James (Menzies) Minnis (1809 - 1892)

Born 15 Jul 1809 in At Sea

Husband of Janet (Geddes) Menzies — married 14 Apr 1829 in Scotland, United Kingdom

Husband of Jane Grozette (Crozier) Minnis — married 31 Dec 1862 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 29 Feb 1892 at age 82 in Salem, Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Anthony Hare [send private message]

Biography

This profile is part of the Menzies Name Study.

James (Menzies) Minnis is a member of Clan Menzies.

James (Menzies) Minnis was born in Scotland.

Birth

James Menzies was born about 15 Jul 1809 at sea.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} He was the son of John Minnis and Mary Unknown.

Marriage 1

James Menzies firstly married Jane Grozette on 14 Apr 1829 in Scotland. (Please refer to 'Family Biographical Information' below)

Marriage 2

James Menzies' second marriage was to Jane Geddes and they are mentioned in the marriage record of his son John Menzies.^[6] He was employed as a Night Watchman. The marriage took place on 31 Dec 1862, in Glasgow, Lanarshire, Scotland.^[7]

Immigration

James Menzies emigrated to America in 1849 and after eight weeks landed in New York City. By way of the Canal and the Great Lakes he made his way to Racine, Wisconsin, from where he started to search for employment. Walking to Burlington, he worked as a farm hand for about a year. In 1850 attracted by the discovery of gold, he joined a party headed for California. The journey took three months. They first began mining in a small village known as Hangtown, and began to prospect. The journey was successful enough that he was able to bring his family from Scotland and they lived in Kenosha awaiting his return from California.

James returned in 1853 and purchased 80 acres of land near Salem. Later he added an additional 100 acres on the same section. He and his wife were Presbyterians, but became members of the Methodist Church of Salem.

Residences

• 1841 ^[8]- Arbroath The Abbey, Angus, Scotland.
• 1860 ^[9]- Salem, Kenosha, Wisconsin. Residence Post Office: Marion.
• 1870 ^[10]- Salem, Kenosha, Wisconsin. Residence Post Office: Salem.
• 1880 ^[11]- Salem, Kenosha, Wisconsin. Marital Status: Married. Head of House.

Death and Burial

James Menzies died on 29 Feb 1892 (aged 82) in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, USA. He was buried at the Salem Mound Cemetery, Salem, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, USA.^[12][13]

Family Biographical Information

James Menzies was born on a British man-of-war in Denmark waters. He was one of four brothers, Samuel, James, John and George. He received a common-school education after which he learned the weavers trade. On 14 Apr 1829 he married Jane Grozette, daughter of Samuel and Martha Grozette, both natives of Scotland. They moved to Arbroath, Angus, Scotland and had nine children, John, James, Samuel, Joseph, George, Hugh, William, Isabella, and another Samuel.

Research Note

James Menzies' family originated in Ireland and the surname was Minnis in Ireland. They later migrated to Arbroath, Angus, Scotland shortly after 1830 and changed their surname to Menzies. When the family later moved to America the surname reverted back Minnis (should have been Mingus) to conform with the pronunciation in the lowlands of Scotland.

Sources

1. ↑ Scotland Select Births and Baptisms 1564-1950.
2. ↑ 1841 Scotland Census, Parish: Arbroath The Abbey; ED: 3; Page: 7; Line: 1330; Year: 1841.
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 18 February 2021), memorial page for James Minnis (15 Jul 1809–29 Feb 1892), Find a Grave Memorial no. 94433952, citing Salem Mound Cemetery, Salem, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, USA ; Maintained by Kocart (contributor 47008250) . Find A Grave: Memorial #94433952
4. ↑ "Wisconsin, Death Records, 1867-1907," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLQ5-D91 : 10 March 2018), James Minnis, 1892; citing Death, Salem, Kenosha, Wisconsin, Wisconsin State Historical Society, Madison; FHL microfilm 1,310,190.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN4R-MCJ : 17 September 2017), James Minnis, Salem, Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district ED 83, sheet 120B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1431; FHL microfilm 1,255,431.
6. ↑ Marriage Certificate of son John Menzies and Marion Pearson 31 Dec. 1862.
7. ↑ 1861-1921 Extract of an entry in a Register of Marriages, Registration of Births, Deaths, and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965, Document # 07957347.
8. ↑ 1841 Scotland Census, Parish: Arbroath The Abbey; ED: 3; Page: 7; Line: 1430; Year: 1841.
9. ↑ 1860 U.S. Census, Year: 1860; Census Place: Salem, Kenosha, Wisconsin; Roll: M653_1415; Page: 178; Family History Library Film: 805415.
10. ↑ 1870 U.S. Census, Year: 1870; Census Place: Salem, Kenosha, Wisconsin; Roll: M593_1720; Page: 299A; Family History Library Film: 553219.
11. ↑ 1880 U.S. Census, Year: 1880; Census Place: Salem, Kenosha, Wisconsin; Roll: 1431; Page: 120B; Enumeration District: 083.
12. ↑ "Wisconsin, Death Records, 1867-1907," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLQ5-D91 : 10 March 2018), James Minnis, 1892; citing Death, Salem, Kenosha, Wisconsin, Wisconsin State Historical Society, Madison; FHL microfilm 1,310,190.
13. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 23 January 2021), memorial page for James Minnis (15 Jul 1809–29 Feb 1892), Find a Grave Memorial no. 94433952, citing Salem Mound Cemetery, Salem, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, USA ; Maintained by Kocart (contributor 47008250) . Find A Grave: Memorial #94433952.

Acknowledgements

To R Hare Hare-1576 and P Gray Howard-18870 for research and contact with the Menzies family.

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