JOHN McAlinden was born in Portadown County Armagh, Ireland in 1838. His father, Felix McAlinden, was a farmer in Northern Ireland and his mother's name was Catherine (Kate) Hayburn.
Mary Ann Lappin was born in Ireland in 1841. Her father, Joseph Lappin, was a labourer.
The couple married at Portadown on June 4, 1858, with the Father O'Toole of Portadown officiating.
It is not known when they left Ireland, however on January 14, 1859 they sailed from Plymouth on the ship Hamilla Mitchell bound for Perth, arriving at Fremantle on April 6, 1859.
The ship's passenger list shows they were both Roman Catholics. John was a labourer, aged 21, and Mary was 18. This voyage proved to be the last for the Hamilla Mitchell, as the vessel was wrecked on the return trip to England.
John joined the police force on October 31, 1859.
During his career as a police constable he was stationed in Perth and Fremantle, during which time the couple's first child, Catherine, was born on April 12, 1860.
He was later transferred to Bunbury, where on May 21, 1862 Mary gave birth to twins, Cecilia and Mary Ann, followed by Francis on June 25, 1864.
Their fifth child, Henry, was born on June 4, 1866 either in Bunbury or Minninup, and the next four children were all born in Minninup - Felix Hugh on July 6, 1868, Thomas John on November 14, 1870, Frederick Patrick on March 23, 1873 and Alice Mary on May 26, 1875.
After spending several years in Bunbury, John was sent to Jayes and Minninup as the first police constable to reside in those districts. He was later promoted to sergeant.
At Jayes the police station was situated on a hill at the home of the Le Steeres.
Summonses and any special documents had to be sent here from other parts as Mr James Le Steere was the Justice of the Peace. He would then forward them to Bunbury.
John eventually resigned from the police force on January 18, 1877 and took over the licensee of the Commercial Hotel in Busselton where three more children were born - Joseph James on August 15, 1877, Michael on November 20, 1879 and Louis Alexander on November 26 1880.
In March 1872 John paid WP Clifton about 23 pounds for 50 acres (20 hectares) of land at Wellington Loc. 317, now 4035.
The crown grant for this land, which was situated on the south branch of the Collie River, 21 miles (34 kilolmetres) from Collie and 22 miles (35km) from Boyup Brook, was issued to him on March 31, 1876.
After a few years in Busselton he decided to settle on the Collie River property, where he built a mud hut cottage with a shingle roof and went in for dairying and fruit growing.
A child Edward Nicholas was born here on April 12, 1883.
The district now known as McAlinden was named after John McAlinden.
John and Mary had 13 children. Two died as infants, 10 married and one went to war from 1914 to 1918. He was wounded and returned to Australia, but did not marry.
About 1890, due to domestic problems, Mary took their remaining family to Bridgetown where she resided until her death on June 17, 1915.
John was appointed Reserve Light Keeper on Jarman Island, near Point Samson, in June 1893.
Following this he was appointed a Gaol Warder at Roebourne in October 1894. He resigned in January 1899 to become a storekeeper in Roebourne, where he eventually died on September 21, 1900.
A plaque to commemorate Sergeant John McAlinden's service in the police force from October 31, 1859 to January 1877 was organised by several of his grandsons and is presently on display at the Police Public Relations office, Perth.
