Where is Banffalure?

sckerber · Post by **sckerber** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 3:40 pm

My 4xG grandfather James S Scott has Banffalure listed as his birthplace in 1810 on his death certificate. He died in Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa, USA in 1893 and was colorful character wherever he went, known as 'Father' Scott. Since I have not been able to find Banffalure, I am wondering if it may be a poetic reference to Banff or environs.

Scott Kerber

Post by **Tracey** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 4:38 pm

Hello Scott

Welcome to TalkingScot

It does sound like it is meant to be Banffshire. Have you found his birth at all to comfirm this or any Scottish census ?

Tracey

Post by **Tracey** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 4:53 pm

I see above you have named him as James S Scott, what does this stand for ? Could it give you clues to his parentage and therefore make it easier maybe to find his parents and locate his birth place. I see he is just James Scott on the 1881 census.

Jumping the gun a tad there are two James Scott's on the IGI who's mothers maiden names begin with an S. One is Smith the other Shepherd. These James Scott's were born in Grange Banff 1810 the other in Keith Banff 1811

sckerber · Post by **sckerber** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 4:25 pm

I do not know what the middle initial 'S' stands for. Early 19th century records in New York are scarce, but there are a lot of James Scotts to sort through, so I don't know when he emigrated to United States, if he came alone or with family. In New York I know he was a baker and lived in the Chelsea district of Manhattan, was a member, married?, in Presbyterian Church and later in newly formed Methodist Episcopal Church. He was also an early charter member of Odd Fellows. IOOF has not been very responsive to information requests.
I'm still trying to track down a church marriage record, I've determined that civil records for that period are lost. Churches have moved around so much in Manhattan, it is a detective job to trace their records. His wife was born in New Jersey and according to her obituary was ward of a Presbyterian minister named Helfstein, census records show her mother was born in New Jersey and father was Spanish.