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James McKain, my 5 x Great Grandfather, was the son of Archibald and Elspet (nee Leslie) McKain of Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland and was baptised on 4th January 1748 at St. Gluvius, Cornwall. How the McKains came to be so far from home for James' baptism is a matter of conjecture but perhaps the following incident has some connection.
XVIII. AN ELGINSHIRE GENTLEMAN IN CORNWALL "In the year 1747, a transport with troops on board, having been driven by stress of weather into Plymouth harbour, the neighbouring gentry invited officers to a ball. Amongst the ladies present was the young heiress of Penrose, in the county of Cornwall, who, on being asked if she wished to dance with any of the officers, replied, "You may introduce me to any of them except that ugly Scotchman." The officer thus designated was Lieutenant Alexander Cumming, a member of the Altyre family. During the evening, however, Cumming got introduced to the heiress, and so captivated her that in a few weeks she became his wife. He retired from the army and settled at Penrose."
Alexander Cumming married his heiress, Grace Pearce, on 13th July 1747 at Budock, Cornwall (which adjoins the parish of St. Gluvias to the north). The Cumming and Leslie families were related, so perhaps James' baptism coincided with a family visit.
James left Elgin in 1776 * and, on the death of his father Archibald in 1777, James succeeded him as the 16th Chief of Ardnamurchan (source: "History and Genealogy of the Ancient House of Ardnamurchan" by C.A.Mackain). * Athough, according to James himself, he was in England in 1774 and earlier - see Extract from "Elegance & Poverty (Bungay in the 18th Century)" below.
James married Ann Honeywood at St. George's, Bloomsbury, London on 27th May 1779. By the following year, they were settled in Bungay, Suffolk, where James took over the running of an established school.
Extract from "Elegance & Poverty (Bungay in the 18th Century)" by E.A.Goodwin, re Richard Harvey's school in Bungay (founded 1756)
"On (John) Welton's * death in 1780, the school was continued by James McKain, who announced "Mr. McKain has lived in several reputable Academies in London: but last with Rev. Mr. Crawford of Chiswick, Middlesex, whom he has served as School Assistant from September 1774 to the present time, and who has been pleased to recommend him in the strongest terms to Rev. Mr. Reeve of Bungay, both for his Abilities as a Teacher and his Moral Character....." * John Welton was Harvey's assistant for 7 years and took over in 1772.
1811 - Entry in list of Bungay persons in John Scott's * diaries (from Ethel Mann's collection of Bungay material held by the Suffolk Record Office (Accession No. 187).
"McKain a schoolmaster, kept a school near the Cherry Tree, Bungay. He had notice to quit from his landlord J.Scott in this year and the building became a granary". * John Scott (1756-1836)
J.McKain. Handbill for his evening school h.d. c1811 (Suffolk Record Office ref. 175 AR)
"Saturdays Excepted / J.McKAIN's Bungay Suffolk / an Evening School /from Michaelmas (29th September) to Lady (25 March) / The Terms are Six-pence pr. Week / The Hours from Six to Eight / The Scholars to find/ Candles / Pens & Ink Six Pence pr. Quarter"
James and Ann had 8 children. There is a sad story from family records that James became estranged from his 2nd daughter, Marianne, over her marriage to Job Meek, the son of a farmer. Job Meek met Marianne when he was a tutor at the school run by James. Much to James' displeasure, a romance developed and the couple eloped. Apparently, her father disowned Marianne, being of the opinion she had married beneath her. He removed her name from all family records. It is said that Marianne went to visit her father on his death bed but he refused to see her, saying "I have no daughter, Marianne". Strangely, there appears to be no record of Marianne's baptism at Holy Trinity, Bungay, where all her siblings were baptised. With thanks to Leslie Meek (my 4th cousin twice removed) for this information.
James McKain died on 2nd August 1828 at Woolwich Dockyard, Kent where his eldest son James was the Yard Officer. Both James(Senior) and his wife Ann (who died in 1827) were buried in Grain churchyard, Kent. Their Monumental Inscription reads "Here repose the bodies of James McKain and Anne his wife of Bungay, Suffolk who departed this life, SHE the 26th August 1827 at Sheerness in her 79th year, HE the 2nd August 1828 at Woolwich in his 81st year".
