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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Fife => Topic started by: Aussie33 on Friday 04 October 13 01:00 BST (UK)
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Can anyone help me? Trying to find a record of Alexander Balfour ,whose first known child was born c 1805, so he was born probably some time before 1784. He was a farmer and a jail warder.
Alexander’s daughters child said that he was a cousin to Arthur James Balfour, once a Prime Minister of England.
From what I can gather; Arthur James Balfour b 1848 > James Maitland Balfour b 1820 > James Balfour Esq b 1785 (married Lady Eleanor Maitland in 1815) > John Balfour b 1738 (married Ellen Gordon)
They are a well known family. Does anyone know if there is a Balfour family history book which may record the lesser known descendants from this family lineage?
I have not found Alexander in the Scottish census & may have been in Ireland .His oldest daughter married 1825 in Galway,Ireland.
Thanks for any help
Kerri
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a Prime Minister of England.
Whit?
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Yes, Arthur James Balfour (1848-1930): British statesman and Conservative prime minister. He served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from July 1902 to December 1905.
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He didnae bother with the Scots then? ;)
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Arthur Balfour was born at Whittingehame, East Lothian, Scotland, the eldest son of James Maitland Balfour (1820–1856) and Lady Blanche Gascoyne-Cecil (1825-1872). His father was a Scottish MP
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Balfour
ev
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a Prime Minister of England.
Yes… the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom…
And you cannae see a difference?
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Hi Kerri,
Someone has info on Rootsweb about the family tree of Arthur James Balfour. From what I've quickly read online it looks like he was from a fairly privileged family for several generations with the male title Baronet of Balbirnie carrying down the line.
Do you know where Alexander Balfour married? How do you know he was a farmer and jail warden?
I take it you have his children's names and where they were born.
Looby :)
P.S.Don't worry about making an error and calling Balfour The Prime Minister of England instead of The United Kingdom ;). It's an easy mistake to make - you won't be the first or the last to get that muddled.
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Hi Looby
I thought I may have had some help on this forum. The reason I said” Prime Minister of England” is because that is what is written in the old newspaper clipping regarding the “cousin” relationship of Alexander’s daughters son and Arthur James Balfour.
It was the marriage records of Alexander’s children regarding his occupation of farmer/yeoman, then later on Jail Warder.
I have not been able to find who Alexander married & where his children were born. I had hoped that the newspaper clipping maybe of some help to gain more information on the family.
Kerri
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Hi Kerri,
That's interesting that you have a newspaper clipping of Alexander's descendant claiming a connection with Arthur Balfour. Was that in British/Irish press?
Can you give us Alexander's childrens names and approx. date of births if you have that information? At the moment it seems you have established the family in Ireland but not Scotland , am I correct? :)
Don't know of a book about Balfour family history I'm afraid, but maybe some other "helpful" Rootschatter will be able to point you in the right direction.
Good luck with your search,
Looby :)
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Susan born c 1805 (married Francis Feltus), Alexander b c 1807 (married Margaret Hancock); Jane Feltus 1813 (married James Feltus) ,William 1820 Galway,Ire & possibly Henry.
I don’t need more information on the Feltus side. . Some on the internet is incorrect.
And I have followed Alexander (jnr) side
The newspaper clipping was Australian newspaper.
"established the family in Ireland but not Scotland , am I correct?"-yes-then some went to Australia-have this information.
At least one of Susan & Francis grandchild was born in Glasgow. The newspaper clipping is the only clue to finding more information backwards on the Balfour side.
Kerri
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What year is the newspaper clipping?
So did Alexander Balfour born c. 1805 come to oz?
Where did this Alexander marry?
Am just trying to put pieces together and work out a search line of attack
Cocksie
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Ok
Have found Alexander's marriage to Margaret Hancock 1845 Galway. HIS father is listed as Alexander Balfour, a yeoman
So we seem to have a Galway connection going on here. ..... But much later than I expected. Alex the younger is an in married bachelor.
Cocksie
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Newspaper clipping 1906. Alexander Balfour b c 1807 IRE married Margaret Hancock in St Nicholas,Galway,Co Galway,IRE 1845 -his sister Susan Feltus was a witness to marriage.
Living in Liverpool in 1861 & 1871 census.Mistranscribed as BELFORT in 1871 census. Same family as Alexander in both 1861 & 1871 census say he was Blind.
Have my tree on Ancestry as BETTS
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Newspaper clipping 1906 in oz? What newspaper?
