William John McCrae

Born about 1847-1852 per Scottish census records (in Ireland). 1921 Scottish census released Nov 2022 lists William's place of birth as County Armagh, Ireland. This is the first documentation I've found that lists more detailed information than only "Ireland". 

After I discovered our great grandfather William was born in Ireland, my brother Ian Macrae did the Big-Y 700 with FamilyTree DNA in attempt to find a location of origin and common distant ancestors. His results formed a new subclade of the R-M222 haplogroup, with two other men. One is now R-FTC311 and my brother and another man are R-FTC315. Analysis of Ian's Y-DNA results on FTDNA in the McGrath project shows R-FTC315 is believed to have originated in the general vicinity of Termon, in County Donegal, with R-FTC315 branching off of R-M222 in about 100 BC. We are not part of the highland MacRae/McRae clan, per FTDNA Y-DNA testing and analysis in the MacRae/McRae project.

We do not have any known close or distant matches to this paternal line via atDNA testing, other than our known 1st cousin.

The first census record of William that I've been able to locate and confirm is him, is the 1881 Scottish census in Renfrewshire, Scotland. He was already married with three children. He and Rebecca Berry were married in Linwood, Renfrewshire 28 Apr 1876. Her family (parents from Ireland) are listed as living next door to her and William and their three children. He was a retort fireman and had a few other jobs in shale oil industry. 

Died 03 Mar 1922 Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland.

Rebecca Berry listed as spouse on marriage proclamation and William's death registration. Rebecca Berry also listed as the mother of my grandfather, James MacRae/McRae on his death information for funeral home in New Jersey, USA. James Berry MacRae emigrated to USA in appx 1900. 

William John McCrae's father listed as John McRae on William and Rebecca's marriage proclamation.
William's mother listed Ann Jane McCormick on William and Rebecca's marriage proclamation.

William's father listed as James McRae, mother Ann Jane Moffan, wife Rebecca Berry on death registration certificate, witnessed by son Thomas McCrae. I believe the marriage document contains more accurate information.