[NI008]
The S.S. "Whatcom" was a steam-powered ship which carried passengers and
freight on the Puget Sound from 1904 to 1921. Originally named the
"Majestic", she sailed for the Thompson Steamboat Co. In 1904, she was
renamed the "Whatcom" and sailed for the Alaska Steam Navigation Co. and
later for the Puget Sound Navigation Co. After 1921, she was converted
into a car ferry for service between Bremerton and Seattle and was
renamed "The City of Bremerton". She was broken up for scrap in 1939.
- from "McCurdy's Maritime History of
Pacific Northwest"
[NI008] On January 29, 1917, Albert's petition to become a U.S. citizen was granted. He, Elizabeth, and daughter Alice lived in Treadwell, Alaska Territory. With Albert's petition, Elizabeth also became a U.S. citizen.
[NI008] ----------------------------------------------------------------
[NI008] Albert's naturalization papers state that he came from Vancouver, British Columbia to Victoria, British Columbia to Seattle Washington before going to Douglas Island, Alaska Territory. Since Albert was a British citizen, he did not require immigration papers to enter Canada. He may have entered Canada on the east coast at Halifax, Nova Scotia or through the St. Lawrence at Montreal, Quebec. He would have probably taken the Canadian Pacific Railroad (completed in 1885) from the east to Vancouver. Alternately, he might have travelled around Cape Horn to get to the west coast or came east by ship from England.
[NI008] ----------------------------------------------------------------
[NI008] The following is the family story which was handed down regarding Albert and the flooding of a gold mine in Alaska. Albert and his wife Elizabeth lived in Douglas, Alaska for a time. This is where their daugther, Alice Aris was born. While in Alaska, Albert worked running the lift in a gold mine. The mine was being tunneled under water in the Bering Strait. Russian engineers warned that the tunnel was too far out under water. The mine flooded. They managed to get all the miners out using the lift, except for one man. They believe that he had been napping in one of the side tunnels. All the mules that were being used in the mine were lost. Several of their bodies floated to the surface days later. After all this, Albert moved his family to Seattle, Washington.
[NI008] ----------------------------------------------------------------
[NI008] The Treadwell Mine and its Flooding
[NI008] Based on the above family story, we were able to find out a great deal about the mine that Albert Aris worked in and the story of its flooding. Treadwell was the site of a gold mine about ½ mile from Douglas, Alaska on Douglas Island across the Gastineau Strait from Juneau, Alaska. The towns of Treadwell and Douglas only existed to service the mine. In their heyday, they had a population greater than Juneau's. The Treadwell mine was the largest gold mine in the world in its time. It remains Alaska's second largest gold mine of all time. Some 3 million ounces (100 tons) of gold were taken out of the Treadwell mine from 1881 to 1917. The four individual mines which made up the Treadwell complex employed 2,000 people in its heyday.
[NI008] The Treadwell mine was very technically advanced for its day. The techniques of deep (the Treadwell extended down to 2,400 feet below the surface) gold mining developed at Treadwell were later used in South Africa's deep gold mines. Also advanced for its time was the Treadwell mines' employee benefits. Wages for the miners were high for the time, averaging around $3.25 to $3.50 per 8 hour shift while Albert was there. These wages worked out to be an average of $100 per month. Employees could participate in a stock purchase plan which were not yet common. Medical care was paid for by the mining companies and could be obtained from any doctor. This was unusual at the time because most company-paid health plans required the employee to go to the company's own doctors or hosptials. Cottages (complete with electric lights, steam heat, and indoor plumbing) were provided in Treadwell for married families at $25 per month. Albert, Elizabeth, and Alice probably lived in one of these cottages.
[NI008] Employment in the mine automatically qualified a worker for membership in the Treadwell Club. This was a social club sponsored by the mine and it included a marble-lined swimming pool, gymnasium, dance hall, 500 seat theater, billiards room, bowling alley, library, sauna, and Turkish baths. It was basically the only form of entertainment in Treadwell. Treadwell was "dry" but neighboring Douglas had drinking establishments.
[NI008] From the sounds of it, life in Treadwell was probably pretty good for the Aris family. Good wages, social activities, subsidized housing and health care made the Treadwell mine a good place to work and raise a family. Albert Aris states on his naturalization papers that he came to Alaska in 1910 and was living in Treadwell in 1914. Daughter Alice was born in Douglas in 1912 so it can be assumed that Albert worked at the mine from at least 1912 onwards. By 1918, Albert Aris is listed in a Seattle city directory, so it can be assumed that he and his family had left Treadwell by then.
