Margaret Todd

Castle in Northern Ireland

Margaret Todd, My Wife's Great Great Grandmother, and mother of John Henry McAllister was born in Ireland July 2 1838.  I have found little of her in the records, but am reasonably certain of her name.  The evidence comes from James McAllister's and Margaret Todd's marriage record, and records of county Down in northern Ireland showing them as parents of Samuel McAllister who matches John's brother Samuel's profile.  Additional evidence comes from a will probate summary showing Margaret Todd as James McAllister's (of Banbridge) widow.   I also have an un-cited report from the internet which state the two lived in Moy, Tyrone Co. until 1878 when they moved to Banbridge where John Henry visited in 1921.  I have found several Margaret Todds in the area, but am unable to confirm which Margaret Todd is THE correct one.

She appears to have passed away about 1903 in Ireland.  Three of her children emigrated to America, John Henry, Samuel, and James.  The other son William stayed in Ireland. Her daughters, Elizabeth, Mary, and Esther I believe stayed in Ireland but am not sure.

Because I am not yet certain of Margaret's origins or family, I will not try to continue that genealogical line.  I'll keep looking.

James Mcallister

James Mcallister was born in Glaskermore, Co. Down, in Northern Ireland in 1824.  In the early 1800's neither Ireland nor Northern Ireland existed as separate countries.  The "Kingdom of Ireland" and the "Kingdom of Great Britain" had been merged into the "United Kingdom" on January 1, 1801 under the "Union Act".  The counties in and around present day Northern Ireland were known as Ulster.  County Down in on the eastern side of  Northern Ireland and includes parts of Belfast.

James lived through the Great Famine of the 1840's when One Million people died and another million emigrated, primarily to America, Canada, and Australia.  He stuck it out in Ireland.

James lived on farms in Moy, Co. Tyrone around 1860, and moved to BanBridge, Co. Down around 1878.  He married Margaret Todd in 1859 and they raised several children including John Henry (b. Jan 21, 1860) who emigrated to San Francisco in 1881 then Spokane, Washington, James (b. Oct 18, 1876) who emigrated to the United States (he lived and worked with John Henry in Spokane from 1897-1902), Samuel James (b. Jul 9, 1871) who also lived with John Henry in Spokane in 1893, William (b. 1862) who stayed in Ireland, Mary Jane (b. Dec 16, 1866), and Esther (b. May 13, 1869).  They also had another son, Samuel, who was born in 1864 and died two years later.

I have seen a statement from a distant relative of James that he was a devout Presbyterian.  I have no way of corroborating this statement but it makes sence because the Mcallisters likely originated in Scotland, as did a large number of Ulster residents.  Presbyterianism primarily originated in Scotland.  The photo above is of the First Presbyterian Church of Banbridge and would likely be where James and Margaret (and the children) worshiped.

James died sometime before 1921.

Here is the evidence:

• John Henry reports his father's name to be James Mcallister (deceased) on his passport application in 1921.
• John lived with two brothers in Spokane, James and Samuel, who have birth records showing their father to be James and mother to be Margaret (Todd).
• A land record from county Down states Samuel is the son of James and Margaret (Todd)
• The marriage record for James and Margaret in registered in 1859 in Banbridge.
• John Henry and his Daughter, Dora, traveled to Ireland specifically reporting they were going to visit relatives in Banbridge.

Relationship Key:

Phyllis Allen ---> Jeanie Mcallster ---> John Henry Mcallister --->James and Margaret Mcallister