Before embarking on discussions of the lives of the various individual Muirhead immigrants to the American colonies, Canada and the Carribean Islands, we should take a look at the overall record of the Muirhead emigration from Scotland and the Isles.

  Records of emigrants prior to the 1820s tend to be sparse and sketchy. There was little if any attempt to obtain a record of the types of people emigrating from a country - their age, occupation, and so forth was unimportant. The records that are available to us from the period of the 1600s to the 1820s are primarily the ship’s captain’s records. Such records were simply enumerations of the passengers for the purpose of making certain that the voyage would be paid for. In the ship’s captain’s records you normally find only the names of men and women over the age of eighteen years - those who would be paying for their passage. Children were seldom listed; they were treated simply as property of the adult passenger. Only a very few of the extant ship’s captain’s records include information such as the ages of the passengers.

  Another source of passengers’ names come from the oaths of allegiance the passengers had to swear to when they arrived in the American colonies. But that type of record generally was required only of the passengers from foreign (e.g. German) countries. Passengers from the Isles were not to reconfirm their allegiance in order to enter into the American colonies.

  After the 1820s, record keeping began to be a bit more detailed. This is possibly due to the fact that all ships coming to the American ports, whether English or not, were now from ‘foreign’ countries.

  The following information was obtained from the Passenger and Immigration Lists Index compiled by P. William Filby and published by Gale Research.(4.1) The Passenger and Immigration Lists Index is perhaps the best resource available for locating immigration/emigration records. It is, as the Index in its name implies, a master index of all the published reference volumes pertaining to immigration/emigration. So, although it provides only basic information, a summary of the original record, it makes research much easier.

Emigrant Date & Place Of Entry Additional Information Source
Agnes Muirhead 08 March 1793 Widow of Dougald Stewart, merchant in Jamaica Directory of Scottish Settlers in North America 1625-1825. Vol. VII. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., by David Dobson,1993, p 78.
Alexander Muirhead 1810, America . British Aliens in the United States during the War of 1812. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1979. , by Kenneth Scott, p 281.
Alexander Muirhead 1731, Pennsylvania Age: 19 The Complete Book of Emigrants: A Comprehensive Listing Compiled from English Public Records of Those Who Took Ship to the Americas for Political, Religious, and Economic Reasons; of Those Who Were Deported for Vagrancy, Roguery, or Non-Conformity; and of Those Who Were Sold to Labour in the New Colonies. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1700-1750. 1992, by Peter Wilson Coldham, p 448.
Alexander Muirhead 1847, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania . UNITED STATES, WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION. Index to Records of Aliens' Declarations of Intention and/or Oaths of Allegiance 1789-1880, in United States Circuit Court, United States District Court, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Quarter Sessions Court, Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia. Compiled by W.P.A., Project No. 20837. [Harrisburg:] Pennsylvania Historical Commission, [1940]. 25 vols. in 11. Vol. 7. Letter M, pp. 1-350; vol. 8. Letter M, p 618.
Andrew Muirhead Nova Scotia . A History of the County of Pictou, Nova Scotia. Montreal: Dawson Brothers 1877, pp. 449-465. Reprinted by Pictou Advocate, Pictou [Nova Scotia] 1916, by Rev. George Patterson p 290.
Ann Muirhead 1837, New Brunswick . A Dictionary of Scottish Emigrants to Canada before Confederation/. Toronto: Ontario Genealogical Society. Volume 1 1986, by Donald Whyte, p 344.
Charles Muirhead 1630, Isle of Kent Charles, son of David Muirhead, merchant of London, came to the Isle of Kent along with William Clairborne in 1630 to look after his father’s portion of the Isle of Kent colony project. He later settled in the Northern Neck of Virginia. Immigrant Ancestors - A List Of 2,500 Immigrants To America Before 1750, Extracted from Volume VII Compendium of American Genealogy. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1963, p 49.
David Muirhead 1879, Nebraska . Irish and Scotch-Irish Who Made A Declaration of Intention to Naturalize from Cass, Douglas, Lancaster, Nemaha, Otoe, Richardson, Sarpy and York Counties in Nebraska 1855-1940. Lincoln, NE: Nebraskans of Irish and Scotch-Irish Ancestry 1997, by Ellen M. DeVries and Raymond D. DeVries, p 102.
David Muirhead 1892, Illinois . Naturalization Records, from Index at Vermilion County, Illinois, Courthouse. In Illiana Genealogist. Vol. 17:1 (Winter 1981), pp. 17-20 (Letters K-L), vol. 17:2 (Spring 1981), pp. 60-63 (Letters M-O), vol. 17:3 (Summer 1981), pp. 77-79 (Letters P-R), vol. 17:4 (Fall 1981), pp. 114-120 (Letters S-Z)., by Donna Gash, p 62.
