James Paterson - Death Vermont 1924

[Maia261]

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.  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

[MJHinNY]

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.

[MJHinNY]

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

[Maia261]

Hi Marilyn,

I have sent you a private message that contains my email address.

Lynn

[MJHinNY]

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

[Maia261]

Hi Marilyn,

Thank you, that information would be wonderful to have.

Lynn

[MJHinNY]

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