The P(itt)endr(e)igh Post
Volume 4 No.4 Dec 2002
Robert L. Pittendrigh roberto@accesscomm.ca
Editors comments 47
Murdered in Indian Territory 47
Milestones: Marriage, Birthday, Death 47
Janet Smith, Coach House, Cumbria, UK 48
Scottish Wills on line 48
Letter From Alison Redmayne 50
A Big Help From Ruth Washburn 51
Editors Comments
Tuesday 13 August of this year, 2002, was one of those once in a life tim e encounters for me. Paul Pittendrigh and his son Steven and a brother-n law Vincent Maizy were on a fishing trip from Winnipeg to Lake Wollaston in northern Saskatchewan. The trip originated in Winnipeg. They had a cou ple of days to spare, they took a side trip to Regina to meet me and disc uss a common interest - the name Pittendrigh in it's various versions. Pa ul is retired and lives in California. Steve lives in Arizona and Vincen t lives in Florida and is married to Steve's sister.
Steve and Paul come from a most interesting background. Two brothers , John and James Pittendrigh came from Scotland. They both settled in Ok lahoma, John, in what was then Indian Territory where he married a Chicka saw Indian lady and had one son Charley. John was murdered when Charley w as only 2 years old. Little, if any information about John's background w as passed on to his descendants other than that John had a brother James. James Albert Pittendrigh is the ancestor of Paul and Steve and was said to have been born in Scotland in 1848. Neither James or John appear in th e Mormon International Genealogical Index for the decade before and after that date, nor do they appear in the index of births for Scotland which start on 1 Jan 1855. This would mean they were both born before 1 Jan 1855 and, possibly, the Clerk of Session did not record their christening.
The descendants of John spelled their name as Pittenridge. They los t contact with the other branch, the descendants of James, who continued to use the Pittendrigh (in some cases Pettenridge) spelling. Thanks to Ro bert Pittenridge for the account of his ancestor's murder. MURDERED "Robert Pittenridge" Database: Northwestern Arkansas History, History of Benton County.
CRIMINAL RECORD.
[p.732] On January 14, 1887, the scaffold claimed four more victims, John Stephens, a mulatto, being one. On the night of May 28, 1886, he entered the house of Mrs. Annie Kerr, who lived in the Delaware Nation, brained her and her son, Louis Winters, then went to the residence of Dr. James T. Pile, and attempted to murder the entire family. He struck the Doctor and his wife on the head with an ax, and severely injured the oth er inmates of the house. All recovered, however, but the Doctor. The evid ence against Stephens was circumstantial, but conclusive.
J. T. Echols, who met his death with Stephens, killed John Pettenridg e near White Bead Hill, Chickasaw Nation, on February 16, 1886, in a cru el and wanton manner. He was mad at Pettenridge about a horse-trade, and going to the woods where he was at work, repeatedly shot him, without war ning. We have not been able to find James Lamb and Albert O'Dell, the other vi ctims of this execution, were hung for the murder of Edward Pollard, in t he Chickasaw Nation, on December 26, 1885. Each charged the murder upon t he other, and thus assisted in their own prosecution." I have included a series of e-mails from Ruth Washburn at the end of this newsletter. We think we have found a connection between the above mentio ned families and Ruth Washburn's family.
We have included some material from Maurice Denis, some pictures and a mo st interesting letter that illustrates the hard times that his ancestors fell upon and how much information was gathered about the family when the y applied for help. It would seem there were some hungry members of the f amily before relief was granted. It would appear they had to sell their f urniture first. Milestones:
Marriage: From the Vancouver Province, Saturday 29 Sept 2002.
J. Wayne Marsden of Vancouver and Heather Pittendrigh of Argenta will mar
ry in Kelowna, Saturday 12 October 2002. Our best wishes.
Happy Birthday to George Pittendreigh, Brandon, Manitoba who celebrated his 88th birthday on 11 July 2002., father of Wayne G. Pittendreigh, Toron to, grandfather to Cale Matthew Pittendreigh.
Death: Pearl Joyce Young.
OKLAHOMA CITY Services for Pearl Joyce Young will be at 10 a.m. Wednesda y, Aug. 19, 1998, at Southwest Church of Christ. Grave-side services will be at 3 p.m. at Fillmore Cemetery. Pearl Joyce Young, 69, fell asleep in the Lord on Aug. 16, at home. She was born April 1, 1929, in Pontotoc Co unty, the daughter of Everett and Mary Turner.
She married Vesper Hopewell in 1946, ant lived in Oklahoma City, where he preceded her in death in 1987. She married Ernest O. Young in 1989 and lived very happily in their home until her death. An interfaith marri age that worked beautifully, each attended their own church faithfully separately until her illness made it impossible. Thanks to Ernie's love and devotion, she avoided nursing home care.
Pearl was a ray of sunshine, loved everyone, and was loved by all. V isits by her beloved Stephen and Les were of great delight and helped pro long her life. Pearl loved her church and was a Sunday school teacher for over 40 years. She also taught vacation Bible school and worked in Meals on Wheels with Ernie.
Survivors include her loving husband, Ernie, of the home; daughters, Joyce Torkelson and Mary Hobbs of Texas; stepdaughters, Linda Pettenridg e, Moore, Glenda Mansel, Virginia Wright and Vickie Davis, Oklahoma City; three great-grandchildren; three stepgreat-grandchildren; seven grandchi ldren; four stepgrandchildren; brothers, Calvin Turner of Fillmore, J.D. Turner of Levelland, Texas, Floyd Turner, Midwest City, Johnny Turner, Ok lahoma City, and Roy Turner, Coleman; sisters, Velma Thomas, Milburn, and Sue McDaniel, Coleman; numerous nieces, nephews and friends. Preceded in death by brothers, Kenneth and Earl Turner; and sister, Irene Turner. The family greatly appreciated the services of Hospice of Oklahoma C ounty. Special thanks and love to Cheryl Dickeson and Curri for their com passionate and gentle caregiving. Branstetter-Rosewood Funeral Home will direct services.
Question? Linda Pettenridge must be a descendants of the John Pittendrigh
murdered in Oklahoma. Can anyone confirm this?
We have been contacted by Janet Smith, nee Mitchell of The Coach House, Hollow Oak, Haverthwaite, Cumbria LA12 8AD, UK. Email [coachho@talk21.com] Her great grandparents were Alexander Mitchell and Jessie Pittendreigh who married in 1872. Jessie was the daughter of John Pittendrigh and his wife Charlotte Clark wh farmed at Cairns of Methlick, Aberdeenshire. Anot her family to add to the data of William James Pittendreigh of Nanaimo BC and Maynard Pittendreigh of Florida.
