William McLennan from Contin (i2721) and his wife Margaret McDonald from Kiltearn
– Research Notes from Rewa Bate and others
Kenneth and Alexander McLennan, residents of McLennan County, were sons of William and Margaret
(McDonald) McLennan. The father was born in Ross County, Scotland, in 1815. He was a farmer by
occupation, and died in 1882. The maternal grandmother was a McKenzie, whose family was noted in the war
and politics of Scotland. The McDonalds were also noted in the history of that country. Mr. and Mrs.
McLennan were married in Ross County in 1838 and reared a family of seven children: Donald a farmer of
McLennan county; Helen, wife of James Ross, of Scotland; Kenneth and Alexander our subject; Annie,
deceased in Hays County, Texas, at the age of twenty-two years; William, a resident of Mooresville, Falls
County; and Maggie, deceased, was the wife of H. L. Downie. The family were all born in Ross County,
Scotland, and in the spring of 1868 they emigrated to America, landing in New York, April 10, of that year.
They first settled in Sumter county, Alabama, and two years later started for Iowa, but concluding that the
climate would be too cold, they settled in Montgomery county, Missouri, where they remained until 1875. In
the fall of that year a colony was founded in that county to emigrate to Texas, and the McLennan family joined
this party, and first settled in Kendall county, but a few months afterward removed to Hays County. One year
afterward they came to McLennan County, and bought 160 acres of land five miles south of Robertsonville,
where the father died May 1, 1882.
In the fall of 1884 the mother and family removed to their present location near Battle.
Alexander McLennan was born May 12, 1849, and was married, in 1886, to Mary Montgomery, and they have
had four children, William, Pearl, Josephine and Gladstone. Kenneth was born in Ross County, Scotland, in
February 28, 1847. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and both he and his brother affiliate with the
Democratic party.
Source - "A Memorial and Biographical History of McLennan, Falls, Bell, and Coryell Counties, Texas",
Lewis Publishers, Chicago, Illinois, 1893, pages 783, 784.
There is a conflict with the above information and what I have previously entered into Family Tree Maker,
linking the families. Above it states that Alexander's mother's grandmother was a McKenzie. In my database, I
have that Alexander's father's grandmother was a McKenzie.
The evidence needs to be considered to determine which is right. The book author interviewed lots of people
and wrote up his notes later. His work resembles what a census taker does, and we all know that the census
reports contain many mistakes.
This is a story that was handed down through the generations. And it is a story that was told by many. Indeed,
some of it is taken from the above quoted book. Different McLennan descendants have had their own small
piece to add to the story that follows. I'm sure the essence of the story is correct. Whether or not every small
detail in the story is correct, I have no way of knowing.
This is a story about our ancestors who came to the United States from Scotland. The information is supplied
by descendants of these immigrants, who remember their own little piece of the story. I have taken all of these
stories and have tried to combine them in a orderly fashion. I try to give credit to who told the various stories
as best as I can recall.
Margaret McDonald and William McLennan married in Ross County, Scotland in 1838 (1841?). William was
born in Ross Shire (County) in 1815 and was a farmer by occupation. The maternal grandmother was a
McKenzie, whose family was noted in the war and politics of Scotland. On this farm in Scotland near
Inverness, William and Margaret raised a family of four boys and three girls. All were born in Ross Shire
Scotland.
In early 1868, Alexander, one of the boys, came home on leave from the army. During Alexander's visit,
William, his father, came in one day to find his boys sitting on the fence. Alexander was expressing concern
that he might soon be sent abroad to possibly do battle.
William and Margaret come up with a solution to this problem and their concern about the government. They
had friends and neighbors who wanted to go to America, so they decided to take whichever children wanting to
go and make that trip.
Only their oldest daughter, Eleanor Helen, who was engaged to marry James Ross, stayed in Scotland. She got
married about two months after her parents and siblings got to America. Most in the family called her Helen,
although some referred to her as Ellen.
Alexander decided to go to America at the last moment. And this of course made him an army deserter. The
story goes that they finally tracked him down in his elderly years. He got a letter from the Scottish government
demanding his return. Everyone got a good laugh out of this.
This trip, being frowned on by the authorities, required some extra precautions. So, they caught a boat out to
the ship and got on it after dark. Or to quote my grandmother, Maggie Houston, "From the boat to the ship in
the dark."
