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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: flower2912 on Saturday 06 July 24 00:18 BST (UK)
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Hi
I am struggling to solve a mystery within my tree
Edward Haig was born in South Carolina in 1844 - it shows on census and later military records he was a black man and served in the USCT regiment. Sometime before 1870 he found his way to Scotland and married a Scottish woman. They had children and after her death, he returned to America and was in a disabled veterans home under alias Edward Higgs. I potentially think he could have deserted in 1860s and that is when he ran away to Scotland.
Would this have been possible in Scotland during this time? I am intrigued by how he would've been accepted into society in Glasgow during this time. He could have been what they called in America "Passing" or maybe he was mixed race. I can't find out any more information about his parents and I think potentially one of his parents could have been slaves. His mother may have been called Caroline McEwan.
I have found this fascinating and have hit a wall with research. I would love to know more about how he ended up in Scotland, his time in Scotland being a person of colour during this time and his life in the military.
Thank you
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Scottish Census states he was born in the United states but also says he is a 'Naturalised British subject'
He also remarries in Scotland after the death of his first wife Wilhelmina before returning to America.
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Hello and a very warm welcome to RootsChat.
The military record I looked at for Edward indicated he joined up 16 Jan 1864 and was discharged 06 Dec 1865. I don’t see anything about desertion and I don’t think he would have been allowed to be buried in a National Cemetery if he had. It appears to be an honorable discharge.
Edward Haig and Wilhelmina Smith were apparently married 25 Mar 1870 at Coylton Ayr Scotland (transcript on ancest..ry).
And….
Since he married in Scotland after 1855 his marriage certificates should have the names of both his parents. There is no guarantee that this would be the case for Edward but the only way to find out is to order one or both certs. This is done through the scotlandspeople (SP) website…they would not be on line. It is free to join. Link….
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/
In case you haven’t seen it, this other link is to the Roots Chat Scotland board. If you scroll down to the pinkish area there are some hints for Scotish research, like how to how to optimize scotlandspeople searches.
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/scotland/
PB
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Glasgow Weekly Mail
18 June 1881
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Wishaw Press
18 January 1890
Evangelical Union Church snippet. He's still in Scotland from 1890-1891.
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Glasgow Evening Citizen
13 June 1884
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More details about the 1884 street preaching charge...
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Information you'll already have:
1893 passenger record for him. Departing Glasgow for New York.
1900 census - he's an inmate at National Home For Disabled Soldiers, Elizabeth City, Virginia.
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The Virginia death record has his colour or race as 'colored' but his birthplace as 'Scotland'.
No obvious naturalisation record for him at https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/naturalisation-british-citizenship
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Edward's military history record has that he was discharged in Philadelphia in 1865, and that he had defective vision, asthma and bronchitis.
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Not sure why you think Edward Haig was "in a disabled veterans home under alias Edward Higgs."
In 1900 census he's clearly listed as Edward Haig- click on 'image' to see actual page-
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMF1-WVJ
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Married 25 March 1870- https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6TGV-J1FF
Not sure what happened to children when mother Wilhelmina died-
Joshua (born 31 Mar.1870) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYYP-HRJ
John (born 1872) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F794-FG7
Edward (born 1874) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQF9-HLF
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Not sure why you think Edward Haig was "in a disabled veterans home under alias Edward Higgs."
In 1900 census he's clearly listed as Edward Haig- click on 'image' to see actual page-
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMF1-WVJ
Death lists him as Edward Haig and birthplace as Scotland- also says married-
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVR7-SQNT
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In the 1900 census Edward Haig is listed as an inmate in the Southern Branch National Home for D V S (this would be Disabled Volunteer Soldiers)
His Military History is found in the colledtion labelled US National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. It is within this record one finds him as Edward Haig alias Higgs. His tombstone appears to actually be marked as Higgs.
PB
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Death: HAIG JOSHUA 61 SMITH M 1931 644 / 9 / 301 MILTON
In the 1901 census Edward Haig is listed as an inmate in the Southern Branch National Home for D V S (this would be Disabled Volunteer Soldiers)
His Military History is found in the colledtion labelled US National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. It is within this record one finds him as Edward Haig alias Higgs. His tombstone appears to actually be marked as Higgs.
PB
That would be the 1900 U.S. Census.
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Married 25 March 1870- https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6TGV-J1FF
Not sure what happened to children when mother Wilhelmina died-
Joshua (born 31 Mar.1870) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYYP-HRJ
John (born 1872) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F794-FG7
Edward (born 1874) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQF9-HLF
From transcription
1881 census, Glasgow
Edward Haig 36 yrs b U.S South Carolina
Joshua 10yrs
John 8 yrs
1891 shows Edward, Joshua and John plus Wm P, 10 yrs son.
1901 there is a
Joshua Haig, with wife Susan and children
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Yep, 1900. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Fixed it.
PB
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Neat me to it, heywood, just going to post 1881 census. Son Joshua married Susan Cowan.
Birth: HAIG WILLIAM PEARSON SMITH M 1880 644 / 10 / 1400 ANDERSTON
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Edward Haig and Wilhelmina Smith were apparently married 25 Mar 1870 at Coylton Ayr Scotland (transcript on ancest..ry).
And….
Since he married in Scotland after 1855 his marriage certificates should have the names of both his parents. There is no guarantee that this would be the case for Edward but the only way to find out is to order one or both certs. This is done through the scotlandspeople (SP) website…they would not be on line. It is free to join. Link….
