George McPherson

[*Sandra*]

1891 census 4 Scholland Dunrossness Shetland.

Parish Dunrossness ED 4 Page 10 Line 23

Thomas Johnston 36 shoemaker.
Helen Johnston   39
Thomas Johnston 10
Elizabeth J Johnston   8

Sandra

[*Sandra*]

1881 census Northhouse Dunrossness Shetland.

Parish Dunrossness ED 3  Page  4 Line  6

Robert Leslie   56
Jean Leslie   57
Thomas Johnson 25 son-in-law
Helon Johnson   29 Navy reserve & Seaman'S Wife
Thomas Johnson 4 Months
Jean Leslie   17

Sandra

[*Sandra*]

Parents marriage - Thomas Johnston - Helen Leslie - 1879 - 003/1 11 - Dunrossness

Father  Thomas Johnston - 12 December 1854  Dunrossness, Shetland
died 20 May 1894 -  Scholland, Dunrossness.

Scotlands People - THomas Johnston - 39 years -1894 003/1 4 Dunrossness

Mother Helen Leslie - 1 January 1852  Northouse, Dunrossness, SHI, SCT
died 31 Ausgust 1932 The Hays, Dunrossness, SHI, SCT

Scotlands People - Helen Johnston  - aged 80 years -  1932 003/1 12 - Dunrossness

Sandra

[*Sandra*]

UK return passenger list - New York to Glasgow - arriving 2 August 1913
Eliza McPherson aged 31 years - Thos aged 8 years and John aged 11 months.
Country of last permanent residence USA. Future residence foreign country.

Sandra

[*Sandra*]

New York Passenger List - Eliz McPherson - aged 29 years and Thomas McPherson aged 5 years -
both going to Chicago Illinois. Arriving 7 May 1912 on the Columbia.
Mother Mrs Johnston. Lerwick. Shetland Scotland.
Going to Geo MacPherson - 2830 Princeton Avenue. Chicago Illinois.

Sandra

[AlexRitchie]

To complete the picture, Elizabeth McPherson died January 29th.1964 in Lerwick. Her death certificate states "married to George McPherson - Stone Mason", so not sure how this ties in with Mae DeShaw !!
Elizabeth was on the 1921 and 1931 Property Valuation rolls (House and shop) in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. George's family (his parents etc) lived there in Peterhead after they moved from Cullen. But later she moved back up to the Shetlands.
Strange situation, George living in the U.S. and Elizabeth back in Scotland from 1913 onwards.
Not sure when Mae entered the picture.  It's been an absorbing task trying to follow George's travels.

[AlexRitchie]

On the birth record for John Flaws McPherson in Cook County Chicago his birth date is given as March 11th.1913. The Registration date is given as December 10th. 1951.  Why would there be such a gap in the dates ?

[*Sandra*]

A delayed birth certificate, or delayed birth registration signifies that the birth of an individual was not filed with proper vital records office within the first year after the child’s birth. Born 11 th March as you said and travelled back to the UK 2 August 1913.
Perhaps John required a birth certificate in 1951.

Sandra

[AlexRitchie]

It looks like we are unlikely to find a marriage date for George McPherson & Mae Deshaw (if, indeed, they were "officially" married, which really is the only piece of the "jigsaw" missing from my story. I'm wondering if, as a result of George's marriage to Lizzie Johnston under the auspices of the "Christian Bretheren", this might be a factor. I mean would that denomination at that time even recognise the concept of divorce ? That would certainly have made life difficult for George vis-a-vis his marital arrangements.
However, I have learned so much about George's life in the U.S. thanks to hard work of the folks that have contributed to this thread. I am extremely grateful for all the help and information. Thank you all so very much.