The family was 21 days on the Atlantic Ocean, and on April 10, 1868, they landed in New York. From New
York, the family took the train around the Great Lakes, eventually arriving in Chicago. After visiting there,
they went across Illinois to the Mississippi River.
The family then took a leisurely 23 day trip down the Mississippi, eventually reaching New Orleans. This story
was passed on to me by Gerald McLennan, noting that their trip on the Mississippi was longer than their time
spent on the Atlantic Ocean coming over.
From Louisiana, they headed east to Mobile and soon settled in Sumter County, Alabama. Two years later,
they started for Iowa but decided that the climate was too cold up there. Instead, they settled in Montgomery
County, Missouri this time. They remained there until 1875.
In the fall of that year, a colony was founded in that county to migrate to Texas. The McLennan family joined
that colony and settled in Kendall County, Texas this time.
A few months afterward, they moved a short distance to Hayes County. It was here that William and
Margaret's child, Annie, died at the young age of 22 in San Marcus, Texas.
One year afterward, in about 1877, the remaining family members went to McLennan County and bought 160
acres five miles south of Robinson, a suburb of Waco. Here William died May 1, 1882.
In the fall of 1884, Margaret and some of her children moved to Battle, just east of Waco. Here she died in
1891. She is buried beside her husband, William, in the Fletcher Cemetery. This is not far from where they
first settled in McLennan County.
So many misc. details of this story was made possible, thanks to Louise Cox, granddaughter to William
McLennan. And Linda Wolf, great-granddaughter to Donald McLennan also supplied facts included above.
Also used heavily was information from the book, "A Memorial and Biographical History of McLennan, Falls,
Bell, and Coryell Counties, Texas", Lewis Publishers, Chicago, Illinois, 1893, pages 783, 784.
SCOTLAND RESEARCH
Next is research hired by Peggy Phillips. It was done by Margaret McKenzie, a lady living in Scotland.
Immediately following is the first letter she sent to Peggy.
TIGH NA H'ATH
DULNAIN BRIDGE
MORAYSHIRE
PH263NU
Tel. 0479851266
Mrs Peggy Phillips,
903 N. Main - 18
San Angelo,
TEXAS 76903
18th May 1996
Dear Mrs Phillips,
I hope you hadn't been thinking that I had forgotten you but as stated earlier, I was unable to get to Edinburgh
before last week.
I thought that your tree would be very easy to research but it is proving exceptionally difficult. The first
problem is that James Ross was not a Minister but a coachman. This confusion could have arisen because the
writing on one of the certificates looks like "churchman"
but it is very clearly coachman on the other two I looked at. This means that his details are not recorded and
also that his job would take him from place to place making tracing his family a problem. I got the birth of
Christina which was at the home of her grandparents. The one piece of necessary information is to get the
parish of birth of Eleanor/Helen (these names are interchangeable) and she wasn't with her husband and his
parents when the 1871 census was taken. It is only from the census that this information can be found and it
would take forever to go through all the censuses of the neighbouring parishes. This was a time of great unrest
with families being evicted from their homes to make way for sheep farming and many people moved away
from home. I wonder if James got a job in England as I could find no death for Helen. (I look for all spellings
of the name) I started my enquiries with dates given post-1855 when registration started, and if Margaret
McLennan was born in 1858, she ought to have been registered. But I checked out the two who were born in
near the beginning of January with no success. These indexes are for the whole of Scotland. I also looked at
the indexes for the other McLennan children, looking at all McLennans/MacLennans born in Scotland male
and female.
There were none to a William and Margaret. This was a time when many people did not register their children
but again I am stumped as to where your family lived.
It is all very depressing, as I had high hopes. I next looked at the Gladstone biography but it says no more than
that his mother was Anne MacKenzie Robertson a daughter of a Provost of Dingwall who was dead by 1796,
and her mother was highland gentry stock. I wonder if your family worked in England for the Gladstone
family? They lived in Liverpool.
This has taken most of the time paid for, but I hate to be defeated, so I shall try one or two more avenues.
