James Marshall, II

Photo of the SS Anchoria, Glasgow to New York (1887)

Find A Grave Memorial# 111785792

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=111785792

Note: The year of birth is different on his headstone, inscribed May 9, 1853

Bio* "James trained to be a mason, like his father, grandfather and many uncles before him.

He married Margaret Porter on June 26, 1874 in Springburn, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. After his marriage, he spent 14 years in Scotland before he and his wife emigrated to the U.S.

He arrived in the port of New York on April 30, 1888, aboard the S.S. Anchoria. He spent 2 years building his home in Plains County, Luzerne township and his family came after the house was completed.

He worked at the Sheldon Axle works for about 25 years and also served as a deacon of the Plains Presbyterian Church. He died unexpectedly of acute indigestion."

• Source: Some Descendants of Robert Marshall of Cadder Parish, Lanarkshire, Scotland September 1996 Special Edition, by John N. Marshall

More about his tragic childhood: The family lived in a house on Auchinairn Road in the village of Auchinairn. The building still stands today. This was a two-family dwelling, with the grandparents living in the other half until their deaths.

James II was one of ten children. His sister, Agnes died before the age of 6. On the night of Nov. 15, 1867, their mother, Mary, at age 52 with 4 minor children still at home, took her own life by hanging in a field on part of the land by Blockairn Iron Company. The father, James I was later placed in the Gartnavel Royal Lunatic Asylum in Partick in April 1871, so either his wife's suicide led to his mental illness or his illness may have led to her suicide.

Another sister, Mary died of tuberculosis in 1870, at age 29, while confined to the Glasgow City Poor House as a "pauper". Father James spent at least 10 years as an inmate and died at age 65 with tuberculosis. While he was confined, 2 more daughters died.

James' sister, Elizabeth, died in 1874 at age 30, 8 days after giving birth to her 3rd child. She had been afflicted with heart disease for 6 yrs. (1874 was the same year James got married) His sister ,Catherine, died due to a brain tumor at age 50 in the Kirklands Asylum at Bothwell. She was described as a "pauper lunatic".

Fortunately, James and 5 of his siblings led happier lives and all except one (Marion) raised large families. James died at the age of 59.

Note: His memorial states, "Father of John Cruckshank Marshall 1877 – 1954, James Marshall, Esabelle Marshall, Marion Marshall" and I submitted a correction on 3/29/2015. "Esabelle" is Isabelle and there are 4 other children.