Gazlay Family History
 

Family HistoryFamily History - James Brown MacGregor


Key:1.“+” before a child’s name indicates the child has their own entry in the next generation.
 2.“born xxxx” indicates the child is under 18 years of age so the birth date is not shown.
This family history features James Brown MacGregor and four of his descendants down to the fourth generation.


First Generation
1. James Brown MacGregor,1 born 5 March 1877 in Lisburn, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, the son of William McGregor and Margaret Brown;1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 died 1948.2, 3 James married, 1905 in New Jersey, Julia C. Morton5, 15 (born 10 November 1867 in Dennisville, Dennis Township, Cape May County, New Jersey, the daughter of John B. Morton and Eliza Foster Nickerson;2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 Julia died June 1947 in Ocean City, Cape May County, New Jersey2, 11, 13, 14). James and Julia are buried in First Baptist Cemetery, Cape May Court House, Cape May County, New Jersey.2, 11, 13, 2, 3

As an adult, James used the spelling ‘MacGregor,’ possibly to reflect his Irish birth. His descendants use that spelling. James immigrated to the United States circa 1897 as indicated in several census records, although his name has not been found among passenger lists. In the 1900 census he is listed as a machinist living with his brother David’s parents-in-law, George and Euphemia PATTERSON. James, Julia, and their only child David were living in the town of Colonie (near Albany), New York, at the time of the 1920 census, which shows James again employed as a machinist, and Julia working as a school teacher, her life-long profession. In April 1946, James and Julia were residing in Ocean City, New Jersey, and they were visited by Robert and Doris (McGregor) Gazlay after their wedding, although James was not home during the visit.


Child of James Brown MacGregor and Julia C. Morton:

+2i. David Morton MacGregor, born 8 January 1907 in Tannersville, New York; died 21 November 1970 in Morristown, New Jersey. Married Augusta Margaret ‘Gussie’ Phillips.

  1. Ireland Births and Baptisms, 1620-1881, James Brown Mcgreggor, born: 5 March 1877 in Ireland; father: William Mcgreggor; father’s birthplace: Sloan St., Lisburn [sic, William was known to have been born in Dunfermline, Scotland; the reference to Sloan St., Lisburn, is believed to be where the McGregor family lived]; mother: Margaret Mcgreggor Brown.
  2. Cemetery Inscriptions, First Baptist Church, Cape May Court House, Cape May County, New Jersey, website: firstbaptistcourthouse.org; MacGregor / James B. / 1877 1948 / Julia C. Morton / His Wife / 1867 1947.
  3. Find a Grave (website). First Baptist Cemetery, Cape May Court House, Cape May County, New Jersey, James B. MacGregor, born: 1877 in Scotland; died: 1948 (from record, which provides the name and link for his wife).
  4. U.S. Federal Census, 1900, New Jersey, Essex County, Newark, Enumeration District 129, Sheet 15B, George Paterson, 57, Scotland, Aug. 1842, carpenter; wife of 33 years Eufimia Paterson, 56, Scotland, Sept. 1843, 4 children, 2 living; son John Paterson, 25, Scotland, July 1874, bookkeeper [all three of the above immigrated: 1890]; border James McGregor, 23, Scotland, Mar. 1877, machinist, immigrated: 1897.
  5. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, New York, Greene County, Hunter Township, Enumeration District 107, Sheet No. 16A, family of James McGregor (36, Scotland [sic, actually born in Ireland], electrician); wife of 6 years Julia McGregor (38, New Jersey, 1 child, 1 living); son David McGregor (3, New York).
  6. U.S. Federal Census, 1920, New York, Albany County, Colonie, Enumeration District 151, Sheet No. 11A, family of James B. MacGregor (43, Ireland, immigrated in 1897, machinist, Campbell work); wife Julia MacGregor (52, New Jersey, school teacher, district school); son David M. MacGregor (13, New York).
  7. U.S. Federal Census, 1930, New York, Albany County, Colonie, Enumeration District 1-124, Sheet No 14B, family of James MacGregor (42, Northern Ireland, immigrated 1897, electrician, railroad); wife Julia C. MacGregor (53, New Jersey, teacher, public school); son Davie M. MacGregor (23, New York, electrical engineer, electric power co.). [James and Julia’s ages are low here by 10 years.]
  8. U.S. Federal Census, 1940, New York, Queens County, New York City, Enumeration District 41-1204, Page 3B, family of David MacGregor (33, New York, electrical engineer, consulting, lived in Schenectady, NY, on 1 April 1935); wife Augusta MacGregor (31, New York, lived in Schenectady, NY, on 1 April 1935); father James MacGregor (63, Scotland [sic, actually born in Ireland], lived in West Albany, NY, on 1 April 1935); mother Julia MacGregor (72, New Jersey, lived in West Albany, NY, on 1 April 1935).
  9. Irish Genealogy.ie, Church Records, Superintendent Registrar’s District: Lisburn, Registrar’s District: Lisburn, Births Registered in the District of Lisburn, in the Union of Lisburn, in the Counties of Antrim and Down, No. 181, James Brown McGreggor, born: 5 March 1877 in Sloan St., Lisburn, father: William McGreggor, dresser; mother: Margaret McGreggor, formerly Brown.
  10. New Jersey, Births and Christenings Index, 1660-1931, Julia Morton, born: 10 November 1867 in Dennisville, New Jersey; father: John Morton; mother: Eliza Morton.
  11. Find a Grave (website). First Baptist Cemetery, Cape May Court House, Cape May County, New Jersey, Julia C. Morton MacGregor, born: 1867 in New Jersey; died: 1947 (from record, which provides the name and link for her husband).
  12. U.S. Federal Census, 1900, New Jersey, Cape May County, Dennis Township, E.D. 112, Sheet No. 9B, John Morton, 69 [70 is crossed out], New Jersey, Sep. 1830, day laborer; wife of 44 years Eliza Morton, 67 [68 is crossed out], New Jersey, June 1832, 6 children, 4 living; daughter Julia C. Morton, 31 [32 is crossed out], New Jersey, Nov. 1869, at school.
  13. Obituary, The Knickerbocker News, Albany, New York, 5 June 1947, Julia C. MacGregor, wife of James B. MacGregor, age 78, died in Ocean City, New Jersey. The article provides brief biographical information and the place of interment.
  14. Obituary, Courier-Post, Camden, New Jersey (available at newspapers.com), 5 June 1947, Julia C. Mgregor [sic, MacGregor], died yesterday [i.e., 4 June 1947 in her home [Ocean City, New Jersey], age 78, a retired public school teacher. Native of South Dennis [New Jersey]. Husband: James B. [MacGregor], son David of Long Island.
  15. New Jersey Marriage Index, by Reclaim the Records (available at: archives.org), James McGregor and Julia Morton, married in 1905, state file no. 19-295.
Second Generation
2. David Morton MacGregor2 (James1), born 8 January 1907 in Tannersville, New York;1, 2, 3, 4, 5 died 21 November 1970 in Morristown, New Jersey.1 David married, 27 August 1932 in Schenectady, Schenectady County, New York, Augusta Margaret ‘Gussie’ Phillips9 (born 24 July 1908 in New York, the daughter of William H. Phillips and Edith M. _____;5, 6, 7, 8 Gussie died 7 January 2000 in Boonton, Morris County, New Jersey6).