There was a Margaret born Gairloch in 1857 in January that I have yet to look at and I also noted you
mentioned "Presbyterian Church affiliation Edinburgh." Is this the same sentence? Or could it mean he lived in
Edinburgh? He wouldn't be a farmer though in a town but Edinburgh County (now Midlothian) was good farm
land. Where do you get "Campbell Clan?" that you mention. They come from the other side of the country
usually. If I knew any of this, I might get a clue. I don't think a coachman could become a Minister. He would
have to go to University, and James was a coachman when his daughter was born and would have to earn
money to keep the family. It would be much easier to trace the Ross family but that is not relevant.
I regret that this is all so inconclusive but I shall let you know if my final researches come up with anything.
Our Clan Society is in touch with the Clan MacLennan Society because of the closeness of the two clans in the
past, and I shall ask them if they can tell me anything. It has been known for people to change their surnames
when they moved to a new area and then it becomes impossible!
With best wishes
Yours sincerely,
Margaret Mackinzie.
Mrs Margaret Mackenzie
After the above cover letter, information about James and Helen Ross was included on more sheets as follows:
Searched alI the Registers of Clergymen of the different denominations in Scotland for James Ross at Creich.
Not found.
Searched for the birth of Christina Bell Ross to get the date of her parent's marriage.
Dornoch 1872 Ref: 47/15
Christina was born April 7th 1872 at 7:30 pm at Fleuchary.
Father: James Ross Coachman. The writing makes this appear to be "Churchman" which is where a confusion
could have arisen.
Mother: Helen Ross maiden surname Maclennan. The informant was James Ross father, who was not in the
house at time of birth. The marriage was on 5th June 1868.
Marriage Bonar 1868 Ref: 46/1/3 Ospisdale: parish of Creich On the 5th day of June 1868 after Banns,
according to the Established Church of Scotland: James Ross, coachman aged 20. A bachelor.
Father: Kenneth Ross: mason: Mother: Chirsty Ross ms Matheson.
Helen McLennan: Domestic servant: aged 21: spinster.
Father: William McLennan: farmer Mother: Margaret McLennan ms McDonald
Minister: Neil McKinnon of Established Church of Scotland.
Witnesses: David Finlayson: Christina Kemp. John Campbell: Registrar.
(In census for 1871 a David Finlayson was Revenue Officer in Creich.)
Margaret McLennan's birth should have been recorded as it was after 1855. Searched for this but there was no
Margaret Mc or Mac Lennan born in Scotland in January 1858. It is essential to find a McLennan birth to find
out the parish they were in.
Searched the index for all Scotland prior to 1855 and there were no male or female Mc/MacLennans registered
to William and Margaret.
Searched for death of Eleanor/Helen Ross/McLennan 1872 - 1944. None found.
Tried to find James & Helen in census for 1871. Creich is a large parish. No James & Helen Ross found. Not
at Ospisdale.
Census Dornoch 1871. Books 3. Birichen area.
Fluchary
Kenneth Ross: Head: married: age 47: Crofter of 8 acres. born Ross-shire parish not known.
Christy Ross: wife: married: age 42: Crofter's wife: born Sutherland, Dornoch.
James Ross: son: married: age 21: Domestic Servant: Coachman -
unemployed: born Sutherland: Golspie
Ann Ross: daughter married: age 20 Labourer's wife. born Golspie John Ross son: unmarried: age 13 Farm
servant born Golspie Barbara Ross daughter Scholar born Golspie Ann Mackay grand-daughter age 10
months: Crofter's grand-daughter born Dornoch.
There is no sign of Helen who must be working elsewhere. Her husband, James, must have been near his own
family home in 1872 when Christina was born. Perhaps he stayed on and helped his father, but 8 acres is a
very small farm, and money would be short.
The next census in 1881 gives:
Crofter's House
Kenneth Ross aged 68 (58?) with place of birth as Ross-shire: Kilmuir and Christina is 53 and John and
Barbara are still at home. No sign of James or his family.
No birth of James was found in the index. (Pre 1855 births were often not recorded). There was no birth of
Margaret McDonald 1820-28 to any mother called Mackenzie except one to George McDonald and Margaret
McKensie in Keith 1828, 14 th November. Ref: 159/5. This is not a highland area, and the name George
doesn't fit in with any of your family names. Names were usually repeated over the generations.
However, I noted that a William McLennan was born in Contin in 1814 to Donald McLennan and Christian
McKenzie, and I shall look this up as their was a marriage of William McLennan and Margaret McDonald in
Contin
28 th Jan. 1831. (60/2). But he'd be very young and she'd be a child.
