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Research in Other Countries => United States of America => US Lookup Requests => Topic started by: Maia261 on Sunday 20 September 09 12:51 BST (UK)
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I am looking for help finding more information on James Paterson who, according to Moray Libindx, was the Father of my 2 X Great grandfather Alexander Smith or Paterson. This site also says that James died in 1924 in Vermont, U.S.A.
The only info I have is that James was a Mason. His parents according to Moray Libindx were James Paterson and Helen McRae. I have found an emigration for a James Paterson, Mason, aged 32 who arrived in America on 9 Aug 1869 on the ship Caledonia, this was found on the Castle Garden website.
I have found what would appear to be James on the 1870 U.S. census age 35 in Binghamton, Broome, New York with wife Anna who was born in Ireland.
I have also found them on the 1880 U.S. census in Binghamton, Broome, New York, James is aged 37. I have also found them on the 1900 U.S. census in Binghamton, Broome, New York, James is aged 62. These records were found on the Family Search website.
From the above info the children of this couple are:
James E Paterson born 1870 New York
William H Paterson born Dec 1872 New York
Anna M Paterson born May 1882 New York
The 1900 census shows that they had 4 children together, 3 of which are still living.
As a little more background regarding Alexander, he was born Alexander Smith on Aug 30 1865 in Darbreich, Rathven, Banff and his Birth Cert shows he is illegitimate and his Mother is Isabella Smith. By the 1871 census Alexander is using the surname Paterson. His Marriage Cert in 1885 shows his Father as James Paterson, Mason.
Any help at all or advice on how to find more information on James would be much appreciated. I haven't been able to find a birth for him and I cannot find anything on a couple by the names of James Paterson and Helen McRae so have not yet managed to prove his parentage.
Lynn :)
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Here is some of what I have gleaned from your input on James Paterson:
In the 1871 Census of Rathven, Banffshire, Scotland Alexander Paterson is living with his Grandfather Alexander Smith so I looked into the 1861 Census to find Isabella Smith at the age of 15 still at home with her family:
1861 Rathven, Banffshire
Alexander Smith age 69
Elizabeth Smith age 48
William Smith age 20
James Smith age 16
Isabella Smith age 15
In that same census year I found James Paterson:
1861 MacDuff, Banffshire
William Paterson age 49
Isabella Wilson age 37
William Paterson age 17
James Paterson age 15 Occupaton: Mechanic (MASON?)
Alexander Paterson age 13
Isabella Paterson age 11
Andrew Paterson age 8
Margaret Paterson age 4
Ann Paterson age 10mo
MacDuff is 21 miles from Rathven....could these be Alexander's parents?
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Ok....so I forgot about your assertion that James' parents are James Paterson and Helen McRae which would make the above James Paterson incorrect. However, in the 1851 census I did find this:
1851 MacDuff, Banffshire
James Paterson age 39
Helen Paterson age 39
Robert Paterson age 11
George Paterson age 7
James Paterson age 5 born MacDuff, Banffshire
William Paterson age 3
Isabella Milus Paterson age 1
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In 1841 MacDuff James Paterson senior's occupation is listed as "JOINER" which would probably make him a Mason. It is my understanding that if you were in the TRADE's i.e. building of any kind then you could be considered a Mason.
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Thank you for your help with this Merjones.
That 1851 census record looks good and looks like this could be my man, I'll do a little digging into this family, see if I can make them fit.
I am planning calling the Moray Libindx Centre tomorrow, see if they can tell me where they got the information regarding James's parents and the date and location of his death.
Lynn :)
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Looking again at this family, the wife of this James Paterson is Helen Mackie. I thought at first this could be my family a while ago (with the name Mackie being mistaken for McRae) so I researched them. I found out from a family tree online that the son James had married in Macduff and indeed had died there too so this unfortunately can't be my family. :-\
Lynn :)
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1920 Craftsbury, Orleans, Vermont
Martha B. Patterson, age 35, born Vermont, father born Scotland, mother born Vermont, public school teacher
James Patterson, age 74,widow, born 1846 Scotland both parents Scotland, year of immigration 1872
there are 4 more public school teachers living with them.
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1900 Craftsbury, Orleans, Vermont
James Patterson 54, Scotland, farmer, marriage year 1877
Isabel H Patterson 58 Vermont 7 children 5 living
Helen G Patterson 18
James R Patterson 17
Martha B Patterson 16
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1880 Worcester, Massachusetts
James Patterson 35 Scotland
Isabella H. Patterson 38 Vermont
Elspeth M. Patterson 2 Massachusetts
Mary L. Patterson 2 months Massachusetts
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Now that looks very promising Merjones, I especially like the fact that this couple had a daughter called Helen, fits in very well with this being James's Mother's name. :)
Just had a look at all these census records, James was a Mason in the 1880 census then a Farmer in 1900. Other ancestors in my family tree have also gone between the two occupations.
