Speculation & More Research

We've been very fortunate to have found many records which are positively our family. I'm hopeful there is more we can find out. This will take more work and perhaps more funds. My funds are very limited, so I will have to rely on mostly free resources and kind volunteers. If there are others interested in doing research, I would welcome you. Also, we may find someone who already has compiled research, which could enhance what we already know. I would love to compare notes with anyone who has family information.

DNA is helping us discover common ancestry with other family. See the section on DNA for more.

I'm writing this section, to share research I've done which is speculative. Hopefully, with more research we can prove or disprove speculative areas. I'll also share resources available, where we may find more information. If you are aware of other resources, please do share with me and others.

Problems faced with Irish research

I have found Irish research to be very difficult. Most early census records were destroyed, and some church registers were destroyed. Trying to piece our McMullan and Orr ancestry back together has proven very difficult, but with determination we may eventually break through our brick walls!! I have posted many messages at message boards, on an Irish newspaper website. There are still avenues we can pursue.

John McMullan

I will share that I have reams and reams of paper I've printed for searching for information for our John McMullan. I can't share everything I have, but will share some possibilities for what happened to our John.

In Ireland John was probably McMullan. I've seen his name spelled different ways, so I keep open to spelling. First, I would like to determine his parentage. It is said that naming patterns were used in Ireland (similar to Scotland and English naming patterns), where the first Son would have been named after the Grandfather. John and Margaret's first Son was named Arthur. So, it's possible that John's Father was also Arthur McMullan.

I found there is one Arthur McMullan who is said buried at the Downpatrick Church of Ireland Graveyard. It is shown that he died February 1, 1830 at age 52. I found a reference for this grave, which indicates his headstone was lost during a renovation, and perhaps a substitute put in it's place: "Erected to the memory of Arthur McMullan of Downpatrick who departed this live on 1 Feb 1830, aged 52 years".

A person named Aynsworth Pilson kept a diary of happenings for Downpatrick. He had lived on Bridge St in Downpatrick, and was aware of a lot of happenings. He had recorded our John and Margaret's marriage in his diary which was helpful, as it showed John had resided at Bridge St when he married and that John was a shoemaker.

Another section of Aynsworth's diary, showed a Susan (Galway) McMullan who died in 1846. She had lived on Bridge St, and was shown as a widow of Arthur McMullan, who was a pensioner. This may have been the Arthur who died in 1830?

I've also connected British Military records. There was an Arthur McMullan, shown as born at Downpatrick in the 1780s, who served in the 11th Foot Regiment. He was a shoemaker. This could be John's father, and the same Arthur married to Susan? There were 2 other McMullan's who had served in the same unit as Arthur, who were also from Downpatrick.

I have other references to Arthur McMullan's, but we don't have anything more solid which would prove a relationship.

Of course, it's possible a naming pattern was not used. The family history book indicates John was disowned for marrying a "commoner". We can't be sure if that is true or not? We are now aware of the sampler made by Margaret Orr, so it seems she was educated. If he were disowned by his family, it could also have been for marrying outside his religion. One person in Ireland who helped me to find the marriage record indicated most McMullan's in the Downpatrick area were Catholic. There were some McMullan's I've found who also married at Church of Ireland in Downpatrick.

She also felt, that to be married in the Cathedral, where John and Margaret did marry, could have indicated a Gentry status, as she felt the Cathedral was reserved for mostly the Gentry class.

The family history book said: "While he was a student at Trinity College in Belfast, he fell in love with Margaret Orr, a maid at the school. She was said to have been very beautiful with auburn hair and yellow-brown eyes."

During that time period, Trinity College was in Dublin. Also, John was shown as a shoemaker on his Son Arthur's birth record in 1845. It would seem he would have apprenticed as a shoemaker, or possibly have attended a school where shoemaking was taught? Of course, he could have attended a college also. I'm pretty impressed with his signature. Here's is the record of John and Margaret's signatures:

On John and Margaret's marriage record a witness was William George Hurst, who I found was a shoemaker in Downpatrick in 1852. Perhaps, John knew him from his apprenticeship or schooling? Also, I wonder if our William John may have been named after him for William, and given the middle name of our John.

Please let me know, if you find out any more information about our John McMullan in Ireland. We don't know where or when he was born, and we don't yet know his parentage.

John McMullan/McMullen in Canada

In my search for information about William John McMillan's baptism in Quebec City, I ran across information about an arrest of a John McMullen in Quebec City. This arrest was for damaging hotel property. A John McMullen, who was Irish was tried in court September 6, 1847. His plea was "not guilty", but was found guilty by the Judge, and had to pay for damages, or spend 60 days in jail. He was jailed September 6, so his initial release date would have been November 6, 1847. He was actually pardoned after serving 30 days. But, my thought was that Margaret may have made arrangements for William John the first's baptism at the Cathedral for November 7, 1847. She would have initially been aware of John's release for November 6. It seems possible this could have been our John, but??

