Alexander McGregor of Stornoway

[carna]

Hi all,

I am hoping to find out more info about a relative Alexander McGregor, who was born around 1834 in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Scotland.

He married Grace Morton (born March 1836, Auchinleck, Ayrshire) in Victoria, Australia in May 1856.

Grace was probably the daughter of William Morton and Mary (nee McTurk)

They had 2 children Mary McTurk McGregor b. 1856, and William McGregor b. 1858.

I expect McGregor would be a poplular name in Scotland, but I don't know anything more.

Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Carna

[Gadget]

This might be him on the 1841 census:

It looks like a family with no parents.

Melbost, Soronoway, Ross & Croarty

Christina McGregor, 18
Ann, 16
Roderick, 14
Mary, 10
Alexander, 7
Margarer, 5
George, 3

All born county

Not  found in 1851 so it could be him and he emigrated before then but don't see him on any immigration lists so far.  Did he die in 1859?


gnu

[Gadget]

Another one but slightly younger:

1841
Sandwick hill, Stornoway

John McGregor, 30, joiner
Janet, 30
Isabella, 7
Alexander, 5
Mary, 3
Murdo, 7 months
Isabella Dingwall, 70
All b. county.

A possible baptism for him:

 Stornoway - 23 Dec 1835 Alexander McGregor s/o John McGregor and Janet McDonald


Is there any other info on his marriage cert to distinguish him?


gnu

[carna]

Hi gnu,

Fast work! Thanks.

I also am unsure of how he came to Australia.
Grace died in 1858, but Alexander remarried in 1873 to Margaret Lonergan.

Apparently when his wife died, Alexander didn't cope well and gave the babies to relatives to raise.

I assume that is why I'm having trouble finding them all.

I have ordered the marriage certificate, but haven't received it yet. Hopefully it will clarify this.

Thanks again for your help,
Carna

[AMBLY]

Hi Carna

Were there any children by his marriage to Margaret LONEGRAN?

Since it looks as if his first child by Grace was a dau named after Grace's mother - I would suspect the 2nd child by Grace, a son, was named after Alexander's father (William) - that's if he & Grace followed the traditional Scots naming pattern.....

Cheers
AMBLY

[Gadget]

The son could, of course, have been named after Grace's father . No way of telling - the Scottish naming convention wasn't rigidly followed.

There's this death but not sure:

Eca (?), Victoria in 1915

Alex McGregor, aged 82

Parents - Andrew Mcgregor and Margaret Kidd

No way of telling though


gnu

[Gadget]

I think that this is the first 1841  family in 1851 Note father is William:

Achonachie, Urray, Ross & Cromarty

William mcGregor, 65, farmer,employing 5 men, b. Gairloch
Hellen, 51
Mary, d 20
Alexr, s, 17
Margaret, d 15,
George, 13
Williamina, d,10
William, s 6
Cristina Cameron, visitor, 28, excise officer's wife, (a Christina Mcgregor married a John Cameron in Stornoway in 1843)
William Cameron, vistor,  5, ex off, son, b. Urray
John Cameron, 1 month , -do-, b. Urray

All above b. Lewis unless stated otherwise,  I think the Cristina, aged 28, would be the Christina, aged 18 in 1841


gnu

Added - see my Reply #26

[carna]

Hi Gnu and Ambly,

Thanks for that. Yes I believe children named traditionally, but also think both fathers might be William.

Found an old message on google that is from a descendant of  Alexander and Margaret Lonergan, but haven't been able to get the email address to try and follow up. Am still trying. . .
I think he then lived in NSW.

Possible mother's name for Alexander, Helen Gillanders? (Hard to read handwriting)

Thanks heaps again,
Carna

P.S. I can't type fast enough.
Thank you Gnu. That definitely sound like them.
I have been tracing my grandfathers tree and meeting rels through Rootschat. My grandmother aged 92, asked me to try her family hoping for similar results.
You'll make her day tomorrow when I have something to tell her.

Thank you 

[Gadget]

If it is Helen Gillanders, it does point to the family of 1841 and 1851.

In 1861 what remains of the family are in Fodderty, R & C

Conon Cottage, Fodderty

William, 74, farmer of 36 acres employing ? man and boy, b. Gairloch
Helen, 60, b. Stornoway
William, 16, b. Milbost
Helen, 20, b. Galson (?) - presume is Williamina in 1851
Catherine Stewart, 21, domestic servant, b.  ? Rossshire
Farquhar Macrae, 16, -do-


I don't see an  Alexander/Alex*, b. Rosshire or Lewis or Stornoway on the 1861 at the moment so looks promising.


gnu