GORDON, James (DNA Linked) ^{1 3}

   Cause of his death was chronic myocardial degeneration or 'heart failure'.

   User ID: B1.

  General Notes:

James Gordon was born in April 1879. His father, George Gordon, gave notice of his son's birth before the registrar for the parish of Temple, James Low, on 6 May 1879.

The 1881 census recorded James at the age of 2 years, living with his parents and family at Liberton, Edinburgh. He was the second youngest of the children recorded. He had been born in Temple, Edinburgh.

James was recorded by the 1891 census, living in Linlithgow, aged 12 years. He was a message boy. His birthplace was recorded as Temple, Edinburgh.

James Gordon was one of the witnesses, best man in fact, at the marriage of his brother, George Wright Gordon, in 1900.

In 1901, James was one of two sons living at Pumpherston-Mid Calder with their parents, George and Normina Gordon. Their house had two windowed rooms and their address was recorded as Lagandorach Place. James was single, aged 22 years, and his occupation was that of general labourer, as was his father's. He had been born in 'Temple, Edinburghshire'.

In 1907, James' first child, George, was born. James was recorded in the birth certificate as an oil worker. This occupation was also assigned to him in his son, William's birth certificate in 1915, in his son, David's in 1919, in his daughter, Christina's in 1922, and in his daughter, Rebecca's in 1925.

In the birth certificate of James, his second son, in 1909, James Gordon was recorded as an oilwork labourer. The same occupation was noted in his son, Alex's birth certificate in 1912, and in his daughter, Normina's in 1913.

His occupation in 1911, as recorded in the birth certificate of his daughter, Jane, was that of general labourer.

James Gordon was an oil worker, according to the birth certificate of his daughter Isabella in 1917. When she married in 1945, James was recorded in the marriage lines as a dispatch clerk.

"James Gordon, oilworker" is recorded in the Valuation Roll for the parish of Kirknewton, Midlothian, living at 4 Langton Road East Calder in a property rented from Midlothian County Council. The "Gross Annual Value being Yearly rent or Value" was £17.0.0. Next door to him, at No 5, is "David Philip, motor driver". This is most likely James Gordon's half-brother, son of Normina Winton, born before she married George Strachan Gordon.

James died in 1933. His death certificate recorded his age as 54 years, and recorded him at the time of his death as 'night watchman in oil works' and 'married to Isabella Haimes Nisbet'. His usual residence was noted as Langton Road, East Calder. Both of his own parents were then deceased.

When his daughter, Jane, married in 1939, James Gordon was recorded as an oil worker.

n the marriage certificate of his son William in 1948 he was recorded as having been a clerk.

In 2005, when his daughter Isabel died, her death certificate recorded James Gordon as a 'dispatch clerk deceased'. ^{1 3 4 5 6 7}

  Research Notes:

THE UNITED FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND

The Free Church of Scotland and the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland united in 1900 to make the United Free Church of Scotland, with the overwhelming agreement of the members of both churches. It thus became the largest church in Scotland of that time. The members were predominantly urban and of the rising middle class, whose independent and upwardly mobile outlook did not see itself fulfilled in the Establish Church of Scotland.

  Medical Notes:

The cause of James Gordon's death was certified by W. P. Gracie MB ChB.

James' son, Alexander Gordon, of 4 Langton Road, East Calder, gave notice of his father's death before the registrar, David Finlay, at East Calder on 14 July 1933.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Time of birth: at 6.30 pm.

2. Time of death: at 0.30 am.

James married Isabella Haimes NISBET (DNA Linked), daughter of William NISBET and Sarah CURRAN OR CAIRNS, on 29 November 1906 in 34 Blacket Place, Edinburgh, Scotland.^{1 2} (Isabella Haimes NISBET (DNA Linked) was born on 9 February 1882 in 11 Davie Street, Edinburgh, Scotland and died on 12 May 1962 in 175 The Slade, Headington, Oxford, England ^{8 9}.). The cause of her death was cerebral haemorrhage and arteriosclerosis.

  Marriage Notes:

The marriage took place after banns according to the forms of the United Free Church of Scotland.

James Gordon was a bachelor of 27 years. His address was recorded as Marybank, Pumpherston, Midlothian. He was an oilwork labourer. Both of his parents were living.

Isabella Nisbet was aged 24 years and unmarried. She was a dressmaker, living at 16 Roxburgh Place, Edinburgh. Her mother was deceased.

The minister was Daniel Lamont of Newington United Free Church. The witnesses were Alex Gordon and Jeannie Deans Nisbet, probably brother of the groom and cousin of the bride.

The marriage was registered on 1 December 1906 at Edinburgh. ²