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Wills:
This is a wonderful new Scottish site on the internet which displays many
other documents other than wills. http://www.scottishdocuments.com/content/shop/displayadresults.asp Here is a list of wills and inventories available for download from this site for $12.50 Canadian. I have downloaded one will and one inventory.
The information in the inventory was of minimal use for family history. Pendreigh Pendreigh, Christina,Mrs 3/2/1857 alias Sibbald, widow of John Pendreigh, Innkeeper at New Pentland in the parish of Lasswade Edinburgh Sheriff C ourt Inventories. Pendreigh, Mungo6/9/1830Cabinet Maker and Bell Hanger in Edinburgh Edinburgh Sheriff
Court Inventories.
Pendreigh, Elizabeth 25/7/1871 alias Pearson, grocer at Fala Dam near Dal keith Edinburgh Sheriff
Court Inventories.
Pendreigh, Thomas 9/1/1861General Merchant at Gorebridge in the parish of Temple Edinburgh Sheriff Court Inventories. Pendrigh Pendrigh, John 9/4/1853 residing near Edinburgh Edinburgh Sheriff Court W ills Pendrigh, Isabell 9/4/1853 alias Hastie, county of Edinburgh Edinburgh S heriff Court Wills. Pendrigh, Beatrix 13/10/1858 residing at Pentland Inn in parish of Lasswa de, widow of Thomas, Pendrigh Edinburgh Sheriff Court Inventories.
Pendrigh John 9/4/1853 residing in Saunders Street of Stockbridge, Edinbu rgh Sheriff Court Inventories. Pendrigh, Isabel 9/4/1853 alias Hastie, residing in Saunders Street , widow of John Pendrigh, Edinburgh Sheriff Court Inventories
Pendrigh Margaret 6/5/1874 residing at Fisher-row in Musselburgh Edinbu rgh Sheriff Court Inventories.
Pendrigh, Alexander 18/8/1854 Smith in Lauder Duns Sheriff Court.
Pendrigh John 1/8/1853Corn Dealer, Residing at Tranent Haddington Sheriff Court.
Pendrith
Pendrith, Alexander 29/10/1857 resided in Golspie, husband of Ann Gunn Dornoch Sheriff Court. Pittendreigh
Pittendreigh, Robert 14/10/1872 Farmer in Newseat in the parish of Tyrie Aberdeen , inventory.
Pittendreich, (Pittendreigh) Elizabeth 19/11/1866 residing at Aberdour HouseNear Craigellachie, Banffshire, thereafter at Mousewynd of Cupar, afterwards Grocer in Burntisland
Pittendrigh, Alexander 7/5/1872 Farmer at Nether Glasslaw in the parish of Aberdour Aberdeen, Aberdeen
Sheriff Court Wills
Pittendrigh, Alexander 14/4/1848 Farmer in Bodychell in the parish of Pitsligo Aberdeen, Aberdeen Sheriff Court Wills
Pittendrigh, Alexander 7/5/1872 Farmer at Nether Glasslaw in the parish of Aberdour Aberdeen
Pittendrigh, Charles 19/8/1826 sometime Farmer in Ashallow in the parish of Cruden Aberdeen
Pittendrigh, George 27/8/1873 residing in Leith thereafter in North Leith Edinburgh
Pittendrigh, George, Reverend 2/11/1869 Minister of St. David's Church in Edinburgh Edinburgh
Pittendrigh, George 2/11/1869 minister of Saint David's Church in Edinbur
gh, residing there Edinburgh
Pittendrigh, George 27/8/1873 Residing in Leith Edinburgh
Pittendrigh, James 15/5/1839 farmer at Kirktown of Tyrie Aberdeen
Pittendrigh, James 7/11/1853 farmer at Whitewell in the parish of Tyrie A berdeen
Pittendrigh, James 18/10/1864 Warehouseman in Aberdeen residing at No.147
Union Street Aberdeen. Pittendrigh, John 1/5/1833 junior, merchant in Aberdeen Aberdeen
Pittendrigh, John 30/3/1863 Farmer at Kirkton in parish of Tyrie Aberdeen
Pittendrigh, John 30/3/1863 Farmer at Kirkton in the parish of Tyrie Aber
deen
Pittendrigh, John, Junior 1/5/1833 Merchant in Aberdeen Aberdeen
Pittendrigh, Margaret 8/2/1865 residing at No.116 George Street in Aberdeen Aberdeen
Pittendrigh, Margaret 8/2/1865 residing at No.116 George Street in Aberdeen Aberdeen
Pittendrigh, Robert 14/10/1872 Farmer in Newseat in the parish of Tyrie Aberdeen
Pittendrigh, Robert 3/2/1869 Broker in Aberdeen Aberdeen
Pittendrigh, William 22/4/1858 Farmer at Mains of Frendraught Aberdeen
Pittendrigh, William 23/1/1851 Farmer at Mosshead in the parish of Udny Ab oferdeen
Pittendrigh, William 8/5/1857 Farmer at Mains of Frendraught in parish of
Forgue Aberdeen
Letter from Alison Redmayne
Dear Bob & Jim
Thanks to the creators of P. Post. It has enabled me to find Pittendrigh cousins around the world and to have a greater understanding of my Pittendrigh ancestors.
David Morice Pittendrigh was the only grandparent I did not know personal ly. I merely knew that my great grandfather was called William and the n ames of most o his children and what happened to them. I thought of him a s an Aberdeen builder. I knew about the Kays and the Morices, and that his wife was Jane Kay who predeceased him and the descendants of Jane Kay's sister and that they had tow spinster sisters who lived at 3 Westfield Cottages in Aberdeen.
The Kay connection was strong because a pair of first cousins, Rev. Alexa nder Tomory, s.o Caroline Kay and David Morice Pittendrigh, s/o Jane Kay and William Pittendrigh died with a year of each other, and their unrelat ed widows, Caroline Kay Tomory and Caroline Ingram Pittendrigh lived near each other in Edinburgh and all had teenage children still at school. Th en in old age my Pittendrigh aunts retired to Edinburgh and bought 18 Ple wlands Av., and their Tomory second cousins whom they had known well in c hildhood, also a pair of spinster sisters lived at No. 9
My aunts died in 1965 and 1977, but the Tomorys went on until 1991 (aged 97 AB and 1996 (9 weeks short of 101)
They really represented my mothers family to me after Auntie May died in 19"77. I have notes about the siblings of David Morice Pittendrigh, but m y aunts lost touch with those they had known in childhood. They did not k eep in touch with any Pittendrigh first cousins. They knew of Leslie, s/o William, a first cousin, who had been at school at Bomsgrove, and then g one to Australia and the story ended with a plane crash, the details of which they did not know. Leslie is the father of Vivienne Pittendrigh who I have located through PitPost and talked to her on the phone in Bournmouth. I have pointed out to her and her third cousin Peter Tomory that they are living near each other in War eham and Bournmouth respectively.
