Re: Alexander Mackinnon BURGESS - Journalist and Civil Servant - Canada
-
In reply to:
Alexander Mackinnon BURGESS - Journalist and Civil Servant - Canada
Christopher Duff 8/03/08
Alexander Mackinnon Burgess (1849-1898)' Scottish ancestry.
AMB was born Alexander Burgess on 21 Oct. 1849 (OPR Births 128/B00 0030 0194 Cromdale and Inverallan).He appears to have adopted the middle name of "Mackinnon" (after his mother) on emigrating to Canada.
His parents were "John Burgess, Mason, Balibeg of Advie, and Ann Mackinnon his spouse".
AMB's paternal grandparents, Gregor Burges and Penuel Middleton, were married in 1804.They lived at Upper Drum, a farm near Nethybridge, in the parish of Abernethy, County of Moray, in upper Speyside.They had four children, Alexander (1805), Isbell (1807) and twins Anne and John (1809).Later evidence suggests that Gregor and Penuel died early, and that the four children were fostered by their uncle and aunt, Alexander and Mary Burgess (my 3X great grandparents) on a farm near Advie, in the parish of Cromdale & Inverallan, County of Inverness (about 12 miles down-river).
John Burges (1809) became a stonemason in Advie (following in the trade of his brother Alexander (1805) and his cousins James (1797) (my 2X great-grandfather) and John (1806).On 25 Jan 1849 he married Ann Mackinnon.(Her parents were John Mackinnon and Anne Davidson).They had three children, Alexander (21 Oct 1849), Charles (07 Jan 1851) and Ann (29 Jun 1853).John Burgess died about 1854 (before the introduction of Statutory Certificates in 1855).
Alexander is recorded in the 1861 Census, a scholar aged 11, living in Advie, with his mother Ann, 50, widow, laundress, and sister Ann, 7, scholar.
According to his obituary in the Banffshire Advertiser (31 Mar 1898), Alexander moved to Portsoy, Banffshire in 1867 (when he would have been 17), was employed for two years as a Railway clerk, then joined the staff of a local newspaper, the "Reporter".
Alexander is recorded in the 1871 Census, a "reporter & compositor", aged 21, living in Portsoy with his mother Ann.Later in the same year, Alexander and his mother emigrated to Canada.
It is interesting to note that Alexander's future wife, Margaret Beatrix Anderson, is also recorded in the 1871 Census, aged 19, in Portsoy.Her father, Thomas Anderson, is a "Printer and Publisher employing 7 hands" and presumably was Alexander's employer.It therefore seems probable that both families emigrated to Canada at the same time.Neither Thomas nor his wife Jane are recorded in the 1881 Census, nor are there Statutory Death Certificates for either.This may throw some light on how Alexander was later able to finance his purchase of the "Ottawa Times" in 1875.
I'm sorry not to have answered any of Chris Duff's questions.I, also have been unsuccessful there.
However, I hope the above info is of interest to him, and that it may correct some of the errors that appear in Alexander's on-line biographies.
Iain C Burgess
More Replies:
-
Re: Alexander Mackinnon BURGESS - Journalist and Civil Servant - Canada
Anne Burgess 3/14/10
-
Re: Alexander Mackinnon BURGESS - Journalist and Civil Servant - Canada
Iain C. Burgess 3/30/10
-
Re: Alexander Mackinnon BURGESS - Journalist and Civil Servant - Canada
-
Re: Alexander Mackinnon BURGESS - Journalist and Civil Servant - Canada
Christopher Duff 3/09/10
-
Re: Alexander Mackinnon BURGESS - Journalist and Civil Servant - Canada
Christopher Duff 2/05/10
-
Re: Alexander Mackinnon BURGESS - Journalist and Civil Servant - Canada
Christopher Duff 9/04/08