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George Christie (1858 - 1939)

George Christie
Born in Burntisland, Fife, Scotlandmap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married 3 Oct 1881 in Hull, Yorkshire, Englandmap
Died at age 80 in Waynesboro, Augusta, Virginia, USAmap
Problems/Questions
Profile last modified | Created 15 Nov 2015
This page has been accessed 882 times.


Contents

Biography

Scottish flag
George Christie was born in Scotland.
Flag of England
George Christie migrated from England to United States of America.
Flag of United States of America

Birth in Scotland

George Christie was born in Burntisland, Fife, Scotland on 21 October 1858[1]. His parents were John Christie and Margaret Towers.

Yorkshire, England

In his early childhood, the family moved from Scotland south to York. The 1861 England Census[2] shows that he was living at Providence Place in the Micklegate area of York.

In the 1871 England Census[3], the family were living in Hull in the Myton district at 8, Belle Vue Crescent. He was 12 years old and employed as an office boy.

By the time of the 1881 England Census[4], the family address was 71 Seaton St., and George was aged 22 and working as a joiner.

On 3 Oct 1881, he married Frances Annie Rudd[5] in the Sculcoates district of Hull. Individuals named on the official record are George Christie, Frances Annie Rudd, Edward Harper and Jane Rudd.

His wife, Annie, made a trip to the USA in March 1882[6]. It is not clear whether George accompanied her on the sailing.

On 6 Oct 1893, George and Annie's only child, Douglas, was born[7][8].

The Christie Patent Stone Company

This is the story told to me by family members who knew George and Douglas Christie personally and were still around in the 1960s to tell me these family stories, with comments by me in the light of new information.

George Christie began his working life in the building trade as a joiner. In 1894, with the financial backing of his family members, he began running his own business manufacturing artificial stone[9]. His business was called The Christie Patent Stone Co., which at first was in Stepney Lane, Hull. His business did well and he moved to larger premises on Bournemouth Street, Hull.

At the time of the 1901 England Census[10], the family lived at 19 Temple St., Hull. George's occupation is given as Manager, Artificial Stone Manufactory.

Later he opened a branch of his business in Stretford, Manchester. The 1911 England Census[11] shows the family living in Christie Road, Stretford, Manchester. His business was very successful.

Page from The Architects' Compendium and Catalogue (Compendium Publishing, 29th issue, 1915), The Christie Patent Stone Company

The link below takes you to a video on YouTube. It is about Stretford, Manchester. Part of it is about the work at the Christie Patent Stone Co. factory and there is film footage of people working there and making stone cornices and fittings for the new Stretford Town Hall.

Borough Of Stretford (part 2) - Section about the Christie Patent Stone Co.
Borough Of Stretford (part 2) - The whole documentary.
Trafford (Stretford) Town Hall, Talbot Road

cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Dixon - geograph.org.uk/p/5295315

First World War

During the First World War George apparently decided to leave the UK to avoid the risk of his son being killed at the Front[12]. George, Annie and son Douglas went to Liverpool and on 28 Oct 1916 boarded a ship called SS St Louis bound for New York[13]. They arrived in New York on 6 Nov 1916[14]We always understood that they were going to San Francisco. Perhaps that was their plan, but they actually went to Waynesboro, Augusta County, Virginia, and remained there for the rest of their lives.

SS St Louis

Back in England the Christie Patent Stone Company continued trading until 1948, when the company was dissolved. This was reported in the London Gazette (Issue 38412, Page 5153) on 24 September 1948[15].

Waynesboro, Virginia

Waynesboro, Virginia, is a town in the Shenandoah Valley near the Shenandoah National Park. See about Waynesboro, Virginia, USA and Wikipedia page about Waynesboro, VA, USA

According to family members, George also had a daughter, who did not go to the USA. I have found no trace of her.

In Virginia, George bought an orchard. At some point, his son Douglas became the owner of a local newspaper company, the Waynesboro News Virginian.

Death

George passed away on 15 Aug 1939[16] According to family recollections[17], Douglas had died and that his father George died some years later. At that time George left a will and bequeathed all of his assets to the local Methodist church. His daughter-in-law Mary Christie (nee Haines) in the USA contacted George's family members in England (Jessie (Christie) Lawson) in an attempt to get their support in mounting a legal case to contest his will. Family members who remember the story told me that Jessie (Christie) Lawson was unwilling to get involved in the litigation. The final part of the story from the UK is that Douglas's widow, Mary , went to live with her "rich sister" Genetta Reeder Haines, who was known as Nettie.

George Christie's funeral announcement mentions the names of his daughter-in-law in the USA and surviving family members in England:

"He is survived by his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Christie; three sisters, Mrs. Jessie Lawson, Mrs. Jim Bell, and Mrs. Maggie Wyllie, all of Hull, England; and a sister-in-law, Mrs. David Christie, also of Hull."

George was buried with his late wife at Plot: Block 29 Lot 9A, Riverview Cemetery, Waynesboro[18].

