Alexander McFarlane was born ca 1834 in Scotland (Glasgow or Leith). Before the age of six, he was living in Hull with the family of John COOPER, a stay maker. In 1851, he was living with the family of David WATT, engine fitter. Alexander was also an engine fitter by then. By 1861 he was living in Newcastle upon Tyne with his fiancee, Elizabeth BURN (b 1830 Spittal, Berwick upon Tweed, daughter of Robert & Mary BURN). They were married in Newcastle in 1865. Apparently there were no children. In 1871, Alexander was an engine fiiter at the works at South Hylton in Durham. Elizabeth died in the Sunderland district in 1872, aged 41 years. Four years later, in Newcastle, Alexander married his late wife's cousin, Phillis Lee JOHNSON (b 1842 Berwick, daughter of Margaret JOHNSON nee BURN, sister of Robert). In 1881, Alexander was the millwright at the works at Elswick, Northumberland. He and Phillis had two daughters, Margaret born ca 1882 in Newcastle, and Isabella born ca 1885 at Dunston in Durham. In 1891, Alexander was a rivet manufacturer at Atlas Villas, Railway Terrace, Dunston/Whickham. He was still there in March 1901, living next door to his partner, Whitfield. He died later in 1901 in the Gateshead district. Phillis died in Newcastle in 1917. [Descendants please make contact with me - mailto:peterpjw@ozemail.com.au.]

Further research has confirmed that Alexander McFarlane was born in Leith (not Glasgow). He was son of engineer Duncan McFarlane. The Alexander McFarlane living with John COOPER in 1841 and David WATT in 1851 was a different person. On census records for those two years, "our" Alexander was living with his parents in Leith. The family's domestic servant in 1841 was Phillis BURN. Phillis's younger sister Elizabeth later married Alexander McFARLANE. The chronology and details from 1861 onwards in my previous comment still stand.