This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: swresearch Surnames: Alexander, McAlexander, Cunningham, Houston, Adair Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.alexander/3863.1.1.1.2.1.5.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: re: William Alexander Sr. born between 1624 and 1627 in Eridy, Donegal Co. Ireland and died in 1715 in Somerset Co., Md. Perhaps related to : re: Adair File HA12/A2/1/47. 30 Aug 1680. Assignment by Robert McAlexander (Alexander) and Elizabeth , his wife, formerly Elizabeth Adair, to Alexander Adair, Litter, (Raphoe, Donegal ?) Ireland, of sume payable by John Adair and Sir Robert Adair as part of marriage portion of Elizabeth Adair: in consideration of a sum advanced by Alexander Adair to Robert and Elizabeth McAlexander (Alexander) and of other services performed by Alexander Adair on their behalf. (Believe this Alexander Adair was the 3rd son of Sir Robert Adair.) Was Robert Alexander (below) executor of will c.1768 of Robert Adair of Baltimore ? ...................... Rev. Robert Alexander, b. 1720, ManorCunningham,(Eridy ?) Donegal, Ireland, d. 1783 VA. m. 1743 in Augusta Co VA to Elizabeth Beard, In 1748 he established "the first classical school west of the Blue Ridge" the beginning of Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia. ............................................... A Census of Ireland, circa 1659 Province of Ulster Antrim Barony of Toome Townland "The Lyne of Mount-eredy" ***** Tituladoes : Cormuck O Steille gent; Thomas Dobbin gent, Bryan O Teille, James Hamilton gent, William MaColloch gent, (McCulloch) Leut. Coll. Walter Stuartt ( Stewart )Esq. Townland "Division of Fivagh" Doctr. Daniell O Sheill gent, Leut. Dalway Clements gent. Townland "Largie" Richard Bickerstaffe Esqr. Townland "Graunge" Cornelius Divelin gent. Townland of "Ballymenagh" William Adaire Esqr. Townland of "Galgorme" Robert Colwill Esqr, William Houstan gent. (Houston / Houfton ) Others : Brownes, 12 (not all Irish ) McBride, 9; McCullogh, 5; (from Wigtownshire, Scot ?) Cunningham, (from Wigtownshire, Scot ?) Magrogan, 5; Lorenan, 7; Martin, 7; Mullan, 7; Millar, 7; O Quin, 6; Steill and O Steill, 8. ........................... People on the "Manor Cunningham" estate emigrated c.1737 when the rents were put up. ........................... "On Shining Bann" by Sibbett, The Bann is a river, separating Counties Antrim from L'Derry, flowing north from Lough Neagh to the sea near Coleraine. Many emigrants left from the Bann Valley. "On Shining Bann" is about the manor around Portglenone an area near Houston of Culleybackey who acquired property at Portglenone, probably both sides of the river in counties Antrim and Londonderry. P 207. "The Reformed Congregation at Culleybackey, originally assembling in the Round Hole at Laymore (Leamore, co. Antrim), had its origin, like Ballylaggan or the Bannside Congregation, in the work carried on at the Vow, near Rasharkin. From 1670 to 1769 the ministers who preached more or less ocassionally at Laymore were the Revs. David HOUSTON, John M'MULLEN, Alexander MARSHALL, Thomas CUTHBERTSON, and Daniel McCLELLAND. Next came the Revs Matthew LYNN, Robert YOUNG, William GIBSON, William STAVELY, Clarke HOUSTON, DD, J G M'VICKER, J A MOODY, Andrew FALLON, and James A LYONS, BA. "The pass on the Bann at Agivey was defended in 1688 by the Rev. David HOUSTON, at the head of a force he had raised at the request of the Earl of Mount Alexander,(Hugh Montgomery ?) but it was captured by the Red Shanks." (The pass over the river at Toome may have been defended by Col. Wm Houston ?) The Rev. Matthew Lynn was driven out of the country by a false statement to the effect that he had clandestinely married a Mir Haslett of Drumneiry, near Dungiven to a student on trial named William Moore. A dying Roman Catholic, who sembled Mr Lynn, confessed to having personated him at this marriage ceremony. Rev. David Houston may have been connected to the Houston family of Drumaston, Wigtownshire, Scotland and Cottreoch, Whithorn, Wigtownshire, Scotland. Refer "Retours of Heirs". On his death his wife and children returned to Scotland. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.