The Tale of Three Henry Petersons

 In researching my Fielding family (still working on outlining a blog post series on James Fielding), I stumbled upon a landmine of information where I once had a huge brick wall.  I am still processing the information, albeit slowly, because I am almost dazed by the sheer amount of information I have uncovered and don't have as much time as I used to to process the information.  This line has to do with my ancestress, Emeline Peterson, who married Henderson McDonald and was the grandmother to Nellie Fielding and my own great-grandmother.

Emeline Peterson, I have determined, was the daughter of Henry Peterson and Mary Ann Marson.  

But my trail didn't end there, nor did it start with her parents' names.  In fact, finding out Emeline's parents' names was one of the last things I discovered about her immediate family.

I should start at the beginning.  This is the tale of three Henry Petersons.  Keep in mind that I work backwards through history while reading this.

THE FIRST HENRY (1784-1841)

In trying to find out more about Emeline Peterson, I decided to research Sarah Peterson, the 35-year-old woman who was living with Emeline and her husband in the 1850 census (because I am a HUGE believer in the FAN club method of research when hitting brick walls).  I determined that Sarah was in fact Emeline's elder sister when I found Sarah's will from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in 1874, in which Sarah Ann Peterson mentions that because her sister Emeline McLaughlin was well provided for, she chose not to bequeath her anything.  This will also mentions her cousin Lewis Peterson jr. as well as her uncle Peter Peterson, sister Elizabeth M. Cary and brother Franklin.

**Note here: this will also helped me uncover where Emeline went after Henderson's death, so she is no longer an elusive family member, but that's a blog post for another day.**

Using that information, I searched for these family members.  Lewis Peterson jr. was the son of Lewis Peterson sr., of course.  Lewis sr. and his brother Peter were prominent members in early Pittsburgh society, having opened L & P Peterson & Company in 1820, which was a tin, copper, and ironware manufacturing company.  Researching further, I found that the two were beneficiaries in their father's will in 1838 in Allegheny County.  Their father was named Henry Peterson, and he left items to his widow Hannah and seven surviving children; Henry, Lewis, Peter, Derrick, Maria, Ann, and Lydia.

Because I knew already that Lewis and Peter were the uncles of Emeline and Sarah, I knew I could rule them out as my ancestor.  That left me with Derrick and Henry jr. as the two candidates for the father of Emeline.  I then stumbled upon a notice in the Pittsburgh Gazette that summed up an 1852 civil suit between Sylvanus Lathrop and Ann Peterson, aunt to my Emeline.  In that summation of events leading to the civil suit, it stated that while Henry had a family in 1837, Derrick did not.  

What cinched the claim to Henry was a book that was written in several volumes over several years called The Morris Family of Philadelphia: Descendants of Anthony Morris (which I call the Morris book in shorthand).  In volume 3, on page 636, my ancestress Emeline Peterson was listed as one of several children of Henry Peterson and Mary Ann Marson.  Of course, I didn't take the book as full truth on my ancestry but verified that info with other evidence.  And I am still working on that other evidence.

**note here:  Even though I also write have written one myself, I don't take any written genealogies at face value, as there are too many mistakes and liberties taken.  If they are sourced, I verify  the sources used.... if not, I try to do the legwork myself.  I still use them as sources though.**

I also starting working up the Peterson line.  Henry Peterson sr. and Henry Peterson jr. both ended up in Allegheny County in what is now Pittsburgh, but neither one of them started there.  They both lived in Philadelphia in the early part of the nineteenth century, but Henry jr. was actually born, it appears, in Delaware, in Duck Creek Cross Roads in Kent County.  His mother was Henry sr.'s first wife, Margaret Morris, whose line the Morris book actually focuses on (and whose line I haven't worked on yet because I am still working the Peterson research..... but I'll verify the book info soon I hope).  

The first of my three Henry Petersons is still a bit of a mystery, though he is the only one of the three for which I have a birth AND a death date.   I am still trying to narrow down when and where Henry and Mary Ann Marson married, but it appears that they had two sons, Benjamin Franklin and John M, as well as the three daughters already mentioned; Sarah, Elizabeth, and Emeline.  Henry was a copper and tinsmith and established himself first in Philadelphia before moving to Pittsburgh.  What is curious however is that he died in Philadelphia in December 1841 at the age of fifty-seven from a plural effusion.  It is not known why he was back in Philadelphia, but he may have been visiting for one reason or another.  I am waiting on his probate record from Allegheny County as I type this to see what, if anything, was left in his records.  I also need to verify Mary Ann's maiden surname, as the only document that mentions is thus far is her entry in the Morris book.

THE SECOND HENRY (before 1760-1838)

The second Henry Peterson, known thus far as Henry Peterson Sr. was actually also a junior.  I have no date of birth for him other than he was born before 1760, as his census records indicate.  He was the child of Henry Peterson and Hannah Rothwell, though his mother's surname has not been verified (as the Morris book is the only document thus far that gives her surname).  

