The John Graham Family Home Page:Information about Margaret Maxwell
Margaret Maxwell (d. date unknown)
Notes for Margaret Maxwell:
Margaret Maxwell supposedly was born in St. John's, Newfoundland (a search of the archives in St. John's failed to find any record, however, many records were lost during the three fires which occurred in St. John's in the 1800's.)Her family were probably British Merchants who disapproved of her marrying a sea-going captain (at that time sea captains were active in the slave trade), however, the birth certificate of James McCulloch, his son, indicates that at the time of his birth (1863), profession was listed as Engine fitter (Journeyman), which at that time was a highly skilled trade where one had to serve an indentured apprenticeship before becoming a journeyman.
The address listed on James' birth certificate is listed as Mains St. , Glasgow;since that area is close of the docks in Glasgow, seaman did buy or have their homes in this area.
Margaret Maxwell and her young son, Alexander, died of smallpox.James also had smallpox but survived.He was placed in the Thornliebank Industrial Home for Boys when his father had to return to sea.He ran away from this home at the age of 11 years and found his way to Helensburgh (approx. 20 miles distance).He was sitting at the pier in Helensburgh on a Sunday when an older man asked him about his family.When the man found out he was basically an orphan, James was told that if he could find his way to Dumbarton (approx. 8 miles walking distance) by Monday morning, he could possibly help him.He ended up working at Wm Denny's shipyard, became a Boilermaker (Journeyman) - again a highly skilled trade and ended up as a Foreman.Unfortunately he had a serious accident at work requiring a metal plate insert in the skull.This was the main reason his son, Adam Allan McCulloch and family, returned to Scotland from the U.S. in 1933.He lived with Adam's family for three years prior to his death in 1939.
Above information provided by Margaret Elmarson.
More About Margaret Maxwell:
Fact 1: father an English sea captain, parents disapproved of marriage.
More About Margaret Maxwell and Alexander McCulloch:
Marriage: March 05, 1851
Children of Margaret Maxwell and Alexander McCulloch are:
- +James McCulloch, b. April 11, 1863, 23 Mains Street, Glasgow, Scotland, d. May 17, 1939, Stirling, Scotland183.
- Alexander McCulloch, d. date unknown.