Children of Major Basil Alves

[tomtame]

Hi
I am trying to find details of the children of Fort Major Basil Alves of Edinburgh Castle.  I believe one of his sons was a Basil Alves, possibly born in 1788 and at least one daughter was Harriet Alves.

This son went on to be a Captain in the royal marines and was on HMS Defiance at trafalgar, I have his actual royal commission paper and an ancester has written that he is related, but no details, so any information on any of the Major's children would be most welcome.
Tom Tame

[ev]

Hi ,

Found this -

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XYMJ-42W

ev

[tomtame]

Thanks, it seems the name is quite often Alvis in places.

[MonicaL]

Hi Tom

I had a look earlier at this and really struggled to find more children than the two you mention 

You have the main facts I am sure including death of Basil Snr in 1797, there is an entry on Scotlands People for that year in the Wills & Testament section.

I also found the possible first marriage of Harriet and a divorce a couple of years later, 1791 and 1793.

With the marriage in 1767 and the death by 1797, you would think there would be some reporting of the Alves children by Basil and Elizabeth. Basil Jnr.'s death refers to him being the youngest son.  I can't see anything though, sorry - hopefully someone else can add more for you 

Monica

[ev]

There is a Will/Testament on SP for a Martin Eccles Alves 1834 of Broughton Street of Edinburgh
Looks like he married Augusta Hope -

http://thepeerage.com/p48079.htm

ev

[MonicaL]

Well done Ev  That then makes sense of the Fort Major M. Alves reference. There is also a Wills & Testament reference a few years later on SP at the address you have mentioned for Elizabeth Alves (mother?).

Monica

[tomtame]

Thank you both very much.  Where can I find these scottish wills?  Basil Alves Jnr died in 1808 probably from wounds I think.  My relation (frustatingly unknown) wrote 'grandmothers uncle' on his commision.  I think maybe a will is the maybe the best place to look for relations.
This is the first time I've tried searching Scottish records, only 1 small branch of the family came from there and I've never got more than a birth place on an english cencus.

Regards
Tom

[MonicaL]

Tom, on the Scottish side, you can download Wills & Testament entries from www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk - £5GB per entry. SP is free to register. It is the official pay to view site for Scottish BMDs, Old Parish Register entries, original census images and Wills & Testament entries.

Wills & Testaments can be looked up personally in Edinburgh at the National Archives of Scotland but from what you say, you are not able to do that easily!

Basil Snr.'s entry from 1797 shows with the code of TD - a Testament Dative. See here for more info on SP www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/content/help/index.aspx?407

Monica

[MonicaL]

I think Martin Eccles was Elizabeth's father's name, see www.archive.org/stream/snellexhibitionf00addiuoft/snellexhibitionf00addiuoft_djvu.txt

In particular there,

36 THE FOUNDATIONERS

"Jacobus Eccles, A.M." (probably the Exhibitioner), graduated M.D. of
Edinburgh University, loth November, 1718. The source of the A.M. degree
does not appear.

The Exhibitioner practised as a Physician in Edinburgh.

Succeeded to the family estates, as thirteenth Laird, on the death of his father
in October, 1723, his elder brothers, Alexander and Henry, having predeceased.

Died, without issue, August, 1743.

Was succeeded in the estates by his half-brother Martin (supra), likewise
a Physician in Edinburgh, who married Jean, eldest daughter of Alexander Trotter
of Cattlesheil, and had two daughters, (i) Margaret, who married Henry Lindsay,
Merchant in Edinburgh (a son of Lindsay of Wolmerston) and had issue, (2)
Elizabeth, who married Major Basil Alves, and had issue. Dr. Martin Eccles died
at Edinburgh, 7th October, 1778.....