Migrants oftentimes have a difficult job of “assimilating” in the face of a new culture and nativism in their new home. While that is the case with most migrants, the English had an easier time than most. Using primary sources, such as the U.S. Census, historians can learn the forgotten past of people in the United States. With this practice, the Cogan family’s obscure life in Alexandria, Virginia became more pronounced.[1] William Cogan was born in London, England in 1828. Along with his mother and father, William emigrated to America when he was a young child.[2] It is possible that Cogan had no recollection of England, and the United States was all that he had ever known. Like most migrants, William did not remain in one place. Instead, he moved to Philadelphia and then to Alexandria, Virginia. William learned his craft as a gas fitter from his time in Philadelphia.[3]

According to the Alexandria Gazette, Cogan became a gas fitter in 1848.[4] William opened up his own plumbing and gas fittering business called Cogan Wm & Sons on 15 North Royal Street.[5] William married Virginia Barton from Fairfax County, Virginia. Virginia remained in their home until her death in 1912.[6] The couple had eleven children together.

William Cogan, and his business, suffered through the Civil War war. There are no records of William Cogan fighting, even though he was only in his 30s. Due to health problems, his children succeeded William Cogan in his business.[7] At the age of 60, William Cogan died. Cogan created a life for him and his family by learning a trade and creating a business.

[1] 1860 U.S. Census (Population Schedule), Alexandria Virginia, Enumeration District (ED) 002, William Cogan in household of William Cogan, line 4, digital image, accessed September 22, 2016, http://interactive.ancestrylibrary.com/.

[2] “Local Matters,” Alexandria Gazette, July 09, 1888.

[3] Ibid.

[4] “Local Matters,” Alexandria Gazette, January 05, 1866.

[5] Ibid.

[6] 1900 U.S. Census (Population Schedule), Alexandria Virginia, Enumeration District (ED) 0094, Virginia Cogan in household of Virginia Cogan, line 4, digital image, accessed September 23, 2016, http://interactive.ancestrylibrary.com/.

[7] “Local Brevities,” Alexandria Gazette, December 12, 1912.

Out of all the immigrant groups that came to the United States in the nineteenth century, English immigrants are often overlooked. Unlike other immigrant groups, the English were able to adjust to life in the U.S. with fewer problems–including anti-immigrant persecution and language acquisition. As a result, historians frequently ignored their experiences.[1]

English immigrants have often been over looked but that did not mean that they did not find success. In 1859, Edward Green of Alexandria, Virginia, for example, worked for the Manassas Gap railroad in Alexandria.[2] He started out as an accountant and worked his way up.[3] By the time of the 1860 U.S. Census, Green had been promoted to treasurer of the Manassas Gap Railroad.[4] Whenever the railroad announced when different trains were leaving, his name was attached to it.[5] Green having his name constantly in the paper would have elevated his social standing in the community. Green was worth $3,000 in 1860. Green was married to Ann, and they had five kids together.[6] By the time he died on January 25, 1864, Green had prospered.[7]

[1] Charlotte Erickson, Invisible Immigrants: The Adaption of English and Scottish Immigrants in the Nineteenth- Century America (Coral Gables Florida: University of Miami Press, 1972), 1-10

[2] Edward Green, “Manassas Gap Railroad,” Alexandria Gazette, March 11, 1859.

[3] 1850 Federal Census (Population Schedule) Alexandria, Virginia, sheet number 15, line 22, digital image, accessed on September 20, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com/.

[4] 1860 Federal Census (Population Schedule) Alexandria, Virginia, sheet number 203, line 27, digital image accessed on September 20, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com/.

[5] Green, “Manassas Gap Railroad.”

[6] 1860 Federal Census (Population Schedule) Alexandria, Virginia, sheet number 203-204, line 27-30 on page 203, line 1-3 on page 204, digital image, accessed on September 20, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com/.

[7] “Died,” Alexandria Gazette, January 26, 1864.

Using the Voting Viva Voce website,, the percentage of English immigrants, who voted either for the Democratic or Opposition ticket, were nearly equal in Alexandria, Virginia in 1859. Of the 109 English immigrant men, only 34 men were either eligible to vote or chose to vote.[1] The low turn out rate for voters was reiterated in the book, Invisible Immigrants, in which Charlotte Erickson declares that English immigrants “showed little interest for participating in government.”[2] Most English immigrants traveled to the United States to escape economic stagnation and an overbearing government apparatus; they wanted as little government intervention in their day-to-day lives.

