My Family Tree

Information on Aexander and his family came in part from other family trees. This part of the McArthur family is a work in progress. It is recommended that you do your own research!

No baptismal records have been found for the children of Hugh McArthur, and the name of his wife (wives?) remains unverified. Local histories and undocumented family trees agree that Hugh's sons were Alexander, Hugh, William John, James, Malcolm, Neil, and Gilbert. The first Hugh McArthur was said to have arrived on the Island in 1770 from Scotland with at least one son, Alexander. No records have been found for William John or James.

Alexander's marriage to Catherine McKay wasn't in the License Cash Book covering marriage licenses granted 1787-1805, but he was married by 1798. Their relationship was on her gravestone, which I had found a mention of years ago.

Alexander is probably the Alex McCarter in Lot 14 in the 1798 census. Alex's household consisted of 3 boys under 16, one male between 16-60, 1 girl under 16 and one woman between 16-60 - or 4 children born between 1782 and 1798. These could be Dougald, Hugh, Mary and James.

There were land transactions under the name Alexander McArthur. In 1805, Alexander signed an indenture for land in Lot 14 on the Ellis River (Ellis or Grand River on maps), also bordered by McArthur Creek, with the landlord Cambridge. (PEI Land Conveyance Records, vol 13 page 248) This 125 acre property can be seen on earlier maps of Lot 14. Alexander signed his name, indicating that he was literate. There is another land record dated 1845, where Alexander McArthur of Lot 14 transferred all of his property and stock in Lot 14 - 125 acres - to his son Neil. Neil was to provide a home to his father in return. (PEI Land Conveyance Records, vol 54 page 100). This was the Neil who was married to Margaret.

Catherine died in 1807. Her gravestone said she was survived by 9 children, so some could be missing from this list. Gravestone in Oyster Point - "Sacred to the memory of Catherine McArthur, wife of Alexander McArthur, who departed this life 27th of December 1807, age 37 years. Leaving a husband and 9 children."

Alexander married Nancy McLaughlin after Catherine's death.

There was a will for an Alexander McArthur, Lot 14, signed on 9 July 1839 but not proved until 1870 - it seemed to be attached to the will of a younger Alexander McArthur, also of Lot 14. Named in this will, in this order, were Dugald (b. 1790), Hugh (b. about 1791), James, Alexander, Archibald (b. 1803), Robert, Mary, Jane, Flora, Elizabeth, and Neil (1819). Most of the children received one shilling, and Neil (Neile) inherited the farm. George and Thomas Lee were executors. PEI Probate Records, Wills not recorded," A-M, McA (misc. dates between 1786?-1930?), on familysearch.org.

Speculation...

If Alexander and Catherine followed the strict naming conventions of the day, then her father would be Dugald and his father Hugh. The two grandmothers would be Mary and Jane or Janet.