For various reasons, I have decided to put the blog on hold for the foreseeable future. I hope to return to it eventually. I will continue to update the timeline when I can do.
I can still be contacted at macalister.history@gmail.com with comments or research questions regarding the Macalisters and their history.
Today in Macalister History 
Dear Lynn, I hope you get back to the newsletter sometime as I always enjoy reading it. My 6th great grandmother was Jennet McAlester (died 1782 in North Carolina; married Magnus Cowan 1752 in Bladen Co., NC) so your newsletter is a link to the history they might have known in Scotland. Have a wonderful break and thanks, Pam Lynn.
On Sunday, October 2, 2016, Today in Macalister History wrote:
> Lynn McAlister, MA, FSA Scot posted: “For various reasons, I have decided > to put the blog on hold for the foreseeable future. I hope to return to it > eventually. I will continue to update the timeline when I can do. I can > still be contacted at macalister.history@gmail.com > with > comments or rese” >
Thanks for the kind words, Pam. I do hope to start up again as I very much enjoy researching and writing the blog – there’s just too much going on for me right now, and something has to go. Nice to know you have found it worthwhile. 🙂
Dear Lynn,
I for one, would like to truly thank you for ALL that you have done with the McAllister ancestry program. Also, for your personal reply to me when I’ve sent questions — in a desperate search for ANY information on my 3X Great Grandfather John Alexander.
Also, my prayers for you as you continue life’s journey — and for your family.
Looking forward to your blog return whenever the spirit and body and soul is ready to continue …..
Cheers! Bruce Alexander shadowfox60@comcast.net
Thanks, Bruce. And you can always reach me here if there are more questions! 🙂
Miss your updates, hope to read one again when you are ready.
Amelia Alexander Rayner was my great, great (maternal side) grandmother. The Rayner family has always understood her to have been a granddaughter of the Earl of Stirling but I wonder if that could have been so, since I understand the last Earl died in 1739. Perhaps a great granddaughter?
For her part, Amelia died in a train crash in England in 1865 in which her then young son–my great grandfather, broke his leg. The writer Charles Dickens was on that train and wrote about ministering to Amelia in her dying moments. We have a magnificent oil painting of her. I seek to know more about the Alexander family and her place in it, and would be grateful of any help on this.
Hello! The last Earl of Stirling did indeed die in 1739; there has been at least one later claimant to the title but he descended from the earls through a daughter and his claim was never seriously considered by anyone with the authority to acknowledge it. What year was Amelia born, and do you know her maiden name? I can try to find out if there is a connection.
Many thanks for your reply. We do not have her date of birth, but she was born Amelia Alexander.
I can send you a photo of the rather fine family oil painting of her if you give me an email address.
Best,
David Ensor