While it appears he lived in Philadelphia most of his life per city directory entries, census records, and deed and probate documents for his siblings and father, he appears to have died in June 1838 in Pine Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania according to his own probate records.  He also lived in Loudon County, Virginia for about ten years, as deed records and an advertisement he placed in the Virginia Journal and Alexandria Advertiser in 1787 indicate. It is not clear why he moved there, but a few of his children were born there.  His first wife was Margaret Morris, who died in 1828 according to the book, and he appears to have remarried, as wife Hannah is listed in his will, though as of yet I have no information on Hannah at all.  Henry, according to his will, had the seven aforementioned children, but the Morris book lists a couple that died young as well.  Further research will need to be done to prove this, however.

THE THIRD HENRY (died circa 1794)

This brings me to my third Henry Peterson.  Like his namesake, this Henry (who is actually the first Henry Peterson in my line if one goes chronologically) has no date of birth as of yet, but I do know that he died sometime between 6 September 1791, when he wrote his will, and 3 September 1794, when his will was proved in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. A 1774 Philadelphia deed states he was a merchant, and his will lists four children named Lydia, Henry, Peter, and Derick, which means the second Henry named his children after his siblings. 

Derick Peterson, son to this Henry and brother to the second, was a pretty famous guy in early Philadelphia history.  He appears to have been a captain in the Philadelphia militia during the Revolution, he owned a vast estate in what was then Lower Dublin Township (now part of the Holmesburg neighborhood in Philadelphia), and he and his brother Henry had a very public falling out over debts owned to him that brought up the bequeathment that was left to the brothers by their father in his will.  I am currently awaiting his probate records from the Philadelphia Register of Wills because so many of the other Petersons (including the first Henry Peterson) are mentioned in the abstract of his probate and I want to know what legacy he left to each of them. 

Because both the second and the third Henry Petersons lived in Philadelphia for a time, sorting records for them feels almost impossible in some instances without further research.  I have numerous records saved in various places in the hopes of being able to sort them out to the correct ancestor.  Add to that the repeating names for their children and one has a recipe for frustration in research.  But I power on because I like to write the stories of who my kin were and how they lived within the scope of history.

This tale isn't finished, and I like to think it never will be as long as I can find information on any of the Peterson family.

Sources: 

*note - I have chosen not to post a complete list of all the sources I have on all of my Henry Petersons because the research is ongoing.  For further sources, contact me*

"1800 United States Federal Census," online database, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 April 2021), Entry for Henry Peterson, Year: 1800, Census Place: Lower Dublin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Series: M32, Roll: 42, Page: 153, Image: 223, and Family History Library Film: 363345; citing Second Census of the United States, 1800: Population Schedules, Washington County, Territory Northwest of the River Ohio; and Population Census, 1803: Washington County, Ohio. NARA microfilm publication M1804 (1 roll).

"1830 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 16 April 2021), Entry for Henry Peterson, Year: 1830, Census Place: Pittsburgh West Ward Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Series: M19, Roll: 144, Page: 53, and Family History Library Film: 0020618; citing Fifth Census of the United States, 1830. (NARA microfilm publication M19, 201 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"Abstracts of Wills Recorded in the Administration Books, Register's Office, Philadelphia", Publications of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, volume V no 3 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, March 1914), 295; online images, Google Books (https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Pennsylvania_Genealogical_Magazine/GMIxAQAAMAAJ : accessed 25 April 2021). Entry for Derick Peterson, administration Book N, page 242, 1829.

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book 27-2B: 60-62, Lewis and Maria Peterson to Henry Peterson, recorded 19 October 1819; FHL microfilm 1497872.

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book 27-2B: 104-106, Assignment of Lewis Peterson to Henry Peterson jr., recorded 13 Nov 1819; FHL microfilm 1497872

Clear, Helen, compiler, Deaths Gleaned from the Pittsburgh Christian Advocate 1834-1855 (New Brighton, Pennsylvania: Archives & History Ministry Team of the Western Pennsylvania Conference, United Methodist Church, 2000), 163; online file, Western PA Conference, The United Methodist Church (https://www.wpaumc.org/archives-sampler : accessed 18 April 2021).

Cushing, Thomas. History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: Including Its Early Settlement and Progress to the Present Time, a Description of Its Historic and Interesting Localities: Its Cities, Towns and Villages: Religious, Educational, Social and Military History: Mining, Manufacturing and Commercial Interests: Improvements, Resources, Statistics, Etc. : Also Portraits of Some of Its Prominent Men and Biographies of Many of Its Representative Citizens, volume 1 (Chicago: A Warner & Co, 1889), 147

"District Couty - Sylvanus Lothrop vs. Ann Peterson et. al.," legal notice, Pittsburgh Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 29 March 1852, page 3; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 8 April 2021).

