Hello, hello!
This is what I have found to verify our John of Eredy’s family history back through the MacAlisters of Loup in Kintyre, Scotland. What I am providing for you are exact quotes, hopefully, of existing data — I have not attempted to change any wording, spelling, or punctuation.
This is all very exciting for me, and I hope you all are pleased with what I have been able to accomplish.
Here is the evidence:
l. The lands of Loupe (named ‘Le Lowb’ in the above grant to the Lord of the Isles) are supposed to have been in the possession of the Macallisters in 1493. In 1516 Angus Johne Dowisoun (that is, Angus the son of John Dubh Macallister) of the Loupe was one of a number to whom a special protection was granted by the Regent Albany as familiars and servitors of Colin Earl of Ergile. Between 1593 and 1604 the tutor of Loup granted a bond of manrent to the house of Hamilton for himself and the rest of the clan Allister. The descendants of John Dubh were in possession of the lands of Loupe til the present century. (Google: William Anderson, Joseph Robertson, James Brodie Brichen, John McNab, Origines Parochiales Scotiae: The Antiquities Ecclesiastical and Territorial …)
The “1593″ date above appears to have been incorrectly transferred from the original document to the published reports. It was a common error in old records for a number “8″ to be mistaken for a number “3″. Verification for this is the fact that Charles, Tutor of Loup, was killed by his tutee, Godfrey of Loup, in 1598; it would have been that same year of 1598 that John, Tutor of Loup, took office as a replacement for Charles, and served until 1604 before migrating to County Tyrone, Ireland, as an extended family member of the 1st Earl of Abercorn from the House of Hamilton. Please see #7 below.
2. THE ROLL OF THE NAMES OF THE LANDISLORDIS AND BAILLIES OF LANDIS IN THE HIELANDIS, QUHAIR BROKEN MEN HES DUELT AND PRESENTLIE DUELLIS, 1587
{This and the following Roll of Clans are appended to the Act “For the quieting and keping in obedience of the disorderit subjects inhabitants of the Bordouris, ielandis, and Iles” (1597, c. 59, Acts of the Parliamerts of Scotland, Record edition, vol iii, p. 481)/ As to the working of this important Act, and the “General Band” or agreement of all landlords over the kingdom to be held responsible for the good behvior of their tenants and adherentis, wee the Register of the Privy Councilk doo. iv., pp. liii.-lv, and 781 et seq.}
Landislordis and Baillies.
The Laird of Lowip.
Alexander Macalliser of Loupe, in Kintyre
(Google: T. B. Johnston, F.R.G.S. and Colonel James A. Robertson, Historical Geography of the Clans of Scotland, Roll of the lanislordis and Baillies, 1587)
3. Between the years 1593 and 1604, the Tutor of Loupe granted a bond of manrent to the House of Hamilton for himself and his clan. (Charles Rogers, Memorials of the House of Stirling, Book l, p. 4)
The “1593″ date above should have been recorded from the original document as “1598″. For explanation, please see my previous note under #1 above.
4. bond of manrent, a written agreement whereby a free person becomes follower of a patron or defender. Google: George Frazer, The Surnames of Scotland)
5. In 1600 the Island of Arran was invaded by the Macalisters who seized the house and estates of John Montgomery of Skelmorlie plundering possession valued at 12,000 pounds Scots. Two years later Archibld Macalister, the heir of Tarbert, led his men along with other clans of north Kintyre to raid the prosperous Island of Bute. It is said that a force of 1200 ravaged the Stuart possessions. Archibald Macalister was denounced as a rebel and in 1605 he and his kinsmen John Macalister, tutor of Loup, were ordered to appear before the Privy Council, and fined a surety on pain of being denounced as rebels.
(Google: HISTORY OF THE CLAN (FROM THE 13TH CENTURY)
6. HAMILTON
No less than six of the original fifty Scottish undertakers of the Plantation were Hamiltons. They were granted huge swathes of land in Cavan Armagh Tyrone and Fermanagh. Bringing with them large numbers of their extended family and kinsmen the Hamilton name soon became one of the most commomly found names in Ulster.
Sir George Hamilton and Claude Hamilton were granted much of Tyrone taking in the old lands of Art O’Neill centered on the barony of Strabane. Lord Claude’s family who later became the Dukes of Abercorn, settled in Barnscourt, Newtownstewart.
The family name derives from Hamilton in Larnarkshire.
