John Finlayson McKechnie (1869 - 1937)

Descendants

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Early Life in Scotland 1.2 Immigration & Life in America 1.3 Family & Career 1.4 Associations 1.5 Death 2 Research Notes 3 Sources

Biography

Early Life in Scotland

John Finlayson McKechnie was born in Bridgeton, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland on 13 Nov 1869 to James McKechnie and Janet (Finlayson) McKechnie.^[1] The family lived at 46 Brown St in 1871^[2] and 190 New Dalmarnock Rd. in 1881.^[3]

John's first job was apprentice to a cabinet maker, but he soon left that and worked at a piano shop making piano cases. The 1891 census listed his occupation as Portmanteu finisher.^[4] He saved his money banking in the post office savings bank.^[5]

Immigration & Life in America

John McKechnie, center

John's Aunt Elizabeth (Mrs. Elizabeth Allen), who lived in Westerly, Rhode Island, wanted John's father, James McKechnie, to come to the United States. Apparently John's father was reluctant to do so. As an incentive to bring him out, John's aunt got John to come hoping to entice his father who never came.^[5]

John McKechnie left Glasgow on the Manitoban ship of the Allan line on 18 May 1887 at age 17 and landed in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts on 2 Jun 1887.^[6] Among the people watching the passengers land was a Mr. George Dallas, a cousin. He took John and helped him board a train to Providence where he changed to another train for Westerly, R.I. He arrived at his aunt's house in Westerly with only $3 in his pocket.^[5]

John tried various jobs in New England and New York including working in clothing mills, for a pattern maker, in a dye house, and driving a canal boat on the Erie Canal. John followed his aunt and other families who moved to Fitchburg, Worcester County, MA to work for the Parkhill Manufacturing Company, a manufacturer of fine gingham. Mr. John Parkhill, owner of the company, came from Barrhead, Scotland. John worked at first as a general laborer, but transitioned to electrician's assistant, wiring the mill for arc lights. He went back to Rhode Island helping wire another mill in Olneyville. In August 1889 John returned to Fitchburg where he became assitant engineer at the Parkhill Mill caring for the electric lights and engine.^[5]

On 30 Apr 1892 John was naturalized at the Police Court in Fitchburg, Worcester County, MA.^[7]

Family & Career

John married Annie Jamie Roberts, another Scottish immigrant, on 10 Apr 1891 in Fitchburg, Worcester County, MA.^[8] Their first child, James Gilbert McKechnie, was born on 26 Feb 1892 in Fitchburg,^[9] but died only 5 months later on 26 Jul 1892.^[10]

In 1894 the mill went on strike. During the strike John went alone to Scotland. His fare was $35. He came back six weeks later finding the mill still on strike, so he returned to Scotland taking Annie with him on the Ethiopia. They stayed in Scotland until 25 Jan 1895, departing on the Circassia of the Anchor line. The ship docked in NY City in February during a severe blizzard. An article reported that the Great Storm had "broken all records since the Great Blizzard of 1888."^[11] They found no cabs operating. Walking to the Fall River Line they found it did not sail that night. John froze his ear and Annie her fingers, before managing to find transportation home.^[5]

John McKechnie at work

John and Annie had two other children who lived to adulthood: John Douglas known as "Douglas" born 8 Nov 1901,^[12] and Hazel Margaret born 20 Dec 1906.^[13] They lived at 82 Rollstone Street,^[7] 17 Goddard Street,^[12][14] 6 Bond Street,^[13] and 77 Milk Street in Fitchburg.^[15]

In 1903 John went to work for the Fitchburg Gas and Electric Company. Ten years later in 1913 John was sent to Hillburn, NY by the Finney Company where he became the superintendent of the electric plant.^[5][16] John went there alone first and sent postcards to the family. Then the family moved to 23 Fourth St, Hillburn, Ramapo, Rockland County, NY^[17] walking distance from the power plant, and resided there for many years.^{[18][16][19][20]}