[NI008] Albert's naturalization papers have his occupation listed as a hoist engineer. In mining terms, the hoist is the machine used to raise and lower the cage in a mine shaft. The cage is essentially the mine elevator, lifting men and ore up and down the shaft.
[NI008] The Treadwell mine was running out of gold ore in 1916 and 1917. In response to the leaner mining conditions, the mine began a pratice of "pillar robbing". As the miners originally tunneled into the mine, they left behind pillars of unmined ore to help support the roof of the mine. Pillar robbing removed these pillars to process the ore in them. These pillars were not replace with wood or metal support beams when they were removed. This started to cause minor cave-ins and cracks started appearing in the mine as a result. By April 21, 1917, the mine was ready to give way. A huge sink hole appeared on the surface above the mine and swallowed the marble-lined swimming pool of the Treadwell club. This sink hole was unfortunately below the high tide line on the shore of the Gastineau Strait. As the tide began coming in, the sink hole let the seawater in from above into the mine and the mine began flooding. The mine was evacuated and all the miners and their families could do was watch as the sea flooded their livelihood. The story of a single fatality due to the flood was originally circulated when one of the miners could not be accounted for from the shift which evacuated the mine. This miner was, however, later seen in Douglas after the flood and it was generally agreed that he used the flood as cover to skip town due to marital difficulties. A dozen horses and one mule (which hadn't seen the light of day for five years) were lost deep in the mine to the flood.
[NI008] After the flooding, Treadwell basically turned into a ghost town and is no longer found on modern maps. Although one of the four separate mines at Treadwell continued to function (it had been saved from flooding by a concreate bulkhead which separated it from the rest of the mines and continued to employee 500 men), it too finally closed in 1922. The flood, and Amercia's entrance into the First World War, basically emptied Treadwell as men searched for work elsewhere.
[NI008] It is interesting to note how accurate the handed-down family story was regarding this historical event. It was in error in that there were, in fact, no fatalities other than the draft animals. The family story located the position of the mine near the Bering Strait, which is incorrect, and mentions Russian mining engineers. While there was a mining engineer investigating the Treadwell mine's cave-ins and cracks at the time of the flooding, he was not Russian. Furthermore, the mine did not flood because it was tunneling out under the water, but rather because it caved in at the surface below sea level which allowed the rising tide to flood the mine.
[NI008] The flooding of the Treadwell in 1917 certainly explains why Albert and his family were back in Seattle by 1918.
[NI008] Sources: "Hard Rock Gold" by David & Brenda Stone, Vanguard Press, 1987 & "History of the Mines & Miners in the Juneau Gold Belt" by Earl Redman, 1988.
[NI008] ------------------------------------------------------------
[NI008] From "The Douglas Island News", Wednesday, December 25, 1912, page 3, column 1:
[NI008] "Born- To Mr. and Mrs. Bert Aris, on Dec. 23, 1912, a girl."
[NI008] It is interesting to note that Albert may have been known by the nickname Bert.
[NI008] ------------------------------------------------------------
[NI008] From "The Douglas Island News", Friday, March 12, 1920, page 1, column 2:
[NI008] "Lost Baby - From the Seattle Time of March 5 it is learned that Bella Marie Aris, one-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Aris and sister of Alice Jane Aris, of 1108 Taylor Avenue, died on March 4. The cause of death is not given. The funeral was on March 6.
[NI008] The parents of the little one are former Douglas Island people who left here a couple of years ago to make their home at Seattle. Mr. Aris was for several years a hoisting engineer at the Mexican mine."
[NI008] This new report provides the first evidence of which of the four separate mines (the Ready Bullion mine, 700 Foot mine, the Mexican mine, and the Treadwell mine) which worked the Treadwell mine that Albert Aris worked for. The Alaska Mexican Gold Mining Company employed an average of 145 men each year from 1894 to 1916. The average wage paid by the Mexican mine for an 8 hour shift was $3.26 during this same period. The Alaska Mexican Gold Mining Company was formed in 1891. Its property was located 700 feet south of the community of Treadwell. After extensive exploration, a 60-stamp mill was erected and began crushing in 1893. The book "Hard Rock Gold", page 31, provides a map which shows the building housing the mine's hoist (presumably where Albert worked) to be just above the Mexican Mill.
