Alexander Ralston of Newtown, Monkton & Prestwick

[maryf]

I am searching for information about my ggggggrandfather, Alexander Ralston, sailor of Newtown, Ayrshire. Through Scotland's People I have found the images of the christening records for six children: Helen 1757, Mary 1759, Susanna 1761, Robert 1763, Elizabeth 1766, Agnes 1768, all in the Parish of Monkton and Prestwick. Alexander Ralston, sailor on (sometime in) Newtown is recorded as the father. Some are recorded as lawfull", others just as daughter or son, but there is no mother mentioned in any of the six records.
I have been unable to find any other records for an Alexander Ralston of this period in this area.
Any suggestions as to where I might go from here - to find out more about Alexander, and his wife - would be welcomed.
Thanks in anticipation,
Maryf
New Zealand

[LesleyB]

Hi MaryF
...and welcome to Talking Scot

Have you searched for a marriage for Alexander Ralston maybe possibly in the same area as the births and a year or two before?

There are a three mentions on IGI of a possible candidate, but they are all submissions (and seems odd there is no child called Christian/Christina if this is the case:
ALEXANDER RALSTON
Spouse: CHRISTIAN FREEBAIRN
Marriage: 22 JUN 1755 Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland

A parent search for the above couple seems to bring up a few more kids: e.g. Margaret 1759, James 1766, Christian 1768 and one or two more, but as the dates appear to overlap with the ones given above, maybe this is not your couple.

- have you have already traced this Alexander and he is not your man?

Best wishes
Lesley

[Currie]

Hello Mary,

For the Parish of Monkton and Prestwick the mother’s name wasn’t recorded till 1769. (page 89)
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=xic ... CCgQ6AEwAA

You just missed out, unless there’s another child lurking somewhere.

Looks like Monkton and Prestwick have no marriage records before 1817. They were lost it seems.

Alan

[maryf]

Thank you both Alan & Lesley,
I have searched for a later child but without any luck. Thanks for the link to the Details of the Parish registers.
I had found the other Alexander Ralston, Lesley, but the children didn't match, nor did the area.
Thanks for the suggestions,
Regards
Mary