The Ancestry of Margery McCuiston

Dunscaith Castle By John Allan, CC BY-SA 2.0,  

In his book McUisdean, James A McQuiston, FSA Scot suggests the following lineage for Robert, the father of Margery.  This is well researched, but still conjecture.  I definitely recommend that you read his book as well as that of Leona Bean McQuiston. James' discussions of the family connections are well thoiught out, he does offer a couple of other remote possibilities for the ancestry of Robert, severing at #28 Donald below.  The book refers to DNA connetions, noting that only one family in the US does not match, and suggesting that their shared background suggests McCuiston heritage from the female side.

This numbering system is suggested by James.

 (1) Conn of the 100 fights
(26) Alexander McDonald, 10th Earl of Ross d. 1449 (See the Peerage) and McUisdean for skipped generations.

 (27) Hugh of Sleat, Uisdean McDonald was born at Dingwall Castle 1436. He received a charter to the Isle of Skye from his half brother in 1449. He took over Dunscaith Castle about 1469 and received a royal charter for his lands in 1476 and in 1495. He died at Paisley Abbey in 1498.  Hugh had six sons by six different women according tradition.

(28) Donald Gallach McUisdean (a Mary/ Elizabeth Gunn) was born Caithness, Scotland early 1460s. In 1505 he took over leadership of the clan and Dunscaith Castle.  He is murdered by his half-brother Alexander in 1506.

(29) Alexander McHugh Gallach McUisdean goes to Ireland in 1565 to fight for his first cousin, Sorley Boy McDonnell taking his sons with him. He is killed at the age of 80 in 1586 while leading 100 gallowglass warriors at the massacre of Ardnarea.  Records identify him as the grandson of Hugh of Sleat.

(30) Donald Gorm Mor, last Chief of Clan Uisdean pays a fine in 1591. He builds Caisteal Uisdean on Skye in 1601.  When he died in 1616 the title of Chief of Sleat is retired.

(31) James McQuiston of Antrim served under Sorley's son Randal

(32) Alexander  who served under James Hamilton.  He had brothers John and Bryise

(33) Daniel McCuiston was born about 1660 in Dunigiven, Londonderry, Ireland.  He was among the brave defenders of Londonderry when it was seiged by enemy troops, serving under Gustavus Hamilton.  He married before 1680.

Page from Robert's notebook listing his
arrival on 6 Aug 1735

(34) John McCuiston   m. Isabel Crelon in 1699. John served as Quartermaster to Gustavus Hamilton.  In 1702 he was sent to Jamacia for a year, most likely arriving home in 1704.  John died abt 1715.  James suggests that John might have leased land upon his return home in 1704.  The normal term of leases at this time was 31 years and that would be the time when his sons Robert and Thomas left Ireland, probably the result of the rents in the area going much higher as the landholders tried to clear those engaged in the linen trade from their lands as they were hurting the industry in
England.

(35) Robert was born in Paisley in 1710.  He had brothers, James born 1700, Thomas born 1704, Alexander, Benjamin and  sisters Margory (Hamilton)  and Ann (Fleming).  Robert immigrated in 1735 with his brother Thomas, settling in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on land adjacent to James. He married Ann Denny and they had  seven known children.  In 1765 he left Pennsylvania for Rowan County, North Carolina.  He died that same year as did his brother James.  Alexander died the same year in Ireland.

(36) Margery m. John Trindle



Sources

McQuiston Documents (Dropbox)

McQuiston, James A., FSA Scot, McUisdean, 2016 author  (ScotsIrishNet) (Mountain Echo Online)

McQuiston, Leona Bean, The McQuiston, McCuiston and McQuesten families 1620-1937. , Louisville, KY, Standard Press 1937.  Link leads to Internet Archive where you can borrow book

Walker, George, A True Account of the Siege of Londonderry, 1689

Witherow, Thomas. "A True Account of the Siege of Londonderry ", Derry and Enniskillen in the Year 1689,