Alexander MATHESON

1767 - 1865  (98 years)

• Name	Alexander MATHESON
  	Correct? : The Semmler notes have the father as John - but this is not accepted as true on this website.
  Born	1767	Loch Ailsh, Scotland, UK
  	Birth date: Alexander Matheson's birthdate appears to be 1767 or 1768. This is based on his army discharge papers which have him 26 years old when he enlisted in 21st March 1793. This is consistent with other sections of his discharge papers which have him as 46 years old after 20 years and 194 days of service which indicate that he was 25 or 26 years old when he enlisted in 1793. This birthdate has him fathering his youngest child (John) when he was 76 years old - which is possible, but interesting. Birth place : The army discharge papers have him as born in "the Parish of Lochalsh in or near the town of Dingwall within the county of Ross". This needs further clarification as Dingwall is a long way from Lochailsh.
  Gender	Male
  Military service	The calculations on his discharge papers state that he was a corporal for 1 year and 255 days and a sergeant for 18 years and 304 days. This is a total of 20 years and 194 days however there is an allowance that he served in the East Indies for 7 years and 182 days and this time is added to the actual time served so that the theoretical time of service was 28 years and 11 days. This double counting was a way of calculating the rate of pension to recognising the extra difficulties of serving in the East Indies.
  Occupation	Occupations : Alexander was in the army for 20 years - Sergeant in 78th Foot Regiment 'Ross-shire Buffs' from 1793 to 1813. He was designated as a labourer when he was discharged from the army at 46 years old. He was a Chelsea pensioner.
  Residence	Residences : Alexander was born in Dingwell/Lochalsh/Rosshire. He spent many years in the East Indies on military service. He was in Inverness while married to Margaret and in Sutherland when married to Betsy.
  Died	6 Feb 1865	Bonar, Scotland
  Person ID	I149	Alexander & Jessie
  Last Modified	13 Dec 2020

  
  

  Father	Donald MATHESON
  Mother	Martha ROBERTSON
  Family ID	F52	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Margaret FRASER,   b. 19 Aug 1791,   d. 1829  (Age 37 years)
  Married	14 Feb 1812	Inverness, Scotland
  Children	+ 1. Catherine MATHESON,   b. 17 Apr 1812, Inverness ,   d. 13 Jun 1896, Strathalbyn, SA, Australia  (Age 84 years) + 2. Mary MATHESON,   b. 2 May 1815, Ardersier, Scotland, UK   3. May MATHESON,   b. 10 Jan 1817, Ardersier, Scotland, UK   4. Margaret Fraser MATHESON,   b. 8 Jan 1819,   d. 2 Jun 1902  (Age 83 years)   5. Alexandrina MATHESON,   b. 18 May 1821, Inverness, Scotland, UK ,   d. 21 Jan 1892, Kensington, Norwood, SA, Australia  (Age 70 years) + 6. Jessie MacKinzie Kennady MATHESON,   b. 17 Apr 1823, Inverness, Scotland, UK ,   d. 12 Jun 1866, Lake Plains, SA, Australia  (Age 43 years)   7. Jemima MATHESON,   b. 1826, Inverness, Scotland, UK + 8. Alexander MATHESON,   b. 1829
  Last Modified	29 Apr 2018
  Family ID	F48	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Betsy MURRAY,   b. 1799,   d. 6 Jan 1875, Fearn Farm, Scotland  (Age 76 years)
  Children	1. Margaret UNKNOWN,   b. 1828  [Stepchild]  [Birth] + 2. Hugh Innis Cameron MATHESON,   b. 12 Aug 1831,   d. 28 May 1915, 'Clashmore',Strathalbyn, SA, Australia  (Age 83 years) + 3. George MATHESON,   b. 5 Dec 1833   4. Catherine Ann MATHESON,   b. 30 Dec 1835   5. Isabel Denoon MATHESON,   b. 12 Mar 1838   6. Jane MATHESON,   b. 15 Jul 1840   7. John MATHESON,   b. 1844
  Last Modified	25 Mar 2014
  Family ID	F50	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Documents » Slide Show		Alexander Matheson - discharge papers from 78th Foot in 1813 His Majesty's 2nd Battalion 78th Regiment of Foot .... These are to certify, that Serjeant [sic] Alexander Matheson in Captain Charles Robertson's Company .... born in the Parish of Lochailsh in or near the town of Dingwall in the County of Ross was enlisted at the age of twenty six years and had served in the said regiment for the space of twenty years and 194 days ...... but in consequence of disability from long disease and long service in a hot climate is rendered unfit for further service, and is hereby discharged ..... he is forty six years of age is five feet five & half inches in height, brown hair, grey eyes, swarthy complexion, by trade labourer..... Statement of Service: In 78th Regiment from 21st March 1793, serjeant for 18 years & 304 days, corporal for 1 year & 255 days. Total service for 28 years & 11 days. In East Indies for half period of 7 years & 182 days. Dated 20th day of Sept 1813. [The notes on the last page show a credit of 15 years EI (in the East Indies) for 7 and half years actually served. And there are some calculations which are not understood but might indicate the rate of the pension of two pounds and one & half shillings???]
  		Alexander Matheson died on 6th Feb 1865 in Bonar Alexander Matheson, Chelsea Pensioner, married to Betsy Murray died at midnight on 6th February 1865 in Polnahard??? Pubussie??? aged 90 years [c1775]. His parents were Donald Matheson (deceased) and Martha Robertson (deceased). Cause of death was infirmities of old age for 1 day. There was no medical attendant. The informant was Robert Murray, Alexander's brother-in-law, who was present. Statutory deaths 046/010007, District of Bonar in the County of Sutherland
  		Alexander Matheson & Margaret Fraser - marriage on 14th Feb 1812 in Inverness Marriage of Alexander Matheson Serjeant [sic] 78th Regt & Margaret Fraser on 14 February 1812 in Inverness. OPR marriages 098/00800269 Inverness

  
  

  Stories

  1.20 - Alexander (senior) MATHESON & Margaret, nee FRASER Alexander was born in Ross Shire in 1767 and served in the 78th Regiment for 20 years before marrying Margaret. They lived near Inverness and one of their children was Jessie in 1823 - she married Alexander Gordon. Margaret died in 1829 and Alexander married Betsy Murray and they lived near Loch Alsh. Alexander had 14 children from both marriages, eight of whom migrated to Australia. (Biography by Don Gordon, updated June 2019)