By studying patterns in voting habits in 1860, I was able to figure out two things. First, English immigrant men living in Alexandria were almost evenly split between the two parties on the 1859 ticket. 44% of men who voted chose the Democratic nominees, while 50% voted for the Opposition candidates. [3]

Map from Voting Viva Voce

For the English immigrant men, as well as most other groups of voters, the general trend was that richer citizens tended to vote for the Opposition party, while the Democratic voters were significantly poorer. In 1859, many more Opposition voters owned or rented slaves compared to the Democratic voters.

There was one Democratic voter that stood out from the rest of the voters in the party.  John Crockford was born in England in May 1840.[4] When Crockford was 22 years old, he and his young wife, Ellen, boarded a ship named “President” in London to come to New York City.[5]

New York Passenger Lists (Ancestry.com)

1860 U.S. Federal Census (Ancestry.com)

As written in the 1860 U.S. Census, Crockford’s total estate was $60,000.[6] He was one of the richest English immigrants in Alexandria, as well as the richest recorded Democratic voter in this group.  As a slave owner, he might have particularly invested in the Democratic party.

(Courtesy of Voting Viva Voce)

While it is difficult to pinpoint why exactly Crockford voted for Democratic candidates when others voted for the Opposition, he proves to be a very interesting man to research. He obviously was a very successful railroad contractor and made plenty of money. According to Erickson, cultural differences between English and Americans “were often masked by language similarities [7].” One can assume that if Crockford was not English, he likely would not have been as successful as he was if he emigrated from another country. Because of the similarities between English and American cultures, Crockford was able to get far in his job and make a good living.

[1]: Don DeBats, “Social Groups in Alexandria, males born in United Kingdom,” Voting Viva Voce, accessed September 24, 2016,  http://sociallogic.iath.virginia.edu.

[2]: Charlotte Erickson, Invisible Immigrants: The Adaption of English and Scottish Immigrants in Nineteenth-century America (Coral Gables, FL: U of Miami, 1972), 30.

[3]: Don DeBats, “Social Groups in Alexandria, males born in United Kingdom,” Voting Viva Voce, accessed September 24, 2016,  http://sociallogic.iath.virginia.edu.

[4]: 1860 U. S. Census (Population Schedule), Alexandria, Virginia, sheet no. 24, John Crockford, line 24, digital image, accessed September 24, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com/.

[5]: Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897, John Crockford, line 39, digital image, accessed September 24, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com/.

[6]: 1860 U. S. Census (Population Schedule), Alexandria, Virginia, sheet no. 24, John Crockford, line 24, digital image, accessed September 24, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com/.

[7]: Erickson, 3.

One common misconception about immigrants is that once arriving in the United States, they remained in one place; however, it was quite common for immigrants to move from place to place. Often immigrants would either move farther West or along the East Coast. One family that represents this migration pattern is the Gibson family. William Gibson was born in County Armagh in Northern Ireland while his wife Margaret Mahaffey Gibson was born somewhere in the British Empire, although the exact place is unclear.[1] William immigrated to the United States from Northern Ireland via Liverpool, England on May 2, 1849. [2] They married on March 20, 1852 in Philadelphia at the Eleventh Street Methodist Episcopal Church.[3] William would go on to become an allopath (a doctor who practices allopathic medicine), and Margaret is listed as a housekeeper in the 1880 U.S. Census. [4]

 

In addition to getting married in Pennsylvania, two of their children Matilda Emily and Henrietta, were also born there. [5] Their next child, Thomas Samuel, was listed in both the 1870 and 1880 U.S. Census as being born in Illinois, thus illustrating that the family moved. [7] One interesting fact about the Gibson family is that by 1860, William and Margaret sent their daughter Matilda Emily to live with Margaret’s parents, the Mahaffeys, in Alexandria, Virginia.[8]

 

 

In the two years following Thomas Samuel’s birth, the Gibson family moved to Alexandria, Virginia where they lived for the remainder of their lives. [9] During their life in Alexandria, they had six more children in addition to Thomas Samuel: four sons and two daughters. At the time of William’s death in 1903, the Gibson family was well established and respected within the local community. [10]

 

 

 

[1]. It is hard to know with certainly exactly where Margaret was born. On the 1870 Census, her place of birth is listed as Canada. But on the 1880 Census, her birthplace is listed as Scotland. Complicating matters, her father’s birthplace is recorded as Scotland, while her mother’s is listed as Canada, making both places a possible birthplace of Margaret.

