Marian Rendall

MARIAN RENDALL (aka MARGARET RENDALL)

Marian Rendall (aka Margaret Rendall), here treated, is the putative daughter of an Orkneyman named John Rendall and his Canadian First Nation wife Betsy. It cannot be regarded as certain but it seems quite likely, probable even, that her mother belonged to the York Factory First Nation. Rendall is an Orkney surname but as far as is known, Marion Rendall (aka Margaret Rendall), here treated, never set foot on the Orkney Islands. However, four of her children are noticed there during the period 1861-1873 and she may still have descendants living in Scotland

Marian Rendall seems likely to be the daughter of John Rendall, and his country wife, Betsy, although this cannot presently be regarded as being certain. It should be said, however, that her putative father was employed as a carpenter/boat builder at York Factory during the years1820-31, and served as Postmaster there during the years 1834-39. Moreover, he is the only member of the Rendall family who is known to have been employed at York Factory during this period. Hudson's Bay Company Archives: Biographical Sheets

Marriage

Marian Rendall (aka Margaret Rendall) was the country wife of William McTavish, twenty-first Chief of the Clan McTavish. He was the Hudson's Bay Company's Clerk-Accountant at York Factory in Manitoba, Canada, during the years 1833-1847 and he was Chief Trader there during 1850-56, He was afterwards Governor of Assiniboia, and then Governor of Rupert's Land. Hudson's Bay Company Archives: Biographical Sheets

Children

In the context of record evidence, Marian Rendall (aka Margaret Rendall) and her husband, William McTavish, are certainly known to have had two daughters, but she is probably the mother of all three of the daughters he made provision for in his last will and testament. She is probably also the mother of a son named William McTavish. All fhe four of McTavish children follow:

1. Marian Rendall (aka Margaret Rendall) is the mother of Harriet McTavish. Harriet was a Mantua Maker, who died in Stromness, in Orkney, Scotland, at midnight on 10 January 1873. She probably died at the home of Margaret Mowat in Albert Street there, where she was lodging 1861-71. Her death registration certificate identifies her as the illegitimate daughter of the deceased William McTavish, Chief Factor for the Hudson's Bay Company, and records her mother's name as Marian Rendall. Her mother is not said to be deceased and so it is poossible that she was still alive on 10 January 1873 [Registrar General for Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, Statutory Register of Deaths for 1873, Death Registration for Harriet McTavish, Mantle Maker, registration district number 30 (Stromness), entry number 3]
2. Marian Randall (aka Margaret Rendall) is also the mother of Mary McTavish. Mary was a schooleacher. She married Angus Malcolm McGillivray, schoolmaster, at Stromness in Orkney, Scotland, on 15 September 1879 [Registrar General for Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, Statutory Register of Marriage for, registration district (Stromness), entry number 13]
3. It cannot be regarded as certain but it seems quite likely, probable even, that Marian Rendall (aka Margaret Rendall) is also the mother of Margaret, who was boarding in the same household as Harriet and Mary McTavish when the census was enumerated on the night of 7/8 April 1861 [Registrar General for Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, 1861 Census Return for Stromness, registration district number 30 (Stromness), enumeration book number 2, page number 10]. All three girls gave up their place of birth as York Factory, at Hudson's Bay in Canada, and in view of this they should, perhaps, be identified with the three illegitimate daughters for whom William McTavish of Dunardry made provision in his last will and testament. [http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/mactavish_william_9E.html. Dictionary of Canadian Biography]
4. William McTavish of Dunardry and Marian Rendall (aka Margaret Rendall) may also have had a son named William. Proof is wanting but the possibility of this is suggested by the fact that a young man named William McTavish was resident in Stromness when the census was enumerated on the night of 7/8 April 1861 and, just like his putative sisters, he too was born in the Hudson's Bay Territory [Orkney Family History Society: 1861 Census Return for Stromness in Orkney]. William McTavish died of epilespy on 2 February 1863, but his death registration does not reveal the names of his parents [Registrar General for Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, Statutory Register of Death for 1863, registration district number 17 (Firth), entry number 3]

Evidence for the MacTavish Children in Prkney Records == 1

MANSE LANE, STROMNESS, ORKNEY, 1861: (1) Stewart Loutit, Head, Single, Female, age 35, Housekeeper, born Stromness (2) Margaret Loutit, Sister, Single, Female, age 32, Music Teacher, born Stromness (3) Catherine Loutit, Sister, Single, Female, age 30, Fancy Crochet Worker, born Stromness (4) William McTavish, Visitor, Single, Male, age 17, Scholar, born Canada: Hudson's Bay Territory [Orkney Family History Society: 1861 Census Return for Stromness in Orkney]

        2

MAIN STREET, STROMNESS, ORKNEY,1861: (1) Margaret Mowat, Head, Widow, Female, Age 51, Housekeeper, born Stromness (2) Thomas Mowat, Son,, Male, Age 17, Baker, born Stromness (3) Euphemia Flett, Mother, Widow, Female, Age 80, born Stenness (4) Margaret McTavish, Boarder, Female, Age 15, Scholar, born Canada: York Factory, Hudson's Bay (5) Mary McTavish, Boarder, Female, Age 12, Scholar, born Canada: York Factory, Hudson's Bay (6) Harriet McTavish, Boarder, Female, Age 11, Scholar, born Canada: York Factory, Hudson's Bay, (7) Margaret Anderson, Boarder, Female, Age15, Scholar, born Canada: York Factory, Hudson's Bay [Orkney Family History Society: 1861 Census Return for Stromness in Orkney, Scotland]

       3

Death registration certificate of William McTavish, pupil, boarder (Single), died at the United Presbyterian Manse in the parish of Firth, on 2 February 1863, age 18 years, parents not named, cause of death was Epilepsy. The death was registered on information supplied by Alexander Bain, Procurator Fiscal. [Registrar General for Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, Statutory Register of Death for 1863, registration district number 17 (Firth), entry number 3]

        4

ALFRED STREET, STROMNESS, ORKNEY, 1871: (1) Margaret Mowat, Head, Widow, Female, Age 62, born Stromness (2) Margaret McTavish, Boarder, Single, Female, Age 26, Dressmaker, born Canada: Hudson's Bay (3) Harriet McTavish, Boarder, Single, Female, Age 20, Milliner, born Canada: Hudson's Bay [Orkney Family History Society: 1871 Census Return for Stromness in Orkney, Scotland]

        5

Death registration certificate of Harriet McTavish, Mantua Maker (illegitimate), single, died at Stromness, at midnight on 10 January 1873, age 25 years, daughter of William McTavish, Chief Factor, Hudson's Bay Co. (deceased), and Marian Rendall. Harriet's death was registered by her guardian, George Halcro. [Registrar General for Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, Statutory Register of Deaths for 1873, registration district number 30 (Stromness), entry number 3]

        6

In memory of Harriet McTavish died 10 Jan 1873 aged 82 [Orkney Family History Society: Monumental Inscriptions in Stromness Kirkyard (Section A), inscription A/107]

Note: Harriet McTavish was not 82 years old when she died. When her guardian, George Halcro, reported her death to the local registrar he gave up her age as 25 years. However, the census returns for 1861 and 1871 suggest that she may have been about 22 years of age when she died.