[NI008] Source: "Hard Rock Gold" by David & Brenda Stone, Vanguard Press, 1987
[NI008] ------------------------------------------------------------
[NI008] On the 1920 Census, Albert is shown as 40 years old. He was born in England. His immigration date is 1908 and he was naturalized in 1916 (this disagrees with a naturalization date of January 29, 1917 from Albert's naturalization papers). He is living at 1108 Taylor Ave., Seattle, Washington. He is listed with his daughter Alice Jane, age 7, and his daughter Bella Marie, age 1 month. Alice was born in Alaska, Bella in Washington. His wife Elizabeth is not listed in the household since she is in City Hospital at the time the Census as taken. Albert can read and write. He is renting their home. He is working for wages as a machinist in a car shop.
[NI008] In Seattle, Albert worked as a boilermaker in 1918. From 1921 until his death in 1931, Albert worked as a clerk and a salesman for Schwabacher Hardware Co. Albert died at age 52 from Myo-Carditis, or problems with his heart.
[NI008] ---------------
[NI008] Funeral Announcement in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer January 10, 1931:
[NI008] "ARIS - Of 7555 17th N.W., ALBERT E. ARIS, aged 51 years, beloved husband of Mrs. Elizabeth B. Aris, father of Alice Aris. Member of Lake Washington Lodge No. 87, I.O.O.F.
[NI008] Funeral services will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. from the chapel of Daniels and Brinton, West Seattle Undertakers."
[NI008] ---------------
[NI008] The I.O.O.F. is the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a fraternal organization to which Albert belonged. Mark Howells received the following information from the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Washington, IOOF dated July 26, 1996:
[NI008] "Albert Ernest Aris was initiated into and became a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows on February 20, 1911 when he joined Alaska Lodge No. A-1 of Douglas, Alaska. On September 24, 1919, he requested and was granted a withdrawal card from Alaska Lodge No. A-1 which he deposited with Seattle Lodge No. 7 of Seattle, WA. Seattle Lodge No. 7 met in the Odd Fellows Temple at 915 East Pine and that building is still standing. A.C., as he was commonly called deposited his card with Seattle Lodge No. 7 on October 7, 1919. On June 14, 1921, he withdrew from Seattle Lodge No. 7 and became a member of Lake Washington Lodge No. 87 on September 26, 1921."
[NI008] We're not sure where the nickname A.C. came from. Even the photocopy of Albert's membership index card gives his typed initials as A.C. with A.E. - his actual intitials, written in by hand later.
[NI008] ---------------
[NI008] Albert was cremated and his remains never claimed. We believe this was due to the expense involved and the fact that he died during the Great Depression. The county would cremate those who could not afford to be buried. His remains were moved to their current, unmarked crypt with other unclaimed remains in about 1973. As of July, 1988, Albert is in an unmarked crypt at Evergreen Washelli: Rosehill Mausoleum, Rosehill Main, Crypt 211, Comp 1, Row 1.
[NI008] ---------------
[NI008] The date for Albert's death is shown as January 9, 1931, Death Certificate #112 on microfilm records of deaths in Seattle at the time.
[NI012]
On the 1861 census, John is still living with his parents as an unmarried
18 year old in Aston near Birmingham, Warwickshire. He is listed as a
pupil teacher for his occupation. We believe this means that he was a
tutor.
--------------------------
John Aris' Entry Papers into the Inland Revenue Service (PRO reference
number CUST 116/42) provide the following information about John. He was
appointed to the situation of Second Class Assistant of Excise in the
Dpartment of Inland Revenue on May 28, 1864. He passed examinations in
Writing, Orthography (meaning spelling), and Arithmetic, including the
first four rules of Vulgar & Decimal Fractions. He was certified free
from any physical defect or disease which would be likely to interfere
with the proper discharge of his duties and his character was such as to
qualify him for public employment. He had qualified for surveying
maltsers, distillers, brewers, tobacco manufacturers, spirit retailers,
and tobacco dealers. He can "cast gauges both by pen and rule". He
surveyed for six weeks in Glasgow, Scotland as part of his training. He
prepared survey books during his training and prepared vouchers and
abstractrs fromt those books.
--------------------------
At the time of their marriage on February 24, 1870, John & Jane began
living as a married couple at 9 Treaty Terrace in the City of Limerick,
Ireland. John is of full age, a bachelor, and works as a revenue clerk.
