So based on the names above, the abbreviation could be Archibald or Alexander.

There is an Alexander Galbraith at S Drumcrow on Gigha in the 1841 census:

Alex, 60, ag lab
David, 25
Marion, 20
Alex, 5

Given the rounding down of ages, this could be Helen's brother.

[STG]

Here's a thought from another person who saw this: could the mystery word(s) be "A Jnr"?

Opinions and suggestions still welcome!

STG

[Shona]

Looking at it once more, I think it is Adn with a possible r at the end. If you look at the entry below, the d in the mystery name is the same as the d in London.

Shona

[Shona]

Think I might have cracked it!

We have a cap A - same as the A in April.
The a lower case d - same as the d in London on the line below.
Then a superscript m.

Therefore, the name is Adam.

In the 1841 census, there is the following Galbreath family at Ardminish.

Adam, 75
Flora, 60
Lachlan, 25
Malcolm, 20
Archibald, 25
Donald Smith, 13

Adam Galbreath married Flora Galbreath on Gigha on 7 December 1796.

I have found the following baptisms for the couple - all on the island.
Peter, 1798
Catharine, 1800
John, 1802
Neil, 1805
Margarate, 1807
Margarate, 1808
Isobel, 1809
Lachlan, 1812
Nelly, 1815
Malcom, 1819

Adam Galbreath is certainly of the right age to be Helen's brother. Also, he names one of his daughters, Nelly - perhaps after his sister.

[STG]

Thanks so much for this. I had not considered Adam and think that you may be on the right track.

You might also be interested to see the same family in the 1827 Gigha census as:
Drumyeonmore
Adam Galbraith, 60
Flora Galbraith, 52
Peter (27), Catherine (25), Neil (21), Peggy (19), Elizabeth (16), Lachlan (14), Nelly (11), Malcolm (7)

The only lingering area of doubt is that none of Helen's sons, at least none of the surviving ones, was named Adam. I'll keep thinking about it.

Again, thank you for helping.

Best regards

STG