Here's what I have so far:
Alexander P. McKay (he is my gr-gr-gr-grandfather). He was born 13 Jan 1819 in Scotland and died 26 Dec 1885 in Rhode Island, USA. His headstone states that he was 'a native of Renfrewshire Scotland'.
Buried with him is his wife Grace Nicholson (Little) McKay. She was born 18 Jun 1827 in Scotland and died 07 Feb 1894 in Warwick, RI, USA. They were married 20 Sep 1859 in Providence, RI, USA.
They had two daughters. Grace B. McKay (1862-1929) and Carrie H. McKay (1864-1878).
Some of the difficulty our family has had with the information we have collected over the years is that it appears that Grace is Alexander's second wife. We have several pieces of information (most importantly, an 1850 Census from Fitchburg, MA) that shows he was originally married to Margaret W. (no maiden name known) born circa 1823 in Scotland. Also, the fact that we have a marriage record for Grace and Alexander dated 1859....which is after his first four daughters were born....
The daughters of Grace and Alexander are:
Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Lindsay McKay (my gr-gr-grandmother) 1851-1917 (she married George Cullen Whipple and when widowed, she married George Wood).
Agnes Jane McKay (1855-1878)
Mary E. McKay (1858-1900)
I think I have found Margaret McKay's burial. If this is her, there is another daughter, Caroline McKay (1856-1857).
Other things I have pieced together about Alexander's family is his brother Robert McKay. He was born 23 Sep 1827 in Scotland and died 01 Jan 1914 in Cranston, RI, USA. He is also listed as 'A native of Renfrewshire Scotland'. In the censuses over the years, I've spotted him living with one of Alexander's daughters (and she listed him as uncle). In another case, my gr-grandfather moves...and Alexander shows up living at my gr-grandfather's old address! Finally, he is buried in the same plot with Alexander and his family, so it would seem to reason that he would appear to be Alexander's brother based on evidence. Robert may have had a wife named Ellen at one point. I don't have definitive evidence of that. 1905 RI Census and 1910 US Census state that Robert McKay arrived in the US circa 1844. I don't know if the whole family came over at that time, but it would seem likely since Robert would have been about 17 at that point. I haven't been able (so far) to find Robert on any census prior to 1905. Still working on him.
That leaves their parents. There is a Letita McKay buried in the McKay plot with Alexander and Robert. She was born about 1792 and was 'of Renfrewshire Scotland'. She died 22 Jan 1879 in Rhode Island, USA. Her headstone states that she was the wife of Alexander McKay and that her headstone was 'erected by her son R. M.'
Margaret and Alexander could have gotten married in Scotland prior to their arrival in the US. Alexander would have been 24 and Margaret would have been about 25 based on the date of Robert's arrival in the US. I haven't had problems finding Alexander on the Census. 1850 Fitchburg MA, 1860 Warwick, RI, 1870 Providence, RI, 1880/1885 Warwick, RI. but before then, I'm just not sure.
Thanks a lot for any and all help!
![[TS_welcome]](./images/smilies/TS_welcome.png "TS welcome")