John Mctavish Regiment

[Wetootwaag]

Does anyone have some good detailed information about John McTavish (Simon's father) what Company, or any rolls for that Company he was in would be outstanding. I'm trying to track down where Simon's Piper, George McKay came from. It seems unlikely that he was decended from the big McKay piping families on Skye and at Gairloch, so I'm seeing if perhaps George came from some relative of his father's regiment, or Maybe Lachlan's piper.
Any Information would be welcomed and appreciated.
Thanks
Jeremy

[migovie]

ive got nothing on that at all, but hoping someone else can cos it sounds an interesting line to pursue.?
didnt know simon had a piper...was that in london or canada. ?

[Wetootwaag]

Definitely in Canada, and perhaps in London. Here?s the piper specific quote from John Mckay who was overlooking the Portage De?isle post for the Hudson?s Bay company in 1794 who met the NW company men on their way to the post they had been assigned:

?the two Mr. McKay?s set off after entertaining us with the bag pipes all night. This George McKay was counted one of the first performers on that instrument in Scotland Mr. McTavish gave him 50 (pound sign) p annum and a free passage to Canada for the purpose of playing to the inland Gentlemen at Grand Portage while they stay at that Post which is never above 6 weeks but the Company finding him a man of abilities sent him inland master with additional wages?

There is also a reference to a Hugh McKay working for the company in the 18 teens, as well as Daniel William Harmon?s mention in 1800 that the men had a dance and for music they had a fiddle fife flute and bag pipe. So I would wager a guess that the company had pipers almost always. If not specific musicians any number of the clerks may have been amateur pipers.

[nessie]

According to Clan Fraser , John McTavish was a lieutenant in the old 78th reg. of Fraser Highlanders
and there's supposedly one theory that he may have enlisted under the name of John Fraser---
'Fraid my memory is as misty as the hills----- but Cathy will know for sure !

[cathy]

John dubh Fraser aka, John McTavish was a Lieutenant in the old 78th. He was at Halifax, and was either injured or taken ill at Louisbourg. Some say he was with Wolf at the Battle of Quebec, and some say he was alreay home. He is listed in the half Pay ledgers in 1761.

John also fought at Falkirk with Prince Charles, and again at the mess at Culloden.

I have much more that I will find and get to you! John was very political, and while he was in Canada he was also petitioning the Commissioniers for Forfeited estates in Scotland and trying to be awarded property in the Mohawk area of New York.
I will get back to you soon!
Cathy

[Wetootwaag]

SUCCESS!
The timelines are a little off, but with the new information about John Mctavish going as John Fraser I was able to better identify his division. If I'm reading it correctly off the clan Fraser muster rolls, it would appear that John was lieutenant of Captain Hugh Montgomerie's division, and scanning down the rest of the rolls, there he is, one George McKay. Man, if only the 78th marked who their pipers were. Kept my hope alive anyway, it would seem possible that George may have been a young man in 1766, and only old in 1794, but not dead.
http://www.clanfraser.ca/muster.htm
Any thoughts or further information?
Thanks so much
Jeremy

[cathy]

I would try contacting Marie and Neil Fraser, of Clan Fraser Society of Canada. They are very, very helpful!
cathy