Associations

John Finlayson McKechnie was initiated to the Freemasons 5 Feb 1894 at Aurora Lodge in Fitchburg, MA.^[21]

John McKechnie was a charter member of Clan Leslie, OSC, in Fitchburg, MA, which formed in 1896^[22] and he served as chief in 1897.^[23]

Death

John passed away on Christmas Eve 24 Dec 1937 in Suffern, Rockland County, NY and is buried at the Brick Church Cemetery, Spring Valley, Rockland County, NY.^[24]

Gravestone for John F & Annie R McKechnie

Research Notes

He appears to be listed in the 1891 Scotland Census which was taken on April 5th.^[4] Yet he resided in the United States for four years prior to the census and he was married in Massachusetts on April 10th.^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Registration: "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950" citing UK General Register Office. FamilySearch Record: VQQZ-XSQ (accessed 14 August 2022) Name: John Finlayson McKechnie; Birth Date: 13 Nov 1869; Birth Place: Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom.
2. ↑ 1871 Scotland Census. Parish: Glasgow Calton; ED: 87; Page: 1; Line: 14; Roll: CSSCT1871_129. FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 9 November 2023).
   John McKechnie (1) son in household of James McKechnie (29) at 46 Brown Street, Calton in Bridgeton registration district in Lanarkshire, Scotland.
3. ↑ 1881 Scotland Census. Parish: Glasgow Barony; ED: 53; Page: 10; Line: 17; Roll: cssct1881_215. See FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 10 November 2023)
   John McKechnie (11) son, Scholar, in household of James McKechnie (37) at 190 New Dalmarnock Road, Barony in Bridgeton registration district in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Born in Scotland.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} 1891 Census: "1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census". Schedule: 73 FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 9 November 2023)
   John McKechnie (21), single son, Portmanteu finisher, in household of James McKechnie (57) at 151, George Street, Glasgow in Blackfriars registration district in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Born in Scotland.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5} Hazel McKechnie. Family History written by Hazel Margaret (McKechnie) Tillman (1906-1990).
6. ↑ Passenger List: "Massachusetts, Index to Boston Passenger Lists, 1848-1891"
   citing Immigration, ship Manitoban, NARA microfilm publication M265 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1969), roll #M265.
   FamilySearch Record: QV51-K6HG (accessed 12 February 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-89KZ-Y5TF Image number 00839
   Name: Jno Mckechnie; Immigration Date: 1887; Immigration Place: Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States; Birth Date: 1869; Birth Place: Scotland; Age: 18; Ship Name: Manitoban.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Naturalization. Naturalization Record for John F. McKechnie, Police Court, Fitchburg, Worcester County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 429 vol. 1885-1904, 30 Apr 1892.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Marriage: "Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915"
   citing Fitchburg, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 1,651,232.
   FamilySearch Record: N4HX-889 (accessed 19 August 2022)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HT-63KD-CX Image number 00395
   John F Mckechine (21) marriage to Annie Roberts on 10 Apr 1891 in Fitchburg, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.
9. ↑ Baptism: "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915"
   citing FHL microfilm: 2258328; Record number: 37;
   FamilySearch Record: F4KB-RP1 (accessed 19 August 2022)
   James McKichnie baptism on 26 Feb 1892 (born 26 Feb 1892), son of John McKichnie & Annie Roberts, in Fitchburg, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.
10. ↑ Death: "Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915, 1921-1924"
    citing Fitchburg, Massachusetts, v 429 p 562, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 961,508.
    FamilySearch Record: N7P4-2J3 (accessed 19 August 2022)