Harris' general business directory of the cities of Pittsburgh and Allegheny: and also of the most flourishing and important towns and cities of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Western New York, Virginia, &c. (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: A.A. Anderson, 1841), 46, "Peterson Henry copper and tin warehouse, Front n. Market d, h Springdale"; digital images, Detre Library & Archives, Heinz History Center, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 22 April 2021).

Haavik, Benjamin Knute. "Eden Hall: A Cultural Historic Landscape," (Master's Thesis University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1998), 17. 

Loudoun County, Virginia, Deed Book S: 143-145, William and Sarah Allen to Henry Peterson, recorded 13 Sept 1790; FHL microfilm 32305.

Loudoun County, Virginia, Deed Book X: 310-313, Henry and Margarett Peterson to Lee B. Gale, recorded 24 December 1796; FHL microfilm 32309.

Moon, Robert C. The Morris Family of Philadelphia: Descendants of Anthony Morris, volumes 1-5 (Philadelphia: Robert C. Moon, 1898–1909). (I used the copy currently on Ancestry.com, but various other copies are available on the internet)

"Pennsylvania Archives," database online with images, Fold3 (www.fold3.com : accessed 25 April 2021), Entry for Derick Peterson, volume 1, page 144, Muster Rolls Relating to the Associators and Militia of the City of Philadelphia; extracted from Thomas Lynch Montgomery (editor), Pennsylvania Archives (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Harrisburg Publishing Company, 1906).

"Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994," database online with images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 10 April 2021), Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994 Allegheny Proceedings index 1788-1971 vol 33-34> volume 34, page 266, box 9; citing county courthouses in Pennsylvania.

"Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 April 2021), Entry for Henry Peterson, probate date 13 June 1838, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Will Books, Vol 4, pages 26-27; citing Pennsylvania County District and Probate Courts.

"Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993,"  (accessed 19 March 2021), Entry for Sarah A Peterson, probate date 28 Aug 1874, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Will Packets, Vol 17-19, 1874-1876, volume 17, page 584, number 307; citing Pennsylvania County District and Probate Courts.

"Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993," (accessed 11 April 2021), Philadelphia > Wills, Vol W-X, 1790-1799> Vol X, page 106, Will of Henry Peterson (img 450 of 824); citing Pennsylvania County District and Probate Courts.

"Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915," database online with images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 18 April 2021), Entry for Henry Peterson, died 15 Dec 1841; FHL microfilm 1,905,884; citing Philadelphia City Archives and Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book EF9: 643-648, Derick and Mary Peterson and Lydia McCalla to Henry Peterson, recorded 6 Dec 1802; FHL microfilm 21947.

"To the Printer of the Aurora," Aurora (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 19 April 1805, page 1; online images, GenealogyBank (www.genealogybank.com : accessed 10 April 2021).

"To the Public," Aurora (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 17 April 1805, page 1; online images, GenealogyBank (www.genealogybank.com : accessed 10 April 2021).

"Untitled," legal notice, The Pittsburgh Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 4 January 1840, page 2; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 8 April 2021).

Notable Women: Nellie Grant May Fielding Anderson

A year after I received it, I'm still working on the Civil War pension file of my second great-grandfather, James Fielding.  There is a great deal of information in the file, but alas, between working full time and other commitments, it's been slow going.  Eventually, I will finish the blog post I have already started to put together on his remarkable life.

In documenting each page of the pension file, I have come across the extraordinary life of his daughter, Nellie.  My pap's maternal aunt was a strong and notable woman in her own right.

I should mention that I don't have much on Nellie's ancestry past her parents.  After all, both sets of her grandparents, John Fielding and Martha Gibson, and Henderson McDonald and Emmeline Peterson, are both subjects of "Chasing the Elusive" blog posts I have done.

Nellie Grant May Fielding was born on 2 August 1872 in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania (which as I have mentioned before is now the Northside of Pittsburgh).  She was the fourth child and second daughter born to James Fielding and Sarah Virginia MacDonald.  At the time of her birth, the family was living at 186 Rebecca in Allegheny City's Fifth Ward, so this is most likely where she was born.  

As a child, she spent time in Cleveland, Ohio (and maybe a few other locations), as her father worked at the time as a traveling agent for a few publishing companies.  Her younger brother, Edward, was born in Cleveland, which leads to the assumption that the family did travel with James, at least to Ohio.

Younger brother Marcus was the subject of his own blog post as well.

On 19 January 1890, Nellie married Walter Black Anderson in Camden, New Jersey. He was a Scottish immigrant and the son of James Anderson and Balmain Black.  Both Walter and Nellie were seventeen years of age, and it is unclear why they traveled all the way to Camden from Allegheny City where they both lived.  Perhaps it was easier to get married there for them, being underage and all.  

