Colquhoun ancestory......know anything of it?

Question

Ok, so I'm looking for any information about Elizabeth Colquhoun. She married Alexander McMurray somewhere in Scotland, they had a kid named George on 28 Aug 1873 and they had one other kid, which could have been Margaret, or was married to a Margaret. I'm not sure if Elizabeth and Alexander left Scotland, but their kids did (George to Africa, Margaret to America)

My sources say that Elizabeth was born in Dec 1853, but internet says that she was married in 1853 (so she was either 20 when she was pregnant with George, or she got married, waited 20 years then had 2 kids, which seems unlikely)

Any information would be rad, since I heard that the Colquhouns can be traced back to 1400's Scotland.

Answer 1

Define what your "sources" are... and if they are based on ANY actual documentation.

You would need to have documentation on either George or sister Elizabeth, which would confirm their factual records.  If the birth date for George is known to be accurate.. then (1) you are totally right to say the marriage date in 1853 is probably false or (2) someone has used bad sources and maybe mixed up your Elizabeth with another person of the same name.

The "internet" is not a source.  An ORIGINAL record/ document is a source (which might be posted on the internet, but still needs to come from something original).

So far.. sounds like your info is that George was born 1873, and his parents said to be Elizabeth and Alexander. YOU need documentation to prove this.

edit-\

NO, not angry in the least.  Simple commentary on how to prove your information, and sort out conflicting information.

I have no way of knowing your sources... I DO know that many persons rely on the internet and consider that to be an accurate source.  

No idea why you think I would be angry.  Direct, yes.

re lds files... I disagree that they are "known" to be accurate. I volunteered at one of their centers for a good while. If you have a church extract, it is normally good. Other files are submitted by patrons.. many of which I PERSONALLY spoke with family members, who submitted their lineage for church reasons, and actually saw research as more an tedious obligation.

Answer 2

Colquhoun and its variants (Colquohoun, Calhoun, Calhoun, Cahoon, and Cohoon) -- "land of the narrow forest" in Scottish Gaelic -- can be traced to Humphrey of Kilpatrick, who assumed this clan name in the 1200s when he was granted estates with this name. The Wikipedia entry on the Clan states that other septs are associated with this Clan, but Wikipedia statements should be taken *** grano salis. (Given this caveat, the Wikipedia entry might be a good place to start if you haven't already accessed it. Wikipedia, for all its faults, often brings together a lot of sources, even though willy-nilly. )

The name COLQUHOUN is a celebrated one in literature, with several eminent writers bearing it.

Archibald Ross Colquhoun (1848-1914) born off the Cape, traveled extensively as an engineer  and journalist. He was the first administrator of the British protectorate of Mashonaland (part of today’s Zimbabwe) and wrote many books on travel and politics. He pronounced his name Ko-hoon'. Perhaps he was related to  Elizabeth C.’s son, George McMurray, who, you report, went to Africa.

John Colquhoun. He was the second son of Sir James Colquhoun of Luss (perhaps a good name to follow up on?) . Born in Edinburgh Mar. 6, 1805, he studied at Edinburgh University (hoorah!), served in the Dragoons 1829-34, and became an authority on Scottish sports (meaning hunting and fishing). His “Moor and Loch” (1840) saw many editions. His “Rocks and Rivers” was published in 1849. His “Salmon Casts and Stray Shots” came out in 1858, and his “Sporting Days” saw publication in 1896. These are the sort of books one still sees bound in dark sheepskin, gathering dust in the libraries of the huntin’ and fishin’ lairds in their rockbound strongholds. The original Abercrombie & Fitch (not its successor) featured books like these in its shop on 44th St. and Madison Ave. in New York City in the 1950’s. John died at Edinburgh, May 27, 1885.

John Campbell Colquhoun (1785-1854) was his uncle. He wrote mainly on hypnotism, and was sheriff-depute (district attorney) of Dunbartonshire from 1815.

Patrick Colquhoun (1745-1820) was born at Dumbarton, became in 1782 provost (chief magistrate, corresponding to mayor) of Glasgow, and in 1792 a London police magistrate. He was an early police  reformer. He wrote ‘Police of the Metropolis: (1795) and “Population and Wealth of the British Empire” (1814).

Colquhoun and its variants is a common name among the Scots-Irish, who are celebrated in Pat Buchanan’s book on this vastly important American group.