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/
Transcription of this 1870 marriage on familysearch gives his father as John Haig, and his mother as Caroline McEwan Haig. .
Edward is a 'labourer', 'aged 26'.
Wilhelmina Smith is 25 years old and a house servant.
Her parents John Smith and Jane Murdock Smith.
Both given as single.
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Super. I didn’t know familysearch had those now.
PB
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One of the other men charged in the 1884 street preaching incident (see Reply #5) was a John M'Ewan.
Could be just a coincidence, but Edward's mother was a Caroline McEwan Haig (according to his marriage record).
Could that John M'Ewan be a relative? Perhaps he needs following-up.
Also, the Civil War database has Edward's record under HIGGS. So, is Higgs his actual name?
These two names match the Pension document for him (which says Higgs is the alias).
Higgs, Edward
BATTLE UNIT NAME: 25th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry
SIDE: Union
COMPANY: C
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There is a lot of info on the internet about the US Civil War that Edward fought in.
The familysearch wiki has some about the regiment Edward was in…
https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/25th_Regiment,_United_States_Colored_Infantry
PB
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1881 Scotland Census. Western Infirmary, Glasgow.
Williamina Haig. Age: 37. Relationship: Patient. Born: Dundonald, Ayrshire.
William Haig. Age: 4mons. Relationship: Son (of) Patient. Born: Glasgow, Lanarkshire.
Census taken 3rd/4th April, 1881. Wilhelmina/Williamina Haig ms Smith died later in 1881.
Joshua Haig, born 31st May 1870, Ayr, Ayrshire.
John Haig, born 3rd Sept. 1872 at Glasgow.
Edward Haig, born 12th July 1874 at Glasgow. Died 1876 at St Rollox, Glasgow aged 3yrs.
William Pearson Haig, born 1880, Anderston, Glasgow.
Children, Joshua Haig (20), John Haig (17), and Wm. P. Haig (10), are with their father Edward
Haig (44), on 1891 Scotland Census. Edward married widow Magdaline Ballantyne ms Merchant,
in 1887, but she is not listed with the family on 1891 Census. Magdaline died 1916 at Gorbals,
Glasgow, age 66yrs.
Apologies if repeating some information already given.
Regards, Dod.
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In the 1891 census Magdeline Haig is at a different address than Edward with 2 of her Ballantyne children.
PB
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@flowers2912 my several Greats Grand Uncle was Robert Tannahill, the Paisley Poet, 1774-1810 and his friend was an American, a black American, who came over and ended up working with the Tannahill family in the weaving industry. He was apparently a very imposing sight and was always very well dressed. His name was Peter Burnett and his nickname was Black Peter (it was a different time). Sadly, my relative drowned in a culvert and Peter dived in and lifted him out of the water. I'm not sure how far anyone has got in finding Peter's descendants.
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Not sure if you want more on the children...
12629 Private WILLIAM PEARSON HAIG 1st. Bn. Royal Scots d. Oct 3, 1916
STRUMA MILITARY CEMETERY - GREECE (Served as PEARSON)
Brother of John Haig, of 18, Edmund St., Dennistoun, Glasgow.
https://www.everyoneremembered.org/profiles/soldier/333221/
adding: I saw that there was a William Haig teaching in Guiana
Not saying this is where the family began, but something to look into.
https://www.spanglefish.com/slavesandhighlanders/index.asp?pageid=302766
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Hi everyone
Thank you for your research and help on this as you can see it is a fascinating story.
I have been able to find out plenty about Edward and Wihelmina's children thanks to ancestry and cousin matches I have also.
The newspaper articles found are a great find I am wondering if this John Mcewan is related to his mother in some way?
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One of the other men charged in the 1884 street preaching incident (see Reply #5) was a John M'Ewan.
Could be just a coincidence, but Edward's mother was a Caroline McEwan Haig (according to his marriage record).
Could that John M'Ewan be a relative? Perhaps he needs following-up.
Also, the Civil War database has Edward's record under HIGGS. So, is Higgs his actual name?
These two names match the Pension document for him (which says Higgs is the alias).
Higgs, Edward
BATTLE UNIT NAME: 25th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry
SIDE: Union
COMPANY: C
Will definitely be following up - I would imagine this was a common surname in Scotland but this could be a relative of his mothers
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Not sure why you think Edward Haig was "in a disabled veterans home under alias Edward Higgs."
In 1900 census he's clearly listed as Edward Haig- click on 'image' to see actual page-
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMF1-WVJ
Sorry for late reply - I have found numerous records on ancestry where his name is Edward Haig Alias Higgs. Wonder why he had an Alias
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There is a lot of info on the internet about the US Civil War that Edward fought in.
The familysearch wiki has some about the regiment Edward was in…
https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/25th_Regiment,_United_States_Colored_Infantry
PB
Thank you for this - I just checked through company C and found Edward listed as 'Edward Higgs' I wonder why he went by this alias. I wonder if it was to do with the haig surname as I know there was a haig plantation in South Carolina where he was born.
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After doing some more research I came across this in the archives,
What we can now say is as well as working as a labourer he was also doing evangelical work and preaching during his time in Scotland.
This article also suggests he could have been a slave or his parents maybe were.
It is also worth noting that I was told that there were land records where Edward Haig (caroline his mother was listed) had some land in South Carolina.
I can't seem to find anything about his mother or trace any records of her in South Carolina around the time he was born