Thomas Joseph Wilson (1886 - aft. 1942)

Born 12 Jun 1886 in Haddington, Haddingtonshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Isabella Syme (Binnie) Kay — married 12 Oct 1906 (to 7 Jun 1919) in Leith, Edinburghshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Husband of Margaret Hopekirk (Johnston) Wilson — married 7 Nov 1919 (to about 1922) in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died after 1942 after age 55 in United States [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Catriona Watson [send private message]

Biography

Thomas Joseph Wilson was born on 12 June 1886 at Skinner's Close, off the Hardgate in Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland, the sixth child and third son of James Wilson and Margaret Torrance.^[1] He was the second son named Thomas, as his namesake brother Thomas was born and died in 1881.

His older sister Jane Ann Wilson died aged just 13 in about 1889, in Haddington.^[2]

In the 1891 census Thomas, aged 4, lived at 23 Skinner's Close, off the Hardgate in Haddington, with his parents James and Margaret and his sister Maggie.^[3] His three remaining older siblings, James, Mather and Margaret had left home.

The family had moved to Leith by 1892 when his brother Andrew Wilson was born there.^[4]

His last younger sibling, Jane, was born on 7 December 1893 at 14 Coalfield Lane, South Leith.^[5]

Thomas's mother, Margaret Torrance, died of heart disease on 23 April 1896 at 14 Coalfield Lane, Leith, Midlothian, Scotland, aged 43.^[6] Thomas was not quite ten years old.

In the 1901 census Thomas's father James, aged 59, his older sister Mather, aged 23, and younger siblings Andrew, aged 9, and Jane, aged 7, lived at 27 Coalfield Lane in Leith, Midlothian, Scotland.^[7] Mather may have returned home to look after her father and younger siblings following her mother's death. However, Thomas was not at home, but appears to have been a resident pupil at Leith Industrial School, 57 Lochend Road, Leith.^[8] It is likely that Thomas had been sent there by the authorities, having come to their attention through some kind of delinquent behaviour such as not attending school and becoming involved in socially disruptive activities. Youngsters did not have to have committed a crime, rather the intention was to put them in an environment where their behaviour could be controlled and they would learn a trade and become productive members of society before they had gone so far as to enter the criminal justice system.^[9] It is quite possible that Thomas went off the rails after the death of his mother, with his father probably working long hours and his sister Mather perhaps not able to deal with him with only eight years' age difference. The Industrial school building still stands today, although it has been converted to private flats.^[10]

Thomas's older brother James died of Phthisis (pulmonary tuberculosis), aged 32, on 5 September 1905 at Gordon Street, Leith, leaving a wife and two surviving children.^[11] Their younger sister Jane died the same year, aged just 11.^[12]

Thomas married Isabella Syme Binnie in South Leith on 12 October 1906.^[13] They had three known children:

1. Margaret Syme Binnie Wilson, born in Peebles on 13 December 1907;^[14]
2. Thomas (add person), born on 3 July 1910 at 12 Springfield Street, South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland;^[15], died the same year,^[16] and
3. James (add person), born on 19 June 1912 in South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland. ^[17] Thomas reported the birth, giving his occupation as 'maltster', presumably working in a local brewery.

Thomas's whereabouts and that of the rest of his wife and remaining son at the time of the 1911 census have not been established.^[18] It is only known that his daughter Margaret was with her maternal grandparents.

His father James died of mitral disease / heart failure, aged 73, on 29 October 1916 at the Poor House, Craiglockhart. He had probably gone there for medical care as his usual residence was given as 15 Buchanan Street, Leith.^[19]

Thomas was granted a divorce from Isabella in Leith on 7 June 1919. ^[13] Although the divorce is linked to the marriage as a Register of Corrected Entries entry on Scotlands People, no reason is given for their divorce.

Five months later Thomas married Margaret Hopekirk Johnston wid. Reid by declaration on 7 November 1919 at 5 Greyfriars Place, Edinburgh.^[20]

By declaration in front of William Lees, Science Student, and Jane Grant, Nurse.

Thomas Wilson, coal miner, widower, age 33, res. 18 Buchanan Street, Leith.