Jane is age 17 and a spinster. John Aris is the third generation of his
family to be a tax collector. His father Samuel Aris was, at the time of
John's marriage, a Supervisor of the Inland Revenue Service and before
that an Excise officer. John's maternal grandfather, Robert Hamilton,
was also an Excise officer.
--------------------------
At the birth of John & Jane Aris' eldest child, Charlotte Elizabeth Aris,
on August 23, 1871, the family was living at Treaty Terrace, Thomondgate,
City of Limerick, County of Limerick, Ireland. John Aris was working for
Her Majesty's Inland Revenue Service when the family was in Ireland.
Also living at Treaty Terrace was Elizabeth McCarthy. We don't know if
Elizabeth McCarthy was living in the same house or on the same street as
the Aris family. However, Elizabeth McCarthy was the person present at
the birth of Charlotte who registered her birth. She could be either the
mother of Jane McCarthy Aris (who was about 19 when she gave birth to
Charlotte) or she could be Jane's sister.
--------------------------
On the 1881 British Census, John Aris and his family are living at 3
Lakenham Terrace off of City Road in Lakenham, Norwich, Norfolk,
England. Lakenham is a suburb on the south side of Norwich. He is 38
years old and is Chief Clerk-Inland Revenue (Excise). Inland Revenue is
Britain's Internal Revenue Service. John was born in Scotland. He was
born in Leith, Scotland. Leith is a small town outside Edinburgh. He
and his wife have 3 sons and 1 daughter. John's sister Flora is also in
the household. They have a 17 year old domestic servant named Laura
Trowse living with them.
--------------------------
From the birth of his son Archie on January 18, 1884 to the birth of his
daughter Margaret on August 17, 1899, John Aris is said to be living at
64 Clarendon Road. It is possible that Clarendon Road is off Unthanks
Road since one address given in the St. Peter Mancroft parish baptism
registrations also lists Unthanks Road along with Clarendon Road. The
address is also given as being in South Heigham. To clarify, St. Peter
Mancroft is the ecclesiastical parish while Heigham is the civil parish.
On these registrations, John's occupation is variously given as Clerk of
Inland Revenue Office (1/18/84), Revenue Accountant (11/23/88),
Supervisor of Inland Revenue (9/17/91), Clerk in the Norwich Inland
Revenue office (6/4/95), and principle clerk of Inland Revenue
(8/17/99). It is not clear if these titles all refer to the same
position or if these titles actually indicate career trajectory.
--------------------------
Her Majesty's Customs & Excise Museum in Liverpool, England, provided the
following information on John Aris in a letter to Mark Howells dated June
13, 1996:
[NI012]
The Museum provided a photocopy from Ham's Customs & Excise Yearbook for
1891. Ham's Yearbook was published annually from 1876 to 1930 and
included a list of names of Inland Revenue officers. In the 1891
Yearbook, J. Aris is shown has having entered the service in 1864. He is
a clerical supervisor in Norwich.
--------------------------
On April 11, 1891, John Aris and his family are living at 64 Claredon
Road, Heigham, Norwich, England according to the 1891 British Census.
John is 48 years old and a Supervisor at Inland Revenue (Excise). He and
his wife have 2 daughters and 5 sons living with them. John's sister
Flora is also in the household. They have a 24 year old domestic servant
named Emma Gosling living in the household. A family next door is also
named Gosling and this servant may be their daughter.
--------------------------
John Aris received a pension from the Inland Revenue of £208 on February
25, 1904 according to the Excise pension records (PRO reference number
CUST 39/157). He drew this pension from the Norwich station of the
Inland Revenue Service.
[NI012] The H.M. Customs & Excise Deparmental Archivist in London provided additional proof of John Aris' retirement in 1904. The Archivist sent Mark Howells a photocopy from the above mentioned Ham's Excise Year Book from 1904 which included J. Aris on a Superannuated (retired) List. It shows him as having formerly been the Principle Clerk at Norwich.
[NI013] Jane's eldest child, Charlotte Elizabeth Aris, had her birth registered in the City of Limerick, County of Limerick, Ireland on August 29, 1871, six days after she was born. Charlotte was born at home in Treaty Terrace, Thomondgate, City of Limerick. Charlotte Aris' birth registration information was given by Elizabeth McCarthy who was present at her birth. Elizabeth McCarthy's address is also given as Treaty Terrace. It is possible that Elizabeth McCarthy is the mother of Jane McCarthy Aris or she could be an unmarried sister to Jane. As of April, 1996, we do not know what this relationship actually is.