Contin parish is very much McLennan country, and this may not be the right couple. It seems a bit strange that
they waited 10 years before producing a large family.
The 1881 census has been indexed, and I searched for all Ross-shire, and there was no sign of Helen/Eleanor
Ross and Christina Bell. I also looked at Sutherland and Inverness-shire. I wonder if they went to England or
emigrated too.
And so ends the first letter received by Peggy pertaining to the research by Margaret MacKenzie. Not many
generations were linked in this research. But it does highlight some McLennan folklore, which I will discuss at
this time. Peggy always said that Helen married James Ross and had a daughter, Tena Bell. Furthermore, Tena
Bell supposedly wrote on occasion to the McLennans in the states. And that was always Peggy's story that
James Ross was a Churchman. I never heard anyone else say this.
There is a surviving picture of William and Margaret in a Presbyterian Church. This might be an avenue of
research in both Scotland and in the United States. Perhaps I could find church membership.
I attribute the above story about the Campbell Clan to Vera. Indeed, Tom's middle name was Campbell. The
story goes that the smaller McLennan Clan was under the protection of the Campbell Clan. When and where at
in Scotland was never discussed.
Also note that another son of Alexander and Mary's was named Gladstone.
And family tradition says that there is a connection with the McLennans and Gladstone, once a Prime Minister
of England. Remember this quote in the above notes? "The maternal grandmother (of Alexander) was a
McKenzie, whose family was noted in the war and politics of Scotland."
Could this be a reference to Gladstone's grandparents?
Perhaps the researcher mistook 1838 for 1831 for the above mentioned marriage between William and
Margaret McLennan on 28 January?
The researcher seems to have spent too much time researching Helen and not enough researching ancestors of
William and Margaret. But this might have been because Peggy was suggesting she pursue research in this
direction.
About a week later, this lady in Scotland wrote Peggy another letter.
The contents of this letter now follow:
TIGH NA H'ATH
DULNAIN BRIDGE
MORAYSHIRE
PH263NU
Tel. d47 985/266
23rd May 1996
Dear Mrs. Phillips,
Further to my letter of 18th May, I was feeling very frustrated on your behalf, so when I was in Inverness I
went into the Library and checked out a microfiche index of births for Ross-shire that is easier to see than the
computer index in Edinburgh. This index only goes to 1870 but that was all right. I searched to see if there was
any Margaret that fitted in as this index gives the parents unlike the one in Edinburgh.
To my delight I saw that Margaret was born to William and Margaret in
1855 not 1858 as you stated, so I can now look up her birth in Edinburgh next time I am there and it may give
a few details. The main thing is that I now have the parish of birth, and I was able to find the whole family on
the census. This gives the ages and parish of birth.
You will see from the two (census sheets) I saw that there are one or two discrepancies which is not
uncommon. Ages can vary a lot - people don't always remember how old they are or where they were born - or
where the children were born - and the census was not always taken at the same time of year so that has an
effect too.
The birth date of William would appear to be about 1815, so the one in Contin to Donald and Christian
MacKenzie could well be the right one, as William's eldest son was Donald. I'd have expected one of the girls
to be called Christian though, but they may have had one who died (Of course Christina Bell would have been
called after her great grandmother).
I'll look at the actual entry in Contin and see if there is anything.
Ann may have died - there was a lot of illness at that time, and there was Cholera in the area of Nigg.
All this gives a little bit more information, and I shall write again when I have seen Margaret's birth certificate.
Margaret McLennan was born to William McLennan and Margaret McDonald 10 the January 1855. Parish of
Logie Easter: Ross-shire.
This birth certificate can be seen in Edinburgh and should be very detailed as it was the first year of
registration.
The only Margaret Mac/McDonald recorded as having been born in Kiltearn is to Angus McDonald and Janet
Munro christened 29 April 1821. No others born 1820-30.
Kiltearn parish is near Logie Easter. It looks as if the family lived there and then moved to Tain and then ended
up in Logie Easter.
Agricultural Labourers were employed by the 6 months and often changed jobs each time. This makes them
very difficult to trace.
I enclose a map to show you where Lamington is and tried to indicate on a hand drawn map of Scotland where
it is.