***Note here: As of this blog post, I have ordered their marriage license from the New Jersey State Archives, but will need to wait to receive it.  If it has answers, I will update this blog post with them.**

Walter was trained as a bookkeeper and frequently moved about the general vicinity of Pittsburgh and Allegheny City, per his entries in the area city directories.  It is not known if Nellie moved with him or not, but the couple did have two children born in the area.  Nellie Balmain Anderson was born at 5 Jackson Street in Allegheny City on 5 Jan 1891 and George James Anderson was born on 14 August 1894 in Pittsburgh.  

By 1898, the family was living in Sharpsburg, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.  Walter died suddenly here on 20 November 1898 at the age of twenty-six, leaving Nellie a widow with two small children.  He was buried in Highwood Cemetery.  No record of his death was registered at the county level, and as death records were not required until 1906 by the state, it is not known what he died from.

Nellie moved back to Allegheny City after Walter's death, presumably to be closer to her parents, and took in boarders in 1900 to make ends meet.  She spent some time living in Pittsburgh but appears to have moved back into her father's home at 2704 Norwood Avenue in Allegheny City around the time her mother died in 1907.  It was in this house that she was enumerated in 1910, living with her brothers James and Edward.  She probably kept house for her father before he moved to the National Home for Soldiers in Dayton in 1909.

After her father died in 1913, Nellie was responsible for putting his last affairs in order, and as a result of this, she went into a small amount of debt.  Per records found in James' pension file, Nellie applied for reimbursement for expenses of $142.80 on 11 April 1913.  In the same document, she stated that her father was last paid his pension in December of 1912 and that James' home, in which she lived with brothers James, Edward, and sometimes Marcus, was worth $3200.  The house had been left to the children who lived in it at the time of James' death per his will, with their father noting they were to live together as long as possible.  Should the house have to be sold, James Henderson was to inherit $1500, which would be left in the hands of his uncle and James' younger brother John, who was the executor.  Marcus and Nellie both were to inherit $400, while Edward was set to inherit $250. (By contrast, Nellie's sisters Jennie, Emma, and Birdie only received $5 apiece.)

**tangent here: I wrote an article about Nellie's uncle John Fielding and the accident that cost him his leg.**

I'm not sure why Edward and Marcus were included in this stipulation in the will, but James Henderson was blind by the time his father wrote the will and was a feeble man.  In September of 1913, he suffered a stroke, leaving him paralyzed.  Nellie was his caretaker, and likely was taking care of both her brother and her father from the time of her mother's death in 1907 until James the elder moved to Dayton for better care.

Here is why I think Nellie was so notable.... as a widow herself, with two younger children, she managed to not only run her father's household for him when he was invalided but also took care of her eldest brother in his condition as well as her two younger brothers.  Per newspaper advertisements, the family also took in boarders to make ends meet, which added to her work.  She also did some of this while making a living for herself at a time when it was considered low-class for a woman to work outside of the home.

Because of the house, however, the family also ran into some problems.  In the aforementioned application for reimbursement that Nellie submitted, she listed the home's worth, which disallowed her claim due to the fact that the value of the real estate was sufficient to cover reimbursements Nellie had asked for, despite the fact that her father's pension money, which the family appeared to be living off of, had not been paid since December of 1912.  Nellie contacted her local Congressman, Stephen G. Porter, and apparently asked him to look into the matter.  He in turn wrote a letter in July of 1913 inquiring about the status of the final pension payments.

This began a letter-writing campaign between Nellie, Stephen G. Porter, and the commissioner of the Bureau of Pensions that lasted for many years.  Nellie mentioned her invalided brother and the rising costs to care for him but was told that since he was over the age of 16, he was not entitled to his father's pension despite his disabilities.  The commissioner continued to stand his ground, stating that because the house was sufficient enough to cover the costs of the debts Nellie held, they did not have to pay the accrued pension.  However, if the family sold the house, Nellie and James Henderson would have nowhere to live.

By 1920, it appeared that Nellie had ceased fighting the matter.  This was when it appeared she also went back to work, as she's enumerated in the 1920 census and listed in the corresponding city directories as a matron at the Bell Telephone Company in Pittsburgh.

It is not clear when the home finally had to be sold, but by 1928, a Bonomo family appears to have taken residence of the home.  James was sent to the St. Barnabus Free Home, where he was enumerated in the 1930 census and where he succumbed to chronic asthma on 13 December 1931.

Nellie took up housekeeping once more.  In 1930, she was enumerated in the census in the household of 55-year-old Harry Rushmore, a widower living in Swissvale, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania with his three children as their housekeeper.  Little else is known about her time spent here, however.

The 1940 census found her enumerated in the home of widowed Emma S. Eisenhauer on 3242 Orleans Street, living as a boarder, along with two other boarders.  This census listed that in 1935 she was living in the "same place" but not the "same house," so her stint as a housekeeper with Rushmore appeared to have been short.

