STAR VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
HISTORICAL BOOKS INVENTORY DETAILS
1.
Overview
Title: Life History of Agnes Carnegie
Author: Lucile T. Cook
Subject: Personal History
Publisher:
Publishing Date:
Number of Pages: 7
ID#: 540
Location: Website
2.
Evaluation
Evaluator's Name(s): Kent and Polly Erickson
Date of Evaluation: December 2014
Keywords: Scotland
Included Names: Hannah Murdoch, Ellen Gray McCombs
3. Synopsis
Background information on Scotland begins this selection. Agnes v^as born
in Scotland. She married Alexander Wardrop Gray in 1860. Census records
provide family information. Part of the family embraced Mormonism, some did
not. One branch settled in Grover, Wyoming.
4. Other
LIFE HISTORY OF AGNES CARNEGIE
Compiled & Written by Lucile T. Cook
In the country of Scotland which is included in the British Isles, many of our
ancestors lived and died. Scotland has been famous for close knit clans and their skillful
warriors. The clans were made up of families that had a common ancestor with the same
name, such as Stewart, that began hundreds of years ago. They also had a chief or a
leader of each clan. Our ancestors' roots go into the Stewart clan that claimed the
Scottish throne, with much struggle after Robert Bruce had been recognized as King
Robert of Scotland in 1328, and his son David II, King of Scotland died without an heir
in 1371. Uncle Elmer McCombs told me that the Gray's pedigree went into Robert King
of Scots. The House (family) of Stuarts became the rulers and Robert II became king.
The Royal Family of the Stewarts reigned from 1371 to 1714 in Scotland and in England
from 1603 to 1714. The name of the family was originally Stewart, but later was spelled
Stuart. The Stewart clan had their own kilts made from their beautiful plaid designs
called tartans and their music was played on bagpipes. The bagpipes have a high pitched
tone that played war songs, sad songs, marches, and music for dancing. These bagpipes
are a Highland tradition. The Scots play bagpipes and wear kilts mainly for ceremonial
occasions. The clans have lost much of their importance and the chief ofthe clan doesn't
have any real authority over the clan.
Three-fourths of the people live in the central lowlands, in the area by Glasgow.
The River Clyde has been enlarged so that large ships can navigate the river to Glasgow.
Many ships are built in Glasgow. Few people live in the rugged wind-swept northern
part of Scotland, called the Highlands. The English language is the official language.
The Scots speak this language with a soft musical accent. Most of the older Scotsmen
speak Gaelic, an ancient Celtic language on the Islands and the Highlands. The climate
in Scotland is cool in the summer and cold in the winter. They wear warm tweed suits,
coats and thick woolen sweaters the year around to keep warm. Much of their clothing
comes from the famous woolen mills in Scotland. A few Highlanders wear kihs
everyday. Most of the Scottish cooking is simple. They eat mutton, steaks from the
Aberdeen Angus cattle, herring, and salmon. The salmon that is taken from the Scottish
waters is considered one of the world's tastiest foods. They make Scotch Whiskey, so
they drink quantities of it.
The official church is the Church of Scotland or the Presbyterian Church but the
people can worship as they choose. Many people didn't register their births, marriages,
and deaths, because they were so poor and had to pay the Church of England so much for
these services during the time of our ancestors.
The land is divided into three regions: the Southern Uplands, that border
England, these are barren rolling moors and broken rocky cliffs; The Central Lowlands
where three-fourths of the people live; and the Northern Highlands. Three-fourths of the
land is arable and they still cannot raise enough food for their people. Much of the food
has to be imported. The Scotshave developed a sturdy Scottish black-faced sheep that
can stand their cold winters on the mountainous Highlands. Their cattle are also strong,
sturdy types suchas Aberdeen Angus, Ayrshire, and others. They have developed the
Clydesdale work horse, Shetlandpony, and the famous Collie sheep dog. The land of
Scotland is so beautiful with large lakes, sparklingmountain streams, and the highest
mountain on the British Isles, Ben Neves, 4,406 feet high. The heather, glens, and
valleys make Scotland a fairyland. (Gray McCombs said you haven't seen green until
you've seen the green hills of Scotland.)
