NOTE: If you have any up to date family news you would like to share with your distant cousins please let me know and I will include it in this section. Click here to access CONTACT ME page

AUGUST 2010 - CONTACT FROM CANADA - Have been contacted by 'cousins' in Canada and their husbands. This has provided me with additional data relating to John McKie 1881-1959, son of Thomas McKie & Stewart. In 1910 John and his wife Margaret Jane Marshall emigrated to Canada where there is now an extended family. I did actually meet a couple of them when they visited Scotland some years ago. Thank you for the input and welcome to the website.

AUGUST 2010 - DEATH OF IAN FORSYTH (1948 - 2010) - sad to report the sudden death of John Alexander Forsyth (Ian), the husband of my cousin Mary. He is buried  at Auchercairn in Dumfries & Galloway.Our thoughts are with Mary and the family.

AUGUST 2010 - Finally met up with Gillian, cousin Maitland's daughter and cousin of Iain (see below) - We met together with Ian, Ruth and my brother Bob and spent a very enjoyable day talking, looking at photographs and eating.  

MAY 2010 - NEW INFORMATION AND ANOTHER APPEAL
I have been contacted by Iain, a member of the family, who was adopted out as a child and with whom there has been no contact since the early 1980s. Although he was adopted by a very loving family and has had a very happy upbringing he is naturally keen to discover his birth family and is being helped by Barnardo's.
We have met up and I was able to provide him with some much needed information and, more importantly, photographs of his mother and his grandparents. Coincidentally in the past few months I have also been contacted by his cousin and have made contact with one of his brothers. He has independently also managed to contact the same brother. Sadly his father died in 1997 and the family lost touch with his mother many years ago but he is very keen to trace her.
If , by any chance,  you happen to read this please get in touch as Iain would love to contact you. He is married to Ruth who is very supportive and helps him with his search.
I am sure that you will recognise yourself (Helen) from the details above.

Welcome back into the family fold Iain.


APPEAL - My computer recently crashed and as a result I have lost a considerable amount of background data. I need to discover the source of the date of death of ROBERT BARR born 1864, the son of Walter Barr and Agnes Clave - his date of death is stated as 1944. His great grand daughter Shelley is anxious to find out more on this but I cannot remember who provided me with the info.
I would be grateful if the person who gave me this data would contact me again please - many thanks in anticipation of a positive response.


FEBRUARY 2010
Some missing dates added throughout McMaster Tree

JANUARY 2010 - HAPPY NEW YEAR

JANUARY 2010

Photos added of my cousin Maitland Andrews and his grandmother Nan Andrews.

Photo added of Jean Stewart, daughter of Samuel Stewart and Agnes Barr  and husband Andrew Adams.

Also birth years of  sons of Sir Fergus McMaster and 2nd wife Edna May Faulkner - Kenneth, Ross and Duncan Scott McMaster.

DECEMBER 2009

I am collecting information about Kirkcowan, where I was born, for inclusion on a new website www.kirkcowan.info . I have already added a few photographs to inspire you but would welcome any information, memories or photographs which could be added - thank you. You might also be interested to have a look at my artist website www.kiestewart.co.uk which has examples of my artwork including images of my paintings of Galloway's favourite Belties.

SEPTEMBER 2009 - Stewart (1) family

My grandfather Samuel Stewart's cousin Mary (Molly) Howat nee Stewart, who lived at Prestwick, died 8 September 2009 and was cremated at Masonhill Crematorium by Ayr. Molly knew my father and mother well and helped me put together much of the data relating to the family - she will be greatly missed.

JULY 2009 - McKie families

Have made contact with a distant McKie relative who used to live in Kirkcowan and who coincidentally has in his possession a pair of bagpipes once owned by my grandfather Samuel Stewart.

JANUARY 2009 - Stewart (1) family

My aunt , Jean Adams (nee Stewart), daughter of Samuel Stewart and  Agnes Barr died 18 January 2009 and was buried in Kirkcowan Cemetary beside her husband Andrew McClymont Adams who died in 2006. Jean was the last of that generation in the Stewart (1) line and will be sadly missed.

FEBRUARY 2008  - McKie (1) family

Beatrice McKenna (wife of James McKie my uncle) died 1 February 2008

FEBRUARY 2008 - Stewart (1) family

As a result of a chance remark by an elderly member of the family I have discovered two more children of Samuel Stewart & Agnes Barr (my grandparents). Both were girls and died within days of birth - Grace Stewart born 1929 died age 3 days and Elizabeth McMaster Stewart born 1933 died age 7 days.

JANUARY 2008 - McKIE (1) family)

As a result of a new contact I have been able to add details of the descendents of Alexander McKie 2/8/1842 son of Thomas McKie and Agnes Agnew. Photo added of John McKie son of Alexander (Photo 13B/2) - thank you Jim.

