see the Alexander family history in the Stanhope History reference files.

The following is an account, taken from The Guardian, February 20, 1899, of the tragic death of Mrs. Robert P. Alexander, the former Christine Vroom of Bear River, N .8. One of the lady missionaries who lived near the Alexander home in Hirosaki, Japan tells the story: —

About 12.30 am. on January 19th we were awakened by a fire alarm I was dressed just in time to receive poor little George, Mrs. Alexander’s five year old son, from one of the firemen His face and hands were solid blisters. Soon Mr. Alexander appeared in a perfect frenzy of grief and said Mrs. Alexander did not escape. He was badly 'burned about his face and hands; the latter were bleeding and so tightly locked together we could hardly unclasp them, when the doctor came to dress the wounds. Their home lay in ashes and nothing was saved two policemen found in the ruins charred remains which they supposed was the body of the lost one. As soon as he could talk Mr. A. told me they were awakened by the cook’s wife, and ran from their bedroom for their little son .. they thought there would be time to get on some clothing, but in a moment the paper ceiling of the nursery was all aflame (they have no plastered houses in Japan). Mr. A. took George out of the window onto the roof of the porch and when he returned for Mrs. A. the room was in flames and no voice answered him the flames drove him back, and he fell from the upper window to the ground, and then climbed up the pillar of the porch for George I don’t know how he got him down. Mr. A. cut his hands severely on a broken window his hair, beard and face are burned to a blister the skin on his left hand from the wrist peeled off like a glove George’s face is even worse than Mr. A’s. Both now have some fever it is likely that they will be brought to Tokyo just as soon as they can be moved. Everyone has been exceedingly kind, throngs of people calling to offer sympathy, and the newspapers of the town have started a popular subscription it is difficult to express how we have been affected by the good-will and helpfulness shown on every hand from the highest official to the lowliest there has been nothing but sympathy and kindness. Mrs. Alexander was buried on a high ridge near a temple overlooking the countryside.

AULD J

Robert Auld and his wife Jean Fissett with children John, Jean, and possibly William, came to Stanhope on the Falmouth in 1770.

Robert was a blacksmith from Ayrshire and was born probably between 1730 and 1735 (he was over 60 in the 1798 census). The date

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