[NI013] The 1881 British Census shows that Jane was born in Limerick, Ireland as was her eldest child. It does not specify whether it is refering to the town of Limerick or the County of Limerick. The 1881 census lists Jane as being 26 years old while the 1891 census shows her as being 38 years old. Her marriage registration of 1870 lists her as 17 years old, which means that the 1881 census is wrong - she is actually 28 in 1881.
[NI114]
The surname Aris appears to come from France originally. It is derived
from the name of the town Arras in north eastern France. Its meaning is
"one from the town of Arras". Arras was famed for its textiles for
centuries and many of its skilled textile workers migrated through out
Europe, including to England.
---------------------------------------------
It was common in the last century for parents to name a child the same
first name as a previous child which had died.
---------------------------------------------
Samuel Aris' Entry Papers into the Inland Revenue Service (PRO reference
number CUST 116/74) provide the following information on him. The first
document is in Samuel Aris' own handwriting, is dated June 5, 1827, and
is signed by Samuel himself and by several others including a supervisor
of Inland Revenue and a mayor of some place which is illegible. Written
along the side edge of this document in another's hand is "Bound For
Scotland".
[NI114] "To the Honorable Commissioners and Govenors fo His Majesty's Revenue of Excise, Malt, Etc. These are to certify that Samuel Aris, born at St. James in the Parish of Clerkenwell in the County of Middlesex in London Collection is a likely Man to make a good Officer, he is Healthy and Active and not encumbered with Debts; is a Single Man aged Twenty Two Years of respectable character and well affected to the present Government, he hath been bred a Printer and proposeth for his Sureties Charles Pitt of the City of Canterbury, Gentleman, and John Hanskom of the same City, Tailor, and humbly desires to be instructed by James Phillips, Officer of Canterbury Third Division, Canterbury District and Canterbury Collection."
[NI114] "I, Smauel Aris, do voluntarily make Oath that neither I nor any Person for me to my Knowledge or Belief have or hath directly or indirectly given or promised to give any Fee Gratuity or Reward to any person or Persons whatsoever for obtaining or endeavoring to obtain for me an Order of Instructions or any Employment in the Revenue of Excise."
[NI114] The second of the two entry papers is written by James Phillips, and signed by James Phillips and a supervisor whose signature is illegible. It is dated at Canterbury on February 21, 1828:
[NI114]
"May it please your Honors. These are to certify that Samuel Aris, born
at Clerkenwell in the County of Middlesex in London Collection, aged
Twenty two years, is instructed pursuant to your Honors Order having date
this 21 June 1827. and is qualified for surveying common brewers,
victuallers (keepers of eating houses, taverns or inns), maltsters,
chandlers (candle makers & sellers), soap makers, paper makers, tanners
and tawers (makers of white leather), brandy, coffee, wine, tea, and
tobacco dealers, he can cast excise and malt gages both by Pen and Rule,
hath taken gages and stocked for six weeks in Canterbury 3rd Division and
duly entered his Surveys in books prepared by him for that purpose, from
which he hath made true Vouchers and abstracts, is provided with proper
instruments and instructions, and in every respect well qualified for the
Employment of an Officer of Excise."
--------------------------------------------------
Bowmore is a town on the island of Islay. Islay is an island which is
part of the Inner Hebredies chain of islands off of Scotland's west
coast. Bowmore is in the Parish of Killarrow. The island of Islay was
part of the old County of Argyll. Since re-organization in the 1970's,
it is now part of the Strathclyde Regional Council.
--------------------------------------------------
From "A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland" by Samuel Lewis published
in 1851: The island of Islay is celebrated for its "whisky, which is the
great staple commodity, producing annually to the government a revenue of
more than £30,000. Two-thirds of the grain used in the distillation are
raised on the isle." This primary industry explains why there was a need
for Excise Officers in such a small town. They were there to collect
excise taxes on the production of the liquor. To the present day, Islay
is famous for its single malt Scotch whisky.
-------------------------------------------------
From the Scottish Whisky Association's publications as reprinted on the
"History of Whisky" World Wide Web page at
http://www.dcs.ed.ac.uk/home/jhb/whisky/history.htm:
[NI114] Whisky's increasing popularity eventually attracted the attention of the Scottish parliament, which introduced the first taxes on malt and the end product in the latter part of the 17th century. Ever increasing rates of taxation were applied following The Act of Union with England in 1707, when England set out to tame the rebellious clans of Scotland. The distillers were virtually driven underground.