I first got in touch with Jim in 1997. I had seen friends researching their ancestry in the Edinburgh registry and I was staying with one and she showed me what to do. I spent one day and 9C17 I think looking for Pitt endrighs. There were plenty of Williams born in the 1810-1820 period and I did not know which.
The important things I knew about my grandfather were that his parents had died when he was young and he had been brought up in the household of h is eldest sister, Jane who had married Rev. J. Leslie Murray near Glasgow and there he had got religion". J. Leslie Murray registered his death.
I then decided to try the Pittendrighs in the Aberdeen telephone directory. The first one I rang on Saturday was a Betty Pittendrigh. She did very well when coping with a vomiting grandchild. She gave me Jim's address and told be about P.Post.
I have acquired more and more knowledge, bit by bit from that opening. Which William? and thus who were my Pittendrigh cousins? This was solved b Bob Pittendrigh pointing out the 1881 census and there was David Morice Pittendrigh with his sister Jane who married to Rev. j. Leslie Murray. That had to be it, and then there was William who had been born in Kenneth mont. That convinced me I was a Kennethmont Pittendrigh. I saw addresses in P. Post but did not .investigate until this year. I knew from Auntie M
ay that they had cousins in South Africa and among those were Lettie and ` Lizzie Cooksley, and she had they married husbands who fought on diffe rent sides in the Boer War. One husband was Kleinberg. That was true but whether they were Boer and Britain as I had been led to understand is dou bted by Alan, as is the matter of whether they fought Why did she know of South African second cousins? Alan tells me that Let tie and Lizzie Cookslie had beenB0 sent to school in Scotland with a P. chaperone. Betty Fieldus wrote to me from Australia soon after I got involved with P. Post , For reasons unknown I did not write to Alan, although I knew he must be a relation and he is my third cousin.
This year I wanted ta combine a visit to where my ancestors from Aberdeenshire came with one to an excellent charity callAEd Books Abroad, which sends book: to many countries including places I known in Tanzania..
I had always known of my Barclay ancestors who had. come from Clatt , and my more famous Ingram ones who had come from Tarland/Logie Coldstone. Books Abroad ; recommended a. B& B in Kennethmont, David and Fiona Gran t of Earlsfield and as I worked the journey I saw how near Kennethmont ( a place I had only become aware of recently) was to Clatt which I. had kn own about for many yrs. I knew about the approximate distance between Ta3 rland. . and ' Clatt as I went there, . Th was just a recce, but a most e njoyable, : one. I had been to/through Aberdeen before, but always thinking of getting on my way to Shetland. I had never driven round Aberdeenshire..
I enjoyed it greatly and want to go back . . David Grant , the farmer husband of Fiona who runs the bed and breakfast took my booking on the telephone. and I told him of my connections to the area and where I was goi ng (Rhynie) and why (Books Abroad). When I arrived I was handed and enclosed print out of the 1841 and 1851 censuses. Very useful and a great service from a B&B.
It was good weather, but it was not the right time to get into Leith Ha ll where I assume the P. graves are. The modern churchyard only hay ones from this century. However, I noted Pittendriech Cottage when looking for graves, probably Barclay ones, I found none. I found one Ingram memoria l but not enough information on it. 2E I had little time to look for other places, e.g. Cults, and so I sati sfied myself with P : Cottage was that was near and on my way. As you no te it has no view and` is abandoned. I like long low bungalows, no stairs to clean, but there is a problem of no view. Census material will no dou bt tell of the succession of inhabitants. The photos inspired me to write to Betty Fieldus who had first written to me. Then I thought the same letter ought to go to Alan P. In South Afric a as he was also a descendant and someone whose great grandfather I had k nown about before I got P.Post. Alan replied by email.,. I have only just got a Internet TV box, I know I mut get all the best modern technology when I get back from Tanzania ne xt year. He had 8 plus pages on offer or about that which my email facility withou t printer etc will not accept. He sent a letter and I replied by fax. He told me his eldest son was an orthodontist who r had migrated to U.K. ab out 8 years ago. I checked the register and found.. him in Barking Road e ast London:: I had noted the large number of S. African dentists on the British regist er, both with S. African qualifications and working in U. K. and also wor king in S.A. There is a vast number, I mean in relation to the number of dentist: in S.A. I assume, and this must be a way of preparing themselves: to move if necessary.
I still await the 40 pages of S.A. Pittendrigh genealogy etc and have given him a nephew's email address. If I post this today I will probably I will probably get it tomorrow. I drew up a genealogy to show myself, from my knowledge, that from Betty Fieldus and that which Colin Robinson put in the P.Post re Kennethmont history of his ancestors. I enclose it. I sent it to Betty and Alan. I cannot send to yet to Colin as I only have his email address although he has told me he is in Manchester.
I find I do not have enough copies of the phonographs without going out to copy them and I want to get this off today. Thus I send one of the less attractive bit of the cottage and a copy of the other bits I hope to send sometime in good colour copies. I type all this because It might be interesting to see how P.Post has helped me know more about myself and my wider network of kin. there are things I would like to correct and document better but that requires proper time and now, as usual , I am just talking through my fingers onto the typewriter.
I have floated the idea of Internet etc and cousinship and range of connections and how one meets them in the Institute of Social Anthropology coffee morning. I do not think anyone has yet researched how worldwide networks of cousins are coming together with modern communications. It might be worth a few anthropological articles. I am booked to go to Tanzania on 25th November for 3 months. then I am really out of contact and should return lat Feb or early March, totally exhausted and with 3 months post to sort.
The rest of the letter is about her projects in Tanzania
o0o0o---
A Big Help from Ruth Washburn
We believe that Ruth Washburn (Rmdhw@aol.com) is a descendant of William Pittendrigh and Helen Catto. The following is a series of e-mails that we have received from her and the conclusion that she is a relative of Steve and Paul that I met in August of 2002.
From: Rmdhw@aol.com To: roberto@accesscomm.ca
Robert, I am the great granddaughter of Margaret Pittendrigh (B.?1853), who was the daughter of Alexander and Christian Pittendrigh. According to records I have obtained, there were 9 children:
William (B.?1848),
George (B.?1851),
Margaret (B.?1853),
Arthur (B.?1858),
Sportswood (B.?1862),
May (B.?1860), John and James (no mention of age). Indications are that, probably the first 4, at least, were born in Aberdeen. At some point the family moved to the Borough of Streatham, London, Surrey, England. I have a copy of Margaret's marriage certificate, dated April 14, 1873 with her age given as 20 and her father as Alexander, a tailor. She married Charles Alford, age 40, whose father is listed as Henry, a beer house keeper. The marriage took place in the parish of St. Peter, Streatham. I was 12 or 13 when she died, and remember her very well. She was very small and badly crippled with arthritis, as was my mother, stricken when I was 18 months old.
