Is there eanyone on this site that has been doing research on the Falconer line, especially someone who resides in Moray? I have just received word from someone who did a look-up for me in Paul Gifford's book-Falconer of Halkerton and evidently the line I descend from is not mentioned in his book. I have been collecting data from the Old Parish Registries and currently have about 900 plus entries of Falconers for Dyke, Forres, Elgin, Alves, New Spynie and still doing entries. I have also been cross referencing the surnames of Brander, James, McCulloch and Tyre but I have met a brick wall since I do not have a mother's name mentioned in one fo the entries and with a common surname of Falconer and a given name of Alexander, there are lots. Here is the information I have currently: Alexander Falconer born (possibly 10 Nov 1765 in Dyke, Moray, Scotland).. Married Catherine (Katherine) Brander on 07/26/1788 in Elgin, Moray, Scotland. Catherine (Katherine) Brander was christened 2/16/1764. Catherine (Katherine) was the daughter of James Brander and Mary James.of Elgin, Moray. (If this Alexander was is the correct one born 10 Nov. 1765, his father is only listed who is also an Alexander).Thsi is my brick wall. Children born to Alexander and Catherine Katherine) Brander Falconer: Isabella - born 14 May 1789,Christened May 16, 1789 New Spynie, married John McCulloch of Dyke, 24 Jan 1809. (I am descended from her). John- born 26 April 1791 Christened April 28, 1791 New Spynie Mary- born 01 Oct 1793 Christened Oct. 05, 1793 New Spynie James Falconer, born 12 January 1796 and christened in Rafford Parish on January 19, 1796. (His mother's surname is listed incorrtectly as Katherine Bremner but we know he is part of this line based on copies of old letters that were sent in the 1840-1860s to family members in the USA) In 1840 he was a professor at the Royal Academy in Inverness. He had four sons: Alexander: a preacher Charles: had a business in London but both were tutors at Kings College in Aberdeen in 1840. James: professor of philosophy and mathematics in Bemuda John: civil engineer Jean-born 12 Jan 1796 Christened Jul. 16. 1800 Dyke married to Alexander White Margeret- born 07 April 1803 Christened April 14, 1803 Dyke Alexander-born 11 Dec 1806 Christened December 19, 1806 Dyke Thank you, Susan McClure <(smcclure@cox.net>, San Diego, California I do have additional information and as time permits I have also b4een trying to decipher the microfilm of the Old Parish Register of Dyke. But of there is anyone who has additional information that they could share or could recommend a professional researcher that is familiar with the Falconer line I would appreciate it very much. .

Hi Susan, Have you by any chance come across Colin FALCONER and Marjory GEDDES? In summary, they married 22-Jun-1710 Keith Banffshire and had 6 children in Keith then a further 5 in Portsoy the last one being in 1733. He was a merchant in Portsoy and died in 1756 - his property in Portsoy was auctioned off on 22-Jul-1756 according to the Aberdeen Journal. I've got a candidate baptism for him from the IGI: Colin Falconar 21-Apr-1687 Dyke Moray to Wm Falconer: have you got the actual entry OPR? I'm trying to identify Marjory GEDDES, presumably born abt 1693, possibly in/near Keith, who might fit into one strain of my own Geddeses. Hard information is a bit sparse this early, to say the least! There's also a Charles FALCONER who married Margaret MURDOCH 17-Nov-1785 Auldearn; it looks as though a son Charles FALCONER married an Elspet McINTOSH in Cullen in 1815 and they had family in Fordyce parish somewhere - probably Portsoy and probably merchants too; maybe it was their son Charles FALCONER who married Joanna LEDINGHAM in 1860 in Alvah. Happy to send you the rest of the details off list. And if anyone knows of his merchanting activities in Portsoy/Keith I'd be pleased to hear. I wonder if he was another Moray merchant who kept to his side of the law.... For Ray Hennessy's info, one line seems to have ended up in Aberlour. (Ray: did we not correspond about them a long while ago?) Regards Howard Geddes

I am reminded of William Falconer, born about 1846 (He isn't in the OPR, though his siblings are) in Edinkillie to William Falconer and Isabella Walker, both from Duffus. He is listed as their son in the 1851 census, but heisn't listed on his parents' gravestone, though again all his siblings are. He married Jane Stephen at Coxton, Lhanbryde on 2 September 1884, giving his address as Kansas City, USA. Any information about his later life and descendants would be welcome. Anne