Ebenezer Muirhead 1754, Providence, Rhode Island Physician residing in Dumfries-shire, son of William Muirhead of Crochmore and Janet Richardson. Scots Colonists: American 1612-1783, Surnames M-N, p 257.
Gavin Muirhead 1684, America Covenanter, residing in Cambusnethan Lanarkshire. Transported from Leith to New York by George Lockhart, a merchant in New York, James Glen, stationer burgess of Edinburgh, and Thomas Gordon, burgess of Edinburgh. Imprisoned in Edinburgh Tolbooth. Trial: 05 May 1684. Directory of Scots Banished to the American Plantations 1650-1775. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1984, by David Dobson, p 169. AND Scots Colonists: America 1612-1783, Surnames M-N, p 257. AND Scots Colonists: Supplement 1607-1707, Surnames M-N, p 132.
Gavin Muirhead 1871, Ontario Age: 50 Index to the 1871 Census of Ontario: Grey. Toronto: Ontario Genealogical Society 1991, by Bruce S. Elliott, p 85.
George Muirhead 1685, New Jersey . Ship Passenger Lists, New York and New Jersey (1600-1825). Newhall, Calif.: the editor 1978. 333p. 4th pr. 1986. Reprint. Family Line Publications, Westminster, MD 1992, by Carl Boyer 3rd, p 247.
George Muirhead 1860, Illinois . KANE COUNTY, ILLINOIS NATURALIZATION RECORDS 1857-1906. Geneva, IL: Kane County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 504, Geneva, IL 60134 1988, p 101.
George James Muirhead 1824, Kingston, Jamaica Died on 16 May 1824 in Kingston, Jamaica. Son of George A. Muirhead, merchant in Glasgow. Directory of Scottish Settlers in North America 1625-1825. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. Volume 2. 1984, by David Dobson, p 159. AND Directory of Scottish Settlers in North America 1625-1825. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. Volume 3. 1984, by David Dobson, p 130.
Grace Muirhead 1871, Ontario Age: 45 Index to the 1871 Census of Ontario: Brandt. Toronto: Ontario Genealogical Society 1986, by Bruce S. Elliott, p 110.
James Muirhead 1684, Carolina A prisoner in Edinburgh or Canongate Tolbooths. Banished to the Plantations in Carolina 06 August 1684. Transported from Leith to Carolina on Robert Malloch’s ship in August 1684. (Robert Malloch was a merchant burgess in Edinburgh.) Directory of Scots Banished to the American Plantations 1650-1775. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1984, by David Dobson, pp 169 248. AND Scots Colonists: America 1612-1783, Surnames M-N, p 257. AND Scots Colonists: Supplement 1607-1707, Surnames M-N, p 132.
James Muirhead 1685 & 1686, East New Jersey Certain of the sources cite Perth Amboy as the place of entry. A Covenanter imprisoned in Canongate and Burntisland Tolbooths 20 May 1685. Imprisoned in Dunnotter Castle and Leith Tolbooth 18 August 1685. Transported from Leith to East New Jersey by George Scott of Pitlochie on the Henry and Francis of Newcastle, master Richard Hutton on 05 September 1685. Landed 07 December 1685. Directory of Scots Banished to the American Plantations 1650-1775. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1984, by David Dobson, p 169. AND ["Passengers on the Henry and Francis 1685."] In The New Jersey Browns. Milwaukee, Wis.: n.p. 1931, by Charlotte C. Brown and Margaret Julia (B.) Lindsay, pp. 5-6. AND "Covenanters and the Work of Rev. John Cuthbertson." In National Genealogical Society Quarterly, vol. 21:1 (Mar. 1933), by Helen S. Fields, pp. 16-18. Note: Pages 17 and 18 have "Names of Those Who Sailed on the Henry and Francis 1685," being a List of Scottish Covenanters who landed at Perth Amboy in December 1685. Published also in nos. 2590 and 2596, Glasgow; no. 0973, Brown and Lindsay; no. 9738, Whitehead; no. 0714, Boyer, Ship Passenger Lists, New York and New Jersey, pp. 237-239; and no. 9143, Tepper, New World Immigrants, vol. 1, pp. 421-423. AND ["Scottish Prisoners Banished to Pennsylvania and New Jersey (Perth Amboy) 1685."] In History of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in America.... Baltimore: Hill & Harvey 1888, by William Melancthon Glasgow, p 231. AND Ship Passenger Lists, New York and New Jersey (1600-1825). Newhall, Calif.: the editor 1978. 333p. 4th pr. 1986. Reprint. Family Line Publications, Westminster, MD 1992, by Carl Boyer 3rd, pp 239 246. AND "Names of Those Who Sailed on the Henry and Francis 1685 from Leith, Scotland, to Perth Amboy, New Jersey, 5th September 1685." In Contributions to the Early History of Perth Amboy and Adjoining Country. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1856, by William A. Whitehead, p 29. AND ["Lists of Scotch Prisoners Deported to New Jersey 1685."] In The History of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland, from the Restauration to the Revolution.... Edinburgh: James Watson 1722. Vol. 2, by William Wodrow, pp. 481-487. AND "1685 COVENANTER SHIP LIST." In Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society Quarterly, vol. 18:2 (Fall 1991), p 28. AND New World Immigrants: A Consolidation of Ship Passenger Lists and Associated Data from Periodical Literature. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1979. 568p. and 602p. Repr. 1980. Vol. 1., by Michael Tepper, p 23. AND Scots Colonists: Supplement 1607-1707, Surnames M-N, p 132.
