Hi all, just looking for suggestions as to where to go next with this.
I have an ancestor named George Steele who was married, had a family, and died in Nova Scotia, Canada. We do not know where he came from, but on census records his son reports that his father was from Scotland on all but one year's census, where it says England.
I have reason to believe that George is descended from one Alexander Steele, born 1680 in Glen Strae, Argyll. I can see that Glen Strae isn't a town, exactly, but may have been in 1680? Anyway, I did find a genealogy written on this family. The main subject of the book is Alexander's grandson, Robert Steele of Virginia, USA, but it does have some information on Alexander. The author of the book claims that he was a MacGregor (his mother, perhaps), and was influential in the clan early in the 1700's. I have read lots about clan MacGregor and have not seen mention of Alexander Steele or Alexander MacGregor Steele anywhere.
I am trying to authenticate Alexander Steele's name and dates. According to some, his wife was Hannah McClung King who was born in Surrey, England. I do not know if McClung King is a middle and surname, or perhaps a surname and first marriage name. I have one possible baptism record for Hannah in April of 1681 and a sketchy record of a marriage to Alexander Steele in 1710, Argyll. (making Hanna nearly 30 yrs old, so could have been a second marriage)
According to a biographical sketch written by another Steele descendant in 1921, Alexander had three sons, all of whom emigrated to Virginia in the mid-1740's. One remained in Virginia, one moved to North Carolina and the third son, whose name is unknown, left for Connecticut. The descendants of the first two sons are well documented, but the third son was not heard from again.
I am trying to see if perhaps my George Steele comes from the branch of this vanished son of Alexander Steele, but first want to verify, if possible, the existence of Alexander (MacGregor) Steele and his wife and sons. Are there resources that would go back as far as his birth in 1680? Or, where could I look next to find evidence of him?
Thanks for reading!
K