Parents: James Wilson, maltster, deceased, and Margaret Torrance, deceased

Margaret Reid, widow, age 36, res. 145 Broughton Road, Edinburgh.

Parents: Alexander Johnston, farmer, and Margaret Heatley.

Although Margaret was genuinely widowed, it was presumably easier for Thomas to say he was widowed than divorced as divorce was still very much frowned upon at the time. The couple's connection to their witnesses - William Lees and Jane Grant - is not known.

Thomas's occupation of 'coal miner' seems unlikely given that he would have had to commute from Leith to coal mining areas to the south and east of Edinburgh on a daily basis. In fact, the closest coal mine to Leith lay just five miles south, at Danderhall. The tram ran all the way to Levenhall by 1909, just a mile or so from Wallyford colliery. Even if he could not use public transport wearing his dirty work clothes - pits did not have pithead baths at this time - mass production had made bicycles affordable for working people, and it would have been comparatively easy to cycle upwards of five miles.

At the time of the 1921 census Thomas and Margaret lived at 145 Broughton Road, meaning that Thomas had moved in with Margaret.^[21] Thomas's children from his first marriage, [[Wilson-82358|Margaret], aged 13, and James, aged 9, were living with them as well as Margaret's children Margaret Reid, aged 13, and Alexander Reid, aged 12.

Margaret died, aged 38, in about 1922 in Edinburgh, leaving her teenage children orphans.^[22] In 1922 Thomas's daughter Margaret would have been fifteen years old, his son James ten years old and his step-children Margaret and Alexander would have been fourteen and thirteen years old respectively. It is not known whether Thomas's children had any contact to their mother, or his step-children had any other family to turn to. The girls would have been old enough to work and/or keep house, while the boys were probably still at school, and the patchwork family may have continued to live like this for a year or two. However, Thomas left Edinburgh sometime between 1922 and 1924.

Thomas married an Irish woman called Elizabeth in Brooklyn, N.Y. on 31 January 1925, according to his later naturalisation petition. However, Thomas only officially arrived in the U.S. on the 'Leviathan' on 4 April 1927, when he gave his last place of residence as Southampton in England. The question is whether Thomas was perhaps working on ships out of Southampton or other ports between 1922 and 1927, or whether he entered the U.S. by another route, married Elizabeth because he thought this would aid a citizenship claim, and then found he had to re-enter the U.S. in a way more suitable to applying for citizenship. In his naturalisation petition dated 1 July 1927 he stated:

I, Thomas Wilson, aged 41 years, occupation engineer, do declare on oath that my personal description is: color: white, complexion: fair, height: 5 feet 7 inches, weight: 155 pounds, color of hair: brown, color of eyes: blue, other visible distinctive marks: none.

I was born in Haddington Scotland on the 12 day of June, anno Domini 1886; I now reside at 188 Garfield Pl. Bklyn, New York.

I emigrated to the United States of America from Southampton England on the vessel Leviathan; my last foreign residence was Southampton England; I am married; the name of my wife is Elizabeth, she was born at Ireland and now resides ... with me

... I arrived at the port of New York in the State of New York, on or about the 4 day of April, anno Domini 1927 ... it is my intention in good faith to become a citizen of the United States of America and to permanently reside therein: So Help Me God.

Thomas Wilson^[23]

A 1942 draft card shows that Thomas was living at 190 Garfield Place, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, with his wife Elizabeth.^[24]

Research Notes

• Thomas does not appear to have used his middle name of Joseph on any documentation after the birth registration except for on his 1932 naturalisation.
• More research required to establish why Thomas was at Leith Industrial School in 1901. If he was sent there by a magistrate, there may have been a court case.
• Research required to find Thomas and family in the 1911 census. It is possible that he and Isabella were no longer living together, that their son Thomas had died (he was not on the 1921 census) and their son James was with other relatives, making the family members very difficult to trace. The alternative is that the family (apart from [[Wilson-82358|Margaret]) had moved out of Leith/Edinburgh, but the Scotlands People search parameters make it very difficult to search for Wilsons with such common first names.
• According to Thomas's naturalisation, his third wife Elizabeth was born on 8 May 1883, and from "Tallamore Ireland", possibly meaning Tullamore in County Offaly, Ireland. She had emigrated to the US in 1898, but so far no surname is known for her.
• More research required in US records to find Thomas's marriage to Elizabeth in Brooklyn on 31 January 1925, as given in his naturalisation petition.
• Full transcription of Thomas's Certificate of Arrival, issued for naturalisation purposes in 1932:

U.S. Department of Labor

Bureau of Naturalization No. 2-223838

Certificate of Arrival

I hereby certify that the immigration records show that the alien named below arrived at the port, on the date, and in the manner shown, and was lawfully admitted to the United States of America for permanent residence. [Stamp:] 173163

Port of entry: New York, N.Y.

