My grandfather told me many stories before he died...which would explain why I cannot find them on any passenger lists---

One being that they were involved in a riot in Ireland in which a Protestant man was killed, and fled Ireland to avoid prosecution---

Another story he told me was that they were horse theives and they hopped on a cattle ship (now, whether a cattle ship is an actual passenger ship or a working ship, I don't know--as Irish immigrants were called steerage...so its draw your own conclusions).

Anyhow, James was 19 years of age and John was 20. The family says that they came on ship from County Antrim, and arrived at Parrsboro, Nova Scotia. They remained in Parrsboro for three years, John settled in the New Prospect area just outside town. James, after three years, moved to what is now Moncton, New Brunswick. According to census information in 1871, John was 49 years old.....his wife JoHannah Lewis was 36. They married on August 7, 1855.

A third brother, William Knox MacAleese (b. 1840 Coleraine, County Derry) emigrated from Coleraine, County Derry, Northern Ireland. I do have a family history from William Knox to about 1990 I think, but it is photocopied, and the dates of their emigration were unfortunately cut off from one of the copies.....a vital date and it was missing!!!

In William Knox MacAleese's family tree, it states that he is the brother of John and James, and that their siblings and parents remained in Northern Ireland. Their parents are John MacAleese and Elizabeth Monohan. Their siblings who remained are:

1.   Charles b. 1839 married Jane McCafferty. They use the Scottish spelling of the name, McLees. They lived in Port Glascow, Scotland. Children are: Jean, Frank, Elizabeth, Charles, Malcolm, and Janet. That is all the info I have, no dates or anything.

2.   Mary MacAleese married a Robert Holley. Children are: William J., Margaret, Rebecca, Samuel, Sara, Mary Elizabeth, Martha, and Cassie.

3.   Rebecca MacAleese--no info except she married a ??? Mcafee and had three sons.

4.   Sarah--she married a ??? McNab and they had no children.

That's all I know.....

I have James's family tree up to the year 1990....

I started John's (who is my g-g-grandfather.)