[2]. New York, Passenger and Immigration Lists, 1820 – 1850. “William Gibson,” accessed September 24, 2016. http://www.ancestry.com.

[3]. Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708 – 1985. “William Gibson and Margaret Mehaffey,” accessed September 26, 2016. http://www.ancestry.com.

[4]. Directory of Deceased American Physicians, 1804 – 1929, “William Gibson,” accessed September 24, 2016; 1880 U.S. Census (Population Schedule), Alexandria, Virginia, Enumerated District 4, sheet no. 8, “Margaret Gibson, line 23, digital image, accessed September 15, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com.

[5]. 1880 U.S. Census, Alexandria Virginia, “Matilda Emily Gibson and Henrietta.”

[6]. 1870 U.S. Census (Population Schedule), Alexandria, Virginia, sheet no. 7, “Thomas Gibson,” line 36, digital image, accessed September 15, 2016. http://www.ancestry.com.

[7]. 1860 U.S. Census Data (Population Schedule), Alexandria, Virginia, sheet no. 83, Matilda Gibson, line 6, digital image, accessed September 14, 2016. http://www.ancestry.com.

[8]. “Death of Doctor Gibson” Alexandria Gazette, January 28, 1903. Accessed September 27, 2016, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers, Library of Congress.

[9]. “William Gibson,” Find a Grave, accessed September 23, 2016. www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&Grid=67445373.

 

In the mid to late 19^th century, Alexandria, Virginia was a popular location, with both a large railroad system and plenty of waterfront for ships to bring people and cargo. Alexandria had a lot of people traveling to and from the city. As a sizable commercial hub, it also supported prostitution.[i]

One of the immigrants that decided to live in Alexandria was an English immigrant named Ann White. She was listed as a 50 year old homeowner in the 1860 U.S. Census.[ii] She owned $1300 in real estate, but no slaves. She was the second highest property holder in her block, only beaten by another woman running a boarding house. White was not married and neither was anyone else listed in her house. It appears that her home may have been a mix of a brothel and a boarding house. At the time of the 1860 U.S. Census, White had two women, both of whom worked as prostitutes, and a sailor living with her.[iii] Her house was located in the 300 block of North Lee Street.[iv]

The house’s location was a great place for White to host a brothel, or a boarding house that doubled as a brothel. The house was a mere block or two from the water’s edge and local hotels, making it very accessible to sailors and other visitors.[v]

The two prostitutes living with White were Ann Jones and Margaret McCline/McCuin. Margaret’s surname changes based on the database used but she is consistently in the house. She was 23 years old, while. Jones was 34 in 1860. Neither Jones nor McCline were literate. McCline was an Irish immigrant but Jones was from Maryland.[vi] Perhaps both came from poor backgrounds, and were never able to have schooling so they turned to one of the few jobs available to women.

Jeremiah Robb (sometimes Robbs) is listed at the house in the 1860 U.S. Census, but doesn’t appear in the 1870 US census.[vii] It is unclear what connection Robb had to White. He was listed as a waterman, and perhaps was living there for a short period that happened to coincide with the census.[viii] He could have also worked for White part time; oftentimes, female brothel owners needed a male bouncer in case clients became rowdy.

Why White chose to run a brothel is not clear, but she did well and made a good profit doing so.[ix]

[i] A Brief History of Alexandria, City of Alexandria, VA, accessed September 29, 2016, https://www.alexandriava.gov/.

[ii] 1860 U.S. Census (Population Schedule), Alexandria, Alexandria, Virginia, Sheet 68, household of Ann White, line 27, digital image, accessed September 29, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com/.

[iii] “Social Groups in Alexandria” Prostitution,” Voting Viva Voce, last modified 2016, accessed Sept. 22, 2016,  http://sociallogic.iath.virginia.edu/.

