Hi there, there were some posts a few years back regarding the Alexander family that came from Lisnagunogue near Bushmills and hoping to reconnect with those that shared a common interest. David Alexander born abt 1770 and his wife Martha Kelso born abt 1770. Children we know of are
Hugh Alexander b, 1790 m Ann McAuley, (family emigrated to USA - DNA links)
Matthew Alexander b, 1800 m Catherine McNeil
Joseph Alexander b 1807 m Margaret McGee (second wife = Elizabeth Gillespie)
Matilda Alexander b 1812 m Andrew McConaghy (family emigrated to Australia)
Margaret Alexander b ? m John McNeill (we are unsure about)
Still struggling to find any information on David A and Martha Kelso. It appears Martha Alexander is buried in Ballymoney where she died in 1878.
Some delving in the depths of Ancestry have suggested David Alexander was fighting in the American Civil War and died in USA and buried there. But I have no idea how to look into this further or if there is any documentation on this.
Many thanks in advance
Alison Faulkner
Friday 6th Aug 2021, 10:59PMMessage Board Replies
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Alison,
I see David Alexander listed in Lisnagunogue in the 1803 agricultural census of Co Antrim, on Bill McAfee’s website:
He is also listed in the townland in the tithe applotment records for 1824:
http://www.irishgenealogyhub.com/antrim/tithe-applotments/billy-parish.php
He is gone by 1861 and so presumably had died before that.
I looked for a death for Martha Alexander in 1878 around Ballymoney. I did not find one for that year. Nearest was a Martha who died in 1876 aged 91. She was a spinster living in Islandmore. So therefore she doesn’t appear to have been David’s wife.
Griffiths Valuation for 1861 lists Joseph Alexander in Lisnagunogue Upper.
He had plot 4 which was a 14 acre farm. He died 5th Feb 1887 aged 81. The informant was his son Matthew:
Joseph’s will is on the PRONI wills site. It mentions his wife Betty, daughter Martha & his son Matthew.
Joseph’s wife Elizabeth (Betty) died in 1899. Informant was again her son Matthew:
Joseph & Elizabeth were married in 1852:
Here’s the birth of their son Joseph in 1864:
Death of daughter Martha in 1891 aged 32:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_retu…
This looks to be their son Matthew in 1901, farming nearby in Feigh:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Dunseverick/Feigh_or_Dunseverick/923060/
Here’s their son Matthew’s marriage to Martha Mitchell in 1887:
Same family in 1911 (13 children, 11 alive):
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Dunseverick/Feigh__alias_Dunseverick/114327/
Probate abstracts:
Alexander Matthew of Feigh county Antrim farmer died 11 January 1923 Probate Belfast 29 October to Martha Alexander widow Robert John Alexander and Matthew Alexander farmers. Effects £941 15s.
Alexander Robert John of Feigh county Antrim farmer died 28 December 1924 Administration Belfast 20 December to Joseph Alexander farmer. Effects £10.
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Saturday 7th Aug 2021, 03:12AM