Little else is known about her or where she lived or what she did until 24 February 1963 when she died from an intestinal hemorrhage due to a broken hip caused by an accidental fall at the Reformed Presbyterian Home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  She was 90 years old at the time and had outlived her parents, all of her six siblings, her husband, a son-in-law, and her only grandson, Walter Anderson, who died in a fiery crash outside Detroit, Michigan in 1949.  Her funeral was held at the Reformed Presbyterian Home three days after her death and then she was buried in Highwood next to her husband, having spent 65 years of her life without him.

One day I would love to see a photo of this formidable woman.  Did she look as strong as the research suggests she was or did she appear fragile?  Was she hardened by her life experiences or did she remain optimistic and flexible to the curveballs that were thrown her way?  I may never know, but she remains a notable woman in my eyes.

Sources Used:

"1900 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 July 2020), Entry for Nellie M. Anderson and family, Year: 1900, Census Place: Allegheny Ward 2 Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Page: 12, Enumeration District: 0015, and FHL microfilm: 1241355; citing United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.

"1910 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 July 2020), Entry for Nellie Anderson and family, Year: 1910, Census Place: Pittsburgh Ward 26 Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: T624_1308, Page: 4A, Enumeration District: 0634, and FHL microfilm: 1375321; citing Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"1920 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 25 February 2020), Entry for James H. Fielding and Nellie M. Anderson, Year: 1920, Census Place: Pittsburgh Ward 26 Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: T625_1526, Page: 3B, and Enumeration District: 729; citing Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"1930 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 25 February 2020), Entry for James H Fielding, Year: 1930, Census Place: Richland Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Page: 18A, Enumeration District: 0773, and FHL microfilm: 2341723; citing United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls.

"1930 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 February 2021), Entry for Nell Anderson in the household of Harry Rushworth, Year: 1930, Census Place: Swissvale Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Page: 1A, Enumeration District: 0816, and FHL microfilm: 2341725.

"1940 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 February 2021), Entry for Nellie Anderson in the household of Emma S. Eisenhauer, Year: 1940, Census Place: Pittsburgh Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: m-t0627-03674, Page: 10A, and Enumeration District: 69-743; citing United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls.

Allegheny City, Registration of births in the city of Allegheny, 1878-1907 and index 1882-1907, volume 4: page 97, Entry for Female Anderson, born 15 Jan 1891.

Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "1880 United States Federal Census," database online with images, Ancestry.com Operation, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 July 2016), Entry for James Fielding and household; Year: 1880, Census Place: Allegheny Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: 1086, Family History Film: 1255086, Page: 132B, Enumeration District: 006, and Image: 0269.

"Anderson," death notice, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 26 February 1963, death notice for Nellie Anderson, page 22; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 31 January 2021).

Application for Reimbursement, certificate number 11390, deceased pensioner James Fielding, E, 155th Pa Inf., dated 11 April 1913; Scanned copy provided in the pension file for James Fielding from NARA sent to Kelley Wood-Davis 29 Jan 2020 by Deidre Erin Denton, genealogist; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); Records Relating to Pension and Bounty-Land Claims 1773-1942, Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, RG 15; 2,807 rolls, National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Atlas of the cities of Pittsburgh, Allegheny, and the Adjoining Boroughs (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: G.M. Hopkins, 1876); digital images, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 5 February 2021), Plate 10-11> viewed Rebecca Street in the 5th Ward of Allegheny City.

Central Branch, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers Form No. 37, reporting death of James Fielding, pension cert no 11390, filed 21 Feb 1913; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); RG 15, 2,807 rolls, NA–Washington.

"Death Record," obituary, The Pittsburgh Post (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 7 October 1906, Page 6; Mrs. Sarah V. Fielding; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 31 July 2016).

"Died," death notice, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 22 November 1898, Walter Black Anderson, page 5; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 6 June 2020).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1872-1873 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G.H. Thurston, 1872), 169, "Fielding James, machinist, 186 Rebecca, A(llegheny)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 29 July 2016).

Find A Grave, database with images (www.findagrave.com : accessed 1 February 2021), memorial page for Nellie Fielding Anderson, Find A Grave Memorial # 184299810, citing Highwood Cemetery (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), memorial created by FrankA.

Find A Grave, Walter Black Anderson, Find A Grave Memorial # 184299886.

Letter from Acting Commissioner E. C. J. to the Hon. Stephen G Porter, dated 11 August 1913; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); RG 15, 2,807 rolls, NA–Washington.

Letter from the Commissioner of Bureau of Pensions to Mrs. Nellie Anderson, dated 14 May 1913; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); RG 15, 2,807 rolls, NA–Washington.

Letter from E. C. Tieman, acting commissioner, to Hon. Stephen Foster, dated 18 June 1919; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); RG 15, 2,807 rolls, NA–Washington

Letter from G.M. Saltzgerber to Mrs. Nellie Anderson, dated 14 March 1917; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); RG 15, 2,807 rolls, NA–Washington.