    FamilySearch Image: S3HT-63NW-HK5
    James G Mckechnie death 26 Jul 1892 (age 5m), son of John F. & Annie Roberts, in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.
11. ↑ Article on Blizzard. "The Blizzard." Rockland County Journal, 16 Feb 1895. Historical Newspapers Rockland County Journal, https://news.hrvh.org/veridian/?a=d&d=rocklandctyjournal18950216.2.22, accessed 22 Aug 2022.
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} Baptism: "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915"
    citing FHL microfilm: 2258328; Record number: 122;
    FamilySearch Record: F45J-B3J (accessed 22 August 2022)
    John Douglas McKechnie baptism on 8 Nov 1901 (born 8 Nov 1901), son of John F. McKechnie & Annie R. Roberts, in Fitchburg, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} Baptism: "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915"
    citing FHL microfilm: 2258328; Record number: 88;
    FamilySearch Record: F45V-Y9Q (accessed 22 August 2022)
    Hazel Margaret McKechnie baptism on 20 Dec 1906 (born 20 Dec 1906), daughter of John F. McKechnie & Annie Roberts, in Fitchburg, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.
14. ↑ 1900 Census: "United States Census, 1900"
    citing Affiliate Publication Number: T623; Line: 54; FHL microfilm: 1240691; Record number: 34689;
    FamilySearch Record: M9BS-9XJ (accessed 22 August 2022)
    FamilySearch Image: S3HT-D55Q-P1H Image number 00710
    John F McKechnie (31), married head of household in Fitchburg, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.
15. ↑ 1910 Census: "United States Census, 1910"
    citing enumeration district (ED) ED 1725, sheet 7A, family 12, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 628; FHL microfilm 1,374,641.
    FamilySearch Record: M22N-XKD (accessed 22 August 2022)
    FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GRVK-9H78 Image number 00044
    John F Mckechnie (38), married head of household in Fitchburg Ward 1, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States. Born in Scotland.
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1} 1920 Census: "United States Census, 1920"
    citing Affiliate Publication Number: T625; Affiliate Film Number: 1259; Line: 90; FHL microfilm: 1821259; Record number: 13122;
    FamilySearch Record: MV91-PRQ (accessed 21 August 2022)
    FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9RXH-33W Image number 00279
    John F McKechnie (48), married head of household in Rockland, New York, United States.
17. ↑ Alfred Tillman. Personal knowledge of Alfred Tillman.
18. ↑ 1915 Census: "New York State Census, 1915"
    citing Page: 12; Line: 42;
    FamilySearch Record: K9P3-LTV (accessed 21 August 2022)
    J Kechner (53) head of household in Ramapo, Rockland, New York, United States.
19. ↑ 1925 Census: "New York State Census, 1925"
    citing p. XI, line 50, New York State Archives, Albany.
    FamilySearch Record: K9Y9-FBS (accessed 21 August 2022)
    John F Mckechnie (54) head of household in Ramapo, A.D. 01, E.D. 05, Rockland, New York, United States.
20. ↑ 1930 Census: "United States Census, 1930"
    citing enumeration district (ED) ED 30, sheet 3A, line 7, family 46, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1640; FHL microfilm 2,341,374.
    FamilySearch Record: X4TV-42D (accessed 21 August 2022)
    FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9RZ5-F92 Image number 00891
    John Mc Kecknie (59), married head of household in Hillburn, Rockland, New York, United States. Born in Scotland.
21. ↑ Freemasonry. Mason Member Card. John Finlayson McKechnie, member 1895-4-2.
22. ↑ Article on Clan Anniversary. "Clan Hogmenay Party Is Held On Anniversary," Fitchburg Sentinel, 2 Jan 1946.
23. ↑ Article on Clan Recognition of Past Chiefs, "12 Ex-Chiefs Are Expected At Clan Leslie," Fitchburg Sentinel, 14 Mar 1933.
24. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #144272630 (accessed 20 October 2022)
    Memorial page for John Finlayson McKechnie (13 Nov 1869-24 Dec 1937), citing Brick Church Cemetery, New Hempstead, Rockland County, New York, USA (plot: Section D - Division 11 - Lot 5 - Grave 6 - Interred 27 Dec 1937); Maintained by Andy Bozzone (contributor 48366264).