Scottish Family History Jigsaw

When researching your Scottish family history, you may come across a Scottish ancestor that is, perhaps, famous or has made a contribution, in some way, into the history books.
It is worthwhile remembering that your Scottish family ancestry is made up of more than one person and more than one passage in history. Whilst it makes for an interesting and exciting addition to your family tree, it does not tell the whole story.

David MacKay VC
There are many websites and web pages telling of the exploits of David MacKay of the 93rd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, who was awarded the Victoria Cross on the 16th November 1857 during the Indian Mutiny. David also received: Crimea Medal 1854-1856 with bars ‘Alma, Balaclava, Sebastopol’, Turkish Crimea Medal 1854- 1856, Indian Service Medal 1854-1856 and the Indian Military Medal 1857-1858 with bar ‘Relief of Lucknow’. If you were a military historian this could now lead you to focus your research on the battles he was involved in, the battles the 93rd   Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were involved in or, even, the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny but from a family history viewpoint it tells us very little. Did David MacKay’s life begin when he joined the 93rd Highlanders Regiment (which later became the 93rd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) and end when he was medically discharged after 10 years service in 1861? I think not. What if you shared some, or all, of David MacKay’s Scottish family history?
Family History
David was born on 23rd November 1831 in Bower Parish, Caithness. He was the second child of 13(six brothers and six sisters).
His parents were Angus MacKay and Christina Nicholson.
His maternal grandparents were David Nicholson and Janet Smith.
The censuses of 1841-1861 stated his father was an agricultural labourer at Alterwall, Bower Parish, Caithness but the 1871 census indicated that he was a pauper.
The 1871 census is the only one to show David and his wife Mary Stevenson (married 1859 in Aberdeenshire), with all of their five children.
His brother, George, married in South Shields, and can be later found as a joiner in Brechin, Forfarshire (Angus).
His eldest child, Alexander Hugh, a coal miner, was head of the family during the 1881 census.
Mary MacKay died in 1879 in Lanarkshire.
David Mackay died on 18th November 1880 in Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire.

Building the Family Tree
The above information, whilst not exhaustive, has provided the framework to expand David MacKay’s Scottish genealogy and family history. It has helped to build up a picture of David Mackay’s life and not just his time as a soldier. That David MacKay was a brave and courageous man during his 10 year army career is not in doubt, the Victorian Cross is the highest decoration awarded to British and Commonwealth Forces for valour “in the face of the enemy” and has been awarded only 1357 times in its 152 year history, but from a family research viewpoint this is one piece of the puzzle and not his whole Scottish family history jigsaw.
*Discover Your Past has supplied the basic information of David Mackay’s family history as an illustration only. If you have an interest or family connection to the Mackay family Discover Your Past can provide further details.