This photo was taken by John’s lovely wife, Hazel, when the four of us spent five days together here in Washington state and British Columbia, Canada, last January. Verlen and Sarah Culton are on the left with Cousin John Alexander from Australia on the right. What a wonderful time we had!
The following article is co-authored by Dr. Sarah Alexander Culton of the United States and Mr. John Alexander of Australia.
The purpose of this article is to report our most recent cumulative and combined research findings that contain primary historical evidence pertaining to the life of a man known as John Alexander of Eredy. Please be aware that this article should be considered as an addendum or supplement to the book, A Documentary of Scotch-Irish Alexander Family History, The People, Places and Events, Third Edition, by Dr. Sarah Alexander Culton. If you wish a copy of this book, please click “Order your Book” on this same website.
The addendum is as follows:
1. Glory be! In 1553, there was a person named Archibald M’Alexander!
The family of MacAlexander held their lands at Tarbert, in Kintyre, under the protection of the Earls of Argyle (Reg. Sec. Sig.,vol. v., fol. 45). In 1513 Colin, Earl of Argyle, granted to Neil Campbell M’Alexander the lands of Glenmore and Glenaray, in the barony of Lochaw (Argyle Charters). Among the witneses to the sasine of a charter granted in 1553 by Archibald, Master of Argyle, to Colin Campbell of Dunstaffnage, of the lands of Killechan, are named Archibald M’Alexander, Malcolm M’Neill M’Alexander, Donald M’Douche M’Alexander, and Duncan, son ofDonald M’Douche M’Alexander (Argyle Charters). (Charles Rogers, Memorials of the House of Alexander, Book 2, p. 4)
This is the first time that we have found any evidence that there was an Archibald M’Alexander who would have been near the same vintage as Alexander Alexander, also known as Alexander MacAlister of Loupe, in Kintyre, who was named as the landlord (also known as the 4th Chief of Clan MacAlister) in 1587 as follows:
{This and the following Roll of Clans are appended to the Act “For the quieting and keeping in obedience of the disorderit subjects inhabitants of the Bordouris, ielandis, and Iles” (1587, c. 59, Acts of the Parliaments 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 behavior of all landlords over the kingdom to be held responsible for the good behavior of their tenants and adherentis, wee the Register of the Privy Councilk doo. iv.liii.-lv, and 78l etseq.}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)
For the first time in all of our research, we now realize that the newly-found and above-named Archibald M’Alexander would have been one of the sons of Angus MacAlister/M’Alexander. This Angus MacAlister/M’Alexander was the son of Donald of Clan Donald and was named after his paternal grandfather, Angus of Clan Donald. Angus was the son of John Dubh of Clan Donald (4th Lord of the Isles), who became known as John Dubh MacAlister of Loup.
The lands of Loupe were, indeed, in the possession of the Macallisters by 1493. A necessary statement for us to make is that in 1516, it was Angus Johne Dowisoun who was the great grandson (NOT the son) of John Dubh Macallister, the last Lord of the Isles. In explanation for this, John Dubh Macallister’s son was Angus who married a daughter of Colin Campbell Earl of Argyll (Clan Campbell), and their son was named Donald who fathered an illegitimate son named Angus Johne Dowisoun. Therefore, Angus Johne was the great grandson of John Dubh Macallister. (Interestingly enough, in the Bible, the term son does apply to son, grandson, great grandson and on down the line.)
The facts speak for themselves, and it has now become obvious that this Archibald M’Alexander would have been another brother of Alexander MacAlister, the 4th Chief of the MacAlisters of Loup, along with Donald (also named in the quote above) who was the founder of Clan Tarbert, a branch that broke off from the MacAlisters of Loup. Charles, a Tutor of Loup (murdered by Godfrey, a son of Alexander) was also a brother of Alexander. Since the first-known Archibald M’Alexander was given the name of Archibald, he may have been named after Archibald Campbell, his possible maternal grandfather. This coincides with the later fact that the first son of John, Tutor of Loup, who became known as John Alexander of Eredy was also named Archibald. Traditional naming patterns were that the first son was to be named after his paternal grandfather and the second son was to be named after his maternal grandfather.
2. Archibald M’Alexander would definitely have been either the biological father, or the foster father, of John of Clan MacAlister, Tutor of Loup.