She and Charles had 3 sons, Charles William, Alexander P. and William George, all family names. Charles William was my grandfather. He came to London, Ontario, Canada when he was 16. A few years after his marriage to my grandmother, his brother, Alexander, came to London, Ontario, and my grandfather got him a job and found a room for him just 2 houses away from his own home. Then he returned to England to bring his mother, Margaret, to Canada to live with him. My grandparents had 4 children:
William Alexander,
Marjorie Jessie (my mother),
Charles Henry and
Margaret Eleanor.
When my mother went to Massachusetts to visit friends in 1924, she met my father, and they were married in 1925. They lived in New London, Connecticut, where I was born 8 February 1926. My husband's mother, a Christison, was born in Dundee, and he has just recently joined the Tay Valley Genealogy Society. I am now in the process of joining the Aberdeen Society 2E We have made 2 trips to England and Scotland doing family research and had hoped to go this fall again. We were there last September and found some information, but no proof that the Alexander Pittendrigh and Christian Herd, married 26 November, 1840 that I found are Margaret's parents 2E I have found an Arthur Pittendrigh born 3 October 1855 in Aberdeen and registered at Saint Nicholas, Aberdeen, which is the church where Alexander and Christian were married. However, I have not found my great-grandmother's birth record or any of those supposedly born in Aberdeen. So, are we related? Your guess is as good, if not better, than mine. It is possible, but not probable with all the Pittendrighs in Scotland. Hope to hear from you.
Warm regards,
Ruth M. Washburn
1051 Ocean Shore Blvd., #1003
Ormond Beach, Florida 32176-4179
e-mail: rmdhw@aol.com
Dear Robert,
We have been out for awhile this evening, and just checked our e-mail , and delighted to see your communications. The records from the Barnardo Homes on my grandfather's youngest brother, William George, listed his mother, Margaret Pittendrigh, as having 2 brothers who went to Canada as farmers, but didn't know their ages or when they left the UK. In the records I found in our LDS Family History Center nearby, listed the calling of the bans for Alexander Pitendrigh and Christian Herd on 14 Nov 1840 (Ref2E # 168.N/44, Frame MR 7-1+7),and a marriage of Alexander Pittendrigh and Christian Heid on 26 November 1840 (Ref. #168.A/30, FR7806). The Center's genealogy expert says she thinks they are the same couple, just misspelling on the part of recorders. I did not know that Alexander was listed as a tailor at the time of their marriage! That is what Margaret's father, Alexander, listed as his occupation on her marriage certificate!! But it is strange that Christian died in Aberdeen 8 Oct. 1903, if she is Margaret's mother. I will do more checking tomorrow and try to get back to you over the weekend. I see by your telephone # that you live in Saskatchewan. Did your family come from Scotland to that part of Canada, or did they land in the eastern provinces and move west later? I was always interested in history and my ancestors, but never had the opportunity to do much about it until my elder daughter explained how much easier it would be to have a computer. We have been going strong ever since. I have 6 genealogies in the making and my husb and, Don, has 2. Off to bed now, but I'll be in touch. Ruth
Re: James and John
Date: Tue, 03 Dec 2002 15:54:36 -0500 (EST)
From: Rmdhw@aol.com To: roberto@accesscomm.ca
Did have to unpack, go through mail and take care of those needing immediate attention, do laundry and now, check my Pittendrigh genealogy!!!
The Barnardo 1890 report received on my Great Grandmother Margaret Pittendrigh's third child, William George, says that she had 2 brothers, John and James, who went to America to be farmers. It does not say where in America, the US or Canada. The 1851 Census, St. Clemens, Aberdeen, Scotland lists the family as living at 10 1/2 Sugarhouse Lane. James is recorded as 1 year of age and born in Aberdeen, so one could assume he was born about 1847. He had 2 older brothers, William age 5 and Alexander age 8 and an older sister, Elizabeth age seven and a younger brother George age 1.
Their parents are listed as Christian Herd and Alexander Pittendrigh 2E Alexander is listed as being a journeyman tailor. Alexander's birth record lists his birth to them and his baptism by Revd. Alexander Spence in the presence of William Williamson, tailor, and Mrs. Catto. The 1841 St. Nicholas Census lists Alexander, 3 weeks, and his parents, both age 20, as living on a Court, but I can not decipher the name of the court. Alexander and Christian's marriage entry in St. Nicholas, states that Alexander was a tailor and Christian was the daughter of the late James Heid , Shoemaker, in Aberdeen.
One of the witnesses was Alexander Pittendrigh, Wright, who could have been Alexander's father. Also in the 1851 census there was an Alexander Pittendrigh, Wright and wife, Helen, living at St. Clements Street, so they are probably his parents.
I have not found a record of John's birth, and so don't know if he was born in Aberdeen as were the older children or if he was born after the family moved to Streatham, London, England as were May and Sportswood. I have not been able to find the folder I had with e-mails I received while gone the past month, so would appreciate it if you would again send me the information on the man and son who met with you. I have search ed through everything twice and no luck.
Sorry! Ruth
3 Dec 2002 23:28:02 EST
From: Rmdhw@aol.com
To: roberto@accesscomm.ca
Robert, where do the fellows live ? From what you said about them coming to Canada to hunt, I would think they live in the United States, but don 't want to assume anything. The birth date you have for James of about J anuary 1848 fits in with my great grandmother's brother James' birth when he was listed as 3 in the 1851 Census in Aberdeen. Eureka! By Jove, I t hink we've got him -- or should I say them!! Just wish I could find out m ore about John, who may have made the best horse trading deal, but paid f or it to the ultimate degree! Wow, what a life he must have led!! I am waiting with baited breath for your decision after poring over all the de tails.
Ruth
In conclusion: It would seem that the descendants of William Pittendrigh and his wife Helen Catto would include the two brothers that went to "America", one of whom was John married and was murdered in Indian Terr itory in Oklahoma. Members of both families are most welcome to a gedcom of the information I have on the descendants of William Pittendrigh/Cathe rine Fraser and a gedcom of the information given to me by Steve, Paul and Steve's cousin Jim in California
This is all the information I have to share with you just now. Please note my e-mail address is now roberto@accesscomm.ca. My old address will continue to come through for a while longer.
I thank Maurice Denis for sharing information about his searches with me. He is from the William (Pittendrigh)(Catherine)FRASER family, most of whom are in Australia.
Please feel free to share your family news with us, births, marriages, accomplishments, stories, old/new photos, obituary notices or anything else that would be of interest.
Send to roberto@accesscomm.ca
or
Send to jim.pittendrigh@span.ch
Wishing you and yours all the best for Christmas and a Happy New Year. Go d Bless.
