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Alexander FERGUSSON (1685-1749)

Writing 01 Dec 1749, son James says Alexander FERGUSSON died "the eighth day of March last, in the sixty-fourth year of his age", i.e. March 8, 1749. No place of death is stated.^1.i.

• Many public trees say that Alexander FERGUSSON died 08 Mar 1749 in York, VA. The idea that he died in York, VA seems rooted in a statement made by Mary Beaumont Statham² concerning an Alexander FERGUSON who died in 1719 (sic). She described him as a "Gentleman, came from Craig-Darrach, Co. Dumfries, Scotland to York Co., VA, probably in 1716; convicted as a rebel against George I, was banished to the Colonies as a Jacobite prisoner". It is true that there was an Alexander FERGUSON transported via the Elizabeth and Anne bound for VA and Jamaica from Liverpool 28 July 1716⁴. However, he is said to be a seaman from Durham. Furthermore, In the rising of 1715 Alexander FERGUSSON of Craigdarroch was not a Jacobite but among the "well affected gentlemen" who served his majesty^1.iii.
• Statham² confused Alexander FERGUSSON of Craigdarroch with Alexander FERGUSON (1672-1731) of Kittery, ME ³ when she said the former had a son "Daniel (ca 1716-1748) m. Mildred-; had issue: Alexander, Elizabeth, Margaret and Mildred".

Annie LAURIE (1682-1764)

Annie is sometimes said to have a husband named James FERGUSSON and a son named Alexander. [ e.g Pedigree Resource File, FamilySearch]

• This mistake can be attributed to E. Cobham Brewer, Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, Philadelphia: Henry Altemus, 1898. If an errata could be published for his work it would read:
  • Annie LAURIE's husband was Alexander FERGUSSON
  • Her son was James FERGUSSON
  • Her grandson Alexander FERGUSSON, was the hero of Burns's song called 'The Whistle'.

James FERGUSSON (1713-1771)

The LDS Ancestral File shows James as having a third wife, Jane HUTCHESON (AFN: 18GT-SLB).

• In fact a James FERGUSON and Jane HUTCHESON were married 16 Oct 1734, Ayr. The parish registers Church of Scotland at Ayr, LDS Film 1041330; their children are:
  • Jane FERGUSON b. 14 Oct 1738
  • Elizabeth FERGUSON b. 05 Oct 1739
  • Elizabeth FERGUSON b. 20 Dec 1740
  • James FERGUSON b. 20 Aug 1742
  • Margrit FERGUSON b. 05 Apr 1745
  • John FERGUSON b. 24 May 1746
  • Elizabeth FERGUSON b. 15 May 1750
• Annie LAURIE's son James married Euphemia NISBET in 1743. Since the couple above are having children before and after this date, the James above could not be Annie's son.

Robert "Robin" Ferguson (1764-1826)

• Jim G Ferguson⁵ relying on research by Homer Ferguson published in The Annals of Haywood County by W.C. Allen, 1935 alleges that his ancestor Robin FERGUSON descends from John son of James FERGUSON and Annie LAURIE. Annie's four children are listed by Gladstone⁶ and they do not include a son named John.

References

1. Records of the Clan and Name of Fergusson, Ferguson and Fergus, by James Ferguson and Robert Menzies Fergusson, Edinburgh, 1895
   1. Excerpt from Book of Accounts and States as to Craigdarroch kept by James Fergusson, beginning 1st December 1749; pp.399-400
   2. p. 419
   3. p. 387
2. Compendium of American Genealogy of the First Families of America, edited by Frederick A. Virkus, by the Institute of American genealogy, 1925-1942, vol 5, p. 510-511.
3. Old Kittery and Her Families By Everett Schermerhorn Stackpole, p. 373
4. Jacobites in Prison in Lancashire, Winter 1715/1716
5. The Ferguson Family History by Jim G Ferguson, Nov 1959, p. 88
6. I.O.G. Gladstone, The Lauries of Maxwelton and other Laurie Families, London: The Research Publishing Co. 1972, pp. 97-98