JANUARY 2008  - McKIE (2) FAMILY TREE - new branch added

The McKie family tree page now shows details of two different branches of the McKie family in Kirkcowan going back to the 1700s. There is no evidence that the families are directly linked at that time although family folklore suggests that all the branches of McKies in Kirkcowan descended from three brothers. If this is true it is possible that the two William McKies (c1700s) were cousins or uncle and nephew. However the two branches do link up when William McKie c1846 (from my branch) married Elizabeth Baird c1843 ( from the 2nd branch).

JANUARY 2008 (OTHER FAMILIES - NICHOLSON)

More data added plus a photo of Annie Nicholson (Photo 13B/1) whose grandfather John Nicholson was the brother of my mother's grandfather James McBride Nicholson

JANUARY 2008  (CLAVE family)

Clave Family Tree added - married into Barr family

JANUARY 2008 ( OTHER FAMILIES - NICHOLSON )

What a great start to 2008 - I have been contacted by a relation in the Nicholson branch of the family (My grandmother, on my mother's side was Elizabeth Agnes Nicholson). The contact lives in Dallas Texas and is the first contact I have had for this branch of the family. I have updated the Nicholson Family Tree to include all the data I currently have and look forward to adding to it. - thank you Judy.

JANUARY 2008        HAPPY NEW YEAR

DECEMBER 2007 (OTHER FAMILIES - ROUTLEDGE)

Thomas Routledge (Master Mariner) married Barbara Stewart McMaster in November 1882, daughter of my gg grandfather Peter McMaster. Data added to McMaster and Other Families (Routledge) family trees..

DECEMBER 2007 (McMASTER)

McMaster Family Tree added - married into Barr family

DECEMBER 2007 (McKIE family)

Annie Douglas, wife of the late Stewart Nixon,  died on 8 December age 101. Stewart's mother Jean was my grandfather, William McKie's, sister.

SEPTEMBER 2007 (STEWART (1) family)

Agnes Barr Stewart, daughter of Samuel Stewart and Agnes Barr, wife of the late Thomas McWhirter died. Photo of Agnes as a school girl added to the 'Photograph' page.

AUGUST 2007

If anyone would like to see some of my paintings please access www.kiestewart.co.uk

AUGUST 2007

Considerable doubt has been raised about the new data added re Elizabeth Barr born 1818 (daughter of Walter Barr and Mary McDowall) who married Peter McMillan. We may well be looking at a pure coincidence of two Elizabeth Barrs who married two Peter McMillans even though they all originated from the same part of Scotland. The original data has been verified with certificates etc but although the second Elizabeth's father was called Walter she  has not been positively linked to 'our' Walter Barr and Mary McDowall - please keep me informed of progress on this topic.

Data has also been found on a Walter Barr married to Mary McDowall providing data on their ancestors. However again this may be pure coincidence as the dates and places don't quite add up and need to be verified.It is hoped that this link may prove to have some connection.

My 'cousin' from Canada (descendent of John Stewart and Janet Murray) and her husband had a wonderful time in Scotland despite being caught up briefly in the aftermath of the Glasgow Airport terrorist attack. During her visit I managed to arrange for her to meet a number of distant relations.

JUNE 2007

Another daughter of Walter Barr and Mary McDowall discovered - Mary Barr (thanks Joseph) - additional data added.  Also info about children of Walter Forshaw Barr born 1894 married to Mary Byrne being added (thanks Lisa)

Cousin from British Columbia in Scotland for three weeks tracing her roots to her great great great grandparents whom we share John Stewart and Janet Murray (Stewart (2) Tree) ie on my mother's side.                                                              

APRIL 2007

Data added about children of Elizabeth Barr born 1818 (daughter of Walter Barr and Mary McDowall) - Robert Walter Barr born 1866 when Elizabeth was unmarried. The existence of Robert Walter provided by Shelley and Linda - thank you - still checking parentage of Robert Walter as there is some confusion. Additional data found and validated on appropriate certificates..

Additional data added to John McKenna Barr, James Hannay Barr, Mary Isabella Barr and Elizabeth Ann Barr - all children of Walter Barr and Agnes Clave.

FEBRUARY 2007

You may be interested to know that I have had my DNA categorised and I belong to Haplogroup R1b (M343) - for a fuller description of the genetic journey see the HOME page

Photo added of Walter Barr (son of Walter Barr and Agnes Clave) with his wife Margaret Forshaw. 

New data added to Mary Stewart (daughter of William Stewart & Jane McWilliam) regarding her marriage to William McNally and her children. [Data on Stewart (2) family tree]. Details have been checked on appropriate certificates.

 New data added  about Elizabeth Barr, daughter of Walter Barr  & Mary McDowall. Married Peter McMillan and had five children. Details of children's marriages and their known children also added. Data has been checked on appropriate certificates and census entries. [Barr family tree].

