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Research in Other Countries => United States of America => Topic started by: RedMystic on Tuesday 22 May 12 01:37 BST (UK)
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Hi Chatters,
I'm hoping you can help me find some bits & pieces about this family that I originally thought went to New Zealand.
All of this starts with Angus MacDiarmid (b.1854, Isle of Flodda, Inverness-shire). He died sometime after 1921; I suspect in Fayette, Georgia where he was farming.
I found Angus MacDiarmid's 1921 passport application which clearly proves he went from Glasgow to the USA in 1872. It further says he went to somewhere (Scotland I think) in 1892 and spent 10 days in Canada in 1914.
It also said he resided in Atlanta, Georgia when he first arrived in the USA then moved too Militia District 624, Shake Rug, Fayette, Georgia where I found him in the 1900 census. His mother Effie MacDiarmid was definitely living with him; her arrival 1883. I also see Angus in the 1910 census - no mother so perhaps she had passed away. All family info up until this time indicated she had gone from Benbecula to Glasgow to NZ with her unmarried children in 1883.
I can see a number of Atlanta directories where it appears that two of Angus MacDiarmid's brothers are in the vicinity. I CAN'T see his mother from 1883 until the 1900 census.
Here is what I'm looking for:
Angus MacDiarmid, b.1853, Isle of Flodda, Inverness-shire - Who was he travelling with? The 1921 passport application says he left Glasgow 25 Sept 1872. I can't find any info on the arrival in *A* or FamilySearch. (Admittedly, I'm no master at FamilySearch. ::))
I also can't find any returning records pertaining to the two trips he said he took: 1892 to Scotland & 1914 to Canada. (I wonder if he went to Wapella, Saskatchewan to visit his eldest brother.)
Euphemia "Effie" MacDiarmid (nee Morrison) (b1827 Renfrewshire) - I can't find her 1883 arrival in the USA. I'd like to know which of her children she travelled with. Options include Donald John (b.1860), Archibald (b.1865), and John (b.1868). I think I can see sign of Archibald & John in various Atlanta directories while Angus still resides there. No indication of Donald John so far.
Was there an 1890 census for Atlanta, Georgia? I haven't been able to track one down, but maybe that would enable me to see mother Effie.
Family lore says that there was a doctor in that family & that at least one of the children of this family went to Floria. I see that a John MacDiarmid of the correct age, born in Scotland, doctor, died in Florida 23 May 1921. If we can see John on 1883 transit info with mother Effie, is there anyway to discern if the fellow who died in Florida is the same one?
I've done my best to track down the records I can, but I seem to be missing some fairly important bits that will help me confirm some things about the family - or at least which ones of the family came to the USA.
Thanks for any help or direction you can provide.
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First of all, forget the 1890 census; it was almost entirely destroyed by fire.
Have you checked passenger lists at Castle Garden? It has New York arrival records from the 1830s? to 1892. If you can find them in the Castle Garden transcriptions, which are indexed, you can then go to FamilySearch and browse the images to see the actual original passenger list.
http://www.castlegarden.org/searcher.php
For passengers arriving at New York between 1892 and 1954, you need to check the Ellis Island lists.
http://www.ellisisland.org/
Of course, they might not have arrived via New York.
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TX for the sites Erato :)
I can see Angus' return to the US from his 1922 trip to Scotland on the Ellis Island site. There is also an Archibald MacDiarmid returning from Scotland around the same time, but I have no idea if he's of the same family or not.
I'm getting no love from the Castle Garden (travel period 1832-1890) site. I think part of my problem is that there are sooooooo many ways to misspell MacDiarmid. ??? ::) ;D
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Castle Garden, unfortunately, is not a complete record of arrivals. Furthermore, those early records are not rich in information. I don't have Ancestry anymore but I recall that there are passenger lists there for Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Galveston and something called 'East Coast ports' [not sure what dates are covered]. Also Canada. Perhaps someone else can check those.
Too bad MacDiarmid could have numerous imaginative 'variants.'
Have you tried looking for obituaries?
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TX again Erato
I have the world version of *A* - not pulling up anything for ports on the east coast of the USA. It's a bit strange given that I know years of travel.
I've spent the last half hour or so looking for Georgia cemeteries which may contain my folks - a bit difficult without knowing dates of death. I'm guessing that mother Effie died between 1900 and 1910. Angus died after 1921.
Is there a good site for 1900 - 1940 obit look-ups for Fayette County?
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I'm a Yankee, RedMystic. I've never had any need to poke around in Georgia. I'll start looking.
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I'm a Yankee, RedMystic.
;D ;D ;D ;D
Thanks :)
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There is a John McDiarmid listed as a medical doctor in Fayette County in "the 1800s."
http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/fayette/history/other/fcmds.txt
I found this at the Fayette County GenWeb Site:
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gafayett/index.html
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Thanks Erato. I'll check those out.
I've been looking at John MacDiarmid, doctor who died in DeLand, Florida 23 May 1921. He was a practising physician, medical core, & mayor of that community. He was also educated in Scotland & Atlanta (Southern Medical College). If I can find an obit or bio for him that ties him to the family of Benbecula / Isle of Flodda then I can be assured that I have the right family.
