The records of the First Lisburn Presbyterian Church list the birth of Margaret, daughter of Robert Allister and his wife Elizabeth, resident in Lisburn, on 17^th July 1831. This date accords precisely with the ages given for her in the 1871, 1881 and 1891 census returns, which consistently indicate that she was born in Ireland c. 1831.

Margaret Allister married John McIntyre in Belfast on 25^th November 1852. At this time she was a dressmaker, spinster, aged 20. (It is suggested that, on the basis of the above, she was actually 21.) Her residence at the time of the marriage was entered as Lisburn. She signed the register in an indistinct and shaky hand.

Her son John Livingston McIntyre’s 1856 birth certificate renders her maiden name as ‘Allister’ as did his death certificate in 1918. It was presented in the same form on the 1872 and 1873 death certificates of her sons, Donald and Robert respectively. An exception however is presented by the certificate for John’s second marriage in 1912, which renders it as ‘Alister’.

One detail emerging from the various birth and death certificates pertaining to her children is that it was generally Margaret who acted as the informant. Surviving specimens of her signature in this connection indicate that she could write her name only with difficulty, and on occasion she would give up the attempt all together and sign with an X mark.

At the time of the 1881 census, Margaret was living in premises having one room with one or more windows at 34, William Street, Anderston. The full entry reads:

Margaret McIntyre, head, widow, 49, dressmaker, born Ireland Lizzie, daur, 14, pegger William, son, 12, scholar Euphimia (sic), daur, 8

All three children had their place of birth entered simply as ‘Scotland’. Euphemia’s precise status requires to be accounted for, particularly since her age is given as 17 in the 1891 census, indicating a birth year of 1873 at the earliest, over a year after her ostensible father’s death.

This same family unit was still intact in 1891 and resided at 23, (illegible) Street, Anderston, in premises having two rooms with one or more windows:

Margaret McIntyre, head, widow, 59, dressmaker, working on own account, born Ireland Elizabeth, Daughter, unmarried, 24, bookfolder, employed, born Lanarkshire, Glasgow William, Son, unmarried, 22, bookfinisher, employed, born Lanarkshire, Glasgow Euphemia, Daughter, unmarried, 17, Envelope Stamper, employed, born Lanarkshire, Glasgow

No record of Margaret’s death has as yet been located. She is unknown after 1891 and it is understood that she was dead by the time of her son John Livingston McIntyre’s second marriage in 1912.

Brothers and Sisters

Other children of Robert and Elizabeth Allister in Lisburn were Robert, born 31^st October 1826, and George, born 24^th Feb 1829.

It is surmised that it was this Robert Allister who was a witness to Margaret’s marriage to John McIntyre in 1852 and that he may have been the subject of the following report from the Banner of Ulster, 18^th October 1859:

THE LOCAL PENSIONERS.- The section of this fine, seasoned, and serviceable old force, belonging to the first district, have been called out for four days’ drill. Those resident in Belfast and its vicinity paraded and went through the accustomed evolutions during two days of last week. Yesterday, the men from the surrounding country paraded in the barrack square; and, on to-morrow and Thursday, the whole body, numbering about 500, will be under arms. Among the “decorated” men in the ranks yesterday was one who, though perhaps the youngest on the muster-roll, deserves mention for his gallantry under trying circumstances. This was Acting-Sergeant Robert Allister, now of Bridge Street, Lisburn, formerly a corporal of the 74th Highlanders. He served with that distinguished corps throughout the greater part of the Kaffir war, and received two bullet-wounds – one of them, in the neck, very severe. On the occasion when his Colonel (Fordyce) was killed by a shot from the enemy, he observed his comrade lying on the ground, in front, apparently in the face of a murderous fire, rushed forward and bore him to a place of safety. Although Allister only served about seven years, he has been rewarded with a pension of 1s 6d per day. Before he enlisted, he was a cloth-lapper, in the employment of one of the Messrs. Richardson’s firms.