Master Alexander Reid of Barra

MASTER ALEXANDER REID OF BARRA

Master of Arts; Advocate in Aberdeen; Honorary Burgess of Aberdeen

Confused and Invented Genealogy: Disputed Ancestry

At least two pedigrees published by MyHeritage identify Alexander Reid, here treated, the husband of Isobel Davidson, as the son of William Niniane Reid of Barra and his wife Jean or Jonet Hamilton. He is said to have been born on 16 December 1602, at Prestonpans in East Lothian, and to have been killed at the Battle of Justice Mills on 13 September 1644. This is quite wrong. MyHeritage

While it is true that Niniane Reid, Resident of Eastpans in Prestonpans and his wife Jonet Hamilton did have a son named Alexander Reid whose baptism was registered there on 18 December 1600, it should be noted that this child is not the same person as Master Alexander Reid of Barra, here treated, who was the son of Master William Reid of Barra, Notary Public and Advocate in Aberdeen. History of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen: 301

The pedigrees published by MyHeritage, above mentioned, may have their roots in one that was constructed for William "Niniane" Reid and published on the WikiTree website. The subject of this pedigree never actually existed. He was created by conflating the record evidence for Ninian Reid, a resident of Prestonpans in East Lothian, with the record evidence for Master William Reid of Barra, Advocate in Aberdeen, a man who has no known connection with East Lothian. This pedigree also misidentifies Master William Reid of Barra as William Reid, secundus the second son of Henry Reid, Merchant Burgess of Dunfermline a child who died in infancy, before 16 March 1585. WikiTree

The Question of Identity

Alexander Reid, here treated, is the son of William Reid, Advocate in Aberdeen. History of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen: 301

Death

Alexander Reid, here treated, was: "killed in the conflict at the Crabstone, by the army under Montrose,13th September, 1644". History of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen: 301

Biographical Summary

Alexander Reid. 1624. Son of William Reid, advocate (1589). Alumnus, Mar. Coll., 1612 ; M.A., King's Coll., 161 5. App. to his father. Honorary burgess of Aberdeen, admitted 22nd April, 1624. Proprietor of Birkenbrowell. Joint proprietor of Dilspro (now known as Grandholm), Old Machar, and mill and salmon fishings. Married the dau. of a burgess, with issue : — 1. James, advocate (1650). 2. Alexander, guild burgess, admitted 7th September, 1659. 3. Robert, advocate (1663). Killed in the conflict at the Crabstone, by the army under Montrose, 13th September, 1644.
History of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen: 301

Genealogy

1. History of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen. Edited by John Alexander Henderson, FSA. Scot. (Aberdeen University Press, 1912), 504 pp. including index
2. Stirnet: Reid 1