Thomas Musgrave. Death help please. Pennsylvania.

[coombs]

In the 1900 census Thomas William Wilson says he was born in May 1872 in England. I just recieved his birth cert which says 16th May 1872 in St Helen Auckland Durham , son of Robert Thomas Wilson and Elizabeth Wilson formerly Musgrave.

Elizabeth's brother died in 1922 of heart problems. George Musgrave. He is my 2xgreat grandfather. His grandson Roy Musgrave died of heart problems in 1989. And Roy's son recently died of a heart attack aged 49. Seems to run in the family. 

When Thomas died it is highly unlikely George sailed to the USA to attend the funeral. He would have just had a letter sent across to England about it then he sent back his condolences.

[johnnyboy]

I am back to post another image from my excursion to Robinson Run Cemetery. This one is probably the most important image after the photos of Elizabeth Musgrave Sutherland and Robert Sutherland's burial plot. I refer to the entry in the grave register for this plot.

You will note that the plot was purchased by Mrs. E. Wilson on Oct. 29, 1886.  That may gives us an approximate date for the death of her first husband, Thomas Wilson. Why else would a woman purchase a burial plot. If it had been for a child, the husband would probably have made the purchase.

You'll also notice that though there are only two people listed in the entry, a notation at the bottom says that the plot is filled. That would mean six people are buried there. That's why I believe Thomas Musgrave is buried there.

Regards,
John 

[coombs]

Hi Johnny

Again many thanks. As you said they didnt seem bothered about the entire list of buried people there but Thomas has to be one. Both Thomas's Musgrave and Wilson.

Ben

[johnnyboy]

Hi Ben: Record-keeping was spotty back in 1886 .

One question for you, prompted by the new certificate you mention. Was Elizabeth Musgrave's first husband Robert Thomas Wilson or Thomas Robert Wilson? Or did he merely go by the name of Thomas Wilson?

John 

[coombs]

Robert Thomas Wilson. The obituary says he was Thomas Wilson but as said they may have forgot to add his first name.

[johnnyboy]

In reply #114 (page 8 of this thread), the register for the grave bought by Thomas W. Wilson in January 1900 lists Margaret Sutherland as being buried there. Wouldn't this be Thomas W. WIlson's mother-in-law, mother of his wife, Sarah?

To clarify the photo included in Reply #113 (also page eight of this thread) Harry Saix is the brother of John Saix, husband of Mary Ellen Wilson (granddaughter of Thomas Musgrave).

Judging from the dates on Raymond Saix's gravestone, I think he is the son of Harry and Mathilda Saix.

John 

[coombs]

Hi Johnny

If Margaret Sutherland is buried with her son in law then our theory that she was buried with Elizabeth is out of the window so that means we know Elizabeth and her two husbands are buried there and Thomas Musgrave so there is 4 others.

Ben

[coombs]

I have quite a lot of experience with England electoral registers of the late 1800s and early 1900s but not sure about directories and electoral rolls of America of that time. If Thomas was retired by 1900 would he still have appeared in a directory at least?

This might be another way of narrowing down when he did.

[johnnyboy]

Hi Ben: Thomas Musgrave might have appeared in the directory of the City of Washington, listed in the household of whomever it was he resided with. If he were listed, he probably would have been described as "Retired." But I haven't seen directories of Washington. He might also have been in a McDonald directory, but I haven't seen one of those, either.

I can't remember if Thomas was naturalized or not. If he had become a U.S citizen, he might have been eligible to vote in elections, but I don't know at what level--state, federal, local?  Electoral records are kept at the county level now; probably the same was the case in late 1800s-early 1900s.

John