James Paull Allanach
James Paull Allanach
When James Paull Allanach was born in 1841 in Aberdeenshire, his father, John, was 42 and his mother, Mary, was 29. He married Hariet Wilmot on 28 January 1869 in Derbyshire. They had seven children in 12 years. He died on 22 April 1912 in Philipsburg, Montana, USA, at the age of 71.
Parents
- John Allanach
- Mary Forbes Allanach
Birth
James Paull Allanach was born on 25th March 1841 to John and Mary in Tullynessle and Forbes and Kearn, Aberdeenshire to Mary Forbes, age 29, and John Allanach, age 42.
From the Old Parish Register of Births Tullynessle and Forbes Page 39
Siblings
James had the following siblings :
- William Allanach
- Mary Burnett Allanach
- Elizabeth Allanach
- John A F P Allanach
- George Allanach
- Catherine P Allanach
An eight child, Martha Alice Allanach, was born 19th February 1882 after James had absconded to America in November 1881.
Marriage
James Paull Allanach married Hariet Wilmot in Derbyshire on 28 January 1869 when he was 28 years old.
Children
James and Hariet had the following children:
- Samuel Allanach
- John Allanach
- Robert Allanach
- Catherine Allanach
- Mary Allanach
- Frederick Allanach
- George Herbert Allanach
Death
James Paull Allanach died on 22 April 1912 in Philipsburg, Montana, USA, when he was 71 years old.
Life Story
1841
The 1841 census shows James aged just two months living at the Manse in Tullynessle with father John (35) and Mother Mary (25)
Tullynessle Manse is now known as Tullynessle House.
1860
James is charged with night poaching.
The entrance to Achath farm as it appears today
Achath in relation to Tullynessle.
1861
On Sunday 7th April 1861, the Scottish census records James aged 20 still in Tullynessle working as a ploughman for John Roger.
1871
The 1871 census states James (30) as living at the Railway station in Hornby Lancashire, with wife Harriet (28), son Samuel (2) and son John (2 months), where he worked as the station master.
1881
The 1881 (3rd April) census records James (40) as living at Calverley Bridge Station House Yorkshire
with wife Harriet (37), and children (Samuel (12), John (10), Robert (8), Catherine (6), Mary (5), and
Frederick (3), George (6 months).
James was working as a station master at Calverley and Rodley station.
The station no longer exists but the station master’s house was approximately located where the ‘S P’ is marked below the station on this 1860s map
The house is now residential but would have offered James and his family a very comfortable existence compared to his peers.
James absconded Sunday 7pm 13th November 1881.
Later records confirm James changing his surname to the old Allanach alias of Stuart. There are no
immigration records for Allanachs in this period though there is one record in 1881/2 for a James
Stuart arriving into New York on the SS Ethiopia to Castle Gardens New York on the 15 December
1881 in steerage from Glasgow to New York via Ireland. The age is recorded as 39 which would seem
a good match.
I did manage to find a picture of the SS Ethiopia and how it would have looked on deck (though slightly later in 1900)
1883
James now calls himself ‘James Stuart’ and works on the Mullan Pass (possibly as overseer of works/ minor investor) with partner P Garvey.
1886
Possible match – From the New North-West (Deer Lodge, Montana) 24 Sep 1886
1887
A brief report in the New North West paper on Friday June 17th 1887 shows James briefly works on the eastern side of the Mullan tunnel.
1890
Photos of Philipsburg BiMetallic in 1890 to where James had started working in 1887.
1893
He has a narrow escape whilst on a hunting trip.
From the Anaconda Standard 12 November 1893
From the Yellowstone Journal (Miles City, Montana), 13 November 1893
From the Anaconda Standard 17 November 1893 :
1894
This follow up story to James’s narrow escape sees James travel to Helena and recount his experiences. It gives some amazing insight into how he spoke (still retaining his broad Scots), manner (‘rugged and hearty as any man in the State’) and even how he walked (slight limp…with a slight tinge in the right thigh’).
