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My gt grandparents' 1865 Church letter from pastor in Elderslie, Scotland named them Ellen and James Brodie. They were in fact Helen "Ellen" Ralston (b 1832 Johnstone, Scot d 1918 U.S.A)and James Braidwood, found on official Scots Birth & Marr records. He immigrated from Lanarkshire to USA in 1863. She followed 1865 with 6 children. A cousin named Barr also came with family ca 1863/5. From PA James went to Illinois where town of Braidwood is named for him. After sinking coal shafts in Braidwood for C & W, James made first bore under Chicago River for water works and traffic tunnel. Returning to Braidwood, Illinois, James bought a mine which he naed "The Brodie".
I have lots of family information on this family todate. James's father was also a James Braidwood (sometimes Broadwood or Brodie) b ca 1805 m 1829 to Hellen "Ellen" Hercules (Hercus or Harkles) b 1808 at Bothwell. Family tradition says my gt gt gr ftr James Braidwood, a coal miner died ca 1835. Records verify his wife Helen Hercules married (2nd) Andrew Dunsmore who raised the young Braidwood children with Dunsmore half-siblings. Hellen "Ellen" Hercules Braidwood Dunsmore died in 1878, Braidwood, Illnois after joining her sons family.
My g gr father James who came to US had two known sisters Ann and Janet Braidwood (marr a Reid). Both immigrated to Troy, N.Y. (pre 1901) Also family tradition has a brother of whom we find no trace, but said to have come to Illinois and then left for Australia.
Of those absolutely known to be Braidwood family members we found some listed on Scots records as Brodie. The men were coalminers and sea-faring men. Like his father, my gt grandfather James was a coal miner at 9 yrs, but became a boiler maker and went to sea at age 17 (ca 1848), part of the time aboard ships of East India Company. He was shipwrecked at least twice and returned to "The Dens" in Ayrshire as undergrond manager.
I have miscellaneous data on Braidwoods who claim to be kin to the founder of the town, Braidwood, Illinois: some in Canada, in Albany, N.Y. in New Jersey, and some still in U.K. I find much of this confusing and wonder if perhaps Brodie researchers may have keys to open these connections since my family apparently used both Brodie and Braidwood as surname. My Mother told me that Helen "Ellen" RALSTON Braidwood told her, "We are Brodies". Will share any information and tell you if documented or "tradition".
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