David and his parents lived in the Albany, New York, area during David’s childhood. He was an electrical engineer by profession, receiving his education at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Albany, New York. David worked for many years for Basco Corp., specializing in communications.10

Gussie was a high school teacher in Clinton, New York, for several of her early married years. David and Gussie moved to Floral Park, New York, in the 1940s, and in 1955 they moved to Morristown, New Jersey, where Gussie resided until her death.10


Child of David Morton MacGregor and Augusta Margaret ‘Gussie’ Phillips:

+3i. Linda MacGregor, born 16 September 1943 in Clinton, Dutchess County, New York. Married Everett Whitten ‘Ted’ Lowe.

  1. Death Certificate, New Jersey, David MacGregor, State File Number 53172, Local File Number 603, issued by New Jersey State Bureau of Vital Statistics. Certified copy in possession of Lee Gazlay
  2. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, New York, Greene County, Hunter Township, Enumeration District 107, Sheet No. 16A, family of James McGregor (36, Scotland [sic, actually born in Ireland], electrician); wife of 6 years Julia McGregor (38, New Jersey, 1 child, 1 living); son David McGregor (3, New York).
  3. U.S. Federal Census, 1920, New York, Albany County, Colonie, Enumeration District 151, Sheet No. 11A, family of James B. MacGregor (43, Ireland, immigrated in 1897, machinist, Campbell work); wife Julia MacGregor (52, New Jersey, school teacher, district school); son David M. MacGregor (13, New York).
  4. U.S. Federal Census, 1930, New York, Albany County, Colonie, Enumeration District 1-124, Sheet No 14B, family of James MacGregor (42, Northern Ireland, immigrated 1897, electrician, railroad); wife Julia C. MacGregor (53, New Jersey, teacher, public school); son Davie M. MacGregor (23, New York, electrical engineer, electric power co.). [James and Julia’s ages are low here by 10 years.]
  5. U.S. Federal Census, 1940, New York, Queens County, New York City, Enumeration District 41-1204, Page 3B, family of David MacGregor (33, New York, electrical engineer, consulting, lived in Schenectady, NY, on 1 April 1935); wife Augusta MacGregor (31, New York, lived in Schenectady, NY, on 1 April 1935); father James MacGregor (63, Scotland [sic, actually born in Ireland], lived in West Albany, NY, on 1 April 1935); mother Julia MacGregor (72, New Jersey, lived in West Albany, NY, on 1 April 1935).
  6. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). Augusta M. MacGregor, no. 154-46-2938
  7. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, New York, Schenectady County, Schenectady City, Enumeration District 180, Sheet No. 6A, family of William H. Phillips (29, England, pattern maker, foundary); wife of 4 years Edith M. Phillips (31, England, 2 children, 2 living); son William H. Phillips, Jr. (4, England); daughter Augusta M. Phillips (1, New York).
  8. U.S. Federal Census, 1920, New York, Schenectady County, Niskayuna, Enumeration District 118, Sheet No. 10B, family of William H. Phillips (39, England, pattern maker, General Electric works); wife Edith M. Phillips (39, England); son William H. Phillips, Jr. (14, England); daughter Augusta M. Phillips (11, New York).
  9. Marriage Announcement, The Troy Times, Troy, New York, available at www.fultonhistory.com, Monday, 29 August 1932, Miss Augusta M. Phillips, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Phillips, married to David M. MacGregor, son of Mr. and Mrs James MacGregor, on Saturday [27 August 1932] in Schenectady, New York. The article names other family members and provides details of their alma maters and employment.
  10. Record of conversation between Gussie MacGregor and Lee Gazlay 27 July 1996
Third and Fourth Generations
3. Linda MacGregor3 (David,2 James1), born 16 September 1943 in Clinton, Dutchess County, New York.1 Linda married Everett Whitten ‘Ted’ Lowe (born 30 November 1942, parents not determined1).

Children of Linda MacGregor and Everett Whitten ‘Ted’ Lowe:

 4i. Robert MacGregor Lowe, born 15 June 1974.1
 5ii. Michael E. Lowe, born 23 April 1983.1

  1. This is publicly viewable information found in various public information repositories, people finding websites, and/or social media.