My great grandparents moved to Glasgow from Islandmagee around 1905/6. My great grandfather was Alexander McCargo, great grandmother Margaret (Maggie), née Montgomery. I've traced some of the Montgomery side, but the McCargo side is proving more difficult. On the marriage registration Alexander gives his father's name as James Stuart. For years we thought this suggested he was born out of wedlock but recent investigation suggests has father's name could have been James Stuart McCargo. Having said that, his naval discharge papers say his parents names were Robert John and Ellen Jane (presumably McCargo). To complicate matters further his death registration states his father as Alexander McCargo and mother as Mary, née Stuart. The only date of birth I have for him is 31st October 1871 (from naval papers), which fits with his age on the 1901 census. The 1901 census states he was born Islandmagee but I can't find birth records for him. I did find an Alexander Stuart's birth but the birth date doesn't match. 1901 census has a William Gibson, relative, living there at the time (grandfather, great uncle?). I think one of Margaret's sisters, Eliza, married a William Gibson, but that William would have been much younger. There is definitely a Gibson connection as one of their sons was also called William Gibson McCargo (died aged 9).
Can anyone shed any light?
Karenlow
Saturday 14th Aug 2021, 07:24PMMessage Board Replies
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Karenlow,
I had a look for a possible birth for Alexander but like you did not find one. There was a Martha McCargo who had 4 illegitimate children in the period 1872 to 1878 before dying in 1881, aged 30. No fathers’ name son any of the children’s birth certificates. She lived in Ballymuldrogh on Islandmagee as well as Larne workhouse. This might be her father James:
So she could be Alexander’s mother but if so, she doesn’t appear to have registered his birth. That wasn’t unknown at that period.
I don’t see any McCargo marriage, anywhere in Ireland, in the period 1845 – 1875 that could be Alexander’s parents and therefore feel he is likely to be illegitimate. The family was evidently Presbyterian. Have you checked the baptism records for the Presbyterian churches in Islandmagee and Larne? (There are copies in PRONI).
No paperwork was required then for a marriage and sometimes the information provided eg about age or a parent can be inaccurate, or simply made up. Likewise information on death certificates is only as good as the informant’s information. Again errors are common.
This looks to be William Gibson’s wife Sarah who died in 1881, again in Ballymuldrogh. Informant was her daughter Sarah Thompson:
There’s a Robert Thompson marriage to Sarah Arthurs in 1858:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_re…
Here’s one of their children, and the informant registering the birth is Sarah Gibson of Ballymuldrogh, so some connection there, I suspect:
Here’s a James Stewart marrying another Sarah Arthurs in 1871:
Could the above James Stewart be Alexander’s father? By Martha McCargo perhaps?
Can’t explain the connection between the McCargo and Gibson families but I have a hunch they all knew each other in Ballymuldrogh. Church baptism records might help.
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Saturday 14th Aug 2021, 10:35PM -
many thanks for this. Yes, I'd found Martha and her fatherless children, so did wonder if Alexander was one of them. The timeframe certainly fits. If so it's likely he was brought up by the family as all the names mentioned above have appeared in another family tree (though difficult to know how accurate that is as I can't find the source).
My search continues, but thank you for your input. It's much appreciated.
Karen
Karenlow
Monday 23rd Aug 2021, 01:49PM