[iv] Ibid.

[v] Ibid.

[vi] 1860 U.S. Census (Population Schedule), Alexandria, Alexandria, Virginia, Sheet 68, Ann Jones and Margaret McCline in the household of Ann White, line 28-29, digital image, accessed September 29, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com/.

[vii] 1860 U.S. Census (Population Schedule), Alexandria, Alexandria, Virginia, Sheet 68, household of Ann White, line 27, digital image, accessed September 29, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com/.

[viii] 1860 U.S. Census (Population Schedule), Alexandria, Alexandria, Virginia, Sheet 68, household of Ann White, line 30, digital image, accessed September 29, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com/.

[ix] “Social Groups in Alexandria” Prostitution,” Voting Viva Voce, last modified 2016, accessed Sept. 22, 2016,  http://sociallogic.iath.virginia.edu/.

I was immediately drawn to the Ratcliffe family after examining various English immigrants that our class examined in the 1860 and 1870 U.S. Censuses for the City of Alexandria. I was intrigued by the fact that Ann Ratcliffe’s occupation listed in the 1870 U.S. Census was “doctress” because not many women were in the medical field during the 19th century.[1] She had $600 of property while her son, William, was not worth anything although he worked as a moulder or brick maker.[1] 

Ann Ratcliffe was an English immigrant born in 1805. Ann was married to a RB (Robert) Ratcliffe, who, based on information from the 1850 U.S. Census, was a carpenter from England worth $500.[2] At the time the census was conducted, Ratcliffe’s occupation (if she had one) was not listed; she had three children total, all born in Washington, D.C. Richard was born in 1830, Margaret in 1835, and William in 1838.[3] Unfortunately, I was unable to find more information on Ratcliffe’s children other than William. [4]

William Ratcliffe later married Ann E. Nightingale on July 15, 1868.[5] Together, William and Ann had one child, a daughter named Lizzy Bell, born in November 1869 by 1870. [6]

William and Ann Ratcliffe continued to live in Alexandria in the same home on the corner of Wilkes and South Fairfax Streets. William died at the age of 54 on April 12, 1894, while his mother’s death is unknown. His funeral was held in his home the Sunday following his death.[7]

Home of the Ratcliffes or William and Ann “Radcliff.” Don DeBats, Voting Viva Voce: Unlocking the Social Logic of Past Politics, University of Virginia, accessed September 21, 2016, http://sociallogic.iath.virginia.edu/.

William Ratcliffe’s Death Noted in the Alexandria Gazette. “Virginia Gazette and Virginia Advertiser,” Alexandria Gazette, April 12, 1894. Accessed September 21, 2016, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers, Library of Congress.

As we can examine, Ann Ratcliffe was not a typical woman of her time. She was the only female physician/surgeon of her time in the City of Alexandria, showing viewers today how important she was in her community. After her husband passed away in 1851, she had to work to continue life without her husband.  As stated above, the date of her death is unknown. According to Charlotte Erickson’s book, Invisible Immigrants: The Adaption of English and Scottish Immigrants in Nineteenth-century America, a wife was extremely important to male immigrants in the United States and the mid-19th century. [8] Without Ann, the Ratcliffe family would not have had a source of income because William did not have a solid source of income according to the 1870 census in the City of Alexandria.

[1] 1870 U.S. Census (Population Schedule). Alexandria, Virginia, William and Ann Ratcliffe, line 26 and 29, digital image, accessed September, 21 2016, http://www.ancestry.com/.

[2] 1850 U.S. Census (Population Schedule). Alexandria, Virginia, RB Ratcliffe, line 28,  digital image, accessed September, 21 2016, http://www.ancestry.com/.

[3] 1850 U.S. Census (Population Schedule). Alexandria, Virginia, Richard, Margaret, and William Ratcliffe, lines 30-32, digital image, accessed September, 21 2016, http://www.ancestry.com/.

[4] 1870 U.S. Census (Population Schedule). Alexandria, Virginia, William and Ann Ratcliffe, line 26 and 29, digital image, accessed September, 21 2016, http://www.ancestry.com/.

