James Moffatt Percy Jones

[dumfries-victor]

I am looking for data on James Moffatt Percy Jones, b. February 3, 1887, in Dumfriesshire, to George Percy and his wife (a Robertson).  He was orphaned early and adopted by his aunt (Anne Robertson) and her husband John Jones.  Somewhere between his 8th and 12th birthday, he was shipped to the USA.  His older brothers, George, Charles, and Walter Percy lived their lives in the Dumfries area.  Any help on this line will be appreciated.

[Gadget]

Hi Victor 

I think some of your facts might be a little out but this is what I've found from his birth registration:

3rd February 1887 James Robertson Percy, born 2.50 pm at 109 High Street, Dumfries to George Percy, dyer (journeyman) and Mary Ann - maiden surname Moffat. His parents were married on Dec 10th 1878 in Dumfries.

Regards

Gadget

[Gadget]

also found what looks like his father and a new wife and brothers Walter and George on the 1891 census in Maxwelltown Troqueer, Kikcudbrightshire (Maxwelltown is just to the west of Dumfries):

65 Glasgow St, Maxwelltown

District 882 Ed 8 Page 25

George Percy, 32, Jobbing Dyer, b. Dumfries
Agnes, 32, b. Dumfries
George R, 12, b. Dumfries
Walter, 7, b. Mawelltown
Agnes Mathieson, Mother in law, 60, b. Kirkmahoe

Gadget

[Gadget]

Mary Ann's parents were John Moffat, a master painter (dead at the time of her marriage in 1878) and Ann (maiden surname, Robertson). Mary Ann was 20 at her marriage.

In the 1871, she is living with her widowed mother and elder brother:

34 Queensberry Close, Dumfries
District 821/1  ED  8 Page 13

Ann Moffat, 36, sick nurse, b. Dumfries
James, 16, apprentice painter, b. Dumfries
Mary Ann, 11, b. Dumfries

I'll try to find Mary Ann's sister so that we can find out more about James.

Gadget

[Gadget]

The IGI just shows the births of the following to John Moffat and Ann Robertson in Dumfries:

James Robertson Moffat, 24 June 1855 - worth getting the birth cert from Scotlands People ( www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk ) for this one! (lots of extra info on 1855 certs)

Mary Ann Moffat, 23 May 1857

Janet Moffat, 14 February 1859

I'll do some more checks on this Janet.

There is a bit of confusion because there is another family of Moffat, father Ezikiah (or similar) was a tinsmith and theyused similar names for their children so I'm having to be very very careful!

Gadget

[Gadget]

Mary Ann Percy, nee Moffat died on 23 October 1889, aged 31. Married to George Percy, dyer. She died from TB - 10 years.

I'm wondering about her birthdate - seems some inconsistencies - can't find much on sister Janet 

Are you sure James was adopted by his mother's sister?

Gadget

[Gadget]

I might have found James in Roxburghshire in 1891:

2 Lynnwood Cottages, Hawick
District 789 ED 15 Page 8

John Jones, 31, carder, b. Maxwelltown, Kirkcudbrightshire
Annie, 28, b. Carlisle
James, 4, b. Dumfries

No sign of them in 1901, so it might fit with them emigrating.

Gadget

[Gadget]

John Jones married Annie Robertson in Hawick in 1885 (GROS ref 789 Page 32)

There is no James Jones born Dumfries at the time stated so I think this might well be the couple who adopted James.

I'm trying to find a relationship. Annie might be James's mother's cousin rather than sister. Her parents were George Robertson and Janet Hepburn.

Gadget

[Gadget]

Ann Moffat, James's grandmother died in 1912, aged 80. Her father was a George Robertson. No mother given. Son in law George Percy was the informant.

I think this might well be   the relationship but Annie Jones (nee Robertson)  is so much younger than than Ann Moffat 

Gadget