James Geddes Murray

DavidMK · Post by **DavidMK** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 8:59 pm

I am trying to find details of James Murray who is my cousin’s father. The information we have was handed down verbally by James and is as yet undocumented. For some reason we can find nothing to corroborate his information.We have just about given up but thought we would run it before the best sleuths in the business at TS.

Here is what we have been told.

James Geddes Murray, born 3 June 1890 Elgin, Morayshire

Parents William Geddes Murray and Isabella Currie

James married Margaret McNaught , May 18 1922 Glasgow.

They emigrated to USA via Canada abt 1924

We cant find James birth, his marriage or his parents marriage at Scotlands People.We have all the information on Margaret McNaught except for the marriage.

Does anybody have any ideas.

David

WilmaM · Post by **WilmaM** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:47 pm

You say he is your Father's cousin, have you verified that relationship?

i.e. the common grandparents' of the 2 cousins

DavidMK · Post by **DavidMK** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:58 pm

Hi Wilma, sorry to be confusing. To be precise, James is the father of my 2nd cousin.Her mother Margaret McNaught was my father's first cousin.I coincidentally have Murray connections, but not related to James.
David

WilmaM · Post by **WilmaM** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:10 pm

So have you verified the connections between them?

Sometimes you have to go sideways and get sibling's Birth/Marriages etc to verify parent's and correct ages, names and places.

If you can start with something you do have concrete proof of, a birth/marriage or death of a common relative then you can slowly piece together the jigsaw.

Using census data helps locate siblings and ages etc, so tracking down the common grandparent's and family might help.

Perhaps if you give us what you DO have and where you have already looked then we can give more specific help.
Of course avoid giving info on living relations or anyone born less than 100 years ago in line with the SP guidelines.

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:10 pm

There is a James Murray born Drainie, Moray in 1890 - have you checked this one? It is under 10 miles away from Elgin....and is he definately not the one you are looking for? He may not be, but just trying to eliminate any possible candidates...

grannysrock · Post by **grannysrock** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:16 pm

Hi David,
Was Margaret from Glasgow ?
Do you have them on any passenger lists /censuses together ?
There is James Murray born Elgin aged 32 and wife Margaret born Glasgow aged 30 crossing from Vancouver to Seattle in 1923 . They are going to join Cousin John Kilgour in San Francisco .

In the 1930 Census there is a James G and Margaret A Murray at Mount Vernon Skagit in Washington with 2 young children, immigration year 1922 and married 8 years .

Just trying to spot them anywhere !

Sally

DavidMK · Post by **DavidMK** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 5:41 pm

Wilma. The problem is all the info my cousin has was given verbally. He didnt talk about siblings, or any other relatives. So all she has are the names and dates he gave her.We have all the information we need on the mCNaught side.

Lesley, James in Drainie is not our James or at least he does not have the parents that our James claims.I also checked a Margaret Geddes Murray in Drainie, but no connection.

Sally, thats them on the boat from Vancouver. Margaret's cousin John Kilgour was my uncle.I'm also certain thats them in Alaska in 1930 although Margarets middle initial was P and the date of marriage doesnt gibe with what we think we know.The family lived for a number of years in Alaska.and also in Seattle.Where did you find the reference to the trip from Van to Seattle.my cousin might like a copy of that, if it is available for downloading.

Thanks everyone for your ideas.and help.

David

grannysrock · Post by **grannysrock** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:52 pm

Hi David
I found them on www.ancestry.com in the
Seattle Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1957.

Here some more info from the document :

Line Num 24 25
Head-Tax Status CPR 223657 CPR 223658
Family Name: Murray Murray
Given Name : James Margaret
Age: 32 30
Sex: M F
Marital Condition: M M
Occupation: Clerk None
Read: Y Y
Language: English English
Write: Y Y
Nationality: Canada Canada
Rece: Scotch Scotch

Last Permanent Residence:
Country: Canada Canada
Town: Vancouver BC Vancouver BC
Friend/Relative Frd- David Thompson
428? Robie Halofax, NS

Final Destination Cal., San Francisco Cal., San Francisco
Have ticket Yes Yes
Dollars 400
Whether in US before etc NO NO

Whether going to join a Cousin John Kilgour 14B Moss?
friend or relative... San Francisco, Calif
.
.
.
Birthplace Scotland Scotland
Elgin Glasgow

There are a lot of handritten comments - if I read it correctly ,this form is a recap of immigrants and the real date of entry at Seattle was 22 Oct 1922 from Victoria aboard the SS Princess? Charlotte.
There is also what looks like verified 29 July 1940 and Issued 13 Mar 1943 and some file references , which presumably has something to do with naturalisation ?

Hope this helps

Sally

DavidMK · Post by **DavidMK** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 11:33 pm

Thanks Sally, I passed that info on to my cousin and she was thrilled.She always thought her mother was shorter than she, and now she knows , by 4 inches.
david