While John and Margaret signed William John's birth record in Quebec as "McMullian", I think the name was McMullen in Canada. I believe the last actual record we have for John is from the Montreal Directory, showing him as a shoemaker at 15 St Mary Street in Montreal. I found there had been a shoemaker named John Hall at that address in 1848 and 1849, so John McMullen apparently purchased the business from him. In 1852 a Susan Douglas was at that address. No Montreal directory is available for 1851, so we can't be sure if John was there or not that year.

I have found many, many John McMullen's in Canada, so this search has been most difficult. I found a John McMillan buried at the Mount Royal Cemetery who died April 10, 1857 at 38 years of age who is in an unmarked grave. However, I think the family would not have been in the area at that point, since I believe David was born in Kingston in 1853 or 1854. There was another John McMullen I found buried at Mount Royal in 1852, but I have since found that was the date he was reburied at that cemetery. His date of death was said to have been December 28, 1846 which doesn't fit our John, since he was at William John the first's baptism November 7, 1847. John could have died sometime after 1852, but we don't know for sure?

I've spent a lot of time looking for a death or cemetery record for John at Kingston, Ontario. So far, I haven't found one for the 1850s. But, one large cemetery was abandoned in Kingston, and the only records which may exist for deaths for that cemetery could be in a church's archives. I had a search at the Anglican Archives of Kingston, but nothing was found for a John McMullen.

John may have left the Montreal area in search of a community where he could practice as a shoemaker with his own business.

I've searched 1851 Canada census records in an attempt to locate our John McMullen for that year. My understanding is the 1851 census is incomplete, so a record showing him could be missing. I searched for a census for Bytown and nearby areas. There was one John McMullen, but this John did not show as a shoemaker, and I've found nothing more about him.

There were many more John McMullen's, but I have been able to eliminate many of them.

I did purchase a directory for Kingston, Ontario for 1855. There was one John McMillan who's employment was not shown. The address shown for him was 34 King Street. I found a Judge of Division Court who's Chambers were also at 34 King Street, so perhaps that John was a legal clerk?

There was one other John McMullen who was a Blacksmith at 14 Gore Street. I didn't think either fit our John, unless he changed occupations?

There was a James Hinds in Kingston on the 1855 directory, who was a Tinsmith at 21 Ordinance Street. Perhaps, this was a brother of the "John Hinds" who Margaret showed to be married to on the 1861 census when they are in Toronto, Ontario. John Hinds was on the 1858 directory for Kingston as a tinsmith, and on the 1861 directory for Toronto as a tinsmith. We don't know when Margaret married John Hinds, as no marriage record has surfaced.

John McMullen of Loughborough and Brampton, Ontario

For 1861 I found a John McMullen who was Irish and a shoemaker who was living in Loughborough, Frontenac County, Ontario. This John was married to an Elizabeth and had a 3 year old daughter Mary Ann or Mary Jane. He was born about 1829 according to this census. That would seem young for our John, but we don't know the accuracy for that birth year.

This John was in Brampton, Peel, Ontario in 1871 and 1881. In 1871 his wife shows as Eliza, and in 1881 she shows as Martha. I think they're the same person, though as birth year and location are the same for both. No daughter is shown for these years, so she may have died. For all census years their religion shows as Primitive Methodist. This John died May 22, 1882 in Brampton, and I found he is buried in an unmarked grave in the Brampton Cemetery.

The locations where this John lived could make sense for our John. I believe Margaret and our John had a Son, David born in Kingston, Frontenac County, Ontario in 1853 or 1854. Loughborough is in the same county as Kingston. If this is our John, he and Margaret apparently went their separate ways. But, we just don't know? The John at Loughborough and later at Brampton may have been too young for our John?

We don't know if William John could have been living with him. However, it seems William John could have been in Kingston sometime in the 1860's. That may be where he took a message from Thomas Edison by telegraph.

We know William John married in Fergus, Wellington, Ontario in 1867, and was there in 1871 on the census. Brampton is not too far from Fergus, so it's possible John tried to stay in contact with his Son by living close by?

I've been in contact with a couple of people in Brampton who have tried to find more information. One record that was found for this John was a dissolution of a shoemaking partnership which happened December 8, 1868 as it was reported in the newspaper.

Margaret Orr

The family history book indicates Margaret may have married as many as 7 times. Perhaps, but we only have knowledge of 4 marriages. She was left a widow at least 3 times, and we can't yet be sure of John McMullen's fate.

We don't have a marriage record for Margaret's marriage to John Hinds. Therefore, we don't know if she was still a McMullen when she married him. If she and John McMullen had David together in 1853 or 1854, it would seem possible Margaret could have married other times between 1853 and 1861. We can't be sure when Margaret married John Hinds. Perhaps they married at Kingston, and moved to Toronto shortly after.

The 1861 census indicates Margaret was born in County Antrim, Ireland. On marriage records her parent's show as David Orr and Catherine (unknown maiden name). I've been unable to find a birth record for her in Ireland. There were quite a few David Orr's.

It would seem the Orr's probably came from Scotland at some point.

William John's older Brother Arthur McMullen

Arthur McMullen is also a mystery. We know he was born in 1845 at Downpatrick, and was shown on the census in Montreal in 1851 and is listed on the 1861 census, but is likely absent from the home that year. He may have become a sailor, which could account for not finding him on census or other records.