BTW: In the event I wasn't clear, I am ABSOLUTELY sure that Angus is of my family. His passport application contains all the exact info of father's name & date of death.
Thanks again for the direction.
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It looks like there may have been an obituary of John MacDiarmid in the Journal of the American Medical Association, XXXVIII/19/1259. But I can't access the page.
You'll see the link if you Google: MacDiarmid "Southern Medical College" You could look for it at your nearest University Library.
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Hi Erato
I pulled that up just before you posted. I've determined that he arrived from Scotland in the right year: 1883 - still can't find that manifest with the family.
Now I'm trying to determine if there are accessible attestation papers for WWI doctors in the medical core as that will connect to parentage or brother with next of kin (one would hope).
Here's the obit:
Southern Medical College 1891; former mayor of DeLand; served in the Medical Core during WWI; died suddenly on the Atlantic Coast Railway Train, age 50.
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Volusia County, Florida Public Library
http://volusialibrary.org/
They have an "Ask a Librarian" service so you could request an obituary search. If he was a doctor and died suddenly on a train, he must have made the newspaper.
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Thank you Erato. I've made an inquiry with the library.
Can anyone else think of any other ways of getting at US arrival information for
- Angus MacDiarmid - arrived Oct 1872?
- Euphemia "Effie" MacDiarmid - mother arrived with which of Angus' siblings in 1883?
Have a great Tuesday.
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There's a 1909 newspaper article written by John that says he's been practicing medicine for the past 17 years, the last 9 of which were in DeLand. http://www.rootschat.com/links/0mny/
Unfortunately, the earlier passenger lists can be spotty.
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You mentioned New Zealand. Have you ever found any trace of the MacDiarmids out there? Is it possible they went to NZ and then changed their minds and entered the US via California?
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Hi Erato, Sorry for the delayed response. I was on the road today.
I can find hide nor hair of the MacDiarmids in New Zealand. Where did that story come from, you ask? ;) A cousin of my mum's wrote a piece back in the 1970s. He quotes his grandfather (brother to Donald MacDiarmid's wife) as saying that Donald's mother & unmarried siblings left for New Zealand in 1883 or 1884. (Donald came to Canada in 1883.)
I then contacted a fellow who researches for the Benbecula Historical Society. He thought they had left for New Zealand as well, though had never followed through to determine if that was so.
Then, last week, I came across a descendant of Donald MacDiarmid who came to Canada. He said the family story was that there was a doctor - in Florida he though - & claimed there is a NZ connection as well.
I don't think that they would have left before 1883 to head for New Zealand as the croft re-org on Benbecula was in 1879 & the family is definitely there in the 1881 census. It doesn't seem that a crofter family could afford to go to New Zealand in 1882 & then be in Georgia, USA by 1883.
So, back to the story. The new found cousin, descendant of Donald MacDiarmid in Canada's info about Florida started me off on my search in the USA which uncovered Angus MacDiarmid's 1921 passport application. It had his father listed along with date of death so I knew it was the right fellow. It also indicated when he had arrived in the USA & the places he'd lived between 1872 and 1921. When I found census data for him, surprise of surprises, I found his mum living with him in in Shake Rug, Fayette in 1900 (emigration year 1883), and a younger brother, John, living with him while he was still in Atlanta.
John is the one that appears to have been the doctor. I have an e-mail in to the Deland Library to see if they can dig anything up. Chatter Sheldonesque has found a pay-for-view obituary for him (thank you Sheldonesque :)). I'm hoping the library can provide a bio of John's time as mayor (and maybe a picture. ;))
Late last night, I found a death record for Donald John MacDiarmid (transcribed as Dony John McDirmid) dated 28 Aug 1920 in Tyronne, Fayette, Georgia. It had the right parentage, birth year & birth place.
So, now (in the event I can't find a ship's manifest) I need to prove:
- John's parentage (1900 census has the right arrival year); doesn't look like he married, but I'd like to confirm that.
- track down Archibald. I think I can see an Archibald/Archie in a few Atlanta directories, but can't be sure it's him unless I can find the ship's manifest or a death record with parentage. If I can prove this Archibald to be mine, I'd like to determine if he married & had children.
- find a death date for Angus - sometime after 1921, I'd guess in Shake Rug, Fayette, Georgia. It doesn't look like he married as no one is ever shown with him in the Atlanta directories, but I'd like to confirm that.
- find where mother Effie was between 1883 & 1900 (possibly working in someones home ???) & a death date for her which I'd guess is between 1900 & 1910 in Shake Rug, Fayette, Georgia
So, the story of New Zealand is perhaps just a mistake ???, but there is often some truth to things like this, particularly when they come from multiple sources. Perhaps I'll never know. ::) ;D
Cheers,
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I've got the obit for John MacDiarmid. 8) It specifically refers to his brother Donald in Canada so he is, indeed, mine. Thanks for sticking with me on this! :) :) :)
If anyone can suggest where I might dig up death dates for mother Effie, son Angus and son Archie (looks like according to directories he was in Atlanta until at least 1893) I'd appreciate it.
Happy day.
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This branch has come together in spades this week!
