Peter Buchanan, according to the History of Barnet, Vermont was from the Hern of Cashlea in Stirling, Scotland.  This is fascinating because Cashlie is a small estate not far from the town of Buchlyvie.  The estate itself is mentioned in the Buchanan genealogical treatises.  The family around it is relatively well documented up to a point…  As a matter of intuition and some sleuth work we can connect Peter, albeit much is theoretical.  First, it is undoubtedly important to note that the surname Buchanan as associated with the clan in the area is widespread. And second, that Buchanan names seem to find themselves in almost every family, repeated and reused.

Starting from what we know with relative certainty, Peter Buchanan of Barnet, Vermont was married to Annable Millar.  His marriage record reports that he was from Gartchiol and his wife Annable was the daughter of Henry Miller of Belwill.  We know the names of their children, most of whom are in the records of Barnet and in the records of Drymen parish, clearly linked to both parents.  The first baptismal record gives the parents home as Craigilock–a place that could be related to Craighead, next to Gowston–but all the others give the family home as Gowston or over Gowston.

Place is important here.  To review, we have the Hern of Cashlea, Cashlie/Cashley (right, center), Belwill (left bottom), Gartchiol (not on this map but a short distance to the west), Gartinstarry (upper left) and Gowstown (low center).  These places define a small nexus of estates.  Starting with Gowstown, we find that it is sometimes equated with Cashlie.  In this way Over Gowstown might be the same place as Upper Cashley.  Moving on, “Hern,” is a gaelic expression that refers to a corner or a turn in the road.  The Hern of Cashlie, therefore, would seem to refer to a part of the Cashley estate.  Finally, Gartchiol is not part of the Cashlie estate.  It is not far, but seems to be much closer to Gartinstarry – an important link to the Gartinstarry Buchanans.

Now the parentage for Peter Buchanan given in a number of places notwithstanding, I think I have found a reasonable path, which is, albeit, still highly theoretical and should be taken with a grain of salt.

 

 

 Peter might be the son of Alexander Buchanan and Jean Logan.

According to parish records Alexander Buchanan married Jean Logan in Drymen Parish.  I have not found the marriage record, but she is listed as the mother of William, an unnamed boy, and Thomas baptized from 1740 to 1744. The residence is listed as Easter Ballat (or Ballale – not on this map but a short distance to the west).

It appears that her husband Alexander Buchanan might have died at 1744 because we find Jean married to James Buchanan in time to baptized a daughter Jean in 1749.  The residence for this baptism is listed as Easter Ballat (or Ballale).  Easter Ballat is a little to the west of Gowstown.

Now Jean may have been the second wife of Alexander Buchanan because we find parish records for the birth of four children John, Margaret, Andrew and William.  For John the place of residence is listed as Gartinstarry.

Lets look at James Buchanan, the second husband of Jean Logan.  He is possibly married four times – to Margaret Harvey, Agnes Buchanan, Agnes Logan and, finally, Jean Logan.  His residence for the baptism of his first son, James, with Margaret Harvey is Gartinstarry.  His residence for most of his later children is given as Ballat or Wester Ballat.  I think it is likely that Jean Logan and Agnes Logan are sisters.  It is also possible that James Buchanan and Alexander Buchanan were brothers – but it doesn’t seem to fit the record.  James’ first son was James and Alexander’s first son was John.  I believe they were possibly cousins and I will come back to that.

Now Peter Buchanan of Barnet, Vermont had children in this order – James, William, Janet, Henry, Alexander, Jean, Margaret, George and Peter.  Let’s address them one by one:

• James Buchanan son of Peter, is possibly named after Peter’s stepfather James Buchanan.  Since Peter would not have known is father except as a young child and was presumably raised by his stepfather, he could have named his firstborn son after him.
• William Buchanan son of Peter, is possibly named after Peter’s brother, William, son of Alexander.  This William may have married the daughter of James Buchanan, Janet Buchanan, another link strengthener (their daughters, by the way, are Jean and Agnes–both reflecting the Logans.
• Janet Buchanan dau of Peter, is possibly named after Janet Buchanan Millar, her mother Annable’s mother.
• Henry Buchanan son of Peter, is possibly named after Henry Miller, his mother Annable’s father
• Alexander Buchanan son of Peter, is possibly named after Peter Buchanan’s father, Alexander -who, as we have said, he didn’t really know.
• Jean Buchanan dau of Peter, is possibly named after Peter’s mother, Jean Logan Buchanan.
• Margaret Buchanan dau of Peter, is possibly named after his mother Annable Millar Buchanan’s sister Margaret
• George Buchanan son of Peter, MIGHT be named after Peter’s uncle George a possible brother of Alexander.  This is a weak link.
• Peter Buchanan son of Peter, is possibly named after his father Peter.

Now, of course, Peter Buchanan COULD also be the son of James Buchanan and Agnes Logan.  But he names none of his daughters Agnes and none of his sons after the known sons of James Buchanan (James, John, Thomas and Andrew).  In fact, I have for years had him placed in this family – but it just doesn’t look right.  The explanation that James Buchanan is his stepfather and not his father seems to make everything fall into place. Both James Buchanan and Alexander Buchanan lived on the estates at Ballat and at Gartinstarry.  They both married Logans and they both married Jean Logan.

If we have, at least a good theory here, then it is finally time to go to the pedigrees and see what they can tell us.

According to An Historical and Genealogical Essay Upon the Family and Surname of Buchanan by William Auld written in 1775.  The Gartinstarry Buchanans are descended from Duncan Buchanan, a cadet of the Arnprior family (and I will leave this alone at the moment!).  Duncan’s descent goes like this:

1. John Buchanan 1st of Arnprior & Dorothea Livingston
2. Duncan Buchanan of Brachern and Buchanan
3. Duncan Buchanan of Cashlie and Gartinstarry
4. Margaret Buchanan m John Buchanan, fiar of Cashlie
5. John Buchanan of Cashlie m Isobel Leckie, Janet Buchanan, Helen Forgie
6. Duncan Buchanan of Cashlie and Gartinstarry m Katherine Napier
7. John Buchanan of Gartinstarry
8. John Buchanan of Gartinstarry

Now, I am not sure there were two last generations of Johns, but going with it, the last John Buchanan had two sons John and James.  John was said to have been a maltman in Glasgow, interesting as they were not the only Buchanan maltman in Glasgow (George, Duncan and another family, I won’t pursue here). I am now on THIN ice.  But since Alexander’s firstborn son was named John, I tentatively assign Alexander to John and since James’ firstborn son was named James, I tentatively assign him to James. This, nicely, makes Alexander and James, first cousins, both connected by records to Gartinstarry. It looks like James’ father could be the James who marries Sophie Lyle in Balfron – but this connection is worth doubting since the name Sophie never appears again… so, following the children of John Buchanan (#8 above)….

John Buchanan of Gartinstarry m ???

1 John Buchanan of Glasgow and Gartinstarry – children Alexander and George (and probably, at least an eldest, undiscovered son named John)

• 2 Alexander Buchanan m Janet/Margaret Mitchell and Jean Logan (ch: John, Margaret, Andrew, William, Peter?, a boy, Thomas)

1 James Buchanan of Gartinstarry and (ch possibly: James, and Thomas (who marries Agnes Logan first)

• 2 James Buchanan of Gartinstarry and Ballat m (4 times, last Jean Logan) (1st son is James and daughter marries William son of Alexander)

The 30 Nov 1743 baptism for a child of Alexander Buchanan and Jean Logan is also interesting.  The unnamed boy is born at Easter Ballat.  But the name is torn off.  We know that Peter Buchanan was born 1 Jan 1740/1741 from the History of Barnet.  But this date is on no other record.  I suspect that the baptism was either late or that the oft-repeated date from the History of Barnet might be incorrect.  The name Peter, itself is interesting, as it has not appeared in any of this line of Buchanans.  I do not know who Jean and possibly her sister Agnes’ father was, but I suspect it was a John (and there are no Peter Logans who appear anywhere close).  Since Alexander already had a son John, the name could not have been used.  There are a few Peter Buchanans who could represent another link worth following…I haven’t located one.

I welcome comments!