[5] Marriage Certificate, Alexandria, Virginia, William Ratcliffe and Ann Eliz’H (Elizabeth) Nightingill (Nightengale) Ancestry.com. September, 21 2016. http://www.ancestry.com/inst/discoveries/PfRecord?emailId=N-08e4bb45-f58c-41e4-a7d1-c310b4780848&collectionId=60214&recordId=19650&ahsht=2016-09-23T02:21:33&language=en-US&ahsh=a68fc4f13929fdb5db60a94cd50bef64

[6] 1870 U.S. Census (Population Schedule). Alexandria, Virginia, Lizzy Bell Ratcliffe, line 28, digital image, accessed September, 21 2016, http://www.ancestry.com/.

[7] “Virginia Gazette and Virginia Advertiser” Alexandria gazette, April 12, 1894. Accessed September 21, 2016, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers, Library of Congress.

 

[8] Charlotte Erickson, Invisible Immigrants: The Adaption of English and Scottish Immigrants in Nineteenth-century America (Coral Gables, FL: University of Florida Press, 1972), 56.

English immigration is prevalent in the 19^th century, even in Alexandria, Virginia. Occupations vary among these immigrants and high salaries were not common because agrarian work was the most prevalent job. Therefore an English immigrant grocer claiming thousands of dollars was an interesting find. The 1860 United States Census lists Thomas Davy, a seventy-year old, white, male grocer in Alexandria. Davy was born in England and married to Susan who was born in Virginia.[i] His assets total around $20,000.[ii] It is interesting to discover an English immigrant with that amount of money in Alexandria, living off of a grocery business. The image below names the members of the Davy household: Thomas Davy, M. Lagecubell, Susan Davy, E. Lagecubell, Davy Slave A, and Davy Slave B.[iii]

(Photo Courtesy of Don DeBats, “Voting Viva Voce,” The Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities, n.d. Web, <http://sociallogic.iath.virginia.edu)

This image also names Davy was an active voter in Alexandria, usually voting for candidates in opposition to the Democrats.[iv] Davy is listed as a dedicated member of the Trinity Methodist church.[v] From his headstone, it is known that he had been a member of the Methodist Church for sixty-three years.[vi] This demonstrates Davy’s dedication to his community; he probably had no intentions of returning to England.

In the 1850 U.S. Census of Alexandria, it names Martha Lugenbille and James Lugenbille, the daughter and son-in-law of Thomas Davy, shown in the image below.[vii]

U.S. Census Bureau, “Alexandria Census 1850.”

James Lugenbille was a thirty-year old white, male born in Massachusetts who was a physician. Lugenbille lived in the home of the Davys.[viii] Lugenbille, however, did not appear on the 1860 U.S. Census for Alexandria. According to his headstone, Lugenbille died on September 22, 1857, but the cause of death is unknown.[ix] His wife Martha remained living in her father’s home, and she acquired all of her husband’s assets as shown in the 1870 U.S. Census for Alexandria inserted below.[x]

U.S. Census Bureau, “Alexandria Census 1870.”

Two more Davy household members listed in the 1870 U.S. Census are, “Caroline Jackson” and “Virginia Jackson.” These women are labeled as “Domestic Servants” and demarcated as “M” meaning of “mulatto.”[xi] Davy was known to own and rent slaves prior to the Civil War.[xii]

English immigrants to the United States in the nineteenth century consisted mostly of farmers operating on land purchased with money brought from England.[xiii] The main goal of these English immigrants was to gain economic independence and expand their wealth.[xiv] The Davys fit this model. Many other English immigrant families working in Alexandria were financially successful in the 19^th century, but the Davy family was especially interesting.

Thomas Davy’s Headstone. (Photo Courtesy of findagrave.com)

Notes

[i] U.S. Census Bureau, “Alexandria Census 1860.”

[ii]Ibid.

[iii]Don DeBats, “Voting Viva Voce,” Search for Individual People in Alexandria (as of 1860), The Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities, n.d. Web, <http://sociallogic.iath.virginia.edu/node/14?name=Davy+Thomas&sex=&race=&bg=&data_set=alex_people&contains=1>.

[iv]Ibid.

[v] Ibid.

[vi] Brian S., “Thomas Davy (1791-1876),” Find a Grave , N.p, 7 Jan. 2015, Web, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=141033263.