George and Annie (Rudd) Christie Gravestone

Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 17 August 2018), memorial page for George Christie (21 Oct 1858–15 Aug 1939), Find A Grave Memorial no. 39582704, citing Riverview Cemetery, Waynesboro, Waynesboro City, Virginia, USA ; Maintained by JLB (contributor 47105907)

Obituary

His obituary notice in the Waynesboro News Virginian, August 16, 1939, read as follows:

Funeral services for George Christie, 81, will be held tomorrow (Thursday) morning at 10:30 o'clock from the home of his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Douglas Christie, 607 West Main Street, conducted by Rev. J. Calvin Dugger, pastor of Main Street Methodist Church. Burial will be in River View Cemetery.
Mr. Christie died yesterday morning, just before noon, at his residence in the home of Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Via on Highland Avenue.
He was born October 21, 1858, at Burnt Island, Scotland, and lived most of his life at Hull and Manchester, England, prior to moving to the United States and to Waynesboro in 1916. In England he was president of the well known Christie Stone Company.
Here he was first associated with his son, the late C. Douglas Christie, in the orchard business but had been retired for some years. His wife died here in 1929, and his son three years ago.
He is survived by his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Christie; three sisters, Mrs. Jessie Lawson, Mrs. Jim Bell, and Mrs. Maggie Wyllie, all of Hull, England; and a sister-in-law, Mrs. David Christie, also of Hull.
Pallbearers at the funeral will include: active-W. E. Moore, W. L. Dally, E. W. Barger, Dr. Ernest Mosby, Dr. C. C. Bowman, and J. S. Ellis; honorary-J. E. Drumheller, E. Austin Via, R. G. Vance, S. H. Hall, C. G. Quesenbery, Walter Arnold, A. Rosenthal, G. H. Branaman, J. H. Michael, Gains Baylor, and S. G. Crews.


Sources

  1. #Christie1740_1
  2. #Christie1740_2
  3. #Christie1740_3
  4. #Christie1740_4
  5. #Christie1740_5
  6. #Christie1740_6
  7. #Christie1740_7
  8. #Christie1740_8
  9. #Christie1740_9
  10. #Christie1740_10
  11. #Christie1740_11
  12. #Christie1740_12
  13. #Christie1740_13
  14. #Christie1740_14
  15. #Christie1740_15
  16. #Christie1740_16
  17. #Christie1740_17
  18. #Christie1740_18

References

  1. Source: Christie1740_1 Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950, FHL Film Number: 6035516 Ancestry Record 60143 #22870055
  2. Source: Christie1740_2 1861 England Census, Class: RG 9; Piece: 3548; Folio: 35; Page: 65; GSU roll: 543149 Ancestry Record 8767 #11796611
  3. Source: Christie1740_3 1871 England Census, Class: RG10; Piece: 4791; Folio: 58; Page: 5; GSU roll: 847347 Ancestry Record 7619 #10066168
  4. Source: Christie1740_4 1881 England Census, Class: RG11; Piece: 4760; Folio: 103; Page: 12; GSU roll: 1342150 Ancestry Record 7572 #26115927
  5. Source: Christie1740_5 England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index, 1837-1915, Sculcoates, Vol 9d, Page 362 Ancestry Record 8913 #5345398
  6. Source: Christie1740_6 New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957, Year: 1882; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: M237, 1820-1897; Microfilm Roll: Roll 447; Line: 1; List Number: 266 Ancestry Record 7488 #85845745
  7. Source: Christie1740_7 England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915Ancestry Record 8912 #37502784
  8. Source: Christie1740_8 Virginia, Death Records, 1912-2014, Virginia Department of Health; Richmond, Virginia Ancestry Record 9278 #6431757
  9. Source: Christie1740_9 https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/M280494, Architects Compendium, The Christie Patent Stone Company
  10. Source: Christie1740_10 1901 England Census, Class: RG13; Piece: 4493; Folio: 16; Page: 24 Ancestry Record 7814 #28734643
  11. Source: Christie1740_11 1911 England Census, Class: RG14; Piece: 23641 Ancestry Record 2352 #20023851
  12. Source: Christie1740_12 Memories of Doris Lawson
  13. Source: Christie1740_13 UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960 Ancestry Record 2997 #42145773
  14. Source: Christie1740_14 New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957, Year: 1916; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 2499; Line: 14; Page Number: 67 Ancestry Record 7488 #4015582472
  15. Source: Christie1740_15 London Gazette (Issue 38412, Page 5153)
  16. Source: Christie1740_16 Virginia, Death Records, 1912-2014, Virginia Department of Health; Richmond, Virginia Ancestry Record 9278 #600643175
  17. Source: Christie1740_17 Memories of Doris Lawson
  18. Source: Christie1740_18 U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Find A Grave: Memorial #39582704