I had to let you know that I now have a picture of Dr. John, Effie's son, with a dried out old cadaver - likely taken about 1889-1890! It's a wee bit ... well icky ... but how great is this? ::) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D (I'll post it if you want to see it - let me know - but wanted to warn you that it's a bit macabre. ;) ;D)
The library in DeLand, Florida has responded that the look-up for John's pic while mayor will be done on Wednesday. :)
I haven't heard back from the Atlanta Oakland Cemetery to determine if any of the MacKinnons buried there might be along side John and/or siblings of his.
I've detected that John's brother Donald John was married & had children. I don't know the who, when, where as yet .... but I have clear indication that it occurred - just have to figure out the details. Any help with follow-through on this would be fabulous! I have a death date for him transcribed as Dony John McDiramid 28 Aug 1920 in Tyrone, Fayette, Georgia, United States.
I've not yet figured out when mum Effie (Euphemia) died (between 1900-1910 census I think as she was in one but not the other living with son Angus in Shake Rug, Fayette, Georgia). Any help with date or obit would be greatly appreciated.
It has been a satisfying week. Have a great weekend everyone!
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That's great news! Post the pic, I'm not squeamish.
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As a biologist I expect you're not squeamish Erato. ;) ;D I wouldn't have expected a picture like this at the time though. ;D
When I look at young John in this photo I undersand why his much older brother Angus made such a big thing about being "6'1" in his younger days" on his passport application in 1921. Little brother John was tall too.
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How did he come to die suddenly on a train? Was it a heart attack?
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Train crashed as I understand it by way of the US Medical Association journal. I've not been able to confirm that crash on line, but have asked the library in DeLand to confirm that.
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Arrrrghhhhh
This would have been soooooo much easier if I'd only been able to find the ship's manifest. This is a paragraph from a 1997 letter that my mum's cousin provided to me earlier today. (I've never met him in person.)
My grandfather's siblings and Mother came to Atlanta, Georgia but his Mother, both of her daughters and two of her sons returned to Scotland. However, three brothers remained in Georgia, one of whom, John, became a physician.
Now, I need to look for Mother Effie arriving back in Scotland after 1900 (when she last appeared in Georgia census) - she would have been quite elderly to travel by herself. I know that the daughters, Mary & Ann, must have gone back much earlier than that as I've found their respective marriages.
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Count your blessings! These people traveled back and forth at a relatively late date; they may be findable. With just one exception [a group that traveled to NY in 1834], I can't find any of mine and probably never will. Two groups went to the US by way of Canada in the early 1840s - no luck. And a bunch went to New England in the 1600s - forget it.
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That is no-doubt frustrating Erato. ::) :'(
I'm checking back in to let you know that the DeLand library sent an e-mail yesterday saying they have found info for me regarding John who was mayor of that municipality at some point before his death. They are popping it in the mail for me. How great is that? AND a one-week response is fantastic! :) :) :) :)
I haven't heard back from the Atlanta Oakland Cemetery to determine if any of the MacDiarmids buried there might be along side John and/or siblings of his. Does anyone have another suggestion as to where I might source info on this cemetery?
I'm still looking for a death date for brother Angus.
I'm not sure I believe that mother Effie (Euphemia) would actually have sailed back to Scotland in her mid-70s (after the 1900 census). I can't find her arrival back in Glasgow. The Benbecula historical society (Outer Hebrides) is going to take a look at their records to see if they can detect if she ended up with one of her daughters there.
Thanks again.
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I'm going to give this one more try before I set it aside for awhile. Can someone please help find a death certificate for Angus? I know a wee bit more than before.
Angus MacDiarmid (b.28 Mar 1853) returned from Scotland through the Port of New York on 21 Aug 1921. He either died or was interred in Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta, Georgia (transcribed as Agnes on *A* but the cemetery has confirmed it's my guy) on 5 Sep 1921 - just a few short weeks after returning from his trip. :(
Try as I might, I can't seem to find a death certificate for Angus on or around that 5 Sep 1921 date. I suppose he might have been sick enough on return that he didn't make it to Georgia before he died, but ...... ???
Any help finding this death certificate would be greatly appreciated.
For the record, this means that all three brothers died in a one year period: John by train accident, Donald John by suicide, and Angus cause unknown at this point. :'(
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This does not sound promising:
"Death certificates are only issued to applicants having a direct and tangible interest, primarily family members or legal representatives of the family."
http://www.health.state.ga.us/programs/vitalrecords/death.asp
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Thanks Erato.
I can find brother Donald John (d.1920) on many death info sources for Georgia & for Fayette County. (Name transcribed as Dony John McDiramid in that case.)
Nothing for Angus a year later in Georgia. I know he came back to the New York in Aug. I suppose the question is becoming where & how to search for Angus geographically from New York to Georgia.
Argggggg
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There is an Atlanta death certificate and obituary mentioned for Angus MacDiarmid on this site: http://garrett.atlantahistorycenter.com/
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Awesome find Shelley. Thank you.
It looks like 2 Angus' - one died in early Aug & the other late. The early one can't be mine as he would have been on-board the ship from Scotland at that time. The later one died 29 Aug 1921 which could align with an internment in Atlanta, Georgia on 15 Sep - possibly. ??? ;D
I think I see a 1920 obit for Donald John too. (Happy day! :))
I'm seeing a feedback mechanism, but not a request form with a processing mechanism of $12.50 per person. Do you know if this service is more for those who can attend on-site?