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
Margaret Mackenzie
Mrs. M. I. M. MacKenzie
Tigh Na H'ath
Dulnain Bridge
Nr. Grantown On Spey
Morayshire Ph 26 3 Nu
Tel 0147 985 1266
And so ends the second letter received by Peggy from Scotland. It included the 1851 and 1861 censuses for
Scotland for William and Margaret McLennan's family. I have printed the two censuses above.
Lamington is pictured on one of Margaret Mackenzie's maps because that is where the William McLennan
family was living for both the 1851 and the 1861 censuses. It would be reasonable to assume that's where they
were living when the up and immigrated to America. The other map supplied by Margaret is hand printed and
gives an overview of the whole area, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, Tain, and Dornoch.
Could the book writer have gotten it wrong and should have said that the fraternal grandmother of Alexander
was a MacKenzie? Instead, the book writer (see the beginning of these notes under William McLennan) said
that the maternal grandmother of Alexander was a MacKenzie. Make this change, and the book writer and the
Scotland researcher are in agreement.
And now for the third and last letter.
TIGH NA H'ATH
DULNAIN BRIDGE
MORAYSHIRE
PH26 3NU
Tel. 0147 985 1266
Mrs Phillips,
903 N. Main 18,
San Angelo, TEXAS
76903,
U.S.A.
14th June 1996
Dear Mrs Phillips,
I now have the birth entry of Margaret McLennan to hand. She was born 10th January 1855 at Lamington
Park, Logie, Easter, Ross-shire, the daughter of William McLennan labourer aged 44 years born Contin.
Married
1841 in Kiltearn Ross-shire. There are 4 boys and 3 girls living.
Margaret's mother is Margaret Mclennan, maiden surname McDonald aged 38 born Kiltearn.
The entry was signed "William McLennan X his mark" which means that like many people, at that time, he
was unable to read or write. Not surprising, when you think that the schooling was less important than
working.
I checked the census for Contin 1841 & 1851 and that of Kiltearn for
1841 to see if William and Margaret were living at home but was unable to find them and therefore unable toidentify their parents.
I noticed in 1851 in Contin Book 11 that there was a Donald McLennan living at Dromanriach aged 68. an
Agricultural Labourer born Contin with his wife Christian aged 71 also born Contin. There were no children
living with them at that date and therefore I do not know if this is the right couple. The writing on the census is
difficult to read in parts, and some pages are faded. There are twelve books, and it is a time consuming task to
go through it.
I regret that I have not managed to be of more help to you in this research, but I feel that any further time spent
would be waste of your money. I do not think that I can find any link with the Gladstone family, but I shall
bear your name in mind, and if at any future date I hear of anything relevant I shall let you know.
Yours sincerely,
Margaret MacKenzie
17 th June
I had to go to Contin yesterday unexpectedly and looked at the grave yard. Quite a few McLennans but nothing
relevant. A lot of graves were marked by small, unnamed stones.
And so ends the third and last letter sent to Peggy by Margaret MacKenzie.
LINKING OF GENERATIONS
I quote from the above Scotland research: "However, I noted that a William McLennan was born in Contin in
1814 to Donald McLennan and Christian McKenzie..." Further quoting, "The birth date of William would
appear to be about 1915, so the one in Contin to Donald and Christian MacKenzie could well be the right one,
as William's eldest son was Donald." And lastly, "I noticed in 1851 in Contin Book 11 that there was a Donald
McLennan living at Dromanriach aged 68. an Agricultural Labourer born Contin with his wife Christian aged
71 also born Contin."
This is my best guess as to who William's parents are.
FURTHER RESEARCH RECOMMENDED
It might be interesting to try and find out more about the McLennan trip from Montgomery County, Missouri
to Kendall County, Texas in 1875.
However, I would not expect any information about this wagon train to shed any light on previous generations
of McLennans back in Scotland. It would only fill out biographical details for the United States McLennans.
Researching in another country presents a completely new challenge. I am probably well advised to leave such
researching to professionals in Scotland. Also, a professional researcher at Salt Lake City might be in a unique
position to find something new.
However, there are some clues with which to start working. Who is this grandfather of Alexander who was
noted in the war and politics of Scotland mentioned near the beginning of these notes? By knowing that his last
name was McKenzie, maybe all famous McKenzies of that time period in Scotland might be considered.
Again, such a question might best be left to a professional.
