Patrick McDowall / McDouall of Freuch / Freugh,
co. Wigtownshire, Scotland, c.1680
Donald, I am not sure of the "family historians" whose contacts you require, perhaps you may refresh me ?

I notice that my message posted 28 Jan 2012 was edited on 31 Jan 2012 and will check the WIG-L to see what, if any, has been deleted.

Below is some information on the family of Hattridge (or Haltridge), wife of Patrick McDowall of Freuch, co Wigtownshire, Scotland, who succeeded 1680.
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"Belfast Merchant Families in the Seventeenth Century," Jean Agnew

Appendix B entry for William HALTRIDGE,
merchant of Dromore, p. 255-56
CAREER: born c. 1642; issued tokens at Dromore in 1668; made substantial loans to gentry in 1680s; attainted 1689;
died 18 April 1694 aged 52, buried inside Dromore cathedral;
will dated 4 Nov. 1691, proved 11 June 1694.
(Sources: copy deed, 3 May 1692 (N.A. , Lodge's records of the rolls, ix, pp 9-10); records of forfeiture commissioners (PRONI, D1854/2/18, ff 125-6); Macartney to William Sloane, 19 Aug. 1706 (Macartney 3, pp 346-8); King, "State of the protestants," p.214; abstract of will (N.A., Crossle abstracts, Haltridge, and PRONI, D1759/3B/1, p.34)
PLACE OF ORIGIN: Scotland
RELIGION: presbyterian
PROPERTIES: estates in Scotland ( Wigtownshire ? ),
Counties Down and Armagh
(Sources: Copy conveyance, 2 Nov. 1681 (N.A., Lodge's records of the rolls, viii, p. 115, and PRONI T808/14939))
WIFE: Elizabeth Hamilton, daughter of Hugh Hamilton of Lisbane, died 8 Oct. 1707, buried in Dromore cathedral. (Source, George Hamilton, "House of Hamilton," (Edinburgh, 1933), p 994)
SON: John born c. 1670, T.C.D. 1687, M.P. for Killyleagh 1703-25, high sheriff of co. Down 1699, burgess of Belfast 1707, involved in expensive lawsuits for the recovery of his wife's dowry, died 4 Feb. 1725, buried 6 Feb. 1725; prerogative will dated 3 March 1721, proved 30 Dec. 1726. (Sources: Legal case papers (PRONI, Ellison-Macartney papers, D3649/4); "Lords' jn. Ire." ii, pp 395-6; Commons' jn. Ire., iv, pp 851-2; Agnew, "Funeral register ... Belfast," p. 30; copy will, 3 Mar. 1720/1 (N.A. prerogative will book 1726-28, ff 122-24).)
RELIGION: Church of Ireland
WIFE: (16 May 1699 at St Marie's, Dublin) Grace Sands;
she m. (2ndly Captain Russell,
and m. (3rdly Capt James Forrester of Dublin, and d.1728.
WIFE's HALF-BROTHER; William Hawkins 1670-1736, Ulster king of Arms.
EXECUTOR: Isaac MacCartney
witnesses to will: Nicholas Thetford, Dr. George Cromie
(end of section re. son John)

DAUGHTERS:
Margaret (dowry 1,000 pounds)
married John McDowell of Wigtownshire, Scotland.
(Source: McKerlie, "Galloway," i, p. 67) ;
Anne (dowry 750 pounds) = Isaac Macartney.

BROTHERS:
Alexander, merchant of Newry, co. Down, will proved 1680;
John, born Scotland, (Wigtownshire ?) M.A. Glasgow 1654,
presbyterian minister at Ballycarry, co Antrim, from 1672, died 1697;
Matthew, M.A. Glasgow 1669,
presbyterian minister at Ahoghill, co Antrim, from 1676,
died 20 Oct. 1705.
(Sources: Macartney to William Cairnes, 22 Oct. 1705 (Macartney 3, p. 217);
Haltridge will abstracts and notes ( N.A., Crossle abstracts, Haltridge).

executors: wife and son
overseers: Nicholas Atcheson of Market Hill, Matthew Studdert and Alexander Williamson
witnesses: Hugh Campbell and Robert Murdoch
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Other mentions:
p. 28 in a discussion of kinship links:
"Black George Macartney's son Isaac
married the daughter of William Haltridge,
a wealthy Dromore, co Down, Ireland, merchant, and was gradually drawn into the financial affairs of her brother."
footnote regarding Isaac Macartney's land acquisitions: "Macartney later acquired property in Counties Down and Armagh which had been bought by his father-in-law, William Haltridge of Dromore."

p. 167-68 "(Isaac) Macartney had difficulty in financial dealings with his brother-in-law, John Haltridge.
Haltridge had inherited a considerable fortune and property from his father, the merchant William Haltridge of Dromore, but had unfortunately failed to inherit any of the latter's financial acumen."