Letter from Mrs. Nellie Anderson to the Pension Agent in Washington D. C. dated 9 Jan 1917; Scanned copy provided in the pension file for James Fielding from NARA sent to Kelley Wood-Davis 29 Jan 2020 by Deidre Erin Denton, genealogist; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); Records Relating to Pension and Bounty-Land Claims 1773-1942, Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, RG 15; 2,807 rolls, National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Letter from Stephen G. Porter, Representative of the 29th District Pennsylvania, to G. M. Saltzgaber, Commissioner of the Bureau of Pensions, dated 31 July 1913; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); RG 15, 2,807 rolls, NA–Washington.

Letter from Stephen G. Porter, Representative of the 29th District Pennsylvania, to G. M. Saltzgaber, Commissioner of the Bureau of Pensions, dated 2 June 1919; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); RG 15, 2,807 rolls, NA–Washington.

"Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003," database online with images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 25 February 2020), Entry for male Child Fielding, born 20 April 1876 at 556 Hamilton, Cleveland; Cuyahoga > Birth registers with index 1872-1876 > image 204 of 288; FHL Microfilm number 1986157; citing County courthouses, Ohio.

"Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 February 2020), Entry for James Henderson Fielding, died 13 Dec 1931, cn 112920; citing Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

"Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 July 2020), Entry for Nellie Anderson, died 24 Feb 1963.

Pittsburgh and Allegheny directory, 1899 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: R.L. Polk & Co. and R.L. Dudley, 1899), 131, "Anderson Nellie, wid, Walter B, h 188 Jackson, A(llegheny)"; digital image, Univerity of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 26 January 2021).

Pittsburgh and Allegheny directory, 1900 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: R.L. Polk & Co. and R.L. Dudley, 1900), 132, "Anderson Nellie M, wid Walter, 311 Jackson, A"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 29 January 2021).

Pittsburgh and Allegheny directory, 1904 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: R.L. Polk & Co. and R.L. Dudley, 1904), 186, "Anderson Nellie wid Walter V 2033 Center av"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 30 January 2021).

Pittsburgh and Allegheny directory, 1905 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: R.L. Polk & Co. and R.L. Dudley, 1905), 136, "Anderson Nellie wid Walter B 2033 Center av"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 30 January 2021).

Pittsburgh directory, 1908 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: R.L. Polk & Co. and R.L. Dudley, 1908), 129, "Anderson Nellie M wid Walter 2704 Norwood av A"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 30 January 2021).

Pittsburgh directory, 1909 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: R.L. Polk & Co. and R.L. Dudley,, 1909), 119, "Anderson Nellie M wid Walter 2704 Norwood av A"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 30 January 2021).

Pittsburgh directory, 1910 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: R.L. Polk & Co. and R.L. Dudley, 1910), "Anderson Nellie M wid Walter B 2704 Norwood"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 30 January 2021).

Pittsburgh directory, 1912 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: R. L. Polk & Co and R. L. Dudley, 1912), 112, "Anderson Nellie wid W V 2704 Norwood av"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 30 January 2021).

Pittsburgh directory, 1913 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: R.L. Polk & Co and R. L. Dudley, 1913), 113, "Anderson Nellie wid Walter B 2704 Norwood"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 30 January 2021).

Pittsburgh directory, 1914 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: R.L. Polk & Co. and R.L. Dudley, 1914), 142, "Anderson Nellie wid Walter B 2704 Norwood"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 30 January 2021).

Pittsburgh directory, 1915 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: R.L. Polk & Co. and R.L. Dudley, 1915), 147, "Anderson Nellie wid Walter B 2704 Norwood"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 30 January 2021).

Polk's Pittsburgh city directory, 1922 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: R.L. Polk & Co, 1922), 395, "Anderson Nell M (wid Walter B) Matron Bell Tel Co h2704 Norwood av"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 31 January 2021).

Polk's Pittsburgh city directory, 1923 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: R.L. Polk & Co, 1923), 392, "Anderson Nellie M (wid Walter B) h2704 Norwood"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 31 January 2021).

Polk's Pittsburgh city directory, 1924 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: R. L. Polk & Co, 1924), 470, "Anderson Nell M (wid Walter B) h2704 Norwood av"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 31 January 2021).

Receipt of Payment for Funeral Services For James Fielding from Mrs. Nellie Anderson to R. T. Rodney, Funeral Director; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); RG 15, 2,807 rolls, NA–Washington.

Reimbursement Card, Certificate number 11390, for invalid pensioner James Fielding; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); RG 15, 2,807 rolls, NA–Washington.

R.L. Polk & Co.'s Pittsburgh city directory, 1916 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: R.L. Polk & Co, 1916), 457, "Anderson Nellie N (wid Walter B), h 2704 Norwood av"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 30 January 2021).

R.L. Polk & Co.'s Pittsburgh city directory, 1917 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: R. L. Polk & Co., 1917), 429, "Anderson Nellie M (wid Walter B), h 2704 Norwood av"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 30 January 2021).

