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#1
22-02-14, 10:46
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Grace Meek/McKeich
I have been trying to help out flesh out this story which appeared in the Greenock Telegraph on 24 December 1856, which is being discussed on another site.
Grace Meek the pregnant wife of James Meek, fisherman, Southend parish, Kintyre, Argyll, died of shock after a fight on the road behind their house between James Blair an Irish fisherman and John McCormick, a farm servant, who was stabbed 14 times. Mrs Meek had assisted McCormick and Blair was apprehended. James Blair was 18 when he assaulted John McCormick junior on 12 December 1856 on the Glenbreckie Road near Drumavuline inn the parish of Southend. He was admitted to Inveraray Jail on 3 April 1857, tried by Lord Handyside and jury on 16 April 1857, found guilty and sentenced to four years penal servitude. He was removed from Inveraray on 2 June to be taken to Wakefield prison. James, a labourer, was born in Co Antrim and a resident of Campbeltown at the time the assault took place. Grace's death records her as Grace Meek 32, daughter of John McKeich, shepherd, and Mary. Wife of James Meek, who was also the informant. She died on died 13 December 1856 at Druimvuline and was buried in Killean. I can find both Grace and James in the 1851 census, but not 1841. The couple married in Southend parish on 20 May 1851. In 1851, Grace was living and working at Drumavouline in Southend parish. James Meek was visiting Drumavouline when the census was taken, but at a different household. Alexander Dempsay, head, married, 36, fisherman, b Ireland Polly Dempsay, wife, 35, b Ireland Rosetta Dempsay, dau, 13, b Ireland John Dempsay, son, 10, b Ireland Mary Dempsay, dau, 5, b Ireland Daniel Dempsay, son, 2, b Ireland John Curry, brother-in-law, 29, fisherman, b Ireland Alexander Curry, brother-in-law, 22, fisherman, b Ireland James Meek, visitor, single, 22, fisherman, b Ireland Duncan McNaught, head, farmer of 100 acres, b Southend Barbara McNaught, wife, 35, b Southend George McNaught, son, 14, school, b Southend Thomas McNaught, son, 12, school, b Southend Duncan McNaught, son, 8, school, b Southend Catharine McNaught, dau, 6, school, b Southend John McNaught, son, 3, b Southend Neil McNaught, son, 1, b Southend Alexander Crawford, farm labourer, 22, b Southend Donald McLean, farm labourer, 24, b Southend Mary A Love, widow, 28, gen servant, b Ireland Grace McKeich, single, 27, gen servant, b Campbeltown The only birth that I can find for Grace is in Killean parish, not Campbeltown. But as she was buried in Killean, the census record may not be correct. Also the date is too early. Grace McKieth, baptised 14 May 1817, Killean and Kilchenzie parish, parents John McKieth and Mary Munro. This couple have quite a few children baptised in that parish from 1806 until 1822. I also wonder what happened to James Meek, James Blair and John McCormick. 
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#2
22-02-14, 11:01
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This is interesting. I wonder if the two Meeks in this household are Grace's children:
1861 Lephenmore, Saddell parish Margaret McLean, head, 46, retired farm servant, b Killean John McLean, son, 17, ag lab, b Campbeltown Mary McKeich, sister, 32, farm servant, b Killean Mary Meck, niece, 9, scholar, b Campbeltown John Meek, nephew, 7, scholar, b Southend
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#3
22-02-14, 11:09
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James could still have been in Ireland in 1841, couldn't he?
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#4
22-02-14, 11:13
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Doesn't Grace's death certificate give her mother's maiden name, Shona?
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#7
22-02-14, 11:25
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Ah - I wonder if this is a second marriage for James:
James Meek married Ellen McFadyan in Campbeltown on 25 May 1858. And there's a Helen Meek baptised in the town on 26 August 1861, parents James and Helen McFadyen.
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#8
22-02-14, 11:25
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Quote:
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#9
22-02-14, 14:50
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Quote:
Lephenmore Farm Mary McKeith, head, 65, country service in youth, b Killean Margaret McKeith, dau, farm servant, b Killean Mary McKeith, dau, farm servant, b Killean Archibald McKeith, 23, son, ag lab, b Killean John McLean, grandson, 7, b Campbeltown
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