 Photographs added of Walter and Peter Barr sons of Alexander Clave Barr & Elizabeth McMaster, William McKie son of Thomas McKie & Robina Stewart and Mary Barr Stewart daughter of Samuel Stewart & Agnes Barr and her husband John Young. Data added for Mary Barr, Walter Barr, Alexander Barr and Peter McMaster Barr children of Alexander Clave Barr and Elizabeth McMaster.

New data added on Rebecca Barr, daughter of Walter Barr & Mary McDowall, as the previous entries were found to relate to a different Rebecca Barr. Also included is data about her chidren and grandchildren.  The new data has been verified by reference to birth,marriage and death certificates held in Scotland. Also more photos of the McKinna family have now been included.

JANUARY 2007   Have just heard that members of the Stewart family, on my mother's side, are coming over to Scotland in June this year. They will be staying in a cottage near Kirkcowan where there relations used to live many many years ago. I am looking forward to meeting them.

JANUARY 2007           HAPPY NEW YEAR

2006  Andrew McClymont Adams, son in law of Samuel Stewart and Agnes Barr died 

OCTOBER 2006         Have been contacted by Mark whose great great grandparents were Walter Barr and Agnes Clave (who were also my great great grandparents). Hoping to exchange much more info soon.

SEPTEMBER 2006       Have been contacted by Diane whose connection is through Annie Barr who was the sister of Walter Barr (my ggg Grandfather).

JUNE 2006                 Have just made contact with Anne in Edinburgh and Marlene in Canada with whom I share great great grandparents Thomas McKie & Robina Stewart. Photographs of Thomas McKie & Robina Stewart have, as a result, been added to the McKie photograph page - thank you both.

MARCH 2006              Robina Stewart Stewart (my mother, husband of Andrew Stewart; daughter of William McKie and Elizabeth Agnes Nicholson) died in Minnigaff Newton Stewart. Photo of my mother added to the 'Photograph' page.

JANUARY 2006            HAPPY NEW YEAR

JUNE 2005              Great news I have just been contacted by a member of the Stewart family (Helen) who now lives in Australia. She is the grand-daughter of my great grandfather's (Andrew Stewart 1868-1890) brother William Stewart. I look forward to adding more detail in due course - Helen has also got photographs of her grandparents, her parents (William Stewart & Nellie Murphy) and her uncle (Robert Stewart & aunt (Jean)) which have been added to the photo page. Helen may even be able to help with my search for info on my grandfather's Pipe Band.

MAY 2005                   Just had a visit from Kay and David from New Zealand. Kay is the great grand daughter of Isabella Barr (1831-1869) who married John McKinna (1837-1900). They are visiting places with connections to the family. Kay is the first cousin of Mae (see entry for June 2003.

JANUARY 2005         A very happy and healthy New Year to all of you.  Unfortunately I have not been able to devote much time to genealogy in 2004 but have received a number of enquiries, some of which I have yet to reply to (apologies). 2005 looks as if it will also be very busy on the 'art' front but I hope to be able to advance the family tree investigations with your invaluable help. Many thanks to those of you who have kept in contact and to new contacts including Mark & Kathy from New Zealand who are now in touch with 'other cousins' in New Zealand. Mark has also provided a photo of his great grandfather John McKinna which is now included on the 'Photographs' and 'Barr' pages.

OCTOBER 2004      Just returned from a three month working break. I hope to get started again with the family tree but it must wait until after my solo art exhibition which takes place at the Harbour Cottage Gallery Kirkcudbright Scotland between 26th October and 6 November incl. If any of you are in the vicinity I would love to see you at the exhibition. (Exhibition went well - over 1300 visitors)

JANUARY 2004      HAPPY NEW YEAR

JUNE 2003            Whilst cousin from NZ was over I was able to give her information on a cousin (Mae) from Canada who had never had any contact with her father's family. As a result the Canadian cousin has now been put in touch with a couple of her first cousins in NZ - absolutely delighted to know that this was made possible by my website. Any more out there looking for someone in my family tree - I am more than happy to put them in touch.

MAY 2003              Cousin Brenda, with husband Bob, from New Zealand visited Scotand and sought out places in the area with connections to her family. She also spent some time with my cousin Mary and I whilst she was here.  We had never met and have only become acquainted since we started tracing our family histories. The visit went very well - it was great to meet and be able to put faces to names.

JANUARY 2003     Andrew Stewart - my father (son of Samuel Stewart and Agnes Barr) died in Minnigaff Newton Stewart

JANUARY 2003        HAPPY NEW YEAR

DECEMBER 2002   Alexander Stewart (son of Samuel Stewart and Agnes Barr) died in Fife Scotland

OCTOBER 2002    Christina Walls, wife of Alexander Stewart (son of Samuel Stewart and Agnes Barr) died in Fife Scotland