The John and Martha wedding seems a probable link
In Scottish and Celtic the first son usually had the fathers name, the first son was born of the first marriage of Alfred/William named William Alexander. The second Daughter was named after the Grandmother, Martha,
Alfred,s first daughter was named Georgina, I haven't been able to check what Martha's mother's name was but it would tie in if it was that, also the name William came up with my Grandfather and my Father Alfred Willam.
Having married in Liverpool, it seems likely that John came over from Northen Ireland But William/alfred says he was born in Edinburgh in the 1871 census but Liverpool in the 1881
I was an honorary member of the Scottish Tartans Association and the McElwains were a Sept (family under the protection of) of the Clan McBain/Bean who were also members of the Clan Chatton and the fought the English at Culloden one of whom slew 16 English before they killed him, there is a memorial to him on the battlefield, the clan lost all of their lands which were around Dorres on the east bank of Loch Ness.
The McElwains went south and many of them finished up along the Ayrshire coast in the 1600's
They disappeared from there in the 1700's and turned up in N.I.
If you google McBain Clan you will see the McElwains are listed as members of the Clan
The Clan Chief lives in Houston Texas
I went to the Inda office at British Library and found Alfred alias McDonald and Three of their children in the Regimental Chaplains files, I ran out of time before I found Joseph and my Grandfather William
I have written everything down in my Family History Book, I also have the History of the 109th Regiment for the time Alfred was in India
I live in Malton, North Yorkshire, if you are anywhere close any time get in touch on here and we can meet
Do you have the "Mash photos" ??
