First, let me acknowledge the census-takers, researchers and compilers who each, in his/her own way, made this work possible.

Second, let me acknowledge the superlative Genealogist, Mr. Alistair Macleod of the Inverness Public Library. Words cannot express my gratitude to you, not only for your dedication to your work, but your kindness to me in the days after 9/11 while I was still in shock. The many good people of Scotland who were kind to me in those weeks will remain in my heart forever. God bless you all.

This project began as a personal search for my ancestors in the MacRae branch of my family. It led me to the discovery that I was a Mackenzie of Ballone, which further led to the discovery that I was also a MacLeod, a MacDonald and to then be able to trace my Scottish roots very far back. What a wonderful discovery! So, I have studied the history of several Clans and their inter-connectedness before producing this book.

What I had been unable to do with American records, I was able to do with Scottish records. And therein lay the secret, working in American records is incredibly frustrating, because in Scotland the surname is much more likely to be spelled uniformly in the records. So, if I can help my fellow MacRaes get through the jungle of the American records, then we can all get back across the sea to our roots. And so, this project was born.

American census records provide a great many clues about our families, if we can find them. In the case of MacRaes or MacAnybody you cannot use the Soundex System to reduce the number of records you must go through to find your MacSomebody. The Soundex simply looks at the first few letters and gives you too many people in your search if you come from a Celtic background. You wind up with MacEverybody. So, I decided to compile and correct the census records available for our Clan, taking special note of common Scottish first names which had been misspelled and for whom an online search would have therefore not been fruitful.

Not all census enumerators were familiar with Scottish or Irish spellings, and even our ancestors themselves may not have been consistent. This means that the same person may have had many different surnames in the records. When a surname is spelled consistently here, it may be indicative of the way it was spelled overseas prior to arrival in America and may give indications as to where to look geographically to go further back.

All of the spelling variants listed in the front of this book have been compiled, and the records have been organized by State and listed alphabetically by first name regardless of how the last name was recorded. I have also suggested alternative spellings for forenames in brackets.

When a record appears to be a duplication, it has been removed, which means that if you are told to look on a certain page of the Census of 1840, you must look at ALL of the persons on that page who are spelled similarly so as not to miss your MacSomebody.

A note about women in the records: the tradition in America used to be that a woman was listed by her husband’s first name if she were widowed, and her own first name if she were divorced. So, a Mrs. A. MacRae might have been the widow of A. MacRae or she may have been divorced and have had the first initial A. As to ethnicity, not all persons in this book appear to be members of our clan, as some have clearly Germanic associations in names as well as in places of birth, and

If you find a record in this book you wish to examine, you have several options. You can go to the national or regional location of the National Archives to view the actual record and obtain a copy, or to the DAR Library in Washington, DC where the microfilms are held in the Seimes Collection. The records have been indexed in book format geographically. Many good regional libraries have genealogical collections which contain the microfilm or the indices, or can order them upon request. The website <www.ancestry.com> now makes it easy to view these documents online and order digitally enhanced copies of the originals (fee for access and for copies). A professional Genealogist can obtain these records for you if you prefer; see the websites of The Board for Certification of Genealogists at www.bcgcertification.org or The Association of Professional Genealogists at www.apgen.org. I do not endorse any particular approach and have used all of the above.

The MacRaes of Clunes remained in eastern Scotland and several settled at Beauly Priory and the area known as the Black Isle where they formed an educated class of clergy, whose descendants became Provosts, Writers (attorneys) and public servants in the county of Ross at Chanonry/Fortrose and at Dingwall. They lived on or near the estate of Lovat.

Bisset of Lovat's daughter and heir was fostered in the home of MacRae of Clunes and when she married a Fraser, thus forming the line Fraser of Lovat, the MacRaes continued to be supporters of the family and retained close bonds of friendship. This appears to be the senior branch of the family, as the Lord Lyon noted in his decision of 1909 that the first MacReath Coat of Arms was registered in the east not the west, as it bore devices customary in the area of Clunes and was not of the style of West Highland Clans 3 .

I am told that the saying goes both ways, “while there is a Fraser within, there will not be a MacRae without” and “while there is a MacRae within, there will not be a Fraser without”, meaning both a warm welcome into each other’s homes and a promise to aid each other in dire times.

Clan MacKenzie allied itself with Clan Fraser through the marriage of Kenneth 7th of Kintail with Agnes, daughter of Hugh Fraser of Lovat, having repudiated his first wife, a MacDonald, and this began the feuds between the MacKenzies and the MacDonalds.

Bush, MACRAES TO AMERICA!!, Page 10 of 632

This shift caused many MacKenzies and MacRaes to settle in Kintail, and in the 17th century the Clan MacKenzie split into two main lines, known by the names of the Earls of Seaforth & Lords of Kintail in the west and the Earls of Cromartie in the east, plus several cadet branches throughout the Counties of Ross and Cromarty. In many of these MacKenzie lines you will find MacRae wives. The main two western branches of the Clan MacRae are collectively known as the MacRaes of Kintail, being the MacRaes of Inverinate and the MacRaes of Conchra, descended from two sons of the Constable of Eilean Donan Castle. The records do not appear to clarify which is senior and it has in the past been the subject of debate within the clan.

The MacRaes resided mainly in the present-day counties of Ross and Cromarty. Their close ties with Clan MacKenzie in the west and Clan Fraser in the east meant for good relations wherever they went. In time, the affiliation with Clan MacKenzie grew stronger, and with the rising fortunes of the MacKenzies so, too, with the MacRaes.

The Fraser heiress married Alexander MacKenzie, son of Lord Prestonhall, who changed his name to Fraser and from whom the line continued as the Frasers of Fraserdale 4.

The connections between Clan MacKenzie and Clan Fraser remained close, based on blood ties and mutual trust and aided by the constant allegiance of the Clan MacRae.

Lovat by marrying her widowed mother and who was later executed, see Culloden.

George MacKenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie together with Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat made a joint recruiting effort in the east around Glenurquhart on the Black Isle, and took part in the Battle of Falkirk on 17 January 1746. Many MacKenzies fought in his regiment but very few MacRaes, perhaps because their population was greater in Seaforth's domain.

Both the Earl and his son Lord MacLeod were taken prisoner the day before Culloden. They were later pardoned, but Lord Lovat was also taken prisoner and was executed with great barbarity at the advanced age of 80 via the method known as hung, drawn, and quartered. He was the last nobleman executed in Britain, and a marker stands at his place of execution at the Tower of London.

The majority of the men taken at Culloden were either executed or transported. As a result of Seaforth's non-participation and Cromartie's recruiting being in the east and not the west, very few MacRaes fought in this decisive battle.

The castle has had many different occupants but is best known for its associations with Clan MacKenzie and Clan MacRae. Many battles have been fought for it, against it, and around it. This led to the naming of the Clan MacRae as MacKenzies’ “shirt of mail” because of both fierce loyalty and fighting skills.

For more information, visit the Eilean Donan Castle web site <www.eileandonancastle.com>, Map location: Dornie.

Bush, MACRAES TO AMERICA!!, Page 284 of 632

Census