Name: Thomas Wilson

Date: April 4, 1927

Manner of arrival: SS Leviathan

I further certify that this certificate of arrival is issued under authority of, and in conformity with, the provisions of the Act of June 29, 1906, as amended, solely for the use of the alien herein named and only for naturalization purposes.

In witness whereof, this Certificte of Arrival is issued April 26, 1932.

By direction of the Secretary of Labor

Raymond F. Crist Commissioner of Naturalization

[Stamp:]Received Apr 28, 1932 Naturalization Service New York N.Y.

• Full transcription of Thomas's Declaration of Intention to the Naturalisation Service, United States of America:

State of New York, Eastern District of New York } ss: In the District Court of the United States.

I, Thomas Wilson, aged 41 years, occupation engineer, do declare on oath that my personal description is: Color white, complexion fair, height 5 feet 7 inches, weight 155 pounds, color of hair brown, color of eyes blue other visible distinctive marks none

I was born in Haddington Scotland on the 12 day of June, anno Domini 1886; I now reside at 188 Garfield Pl. Bklyn, New York.

I emigrated to the United States of America from Southampton England on the vessel Leviathan; my last foreign residence was Southampton England; I am married; the name of my wife is Elizabeth, she was born at Ireland and now resides at with me

It is my bona fide intention to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, and particularly to Geo. V, By the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emporer of India of whom I am now a subject; I arrived at the port of New York in the State of New York, on or about the 4 day of April, anno Domini 1927; I am not an anarchist; I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy; and it is my intention in good faith to become a citizen of the United States of America and to permanently reside therein: So Help Me God.

Thomas Wilson

Subscribed and sworn to before me in the office of the Clerk of said Court at Brooklyn, N.Y., this 1 day of July anno Domini 1927

signed Clerk of the District Court of the United States.^[25]

• Full transcription of Thomas's Petition for Citizenship

To the Honorable the US District Court of Eastern District of NY at Brooklyn, NY

The petition of Thomas Joseph Wilson, hereby filed, respectfully shows:

(1) My place of residence is 188 Garfield Pl., Brooklyn, NY. (2) My occupation is salesman.

(3) I was born in Haddington, Scotland on June 12, 1886. My race is Scotch.

(4) I declared my intention to become a citizen of the United States on July 1, 1927 in the US District Court of Eastern District, at Brooklyn, NY.

(5) I am married. The name of my wife is Elizabeth

we were married on January 31, 1925 at Brooklyn, NY; She was born at Tallamore Ireland on May 8, 1883; entered the United States at New York, NY on November 1898 for permanent residence therein, and now resides at 188 Garfield Pl., Brooklyn, NY. I have no children, and the name, date, and place of birth, and place of residence of each of said children are as follows: ___

(6) My last foreign residence was Southampton, England. I emigrated to the United States of America from Southampton, England. My lawful entry for permanent residence in the United States was at New York, NY, under the name of Thomas Wilson on April 4, 1927, on the vessel Leviathan as shown by the certificate of my arrival attached hereto.

(7) I am not a disbeliever in or opposed to organized government or a member of or affiliated with any organization or body of persons teaching disbelief in or opposed to organized government. I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy. I am attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States. It is my intention to become a citizen of the United States and to renounce absolutely and forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, and particularly to Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Sea, King Defender of the Faith, Emporer of India of whom (which) at this time I am a subject (or citizen), and it is my intention to reside permanently in the United States. (8) I am able to speak the English language.

(9) I have resided continuously in the United States of America for the term of five years at least immediately preceding the date of this petition, to wit, since April 4, 1927 and in the County of Kings this State, continuously next preceding the date of this petition, since April 4, 1927, being a residence within said county of at least six months next preceding the date of this petition.