Well done on finding that, I spent hours yesterday looking for info and never even got that close. :-\
Lynn
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With such a common name, I would think it would be helpful to verify who his family members or next of kin was with a death certificate or an obituary. It looks like the Vermont archives will search for records and e-mail an informational copy, so that might help. See http://vermont-archives.org/research/genealogy/vitals/ - click on the right where it says Informational Copies. If they can find a death certificate with an exact date and town where he lived or died, you might be able to contact a local library & they may have an obituary with more detail.
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Many thanks Shelly, have had a look at the link you gave me which looks great, they are even waiving the statutory fees, not often you get something for nothing. I will email them straight away, see what they can find for me.
Thank you both for all your help.
Lynn ;D
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Hi Lynn:
I just joined and am responding to an old message of yours referring to cemetery lookups and photos since you seem to spend some time strolling about them. My mother who died last year at 94 yrs was the youngest of her generation and informed me of family lore about "Great Grandad of Inverness". She and my father drove up to Inverness from Coopar Angus in 1936 on their honeymoon and they discovered his stone at "the cemetery just as you drive into the city, just by the side of the road. The stone was just by the side of the road." And her mother from Coopar Angus was extremely happy to know that they had found it and visited the grave. Several years ago I visited the Tomnahurich Cemetery on an overseas visit with my wife and 2 young sons. As it was late in the day we had little time to search the cemetery and we had to leave disappointed. We also had to leave early the following day. Discovering "Grandad of Inverness" gravesite is one of the holy grails of my lifelong family research. It is discoverable and I have more specific information I can provide. If you or anyone else can help find his stone I would be extraordinarilly indebted. I hope you check the site from time to time and can get back to me. Many thanks in advance.
David
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Hi David,
Aye I still spend a bit of time strolling about cemeteries......weather permitting, that's actually a bit of a fib, I do it in all weathers.
If you post the details of what you're looking for into the following post I'll see what I can do for you.
Inverness-Shire Gravestone Photo Offer (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,315043.0.html)
Regards
Lynn :D
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Many thanks Lyn!
I have posted the details per your request.
David
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If you are still looking for information on the James Paterson who married Isabelle Morse and died in Vermont, I am his great-granddaughter through his daughter Mary Lois (also known as Maylo). I have quite a bit of information including old photos of James and Isabelle Paterson and their children as well as some information on James' half-brother George Paterson.
(I did family history research 30+ years ago before the internet by going to town halls in the Craftsbury VT area and vital records in Montpelior, VT, interviewing people, etc. Some of my research was damaged in a flood - I photocopied moldy pages to keep the material as best I could, but I do still have much of my work available and the photos are undamaged because they were not in the area that flooded.)
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Hi there,
Thank you for taking the time to reply.
Yes I am still looking for any information at all on James, he is a bit of a brickwall which I had placed on the back burner until inspiration came calling. As I could find no other information on him in Scotland, apart from the fact that he was the Father of my 2 X Great Grandfather I wasn't even aware that he had a half-brother George so that is very exciting news. This branch, and indeed almost entire side, of my family tree is full of half-siblings, illegitimate children etc., in fact it is rare that I come across a legitimate child being born. ;D
Look forward to hearing from you
Lynn :)
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This information may help to make sure that this is the James Paterson you are looking for.
The records in the Craftsbury Town Clerks office list the following information about the James Paterson who was my great grandfather:
He died on Feb. 24, 1925 in the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, Suffolk County, Mass. His residence at the time was North Craftsbury, Vermont (Note: North Craftsbury is now Craftsbury Common.) He was a widower and his wife's name was Isabel (sic). He was 79 years, 6 months and 12 days old at the time of death. His occupation was Brick Mason and he was born in Scotland. His father was James Paterson, who was born in Scotland. He was buried in the East Craftbury on Feb. 27.
The stone in the East Craftsbury cemetery indicates that he was born August 12, 1845 and died Feb. 24, 1925. His wife Isabelle H. Morse was born Feb. 20, 1842 and she died Feb. 8, 1903.
Old interview notes of two of James Paterson's grandchildren indicate they told me the the following:
-he was born in Scotland, either in Turriff or Bampf (I'm not sure of the spellings of these towns). His father was also named James Paterson and the father was buried in Turriff cemetery.
-he was brought up by "Aunt Eppie" (Elspet) who his daughter Elspeth was named after.
--he was very closed mouthed about his background in Scotland and they thought he might have been the black sheep of the family.
-he was a fine stone mason and worked on churches in Worchester and Lowell (where my grandmother was born).
-when his daughter Helen was born, he said, "We'll name her Ellen, but call her Helen" after his mother , whose last name they believed to be McRae/McCreigh (SP?)
Marilyn
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Hi Marilyn,
Thank you for the information.
I found James on Moray Libindx, ref NM033462. This is where I found the information that he had died in 1924 in Vermont, U.S.A. The same record also states that James is the father of my 2 X Great Grandfather Alexander Paterson or Smith by Isabella Smith. I got in touch with Moray Libindx to ask where this information had come from and they tell me they didn't keep the details. Kind of strange really when information of all sources really should be kept in family history research.