R.L. Polk & Co.'s Pittsburgh city directory, 1918 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: R.L. Polk & Co, 1918), 436, "Anderson Nellie M (wid Walter B), h 2704 Norwood av"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 30 January 2021).

R.L. Polk & Co.'s Pittsburgh city directory, 1919 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: R.L. Polk & Co, 1919), 420, "Anderson Nellie m (wid Walter B), r 2704 Norwood av"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 30 January 2021).

R.L. Polk & Co.'s Pittsburgh city directory, 1920 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: R. L. Polk & Co, 1920), 432, "Anderson Nell M (wid Walter B), h 2704 Norwood av"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 30 January 2021).

"To let," advertisement, The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 22 August 1915, page 29; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 8 February 2021).

"United States Marriages," database online, FindMyPast (www.findmypast.com : accessed 5 February 2021), Entry for W B Anderson and Nellie G M Fielding, married 19 Jan 1890, Camden, Camden, New Jersey; citing all the United States marriage records that are currently on Findmypast.

"U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 26 February 2020), Entry for Marcus Fielding, born 2 Dec 1879; Registration State: Illinois; Registration County: Cook; Roll: 1452382; Draft Board: 02; citing United States, Selective Service System. "World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918". Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm.

Voucher circular questions for James Fielding, certificate number 11390, dated 5 July 1898; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); RG 15, 2,807 rolls, NA–Washington.

Will of James Fielding (1913), Probate Records of Allegheny County: Will Book 120, Number 20, Page 34; Register of Wills, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Chasing the Elusive: Henderson McDonald

 I apologize for the lack of blogging in recent times.  I recently finished a rather large genealogy research project for an acquaintance that ended up consuming all of my free time until just before Christmas, and then took a short research break, as my mind had "fried."

In this new year, I am back to doing my research. I am starting off 2021 with another chasing of the elusive. I also will be updating the last chasing the elusive blog post I wrote in the next few days, as I found more information on Elizabeth Hager VanLuvanee Hause.

One of my paternal third-great-grandfathers was a man by the name of Henderson McDonald.  There is very little on him in regards to a paper trail, thus he remains one of my more elusive ancestors (as does his wife).  

Let's start at the beginning:

Henderson McDonald was born sometime around the year 1815 in Pennsylvania, according to the census records.  However, he could have been born as early as 1811, as a Henderson McDonald was baptized at the Derry Presbyterian Church in Derry, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania on 6 September 1811, per page 142 of the first volume of Notes and Queries: Historical, Biographical and Genealogical, Relating Chiefly to Interior Pennsylvania edited by William Henry Egle.  However, further research will need to be done in order to determine whether or not this is the correct Henderson McDonald.  I have a couple of emailed queries out but am waiting for replies.  For now, this record is merely a note to research as more records come available online.

Because of the lack of records to research at present time, it is unknown who his parentage was. 

At some point, he married Emeline Peterson, who was also born in Pennsylvania around the year 1821.  They probably married before September of 1839, as that was when their daughter Sarah was born.

The couple had three known children per census records, although the only census I have found that lists them all is the 1850 census.  The three known children are Sarah, who was born 1 September 1839, William, who was born around 1848, and Emma G, who was born in June of 1850.

Given the gaps in the years of the children, I am almost certain other children were born to the couple, but those children probably sadly died as infants or children before census enumerators could find them.

Here's where he becomes elusive, as he only listed in a handful of documents despite searching what is available online.

Henderson McDonald appears in two United States Federal census records.  In 1840, he is listed as the head of the household in Pittsburgh's South Ward, living with his wife, eldest daughter Sarah, and an unknown free white woman aged 20-29.  In this census, one person was enumerated as being employed in navigation of canals, lakes, and rivers. In 1850, he was listed as the head of the household, living in Allegheny City's Third Ward with his wife Emeline, children Sarah, Emma G and William, and a 35-year-old woman named Sarah Peterson, who was probably a sister or relative of Emmeline's.  In that census, he was enumerated as being employed as a clerk.

In February of 1844, his name appeared in a "List of Letters" that were waiting at the Pittsburgh Post Office.  The list ran for several consecutive weeks in the Pittsburgh Morning Post. 

He also appears only in one city directory for the greater Pittsburgh area.  That directory is Fahnestock's Pittsburgh directory for 1850, in which he is listed as Capt. Henderson McDonald, living on Federal Street in Allegheny.

1850 is the last known year for documents for him, as the trail runs cold after the directory listing and the 1850 census.  There are a few clues, however, in documents for his wife.

Emeline Peterson McDonald first shows up as a solo woman in the Directory for 1856-1857 of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Cities, when she appears as "Mrs. McDonald" working as a dressmaker on Craig Street near Ann Street.  She then appears in a handful of city directories living on Robinson Street and Fourth in Allegheny City's First Ward.  It is because of these listings that it is likely Henderson died between 1850 and 1856.