(Google: Ulster Ancestry)
7. The Abercorn family are the senior surviving branch of the Scottish House of Hamilton in the male line, the dukedom of Hamilton having passed through a female in the mid-seventeenth century. The direct male ancestor of the Abercorns was Lord Claud Hamilton, fourth son of James, 2nd Earl of Arran, Regent of Scotland during the minority of Queen Mary. He was created Duke of Chatelherault in the kingdom of France. Lord Claud was distinguished for his attachment to Mary Queen of Scots, and at an early age was appointed commendator of the abbey of Paisley. The extensive lands of this abbey were after the Reformation erected into a temporal lordship, and he was elevated to the peerage under the title of Lord Paisley, Hamilton, Mountcastle and Kilpatrick. The estate of Abercorn, from which this title is derived is in Linlithgoshire.
The 1st Earl of Abercorn was one of the promoters of the Plantation of Ulster, and had a very great estate granted out of the escheated lands in Co, Tyrone. He died in 1618, and was succeeded by his son, James, who during his father’s lifetime had been created the Baron of Strabane. (Google: PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE of NORTHERN IRELAND, The Abercorn Papers (D/623)
8. The district of Laggon, lying betwen Lough Foyle and Lough Swilly, in county Donegal, was on the plantation of Ulster chiefly appropriated to Scottish settlers (Hill’s Montgomery MSS., p. 183, note). In that district John Alexander of Eredy occupied several holdings. In the Subsidy Roll of the county of Donegal for 1662, he is, in the parish of Tagboyne, assessed for 4 pounds, 18s. In the Hearth Tax Roll of Raymondy parish for 1663, he is styled “John Allexander of ye Duke’s land.” In Clonmany parish he is described as “John Allexander of Erithy” (Eredy), and in the parish of Raphoe as “John Allexander of Magheracolton.” He is also named in the hearth Tax Roll of the parish of Clonleigh. (Charles Rogers, Memorials of the House of Alexander, Book 2, p.63)
“John Allexander of ye Duke’s land”, would have reference to Lord Claud Hamilton who was created Duke of Chatelherault in the kingdom of France, as noted in #7 above. By the way, the House of Hamilton family members were French and they were Catholic!)
9. From John Alexander in Australia:
Hi Sarah, got your latest, good on you, so Magheracolton is in Ardstraw! My map is the ‘Irish’ one, your’s is the Northern Ireland version, hence is more British flavoured the the name spelling. It’s spelt Magheracoltan, see the a before n. Ok, it is located the next field or two above ‘Baronscourt’, a gentlemen’s landed estate, to the left hand side of Newtownstewart. I think the Duke of Abercorn owns the property, goes back to the plantation days. I drive past Maghercoltan every time I’m over there! Would you believe it!
10. John Alexander, younger of Eredy, joined the army of the Laggan, in which he obtained the rank of captain. he resided some time at Londondery, and latterly at Dublin. He died at Dublin in ‘the
*year 1690. His will, dated 23rd September 1690, was
*proved in the Prerogtive Court on the 31st of the following February. The testator styles himself
*”Captain John Alexander,” and appoints his wife, Susanna Alexander, his executor and sole legatee. In the Register of the Prerogative Court, the testator is styled “Captain John Alexander nuper de Londonderry,” while the seal attached to his will displays a
*dexter arm’ embowed, the hand holding a dagger, the crest of his Scottish ancestors, the MacAlexanders of Tarbert. . .
(Google: Charles Rogers, Memorials of the House of Alexander, p. 60)
The name, Tarbert, refers to Castle Tarbert and its surrounding lands, located in Kintyre, Scotland. The family who was living there was first known as the MacAlisters of Loup, under the leadership of Alexander MacAlisdair, son of Angus Vic Ianh Dubh (Angus John) of the Loup. A branch of this original clan was later founded by Donald Macalister, younger brother of Alexander — it was known as the Tarbert Macalister sept after they became caretakers of Tarbert Castle. However, our John, Tutor of Loop, who also became our John of Eredy was a member of the original Clan MacAlisters of Loop.
In conclusion, I wish to say that I think we owe a special thanks to the branch of the House of Hamilton in Arran Scotland, and Ulster, Ireland! By the way, my own father was named James Claude Alexander! How about that?!
None the less, it may turn out that there is existing evidence that we have a genetic connection to this very same Hamilton line — my research continues!
More later, hopefully!
Sarah
Dr. Sarah Alexander Culton