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I have a letter written in 1841 to my 3x great grandfather James P.McPherson, which pertains to  an upcoming election.  I would like some help deciphering the name of the writer  --- and any other input someone more knowledgeable than I about the time and place the letter was written.  You can find the letter on my blog:
http://rootsnleaves.blogspot.com/2011/10/amanuensis-monday-james-p-mcpherson-and.html

You can also contact me by email if the letter is not clear enough for deciphering the handwriting

I am most appreciative of any help that you can provide.

Thank You,
Joan Hill

I am looking for information about Elizabeth Horrock.  (All of the family records show her name as Herrick, but her marriage record indicates that her name is Horrock.

This is what I know:
 Elizabeth Horrock married William Gibson Burns on April 9, 1821, in St. Peter's Church, Bolton, Lancashire. (Verified)

WilliamGibson Burns was born in 1801, in Oldham (Verified);  Supposedly, Elizabeth was 15 years his senior.  I would like to verify this bit of information.

A son, Jabez Burns(1826), and a daughter Mary (1822) were born to the couple. Where would I find birth records for Jabez and Mary?

There have been other children that I do not know about. ()

By about 1829, the family had removed to Dundee.
Elizabeth removed to America with her son Jabez in 1844 (or at least showed up with him on the 1850 US Census.

I am interested in Elizabeth Horrock, specifically, and in the Horrocks in general.  I understand that this was a very common name in Lancashire in the early 19th century.  Where does the name come from?  Anyone have any idea how I should proceed on research of this name, given this paucity of information?

Thanks in advance --- y'all have been so very helpful on other subjects that I have posted.

Joan Hill

I have been transcribing my 3x great grandfather's diary (the diary of James Peter McPherson, Springdale, Wisconsin - 1850-1900).  He was born in Dundee(1815), to Peter McPherson, who died before his son's birth; and to Elizabeth Spink.  She was the daughter of John Spink, seaman from Abroath, and she had a brother James who was witness in the marriage record.

Apparently, Elizabeth kept her maiden name, as I found her and James Peter in the 1841 Census in Dundee.  James Peter McPherson, her son, was working at a flax dresser in the Dundee mills at the time.  He and his new bride, Mary Burns emigrated to
America the next year.

My 3x great grandfather had great penmanship, and in America, he was the letter writer for his village, as well as Justice of the Peace, and engaged in local government and politics.

My question is:  How did a young man, who lost his father before birth, lived with a single mom who was a daughter of a seaman, acquire such an educational background.  Family oral history indicates that he was "greatly self taught."

As I go thru his diary and papers, this questions keeps popping into my head. I am quite interested in the educational opportunities of the time.   Any help?

I am looking for either a death certificate and/or obituary for Jabez Burns D.D.  He was born in Oldham in 1805 and died January 31, 1876.  He is buried in Paddington Old Cemetery, Kilburn, Greater London, Plot 1 O.

There are excerpts written about him, which indicates he was very close to his "godly mother" --- but I have no idea who his parents were. 

I would greatly appreciate any help that I can get on Jabez Burns, or his brother William Gibson Burns, who was also born in Oldham.

Thank you.

Joan Hill,
Ashland, Oregon, USA

I am writing about my ggg-grandfather, James Peter McPherson, b 1815.  Things that I have pieced together.
1) He was pretty well educated --- kept a journal from at least the age of 24 , was a voracious reader later in life, a justice of the peace, an arbiter, wrote legislation
2) worked as a flax dresser (per 1841 census), which was not a well paid job
3) it appears that his father died before he was born
4) his mother's maiden name was Spink  and she was married in Arbroath (or nearby)
5) emigrated to American in 1842

So I am wondering about schools in Dundee and Arbroath from the 1820s to 1830s  ---  what kind of schools were in this area?  parochial?  endowed? unendowed? what exactly did endowed and unendowed mean regarding edition?  who went to school?  all children?  only children of the "well to do"?  what constituted "well to do"?
Joan

Looking forward to some great conversations  ---
p.s.  I live on the west coast of the U.S.