The McWhirter family has its roots deep in the heart of Scotland. The family originated in the village of Ballantrae, on the western shores of the country of Scotland, in Carrick, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The name probably comes from the Scottish Gaelic Baile na Tràgha, meaning the "town by the beach". The village maintains a website with more information.

It's a beautiful windswept place, with well kept streets and fields all around, and a flat shale and sand beach.

Here's a description - Ballantrae is situated on Ballantrae Bay on the South Ayrshire coast, at the mouth of the River Stinchar. The village was a fishing Port and a favourite haunt of smugglers. The village gave its name to Robert Louis Stevensons brooding novel the Master of Ballantrae, and may have been inspired by an incident in 1876 when the great writer was said to have been stoned by the residents of Ballantrae, who were apparently upset by his clothing.

The village has a shop, post office, primary school, doctors’ surgery, hotel, bowling green and small harbour. Ballantrae is approx 11 miles south of Girvan and is on the A77. This corner of south west Ayrshire is renowned for varied and unspoilt scenery and a particularly mild climate throughout the year.

For those who enjoy outdoor pursuits the area is perfect. As well as excellent golfing facilities at Girvan, Dailly and Turnberry there are the usual field sports, excellent rivers for fishing and some superb routes for walking. The National Trust for Scotland’s Culzean Castle and Galloway Forest Park can be reached quite easily by a relatively short car drive.

Ailsa Craig is a prominent feature offshore, with views from the beach of Ballantrae.

Gilbert Mcwhirter was born about 1730 in Shellknow, Ballantrae, Scotland
Isobel McCreadie was born on October 26, 1735 in Shellknow, Ballantrae, Ayrshire, Scotland
Gilbert McWhirter and Isobel McCreadie were married on April 13, 1750 in Shellknow, Ballantrae, Ayrshire, Scotland
They had the following children:

William McWhirter, son of Gilbert McWhirter and Isobel McCreadie, was born on April 15, 1762 in Ballantrae, Ayrshire, Scotland. He died on January 4, 1848 in Ballantree, Scotland.
Ann Kirkhill Caldwell, daughter of William Caldwell and Jean McQueen, was born on August 19, 1769 in Ballantrae, Ayrshire, Scotland. She died on January 1, 1834 in Ballantrae, Scotland.

Anne Kirkhill Caldwell's father was William Caldwell, who was the son of James Caldwell, who was born between 1715 - 1725 in Ballantrae, Ayrshire, Scotland.  James appears to have been born the year after the death of his father, William, at the age of 45.  Her mother was Jean McQueen, born about 1725 in Ballantrae, Ayrshire, Scotland. 
William Caldwell and Jean McQueen had the following children:

William McWhirter married Ann Kirkhill Caldwell on September 21, 1792 in Ballantrae, Ayrshire, Scotland, and they resided in the village.  It's said that two of their sons went to what is now Quebec, two sons went to the United States, two sons went to Australia, and Alexander stayed on in Scotland.  Their children were:

Family tree of Janet Cochran, wife of Gilbert McWhirter

William Cochrane was born about 1778, and he died about 1826
Margaret Dick was born in 1782
William Cochrane and Margaret Dick married.
They had the following children:

		This is a portion of the first page of a letter from Hugh McWhirter in Scotland to his brothers Gilbert and John (Jock), who had moved to Canada, dated March 22, 1830 from Scotland.  Hugh was the captain of his own fishing boat back in Scotland.  To read pages 2, 3 and 4 of the letter, click HERE for a PDF copy.
Gilbert and Janet (Cochrane) McWhirter

Gilbert and Janet (Cochrane) McWhirter arrived in New Richmond, QC  and lived there until their death. Their children were:

		Gilbert and Margaret (McRae) McWhirter and their granddaughter Maggie, daughter of Janet.

Gilbert married twice - he married his first wife, Mary Ann Woodman, who was born about 1835.  She had one daughter with Gilbert.

 Gilbert then married Margaret McRae (her cousin was John McRae - Flanders Fields). They lived in New Richmond, and then at some point they moved to Thornbury Ontario, around the time of the birth of their son Daniel.  James Logan, the last child, was born in Redwing, Ontario.  Margaret was born on August 1, 1831 and died November 26, 1913 in Northbury, Ontario.
Their children were:

See McWhirter Family page for details of James Logan and Ina Dyer's famly

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