Scotch-Irish-L Archives

From: Joan Robb <>
Subject: Re: "Attainting," ALEXANDER, PHILLIPS, Eredy
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 12:08:20 +0000

Sorry. Serves me right for not checking my notes properly. The source
for 1640 was Burke's Irish Family Records. The time is about right for
other dates confirmed by family, etc. -- but -- it was 1641, not 1640 (I
couldn't see the small print in the dark) a date of death, not will
probated.

There are inaccuracies in Burke's Irish Family Records, I know from
family information, but on the whole it seems to be correct.

The sources for "attainted by parliament of James II" are Burke's Irish
Family Records: "attainted by King James II 1689," an Alexander family
tree chart obtained from a Great Aunt and some photocopies of numerous
pages of a published version of the same tree (with more branches),
which an uncle sent me. I have not determined from where it was
photocopied. And I have not yet been able to go much further to verify.

I do not have any reference on Scottish/English/Irish history here, but
I believe James II was also James VI?

Rev. Andrew Alexander could not possibly have lived 1740. His son Jacob m 1692
Jane (Margaret) Oliver daughter of John Oliver of The Lodge,
Newtownlimavady, whose son James's will was probated 4 July 1786. And so on.

I have not been able to get my hands on any of the usually cited
references about the history of Londonderry and Ulster. It's a day trip by
ferry to Vancouver to the libraries or FHC, but I plan to go digging again in
a few weeks when I can.

Courtesy of Burke's Irish Family Records, and a couple of other things,
I have a --very-- extensive Alexander genealogy, which confirms and
extends information I received through the family. Jane Alexander (my
mother's mother's mother's mother) was the last in her particular
Alexander line (and she married the son of a reported Prussian military
officer who seems as yet untraceable!).

Rev. Andrew Alexander (d 1641) was apparently the youngest of John Alexander's
five sons, the others of whom were Captain John Alexander of Enagh and Caw, co
Derry; Archibald Alexander of Ballybiglimore; William Alexander; and Robert
Alexander of Dunvanaddy, who took part in the Siege of Derry and was granted
lands at Drumquin, Ardstraw, co Tyrone.

Amongst the five brothers and their progeny, the Alexanders spread out
over Ireland, England, Scotland and elsewhere, and did quite well for
themselves. Some went to the U.S.A. There are many (actually, hordes of)
Alexanders in the U. S. and I have not yet verified the connections but there
are undoubtedly some there.

Our Alexanders say (with some corroboration) they are descended from
cadets of the House of Menstry, a branch of the Alexanders of Tarbert,
and I think of the MacDonalds, Clan Ranald (whose traditional lands are
actually very close to Northern Ireland). Our "tree charts" also say John
Alexander was "the original settler in Ereday and one of the Kintyre Alexanders."

Can you set me straight on any more of this? Can you suggest any
research/study avenues I can pursue (assuming I could get books through
Inter-Library loan, or on microfilm from Salt Lake City through the LDS, or something)?

Thanks very much for your helpful replies, Edward and Dan.

Joan Robb
British Columbia, Canada

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• Re: "Attainting," ALEXANDER, PHILLIPS, Eredy by Joan Robb <>