Other Source Information

  • Family records Cowan-1848 05:07, 15 December 2015 (EST)
  • Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
Name George Christie
Gender Male
Birth Date 21 Oct 1858
Birth Place Burntisland,Fife,Scotland
FHL Film Number 6035516
Household Members
Name Age
Margaret Towers
John Christie
George Christie
  • 1861 England Census: Class: RG 9; Piece: 3548; Folio: 35; Page: 65; GSU roll: 543149
Name: George Christie
Age: 2
Estimated birth year: 1859
Gender: Male
Where born: Scotland
Civil Parish: York St Mary Bishophill Junior
Ecclesiastical parish: St Paul
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England
Street address: Providence Place
Registration district: York
Sub-registration district: Micklegate
ED, institution, or vessel: 5
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 329
Piece: 3548
Folio: 35
Page Number: 65
Household Members:
Name Age
John Christie 28
Margaret Christie 30
John T Christie 4
George Christie 2
Alexander Christie 6/12
  • 1871 England Census: Class: RG10; Piece: 4791; Folio: 58; Page: 5; GSU roll: 847347
Name George Christie
Age 12
Estimated Birth Year abt 1859
Relation Son
Mother's Name Margaret Christie
Gender Male
Where born Scotland
Civil parish Holy Trinity
Ecclesiastical parish St Stephen
Town Kingston upon Hull
County/Island Yorkshire
Country England
Registration district Hull
Sub-registration district Myton
ED, institution, or vessel 21
Household schedule number 22
Piece 4791
Folio 58
Page number 5
Household Members
Name Age
Margaret Christie 40
John T Christie 14
George Christie 12
Alexander Christie 10
David Christie 6
Janet Christie 5
Edward Christie 2
Margaret Christie 5 Months
  • 1881 England Census: Class: RG11; Piece: 4760; Folio: 103; Page: 12; GSU roll: 1342150
Name George Christie
Age 22
Estimated Birth Year abt 1859
Relationship to Head Son
Mother Margaret Christie
Gender Male
Where born Burnholm, Scotland
Civil parish Sculcoates
County/Island Yorkshire
Country England
Street Address 71 Seaton St
Occupation Joiner
Registration district Sculcoates
Sub registration district West Sculcoates
ED, institution, or vessel 12
Piece 4760
Folio 103
Page number 12
Household Members
Name Age
Margaret Christie 50
George Christie 22
Alexander Christie 20
David Christie 16
Jessie Christie 15
Sarah Christie 4
  • England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915
Name George Christie
Registration Year 1881
Registration Quarter Oct-Nov-Dec
Registration district Sculcoates
Parishes for this Registration District Sculcoates
Inferred County Yorkshire East Riding
Volume 9d
Page 362
Household Members
Name Age
George Christie
Edward Harper
Frances Annie Rudd
Jane Rudd
  • 1891 England Census: Not found
  • 1901 England Census: Class: RG13; Piece: 4493; Folio: 16; Page: 24
Name: George Christie
Age: 42
Estimated birth year: abt 1859
Relation to Head: Head
Gender: Male
Spouse: Frances A Christie
Birth Place: Scotland
Civil Parish: Sculcoates
Ecclesiastical parish: Sculcoates St Mary
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England
Street address: 19 Temple Street
Occupation: Manager of an Artificial Stone Company
Condition as to marriage: Married
Employment status: employed
Registration district: Sculcoates
Sub-registration district: West Sculcoates
ED, institution, or vessel: 13
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 4493
Folio: 16
Page Number: 24
Household schedule number: 171
Household Members:
Name Age
George Christie 42
Frances A Christie 41
Charles D Christie 7
  • 1911 England Census: Class: RG14; Piece: 23641
Name: George Christie
Age in 1911: 52
Estimated birth year: abt 1859
Relation to Head: Head
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Burntisland, Fife, Scotland
Civil Parish: Stretford
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England
Street address: Christie Road Stretford
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Manager Of Artificial
Registration district: Barton upon Irwell
Registration District Number: 463
Sub-registration district: Stretford
ED, institution, or vessel: 19
Piece: 23641
Household Members:
Name Age
George Christie 52
Frances Annie Christie 51
Charles Douglas Christie 17
  • UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960
Name George Christie
Gender Male
Age 58
Birth Date abt 1858
Departure Date 28 Oct 1916
Port of Departure Liverpool, England
Destination Port New York, USA
Ship Name St Louis
Search Ship Database St Louis
Shipping Line American Line
Master J C Jamison
  • U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current:
Name: George Christie
Birth Date: 21 Oct 1858
Death Date: 15 Aug 1939
Cemetery: Riverview Cemetery
Burial or Cremation Place: Waynesboro, Waynesboro City, Virginia, USA
Has Bio?: Y
Spouse: Frances Anne Christie
Children: Charles Douglas Christie
URL: Find A Grave: Memorial #39582704
Burial:
Riverview Cemetery
Waynesboro
Waynesboro City
Virginia, USA
Plot: Block 29 Lot 9A
  • The London Gazette
London Gazette (Issue 38412, Page 5153)




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Really nice profile Malcolm!

Mindy

posted by Mindy Silva

Rejected matches › George Christie (abt.1856-)