Possibility of fosterage:
FOSTERAGE. to our minds, one of the most curious customs prevalent among the ancient Irish was that of _iarred_, called also _alter_= “fosterage”– curious in itself and in the fact that in all the abundance of law and literature relating to it no logically valid reason is given why wealthy parents normally put out their children, from one year old to fifteen in the case of a daughter and to seventeen in the case of a son, to be reared in another family, while perhaps receiving and rearing children of other parents sent to them. As modern life does not comprise either the custom of a reason for it, we may assume that fosterage was a consequence of the clan system, and its practice strengthened the ties of kinship and sympathy. This conjecture is by the numerous instances in history and in story of fosterage affection proving, when tested, stronger than the natural affection of relatives by birth. What is more, long after the dissolution of the clans, fosterage has continued stealthily in certain districts in which the old race of chiefs and clansmen contrived to cling together to the old sod; and the affection generated by it has been demonstrated, down to the middle of the nineteenth century. The present writer has heard it spoken of lovingly, in half-Irish, by simple people, whom to question would be cruel and irreverent. (The Glories of Ireland, Edited by Joseph Dunn and P. J. Lennox, Part 2 out of 7)
3. DNA evidence:
The Campbell Clan has been identified as definitely of Irish stock. At this point in time, we are aware that recent DNA testing completed on Alexanders with paper-trail evidence of descent from Somerled, are showing a change from his purported type DNA Rla to type DNA Rlb,which is typical of the Campbell line. So far, this specifically pertains to lines who descend from at least two sons of John Alexander of Eredy, namely, William and Archibald. Therefore, it could be that John of Eredy, who was formerly John of Loup, could ALSO very well have been the biological child of a Campbell who became the foster child of a MacAlister/Alexander! As a foster child carrying DNA Rlb of the Campbells into an Alexander/MacAlister family, his descendants would naturally show up the same – DNA R1b!
None-the-less, all of us in this scenario, are still known as Alexanders! That’s actually no different than those times, or in today’s times, when a man marries a widowed, or a divorced lady, or an unmarried lady with a male child or children who were fathered by another man – their sons’ last names may change, but NOT their DNA! Please realize that no matter what our DNA reading is, we are all still known as Alexanders, for which we are most happy! It is our family environment, just as much as our genetics, that determines what we become during our lives here on this earth!
4. Archibald M’Alexander/MacAlister, as the younger brother of Alexander McAlister, would have been next in the patrimonial line for the 5th landowner and Chief of Clan McAlister, after the death of Alexander in 1587. However, as a result of “the powers that be” at that time, Archibald never received that land as the patrimonial younger brother of Alexander, and it was instead granted in 1598 to Godfrey, a son of the deceased Alexander.
It is absolutely mandatory that we realize this was the period of time during which Clan Donald had been “put down” by the Campbell Clan, who were under the dictates of the Crown. Although Clan MacAlister, a loyal branch of Clan Donald was under the control of Clan Campbell, they had come to the aid of their parent group, Clan Donald. Many atrocities had been committed by the “powers that be” against Clan Donald, which had reduced them to near extinction. Retaliation on the part of Clan Macalister also brought many of them to their deaths. Surviving members of Clan Donald and Clan MacAlister, alike, had been reduced to the point of starvation! Well-known facts, one of which have been reported, many times over, is as follows:
In 1600 the Island of Arran was invaded by the Macallisters who seized the house and estates of John Mongomery of Skelmorle plundering possessions …. Two years later Archibald 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 men raged the Stewart possessions. Archibald Macalister was denounced as a rebal and in 1605 he and his kinsman John Macalister, tutor of Loup, were ordered to appear before the Privy Council, and fined a surety on pain of being denounced as rebels. (Internet: (HISTORY OF THE CLAN )
5. As you can see below, John MacAlister of Loup became the Tutor of Loop in 1598, and held that position until 1604, which was just prior to 1605 when he and his father, Archibald, were ordered to appear before the Privy Council, and fined a surety on pain of being denouned as rebels. This John, Tutor of Loup, also granted a bond of manrent to the house of Hamilton for himself and the rest of the Clan Allister in 1598 which lasted until 1604. This provided phenominal protection by the House of Hamilton for John, Tutor of Loup, and the rest of his family. No further record has been found in Scotland for John MacAlister, Tutor of Loup, who was the son of Archibald M’Alexander/Macalister.
The “1593″ date below 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 Claude Hamilton of the House of Hamilton.
Another correction which needs to be repeated is that Angus Johne Dowisoun was the great grandson of John Dubh Macallister, the last Lord of the Isles as explained in Section #1 above. (Based on evidence cited in a A Documentary of Scotch-Irish Alexander Family History by Dr. Sarah Alexander Culton)
Here is a quote of published information for which necessary corrections appear in Section #4 above:
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. In1516 Angus Johne Dowisoun (that is, Angus the son (actually the grandson) 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 …)
6. Allexander of Eredy was named as John Allexander of Magheracolton (Magheracoltan). Please note in the evidence presented below: “John Allexander of Erithy (Eredy) was described as “John Allexander of Magheracolton, which was a townland included in the lands which had been officially granted to the House of Hamilton in county Tyrone in 1610.
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)
7. John Allexander shows up with the Hamilton family (House of Hamilton), Dukes of Abercorn, in Tyrone County, Plantation of Ulster, Ireland, prior to the time that he obtained land in the parish of Raphoe in county Donegal. Therefore, the confirming evidence is that John Macallister, Tutor of Loup in Kintyre, who granted a bond of manrent to the House of Hamilton, where he worked for them in return for his protection, as well as for all of Clan Macallister, took the English equivalent of Alexander for his family name of Macallister, and became one of the extended family of the House of Hamilton.
