Looking for McKimmies in Niagra .....

Post by **joette** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 5:00 pm

I think that the McKimmies I have found heading for Niagra on the Ellis Island site are mine. I remember my Granny telling of her Brother Willie McKimmie's visit there during WW1.
We have John arriving 1900 on the SS.Furnessia & going to his sister Mrs.Ferguson of Kingana? St Niagra Falls.
Then we have the wife of James McKimmie -Janet Gibson returning with her US born daughter Elizabeth aged 1 after visiting her father James Gibson of 3 Comely Place,Edinburgh. 1923 with visits in 1919& 22.
Her home address is given as 415 4th St Niagra Falls NY.
John is coming from Crieff so I am assuming he is son of James McKimmie/Rosanna Fraser & so my GGreat-Uncle.
I knew that Gibsons had married onto the family too so as the name is unusual & the location similiar am assuming connection.
Now what do I do next? I have never really looked in the USA before but would love to check Census & Deaths how the heck do I start?
I have a hunch that they have moved over the border to Canada at some point but will stick with the Usa for now.
Anybody point me in the right direction please?

JustJean · Post by **JustJean** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 5:46 pm

Hi Joette

Any idea what John's sister's first name might be?....or her husband's? There is one Ferguson family in Niagara Falls on the 1900 Census living on Niagara Street. Both parents born Scotland....one son born New Jersey....son's name Hamish? indexed as Hannish. I can give full details if you think they are yours.

Best wishes
Jean

Post by **joette** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 12:19 pm

Sorry I have looked for Johns birth to check if he is the son of James/Rosanna but think he may be nephew/grandson. Names that are popular are Mary,Rosanna,Catherine,Christina,Charlotte,Isabella & Margeret.
I think they must be mine as the connection with Crieff,I know there were McKimmie relations in Niagra circa1900's when my Granny's only surviving brother was sent to Usa to escape the War.I have always thought his parents courageous to do this in the face of extreme hostility & objections from others but having seen two children die extremely painful deaths I admire their desire to protect there son from the War.
The Family were all sold up,possessions sold & tickets bought when they were told that their two year old would not live long.They were leaving to join family in Niagra.My Granny had vivid memories of her little brother screaming in pain & asking his Mother to "turn me to my other side please Mummy" So if he had survived I would not be here to ask these questions.
I would be so grateful for the Census info.I have only recently started to track this side of the family.I loved my Granny dearly but was not too fond of her surviving sisters who treated her like dirt.I know that the McKimmies were a strong,loving family & I like to think she took after them & her sisters after the Jenkins.

The John is my GGrandafthers brother John Gordon Smith McKimmie the son of Rosanna Fraser/James McKimmie senior born 1879 & therefore GGrandpa's younger brother.Unless he is a nephew of GGrandpas so I have no idea of his sisters.Cant find a McKimmie/Ferguson marriage in Scotland so I am hoping they married in USA or its not them!.
With such a large family with an age variation of 25 years it makes things complicated when siblings are similiar ages to nieces/nephews.

JustJean · Post by **JustJean** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 3:33 am

Hi Joette

I'm confused

but perhaps this will all fit together for you. The first name of Mrs Ferguson is Christina...so that fits into your most common name list nicely. And since she is enumerated on the 1900 census as age 36 born in 1863 and immigrating in 1892 and only being married for 5 years..... you'd think she might have appeared on the 1881 census in Scotland with or even without her family !!...but the only Christina McKimmie I find is this one:

Dwelling: 1 Gilcomston Terrace
Census Place: Aberdeen Old Machar, Aberdeen, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203448 GRO Ref Volume 168-2 EnumDist 7B Page 20
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
William MC KIMMIE M 38 M Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Stoker At Gas Work
Isabella MC KIMMIE M 28 F Keith, Banff, Scotland
Rel: Wife
Jane MC KIMMIE 10 F Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Scholar
Isabella MC KIMMIE 9 F Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Scholar
Elizabeth MC KIMMIE 6 F Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Scholar
Jessie Ann MC KIMMIE 4 F Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Christina F. MC KIMMIE 2 F Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Robert J. MC KIMMIE 1 m M Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland
Rel: Son
Jane MURRAY W 53 F Keith, Banff, Scotland
Rel: Visitor
Occ: Annuitant
Robert MURRAY U 23 M Keith, Banff, Scotland
Rel: Boarder
Occ: Mason (Granite Stone Journeyman)

and she doesn't have a brother named John. But then there is this family that looks like the James/Rosanna combo you mentioned...but they don't have a Christina......but do have a John