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I suspect the death date was just mistranscribed, rather than there being two Angus MacDiarmids who died in Atlanta within weeks of each other. I've never looked at that site before, but it looks like the feedback goes to an e-mail, so maybe that person would be able to answer your question.
On www.fold3.com, there are copies of the Atlanta Constitution newspaper. It is a subscription site, but you can see a portion of the paper using the Quick Look feature even if you don't have a subscription. There appear to be funeral notices for Angus from 4 and 5 Sep. 1921. http://www.fold3.com/search.php?f_ancestor_id=hXt8VdLVF&df_ancestor_id=Within%3ANews+-+The+Atlanta+Constitution&query=macdiarmid
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:-* Thank you.
If you've found me the right fellow, poor Angus arrived home from Scotland 21 Aug & died 29 Aug. then he was interred 5 Sep.
Thank you again.
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You're welcome.
There's also a notice on there that appears to mention a John MacDiarmid being the administrator for the estate of Archie MacDiarmid - http://www.rootschat.com/links/0n95/
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Awesome! Archie went back to Scotland where he died of TB in 1895. Thank you very much for this & all your help. :) :) :) :) :) :)
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This just in from Oakland Cemetery.
After getting your response I checked our old burial ledger books where long ago the cemetery sextons recorded a lot of information that they do not now record. According to the ledger Donald died August 28,1920. As you know he committed suicide. John died May 20, 1921. Angus died August 29, 1921 of myocarditis. I do not know why there are so many discrepancies but obviously, the earlier year dates are more accurate than the later dates on the markers.
:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
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Angus MacDiarmid, died 9-5-21 aged 69, John MacDiarmid, died 5-27-22 aged 54, and Donald MacDiarmid, died 9-8-20 aged 60, are buried in Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, GA. They are buried in graves 22, 21 and 20 respectively in Block 345 lots 1&2 purchased 1-24-1878 by John and Angus Morrison.
I am related to the Knapps and Mary Knapp Morrison who are also buried in this lot. I have just begun my genealogical journey and was wondering who the MacDiarmids were. Angus is indicated to be associated with Morrison and Bain in the 1978 Atlanta city directory.
The city directories at: http://archive.org/search.php?query=atlanta%20city%20directory%20AND%20collection%3Aamericana
are far easier to search than any of the Census records. As .pdf documents they are machine searchable.
I would very much like to know more of the Morrisons and MacDiarmids.
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Hi abar44
A hearty welcome to RootsChat. Sorry it took me a day to get back to you. I'm on a road trip chasing down the eldest MacDiarmid brother (Donald) along with his wife's family, Jane McDonald.
Thank you very much for you information. I have learned a great deal since I first made this post. (Once you post 2 more times, we can trace info by personal message - click the little green scroll under my avatar).
Until then, here is some info you may find of interest.
Alexander MacDiarmid (father of the 3 MacDiarmids in your Morrison plot) was born in North Uist in about 1805 son of Donald MacDiarmid and Mary MacDonald.
His wife was Effie Morrison was born in Greenock, Renfrewshire. She was daughter of Angus Morrison of Dunskellar, North Uist & Ann ?.
Alexander MacDiarmid & Effie Morriosn married in Trumisgarry, North Uist in 1848 and continued to live in North Uist until 1852+. They then moved to Benbecula, to 5 Eilean Floddaigh, where Alexander had a patch of land and functioned as a 'saor' or carpenter of the joiner variety, probably working mainly on house construction. They were there at least till 1863 and perhaps, from 1869 lacking Alexander, till the reorganisation of crofts in 1879. They then removed to Haye, 18 Aird close by the sea and just the other side of the main drain from Balivanich.
Alexander's wife, the quite a bit younger Effie Morrison did not appear to work outside the home after marriage. As the wedding was in Trumisgarry, it seems quite likely that Effie was a maid in the tacksman MacDonald of Trumisgarry household. Husband Alexander's death was registered in Benbecula 25.7.1869.
Eldest son, Donald, traveled to New Zealand about 1880 as agent of Lady Cathcart. He was looking for a place for Benbecula & South Uist families to settle. He came to Canada to explore Canada in 1882, and subsequently brought the first 10 families from the Hebrides in 1883.
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It appears that Alexander & Effi's son son Angus went to Atlanta Georgia in 1872. He joined several Morrisons, possibly relatives of his mother.
He was joined there in 1883 by mother Effie, & siblings Donald John, Archibald and John as well as sister Peggy m. John MacDonald.
All of the brothers except John were book keepers and clerks. Angus was farming by 1900. John, the youngest, went on to earn a degree in medicine. He was in the WWI medical core & served as mayor of DeLab, Florida. He died in May 1921 in a train crash of a heart attack while on board a train. Donald John died the year before. John did not marry. Archibald returned to the Outer Hebrides about 1894, dying there in 1895 of TB.
Angus died a week after her returned from Scotland in 1921.
