MacPhail, Alexandrina Matilda – (1860 – 1946)

[SWH1]

She was born i now believe on the Isle of Skye, i have plenty of information on her as a Doctor etc. Think she lived in Benbecula. But i cant find her place of birth, parents etc. She was award an OBE in 1939. My interest is in her time with the Scottish women's hospitals but need a firm link to Skye if anyone can help?

Alan

[SWH1]

MacPhail, Alexandrina Matilda – (1860 – 1946)
Scottish physician
Alexandrina MacPhail was born on the Isle of Skye. She studied medicine at the London School of Medicine for Women in London and successfully graduated (1887) before leaving England travelling to Madras in India. At Madras MacPhail established a medical dispensary to service poor women and children, and established a small hospital within her bungalow. This was eventually replaced by the fully functional Christina Rainy Hospital (1914). During WW I she served as chief medical officer with a unit sent to assist female Serbian refugees. In recognition of her valuable work MacPhail was elected to the OBE (Order of the British Empire) by King George V (1930).

[MonicaL]

More work needed...

1861, From someone's online tree http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/23204579/person/1362265309?ssrc=

Jessie Reid Mcphail 34 Minister's wife, b. Cromarty, cromarty shire
Samuel R Mcphail 4 b. Sleat, Inverness-shire
Lydia J Mcphail 2 b. b. Sleat, Inverness-shire
Alexandrina M Mcphail 10 Months b. Sleat, Inverness-shire
John Sutherland 29 visitor F C Divinity Student
Janet McKinnon 24 servant
Ann Mclean 18 servant
Address: Knock, Sleat, Invernesshire

Monica

[MonicaL]

Not seeing Alexandrina's entry on FS, but some possible siblings here to a John Sinclair Mc Phail and a Jessie Sinclair Reid Finlayson - https://familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&query=%2Bsurname%3Amcphail~%20%2Bbirth_place%3Ascotland~%20%2Bbirth_year%3A1855-1870~%20%2Bfather_givenname%3Ajohn~%20%2Bmother_givenname%3Ajessie~

Monica

[MonicaL]

Maybe some issues on recorded names on indexes etc...

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYPV-Q99

Monica

[SWH1]

Thank you again Monica.. Looks like its right tho as she was living in Edinburgh at that date.
I hope so as its means i know have 4 women from Skye the joined the Scottish Womens Hospitals.

Alan.

[MonicaL]

In 1881, I think she was living in Edinburgh:

Age
Charles I Scott 65 F.C. Minr Income From Colonial Propty
Margaret P Scott 78
Mary S Scott 64
Isabella Brebner 25
Annabella McKenzie 26
Alexandrina M McPhail 26 visitor b. Sleat, Inverness Shire
Isabella McKinlay 72
Charles W McKinlay 36
Thomas F S Coverhill 25
...and Two servants
Address: 14 Pilrig Street, Edinburgh

Book reference, but no detail, for Alexandrina's father
www.amazon.co.uk/The-Rev-John-Sinclair-McPhail/dp/B0000EEWZG

Monica

[isobelw]

She appears to be the daughter of John Sinclair MacPhail, a Free Church Minister, and Janet Reid Finlayson who married in Elgin in 1853. Alexandrina Matilda's birth is on Familysearch but parents are shown as John Sinclair and Jessie Finlayson for some reason. Some of her siblings have the same parents names shown eg John Finlayson MacPhail born 1869 in Sleat ( showing as John F in the 1871 census) and Robina Mary MacPhail born 1866 ( Robina in 1871). On one birth -Samuel born in 1856- father is recorded as John Sinclair McPhail or Rutherford.
In the 1881 census (Sleat)  Alexandrina appears as Matilda age 10
Isobel