Volume 4 No.4 Dec 2002
Robert L. Pittendrigh roberto@accesscomm.ca
Editors comments 47
Murdered in Indian Territory 47
Milestones: Marriage, Birthday, Death 47
Janet Smith, Coach House, Cumbria, UK 48
Scottish Wills on line 48
Letter From Alison Redmayne 50
A Big Help From Ruth Washburn 51
Editors Comments
Tuesday 13 August of this year, 2002, was one of those once in a life tim e encounters for me. Paul Pittendrigh and his son Steven and a brother-n law Vincent Maizy were on a fishing trip from Winnipeg to Lake Wollaston in northern Saskatchewan. The trip originated in Winnipeg. They had a cou ple of days to spare, they took a side trip to Regina to meet me and disc uss a common interest - the name Pittendrigh in it's various versions. Pa ul is retired and lives in California. Steve lives in Arizona and Vincen t lives in Florida and is married to Steve's sister.
Steve and Paul come from a most interesting background. Two brothers , John and James Pittendrigh came from Scotland. They both settled in Ok lahoma, John, in what was then Indian Territory where he married a Chicka saw Indian lady and had one son Charley. John was murdered when Charley w as only 2 years old. Little, if any information about John's background w as passed on to his descendants other than that John had a brother James. James Albert Pittendrigh is the ancestor of Paul and Steve and was said to have been born in Scotland in 1848. Neither James or John appear in th e Mormon International Genealogical Index for the decade before and after that date, nor do they appear in the index of births for Scotland which start on 1 Jan 1855. This would mean they were both born before 1 Jan 1855 and, possibly, the Clerk of Session did not record their christening.
The descendants of John spelled their name as Pittenridge. They los t contact with the other branch, the descendants of James, who continued to use the Pittendrigh (in some cases Pettenridge) spelling. Thanks to Ro bert Pittenridge for the account of his ancestor's murder. MURDERED "Robert Pittenridge"
CRIMINAL RECORD.
[p.732] On January 14, 1887, the scaffold claimed four more victims, John Stephens, a mulatto, being one. On the night of May 28, 1886, he entered the house of Mrs. Annie Kerr, who lived in the Delaware Nation, brained her and her son, Louis Winters, then went to the residence of Dr. James T. Pile, and attempted to murder the entire family. He struck the Doctor and his wife on the head with an ax, and severely injured the oth er inmates of the house. All recovered, however, but the Doctor. The evid ence against Stephens was circumstantial, but conclusive.
J. T. Echols, who met his death with Stephens, killed John Pettenridg e near White Bead Hill, Chickasaw Nation, on February 16, 1886, in a cru el and wanton manner. He was mad at Pettenridge about a horse-trade, and going to the woods where he was at work, repeatedly shot him, without war ning. We have not been able to find James Lamb and Albert O'Dell, the other vi ctims of this execution, were hung for the murder of Edward Pollard, in t he Chickasaw Nation, on December 26, 1885. Each charged the murder upon t he other, and thus assisted in their own prosecution." I have included a series of e-mails from Ruth Washburn at the end of this newsletter. We think we have found a connection between the above mentio ned families and Ruth Washburn's family.
We have included some material from Maurice Denis, some pictures and a mo st interesting letter that illustrates the hard times that his ancestors fell upon and how much information was gathered about the family when the y applied for help. It would seem there were some hungry members of the f amily before relief was granted. It would appear they had to sell their f urniture first. Milestones:
Marriage: From the Vancouver Province, Saturday 29 Sept 2002.
J. Wayne Marsden of Vancouver and Heather Pittendrigh of Argenta will mar
ry in Kelowna, Saturday 12 October 2002. Our best wishes.
Happy Birthday to George Pittendreigh, Brandon, Manitoba who celebrated his 88th birthday on 11 July 2002., father of Wayne G. Pittendreigh, Toron to, grandfather to Cale Matthew Pittendreigh.
Death: Pearl Joyce Young.
OKLAHOMA CITY Services for Pearl Joyce Young will be at 10 a.m. Wednesda y, Aug. 19, 1998, at Southwest Church of Christ. Grave-side services will be at 3 p.m. at Fillmore Cemetery. Pearl Joyce Young, 69, fell asleep in the Lord on Aug. 16, at home. She was born April 1, 1929, in Pontotoc Co unty, the daughter of Everett and Mary Turner.
She married Vesper Hopewell in 1946, ant lived in Oklahoma City, where he preceded her in death in 1987. She married Ernest O. Young in 1989 and lived very happily in their home until her death. An interfaith marri age that worked beautifully, each attended their own church faithfully separately until her illness made it impossible. Thanks to Ernie's love and devotion, she avoided nursing home care.
Pearl was a ray of sunshine, loved everyone, and was loved by all. V isits by her beloved Stephen and Les were of great delight and helped pro long her life. Pearl loved her church and was a Sunday school teacher for over 40 years. She also taught vacation Bible school and worked in Meals on Wheels with Ernie.
Survivors include her loving husband, Ernie, of the home; daughters, Joyce Torkelson and Mary Hobbs of Texas; stepdaughters, Linda Pettenridg e, Moore, Glenda Mansel, Virginia Wright and Vickie Davis, Oklahoma City; three great-grandchildren; three stepgreat-grandchildren; seven grandchi ldren; four stepgrandchildren; brothers, Calvin Turner of Fillmore, J.D. Turner of Levelland, Texas, Floyd Turner, Midwest City, Johnny Turner, Ok lahoma City, and Roy Turner, Coleman; sisters, Velma Thomas, Milburn, and Sue McDaniel, Coleman; numerous nieces, nephews and friends. Preceded in death by brothers, Kenneth and Earl Turner; and sister, Irene Turner. The family greatly appreciated the services of Hospice of Oklahoma C ounty. Special thanks and love to Cheryl Dickeson and Curri for their com passionate and gentle caregiving. Branstetter-Rosewood Funeral Home will direct services.
Question? Linda Pettenridge must be a descendants of the John Pittendrigh
murdered in Oklahoma. Can anyone confirm this?
We have been contacted by Janet Smith, nee Mitchell of The Coach House, Hollow Oak, Haverthwaite, Cumbria LA12 8AD, UK. Email [coachho@talk21.com] Her great grandparents were Alexander Mitchell and Jessie Pittendreigh who married in 1872. Jessie was the daughter of John Pittendrigh and his wife Charlotte Clark wh farmed at Cairns of Methlick, Aberdeenshire. Anot her family to add to the data of William James Pittendreigh of Nanaimo BC and Maynard Pittendreigh of Florida.
