Bryson/McGregor of Monzievaird, N.Y., V.A. , & Monzievai

[grannysrock]

Hi I'm looking for ideas as to why my ancestors sailed to New York in 1817, were in Richmond Virginia by 1820 and in Monzievaird again in 1826.
I was lucky enough to find an early passenger list with Robert Bryson & his spouse Elizabeth McGregor and their 2 year old daughter Jean ( my 5th grandparents and 4th great grandmother resp. ) heading to New York in 1817 . They then headed down to Richmond Virginia, had son Robert , and then the next I know of them , is that son Malcolm is baptised in Monzievaird in 1826 , Robert senior being deceased.
On the passenger list , there is a possé of Perthshire folks , including probable relatives of Robert and Elizabeth. I can't but help thinking they went off to do something in particular , but what ?
Robert seniors's occupation was possibly a mason, possibly a general labourer. (this according to Jean & Robert junior's death certs - but they lived to old age ..) . Elizabeth's father was distiller, and a mason .- this from sasines ) . The passenger list describes Robert as a labourer , but I have found some other skilled tradesmen relatives on passenger lists described this way...

So why Virginia ? Do any of you know of any great job opportunities for labouring mason distillers in Richmond in 1817 ?

Sally

PS I have found 2 Robert Brysons ( not transcribed that way) in Richmond VA in the 1820 census, but I cannot interpret the records very meaningfully ...

[SarahND]

Hi Sally,
For a moment I thought you had some info on my Robert Bryson who went to New York and promptly died... Ah well, we all have our Robert Bryson mysteries, I guess

PS I have found 2 Robert Brysons ( not transcribed that way) in Richmond VA in the 1820 census, but I cannot interpret the records very meaningfully ...

The 1820 census isn't terribly informative, only giving the name of the head of household and the approximate ages of the household members and their sex and color. In between the Free White Males and Free White Females on the left, and the Slaves and Free Colored Persons on the right, are 4 columns (sometimes fewer in some states). Left to right:

1) Foreigners not naturalized (presumably Robert was one of those)
2) Number of persons engaged in Agriculture
3) Number of persons engaged in Commerce
4) Number of persons engaged in manufactures

This is as close as it gets to giving an occupation. Which one was Robert? It might give a vague idea what he was doing...

Sorry, besides the fact that one always needs distillers, I have no enlightening thing to say about Richmond in 1820...

Cheers,
Sarah

[Anne H]

Hi Sally,

I don't have an answer for you either, other than they were simply hoping for a better life in the New World and headed first for New York before heading to Virginia.

Just a thought...if you're able to get to a Family History Center you might get lucky and find out a little more information...take a look here...
https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Virgin ... mmigration to see if they might have something that helps.

Might be worth a try.

Regards,
Anne H

[grannysrock]

Sarah - I don't know for definite which one is my Robert ( if either ) . The oldest male of both household 's is in the 26-45 category ! If I am interpreting things right they are both in agriculture ( Hops ? )
Would help if there were headings on the sheets !

................................... Robert Bryson Junior / Robert Bryson Senior

Free white males under ten years..................1………….1
Free white males of ten
and under sixteen.................................0………….0
Free white males between
sixteen and eighteen..............................0………….0
Free white males of sixteen and under
twenty-six, including heads of families...........0………….2
Free white males of twenty six and under
forty-five, including heads of families...........1………….1
Free white males of forty five and
upwards, including heads of families..............0………….0
Free white females under ten years................1………….1
Free white females of ten
and under sixteen.................................1………….0
Free white females of sixteen and under
twenty-six, including heads of families...........1………….0
Free white females of twenty six and under
forty-five, including heads of families...........0………….0
Free white females of forty five and
upwards, including heads of families..............0………….0
Foreigners not naturalized........................2………….4
Numbers of persons engaged
in Agriculture....................................1………….1

Numbers of persons engaged
in Commerce.......................................0………….0
Numbers of persons engaged
in Manufactures...................................0………….0
Slaves
Females under fourteen............................0………….1
Females of fourteen and...........................………….
under twenty-six..................................0………….1


Naturally I hope its Junior. As there doesn't seem to be a wife in the second household, it could be right enough, but shouldn't the foreigners not naturalized be at least 3 ?



Anyway - Sarah - do tell me about your mysterious Robert Bryson - you never know I might have "bumped into" him somewhere ...


Ann - many thanks for that link . I really must get to a FHC - they do exist in Belgium , its just a question of opening hours. I did chuckle when I read that

Beginning in the late 18th century, Virginia lost many residents as families moved westward to new states and territories. There was very little foreign immigration to Virginia after 1800.

Well I never follow the herd either !!!!
Your right of course - they may never have intended to got to Virginia in the first place. I will try to track some of the others on the list to see if this gives any more clues.

Sally