James Muirhead 1749, Lancaster, Pennsylvania . Runaway Servants, Convicts, and Apprentices Advertised in the Pennsylvania Gazette 1728-1796. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. 1992, by Farley Grubb, p 128.
James Muirhead 1787, Charleston, South Carolina . South Carolina Naturalizations 1783-1850. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1985, by Brent H. Holcomb, p 51.
James Muirhead 1812, South Carolina . British Aliens in the United States during the War of 1812. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1979, by Kenneth Scott, p 353.
James Muirhead 1813, Charleston, South Carolina Age: 21. Born in Edinburgh in 1792. Working as an accountant in Charleston, South Carolina on 27 August 1813. DOBSON, DAVID. Directory of Scots in the Carolinas 1680-1830. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1986, by David Dobson, p 249. AND "Federal Naturalization Oaths, Charleston, South Carolina 1790-1860." In The South Carolina Historical Magazine, vol. 66:2 (Apr. 1965), pp. 112-124; vol. 66:3 (July 1965), pp. 183-192; vol. 66:4 (Oct. 1965), by Marion R. Hemperley, p 192. AND South Carolina Naturalizations 1783-1850. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1985, by Brent H. Holcomb, p 22.
James Muirhead 1871, Ontario Age: 48 Index to the 1871 Census of Ontario: York. Toronto: Ontario Genealogical Society, (1992), by Bruce S. Elliott, p 100.
James K. Muirhead 1873, Tennessee Age: 31 Davidson County, Tennessee Naturalization Records 1803-1906. Nashville, TN: Byron Sistler & Associates, Inc. 1997, by Mary Sue Smith, p 91.
John Muirhead 1625, America Date of first mention of residence: 1776 Directory of Scottish Settlers in North America 1625-1825. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. Vol. 5. 1985, by David Dobson, p 235.
John Muirhead 1656, Nansemond County, Virginia Name spelled ‘Morehead’. Scots Colonists: Supplement 1607-1707, Surnames M-N, p 132.
John Muirhead 1685, America . WODROW, ROBERT. ["Lists of Scotch Prisoners Deported to New Jersey 1685."] In The History of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland, from the Restauration to the Revolution.... Edinburgh: James Watson 1722. Vol. 2, by Robert Wodrow, p 486.
John Muirhead 1685, East New Jersey Certain of the sources cite Perth Amboy as the place of entry. Covenanter imprisoned in Edinburgh Tolbooth. Trial: 21 August 1685. Transported from Leith to East New Jersey by George Scott of Pitlochie on the Henry and Francis on 5 September 1685, master Richard Hutton. Directory of Scots Banished to the American Plantations 1650-1775. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1984, by David Dobson, p 169. AND ["Passengers on the Henry and Francis 1685."] In The New Jersey Browns. Milwaukee, Wis.: n.p. 1931, by Charlotte C. Brown and Margaret Julia (B.) Lindsay, p 5. AND "Covenanters and the Work of Rev. John Cuthbertson." In National Genealogical Society Quarterly, vol. 21:1 (Mar. 1933), by Helen S. Fields, p 18. AND ["Scottish Prisoners Banished to Pennsylvania and New Jersey (Perth Amboy) 1685."] In History of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in America.... Baltimore: Hill & Harvey 1888, by William Melancthon Glasgow, p 231. AND Ship Passenger Lists, New York and New Jersey (1600-1825). Newhall, Calif.: the editor 1978. 333p. 4th pr. 1986. Reprint. Family Line Publications, Westminster, MD 1992, by Carl Boyer 3rd, pp 239 243 247. AND "Names of Those Who Sailed on the Henry and Francis 1685 from Leith, Scotland, to Perth Amboy, New Jersey, 5th September 1685." In Contributions to the Early History of Perth Amboy and Adjoining Country. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1856, by William A. Whiehead, p 29. AND "Some Scot Emigrants." In Santa Clara County Historical and Genealogical Society [Quarterly], vol. 6:2 (Oct. 1969), by William Melancthon Glasgow, p 19. AND "1685 COVENANTER SHIP LIST." In Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society Quarterly, vol. 18:2 (Fall 1991), pp. 27-28. AND New World Immigrants: A Consolidation of Ship Passenger Lists and Associated Data from Periodical Literature. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1979. 568p. and 602p. Repr. 1980. Vol. 1, by Michael Tepper, p 423. AND Scots Colonists: America 1612-1783, Surnames M-N, p 257.