[vii] U.S. Census Bureau, “Alexandria Census 1850.”

[viii] Ibid.

[ix] Brian S., “James Lugenbille (1819-1857),” Find a Grave, N.p, 7 Jan. 2015, Web, http://www.findagrave.om/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=141033263.

[x] U.S. Census Bureau, “Alexandria Census 1870.”

[xi] Ibid.

[xii] Don DeBats, “Voting Viva Voce,” Search for Individual People in Alexandria (as of 1860), The Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities, n.d. Web, <http://sociallogic.iath.virginia.edu/node/14?name=Davy+Thomas&sex=&race=&bg=&data_set=alex_people&contains=1>.

[xiii] Charlotte Erickson, Invisible Immigrants: The Adaption of English and Scottish Immigrants in Nineteenth-century America (Coral Gables, FL: U of Miami, 1972), 25.

[xiv] Ibid, 27.

While combing through both the 1860 and 1870 U.S. Census, I came across various pieces of information about William Cogan. In the 1860 U.S. Census, I was able to locate him, a then twenty-nine-year-old gas fitter. Cogan’s combined value of property in 1860 was $4,500.[1] In Alexandria’s local newspaper, The Alexandria Gazette, I was able to locate an advertisement for Cogan’s gas fitting enterprise dated January 24, 1862, which meant that he continued working throughout the Civil War in Union-occupied Alexandria.[2] Additionally, according to the Voting Viva Voce website, I located Cogan’s home in Alexandria and other personal information. According to the site, Cogan did not own or rent slaves.[3] The 1860 census also lists William’s wife, Virginia, who was born in the United States.[4]

 

To track possible changes, I also looked at the 1870 U.S. Census. When looking at the 1870 U.S. census in Alexandria, William Cogan was listed again. His job is now listed as Gas & Steam fitter. Where in 1860 his property value was $4,500, in 1870 that value was risen to $10,000.[5]

Cogan was born in the year 1828 in London. The gravestone at Presbyterian Cemetery in Alexandria, Virginia reads, “In memory of/my husband/William Cogan…aged 60 years/native of London/England.”[6] Virginia passed away on December 22nd, 1912 in her house on 1012 Prince Street in Alexandria.[7]

 

[1] 1860 U. S. Census (Population Schedule), Alexandria, Virginia, William Cogan, digital image, accessed September 20, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com/.

[2] “The Local news,” The Alexandria Gazette, 24 Jan. 1862.

[3] Voting Viva Voce. University of Virginia. http://sociallogic.iath.virginia.edu/.

[4] 1860 U. S. Census (Population Schedule),   Alexandria, Virginia, William Cogan, digital image, accessed September 20, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com/.

[5] 1870 U. S. Census (Population Schedule), Alexandria, Virginia, William Cogan, digital image, accessed September 20, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com/.

[6] Ancestry.com. U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

[7] “Mrs. Virginia Cogan Dead,” The Washington Post Dec. 22, 1912.

In Invisible Immigrants: The Adaptation of English and Scottish Immigrants in 19th-Century America (1990), Charlotte Erickson extracts excerpts from letters written by English immigrants who entered the U.S. throughout the nineteenth century.[i] Through these letters, Erickson explains that many English immigrants left comfortable hometowns in hopes of increasing their standard of living in the U.S., like owning a home or farm instead of leasing one, or simply just boosting their family’s social status and wealth. After reviewing the data contained in the 1860 and 1870 U.S. Census records for Alexandria, Virginia, one English immigrant in particular stood out from the rest, and further inquiry into his background tends to support Erickson’s argument.

