This book on the McKay family of Drummartin was, in the main, compiled by Dorothy McNeill, a daughter of George McKay. It is because of her diligent perseverance in the gathering and storage of family folklore and historical data that this comprehensive account of the descendants of Nathaniel McKay and his wife Mary, has been able to be published.
Dorothy's research begins with the McKay family of Drummartin, consisting of Nathaniel McKay, his wife Mary (nee Wilson) and their twelve children; William, Nathaniel, John, Hannah, Hugh Victor, George, James, Samuel, Essie, Mary (Molly), Gavin and John. From this central point, she traverses backwards in time to include Nathaniel's known family in Ireland and subsequent immigration to the Colony of Victoria in 1851/2; and forwards, tracing the lives and varying fortunes of their many children and their families. Additional material and information has been added to Dorothy's by succeeding generations of Nathaniel's and Mary's children.
The McKay family history contained in this book spans over 180 years, and it is not meant to be a definitive history, nor an attempt at a sociological analysis of the origins and experiences of a Scotch-Irish immigrant family. The McKays of Drummartin is a personal family history, written with devotion and a Scotch sense of 'clan' tradition. It is a valuable document, not only for succeeding generations of McKays, but to genealogical and historical researchers, who may one day wish to trace the story of Scotch-Irish endeavour, and evaluate their contribution to the cultural and social background of early Australia.
INVERNESS: It is thought that the original Hugh McKay emigrated to Ireland from Inverness in Scotland, during the mid to late 17th century.