Emeline (whose name was spelled in a variety of ways including "Emily") also appears on the 1860 census with daughters Sarah and Emma, living in the First Ward of Allegheny city in the house of one Ann Aiken, where she was employed as a seamstress.

In November of 1861, Emeline's daughter Sarah married James Fielding in her home, according to a write-up in the Pittsburgh Presbyterian Banner. Conflicting information however gives the location of this home in both Sharpsburg (per a questionnaire James Fielding filled out later for his pension application) and Allegheny City (per the newspaper write-up itself done in March of 1862).  The minister who married the couple was one John Williams.  Aside from being a Presbyterian minister, little is known about him.

Emeline McDonald's last entry is in the Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1866/1867, where she appears living on 32 Fourth Street in Allegheny City.  After that directory, her trail also runs cold.

Searches to probate records from Allegheny County for both Henderson and Emeline yielded no hits, as did property records in the forms of deeds available as digitized images on FamilySearch and elsewhere.  Searches of the many newspapers digitized on newspapers.com, NewspaperArchive, and GenealogyBank have not yielded any death notices or notes of any kind on the couple.  The negative searches lead me to assume that the couple owned no property, and therefore had little to take through probate.  They also may have had a death notice in a newspaper that has not yet been digitized or lost to time (or even did not get noted at all).  Aside from daughter Sarah, who was my ancestress, little is known on the couple's children as well.  The trails for Emma and William also run cold.  

Perhaps one day there will be a brick removed in this giant brick wall that is my McDonald family and I will be able to continue the hunt backwards through the generations.  However, until then, I remain, chasing the elusive.

Update here (22 May 2021): I have picked up Emeline's trail and wrote a post about her second husband, Elmon Edward McLaughlin.

Sources

Ancestry.com, "1840 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 31 July 2016), Year: 1840, Census Place: Pittsburgh South Ward Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: 441, Page: 373, Image: 764, and Family History Library Film: 0020536 (Entry for Henderson McDonald).

Ancestry.com, "1850 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 31 July 2016), Year: 1850, Census Place: Allegheny Ward 3 Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: M432_744, Page: 152B, and Image: 310 (Entry for Henderson McDonald and family).

Ancestry.com, "1860 United States Federal Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 31 July 2016), Year: 1860, Census Place: Allegheny Ward 1 Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Roll: M653_1067, Page: 635, Image: 102, and Family History Library Film: 805067 (as Emaline McDonald and daughters).

Directory of Pittsburgh & vicinity for, 1858/1859 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: George H. Thurston, 1858), 165, "McDonald Emeline, widow of Henderson, h Robinson bl Darragh, A(llegheny)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 31 July 2016).

Directory of Pittsburgh & vicinity for, 1859/1860 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: George H. Thurston, 1859), 186, "McDonald Emeline, widow of Henderson, h Robinson n Canal, A(llegheny)"; digital image, Univeristy of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 11 January 2021).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1861-1862 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G. H. Thurston, 1861), 218, "McDondald Emily, widow Henderson, dressmaker, Robinson n Darragh, A(llegheny)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (http://historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 31 July 2016).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1863-1864 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G. H. Thurston, 1863), 236, "McDonald Emeline, wid Henderson, 46 Fourth"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 31 July 2016).

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1866/1867 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: G.H. Thurston, 1866), 273, "McDonald Emma, wid Henderson, 32 Fourth"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 31 July 2016).

Fahnestock's Pittsburgh directory for 1850: containing the names of the inhabitants of Pittsburgh, Allegheny, & vicinity : their occupation, places of business and dwelling houses : also, a list of the public offices, banks, &c, 1850 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Geo. Parkin & Co, 1850), 61, "McDonald Henderson Capt. Federal, Al(llegheny)"; digital image, University of Pittsburgh, Digital Research Library, Historic Pittsburgh (www.historicpittsburgh.org : accessed 31 July 2016).

"List of Letters," Pittsburgh Morning Post (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 22 February 1844, page 4; Henderson McDonald had a letter; online images, NewspaperArchive (www.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 12 January 2021).

"Married," Pittsburgh Presbyterian Banner (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 22 March 1862, page 3; online images, NewspaperArchive (www.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 12 January 2021).

"Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963," database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 July 2016), Entry for Sarah V. Fielding; died 4 October 1907; Certificate number: 95518; citing Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Parents listed as Henderson McDonald and Emeline Petterson.

Voucher circular questions for James Fielding, certificate number 11390, dated 5 July 1898; Scanned copy provided in the pension file for James Fielding sent to Kelley Wood-Davis 29 Jan 2020 by Deidre Erin Denton, genealogist; citing Pension application files based upon service in the Civil War and Spanish-American War ("Civil War and Later"); Records Relating to Pension and Bounty-Land Claims 1773-1942, Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, RG 15; 2,807 rolls, National Archives, Washington, D.C.