William Gregory III was either an English-speaking Scotsman or a recent English arrival to southern Scotland who likely came to the U.S. to expand his family’s business and affluence. Gregory was born on January 3, 1789, in Kilmarnock, Scotland.[ii] Nearly ten months later, on November 17, 1789, Gregory was baptized in the St. James Anglican Church in Westminster, England.[iii] His father, William Gregory II, owned a woolen factory in Kilmarnock.[iv] When Gregory was eighteen, he immigrated to Alexandria, Virginia, and worked as a clerk in Scotsman Robert McCrea’s dry goods store that was located on King Street.[v] He actively participated in the War of 1812 by serving with the Alexandria Blues, and his unit fought in the Battle of the White House in 1814. [vi] After the war, Gregory prospered as a dry goods merchant and achieved considerable wealth. Though he retired from the merchant business in 1847, he eventually became “the president of the Alexandria branch of the Farmers’ Bank of Virginia, a position he retained until the bank closed in 1866.”[vii] As president, Gregory’s name appeared in the Merchant’s and Banker’s Almanac for 1853.[viii]

Records indicate that Gregory lived in the City of Alexandria from the time he arrived at the age of eighteen until his death in 1875. He also seemed to have integrated into the American society quite well. For example, in addition to his service during the War of 1812, Gregory signed an Oath of Allegiance that swore allegiance to the Union during the time of the U.S. Civil War.[ix]

(Data Courtesy of the Alexandria Library)

Analysis of the available marriage and U.S. Census records reflect that Gregory was married twice, had ten children, and that he was a wealthy slave owner. Gregory married his first wife, Margaret Douglas Bartleman, on December 2, 1822, and they had five children together.[x] According to her headstone, Margaret died in Barbados on June 19, 1833.[xi] Gregory appeared in the U.S. Census records as a resident of Alexandria three times, and each of these documents provides additional interesting facts about his life. According to the 1850 Census, Gregory’s real estate was valued at $21,000 and he had nine people in his family that were living in his home, one of which is his second wife, Mary.[xii] Like Margaret, she and Gregory had five children together.[xiii] An additional available document, the 1850 Census Slave Schedule, reported that Gregory owned two female slaves who were aged sixteen and eighteen.[xiv] By the 1860 Census, Gregory had six family members and three slaves living under his roof [xv], and the combined value of his property was $110,000.[xvi]  Finally, in the 1870 Census, Gregory only had five family members living with him but his combined property value increased to $130,000.[xvii] Based on this data, it is reasonable to infer that the U.S. Civil War and subsequent emancipation of slaves did not negatively impact Gregory’s wealth.

 

(Documents Courtesy of Ancestry.com)

A variety of passenger manifests reveal that Gregory and his children were quite the ocean travelers, and they suggest that he did not sever ties with his family in Scotland. Two passenger lists depict that the Gregorys traveled from both Barbados and Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Alexandria via the Schooner Velocity in September of 1833.[xviii] These documents substantiate the death date and burial location of Gregory’s first wife, Margaret. Over the course of the next three years, other passenger manifests indicate that the Gregorys traveled to New York from Liverpool, England, on several different ships, including the Oxford on June 8, 1840, the Independence on November 2, 1841, and the Talbot on May 18, 1842.[xix]

 

(Documents Courtesy of Ancestry.com)

Over the span of his long life, Gregory owned multiple expensive properties in Alexandria. Later known as the “William Gregory Building,” Gregory owned a structure on 400-02 King Street, but it was demolished in 1968 under the Gadsby Urban Renewal Project.[xx] The second “William Gregory Building” was located on 404-06 King Street. Gregory also owned another property called the “Old Leadbeater House,”[xxi] which was located at 329 North Washington Street.[xxii]

According to Boyd’s Business Directory of the Cities of Alexandria, Georgetown, and Washington (1875), Gregory lived at 87 North Washington Street in 1875, the most prestigious street address in the city.[xxiii] He died in Alexandria on July 13, 1875,[xxiv] and was buried in the Gregory family plot located within the Presbyterian Cemetery.[xxv]

(Created by Dino Reschke Using GoogleMaps)

[i] Charlotte Erickson, Invisible Immigrants: The Adaptation of English and Scottish Immigrants in 19th-Century America (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1990).

[ii] Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950, accessed September 22, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com.

[iii] England & Wales, Christening Index, 1530-1980, accessed September 22, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com.

[iv] “Historic American Buildings Survey: William Gregory Building,” accessed September 22, 2016, http://lcweb2.loc.gov/master/pnp/habshaer/va/va0100/va0116/data/va0116data.pdf.

[v] Ibid.

[vi] Ibid.; Amy Bertsch and Lance Mallamo, “Out of the Attic: A Dyed-in-the-Wool Alexandrian,” Alexandria Times, May 1, 2014.