(10) I have not heretofore made petition for citizenship [prompters for details of previous application, spaces left blank].

Attached hereto and made a part of this, my petition for citzenship, are my declaration of intention to become a citizen of the United States, certificate from the Department of Labor of my arrival and the affidavits of the two verifying witnesses required by law.

Wherefore I, your petitioner, pray that I may be admitted a citizen of the United States of America and that my name be changed to [left blank].

I, your aforesaid petitioner being duly sworn, depose and say that I have read this petition and know the contents thereof; that the same is true of my own knowledge except as to matters herein stated to bbe alleged upon information and belief, and that as to those matters I believe it to be true; and that this petition is signed by me with my full, true name.

Complete and true signature of petitioner: Thomas Joseph Wilson

Affidavits of Witnesses

Louis Blenderman, occupation real estate owner

residing at 188 Garfield Pl., Brooklyn, NY and

Sarah Weir, occupation housekeeper

residing at 2211 Broadway, New York NY

each being severally, duly and respectively sworn, deposes and says that he is a citizen of the United States of America; that he has personally known and has been acquainted in the United States with

Thomas Joseph Wilson, the petitioner above mentioned, since October 1, 1927, and that to his personal knowledge the petitioner has residede in the United States continuously preceding the date of filing this petition, of which this affidavit is a part, to wit, since the date last mentioned, and at Brooklyn, in the County of Kings his State in which the above-entitled petition is made, continuously since October 1, 1927, and that he has personal knowledge that the petitioner is and during all such periods has been a person of good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States, and that in his opinion the petitioner is in every way qualified to be admitted a citizen of the United States.

Signature of witness: Louis Blendermann

Signature of witness: Sarah Weir

Subscribed and sworn to before me by the above-named petitioner and witnesses in the office of the Clerk of said Court at Brooklyn, NY this 26 day of October, Anno Domini 1932. I hereby certify that the certificate of arrival No. 2-223838 from the Department of Labor, showing the lawful entry for permanent residence of the petitioner above named, together with declaration of intention No. 137568 of such petitioner, has been be me filed with, attached to, and made a part of this petition on this date.

(signed) Deputy Clerk.

• Full transcription of Thomas's Oath of Allegiance:

Oath of Allegiance

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, and particularly to George V, By the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emporer of India, of whom (which) I have heretofore been a subject (or citizen); that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion: so help me God. In acknowledgement whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

Signature of petitioner: Thomas Joseph Wilson

Sworn to in open court, this 31 day of January, A.D. 1933

By Thomas Macpherson, Deputy Clerk.

3685641

Admitted Judge Byers List No. 2085

• More research required in US records to establish Thomas's death date and location.

