My MCALISTERS were up by the NC line, off & on, from 1792 to 1834. Angus McAlister who had large land holdings near Wagram in old Richmond, now Scotland, Co NC since arriving from Kintyre, Scotland in 1770 bought a farm in 1792 located on both sides of the state line apparently so that his wife, Barbara McMillan could be near her sister who married the Daniel McRae who had a mill between the Shoe Heel and the Little Pee Dee. ANGUS MCALISTER died in 1808 leaving DANIEL, ARCHIBALD, CHARLES, JOHN, GILBERT and a daughter, CHRISTIAN surviving with all the lands going to the sons, except Daniel who apparently was well settled elsewhere and was left a bull and seed stock. My ancestor, JOHN (1765-1848) who remained in old Richmond County, NC is the only one of the family that I have been able to completely document and I can find none of the family graves prior to 1860s and suspect they are in upper Marion Co. JOHN and Angus Gilchrist who were the county surveyors for Richmond and Robeson Counties, respectively, were trustees of ANGUS MCALISTER's estate for the benefit of his heirs and in the 1820s had over 30 slaves and 4 free blocks engaged in various enterprises in NC for ANGUS and probably CHARLES' estates. Angus Gilchrist's father was John Gilchrist, of Millprong in present Hoke Co NC, who married another daughter of Gilbert and Christian McMillan. CHARLES and his wife and ARCHIBALD and his wife, Isabella, apparently lived there for a time and their families also stayed in the area for a time. My John was administrator for Charles in both NC & SC but no detailed estate papers have been found although it is believed that CHARLES had substanial holdings in BLADEN Co as well as a house in Richmond Co which he had rented out and other property in SC. ARCHIBALD's son ARCHIBALD DEAN MCALISTER married NANCY STAFFORD and her brother married Archibald's sister. The Staffords were from the same area. ARCHIBALD Sr apparently died circa 1820 and his widow and 6 daughters attended Reedy Creek Presbyterian Church in Marlboro Co. between Clio and Dillon probably while still living in Marion Co. GILBERT and CHRISTIAN MCALLISTER (who were, as was the Scottish custom, obviously named for Barbara McMillan's parents, Gilbert and Christian Taylor McMillan, who immigrated from Kintyre Scotland circa 1770-1) were both probably born in upper Marion County. GILBERT, or more likely his namesake's family, were found settled just west of Tatum in Marlboro County thanks to Victoria Proctor finding Gilbert and his family buried South of Clio, in Marlboro Co. This Gilbert reportedly moved from Marion Co with some of the neighboring Hamer family to adjoining farms in Marlboro Co around the early 1830s. Would be greatful for any further information or connections to any of these McAlisters. Thanks, Bill in Baltimore

Welcome back, Bill ! We're glad to see you back from the wilds of Scotland. There are more than a few of us on this list who are descendants of Scots and if you have time, we'd love to hear about your travels and any research tips, tales or anecdotes you may have. Bless your heart! you just provided a wee clue for me with your post: << My Grandfather, John Murchison (originally McMurchie from Kintyre)married their daughter, Mary McAlister Stackhouse & lived in Marion till about 1919 when they moved to Florence. John Murchison's mother was a Carmichael from the Little Rock area of Marion County. >> I've wondered for ages where the MURCHISON came from as a middle name among the Proctors out in Little Rock. Who was John Murchison's mama? Cheers, Victoria