[vii] “Historic American Buildings Survey: William Gregory Building,” accessed September 22, 2016, http://lcweb2.loc.gov/master/pnp/habshaer/va/va0100/va0116/data/va0116data.pdf.

[viii]Merchant’s and Banker’s Almanac for 1853, accessed September 22, 2016, https://books.google.com/books?id=EmxQAQAAMAAJ&pg=PP8&lpg=PP8&dq=Merchant%E2%80%99s+and+Banker%E2%80%99s+Almanac+for+1853&source=bl&ots=yssX292IuL&sig=T1U-UDEiSpSLv5HUV3M6CS6tJ28&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiMq-j3vqXPAhWGXh4KHR_5CBIQ6AEIJzAC#v=onepage&q&f=false.

[ix] Alexandria Library, “Oath of Allegiance in Virginia, 1862-1865,” accessed September 22, 2016, https://alexlibraryva.org/client/en_US/home/?rm=OATH+OF+ALLEGI0%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue.

[x] “Margaret Douglas Bartleman,” accessed September 22, 2016,  http://person.ancestrylibrary.com/tree/102088298/person/100026340210/facts; Amy Bertsch and Lance Mallamo, “Out of the Attic: A Dyed-in-the-Wool Alexandrian,” Alexandria Times, May 1, 2014.

[xi] Find A Grave, “Margaret Douglas Bartleman Gregory,” accessed September 22, 2016, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=116200071.

[xii] 1850 United States Federal Census, accessed September 22, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com.

[xiii] “Historic American Buildings Survey: William Gregory Building,” accessed September 22, 2016, http://lcweb2.loc.gov/master/pnp/habshaer/va/va0100/va0116/data/va0116data.pdf.

[xiv] 1850 U.S. Federal Census – Slave Schedules, accessed September 22, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com.

[xv] 1860 U.S. Federal Census – Slave Schedules, accessed September 29, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com; University of Virginia, “Voting Viva Voce: Unlocking the Social Logic of Past Politics,” Database Queries: Individuals in Alexandria; William Gregory, accessed September 29, 2016, http://sociallogic.iath.virginia.edu/node/14name=William%20Gregory&sex=&race=&bg=4&data_set=alex_people&contains=1.

[xvi] Population Schedule of the Eighth Census of the United States, 1860, Virginia, accessed September 22, 2016, https://archive.org/stream/populationschedu1331unix#page/n409/mode/2up.

[xvii] Population Schedules of the Ninth Census of the United States, 1870, Virginia, accessed September 22, 2016, https://archive.org/stream/populationschedu1632unit#page/n223/mode/2up.

[xviii] Atlantic Ports, Gulf Coasts, and Great Lakes Passenger Lists, Roll 1: 1820-1871, accessed September 22, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com; U.S., Atlantic Ports Passenger Lists, 1820-1873 and 1893-1959, accessed September 22, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com.

[xix] New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957, accessed September 22, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com.

[xx] “Historic American Buildings Survey: William Gregory Building,” accessed September 22, 2016, http://lcweb2.loc.gov/master/pnp/habshaer/va/va0100/va0116/data/va0116data.pdf; Amy Bertsch and Lance Mallamo, “Out of the Attic: A Bland Building with Rich Commercial History,” Alexandria Times, July 17, 2014; Amy Bertsch and Lance Mallamo, “Out of the Attic: A Historic Property with A Bright Future,” Alexandria Times, January 8, 2015.

[xxi] “Gregory or ‘Old Leadbeater House,’” accessed September 22, 2016, http://cdn.loc.gov/master/pnp/habshaer/va/va0100/va0118/data/va0118data.pdf.

[xxii] University of Virginia, “Voting Via Voce: Unlocking the Social Logic of Past Politics,” accessed September 22, 2016, http://sociallogic.iath.virginia.edu/node/14name=William%20Gregory&sex=&race=&bg=&data_set=alex_people&contains=1.

[xxiii] U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995, accessed September 22, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com.

[xxiv] Virginia, Deaths and Burials Index, 1853-1917, accessed September 22, 2016, http://www.ancestry.com.

[xxv] Find A Grave, “William Gregory,” accessed September 22, 2016, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&amp;GRid=116250241&amp;ref=acom.