James Paterson - Death Vermont 1924

[Maia261]

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 

[merjones]

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?

[merjones]

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

[merjones]

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.

[Maia261]

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 

[Maia261]

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 

[merjones]

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.

[merjones]

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

[merjones]

1880 Worcester, Massachusetts

James Patterson 35 Scotland
Isabella H. Patterson 38 Vermont
Elspeth M. Patterson 2 Massachusetts
Mary L. Patterson 2 months Massachusetts