NOTE: change in red
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The children of Alexander MacDiarmid & Effie Morrison were:
Donald MacDiarmid 1849 – 1937
"Peggy" Margaret MacDiarmid 1851 – 1945
Angus MacDiarmid 1853 – 1921
Ann MacDiarmid 1855 – 1938
Mary MacDiarmid 1857 – 1889
Donald John MacDiarmid 1860 – 1920
Archibald MacDiarmid 1863 – 1895
John MacDiarmid 1867 – 1921
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Very interesting to find so may Effies. I am descended from Euphemia McNaught, Euphemia Knapp and have an Aunt Effie (Euphemia).
I have downloaded most of the Atlanta City Directories from archive.org and have been searching them to create a timeline for members of my families. I will add MacDiarmids to that list and keep you posted as to what I find. The Morrison association is clear. There are some other names buried in that lot I will try to associate as well.
Shake Rug should be Shake Rag. It is a community located in Fayette County Georgia. Fayette County is now metropolitan Atlanta. I grew up in the Grant Park section of Atlanta very near Oakland Cemetery. Unfortunately, in those long ago years, it was quite a journey to Shake Rag from Atlanta.
Good luck as you search.
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Thank you in advance for anything you can share.
I have quite good history connections in South Uist / Benbecula. They have excellent connections with the history researchers in North Uist so if that would be of assistance as you connect the dots in your timeline, please don't hesitate to contact me. I can make introductions on your behalf.
BTW: Angus MacDiarmid worked for a Morrison for some time after arrival. I can look that up for you when I'm home on the weekend. Also, a Morrison signed his 1921 passport application.
Happy researching.
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There isn't an 1890 Atlanta City Directory on line. There is one for 1881 and for 1891. I have them downloaded and will search for Effie this weekend. I hope to have time to spend researching then.
Angus MacDiarmid, Donald M. Bain, Angus Morrison, and John Morrison are all listed in the 1878 directory. The listing typically includes employer, spouse and residence address. As they are pdf files they are far easier to search than the US Census originals which can be found at: http://archive.org/details/us_census
The 1890 Census was destroyed but the others (from 1790 to 1930) are available. Atlanta is in Fulton County Georgia. The Census will report all members of a household. I found my parents in the Census of 1910 when they were one year old!
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Thanks abar44,
I'll take a look at your links. Much appreciated.
I photographed the entire cemetery on Benbecula, Scotland when we visited there last year (as it isn't photographed or indexed). I'm going to scroll through each picture to see if I can determine if Effie did indeed return back to Scotland after 1900 (as per an obtuse 1990s family letter). The unfortunate thing is that the island is so damp that the stones are very moss-covered. My fingers are crossed that I find her.
My Bains (as per my profile) were from Aberdeenshire & as far as I know, had no contact with my Inverness-shire relatives until they came to Canada. I wanted to mention that in the event that you looked at my list & thought there might be a hint to your Bains in that.
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Hi again
It's great to have access to your links. I found the various MacDiarmids in directories on *A*.
The first time I found Angus in a directory was 1875. He was listed as salesman working for Morrison, Bain & co. r56 Whitehall.
The signature on Angus' 1921 passport application:
Angus Morrison Jr
Manager, Wholesale Dept., Beck & Gregg
BTW, you posted info from the headstones re the 3 MacDiarmids in the Morrison plot. The dates on those stones are incorrect - in that you've recorded them correctly, but the Oakland Cemetery has confirmed that they are wrong.
This just in from Oakland Cemetery.
After getting your response I checked our old burial ledger books where long ago the cemetery sextons recorded a lot of information that they do not now record. According to the ledger Donald died August 28,1920. As you know he committed suicide. John died May 20, 1921. Angus died August 29, 1921 of myocarditis. I do not know why there are so many discrepancies but obviously, the earlier year dates are more accurate than the later dates on the markers.
:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
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Hi abar44
In the event this helps you track your Morrisons, this info comes from the May 1921 funeral notice for John MacDiarmid.
.... Mr. & Mrs. J.E. Morrison and Mr. A. Morrison, Jr. all of Atlanta, are invited to attend the funeral of Dr. John MacDiarmid
I should also have mentioned re the 1921 passport application noted above, the Angus Morrison Jr noted indicates he has known Angus MacDiarmid more than 40 years.
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RedMystic,
Mrs. John E. Morrison was my great aunt Mary Margaret Knapp Morrison. The plot plan from Oakland Cemetery is not so clear as to tell readily if it is John C. or John E. Morrison buried there. You have answered that question for which I am grateful. We have no other reference that mentions his middle initial or name.
My interests are particularly piqued as my Knapp family married into the McNaught family and the hardware business. The generation of children then married into the Morrison family. McNaught and Scrutchins had to be competitors with Morrison and Bain! For whatever reason, my family never talked about the "old days" and the two remaining "youngsters," my cousin an myself, never asked questions before all were gone!
I remember visiting Beck and Gregg in downtown Atlanta with my grandfather many times in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The connections are just amazing!
Thanks so much for your correspondence
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Glad this is helping you abar44
Perhaps some of my other finds, which mean little to me, will assist you on your way:
While I know Donald John (also known as Dony John apparently) arrived in 1883, I haven't found him in Georgia until 1910 when he's farming at Shake Rag so can't tell you where he worked.