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Wills:
This is a wonderful new Scottish site on the internet which displays many
other documents other than wills. http://www.scottishdocuments.com/content/shop/displayadresults.asp Here is a list of wills and inventories available for download from this site for $12.50 Canadian. I have downloaded one will and one inventory.
The information in the inventory was of minimal use for family history. Pendreigh Pendreigh, Christina,Mrs 3/2/1857 alias Sibbald, widow of John Pendreigh, Innkeeper at New Pentland in the parish of Lasswade Edinburgh Sheriff C ourt Inventories. Pendreigh, Mungo6/9/1830Cabinet Maker and Bell Hanger in Edinburgh Edinburgh Sheriff
Court Inventories.
Pendreigh, Elizabeth 25/7/1871 alias Pearson, grocer at Fala Dam near Dal keith Edinburgh Sheriff
Court Inventories.
Pendreigh, Thomas 9/1/1861General Merchant at Gorebridge in the parish of Temple Edinburgh Sheriff Court Inventories. Pendrigh Pendrigh, John 9/4/1853 residing near Edinburgh Edinburgh Sheriff Court W ills Pendrigh, Isabell 9/4/1853 alias Hastie, county of Edinburgh Edinburgh S heriff Court Wills. Pendrigh, Beatrix 13/10/1858 residing at Pentland Inn in parish of Lasswa de, widow of Thomas, Pendrigh Edinburgh Sheriff Court Inventories.
Pendrigh John 9/4/1853 residing in Saunders Street of Stockbridge, Edinbu rgh Sheriff Court Inventories. Pendrigh, Isabel 9/4/1853 alias Hastie, residing in Saunders Street , widow of John Pendrigh, Edinburgh Sheriff Court Inventories
Pendrigh Margaret 6/5/1874 residing at Fisher-row in Musselburgh Edinbu rgh Sheriff Court Inventories.
Pendrigh, Alexander 18/8/1854 Smith in Lauder Duns Sheriff Court.
Pendrigh John 1/8/1853Corn Dealer, Residing at Tranent Haddington Sheriff Court.
Pendrith
Pendrith, Alexander 29/10/1857 resided in Golspie, husband of Ann Gunn Dornoch Sheriff Court. Pittendreigh
Pittendreigh, Robert 14/10/1872 Farmer in Newseat in the parish of Tyrie Aberdeen , inventory.
Pittendreich, (Pittendreigh) Elizabeth 19/11/1866 residing at Aberdour HouseNear Craigellachie, Banffshire, thereafter at Mousewynd of Cupar, afterwards Grocer in Burntisland
Pittendrigh, Alexander 7/5/1872 Farmer at Nether Glasslaw in the parish of Aberdour Aberdeen, Aberdeen
Sheriff Court Wills
Pittendrigh, Alexander 14/4/1848 Farmer in Bodychell in the parish of Pitsligo Aberdeen, Aberdeen Sheriff Court Wills
Pittendrigh, Alexander 7/5/1872 Farmer at Nether Glasslaw in the parish of Aberdour Aberdeen
Pittendrigh, Charles 19/8/1826 sometime Farmer in Ashallow in the parish of Cruden Aberdeen
Pittendrigh, George 27/8/1873 residing in Leith thereafter in North Leith Edinburgh
Pittendrigh, George, Reverend 2/11/1869 Minister of St. David's Church in Edinburgh Edinburgh
Pittendrigh, George 2/11/1869 minister of Saint David's Church in Edinbur
gh, residing there Edinburgh
Pittendrigh, George 27/8/1873 Residing in Leith Edinburgh
Pittendrigh, James 15/5/1839 farmer at Kirktown of Tyrie Aberdeen
Pittendrigh, James 7/11/1853 farmer at Whitewell in the parish of Tyrie A berdeen
Pittendrigh, James 18/10/1864 Warehouseman in Aberdeen residing at No.147
Union Street Aberdeen. Pittendrigh, John 1/5/1833 junior, merchant in Aberdeen Aberdeen
Pittendrigh, John 30/3/1863 Farmer at Kirkton in parish of Tyrie Aberdeen
Pittendrigh, John 30/3/1863 Farmer at Kirkton in the parish of Tyrie Aber
deen
Pittendrigh, John, Junior 1/5/1833 Merchant in Aberdeen Aberdeen
Pittendrigh, Margaret 8/2/1865 residing at No.116 George Street in Aberdeen Aberdeen
Pittendrigh, Margaret 8/2/1865 residing at No.116 George Street in Aberdeen Aberdeen
Pittendrigh, Robert 14/10/1872 Farmer in Newseat in the parish of Tyrie Aberdeen
Pittendrigh, Robert 3/2/1869 Broker in Aberdeen Aberdeen
Pittendrigh, William 22/4/1858 Farmer at Mains of Frendraught Aberdeen
Pittendrigh, William 23/1/1851 Farmer at Mosshead in the parish of Udny Ab oferdeen
Pittendrigh, William 8/5/1857 Farmer at Mains of Frendraught in parish of
Forgue Aberdeen
Letter from Alison Redmayne
Dear Bob & Jim
Thanks to the creators of P. Post. It has enabled me to find Pittendrigh cousins around the world and to have a greater understanding of my Pittendrigh ancestors.
David Morice Pittendrigh was the only grandparent I did not know personal ly. I merely knew that my great grandfather was called William and the n ames of most o his children and what happened to them. I thought of him a s an Aberdeen builder. I knew about the Kays and the Morices, and that his wife was Jane Kay who predeceased him and the descendants of Jane Kay's sister and that they had tow spinster sisters who lived at 3 Westfield Cottages in Aberdeen.
The Kay connection was strong because a pair of first cousins, Rev. Alexa nder Tomory, s.o Caroline Kay and David Morice Pittendrigh, s/o Jane Kay and William Pittendrigh died with a year of each other, and their unrelat ed widows, Caroline Kay Tomory and Caroline Ingram Pittendrigh lived near each other in Edinburgh and all had teenage children still at school. Th en in old age my Pittendrigh aunts retired to Edinburgh and bought 18 Ple wlands Av., and their Tomory second cousins whom they had known well in c hildhood, also a pair of spinster sisters lived at No. 9
My aunts died in 1965 and 1977, but the Tomorys went on until 1991 (aged 97 AB and 1996 (9 weeks short of 101)
They really represented my mothers family to me after Auntie May died in 19"77. I have notes about the siblings of David Morice Pittendrigh, but m y aunts lost touch with those they had known in childhood. They did not k eep in touch with any Pittendrigh first cousins. They knew of Leslie, s/o William, a first cousin, who had been at school at Bomsgrove, and then g one to Australia and the story ended with a plane crash, the details of which they did not know. Leslie is the father of Vivienne Pittendrigh who I have located through PitPost and talked to her on the phone in Bournmouth. I have pointed out to her and her third cousin Peter Tomory that they are living near each other in War eham and Bournmouth respectively.