Dwelling: Minmore Cottage
Census Place: Inveravon, Banff, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203440 GRO Ref Volume 157-2 EnumDist 1 Page 12
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
James MC KIMMIE M 47 M Grange, Banff, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Coachman
Rosanna MC KIMMIE M 43 F Glenrinnes, Banff, Scotland
Rel: Wife
Joseph T. F. MC KIMMIE 13 M Elgin, Elgin, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Scholar
William T. MC KIMMIE 10 M Elgin, Elgin, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Scholar
Mary B. MC KIMMIE 6 F Glenlivet, Banff, Scotland
Rel: Dau
Occ: Scholar
Rosanna MC KIMMIE 4 F Glenlivet, Banff, Scotland
Rel: Dau
John G. S. MC KIMMIE 1 M Glenlivet, Banff, Scotland
Rel: Son

Sooooo.....my question being....how is John visiting his "sister"? Or do I have the wrong families altogether

BUT then again

According to the IGI James McKimmie and Rosanna Fraser did have a Christina...only in 1857...

1. WILLIAM TRAIL MCKIMMIE - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 09 MAY 1870 Elgin, Moray, Scotland

2. CHRISTINA MC KIMMIE - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 13 DEC 1857 Keith, Banff, Scotland

3. WILLIAM FRASER MC KIMMIE - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 17 NOV 1862 Grange, Banff, Scotland

4. JAMES MC KIMMIE - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 11 JAN 1860 Grange, Banff, Scotland

5. LEWIS INKSON MC KIMMIE - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 17 FEB 1865 Grange, Banff, Scotland

6. MARY BISSET MCKIMMIE - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 14 MAY 1874 Inveravon, Banff, Scotland

7. JOSEPH THOMPSON FRASER MC KIMMIE - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 05 AUG 1867 Elgin, Moray, Scotland

So maybe the Christina in Niagara Falls has adjusted her age slightly.....but darned if I know where she was in 1881.....

The 1900 census details are on their way to you in an email.

Best wishes
Jean

Post by **joette** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 10:48 am

Thanks for that I am pretty sure that the Niagra ones are mine.
As you can see they are not averse to reusing names ie the first William drowned aged two & my Great-Grandfather William was born six years after his brother's death & with Lewis inbetween.
I can find no Marriage /Death for Christina on SP so I can only speculate that she has shaved a few years off her age to match her Husbands& that they married in USA or I think she is the second Christina.
Also I am speculating that the child might not be theirs as one of my Grannys stories concerns a child who was abandonded on the doorsteps of one of the McKimmies/Frasers.They knew who the child was & his education was provided for on the proviso that his true identity was never revealed. The daughter of the big house however was "unseen" for several months so I guess a lot of speculation was not needed.Wish Id payed more attention to her tales.
Would they be able to claim him as theirs & that he had been born USA if he had in fact been born Scotland & brought to them as their own child- I am imagining an older wife unable to concieve,this baby turns up lets send the "sin" overseas.Is my imagination running away with me?
Will check my records but I think Christina 1 died in childhood & she is Christina two.I was hoping to find John McKImmie with them to confirm but I cant remember date of arrival in USA.
Thanks for all your effort I really appreciate it.The McKimmies are missing from a few Censuses ie my Great-Grandparents in 1891/1901& also his parents in 1891/1901. Now I know they were definetly in Scotland so I am thinking some sort of indexing problem which I will tackle in due course.

Post by **joette** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 2:51 pm

I have sorted out this mess.Yes Christina Ferguson is definetly John Gordon Smith McKimmie's sister.Christina/James married in Canada!
They have another child who is about 9 in the 1930 Census.A girl whose name eludes me at the moment.Ancestry finally paid of for me.