I can see susan marrying the feltus chap in 1825 in Galway so we have a Galway connection from at least 1825-1845
No Alexander balfours turning up in griffiths valuation as yet .... Anywhere
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The Tumut Advocate and Farmers & Settlers' Adviser (NSW ) Tuesday 6 March 1906 p 2
Wedding Bells
FELTUS—LOWTHER.
On the 3rd instant, at Cootamundra, a quiet but pretty wedding was celebrated, the Rev. Canon Betts performing the nuptial ceremony. The contracting parties being Miss Lizzie Lowther, the youngest daughter of the late Robert Lowther, of Billipaloola, and Bombowlee Creek (whose brother was Hugh Cecil Lowther, Earl of Lons- dale, England), with Mr. A. B. Feltus, of Illabo, a cousin of the honorable A. J. Balfour, late Prime Minister of England. The bride was tastefully attired in grey silk voile, trimmed with ribbons and chiffon with hat en suite. The bride, before leaving Tumut, received a lot of costly and valuable presents and a number awaited her on her arrival at her own home in Illabo. After the marriage ceremony was over the happy couple left by train for Sydney and Tasmania where the honeymoon is to be spent. We wish them our warmest con- gratulations and every happiness
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Have been stumbling around cyberspace....
I can see your dilemma/quandary
Alexander Balfour the elder is truly mysterious. No sign or clues in Ireland prior to his eldest daughter's marriage 1825 Galway.
So I moved to your original posted question regarding ancestry of Arthur Balfour, pm. No doubt you have got to this point
http://www.thepeerage.com/p20151.htm#i201504
Being great grandfather of Arthur .... And are eyeing off the unnamed elder son as a possible Alexander Balfour .....therefore making the "cousin" connection (albeit a very very distant cousin). Seems so me this is the only possible link ... And tenuous. All other Balfour descendants from John and Ellen seem to be very well accounted for, either prominently political or academic.
Next place to search might be scotlandspeople, looking for Balfour births, parents john and Ellen, b. abt 1770-1785, possibly in fife area. And see if unnamed son comes up
Cocksie
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Ancestry of Arthur and his family, according to burkes peerage
http://archive.org/stream/genealogicalhera01byuburk#page/70/mode/2up
Goes way back and sideways
No alexanders that I can see. Plus gives john's sons as Robert and James
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Hi,
That newspaper clipping is very intriguing Kerri.
I looked at the bride Lizzie Lowther whose father Robert Lowther is reported to be the brother of Henry Cecil Lowther 5th Earl of Lonsdale ( apparently he donated the original Lonsdale Belt boxing prize) :D.
According to Wiki*** (which is not always to be believed :o) Hugh Cecil Lowther had 3 brothers and 2 sisters.
His brothers were St.George Henry Lowther 4th Earl of Lonsdale 1885 -1882
Hon. Charles Edwin Lowther 1859-1888
Lancelot Edward Lowther 6th Earl of Lonsdale 1867-1953
There is no mention of a Robert. Unless Charles Edwin used the name Robert?! Henry Cecil Lowther succeeded his older brother to the title and when he too died childless the title moved to his younger brother Lancelot.
Do you think the young couple's families were being slightly economical with the truth or had the press jumped to conclusions?? It makes me wonder if there are connections :-\
Looby :)
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Sorry I forgot to give a link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Lowther,_3rd_Earl_of_Lonsdale :-[
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Thankyou for your help.
Alexander Balfour Feltus born 1859 (groom in clipping) ,son of James & Jane Feltus b c 1815 (nee Balfour).
Alexander Balfour was born probably sometime before 1784,so if he was the son of John & Ellen Balfour, then it would not be too distant a kinship.
I had considered that maybe AB Feltus was telling porkies to impress his bride. Maybe they both were telling lies but this is my only clue to Alexander's ancestry. Trying to follow up every little clue I find.
Off to look at the website that I hadn't found on my earlier google searches
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Yes, it could be for some that for some reason Alexander Feltus and Lizzie Lowther beefed up their family connections to impress their neighbours and acquaintances.
What's strange is that both men were still very much alive (Balfour had been Prime Minister just 3 months earlier) and could contradict the claims but then again it was only a marriage notice in a local Australia newspaper. Little did they know that over 100 years later the internet would reveal their embellishment ;D ;D
Good luck with the rest of you research and I hope you find Alexander Balfour's beginnings no matter where or to whom!
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arthur balfour was responsable for the creation of the state of isreal
he was also related to the balfours of pilrig who descended from alexander balfour of inchrye
from about 1450
when he retired to the lords, he took the title of baron of inchrye
the old steading at inchrye is up for sale :)