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Dear All,

It appears that George did marry two widows, first Mary (----) Ferguson, and second Elizabeth (----) Manson, both in Weldford Parish.  There does appear to still be a conflict in son James DoB, whether it was in 1821 as his grave marker tells us (Findagrave memorial # 106664150), or whether his DoB was in 1826 as the 1861 census suggests.

I am going to try and use the Sutherland Family Tree at Ancestry, and the Findagrave memorial(s) as a depository of what I know about James and his father George.  Hopefully I will eventually determine the rest of George's story, as well as how George arrived in New Brunswick, and where he was eventually buried.

Thanks for your ongoing thoughts and help with this search.  Everything counts, and I appreciate your help.

John

Cosmac,

Thank you.  Interesting.  Since George's son James was born ca 1821, I suspect this may be George's second marriage.

John

Tricia, Sandra,

Here is a bit more history of what I understand about James Sutherland (my great grandfather), his family, and his father George Sutherland (my great-great grandfather).

There was no 1851 Weldford census that I am aware of.  As I recall, the 1851 census was destroyed, perhaps in a fire.  This 1861 Weldford census is probably the first document that I saw that confirmed for me that George Sutherland was James’ father.  James died in 1869 and George died in 1863 so neither man shows up in the 1871 census.  James' wife Mary (Lawson) Sutherland does show up in the 1871 Weldford census as a widow with the seven surviving Sutherland children.  The 1881 Weldford census shows Mary Sutherland now married to Andrew Dale and living with seven surviving Dale children from Andrew's first wife Amelia, also Andrew's mother (Mary SPORES Dale) and also Mary's youngest son James Sutherland (age 13).

George's son James Sutherland’s religion was, as was that of his family, Scotch Presbyterian.  James was a contractor and bridge builder in St. John, NB and he died on Apr 9, 1869 while building a bridge in Saint John, NB.  James left his wife Mary $400.

Mary Lawson was born in Main River, Kent, NB, to Robert Lawson and Jane Underwood-Trimble.  Mary Lawson became Mary Sutherland when she married first James Sutherland on Jan 2, 1854, and became Mary Dale when she married second, Andrew Dale as his second wife, on Apr 2, 1877.

James and Mary (Lawson) Sutherland were married in Richibucto on Jan 2, 1854, and had eight children, including: Alexander, Robert Lawson, Mary Esdale, George (b. Jun, 1861, d. Aug 27, 1861), Jane, George, Elizabeth (Lizzie), and James.  Andrew and Mary (Lawson) Dale had no children that I am aware of, but Andrew was married three times and had nine children with his first wife, Amelia Penrose MacArthie, and one child with his third wife, Martha Ann Boyce.

Mary (Lawson) Dale died of cancer on a farm in Main River, Kent, NB on Mar 24, 1884.  James Sutherland and his wife Mary Dale are both buried in St Andrew's Cemetery in Rexton, Kent, NB (see Findagrave memorials # 106664150 and # 106664408 respectively).  Mary Dale's grave is located next to that of her first husband, James Sutherland.  Andrew Dale is buried in Saint Paul’s Anglican Church Cemetery in Richibucto, Kent, NB (see Findagrave memorial # 106664779).

I hope this is helpful.

Best regards,

John

Sandra, Trish,

Thanks for responding.  Yes, this is an old inquiry that I have never successfully resolved.  In the recent years I've been adding several thousand new ancestors on other branches, and am just now returning and trying to find George.  I've even considered having DNA testing done to try and follow his path back to Scotland.  I'm sure he lived, but his history is still a mystery.

As a side note, I also found a land petition dated July 14, 1825 for a George Sutherland, age 36, in York County, NB.  Because of the age difference (b. ca 1789), and because of the York County location, I have not included this find in my analysis. 

Best regards,

John Sutherland