1894
From the Philipsburg Mail 18 October 1894; a likely match confirming he had been granted US
citizenship :
1899
Photo believed to be of James (unknown date but thought to be 1899). The photo is of the ‘semi-weekly silver bullion shipment with VIPs’. I believe James is as storeman is second to left (clothing does not look VIP and more akin to that of storeman.
1899
From the Philipsburg Mail 26 May 1899. A crippling bout of arthritis :
1900
The 1900 census confirms him coming to the US in 1881 and that he is still working at Bimetallic,
renting a house with a 46 year old man from China (a cook called Jim Tuck) and a 26 year old
Irishman from Pennsylvania called James Wallace.
Bimetallic District, Enumeration District no 39. Census Date 20th June 1900
House nr 2, Dwelling visitation order 229
James Stuart – Head – Birth March 1848, aged 52, Single, born Scotland, immigration year 1881,
Naturalised US citizen, Mine Storekeeper, rents house
In 228 – James Walace – Head, born August 1873, aged 26, single, born Pennsylvannia of Irish
parent, Stenographer, rents house
In 228 – Jim Tuck, servant, born July 1853, aged 46, single, born China, immigration year 1866, cook
1902
From the Butte Miner 27 July 1902 – James is a witness in the case of John Boyd who is accused of
stealing bullion from the store. Investigators are unaware that James is using an alias name and
absconded after robbing a railway in Britain.
1910
The 1910 census shows he is renting a house with two other men at South Philipsburg Precinct,
Enumeration District no 36, Dwelling Number 182
James Stuart – Boarder – 63 – naturalised American – Immigration year 1881 – single – birthplace
Scotland – Store Keeper – Mine Company
James Tuck – Servant – 57 – Married (of 3 years) – Immigration Year 1866 – Alien – birthplace China
– Cook – Boarding house
Charles C Barker – Head – 36 – Single – Born Kansas – Stenographer – Mine Company
1911
James sets out a will in which he falsely declares that he was ever married and that he never had any
children. He leaves his estate to sister Eliza in Edinburgh $2000, brother William in Wakefield $2000,
brother John in Aberdeen $1000, remainder to John R Lucas (also appointed executor).
1911
From the Anaconda Standard 06 June 1911 -travels to Los Angeles to help with health.
1912
James dies on April 22nd 1912. His cause of death is given as Pulminanory Congestion
His death is reported in the Philipsburg Mail :
James Stuart buried in Block 6 of the Philipsburg cemetery. The headstone reads “Died April 22,
1912, aged 67 yrs. 1 mo. Native of Aberdeen, Scotland.”
The Friday April 26, 1912 Philipsburg Mail published the following obituary:
“James Stuart storekeeper at the Bimetallic mill died at 12:30am on Monday April 22, after a brief
illness of heart disease.
He was born at Dunkirk, Scotland, in March 1845 and came to the United States over 40 years ago.
He came west when the Northern Pacific Railroad was being built through Montana and was
employed at the construction of the Mullan tunnel. P. McGarvey of this city being his partner at that
time. After the completion of the railroad, Mr. Stuart was freight agent at Drummond for several
years, while E.I. Holland, now of Great Falls, was telegraph operator there. When the Bimetallic mill
was being built in 1887 Mr. Stuart came to Philipsburg to accept the position of warehouse man and
storekeeper at the mill which position he held until the time of his death.
He was a fixture at the Bimetallic and one of the oldest and most trusted employees of the
company…He has no relatives in this country, but is survived by several brothers and other relatives
in Scotland.”
After services at the Presbyterian Church Mr. Stuart was interred in the Philipsburg cemetery. Pall
bearers were: Dan Smith, Cyrus Morgan, Joseph Sorenson, M.E. Blonger, John B. Lucas and Merritt
Robey.
James had died on April 22nd 1912. His cause of death is given as Pulminanory Congestion.
1913 Onwards
It is discovered that James was really called Allanach and the will is disputed.
A whole file exists in the Montana Historical Society on the correspondence from the family, as well as a box of deeds and powers of attornies at Granite Court House.