Annie Laurie Baker's account for who she shows as "the oldest son" indicates he was a sailor in the Civil War. I think some of her stated facts are wrong from the research I've tried to do. We don't know for sure if this was a McMullen or possibly a Todd who may have been in the US Civil War. It was said this person threw a bomb overboard and saved the ship he was on. I would think such an heroic act would be worthy of a Medal of Honor. I can't find a Medal of Honor attributed to a McMullen who was a sailor, but there is a Samuel Todd from New Hampshire who was a sailor and received a Medal of Honor. There was also a Patrick Mullen who received two Medals of Honor. Patrick shows as born May of 1844 in Ireland, so very close to the date Arthur was born. Presently, I don't see a family connection for Patrick, but??

My initial research was done on the basis of what Annie Laurie had written. I thought she was referring to the oldest Son of John and Margaret McMullen. That would have been Arthur McMullen. I found an Arthur McMullen who had served with the 13th New York Heavy Artillery. This Arthur's occupation was shown as a boatman. He signed up for service at Buffalo, New York. When he signed up it showed he was born in Canada, and he showed as 21 years of age at the time, which was August 17, 1863. This Arthur served with Company I, and they did serve on board ships. However, I've been unable to find any account of a heroic deed for this Arthur.

While our Arthur was born in Ireland (not Canada), and would have been 18 years of age (not 21) in 1863, it's possible he reported his birthplace as Canada, due to discrimination of the Irish. Also, he had grown up in Canada, as he was very young when he arrived. If he ran away at an early age, he may have misrepresented his age and place of birth for a long time.

Maybe, we can eventually figure out if a McMillan or Todd family member had served in the Civil War, but, for now, it's still a mystery?

Also, I have been unable to determine the fate of Arthur McMullen after the 1861 census. The name Arthur was somewhat unusual for a McMullen, and will still try to determine his fate if possible.

William John's younger Brother David McMullen

I believe William John's younger Brother was David McMullen. Census records show he was born in Kingston, Ontario in 1853 or 1854. He was shown on the 1861 census as David Hinds, and on the 1871 census he was with his Brother William John McMillan and family, and shown as David McMillan. At that time he was shown as a harness maker. There was a column which showed if someone had undergone an operation in 1871, and it appeared David may have, but we don't know why? We can't be positive of David's parentage without a birth record.

I still don't know what happened to David after 1871.

Wellington County Ontario Museum and Archives

Perhaps, someday a family member interested in researching can go to the Wellington County Museum and Archives. It seems they hold a great deal of material which may help our research.

They have newspapers on microfilm which do go back to the time of our ancestors. Perhaps, there would be newspaper articles about our Todd, McMillan, or for Margaret as Todd and/or Gartley. Also, we had Snaden and Murray family surnames in Wellington County. Any articles about them, could reveal more about our Todd family.

The Museum charges a fee for research by their archivists, but they have given me some basic information when I have emailed them. I did send them an account of our family in Wellington County, in the hopes someone would have an interest in helping us with our research.

Here's a link to that the Wellington County Museum & Archives website: http://www.wcm.on.ca/

In my many searches, I found the first LaCrosse team in Fergus was about 1867, which was when our William John McMillan married. The book I found, indicated a William McMillan did play on the team, and they were quite good. There is a photo of an early LaCrosse team for the year 1867 at the Wellington Museum website. William John may be in the photo, but not all names were shown for the team. Here's a link to that photo:

http://www.wcmaonline.on.ca/~collection/search/images/ph10000/ph10130.jpg

Scottish Travellers, Border Travellers, Scottish Gypsies

I believe our Todd family in England travelled to market their wares. Similarly, I believe Matthew Todd and family travelled in Scotland to market their wares. Also, it seems pretty clear that our Drummond family travelled to market their wares in Scotland. It seems possible that all may have travelled between Scotland and England.

I can envision that they may have travelled with ponies and perhaps a wagon. They might have bedded down in the wagon or have used a bow tent which was popular with the travelling community. Some may have stayed on farms, or they may have stayed with family or friends in different areas they were accustomed to travelling. Only speculation at this point, though. Many travellers were said to be very musical, and to enjoy storytelling. As some travelled from area to area, they brought news accounts they shared with others.

I suspect our families were Scottish Travellers, perhaps traveling extensively in Northern England and Scotland. Here's a Wikpedia artcle about Scottish Travellers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Travellers

This is an area that needs more study. There are groups in the US and Europe that might help us with more information about these groups. It was said to be common for those within these groups to marry others within the travelling groups. In some cases they performed their own marriages. However, it seemed more common that they would have their children baptized more formally at a Church.

You can google to find a lot of websites that address the travelling groups of people. There are some good books written about the travellers also. One I've read is named Yellow on the Broom by Betsy Whyte. It's an account for a more recent era than our family would have experienced, but gives the flavor of the traveller.

Here's a website with some photos of wagons used by travellers:

http://www.angelfire.com/mo2/gypsyrunedhyn/gwagons.html