McAlester, Mathew

- 1768

• Name	McAlester, Mathew  [1]
  Gender	Male
  Occupation	25 Feb 1741	Edinburgh, Scotland   [2]
  	Merchant - Mathew was listed as an apprentice to a merchant named Archibald Cockburn.
  Residence	15 Dec 1761	Edinburgh, Scotland   [3]
  	Disposition and Assignation by Alexander Stewart of Edinglassie, Clerk to the Signet, and Mathew McAlister, merchant in Edinburgh, in favour of Major James McDonald, residing at Chelsea near London, of Decree of Adjudication against Dugald Stewart of Appine, adjudging from him the lands of Cowal lying within the lordship of Lorn and sheriffdom of Argyll and other lands therein described and that to the extent of £228 3s 7d sterling.
  Death	1768	Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland   [4]
  Burial	20 Sep 1768	Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland   [5]
  Person ID	I785	Kintyre People
  Last Modified	12 Oct 2026

  
  

  Father	McAlester, Charles of Tore   d. 3 Apr 1741, Tarbert, Kilcalmonell parish, Argyll, Scotland
  Mother	Campbell, Anna
  Marriage	1701	Argyll, Scotland   [6]
  Notes	Online family trees include a son named John who was born at Drumadoon and immigrated to North Carolina, but aside from his baptismal record there is no evidence that he survived into adulthood. His absence from the later sasines indicates that he did not survive, or perhaps there was another couple of the same name living at Drumadoon during the same period. The absence of any other baptismal or marriage records for this family in Kilmory parish (in Arran) indicates that they did not live there for any extended period of time. Upon their marriage, the Duke of Argyll granted Charles land in Kilblaan parish (now Southend parish) in Kintyre, and this may explain their absence from the Kilmory parish records. Based on the available evidence, I'm not certain that John was their child, but have included him for now.
  Family ID	F134	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Hamilton, Jean
  Marriage	28 Apr 1765	Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland   [7]
  Notes	At the time of their marriage, Mathew would have been of an advanced age. New North parish was later renamed West St. Giles Parish Kirk. The parish was situated directly south of St Giles', bounded by the High Street to the north, Blair Street to the east, Cowgate to the south, and George IV Bridge to the west. No baptismal records could be located for this couple, however, a child named Mathew McAlister was buried in Edinburgh on 29 July 1765 [685/1 950/217] which could have been their child, although it would have meant that Jean was pregnant at the time of their marriage. More research is needed to determine if the baptismal records for this parish are still extant.
  Family ID	F136	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	4 Aug 2026

  
  

  Family 2	Russell, Anonymous
  Children	1. McAlester, Charles   d. bef. 25 June 1785
  Family ID	F141	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	19 Sep 2026

  
  

• Notes

  In his will, Mathew left £50 to his natural son, Charles. According to the estate records of Mathew's sister, Jean, Charles is listed as deceased.

  
  

• Sources

  [S9] Testamentary Records, 134. "Item by Mathew Isobele & Jean McAllesters brother & sisters of the s[ai]d Arch[ibal]d McAllester of Tarbert as the Expenses payd by the Defunct to Ja[me]s Campbell of Dudril [?] for Infefting them in Tarbert's Estate & o[the]r writing..." CC12/3/4 Testament and Inventory of Coll MacAllester 7 December 1747 [S22] Charles B. Boog Watson, Roll of Edinburgh Burgesses and Guild Brethren: 1701-1760, (Scottish Record Society), 125. "M'Alaster, Mathew, mt., B. and G., as p. to Archd. Cockburn, mt., B. and G. 25 Feb. 1741" [S19] RH8/1067. [S28] CS228/MC/5/66. [S9] Testamentary Records, 19. "M No. 18 Mr. Mathew McCalister Merch[an]t, in Edin[burg]h [September] 20 L in Baillie Blackwoods Ground Decay Latie Baille [partially illegible]" Mathew McCalister Old Parish Registers - Deaths 685/1 Edinburgh, page 19 of 75. Robert Blackwood was a highly prominent merchant who served as a Baillie (magistrate) of Edinburgh and was one of the original directors of the Bank of Scotland in the late 1600s and early 1700s. Elite merchant families in Edinburgh purchased large, walled plots or underground vaults inside Greyfriars Kirkyard. Because plots were highly sought after, individuals who were related by marriage, business partners, or close associates were frequently buried within another prominent merchant's designated "ground". Other historical records from Greyfriars explicitly note burials taking place "near the tree next Blackwood's ground". [from Google AI summary] [S15] Sasine, (National Records of Scotland), 237 verso - 238 verso. Folios 376 verso - 377 verso At Dunbarton the 15th Septr. 1703 That upon the 11th September 1703 Compeared personally Charles McAlester of Tor and also Angus Campbell, younger of Skipness, as attorney for Anna Campbell, spouse to the said Charles McAlester, holding a Contract of Marriage made between the said Charles McAlester on the one part, and Walter Campbell of Skipness, elder, Father to the said Angus-Skipness younger for themselves and as burden taker for the said Angus Campbell therein designated lawful daughter and sister to the saids Walter and Angus Campbells and the said Anna herself. The said Charles McAlister and Archibald McAlester of Tarbet and the said Angus Campbell of Skipness provide to the said Charles and Ann, and the longer liver of them, in liferent and their heirs male to be procreat betwixt them dated 10th January 1701. Charles has acquired from Archibald, Duke of Argyll, a feu right to all and haill the two merk four shilling land of Bonnorkine and half of Inchreall, the 5 merk land of Inchdalrithe, the merk land of Karnbige, the four merk land of Lussaloch all lying within the parish of Kilbean, Lordship of Kintire, and the eight shilling and one penny land of Ballonagkimaly in the parish of Killcolmikill dated the 30th July last. Possession given in presence of Dougall Campbell in Glencordall, Archd. McDonald of Sanda, Malcolm McNeill of Ballemas Colilam in the Kingdom of Ireland, Duncan Flighvith baily of Campbeltown. [S3] OPR - Banns & Marriages, 685/1 490/264. "Mathew McAlister Merch[an]t and late Baillie in Edin[burg]h in Newnorth Kirk parish and Wife Jean Hamilton Daug[hte]r to Mr Hugh Hamilton Merch[an]t in Edin[burg]h now in Tolbooth Kirk parish"