I first got in touch with Jim in 1997. I had seen friends researching their ancestry in the Edinburgh registry and I was staying with one and she showed me what to do. I spent one day and 9C17 I think looking for Pitt endrighs. There were plenty of Williams born in the 1810-1820 period and I did not know which.
The important things I knew about my grandfather were that his parents had died when he was young and he had been brought up in the household of h is eldest sister, Jane who had married Rev. J. Leslie Murray near Glasgow and there he had got religion". J. Leslie Murray registered his death.
I then decided to try the Pittendrighs in the Aberdeen telephone directory. The first one I rang on Saturday was a Betty Pittendrigh. She did very well when coping with a vomiting grandchild. She gave me Jim's address and told be about P.Post.
I have acquired more and more knowledge, bit by bit from that opening. Which William? and thus who were my Pittendrigh cousins? This was solved b Bob Pittendrigh pointing out the 1881 census and there was David Morice Pittendrigh with his sister Jane who married to Rev. j. Leslie Murray. That had to be it, and then there was William who had been born in Kenneth mont. That convinced me I was a Kennethmont Pittendrigh. I saw addresses in P. Post but did not .investigate until this year. I knew from Auntie M
ay that they had cousins in South Africa and among those were Lettie and ` Lizzie Cooksley, and she had they married husbands who fought on diffe rent sides in the Boer War. One husband was Kleinberg. That was true but whether they were Boer and Britain as I had been led to understand is dou bted by Alan, as is the matter of whether they fought Why did she know of South African second cousins? Alan tells me that Let tie and Lizzie Cookslie had beenB0 sent to school in Scotland with a P. chaperone. Betty Fieldus wrote to me from Australia soon after I got involved with P. Post , For reasons unknown I did not write to Alan, although I knew he must be a relation and he is my third cousin.
This year I wanted ta combine a visit to where my ancestors from Aberdeenshire came with one to an excellent charity callAEd Books Abroad, which sends book: to many countries including places I known in Tanzania..
I had always known of my Barclay ancestors who had. come from Clatt , and my more famous Ingram ones who had come from Tarland/Logie Coldstone. Books Abroad ; recommended a. B& B in Kennethmont, David and Fiona Gran t of Earlsfield and as I worked the journey I saw how near Kennethmont ( a place I had only become aware of recently) was to Clatt which I. had kn own about for many yrs. I knew about the approximate distance between Ta3 rland. . and ' Clatt as I went there, . Th was just a recce, but a most e njoyable, : one. I had been to/through Aberdeen before, but always thinking of getting on my way to Shetland. I had never driven round Aberdeenshire..
I enjoyed it greatly and want to go back . . David Grant , the farmer husband of Fiona who runs the bed and breakfast took my booking on the telephone. and I told him of my connections to the area and where I was goi ng (Rhynie) and why (Books Abroad). When I arrived I was handed and enclosed print out of the 1841 and 1851 censuses. Very useful and a great service from a B&B.
It was good weather, but it was not the right time to get into Leith Ha ll where I assume the P. graves are. The modern churchyard only hay ones from this century. However, I noted Pittendriech Cottage when looking for graves, probably Barclay ones, I found none. I found one Ingram memoria l but not enough information on it. 2E I had little time to look for other places, e.g. Cults, and so I sati sfied myself with P : Cottage was that was near and on my way. As you no te it has no view and` is abandoned. I like long low bungalows, no stairs to clean, but there is a problem of no view. Census material will no dou bt tell of the succession of inhabitants. The photos inspired me to write to Betty Fieldus who had first written to me. Then I thought the same letter ought to go to Alan P. In South Afric a as he was also a descendant and someone whose great grandfather I had k nown about before I got P.Post. Alan replied by email.,. I have only just got a Internet TV box, I know I mut get all the best modern technology when I get back from Tanzania ne xt year. He had 8 plus pages on offer or about that which my email facility withou t printer etc will not accept. He sent a letter and I replied by fax. He told me his eldest son was an orthodontist who r had migrated to U.K. ab out 8 years ago. I checked the register and found.. him in Barking Road e ast London:: I had noted the large number of S. African dentists on the British regist er, both with S. African qualifications and working in U. K. and also wor king in S.A. There is a vast number, I mean in relation to the number of dentist: in S.A. I assume, and this must be a way of preparing themselves: to move if necessary.
I still await the 40 pages of S.A. Pittendrigh genealogy etc and have given him a nephew's email address. If I post this today I will probably I will probably get it tomorrow. I drew up a genealogy to show myself, from my knowledge, that from Betty Fieldus and that which Colin Robinson put in the P.Post re Kennethmont history of his ancestors. I enclose it. I sent it to Betty and Alan. I cannot send to yet to Colin as I only have his email address although he has told me he is in Manchester.
I find I do not have enough copies of the phonographs without going out to copy them and I want to get this off today. Thus I send one of the less attractive bit of the cottage and a copy of the other bits I hope to send sometime in good colour copies. I type all this because It might be interesting to see how P.Post has helped me know more about myself and my wider network of kin. there are things I would like to correct and document better but that requires proper time and now, as usual , I am just talking through my fingers onto the typewriter.
I have floated the idea of Internet etc and cousinship and range of connections and how one meets them in the Institute of Social Anthropology coffee morning. I do not think anyone has yet researched how worldwide networks of cousins are coming together with modern communications. It might be worth a few anthropological articles. I am booked to go to Tanzania on 25th November for 3 months. then I am really out of contact and should return lat Feb or early March, totally exhausted and with 3 months post to sort.
The rest of the letter is about her projects in Tanzania
o0o0o---
A Big Help from Ruth Washburn
We believe that Ruth Washburn (Rmdhw@aol.com) is a descendant of William Pittendrigh and Helen Catto. The following is a series of e-mails that we have received from her and the conclusion that she is a relative of Steve and Paul that I met in August of 2002.
From: Rmdhw@aol.com To: roberto@accesscomm.ca
Robert, I am the great granddaughter of Margaret Pittendrigh (B.?1853), who was the daughter of Alexander and Christian Pittendrigh. According to records I have obtained, there were 9 children:
William (B.?1848),
George (B.?1851),
Margaret (B.?1853),
Arthur (B.?1858),
Sportswood (B.?1862),
May (B.?1860), John and James (no mention of age). Indications are that, probably the first 4, at least, were born in Aberdeen. At some point the family moved to the Borough of Streatham, London, Surrey, England. I have a copy of Margaret's marriage certificate, dated April 14, 1873 with her age given as 20 and her father as Alexander, a tailor. She married Charles Alford, age 40, whose father is listed as Henry, a beer house keeper. The marriage took place in the parish of St. Peter, Streatham. I was 12 or 13 when she died, and remember her very well. She was very small and badly crippled with arthritis, as was my mother, stricken when I was 18 months old.