[NI114] A long and often bloody battle arose between the Excisemen, or gaugers as they were known, and the illicit distillers, for whom the Excise laws were alien in both their language and their inhibiting intent.
[NI114] Smuggling became standard practice for some 150 years and there was no moral stigma attached to it. Ministers of the Kirk made storage space available under the pulpit, and the illicit spirit was, on occasion, transported by coffin - any effective means was used to escape the watchful eyes of the Excisemen.
[NI114] By 1777, eight licensed distilleries were alone contributing in a small way to the revenue of the United Kingdom in the City of Edinburgh, while nearly 400 unregistered stills were said to be contributing only to the personal gains of the freebooters who ran them. This was in any case miniscule when compared to the operations of illicit distillers in the remote Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
[NI114] Clandestine stills were cleverly organised and hidden in nooks and crannies of the heather-clad hills. One undetectable location channelled the smoke from the peat fire underground for 70 yards to a cottage so that it could be released up the chimney without arousing suspicion.
[NI114] Smugglers organised signalling systems from one hilltop to another whenever Excise officers were seen to arrive in the vicinity. By the 1820s, despite the fact that as many as 14,000 illicit stills were being confiscated every year, more than half the whisky consumed in Scotland was being swallowed painlessly and with pleasure, without benefit of duty.
[NI114] This flouting of the law eventually prompted the Duke of Gordon, on whose extensive acres some of the finest illicit whisky in Scotland was being produced, to propose in the House of Lords that the Government should make it profitable to produce whisky legally.
[NI114] In 1823 the Excise Act was passed, which sanctioned the distilling of whisky in return for a licence fee of £10 and a set payment per gallon of proof spirit. This notable piece of legislation laid the foundations for the Scotch Whisky industry as we know it today.
[NI114]
Smuggling died out almost completely over the next ten years and, in
fact, a great many of the present day distilleries stand on sites used by
smugglers of old.
-------------------------------------------
It is interesting to note that Samuel Aris was an Excise officer as was
his father-in-law, Robert Hamilton. An Excise officer is a tax
collector. It is highly likely that Samuel Aris worked with or for
Robert Hamilton as a fellow Excise officer and in that way met his future
wife, Charlotte Hamilton Aris. He may have married the boss' daughter.
The profession of tax collecting stayed in the family as both Samuel's
sons John and Charles Douglas were Excisemen. It is possible that his
son Thomas was also an Exciseman.
-------------------------------------------
On the 1851 Census for Duddeston cum Nechells, Aston near Birmingham,
Samuel Aris and his family are living at 108 Little Francis Street. He
is a 44 year old Supervisor of the Excise. His wife Charlotte is 38
years old and they have two daughters and 4 sons.
-------------------------------------------
On the 1861 Census for Duddeston cum Nechells, Aston near Birmingham (FHC
film #0087317), Samuel Aris and his family are living at 62 Heneage
Street. He is a 53 year old Supervisor of Inland Revenue. His wife
Charlotte is 49 years old and they have four daughters and three sons
living with them. It appears that their eldest son Robert (who would
have been about 20 years old) is not in the house. He has either died
or started his own household. Samuel's birth place is given as
Clerkenwell, London. This contradicts the 1851 census which gave it as
St. James, London. Both are neighborhoods near central London.
-------------------------------------------
The 1851 and 1861 censuses give conflicting information on where Samuel &
Charlotte's children were born. We believe the 1861 census is correct
because the 1851 census incorrectly identifies the four oldest children
as being born in Launceston, Scotland (we know them to be born in
Edinburgh (2), Bowmore, & Leith, Scotland from baptism records). There
does not appear to be any Launceston in Scotland and we believe that town
name is a census taker's confusion with Launceston, Cornwall where the
1861 census shows the fifth child (Thomas) was born. This disagrees with
the 1851 census which claims that Thomas was born in Birmingham. All
information agress that the sixth, seventh, & eigth children (Mary,
Charlotte, & Flora) were born in Birmingham. From this, we believe that
the family started off in Scotland (Bowmore to Edinburgh to Leith), then
moved to Launceston, Cornwall, and then moved to Birmingham.