John Muirhead 1698, Carribean Witnessed James Black’s deed when bound for Darien on 16 July 1698. Scots Colonists: Caribbean Supplement 1611-1707, Surnames M-N, p 101.
John Muirhead 1699, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Merchant Directory of Scottish Settlers in North America 1625-1825. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. Vol. 5. 1985, by David Dobson, p 235. AND Scots Colonists: Supplement 1607-1707, Surnames M-N, p 133.
John Muirhead 1763, Norfolk, Virginia Shoemaker. Noted as a Loyalist. Scots on the Chesapeake 1607-1830. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1992, by David Dobson, p 116. AND Directory of Scottish Settlers in North America 1625-1825. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. Vol. 5. 1985, by David Dobson, p 235.
John Muirhead 1821, New York Name variously spelled as ‘Morehead’. Born in Scotland in 1789. Worked as a merchant. Traveled with Margaret Morehead (born 1796) on the ship, Belle Savage, Captain Russell in late 1821. Arrived at Newport. Davidson County, Tennessee Naturalization Records 1803-1906. Nashville, TN: Byron Sistler & Associates, Inc. 1997, by Mary Sue Smith, p 298. AND Scots In The USA And Canada 1825-1875, Surnames M-N, p 68.
John Muirhead 1858, Michigan . Naturalization Records for Oakland County, Michigan 1827-1906. Birmingham, Mich.: Oakland County Genealogical Society 1985, by Ruth S. Kennedy, p 78.
John Muirhead 1871, Ontario Age: 58 Index to the 1871 Census of Ontario: Grey. Toronto: Ontario Genealogical Society 1991, by Bruce S. Elliott, p 85.
John Muirhead 1903, North Dakota . Williston Genealogy Club. I Hereby Declare: An Index to the Declaration of Intention and Final Naturalization Papers, Williams County, North Dakota 1892-1955. Williston, N. Dak.: Williston Community Centennial Commission 1986, p 79.
Lelitia Muirhead 1842, Prince Edward Island . An Index of Irish Immigrants Based on Obituaries and Death Notices in Prince Edward Island Newspapers and A Listing of Some Irish Immigrants Based on Tombstone Transcriptions from Various Cemeteries in Prince Edward Island. Charlottetown, PE: The Prince Edward Island Genealogical Society 1990, by Peter Gallant, p 34.
Margaret Muirhead 1684, Carolina Prisoner in Edinburgh or Canongate Tolbooths. Trial: 06 August 1684. Transported from Leith to Carolina on Robert Malloch’s ship. (Robert Malloch was a merchant burgess in Edinburgh.) Directory of Scots Banished to the American Plantations 1650-1775. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1984, by David Dobson, p 169. AND Directory of Scots in the Carolinas 1680-1830. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1986, by David Dobson, p 249. AND Scots Colonists: America 1612-1783, Surnames M-N, p 257.
Margaret Muirhead 1871, Ontario Age: 40 Index to the 1871 Census of Ontario: Lambton. Toronto: Ontario Genealogical Society 1986. 181p. There are two pages on each leaf, by Bruce S. Elliott, p 122.
Patrick Muirhead 1803, Jamaica Son of Alexander Muirhead of Linhouse. Died on 19 April 1803 in Jamaica. Directory of Scottish Settlers in North America 1625-1825. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. Volume 2. 1984, by David Dobson, p 159.
Peter Muirhead 1801, Jamaica Planter in Jamaica. Estate Will registered in Edinburgh directing property to Alexander Muirhead of Linhouse, dated 01 April 1801. Directory of Scottish Settlers in North America 1625-1825. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. Volume 4, by David Dobson 1985, p 107.
