Alexander Mckay

7

Neville Parkes on 20th April 2020

To CHRISTINE PUCKERIDGE the Alexander Mc Kay in this entry was never in Tasmania. There were a number of men by that name sent as convicts to both Tasmania and NSW. I'd understand you concern, sadness and discomfort if you are a descendent of the Alexander McKay who arrived in Van Dieman's Land on the 'Sir Godfrey Webster' in 1823. However we are each responsible for our own actions and not those of our ancestors or descendants so each one of us descended from a convict can hold our head up and be respected for who we are not for who they were. Nev. BTW to others. Alexander apparently was a 'backmaker' not a brick-maker. A backmaker is an old occupation name equivalent to what we'd call a cooper. Nev

19

Sandie McKoy on 14th February 2013

BIRTH No one has been able to establish Alex's date of birth yet. Several researchers have copied each other on Ancestry and Rootsweb with incorrect DOBs. FAMILY According to his trial papers, he had an Uncle Alexander McKay and an Uncle John McKay who had two sons- Hugh and James. Alex had a sister (name unknown) who married a John McLeod. All lived at Aberdeen at the time of his arrest. His parent's names are unknown. RESIDENCES According to Alexanders trial papers, he moved to Aberdeen from Sutherlandshire approx 4 - 5 months before his arrest. He left his clothes and possessions in a chest at his sisters husbands house (John McLeod) and he resided with his Uncle Alexander McKay at Spring Garden, Parish of St Nicholas. He worked as a road labourer in Aberdeen including Deeside Road just outside of Aberdeen. The following information is quoted directly from Ron Hunts book 'From Parkestown to Earlswood'. 'Nancy' married Alexander McCoy (McKay) just four months after her seventeenth birthday at St Andrew's Scots Church, Sydney (then situated between the present day St Andrews Church of England Church, in George Street Sydney). Alex and Nancy were married by Australia's first Presbyterian Minister, the Reverend John Dunmore Lang on the 28th of September, 1829, when Nancy's groom was twenty five years of age. Nancy's husband Alexander McKay had been born at Sutherland Shire, Scotland, Circa 1804, and on the 19th of July, on the evening of the Coronation of George____of England, Alex was allegedly caught stealing a silver watch and chain from a Gentleman taking part in the celebrations of the King's Coronation. He was charged, found guilty, and sentenced at Aberdeen to seven years transportation to 'lands beyond the seas', and sailed from London on the 5th of November, 1822, aboard the ship PRINCESS ROYAL bound for Sydney Town, where he arrived on the 11th of March 1823. According to the official records, Alexander McKay was five feet seven inches in height, with dark brown hair, grey eyes, and a brown and sallow complexion. Following their marriage, Nancy and Alex settled at Parkestown, where they raised six children, three sons and three daughters, before Alex's death at Parkes Camp on or about the 6th of May, 1841 as he was buried at St Andrew's Scots Church, Sydney on the 8th of May 1841, just four months before what would have been his and his wife Nancy's twelfth wedding aniversary. Alexander, who was befriended by, and eventually married into the Parkes family, died a comparatively young man of thirty six years. Ann 'Nancy' McCoy nee Parkes, survived her husband by twenty- four years before she died at Moorefields, NSW, on the 16th of November, 1865, when she was fifty -three years of age. TICKET OF LEAVE INFORMATION- No 27/417. Issued on 27th June 1827. Name- Alexander McKay; Ship- Princess Royal; Master- Sherwood; Year- 1823; Native Place- Sutherland; Trade or Calling- Brickmaker; Offence- Not Stated; Place of Trial- Aberdeen Court of Justiciary; Date of Trial- 17th April 1822; Sentence- 7yrs; Year of Birth- 1804; Height- 5 Feet 7 3/4 Inches; Complexion- Dark Pale; Hair- Brown; Eyes- Grey; General Remarks- None CERTIFICATE OF FREEDOM INFORMATION- No 29/884. Issued 7th September, 1829. Name- Alex McKay; Ship- Princess Royal; Master- Sherwood; Year- 1823; Native Place- Sutherland; Trade or Calling- Brickmaker; Offence- Not Stated; Place of Trial- Aberdeen Court of Justiciary; Date of Trial- 17th April 1822; Sentence- 7yrs; Year of Birth- 1804; Height- 5 Feet 7 3/4 Inches; Complexion- Dark Sallow; Hair- Brown; Eyes- Grey; General Remarks- Scar on forehead. Has a Ticket of Leave No 27/417 dated 27 June 1827. Now surrended and cancelled. DEATH INFORMATION According to Alexander's burial papers, he was buried on the 8th of May 1841 (Source- Burial Certificate). The burial ceremony was performed at the Parish of St Andrews, Sydney, in the County of Cumberland. The ceremony was performed by Rev J McGarvie (at Mr & Mrs Hay's) Vault next to Newlands. Alex was a Presbyterian. The burial papers stated he was living at Cooks River at the time of his death at age 35yrs. The papers didn't state his profession at the time or when he died.

1

Christine Puckeridge on 3rd September 2012

HAVE JUST FOUND OUT THAT HE IS MY 3RD GGRANDFATHER, NOT SURE IF IM PLEASED OR NOT GIVEN HIS HISTORY, AS I LIVE IN TASMANIA AND I HAVE ABORIGINAL HERITAGE