Struggling

[Forfarian]

Baptism 1 Sep 1823 St James Clerkenwell for Duncan McArthur BROWNING
Born 14 June
Parents – Sarah and Duncan Browning – wine merchant, St John Street.
My guess at the moment is that she was Sarah McArthur, and possibly they were not married. The boy was perhaps reared by his mother or her family ?, and knew himself as Duncan McArthur.

Very good, Neale.

But if they had not been married she would not have been listed as Sarah Browning - unless they were being economical with the truth. But maybe Duncan jr had a reason for dropping his father's name and emigrating to America?

[Ladyhawk]

1870/1880 US census his occ Custom House Broker
1850 US census Duncan McArthur occ Clerk

For info…… there is this Duncan McArthur but he’s born in Scotland 
1851 census Abbotsford Place, 33, Gorbals, Laurieston, Lanarkshire, Scotland
DUNCAN McArthur   Son   Unmarried 1821   Clerk (customs) Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire
1841 census Shore Street, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland
DUNCAN  McArthur   1820   Renfrewshire, Scotland

That's a good find, but you then have to explain how come he was in Glasgow in 1851 if he was in New York in 1850 (for the census) and 1852 (to get married).

This looks like the son of Charles McArthur and Elizabeth Forrest, baptised in Port Glasgow on 3 May 1920. There is no record of his death in Scotland unless there's an error in his mother's name in the index.

Good point Forfarian - had forgotten he was on 1850 US census  so he can be ruled out

[Forfarian]

Unless he was just visiting in 1850, before going home to wind up his life there before returning to marry and settle - but we'd need to find at least one passenger list going west to east between the 1850 US census and the 1851 UK census, or going east to west between the UK 1851 census and the date of marriage.

On the other hand, and I think much more significant, is the fact that he consistently says he was born in England.

[Ladyhawk]

Do you think this is the correct burial for Duncan?

Duncan Macarthur
Death Age   60
Death 28 Mar
Burial 1 Apr 1883 Trinity Cemetery
Burial Place   New York, New York, USA
Church Name   Holy Faith
Bronx Holy Faith 1881 - 1892 - New York, U.S., Episcopal Diocese of New York Church Records, 1767-1970

Jane Perry McArthur
Death Age   69
Death 1 Feb
Burial 3 Feb 1903 Trinity
Burial Place   New York, New York, USA
Church Name   Holy Faith

[Forfarian]

I'd say it looks very likely. Same street, same graveyard.

[Forfarian]

It has just struck me that Sarah Benning doesn't sound all that different from Sarah Browning.

Am I clutching at a straw?

[Ladyhawk]

It has just struck me that Sarah Benning doesn't sound all that different from Sarah Browning.

Am I clutching at a straw?

I wondered the same - I posted the link from familysearch towards the beginning of the post but there's no image to view 

Duncan MacArthur Age   59
Father's Name   Duncan MacArthur
Mother's Name   Sarah Benning
Event Type   Death
Event Date   28 Mar 1883
Event Place   Manhattan, New York County, New York, United States

Edit - link to familysearch at reply 6

[Ladyhawk]

For info.

Some of Duncan & Jane's children had their confirmation at Holy Faith on 3 Mar 1889 and marriage

Daisy Mcarthur age 20
Blanche Marriot Macarthur age 18
Isabel Mabel MacArthur age 16

Edith F Macarthur marriage 1877
Isabel Mabel marriage 1897
Blanche Marriot Macarthur 1898

Daisey McArthur
Baptism 1870 New York, New York, USA
Church Name   Trinity
Father   Duncan McArthur
Mother   Jane
details from New York, U.S., Episcopal Diocese of New York Church Records, 1767-1970

[Ladyhawk]

Not sure if this was posted apologies if I'm duplicating - cannot find anything similar for Duncan 

Jane Macarthur [Jane Perry]
Marital Status   Widowed
Age   69  Birth Place   England
Residence Street Address   972 E 166th St
Years in US   51 Years
Death Date   1 Feb 1903
Death Street Address   972 E 166th St
Death Place   New York City, New York, USA
Burial Date   3 Feb 1903
Burial Place   Trinity Cemetery
Father's Birth Place   England Mother's Birth Place   England
Father   William Perry Mother   Mary A Perry
New York, New York, U.S., Index to Death Certificates, 1862-1948 - no image to view