Archibald, who went home to Scotland with TB, was working at
in 1888 at Morrison & Co, r 155 Courtland
in 1889 at Hunnicutt & Bellingtrath, living in a boarding house: Watson House
Angus, who is buried in your plot was working at
in 1884 Morrison Bain & Co, r 72 Marietta
in 1885 Morrison & Co, r8 1/2 W Mitchell
in 1890 Stewart & Bowden with youngest brother John, bds 15 E Mitchell
Angus, Donald John, John & Archibald did not marry or have any children that are known.
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If you trip over the following people (sister & b-i-l of the above boys) in Atlanta, I'd love to hear of it. They may be tied into work relationships with your Morrisons, though I've not yet tracked them down.
"Peggy" Margaret MacDiarmid
Birth abt 1851 in North Uist, Inverness-shire, Scotland
Death 1945 in Griminish, Benbecula, Inverness-shire, Scotland
married to
John MacDonald
Birth 1851 in Benbecula, Inverness-shire, Scotland
Death 23 Jun 1918 in Benbecula, Inverness-shire Scotland
They came in 1883 & had all but two children in the USA before returning to the Hebrides sometime after 1889 and before 1901. The children were:
Margaret MacDonald Scotland 1878 –
Alexander MacDonald Scotland 1880 –
Archy MacDonald USA1883 –
Ann MacDonald USA 1884 –
Marion MacDonald USA 1886 –
Margaret MacDonald USA 1889 –
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I'm thinking that I might find Effie & sons, Donald John & John (and perhaps daughter Peggy m John MacDonald) in Dundee, Fayette County between 1883 & 1900. This is because of bio of youngest son John came in while I've been away over the past week.
The family came to the USA in 1883 and settled at Dundee, Fayette County, Georgia. The above man, John, went to school in Scotland and finished business training in Georgia. First he was a farmer, then engaged in the manufacture of mantles in Atlanta. In 1888 he began the study of medicine and entered the Southern Medical College from which he graduated in 1891.
Do you know if there were Morrisons in Fayette County abar44?
NOTE: I think I've found Donald John listed in the 1890 Georgia tax rolls as: D J McDearmid. If it's him, he is at Flatcreek, Lower District 7, Fayette County. Unfortunately, tax rolls don't show any other person than the rate payer.
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I’m afraid I know very little of Fayette County Georgia, except where it is in relation to Atlanta and Fulton County. I have heard of it all my life but only passed through a time or two on automobile trips. I will learn more though!
You might try:
http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ga/county/fulton/fayette/ or
http://www.fayettehistoricalsociety.com/
If you have not done so already.
Do you have any idea who these people are:
Dianna Gordon,
Anna M. Travis,
John L. Travis or
Jane Davidson Kendrick,
who as you can see from the plot plan attached are buried amongst the Morrisons, MacDiarmids and Knapp relatives?
I am getting better at finding things! Thanks for your kind help!
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Hi abar44
Those names don't mean anything to me, but I'll send them along to Scotland to see if they are North Uist names that might have been family connections to the Morrisons. (They don't look like it to me, but that's just a gut feeling.)
I'll see if my South Uist source can dig up an approximate time the Morrisons left NUist, if there was a particular cause (i.e. clearances, etc.), & if there is a list of those that left for the USA at the same time.
If it's similar to my Benbecula / SUist folk who came to Canada, they would have sailed from Kallin Harbour, NUist to Glasgow & then on to the final North American destination after that.
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Re: John L. Travis & Anna M. Travis
I have found them in a number of years of census as well as several directories. By 1930 they are both age 61 & living in Chatham, Georgia.
John, a lawyer, was born in Georgia. Anna was born in Georgia, but both mother & father were born in Scotland. I don't see a marriage record for this couple in FamilySearch, but it would have been after 1910. (John was living with his brother Robert J. Travis, wife Rena & family at the time of that census.)
Perhaps another generous Chatter can weigh in with sources of Georgia marriage records other than that site.
My bet is that Anna was a Morrison. Thoughts?
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I wonder if this is Jane Davidson Kendrick? I got this record off of FamilySearch.
Can any knowledgeable Chatter let us know if death certificates in Georgia list next of kin or parents?
name: Jane K Davidson
event: Death
event date: 23 Feb 1970
event place: DeKalb, Georgia
registration date:
residence: DeKalb
gender: Female
age: 87
race: W
estimated birth year: 1883
registration note:
certificate number: 005597
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There are earlier Georgia death certificates here: http://cdm.sos.state.ga.us/cdm4/gadeaths.php I just searched randomly, and the one I looked at did have parents' names on them. I would guess that later death certificates have the same or more information on them.
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I posted on the Inverness board to see if anyone can give us some help regarding the Morrisons. We haven't had anyone respond on the Inverness-shire thread though we have had 29 interested readers so far. ;)
In order to keep things connected, here's the link.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,603928.0.html
In the meantime abar44, I think you may have more on the the Morrisons in the Oakland cemetery plot than I do. I quit looking after I figured out my MacDiarmids were there except mother Effie ;) so never determined if there was a family relationship between Effie & the other Morrisons.
Have you searched any census records for John E. Morrison & his wife Mary Margaret Knapp Morrison to see where each was born? Also, do you have anything to indicate what the relationship was between John E Morrison & A. Morrison Jr?
