George Affleck abt 1854/1855

[fleck]

Hi:
I am looking for George Affleck b. abt 1855 (Father's Name George)
I have much US documentation. His Naturalization Papers say he immigrated in 1873 Port of New York. His census records indicate immigration in 1869 and 1870.

I have been unable to find him in 1869 port arrivals.
I have been unable to find an 1871 Scottish Census record.
I have been unable to find an 1870 US Census record.

I am starting to think he left home in 1869 and arrived in NY in 1870 and PA in 1873.
If so, there would not be an 1871 Census record in Scotland and there might not be an 1870 census record in the US if he was at sea while the census records were recorded.

Could someone look in the 1861 Census index for Affleck and see if there is a child George son of George approximately 5 - 6 years old? I think he was born in Jun or July of 1855.

None of his records indicate a town of origin.
Rumor has it that the family came from the Edinburgh area, however, my Scottish Geography is quite poor and the rumor is so removed from the original ancestor that I do not put much faith in it.

I found a reference in an 1861 Census Index to:
George Affleck abt 1834 Roxburghshire
George Affleck abt 1854 Roxburghshire

I am wondering if they are Father and Son and I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how I might confirm a link if one exists.

Can someone pull this record and provide the details for me including the source info in case I want to pull the original? I would really appreciate it. This person is my GG Grandfather and my only link to the old world within my actual Family Name. He is the key to my Affleck Roots.

Thanks.
Mark Affleck 1969 Philadelphia PA USA

[rainbowuk]

Hi,

There are 2 Georges that I can see in the 1861 with George as a father.

First one

George Affleck...head..age 44..brn Parton Kirkcudbright...Ag Servant

Annie Affleck.wife..age 31..brn Kirkgunzeon, Kirkcudbright

Agnes Affleck..daur..age 13...brn Troqueer, Kirkcudbright

George Affleck..son..age 11..brn Troqueer, Kirkcudbright

Marion Affleck..daur..age 4..brn Troqueer

William Affleck..son..age 3..brn Troqueer

Living at Back Casslehill, Kirkcudbrightshire


Second one

George Affleck...head..age 27..brn Hawick ,, Roxburghshire...Woolen stockingmaker

Helen Affleck..wife..age 39..brn Jedburgh, Roxburgh...housewife

George Affleck..son..age 7..brn Hawick

Joseph Affleck..son..age 2..brn Hawick

There was also a Helen Maxwell (37), Helen Messer (15) and a David Murray (7) living with them as boarders at 6 Kirkgate Hawick.

Susan

[fleck]

 

Thank you so much.

The Roxburgshire record seems closer to his listed age.
I am wondering how close to Edinburg these two locations are. I did a google and it looked as though Roxburgshire was relatively close.

Any idea on how to link this record to the new world?
I suppose a birth record will simply confirm the Scottish census record. Maybe I can tie a sibling back?

This is great help. Very kind of you.

[fleck]

There is a Joseph Affleck naturalized in Philadelphia in 1880 just two months from George Affleck's Naturalization in Philadelphia. They are both listed as minors upon arrival.

This is another nice clue.

George's In Laws were stocking sewers.
George is listed as working in Worley's Mill.
Maybe a textile mill? Philadelphia had a leading textile industry at the time.

This is looking good.

[MonicaL]

Hi Fleck

Also on the positive side for the Hawick family is that there is no death of a Helen Affleck/Brokie showing on Scotlands People, the official pay to view BMD site. It;s easier to search for married women as you can use both married and maiden surnames.

There is an entry for the marriage/banns for George and Helen Brockie on 10 DEC 1852 Hawick, Roxburgh, Scotland

I can see George Jnr and wife in the 1880 census with two young sons. Do you know the names of all his children and whether the name Helen (Ellen etc.) may have been one of them?

Regards.

Monica

[fleck]

Actually, that 1880 census says woolen mill not Worley si=o he was in textile afterall.

I did see the Dec 10 1852 marriage record.
Apparently there is a Helen Affleck Widow burried here in Germantown PA. I wonder if there is a death record of her husband in Scotland?

George Married Elizabeth in 1876 on the Centennial.
July 3, 1876 in Philadelphia
His children:

Henry 1877
George 10-12-1879
*Joseph 9-24-1883*
Fannie May-1881
Samuel Aug-1895

Is Fannie a real name or a nickname?
We don't hear of to many Fannie's nowadays!!!

Henry was probably named for Elizabeth's Father Henry Rickard
George was probably named for his grandfather.
Joseph was probably named for the 2 year old on the 1861 census.
Samuel was named for Samuel Harmer Rickard. Elizabeth's brother. (He was witness on the Naturalization Paperwork).
They must have been tight.

I found a marriage record for Joseph Affleck in 1880.
He married Fannie Scherwood. So now we know where the name Fannie came from.

[MonicaL]

Mark

Fannie/y can be a pet name for Frances, Euphemia, Stephanie. Do you know the name of Elizabeth's, wife of George, mother?

The only possible entry I could see on Castle Garden would be potentially George Affleck Snr. crossing alone (maybe he went out first and family followed?):

George    Afleck    Stock Raiser / Maker (I wondered whether this was some mistranscription of his 1861 occupation - Woolen Stocking maker)age 29     Arrived: 28 Mar 1864    Origin: Scotland    Ship: Escort

....However, just thought to check the 1871 Census and found the family still here (either George Snr. went and came back before the whole family went over, or they didn't leave until after this date):

George Afflick    37, Weaver (stockrigh), b. Hawick
Helen Afflick    40, b. Jedburgh, Rox
George Afflick    16, Stocking Weaver, b. Hawick
Joseph Affleck    12

Address: North Side Of Village Townfoot, Ancrum, Rox

Maybe you could try posting on the emigrants board here on RootsChat to see whether anyone with access to other databases could find the family's crossing to the US, see www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/board,164.0.html

Regards.

Monica

[MonicaL]

Just checked 1881 and 1891 - no sign of the family in Scotland. Also no obvious deaths for George and Joseph, children,  (in their age ranges) showing at any time.

Looking good 

Regards.

Monica

[fleck]

This is excellent news.
Firstly, the cencus record in 1871 shows that the 1861 age of Helen incorrectly transcribed. The 39 should be 29.
That makes more sense.

Now I can search for and obit. on Helen in Germantown.

Also, the immigration year for George was recorded as 1866, 1869 and 1873 in different places. We just ruled out 1866 and 1869.

So I need a Castle Garden record from 1873.

I think I will post a request as you suggested.

By the way, Elizabth's mother was Mary Ann Harmer,

Thanks greatly for the followup.