(A) HAMILTON
Origins in Ulster Early Plantation 1610: No less then 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 commonly 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)
(B) In older records Claude Hamilton is listed as a Scottish Undertaker in the barony of the Fewes, Co. Armagh, during the Ulster plantation. Sir George Hamilton is found in the precinct of Strabane, Co. Tyrone, and Robert Hamilton is found in the precinct of Magheraboy, in Co. Fermanagh. Sir Alexander Hamilton, of Endervicke, Scotland, was found in Tuyllyhunco, in Co. Caven.
Should other organizations find this information to be beneficial for their organization, please feel free to copy for your publication, with proper credit given to the author. For comments, suggestions, or information requests, direct same to Larry Hamilton, Sr., 215 SW 20th Terrace, Oak Grove, MO 64075. We have, use and are familiar with several genealogy programs and will gladly assist in your making a selection. Larry is editor of The Connector and historian for the Hamilton National Genealogical Society, Inc.
(C) CHIEF AND ORDINARY SCOTTISH UNDERTAKERS
(1) ARMAGH - FEWS BARONY
HAMILTON, Claud of Creichness, Origin in Scotland - Haddington, Lands in Ulster - Edenveagh, 1,000Â Â Â Â Â acres
(2) CAVAN - TULLYHUNCO BARONY (southwestern Cavan)
HAMILTON, Sir Alexander of Inerwick, Origin in Scotland - Haddington, Lands in Ulster - Clonkine and Carrotubber, 2,000 acres
HAMILTON, Sir Claud of Cochno or Cochnogh, Origin in Scotland - Dumbarton, Lands in Ulster -Clonyn alias Taughyleagh, 1,000 acres
(3) FERMANAGH - MAGHERABOY BARONY (western Fermanagh)
HAMILTON, Robert of Stanehous, Origin in Scotland -Â Lanark, Lands in Ulster -Dirrynefogher, 1,500 acres
(4) TYRONE - STRABANE BARONY (northwestern Tyrone)
HAMILTON, James, earl of Abercorn - Note: as of 1876, more than a quarter century later, the Duke of Abercorn owned 47,615 acres in Co. Tyrone. Origin in Scotland - Renfrew (castle at Abercorn in Linlithgowshire demolished) Lands in Ulster - Strabane and Dunalong, 3,000 acres
HAMILTON, Sir Claud of Schawfield, Origin in Scotland -Â Associations with both Lanark and Linlithgow, Lands in Ulster -Â Killeny and Teadane, 2,000 acres
HAMILTON, George of Binning or East Bynnie, Origin in Scotland -Â Linlithgow, Lands in Ulster -Dirrywoon, 1,000 acres
HAMILTON, Sir George of Greenlaw, Origin in Scotland -Â Renfrew, Lands in Ulster -Â Largie or Cloghgenall, 1,500 acres
(REFERENCE: M. Perceval-Maxwell, The Scottish Migration to Ulster in the Reign of James I. Ulster Historical Foundation, 1990. Internet: personal.nbnet.nb.ca/swerner/radical/undertakers.html
8. Before closing, last but not least, who was the wife of John Alexander of Eredy?
Well, here goes! Hang on tight! According to the traditional naming patterns which were used by those in and from Scotland and Ireland, married couples named their second son after his maternal grandfather (his mother’s father). John Alexander and his wife did give their second son the name of Robert. Therefore, it would be highly probable under the existing circumstances, that this Robert would have been a member of the House of Hamilton, as well as the maternal grandfather of the children of John Alexander of Eredy.
In the quote above, evidence is provided that one of the House of Hamilton in Ireland was an undertaker named Robert Hamilton who received land in Fermanagh County, along with James, Claud and George who received lands in Tyrone County. James and Robert both had associations with Renfrew, Scotland; James also with castle Abercorn in Linlithgow; Sir Claud with Lanark and Linlithgow; George of Binning with Linlithgow; and Sir George of Greenlaw with Renfrew. We have also provided evidence that they all came to Ireland along with their extended families. In addition, we have also provided evidence that when John of Eredy received his land in Donegal County, he had previously resided in Magheracoltan which belonged to the Hamilton family in Tyrone County, Ulster, Ireland.
Don’t forget that the Tutor of Loup, John of Clan MacAlister in Kintyre, signed a bond of manrent to the House of Hamilton, in 1598 and in return received protection for himself and the rest of his Clan, which lasted until 1604. The only way he could have become an extended family member of the House of Hamilton would have been through marriage to one of their daughters, and the father of that daughter would have been Robert Hamilton, originally from of Stanehous, Lanark, Scotland. He received 1,500 acres of land in the barony of Magheraboy in the County of Fermanagh.
Two of the next generation, John Alexander (extended family) and John Hamilton were later to receive land in Eredy in the County of Donegal from the undertaker by the name of Sir James Cunningham; they located there by 1610 as renters, but received titles to their lands in 1613. There you have it, folks! Hope you like it!
Sincerely,
Cousins John and Sarah