Do you have birth & death dates for any of these three?
Finally, do you know if either John E Morrison or A. Morrison Jr. had a daughter. (I was wondering if the Anna M. Travis in the Morrison plot might be a daughter to one of them.)
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Hi abar44
I've had some good finds today!
Can you please provide the birth & death dates for J.E. Morrison & A.Morrison Jr.? I'm reasonably sure that they are brothers to the mother (Effie) of my three MacDiarmid boys who in the Morrison cemetery plot.
I'm going to see if J.E & Angus Jr came into North America through Canada as it is unlikley they went directly to the USA during the American Civil War (1860-1865).
To that end, do you know if J.E. Morrison married your Mary Margaret Knapp in Canada following her family's arrival here & before the Knapp family left for sunnier climates in the south? Also, just so I'm clear, was she daughter Frederic Addington Knapp and his wife Amy of Bodmin, Cornwall?
It has been a good day. :)
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I'm afraid that all I know of the Morrisons is what I have from Oakland Cemetery and some marginal notes in a Knapp family history.
My Aunt May, Mary Margaret Knapp Morrison, married Uncle John Morrison in Atlanta, I'm sure. All the information I have is his death, at age 65 October 26, 1938. He would have been a bit older than my Aunt May who died September 2, 1965 at age 84. Other than remembering tales of Uncle John Morrison, we have nothing in writing. I do recall, however, reading somewhere that she was widowed after 28 years of marriage. They had no children.
There is an elder John and a younger one as well buried at Oakland. John E. seems to fit my Aunt May's time if he was a bit older than she. The Morrisons were in the hardware business in Atlanta as was her father and her maternal grandfather.
Aunt May was the daughter of Reginald Herbert Knapp who was born in Truro, I think, and who came to Canada with his parents and siblings. He subsequently came south following his love. I have not looked at the timeline such as we have lately, but I think that was immediately before the beginning of the War. Aunt May was born in Atlanta and I doubt she ever visited Canada. Her older sister Jay Spencer Knapp did however, visiting the family residence. Spencer, in fact, sold the house at 98 Huntley Street, Toronto, about 1926 when the last surviving Knapp passed away.
Once again, I need to get my details together so I can answer with assurance. I also need to spell out what I do know of Reginald Herbert's siblings who did not come south to be able to make a meaningful post.
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Perfect. That's very helpful. :)
I now know that at least one of Effie's brothers, John, died in Georgia. ;)
I've found a 1900 census with a father John Morrison who is the right age to be Effie's brother who has a son named Angus Jr & a daughter named Anna. I don't know if they are a fit for this family yet, but thought that Anna might be your Anna Travis. ???
John E Morrison married to Mary Margaret Knapp could be Effie's nephew. I followed he and Mary Margaret in Atlanta directories up to 1938 which corresponds with your info re his death.
I'll continue working on it in the morning & let you know where it leads.
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Hi abar44
Do you happen to have a site map for the entire Morrison plot in Oakland Cemetery - or does anyone know where I can access that on-line. (I'd like the map, not just the *A* transcripts so I can ensure the names on the transcripts are co-located in the Morrison plot & not in some other area of the cemetery. ;))
Alternatively abar44, do you have photos of all the Morrison stones in the family plot?
I have one page of the Oakland Cemetery map noted as Block 345, Lot 1&2, purchased 24 Jan 1878 that includes:
Mary Knapp Morrison
Donald John MacDiarmid
John MacDiarmid
Angus MacDiarmid
Jane Davidson Kendrick
Frederick William Hardin
I think that the cemetery transcript for John Morrison (d.2 Oct 1905) is uncle to the MacDiarmid boys & brother to their mother, Effie. His first wife, Marion MacLean (1837-1881) appears to be there too. I need to double check to see if they are in the Morrison plot to be sure.
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The attachment to my post of June 25 includes 2 pages of the Morrison plot plan from Oakland Cemetery. You are evidently looking at the second page only. I can send it directly if you like.
The only image I have of a Morrison monument is in the background of John Knapp Jr's monument found at:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=knapp&GSfn=john&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=12&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=58117324&df=all&
It is my intention to seek images of the Morrison monuments at Oakland but I haven't done so yet.
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I think we've just about wrapped this one up.
I totally missed that attachment in the June 25 post on RootsChat. Now lots more makes sense. (I also totally forgot about Find-A-Grave as it's next to empty when it comes to searching in Canada, and particularly so in western Canada. I will be visiting there to see what I can see.)
In the event anyone else comes searching one day, here is a quick summary.
We don't know why the Morrisons would have gone to Georgia when most from North Uist were heading to Australia or Canada. Perhaps we'll never know.
We know emigration occurred before 1878 as that was when the Morrison burial plot was purchased. I also suspect that it was either John E Morrison's father or John E Morrison's uncle Angus that my Angus MacDiarmid worked for when he arrived in Georgia 1872.
The burial plot in Oakland Cemetery was purchased in 1878 by John Morrison (m. Marion Morrison nee MacLean) & his brother Angus Morrison (doesn't appear to have married). All were born on North Uist.
As John & Marion married in 1867 & daughter Ann wasn't born until 1878, I suspect there were a few other children in addition to Angus Jr. and John E. I suspect that Marion died following childbirth of John E. though I'm trying to double check that with a death certificate.