Sources

1. ↑ "Statutory Register of Births", National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (accessed 22 July 2023), WILSON, THOMAS, TORRANCE, M, 1886, citing reference number 709/82, Haddington.
2. ↑ "Statutory Register of Deaths", National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (accessed 30 November 2023), Surname: WILSON; Forename: JANE ANN; Age at death: 13; Mother's Maiden Name: TORRANCE; Gender: F; Year: 1889; Ref: 709/28, RD Name: Haddington.
3. ↑ "Scotland Census, 1891", National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (accessed 30 November 2023), Surname: WILSON; Forename: THOMAS; Year: 1891; Gender: M; Age at Census: 4; Ref: 709/ 6/ 8, RD Name: Haddington; County / City: East Lothian.
4. ↑ "Statutory Register of Births", National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (accessed 22 July 2023), WILSON, ANDREW, TORRANCE, M, 1892, citing reference number 692/2/239, Leith South.
5. ↑ "Statutory Register of Births", National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (accessed 22 July 2023), WILSON, JANE, F, 1893, citing reference number 692/2/1464 Leith South.
6. ↑ "Statutory Register of Deaths", National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (accessed 22 July 2023), WILSON or TORRANCE, MARGARET, 43, F, 1896, citing reference number 692/2/213, Leith South.
7. ↑ "Scotland Census, 1901", National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (accessed 3 December 2023), WILSON, JAMES, 1901, M, 59, citing reference number 692/2 48/ 51, Leith South, Midlothian.
8. ↑ "Scotland Census, 1901", National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (accessed 19 August 2023), WILSON, THOMAS, 1901, M, 14, citing reference number 692/2 52/2, Leith South, Midlothian.
9. ↑ Ralston, Andrew G. ‘THE DEVELOPMENT OF REFORMATORY AND INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS IN SCOTLAND, 1832-1872’. Scottish Economic & Social History 8, no. 1 (1 May 1988): 40–55. https://doi.org/10.3366/sesh.1988.8.8.40 (accessed 27 August 2023).
10. ↑ Higginbotham, Peter. Leith Ragged Industrial Schools for Boys and Girls / Industrial School for Boys, Edinburgh, Scotland. https://www.childrenshomes.org.uk/LeithBoysIS/index.shtml : accessed 5 December 2023.
11. ↑ "Statutory Register of Deaths", National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (accessed 5 December 2023), Surname: WILSON; Forename: JAMES; Age at death: 32; Mother's Maiden Name: TORRANCE; Gender: M; Year: 1905; Ref: 692/2/462, RD Name: Leith South.
12. ↑ "Statutory Register of Deaths", National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (accessed 5 December 2023), Surname: WILSON; Forename: JANE; Age at death: 11; Mother's Maiden Name: TORRANCE; Gender: F; Year: 1905; Ref: 692/2/310, RD Name: Leith South.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} "Statutory Register of Marriages", National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (accessed 9 December 2023), Surname: WILSON; Forename: THOMAS; Spouse Surname: BINNIE; Spouse Forename: ISABELLA S; Year: 1906; Ref: 692/2/324, RD Name: Leith South.
14. ↑ "Statutory Register of Births"
    National Records of Scotland, Ref: 768/110
    ScotlandsPeople (accessed 26 April 2024)
    Surname: WILSON; Forename: MARGARET SYME B; Mothers Maiden Name: BINNIE; Gender: F; Year: 1907; RD Name: Peebles.
15. ↑ Scotlands People statutory birth index: WILSON THOMAS BINNIE M 1910 692 / 2 / 833 Leith South
16. ↑ "Statutory Register of Deaths", National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (accessed 13 December 2023), Surname: WILSON; Forename: THOMAS; Age at death: 0; Mother's Maiden Name: BINNIE; Gender: M; Year: 1910; Ref: 692/2/633, RD Name: Leith South.
17. ↑ Scotlands People statutory birth index: WILSON JAMES BINNIE M 1912 692 / 2 / 739 Leith South
18. ↑ Scotlands People 1911 census index: research required. He was not in Leith or Portobello or Lochore, Fife or Hamilton, Lanarkshire.
19. ↑ "Statutory Register of Deaths", National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (accessed 14 August 2023), WILSON, JAMES, 73, WATTSON, M, 1916, citing reference number 677/342, Colinton.
20. ↑ "Statutory Register of Marriages", National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (accessed 6 December 2023), Surname: WILSON; Forename: THOMAS; Spouse Surname: REID or JOHNSTON; Spouse Forename: MARGARET; Year: 1919; Ref: 685/4/1911, RD Name: St Giles.
21. ↑ Scotlands People 1921 census index: WILSON THOMAS 1921 M 35 685/1 39/ 8 St Bernard Midlothian
22. ↑ "Statutory Register of Deaths"
    National Records of Scotland, Ref: 685/5/878
    ScotlandsPeople (accessed 26 April 2024)
    Surname: JOHNSTON or REID or WILSON; Forename: MARGARET HOPEKI; Age at death: 38; Mother's Maiden Name: HEATLEY; Gender: F; Year: 1922; RD Name: George Square.
23. ↑ "New York, U.S. District and Circuit Court Naturalization Records, 1824-1991", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6LJ5-J5RG : Mon Nov 06 15:00:28 UTC 2023), Entry for Thomas Wilson and Elizabeth, 1 Jul 1927.
24. ↑ find draft card citation
25. ↑ "New York, U.S. District and Circuit Court Naturalization Records, 1824-1991", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6LJ5-J5RG : Mon Nov 06 15:00:28 UTC 2023), Entry for Thomas Wilson and Elizabeth, 1 Jul 1927.