Alexander family in Tyrone & Donegal

Elwyn

Thank you for letting me know the situation. Just the bit about the probability that they were Scots is a new idea to me.

I have done the DNA testing, but so far it hasn't shown me any connections. Although that is the fun thing about DNA, every day could be the day that new match shows up.

Thanks again for the information.

Toni

Elwyn,

Thanks again for sharing the information. Is there a book or site that you would recommend to learn more about the Scots that settled in the 1600s? I have googled it and learned quite a bit, but I am just wondering if there is anything that you think might be more informative.

Really appreciate your help,

Toni

Thanks so much. I will look for that book to learn what I can of that period. I remember my grandma said they were Scotch/Irish and I knew that was a certain population  but really hadn't thought very much about it. But that must of been what she was talking about. My dna says I am 28% Irish and 62% Great Britain. And I was told that any Scottish and Welsh lines would be included in the GB. I have a Samuel Peoples that was also possibly Irish descent, although I haven't found proof yet, as he died before the 1850 census and I have never been able to find his parents or birthplace. But he married one of Robert Alexander's daughters. These are all from my mom's side since I just recently found out that I was the result of an affair when my mom was separated from "dad". But most of her lines that I do have are English, Bartholomew, Stanford, Pigsley/Pixley, Wescott, England....but somewhere there is 28% Irish...maybe my unknown father.

I appreciate all the information and look forward to reading about the Ulter Scots.

My 7th great-grandmother was Charity Alexander born in Ireland  in 1719 and died in Dublin in 1943 two years after the premier of Handle’s Mesiah. There was also a famine in ’40-’41, but I'm not sure if that had anything to do with her young death (24). 

The Great Frost and Famine of 1740-1741 (Bliain an Áir - "The Year of Slaughter"):

   * What it was: This was a catastrophic period in Ireland, often overshadowed by the Great Famine of the 1840s but proportionally even more devastating. It was caused by extremely cold and dry weather in successive years, leading to widespread failure of grain harvests, shortage of milk, and severe frost damage to potatoes (which were a staple food, though grains were more dominant for most at this time).

   * Impact: The famine led to mass starvation, but perhaps even more significantly, it was compounded by widespread outbreaks of fatal diseases. Estimates suggest that between 300,000 and 480,000 people died across Ireland (out of a population of 2.4 million), a loss of 13% to 20% of the population.

Charity Alexander married John McDougal that was related to the Blairgarry Earls in Scotland. So, definitely Scotch-Irish.