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Alexander Halley and Margaret McKay

Re: Alexander Halley and Margaret McKay

Posted: 14 Jul 2011 11:21PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi Stephen,

I can only see two children registered to Alexander Halley and Margaret McKay: Margaret 1846, and Anne 1848 (Baptisms, Presbyterian, Geelong). Am I missing something? Margaret would have about 57 years old in 1882 (?)

There is some interesting information on the net about the Alexander Halley who arrived on the 'George Seymour' in 1845. Not sure how much of it is accurate...

(Source: 'Came to Port Phillip by 1849')

"Alexander Halley, 21 both was Stable man, trained as Shoemaker, married, crime - Robbery and Assault 7 years convicted 21 Nov 1842, at Edinburgh, received 16 Dec 1842, at Edinburgh, became an Exile and received a Royal Pardon 10 Oct 1844, arrived at Geelong 18 March 1845 on the Sir George Seymour, and employment was not specified.

Alexander Halley wed Margaret Mckay in 1845 at Church of England, baptised Margaret 1846 "

His first (??) wife?

(Source: 'EDMUND & ISABELLA THORP')

"Isabella Halley (nee Black)

Isabella was born in Falkirk Scotland, circa 1820. From her criminal records we know that she had sisters Mary and Elizabeth, and a brother James. Her mother was Elizabeth.
Isabella was described as a country servant.
She married Alexander Halley on September 3rd. 1841 in the town of Stirling, Parish of Falkirk
On the 21st. of November 1842, Halley had been found guilty of robbery and assault, and exiled for seven years. At this time Isabella and Alexander had one child.
Halley arrived at Corio Geelong aboard the “SIR GEORGE SEYMOUR” in March 1845.
Like Edmund Thorp he had been taught the trade of shoemaking whilst in gaol.
Tried at the Stirling Court of Susticiary on April 21st. 1845 for stealing £86 from cattle dealer John Robinson, an assault and stealing a pair of boots, Isabella was sentenced to seven years transportation, twelve months gaol and twenty days gaol respectively. Her convict record shows she had been twice previously convicted and had “bad connections.”
Isabella arrived in Van Dieman’s Land on June 5th. 1846. She had travelled on the “EMMA EUGENIA”, a thirteen year old ship built at Whitby Yorkshire, the port where James Cook worked as an apprentice shipwright.
Edmund and Isabella must have met soon after her arrival—probably at the expiration of her six months gang probation—as their first child was born circa 1848, another in August 1850 and another in 1852.
They married in Hobart on the 21st. of February 1853. Isabella had been given her Ticket of Leave in November 1849 and her Freedom Certificate in April 1852.
Isabella must have decided to bury her past and forget all about husband Alexander and their child..."

In the 'Argus', Thursday 26 July 1855 (Source: TROVE) there is an article in the Geelong column regarding the circuit court and a prisoner Alexander Halley, charged with larceny.

Also, if you Google 'The Bellarine Peninsula and Geelong & District History Site', click on 'All Databases', and search in 'NEW Geelong and District Database' for 'Halley', you'll find some entries for an Alexander and Margaret Halley et al, including book references.

Cheers, Anne

Re: Alexander Halley and Margaret McKay

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 12:19AM GMT
Classification: Query
For a start, I'd be inclined to put aside Hertfordshire as Alexander's birthplace, especially since one of the trees claiming this has added an image of a much later census as proof.

It might be worth trying to locate records of the Sir George Seymour arrival. Around 1845 there were a number of prisoners (more political than criminal) who had already served time in gaol 'at home' and on arrival here were granted either ticket-of-leave or free settler status. He'd be around the same age as Margaret, so a marriage would be possible.

Another possibility is that he may have been a Bounty Immigrant. NSW State Records have now digitised the Bounty passenger lists - but it's a slow process of going through them ship by ship (unless ancestry comes up with the name of a ship, which it hasn't for me).

I had a friend, now sadly deceased, whose mother was a Mackay. It took us ages to track down the family's arrival as Bounty Immigrants, the ship sailing from Greenock. In the course of our search, we discovered that many, if not most, of the ships carrying Scottish emmigrants sailed from Greenock.

