William Passmore McGregor
Parents
| Father | David McGregor (7 September 1864 - 12 February 1944) |
| Mother | Nellie Birrell Patterson (16 March 1868 - 8 September 1950) |
Personal Information
| Record Created: 16 November 2009; Last Edited: 17 March 2022 |
| Person ID | 5 |
| Name | William Passmore McGregor |
| Gender | Male |
| Born | 18 July 1897 in New Jersey1, 2, 3 |
| Married | 20 November 1921 in New Jersey to Josephine Caroline Voelker4 |
| Married | ca. 1924 to Alice E. Hodgeboom5 |
| Divorced | ca. 1930 from Alice E. Hodgeboom |
| Married | 6 May 1934 in Elkton, Maryland to Leonette Sophia Scales |
| Died | 20 December 1976 |
Biography
Bill’s middle name was in honor of a Mr. Passmore who worked with, and was well liked by, his father David McGregor. Bill enrolled in the U.S. Navy on 19 May 1917 at New York, N.Y. His enrollment records indicate ‘height 5 feet 8 1/2 inches, weight 137 pounds, eyes brown, hair brown, complexion ruddy,’ and lists several personal characteristics and marks. He was discharged as a Seaman (provisional) when his four year enrollment expired, having served honorably with active duty from 20 September 1917 to 14 December 1918, i.e., during World War I. The nature of his active service is not known, although his enrollment card indicates a ‘sea’ qualification. He was awarded the Victory Button and Victory Medal without clasp. Bill lived much of his life in Highland Park, West Orange and Bloomfield, New Jersey, although after his first wife died he was out of touch with his family for over ten years (leaving his first daughter to be raised by his parents). Bill was an automobile salesman during his working life. When Bill finally retired in 1962, he and his third wife Leonette (nee Scales) were among the first two couples to move into Cedar Glen Homes, the first senior citizen development in Ocean County, New Jersey. He served as vice chairman of the Manchester Township, New Jersey, Planning Board for many years. He was also a member of the Manchester Township Republican Club and a member of Corinthian Union Lodge No. 11, Free and Accepted Masons, following in his father’s Masonic footsteps.
Person/Family
| Spouse 1 |  Josephine Caroline Voelker (daughter of Joseph George Voelker and Margaret Percy) |
| Born | 24 July 1904 in Bloomfield, Essex County, New Jersey |
| Married | 20 November 1921 in New Jersey to William Passmore McGregor |
| Died | 18 August 1923 in Orange, Essex County, New Jersey |
| Children | of William Passmore McGregor and Josephine Caroline Voelker: |
| +1. | Doris Margaret McGregor |
| Born | 21 May 1922 in Orange, Essex County, New Jersey |
| Married | 6 April 1946 in Orange, Essex County, New Jersey to Robert Bush Gazlay |
| Died | 15 May 2012 in Manahawkin, Ocean County, New Jersey |
| Spouse 2 | Alice E. Hodgeboom (daughter of Harry C. Hodgeboom and Wilhelmina ‘Minnie’ Steinheart) |
| Born | 6 July 1906 in Harrison, Hudson County, New Jersey |
| Married | ca. 1924 to William Passmore McGregor |
| Married | 16 July 1932 in Manhattan, New York City, New York to Barnett Burtis Greenfield |
| Died | 16 January 1974 in Kearny, Hudson County, New Jersey |
| Children | of William Passmore McGregor and Alice E. Hodgeboom: |
| +1. | Ruth Birrill McGregor |
| Born | ca. November 1926 |
| Married | 1945 to Verlon Edward Hamilton |
| Died | 4 May 2021 |
| Spouse 3 | Leonette Sophia Scales (daughter of Joseph H. Scales and Leonette Nichols) |
| Born | 23 May 1897 in Kearny, Hudson County, New Jersey |
| Married | 6 May 1934 in Elkton, Maryland to William Passmore McGregor |
| Died | 23 May 1992 in Dover Township, Ocean County, New Jersey |
Sources
- New Jersey State Census, 1915, Middlesex County, Perth Amboy, ED 1, Page A-11, David MacGregor, 50, Sept. 1864, Scotland, engineer; Nellie MacGregor, 46, Mar. 1868, Scotland, housewife; Ida MacGregor, 20, Aug. 1895, New Jersey, milliner; William MacGregor, 17, July 1897, scholar, high school; Grace MacGregor, 13, Apr. 1902, New Jersey, scholar, grammar school; George Patterson, 74, Aug. 1840, Scotland, retired.
- U.S. Federal Census, 1920, New Jersey, Essex County, Orange, Enumeration District 299, Sheet No. 7B, family of David McGregor (54, New Jersey [sic, Scotland], finisher, hat works); wife Nellie McGregor (51, New Jersey [sic, Scotland]); daughter Jennie McGregor (24, New Jersey, clerical, office); son William McGregor (22, New Jersey, clerical, office). They are living next door to their daughter Margaret and her husband and family.
- U.S. Federal Census, 1940, New Jersey, Essex County, Bloomfield, Enumeration District 7-34, Sheet No. 13B, family of William McGregor (42, New Jersey, salesman, automobile, new cars); wife Leonette McGregor (41, New Jersey, typist, electrical appliance); aunt Estelle Nichols (70, New York, housekeeper, private family); border Kathleen Pierson (45, England, photometer operator, General Electric).
- New Jersey Marriage Index, by Reclaim the Records (available at: archives.org), Josephine Voelker, married WM [William McGregor] on 20 November 1921, location: 18.
- U.S. Federal Census, 1930, New Jersey, Hudson County, East Newark, Enumeration District 9-238, Sheet 10A, family of Harry Hodgeboom with daughter Alice McGregor and her daughter Ruth.