Disappointing

[davedove]

So, the family "legend" has always been that we came from the Isle of Raasay, descending from the MacLeod's of Raasay. I have been doing some research, and using a great Aunt's research and found that our ancestor Joseph "MacLeod" Rasey is not a MacLeod at all. DNA testing has proved that there is no way he was related to Malcolm MacLeod who was said to be his father. This connection was supposed to have been fabricated by a preacher years and years back. Anyway, the Joseph Rasey that I descend from was supposedly born in Skye, Argyll but I really cant find a second source substantiating that claim. Anyone know of any Rasey's or Rasay's in Scotland in the 1700's? Well, as disapointing as it is to find out that I am not actually a MacLeod, I can still take pride in my Cunningham heritage which is irrefutable!

Bishop

I understand your disappointment. I was always told that I was related to one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Mckean. My father's mother was a McKean. However, I have tentatively traced the Mckean line back to a Thomas McKean, but it is a different one. Apparently, Thomas was a pretty common name for McKeans. They did live in the same area, and may have been distantly related, but there is no definite proof. Also, the descendents of the signer have been fairly well documented, and none of my family is there.