I then got in touch with Vermont State Archives who were unable to find a death record for James (unsurprising if he died in Boston, Mass). They did however send me a whole load of records, including his wife Isabel's death record, Their son James Robertson Pat(t)erson's birth and marriage plus some of his children's birth records.
I have had a look for the Elspet you mention and believe she may be the daughter of James Paterson and Magdalene (Medley) Bremner and was born on 31st August 1819 n Rathven, Banff.
Amongst other children James & Magdalene also had a son James born 31st July 1815. I believe this James may be the father of my James and would also fit in with James being brought up by his Aunt Eppie (Elspeth). Elspet was married to Alexander Simpson and I have found the census records for them, also Elspet's death record.
Interestingly in the 1861 census Elspet (who was widowed) and family were living at Longfolds, three houses away from Isabella Smith and her parents in Wester Darbreich, Rathven, Banff. On checking a map it shows these two properties are very near neighbours. Alexander was born four years later in 1865.
In the 1851 census it shows James living with Elspet and her family at Longfolds and his birthplace is given as Rathven, Banff.
I have a wee book entitled Banffshire The People and the Lands, Part 6 The Parish of Rathven 1750 - 1850 which contains kirk Session Records. One of the records I have found in this book is dated 1844. There are two entries, the first one says that Helen McCraw is with child by James Paterson, the other says that James Paterson is the Father of a child by Helen McCraw. It doesn't actually say that they were "censured for antenuptial fornication" - as it does with most of my other ancestors mentioned. ;D I think if the rest of the family classed James as a black sheep this was a case a pot, kettle and black.
I would be very interested in learning more about James' half-brother George that you mentioned in your first post.
Lynn
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A website that you might find interesting is www.nekg-vt.com
If you look at the yellow boxes on the right hand side of the page, and click Orleans County, then Cemeteries, then East Craftsbury Cemetery, you will find the listing for James Paterson followed by his wife and daughter and son. If you start with Orleans County again, then click Town Directories, then 1884, you will see the listing for James Paterson farm in East Craftsbury, which indicates that he had a sugar orchard with 250 trees, a dairy with 12 cows, and was a farmer with 130 acres. If you click on Orleans County, then School listings, you find find some records of James Paterson's children Robert, Elspeth, Mary Lois (Maylo), Helen and Martha. (There was another child Deane, but he died before school age.)
If you start with the yellow box titled Newspapers, then continue to 1975-1986 Death Notices in the Barton-Orleans County Monitor, you will see my grandmother listed as being the daughter of James Patterson and Isabelle Morse and having died 4/10/75 at the age of 94.
In looking at the old records and the transcriptions of those records, the spelling of Paterson sometimes appears as Patterson, although according to my aunt there were two different familes, the Patersons and the Pattersons.
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I've dug up some more information. When my sister took a trip to Scotland many years ago, she found what appears to be the correct stone in the (New) Turiff Cemetery. It reads as follows:
Sacred to the Memory of James Paterson who died 14th May, 1897 aged 82 years and of his family who rest in the old churchyard
Lizzie who died 1876, aged 22 years
Alexander who died 1876, aged 12 years
Elspet and Willie who died in infancy
Also of their mother Elspet Brodie, wife of the above James Paterson who died 12th September 1901 aged 72 years
"LOST AWHILE"
As I mentioned before, I am willing to scan and send copies of photos, but can not figure how how to add photos to this message, so would either need an explanation of how to do so or suggestions on how to get scans of photos to anyone who is interested in them.
Marilyn
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Hi Marilyn,
I have sent you a private message that contains my email address.
Lynn
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I've been digging through my old genealogy research and found a family group sheet where I have James Paterson's (1845-1925) first wife listed as a "Catherine Smith" before he married Isabelle Morse. Somewhere I have the source material I used to compile the family group sheets and I will let you know where I got this information when I figure it out. I thought you might be interested in this because you said the mother of the Alexander Smith/Paterson you are looking for was Isabella Smith.
Marilyn
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Hi Marilyn,
Thank you, that information would be wonderful to have.
Lynn
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More info on James Paterson (born 1845 Scotland - died 1925 in a Boston Hospital while a resident of Vermont):
-On the 1880 census he is living in Worcester, Mass., married to Isabelle Paterson with 2 children (Elspeth and Maylo) and working as a stone mason.
-The 1900 census has him living in Craftsbury Town, Orleans County Vermont and indicates that he immigrated in 1872.
-The Massachusetts Marriage records at the LDS site. FamilySearch.org, include a marriage for James Patterson and Isabella Morse on Dec. 7, 1876. James is 30 years old, he is a mason, he was born in Scotland, this is his second marriage and his parents are listed as James and Ellen. Isabella was born in Vermont, this is her first marriage, and her parents are Aurelius and Louisa, which are the correct names for the parents of the Isabelle Paterson who was my great-grandmother. This is clearly the same James Paterson.
-The Massachusetts Marriage records also include a marriage on Dec. 31. 1873 in Lowell, Massachusetts for a James Paterson born ca. 1845 whose parents were James and Ellen to a Catherine Smith.
I'll let you know what else I come up with on Catherine Smith.
Marilyn