Edith Agnes Maitland Mackay m.s. Meyer

[Ladyhawk]

Are these the sons of James & Edith born
1918 JF https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9TX-G5Z
1920 SF https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9TX-G5D

1925 immigration JTF & SMF grandchildren with Christina Fyfe 65
nearest relative son Thomas Fyfe address 29 Dean St Edinburgh
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXMT-M8B

1901c Hermitage Place, 5, Edinburgh, St George, Midlothian, Scotland
Christina FYFE head 41 Mason’s wife Ballingry Fife
Thomas son 21 Alva Clackmannanshire
John T 19 Grocer
Robert 14 Messenger boy
Andrew 12
Betsy 8 Lassodie Fife
JAMES 6 Midlothian

[Chiad Fhear]

Hi again ladyhawk

All your information is exactly as I have it.

Regards

Chiad Fhear

[groom]

I wonder what sad story lies behind all this? Did she come back to the UK alone before the birth of her second son, I can't find a passenger list showing her return? I wonder what made her give up the two children and allow them to return to America, was it her choice or was there a court case. Perhaps she just couldn't afford to support them and decided that they would be better off with their father. It makes you wonder whether the younger one even knew his father doesn't it? What a dreadful time that must have been for all of them.

[Chiad Fhear]

Hi groom

Yes, it's an odd story. The Fyfe family stayed on in Yonkers, although in the beginning, I believe, one or two of them did come back to Scotland having "fallen on hard times" but eventually went back to be with the rest of the family.

We'll never know they whole story ... more's the pity. I, for one, wish now that I'd asked more questions when my parents were alive.

Regards, and thanks again for your invaluable assistance.

Chiad Fhear

[shellyesq]

I seem to be getting somewhere with Edith at last.  I've no idea if, when or where she was divorced from James Fyfe.  He remarried in Yonkers, New York, between 1930 and (I'm hoping) 1940. A friend in the US is looking for the 1940 Census to ascertain if this is correct.

This looks like James in 1940, listed as divorced:  https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQ56-7R6

[Chiad Fhear]

Hi shellyesq

Nice to hear from you again Thanks for joining my quest and for the link to the 1940 US Census - it's saved me a bit of a wait!

It's interesting to see Mary (a Widow) and Sheila Sweeney there too as Lodgers. James's 1960 death notice includes "beloved husband of the late Mary Mcintosh Sweeney and father of Miss Sheila Sweeney" and in his obituary "His wife, the former Mary Sweeney, died in 1949" and "Other survivors include a daughter, Sheila of the home address"

I've trawled the Old Fulton Postcards site of New York State newspapers trying to find a marriage, but to no avail. Maybe James and Mary just lived together under common law - if such a thing was permissible in the US?

Regards

Chiad Fhear

[groom]

Interesting that his sons don't get a mention in that death notice, yet Sheila, who presumably wasn't his daughter, does.

[shellyesq]

New York state law does not recognize common law marriages established in the state.  Always possible that they weren't married or they were but opted to keep it quiet.

Since you have the time frame of the possible marriage narrowed down a bit, there is a library that will do look-ups in the New York state marriage index as explained here:  http://www.unyg.com/blog/index.php/2008/03/new-york-state-vital-records-microfiche-indexes-update/

[Ladyhawk]

I was thinking along the same lines regarding a possible marriage between 1940 to 1949

for info.

This appears to be the same Mary Sweeney from 1940 US Census on 1930 US Census
same occ., pob, year of birth but there’s NO daughter with her   
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4GG-SHB

1930 Ash Street Yonkers, Westchester, New York, United States
Mary Sweeney Head 38 widow occ Hemmer Carpet Shop immigration year 1921

I wonder if James & Mary were working in the same carpet shop in 1930 and that’s where they met

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4GG-GXH
1930 Van Cortlandt Park Avenue Yonkers, Westchester, New York
James Fyfe Head 33 Widow  occ Mechan? Carpet Shop
his Mother & 2 sons plus boarders with him