Another cautionary hint - researching my own family I came to realise that at the death of a parent, children did not always know, or remember, exactly where the parent was born and it looks as though they just picked an appropriate city. A birthplace shown as Dublin turned out to be Co. Wicklow; Paris as Chambourg; Edinburgh as Carlisle, England (although the population more than likely regarded themselves as 'Scotch').

Have you checked the 1841 Census, Scotland & England, for an Alexander who is in a family with familar forenames? Scottish naming patterns, while not writ in stone, are - 1st son after father's father, 2nd after mother's father; 1st daughter after mother's mother, 2nd after father's mother; then on to the names of the grandparents.

Another avenue might be to contact Clan Mackay - it was one of the biggest clans in Scotland and now has societies everywhere. Including Germany! Perhaps start with http://www.clanmackaywa.org.au/index.htm

Cheers
Barbara

Re: Alexander Halley and Margaret McKay

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 1:58AM GMT
Classification: Query
Checked the 1841 Scottish Census (images not available) - the only Alexander Mackay born c.1824 was born Sutherland, Scotland, Civil Parish of Dornock, County Sutherland, address Rhearchar Parish No.47, with
Angus Mackay, 55 years
Christy Mackay, 52
Elizabeth Mackay, 15
Babby McKay, 13
John Mackay, 11
Jane McKay, 8

An Alexander McKay, aged 16, born c.1825, Sutherland, Scotland, Civil Parish Tongue, County Sutherland, Address Skianead, living with -
John McKay, 40 years
Any McKay, 35
Barbara McKay, 14
John McKay, 12
Hugh McKay, 10

Plenty more, of course. Quite a few Alexander's living in what appears to be boarding houses, or boarding with a family. For example, an Alexr McKay, born c.1826, born England, Civil parish Falkirk, County Stirlingshhire , Grahamston, Blacksmith appears to be be boarding with the Nelson family, and three other young men. A bit young to get married perhaps, but all that work on an anvil might have grown him.

The Skinead listing sounds hopeful with mother's name of Any. (Anne may also have been named after an Agnes.)

Stephen - There must have been at least one son born to Alexander and Margaret - name/s?

Cheers
Barbara

Re: Alexander Halley and Margaret McKay

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 2:35AM GMT
Classification: Query
Alexander and Margaret had one son Alexander Halley born 1852 and died 1932 in Ballarat he married Elizabeth Jane Turner in 1876. I have not researched there Alexander 1852-1932 and Elizabeth Jane Turner 1855-1933 other than that they also had a son named Alexander Halley born 1877 who married Jessie Bell 1902 and died in 1920.

Re: Alexander Halley and Margaret McKay

Posted: 27 Jul 2015 9:28PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi. I have spotted your post from back in 1911 regarding Alexander Halley (who married Margaret McKay in 1845).

I have researched Alexander Halley fully, as Margaret McKay was his second wife and he then went on to reside with my 3x gt.aunt whom he claimed to have married in 1856 in Geelong, whilst still married to Margaret McKay.

I have his 2 marriage certificates plus his death certificate which confirms all of the above (his first wife was Isabella Black) and also clearly states his place of birth to be Dunning, Perthshire, Scotland - this is born out in the marriage register for Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland in 1841 when he married Isabella Black, ie Alexander Halley from the parish of Dunning to Isabella Black of this parish, married 3 September 1841 at Falkirk.

Both Alexander Halley and Isabella Black were criminals - Alex was convicted at Edinburgh and Isabella at Stirling Court - both sentenced to transportation to Van Deimen's Land, but Alexander was granted a pardon and sent to Victoria. He married Margaret McKay only 6 weeks after arriving in Australia and then the couple settled in Geelong to have 3 children, Annie, Margaret & Alexander, after which he left Margaret and set up with my 3x gt.aunt Frances Melmer in 1856. The couple then moved to Toowoomba, Queensland where Frances died in 1878 (Alexander registered her death) and he later died in the Benevolent Asylum, Dunwich, Queensland, in 1884. All three wives are clearly stated on his death certificate, a copy of which I have and am happy to share with you if you respond to this message.

Apologies if you already have all this information but I have found no-one, as yet, on the internet who has anywhere near the correct information or research regarding Alexander Halley.

Maybe I will hear back from you. Best regards.
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