James Williamson, born 25/12/1809, Dalgety Parish, Fife, Sc

Douglas Williamson · Post by **Douglas Williamson** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:21 pm

James is my 2nd Great Granduncle. I am aware that he was still alive in 1885 and possibly living in the United States. I cannot trace a marriage or death for him in Scotland. His parents were Andrew Williamson and Isabella Muir. Andrew died before 1842 and Isabella died in 1871, both in Scotland. There is a James Williamson appearing on the 1870 and 1880 US Censuses with wife Minnie and family. This may be my James but I do not know who his parents would be. I have also come across 2 deaths of a James and wife Minnie in Illinois records which seem to be the same as the ones on the censuses.

1870 Census details are
Township,Madison County, Illinois

James, aged 60, coal miner, born Scotland
Minnie, aged 40, housekeeper, born Scotlad
Jennet, aged 13, born Illinois
Mary, aged 9, born Illinois
Andrew, aged 7, born Illinois
Minnie, aged 4, born Illinois

1880 Census details are
Godfrey Township, Madison County, Illinois

James, aged 70, coal miner, born Scotland
Minnie, aged 48, wife keeping house, born Scotland,
Jane, aged 24, born Illinois
Jannett, aged 22, born Illinois
Mary, aged 19, born Illinois
Andrew, aged 17, born Illinois
Minnie, aged 14, born Illinois

On Illinois Statewide Death Index pre 1916

James Williamson, died 23 October 1899,aged 80, Cook County
Minnie Williamson, 25 December 1905, aged 75, Auburn, Sangamon County

Any help on linking this family with my James would be much appreciated

speleobat2 · Post by **speleobat2** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 1:07 am

Douglas,

It looks like your best bet would be to get the death certificates for James and Minnie. Here is a link to the Cook County, Illinois vital records for genealogy:

http://www.cookcountygenealogy.com/SignIn.aspx

I haven't used this, but registering is free.

Carol

speleobat2 · Post by **speleobat2** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 1:14 am

Douglas,

Back again. You maybe in luck. Illinois has an extensive archive system which works with the Illinois Genealogical Society.

Google: Illinois vital records

There are a lot of records available both online and not!

Carol

Post by **SarahND** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 1:28 am

Hi Douglas,
I'm not convinced that you have the correct deaths for James and Minnie. Why would James have died in Cook county, so far from Madison County where he had been living? I think you got your death information from the Illinois Statewide Death Index. Be aware that it is a work in progress and Madison County is far from finished. So far only these deaths have been entered:

Dec. 1877–Dec. 1887 (A–Z)
Jan. 1888–Dec. 1888 (A–V)

Before forking out the $$ for the death records, I'd try other ways to be sure you have the correct people.

Have you tried following the children down in the censuses to see where the parents might have been at their deaths?
Have you found Minnie in 1900? I see another Minnie in Sangamon County, who is of German descent.

Am still rummaging around trying to get a clue on these people. It would be nice if they married in Scotland before going over to the U.S.

Cheers,
Sarah

Post by **SarahND** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 1:31 am

Oh, I forgot to add that the marriage records are more complete. Here are the marriages of some of the children, to help the search:

Jennet Williamson married Lewis W Kennedy in Madison County, IL on 30 Oct 1880
Jane Isabella Williamson married Edwin James Pinefold on 6 Mar 1883 in Madison County, IL
Minnie Williamson married William Benson on 14 Jan 1885 in Madison Co, IL