She and Charles had 3 sons, Charles William, Alexander P. and William George, all family names. Charles William was my grandfather. He came to London, Ontario, Canada when he was 16. A few years after his marriage to my grandmother, his brother, Alexander, came to London, Ontario, and my grandfather got him a job and found a room for him just 2 houses away from his own home. Then he returned to England to bring his mother, Margaret, to Canada to live with him. My grandparents had 4 children:
William Alexander,
Marjorie Jessie (my mother),
Charles Henry and
Margaret Eleanor.
When my mother went to Massachusetts to visit friends in 1924, she met my father, and they were married in 1925. They lived in New London, Connecticut, where I was born 8 February 1926. My husband's mother, a Christison, was born in Dundee, and he has just recently joined the Tay Valley Genealogy Society. I am now in the process of joining the Aberdeen Society 2E We have made 2 trips to England and Scotland doing family research and had hoped to go this fall again. We were there last September and found some information, but no proof that the Alexander Pittendrigh and Christian Herd, married 26 November, 1840 that I found are Margaret's parents 2E I have found an Arthur Pittendrigh born 3 October 1855 in Aberdeen and registered at Saint Nicholas, Aberdeen, which is the church where Alexander and Christian were married. However, I have not found my great-grandmother's birth record or any of those supposedly born in Aberdeen. So, are we related? Your guess is as good, if not better, than mine. It is possible, but not probable with all the Pittendrighs in Scotland. Hope to hear from you.
Warm regards,
Ruth M. Washburn
1051 Ocean Shore Blvd., #1003
Ormond Beach, Florida 32176-4179
e-mail: rmdhw@aol.com
Dear Robert,
We have been out for awhile this evening, and just checked our e-mail , and delighted to see your communications. The records from the Barnardo Homes on my grandfather's youngest brother, William George, listed his mother, Margaret Pittendrigh, as having 2 brothers who went to Canada as farmers, but didn't know their ages or when they left the UK. In the records I found in our LDS Family History Center nearby, listed the calling of the bans for Alexander Pitendrigh and Christian Herd on 14 Nov 1840 (Ref2E # 168.N/44, Frame MR 7-1+7),and a marriage of Alexander Pittendrigh and Christian Heid on 26 November 1840 (Ref. #168.A/30, FR7806). The Center's genealogy expert says she thinks they are the same couple, just misspelling on the part of recorders. I did not know that Alexander was listed as a tailor at the time of their marriage! That is what Margaret's father, Alexander, listed as his occupation on her marriage certificate!! But it is strange that Christian died in Aberdeen 8 Oct. 1903, if she is Margaret's mother. I will do more checking tomorrow and try to get back to you over the weekend. I see by your telephone # that you live in Saskatchewan. Did your family come from Scotland to that part of Canada, or did they land in the eastern provinces and move west later? I was always interested in history and my ancestors, but never had the opportunity to do much about it until my elder daughter explained how much easier it would be to have a computer. We have been going strong ever since. I have 6 genealogies in the making and my husb and, Don, has 2. Off to bed now, but I'll be in touch. Ruth
Re: James and John
Date: Tue, 03 Dec 2002 15:54:36 -0500 (EST)
From: Rmdhw@aol.com To: roberto@accesscomm.ca
Did have to unpack, go through mail and take care of those needing immediate attention, do laundry and now, check my Pittendrigh genealogy!!!
The Barnardo 1890 report received on my Great Grandmother Margaret Pittendrigh's third child, William George, says that she had 2 brothers, John and James, who went to America to be farmers. It does not say where in America, the US or Canada. The 1851 Census, St. Clemens, Aberdeen, Scotland lists the family as living at 10 1/2 Sugarhouse Lane. James is recorded as 1 year of age and born in Aberdeen, so one could assume he was born about 1847. He had 2 older brothers, William age 5 and Alexander age 8 and an older sister, Elizabeth age seven and a younger brother George age 1.
Their parents are listed as Christian Herd and Alexander Pittendrigh 2E Alexander is listed as being a journeyman tailor. Alexander's birth record lists his birth to them and his baptism by Revd. Alexander Spence in the presence of William Williamson, tailor, and Mrs. Catto. The 1841 St. Nicholas Census lists Alexander, 3 weeks, and his parents, both age 20, as living on a Court, but I can not decipher the name of the court. Alexander and Christian's marriage entry in St. Nicholas, states that Alexander was a tailor and Christian was the daughter of the late James Heid , Shoemaker, in Aberdeen.
One of the witnesses was Alexander Pittendrigh, Wright, who could have been Alexander's father. Also in the 1851 census there was an Alexander Pittendrigh, Wright and wife, Helen, living at St. Clements Street, so they are probably his parents.
I have not found a record of John's birth, and so don't know if he was born in Aberdeen as were the older children or if he was born after the family moved to Streatham, London, England as were May and Sportswood. I have not been able to find the folder I had with e-mails I received while gone the past month, so would appreciate it if you would again send me the information on the man and son who met with you. I have search ed through everything twice and no luck.
Sorry! Ruth
3 Dec 2002 23:28:02 EST
From: Rmdhw@aol.com
To: roberto@accesscomm.ca
Robert, where do the fellows live ? From what you said about them coming to Canada to hunt, I would think they live in the United States, but don 't want to assume anything. The birth date you have for James of about J anuary 1848 fits in with my great grandmother's brother James' birth when he was listed as 3 in the 1851 Census in Aberdeen. Eureka! By Jove, I t hink we've got him -- or should I say them!! Just wish I could find out m ore about John, who may have made the best horse trading deal, but paid f or it to the ultimate degree! Wow, what a life he must have led!! I am waiting with baited breath for your decision after poring over all the de tails.
Ruth
In conclusion: It would seem that the descendants of William Pittendrigh and his wife Helen Catto would include the two brothers that went to "America", one of whom was John married and was murdered in Indian Terr itory in Oklahoma. Members of both families are most welcome to a gedcom of the information I have on the descendants of William Pittendrigh/Cathe rine Fraser and a gedcom of the information given to me by Steve, Paul and Steve's cousin Jim in California
This is all the information I have to share with you just now. Please note my e-mail address is now roberto@accesscomm.ca. My old address will continue to come through for a while longer.
I thank Maurice Denis for sharing information about his searches with me. He is from the William (Pittendrigh)(Catherine)FRASER family, most of whom are in Australia.
Please feel free to share your family news with us, births, marriages, accomplishments, stories, old/new photos, obituary notices or anything else that would be of interest.
Send to roberto@accesscomm.ca
or
Send to jim.pittendrigh@span.ch
Wishing you and yours all the best for Christmas and a Happy New Year. Go d Bless.