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Archiver > INDIA > 1998-06 > 0897083446


From: Moira Breen <>
Subject: [Fwd: Daniel McNair 1825 - 1896]
Date: Fri, 05 Jun 1998 16:50:46 -0500


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Date: Fri, 05 Jun 1998 16:48:49 -0500
From: Moira Breen <>
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To: Tony Fuller <>
Subject: Daniel McNair 1825 - 1896
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Dear Tony:
Re: McNair family
On my father's side I am the great-grandaughter of Daniel McNair who was
born in Scotland on 12 December 1825 and died in Kodaikanal on 18 June
1896. He served as Execustive Engineer Public Works Department at
Srivilliputhur, South India, from 1845 to 1880. He married twice, two
sisters in succession whose last name was Carlier. He had 10 children
and the youngest named Grace became my paternal grandmother. On
retirement Daniel McNair lived in Kodaikanal ( a hill station in
southern India) where he died. In 1948 I visited Kodaikanal and on the
walls of the Church of England in Kodai, I saw a brass plaque to the
memory of Daniel McNair. Unfortunately, to this day I have regretted
that I did not take a photograph of this plaque. A year later, in 1949,
I left India and never returned. From my mother I learnt that some of
Daniel's children were sent to Edinburgh and that my paternal
grandmother, Grace, being the youngest was kept at home in India. Below
is a "copy" of my grandmother's Grace marriage certificate.

Marriage Certificate of Michael Fennimore Breen and
Grace Elizabeth McNair
Solemnized st St John Baptist's Church, Secunderabad
When married: 7 August 1895
Names of Parties: Michael Fenimore Breen, Age 33, Bachelor
Grace Elizabeth McNair, Age 27, Spinster
Rank or Profession: Clerk, Residency Office, Secunderabad
Father's name & surname: (1)John Breen
(2)Daniel McNair
By Banns or Licence: Licence
Signature of the Parties: Michael F. Breen
Grace E. McNair
Signature of wintesses: William McNair
Evangeline McNair
Signature by whom the cerembony is performed:
Clement H.L. Wright M.A.
Chaplain of Secunderabad

(Note: by Moira Breen, I assume that the witness William McNair was
Grace McNair's brother and Evangeline was his wife.)

Michae Fenimore Breen died on 27 September 1904 and was buried on 28
September 1904 (From the register of St Mary's Church, Secunderabad,
Dicese of Hyderabad, Deccan).
Grace Elizabeth McNair Breen died 27 March 1908.

Grace and Michael had two children, Vivian (my father) and Aileen.So
by the time my father, Vivian Breen, was 8 years old he had lost both
his parents and was orphaned.
The above records were collected diligently by mother, Vivian's wife,
before she left India in 1947.
I have no records of the McNair-Carlier marriages. Since the name
Carlier is French, I have wondered if the2 sisters belonged to a
Pondicherry family. But I have not done a genealogical search.
I don't know if the above is of help, but since Daniel had 10 children,
it is quite possible that your McNairs may belong to the same family
if they have any links to South India.
I would be very interested in anything you may find.
Sincerely,
Moira Breen
Illinois
USA

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