Darn that burned 1890 census as it may have shown more children for John & Marion, though perhaps not as they don't seem to appear in the Morrison burial plot. Perhaps I can try find the family in 1880.
The 1900 census incorrectly lists John as having been born in Georgia (so doesn't give a hint as to the year of emigration) with parents dying in Scotland. John Morrison, appears in the 1900 census with Ann, Angus Jr, & John E.
John E. Morrison married Mary Margaret "May" Knapp.
John & Angus' sister Effie shows up in Georgia in 1883 after her husband Alexander MacDiarmid dies on Benbecula in 1869. She has a monument in her honour on North Uist dated 1905, though there is no confirmation that she died in Scotland. There is a family letter that indicates that she went home to Scotland, but it could have confused the headstone in Scotland with a burial. The last public record of Effie is the 1900 census in Shake Rag, Fayette County, Georgia with her son Angus.
Effie comes to the USA to connect with her 2nd eldest son, Angus who came in 1872. She brings her eldest daughter Margaret "Peggy" who is married to a MacDonald. That couple have three children in the USA before returning to Benbecula where they appear in the 1891 census. Effie also brings sons: Archie, Donald John & John. Archie returns home abt 1894 & dies of TB in 1895. Donald John commits suicide in 1920, John dies of a heart attack on a train in Florida in 1921, and Angus dies a week after returning from a trip to Scotland in 1921.
I strongly suspect that Ann Travis is daughter of John Morrison & Marion MacLean.
I strongly suspect that Angus Jr. is the Angus Morrison in the burial plot who died in 1927.
In the meantime, Effie's eldest son, Donald, comes to Canada in 1883, dying in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1937. He married Jane MacDonald (d. 1949 Earlswood District, Saskatchewan), do. Roderick MacDonald (1828 South Uist-1909 Earlswood District, Saskatchewan) & Mary MacRury (b. Benbecula - d.1927 Earlswood District, Saskatchewan). Donald & Jane had 12 children.
Effie also had daughters Ann & Mary, both of who remained in Scotland, married & had children.
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To make the Oakland Cemetery record a wee bit clearer:
Angus Morrison (in plot 3 who died 1 Feb 1923) was married to Matilda C ? (from Virginia in plot 2 who died 12 Apr 1900). The couple had daughter Sallie A Morrison (in plot 1 who died 20 May 1944).
Daughter Sallie does not appear to have married or to have had children.
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Hello
Hope this message reaches you. I have read your posts about the MacDiarmid's with great interest.
Ann MacDiarmid was my great grandmother. I personally don't have much information but my father does and has some photos.
I was amazed when I saw the photo you posted of her brother, John. He is the absolute image of my son, also named John.
If you can get in touch please do and I can pass you what information I have as we are most likely related.
Rhona
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How lovely to meet your Rhonda. :) Welcome to RootsChat.
I have come quite a bit further since this thread was started 6 years ago. (Many thanks to all the Chatters who have helped along the way.)
Your Ann married Alexander Nicolson (if I'm following you.)
I have tea quite often with a descendant of Ann's sister Peggy. (Coincidentally, we both moved to the same area of Canada in retirement & were subsequently electronically introduced by a descendant of the family who lives in Edinburgh.)
I'd love to share information. If you post a message here 2 more times, then we can use the private messaging system & exchange email addresses. :)
I'm looking forward to getting to know you. :)
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Hello
Great to hear from you. Yes, I did notice that the posts were from a few years ago so good to know you are still out there.
Yes, Ann was married to Alexander Nicholson.
Their son, Andrew, was my grandfather.
His son, Angus, is my dad.
My father has at least one photo of Ann and Alexander which I can send to you soon.
I don't really know that much myself but I can get information from my dad.
Likewise it would be nice to hear what you know.
I live in Scotland but am fortunate enough to have visited Canada several times lately.
'Ill gather some information over the weekend and get back to you on Monday.
Yes, that would be good if we can exchange emails a little further down the line.
Look forward to hearing more
Rhona.
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Good morning Rhona. One more post from you & I can send you a private message. Just write hi or something similar. :)
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Hello
That would be good to hear from you so I can ask you a few things.
Thanks
Rhona
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Hi Red Mystic
I came across your original post whilst searching for information about Dr John MacDiarmid of Leland, Florida.
I stress that I have not read all the answers to your query, but thought you would like to know that there is a gravestone in the old Clachan Sands graveyard on the island of North Uist, erected by Dr John and his sister Anne (married surname Nicholson) in memory of their parents.
The inscription reads: Erected by ANN NICHOLSON Grimsay & Dr. JOHN MACDIARMID Deland, Florida U.S.A. In ever loving memory of our dear parents and aunt ALEXANDER MACDIARMID died 26th July 1865 age 64 EFFIE MORRISON died 2nd Dec. 1905 age 79 MARY MACDIARMID died 29th Mar. 1910 age 82
From Ann's death register it is known that her father Alexander (i.e. not Angus, which is the name you have) was a crofter. Ann married her husband in June 1886, and seems to be the only one who stayed in the Uists.
I have further information on Alexander's and Effie's ancestry, if you are interested in knowing more.