Thomas James McMillan, Sr.

  Research Notes:

The word "Mac Millan" or "Mc Millan" has three definitions by as many authors. One authority on ancient Scottish clans says the word "Millan" signifies "of the mill" or "men of the mill;" McMillan, "son of the men of the mill." Another authority says the name signifies "son of the hills," Mac meaning son, Millan meaning hills or highlands. Still another authority claims that the name is from the Gaelic "MacMhaoilavin," signifying "son of the bald (or bare) man."

  Notes and Events:

• Relationship: greatgreat grandfather.

• Note: 5th son of Robert McMillan and Elizabeth Kennedy.

• Immigration: From Scotland to America, 1820. Their farm was in Palgown. They raised sheep, the black with white face and did not wear the kilt.

• Passenger List: Ship Jane, 1 Oct 31-Dec 1820, Liverpool, England To Port Of Charleston, South Carolina. ²¹ List of all Passengers Arrived from Foreign Countries in the Port of Charleston 1 October to 31 December 1820.
*Columns represent: Passenger Names, Age, Sex, Occupation, Country to which they belong, Country of which they intend to become inhabitant.
1 Mirde McKenzie 20 male bookeeper Britain U. States
2 William McMullin 24 male bookeeper Britain U. States
3 George McLehase 22 male bookeeper Britain U. States
4 Christopher Mathard 24 male bookeeper Britain U. States
5 Robert Powers 20 male bookeeper Britain U. States
6 John McRae 20 male bookeeper Britain U. States
7 John McDougald 22 male cordwinder Britain U. States
8* Thomas McMillan 16 male shopkeeper Britain U. States
9* John Dixon 4? male shopkeeper Britain U. States
10* Thomas Thompson 1? male none Britain U. States
11* Archibald Retcher 2? male merchant Britain U. States
12 John Dixon 41 male merchant Britain U. States
13 Mary Dixon 31 female none Britain U. States
14 Ann Dixon 6 female none Britain U. States
15 Agnes Dixon 3 female none Britain U. States
16 Donald Furguson 20 male none Britain U. States
17 Sarah Douthwait 30 female none Britain U. States
18 Robert Crawford 24 male labourer Britain U. States
19 Eliza Crawford 20 female labourer Britain U. States
20 James Crawford 2 male labourer Britain U. States
21 Thomas Crawford infant male labourer Britain U. States
22 Ninian Thompson 30 male labourer Britain U. States
23 Mary Thompson 27 female labourer Britain U. States
24 Jane Gilchrist 20 female labourer Britain U. States

*Collector's Office
Charleston So. Carolina
31 December 1820*
(signed) James R. P??????


Transcriber's Notes:

* The original Quarterly List had columns for Name of Vessel, Month and Year of
Arrival, and Where from. These columns have been incorporated into title
information. The ships have been transcribed individually.

* None died on the voyage, therefore the column is omitted.

* Passengers were numbered by the transcriber.

* The Quarterly List of the 4th Quarter of 1820 carried the Collector's Office
statement following the last ship. The name of the signer may be J.R.
Pringle.

? The question mark indicates illegible letters or words on the original
document.

8-11 the ages are illegible due to damaged manifest
National Archives and Records Administration, Film M575, Reel 2.

• Moved: From Camden SC to, 1834, Spring Hill, Mobile Co., AL.

• Concern or Conflict. The book "Early Settlers of Alabama" states Thomas' birthplace as Palgowan, Scotland. A letter from his granddaughter Mary, and his headstone both state Palgown, Scotland. Palgown And Palgowan are about 25 miles apart. Palgowan being about 12 miles north of Newton Stewart and about 17 miles west-northwest of New Galloway. Palgown is about 5 miles southwest of Sanquhar and 32 miles northeast of Newton Stewart. I have recently changed my position as to the family spelling due to new research proving the graveyard and home of Thomas' mother. I now believe the real town is Palgowan which is often pronounced "pal-gown" according to an email contact in Ayrshire.

• Occupation. Thomas was a prominent cotton grower and merchant

Thomas married Louisa Rogers Ray, daughter of Capt. Peter R. Ray and Mary Flint, on 25 Feb 1830 in Camden, SC.²⁰ (Louisa Rogers Ray was born on 29 Mar 1812 in Stateburg, Sumter Co., SC, died on 23 Jan 1855 in Mobile, Mobile Co., AL and was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Mobile Co., Mobile, AL.)

Thomas next married Elizabeth James.