Thomas Musgrave. Death help please. Pennsylvania.

[coombs]

Wait a minute Thomas Musgrave emigrated in September 1886 to America. His wife Ann died in December 1885 in England so his daughter's first husband must have died about the time Thomas emigrated.

So Thomas Wilson, Robert and Elizabeth Sutherland are 3 people buried in 3 of the 8 graves? If her daughter Mary Saix was buried in another plot, then we have to say that 5 more people are buried in the plot Elizabeth bought in 1886 right?

[johnnyboy]

Hi Ben: By spotty, I think the woman I spoke with meant not very informative. Not much information was written about some individual burials in the early years. Perhaps she also meant that some information did not survive time--lost, discarded, etc. She was checking through two books. One seemed to be lot sales and the other was burial registrations.

Also, to clarify and separate. We areally know of only five burials.

There were two burial lots. One had eight graves (bought by Elizabeth Musgrave Wilson Sutherland). Of those eight, only two--for Elizabeth and her second husband, Robert Sutherland--are recorded as burials. I believe Elizabeth bought the lot when her first husband died (or possibly a child).
I believe that her father Thomas Musgrave is buried in one of the eight graves. All of the graves have burials, so Margaret Sutherland could also be buried in one of the eight graves.

The second burial lot contains six graves but only three burials: (1) John Saix, (2) Elizabeth's daughter, Mary Ellen Wilson Saix, and (3) Elizabeth's son, Jame Sutherland. Three graves are unoccupied.

Regards,
John  

[johnnyboy]

Wait a minute Thomas Musgrave emigrated in September 1886 to America. His wife Ann died in December 1885 in England so his daughter's first husband must have died about the time Thomas emigrated.

So Thomas Wilson, Robert and Elizabeth Sutherland are 3 people buried in 3 of the 8 graves? If her daughter Mary Saix was buried in another plot, then we have to say that 5 more people are buried in the plot Elizabeth bought in 1886 right?

Our last posts crossed in the mail. Yes, you are correct. Five more people are buried in that lot. One of them, I believe, is Thomas Musgrave.

John 

[coombs]

Hi John

So it does look like we know where Thomas is buried. I think we are a lot closer to his burial but his death is yet to be found. Obituaries, wills and others now need to be checked. At least we can be pretty certain of his burial place.

Ben

[johnnyboy]

Hi John

So it does look like we know where Thomas is buried. I think we are a lot closer to his burial but his death is yet to be found. Obituaries, wills and others now need to be checked. At least we can be pretty certain of his burial place.

Ben

If Thomas Musgrave died in Washington, Pa., a death record (and will, if any) would be at the Washington County courthouse, which is in the city of Washington. If he died in McDonald, it would depend on where in McDonald he died, since it straddles the border between Washington and Allegheny counties.

Unfortunately, in the early 1900s deaths were not always recorded by the county. They might have been recorded only by a church if he were buried through one. And wills were not always made out unless money or property was involved.

But that is a task for another day.

Regards,
John 

[coombs]

Hi Johnny

Thanks anyway. I am sure we will find a death for Thomas. Newspapers are a good source for obituaries. I think Allegheny has 1900-1903 deaths but with a gap of 2 years until registration began in January 1906. Lets hope that Thomas died after then. But if he didn't I will not rest until i find his death.

Ben

[*Sandra*]

Hi Ben,

Excellent information from John, that helps with a number of your mysteries.

I understood the name of Elizabeth's first husband was Robert but you both seem to be calling him Thomas - is that correct ?

I was looking to find them on a UK Census record today but did'nt have any luck, suspecting maybe they had gone earlier than you thought.  So that could be correct. 

[coombs]

I am so thankful to John. A step closer to finding Thomas's death.

Elizabeth Musgrave married Robert Wilson in January 1870. I cannot find them at all on the 1881 census for England so they must have just emigrated. Later US censuses say they emigrated about 1879-1881.

Dont forget that obituary is probably wrong. They must have mistaken Robert for Thomas.

Elizabeth Musgrave had 11 children in total and 7 died. The ones I know of are:-

Ann born 1871
Thomas William born 1873
Margaret born 1875
George born 1877
Robert born 1879
Mary Ellen born 1884. The 1900 census says she was born October 1884.

and with her second marriage:-

James Sutherland born 1888.

5 are still left to be found, including the wife of Joseph Thomas so that will be 8 found.

[coombs]

Ann, Thomas, Margaret, George and Robert were all born in England. I think I may have found a death for Robert in 1880 aged 3 in the right district. And one for George about the same time. If so then they probably emigrated about late 1880-1881.