Another approach open to me would involve my researching resources on the Internet or possibly ordering
microfilm from LDS Family History Center. In summary, to make further progress might require much work
and much time. The McLennans, being a relatively small Clan when compared to others, might make research
more easy, but not necessarily.
Notes for MARGARET MCDONALD:
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Margaret was born in 1824, according to her tombstone. Dot told me that she was a mean woman, whatever
that means. But about her personally, there isn't much to draw upon to make even a decent sketch. She does
share the distinction of being one of very few of my great-great-grandparents who has a tombstone marker at
their grave site, along with her husband. It is in the Fletcher Cemetery, which is in the country. It is in
McLennan County, just south of Waco, Texas.
Most of the McLennan material is under the notes for her husband, William McLennan. But let me present
here what was told to Margaret Bolding by her Aunt Vera. Margaret interviewed Vera just before Margaret
went to Scotland on vacation.
Although these are very sketchy notes, they sometimes complement what is told about the McLennan travels
under the notes for William McLennan.
They include many generations and also provide information about Mary Montgomery's people also. They are
also not in chronological order. My comments and clarifications are in parenthesis.
Came to Stamford in 1901
(This is when Alexander and Kenney moved from McLennan County to Haskell County, Texas.) Glascow,
Scotland lived on farm.
(The only farm I found them on during the censuses was a long way from Glasgow. However, there may be
many other Glasgow connections that I am not aware of.) Uncle Kinney oldest - 2 years older (than
Alexander).
Family (children of William and Margaret with their birth order) Maggie - 6, Annie - 5, Kinney - 2, Ellen - 4,
Alexander - 3, Donald - oldest, William - youngest.
(Scotland censuses say Ellen between the ages of Donald and Kenneth) Grandmother's name (Did Vera forget,
or did Margaret not have time to write it down? Her name was Margaret as is recorded in many places.) Age at
New York - 13 or 14 - William.
( I count 16 years, but I think the point Vera is making is that the kids were young when William Senior
brought them to the United States. ) Worked in woods or any menial job.
Alabama prior to Texas for two years.
(This is more about touring the Eastern part of the United States before finally settling down in Texas.) Met
Mary Montgomery in Waco.
(I suspect that Vera means the Waco area. Alexander McLennan probably met Mary Montgomery south of
Waco as they were neighbors here on nearby
farms.)
Married at age 19 and one real sister, Emily, (2) 1/2 brothers, and 1/2 sister.
(Here Vera is saying that Mary Montgomery married Alexander McLennan at age 19. Mary and Emily's
mother died when they were small girls, and their father remarried. That is why Vera states Mary had 2 half
brothers and a half sister. I know little about these half siblings and have done little research in this area, but
would like to someday. I have no reason to believe Vera is wrong about these half siblings. (see wife for rest of
story)
1851 CENSUS - SCOTLAND
Logie Easter
Lamington
William McLennan: Head: Married: aged 36 Agricultural labourer:
Born Contin: Ross-shire
Margaret McLennan: Wife: married: aged 30: Born Kiltearn: Ross-shire Donald McLennan: son: unmarried:
Aged 9: At Home B. Kiltearn: Ross
Helen: daughter: 7: At Home: Born Kiltearn: Ross
Kenneth: son: 5: Born Logie: Ross
Alexander: son: 3: Born Logie:
William: Son: 1: Born Logie.
1861 CENSUS - SCOTLAND
County Road: Lamington
William McLennan: Head: Married: 45: Agricultural Labourer: B. Contin:
Number of room in house with one or more windows = 2 Number of children from 5 - 15 attending school = 3
Margaret McLennan: Wife: Married: 43: Born Kiltearn: Ross-shire
Donald: Son: Unmarried: 18: Agric. Labourer: Born Kiltearn: Ross
Helen: daughter: 16: Born Tain: Ross-shire
Alexander: Son: (looks like 10 or 11 but should be 12 or 13?)
Scholar: Born Logie Easter: Ross
William: Son: 10: Born Logie Easter
Ann: Dau: 8: Born Logie Easter.
Margaret: Dau.: 6: Born Logie Easter.
1870 and 1880 CENSUS
Where is William in these censuses for the United States? Since his dislike for the government caused him to
leave Scotland, he might have gone out of the way to avoid the census takers when they came around.
Perhaps he feared that the United States Government might try and deport him.