[NI122] Jane McCarthy Aris' eldest child, Charlotte Elizabeth Aris, had her birth registered in the City of Limerick, County of Limerick, Ireland on August 29, 1871, six days after she was born. Charlotte was born at home in Treaty Terrace, Thomondgate, City of Limerick. Charlotte Aris' birth registration information was given by Elizabeth McCarthy who was present at her birth. Elizabeth McCarthy's address is also given as Treaty Terrace. It is possible that Elizabeth McCarthy is the mother of Jane McCarthy Aris or she could be an unmarried sister to Jane. As of April, 1996, we do not know what this relationship actually is.
[NI126] Bowmore is a town on the island of Islay. Islay is an island which is part of the Inner Hebredies chain of islands off of Scotland's west coast. Bowmore is in the Parish of Killarrow. The island of Islay was part of the old County of Argyll. Since re-organization in the 1970's, it is now part of the Strathclyde Regional Council.
[NI126] From "A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland" by Samuel Lewis published in 1851: The island of Islay is celebrated for its "whisky, which is the great staple commodity, producing annually to the government a revenue of more than £30,000. Two-thirds of the grain used in the distillation are raised on the isle." This primary industry explains why there was a need for Excise Officers in such a small town. They were there to collect excise taxes on the production of the liquor.
[NI127] The spelling on her marriage registration is given as Elisbeth. The baptismal records of several of her children lists her as Betty. The 1841 Census says her name is Elizabeth. We believe the marriage registration to be the most reliable.
[NI127] There are two "Betty" Douglases baptized in Bowmore in 1794. This would make both of them 17 in 1811 when our Betty Douglas in question was married as "a young girl". One of the two Bettys must be the one who married Robert Hamilton.
[NI127] On the 1841 Census, Elizabeth Douglas is the head of the household residing on the Main Street of Bowmore. She is listed as age 45 and appears to be widowed. Ages on the 1841 census were correct for 1-15 year olds, but were rounded down to the nearest five years for those over 15. So Elizabeth Douglas is between 45 and 50 years old. This would fit with a birth year of 1794 as she would be about 47 years old in 1841. In her household are Flora Hamilton and Mary Hamilton, both listed as 20 year old dressmakers and presumably her as yet unwed daughters. Also in the household is a 3 year old child, Elizabeth Aris, presumably her grand daughter.
[NI236] We are assuming that Middleton is Elizabeth's maiden name. Her son Samuel's baptism record gives his parents names as "Samuel & Elizabeth Middleton Aris". Because of this, it could be that Middleton is a middle name rather than a maiden name.
[NI244] Thomas and Sarah Aris are listed as the parents of Samuel Aris on Samuel Aris' baptism record dated October 28, 1770 from the St. James parish register, Clerkenwell, London, England.
[NI245] Thomas and Sarah Aris are listed as the parents of Samuel Aris on Samuel Aris' baptism record dated October 28, 1770 from the St. James parish register, Clerkenwell, London, England.
[NI246] John and Hannah Fairweather are listed as the parents of Elizabeth Middleton Fairweather on Elizabeth's baptism record dated September 23, 1770 from the St. James parish register, Clerkenwell, London, England.
[NI247] John and Hannah Fairweather are listed as the parents of Elizabeth Middleton Fairweather on Elizabeth's baptism record dated September 23, 1770 from the St. James parish register, Clerkenwell, London, England.
[NF1] On their marriage record, Samuel Aris is said to be of the Parish of Saint Pancras in the county of Middlesex while Elizabeth Middleton Fairweather is of this Parish (meaning St. James, Clerkenwell, London). Both groom and bride signed their names. They were married by license rather than by banns by Robert Jegon, curate. The witnesses were George Perkins and Sarah Chaddock, both of whom signed their names.
[NF2] John and Jane were married in the Parish Church of St. Munchin's in the city of Limerick. The marriage was by license rather than the reading of banns. The ceremony was performed by Frederick Charles Hamilton, the vicar of St. John's Parish. Witness were E. Leitch and William Byrons.
[NF2] St. Munchin's is a Parish Church of the United Church of England and Ireland - meaning it is part of the established Protestant Anglican church - the offical church of England. The American sect of this church are known as Episcopalians.
[NF5] From the 1811 Parish Register of Killarrow, Scotland:
[NF5] Robert Hamilton, he an Excise officer in Bowmore and Elisbeth Douglas, she a young girl in Bowmore were registered for marriage November 23, 1811 and married November 27, 1811.