Richard M. Muirhead 1819, Charleston, South Carolina Merchant in Glasgow. Died on 03 October 1819 in Charleston. Directory of Scots in the Carolinas 1680-1830. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1986, by David Dobson, p 249. AND Directory of Scottish Settlers in North America 1625-1825. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. Volume 2. 1984, by David Dobson, p 159.
Rob Muirhead 1847, South Carolina . South Carolina Naturalizations 1783-1850. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1985, by Brent H. Holcomb, p 138.
Rob Muirhead 1849, South Carolina . South Carolina Naturalizations 1783-1850. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1985, by Brent H. Holcomb, p 138.
Robert Muirhead 1730, New Jersey Robert, a son of John and Barbara Muirhead of Ulster, and his wife emigrated from Scotland circa 1730 - ship unknown. Son, James was born enroute on the Atlantic Ocean. Robert purchased property in York County, Pennsylvania in 1748. Letter written by Sarah Moorhead of York Springs, PA to William M. Moorhead of Belleville, WI, dated 27 January 1886.
Robert Muirhead 1820, Prince Edward Island . Scottish Immigrants to Prince Edward Island, from Death and Obituary Notices in Prince Edward Island Newspapers 1835-1910 and A Listing of Some Scots Immigrants Based on Tombstone Transcriptions from Various Cemeteries in Prince Edward Island. Charlottetown, PEI: The Prince Edward Island Genealogical Society 1990, by Peter Gallant and Nelda Murray, p 47. AND A Dictionary of Scottish Emigrants to Canada before Confederation. Toronto: Ontario Genealogical Society. Volume 2 1995, by Donald Whyte, p 296.
Robert Muirhead 1821, Canada Born in Scotland. Former sergeant in the 137th Regiment. Married with a wife and three sons. Received a land grant in Lanark, Upper Canada on 01 August 1821. Directory of Scottish Settlers in North America 1625-1825. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. Vol. 5. 1985, by David Dobson, p 235.
Robert Muirhead 1850, Colleton County, South Carolina Age: 50 Directory of Scots in the Carolinas 1680-1830. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1986, by David Dobson, p 249.
Robert Muirhead 1874, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania . Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society, Pittsburgh, compilers. A List of Immigrants Who Applied for Naturalization Papers in the District Courts of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh: the society. Vol. 4, section 1 1870-1875. 1980, p 42.
Robert Muirhead 1878, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania . Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society, Pittsburgh, compilers. A List of Immigrants Who Applied for Naturalization Papers in the District Courts of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh: the society. Vol. 5 1880-1887. 1981, p 73.
Walter Muirhead 1871, Ontario Age: 46 Index to the 1871 Census of Ontario: Hamilton, Wentworth. Toronto: Ontario Genealogical Society. (1987), by Bruce S. Elliott, p 215.
William Muirhead 1821, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania . UNITED STATES, WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION. Index to Records of Aliens' Declarations of Intention and/or Oaths of Allegiance 1789-1880, in United States Circuit Court, United States District Court, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Quarter Sessions Court, Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia. Compiled by W.P.A., Project No. 20837. [Harrisburg:] Pennsylvania Historical Commission, [1940]. 25 vols. in 11. Vol. 7. Letter M, pp. 1-350; vol. 8. Letter M, p 618.
William Muirhead 1871, Toronto, Ontario Age: 50 Index to the 1871 Census of Ontario: Toronto. Toronto: Ontario Genealogical Society 1992, by Bruce S. Elliott, p 128.
??? Muirhead 1851, San Francisco, California . San Francisco Ship Passenger Lists. Coloma, Calif.: the author. Vol. 2 1966. 384p. 2nd printing 1969. Covers April 6 1850-November 4 1851, by Louis J. Rasmussen, p 103.
Robert Hill 26 July 1737, Jamaica Son of Rev. James Hill and Agnes Muirhead, surgeon, died at Jamaica. Directory of Scottish Settlers In North America 1625-1825, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. Vol. VII, Surnames G-H, by David Dobson, p 45. AND Scots In The West Indies 1707-1857, Surnames G-H, p 69.
Dougald Stewart 08 March 1795 Stirling A merchant in Jamaica, relict of Agnes Muirhead in Falkirk. Scots In The West Indies 1707-1857, Surnames S-T, p 133.

Footnotes:

4.1     Passenger and Immigration List Index: 2001 Edition 1500s-1900s, compiled by P. William Filby and published by Gale Research.