We now know the father of our William

McBrayer!!!!! New information 

received has given us the missing link!

Here's the story!

Many years ago while I was searching some old microfiche files at the LDS Stake in Oklahoma City I uncovered some baptismal records from the Killyleagh Presbyterian Church in Killyleagh, County Down, North Ireland. These, however, only dated back to 24 July 1706 when a child of Alexr M'Brears, Elenor, was baptized. There was nothing prior to that date - no names, nothing. There were several other later dated records as well for Alexander, but nothing substantial or connectible. I had also uncovered a marriage record for Alexander for the date of 21 Nov 1710 to Jane M'Mullen, but I assumed that, since this was a later date than the birth of our William, this was his first marriage and not related.

We now know Jane was his SECOND wife!

A recent email from Katherine Canfield, who has just returned from a research trip to Northern Ireland, reveals some new and exciting details about Alexander. He WAS married previously, but his wife was unnamed in the records.

Kathie discovered some earlier baptismal records for children of this Alexander that named two of his sons and one daughter, James, William, and Elenor (named above). James was baptized on 28 Apr 1701. William was baptized on 24 May 1704. Comparing these dates with what was discovered in research from records in America on the births of both William and James, we find the dates of birth and baptism are very close.

Another interesting clue uncovered by Kathie was some later baptismal records for additional children of this Alexander - by his second wife, Jane. Several children, including a Hugh McBrear, were baptized. Hugh's date was 13 Apr 1722. This would make Hugh a half-brother to our William McBrayer.

Another record uncovered by Kathie was a marriage for Hugh to Mary Woods on 20 Aug 1747, and an even later record for one of their children, Nathaneal McBrear, being baptized on 4 Apr 1754.

Skipping ahead we now look at the current records in the archives on a Nathaniel McBrayer (McBrear) (McBrier) in America. We know he migrated to America in about 1779 and settled in Pennsylvania near William and William's son, David - primarily in Westmoreland Co., PA. Nathaniel's birth has been previously recorded as about 1748 in Ireland - dates extracted from his tombstone.

Why would Nathaniel settle in PA near others of his family name unless there was a relationship? Now we know! Nathaniel was the half-nephew of our William McBrayer.

There are too many clues and facts that point to Alexander McBrear/M'Brear as the father of William, Hugh as his half-brother, and Nathaniel as a nephew, to be ignored. Too many close dates are recorded. Too much coincidence..... It is my contention, therefore, that Katherine Canfield, has provided us with the necessary clues to connect our McBrayer family in America to those of Killyleagh, County Down, Northern Ireland.

The family records and archives are, therefore, being updated to reflect this new information and will now show that Alexander was the father of William, James, and, possibly, David McBrayer.

I invite comments on this and ask anyone who has doubts of these newly uncovered facts or additional information to let me know. After 35 years of family research most of you know I don't add data without facts. And I feel the facts are there to confirm this. I'm pretty confident that we have at last uncovered the truth.

William McBrayer was born in Killyleagh, County Down, Ireland in about 1696 to 1702-3, the son of Alexander McBrear/M'Brear.

Thanks Kathie for your most valuable information and for sharing with us this new information. (See Kathie's full information on her special page under "Family Research of Others", including the emails describing her discovery.)

We now have two individuals who live in Ireland and who have agreed to help some on this research of Alexander and his family. Hopefully something can be located before long that will lead to connections further back - perhaps into Scotland. Our sincere thanks to those who have stepped forth and agreed to help the family with this research.