Agnes Carnegie was bom in this beautiful land to James Carnegie, Jr., son of
James Carnegie, Sr. and Helenor Ellen or Agnes Graham and Hannah Murdoch daughter
of John Murdoch and Mary Stewart. She was bom in Beith, Ayrshire, Scotland, but we
do not know the exact date of her birth. All that we have is on the 1841 Beith New Street
Census: "Agnes' father, James Camegie was 30 years old, a hand cotton loom weaver
who was bom in Ireland. Her mother was Hannah Camegie, age 25 who was also bom in
Ireland. Agnes was age 4, and she was bom in the country (Scotland). James was 6, and
Helenwas 2. They were both bom in the country of Scotland, County of Ayrshire".
Vital information was found on the 1851 Beith, New Street, Ayrshire, Scotland Census.
"Hannah Camegie was 36 and a widow. She was bom in Ireland. She had three
daughters, Helen Camegie, age 9, Ann Camegie, age 4; MaryCamegie, age 5. All of her
daughters had been bom in Beith, Ayrshire, Scotland." Agnes was not living at home in
1851. She would have been 14 years old and was probably working in the factories or as
a maid servant. James would have been 16 and he had gone from home. We haven't
found any more information on him. They had listed Helen, age 2, on the 1841 census
and ten years later she would have been 12. This Helen recorded on 1851 census was 9.
Their father, James Carnegie had died between 1846 and 1851, he had been a hand loom
weaver for his occupation."
Ellen, Helen, or Agnes Carnegie, 67, the mother of James Carnegie, Jr. lived on
72 Oswald St., Glasgow, Scotland. She was the widow of James Carnegie, Sr. on the
1851 Glasgow Census, she was living with her daughter Elizabeth, who was unmarried.
Helen had been bom in Ireland and Elizabeth was bom in Paisley, Scotland on this
census. Our Heavenly Father helps those in need through other people, so I feel Helen
Camegie helped Hannah Carnegie with her family. The two girls gave her address on
their marriage certificates and a granddaughter, Ellen Gray, was bom at her home when
her parents lived at 72 Oswald St., Glasgow, Scotland at their grandmother, Helen
Carnegie's home.
Hannah Camegie and her daughters didn't have the opportunity to go to school to
leam how to read and write. The only way that they could sign their name was with their
"X" mark after other people read what was written to them on the papers that they signed.
There were many mistakes on their vital statistics and this could be one of the reasons
why, or maybe they just called themselves many names. They were so poor that they had
to get employment as soon as they could and never had the opportunity to go to school.
On the 31 December 1860 Agnes was married to Alexander Wardrop Gray. This
marriage certificate gives informationto us that is important. The only way that we have
been able to find these important happenings is through the marriage certificates, the
census, and vital statistics. "Agnes Camegie, age 22, Winder, daughter of James
Camegie, weaver, and Hannah Murdoch, married Alexander Wardrop Gray, 22, cotton
weaver, son of Samuel Gray, weaver, and Ellen Gray MS Wardrop, residence 72 Oswald
Street, by Alex Wilson, minister of Bridgeton Free Church". After their marriage
certificate was located, we found that her mother was Hannah Murdoch Camegie, some
information that we didn't know.
Alexander Wardrop Gray and his new wife, Agnes, went to live with her
grandmother at 72 Oswald St., Glasgow. (Bridgeton, Glasgow Census 1861) "Helen
Carnegie 77 years old was a widow. She was a cotton yam winder and was bom in
Ireland. Elizabeth lived with her and she was 46 years old and was a cotton yam winder.
This census said Elizabeth was a widow and was bom in Ireland. Alexander Gray lived
there. He was the head of the house 22 years of age, a cotton weaver, and was bom at
Dumbartonshire, Kirkintiloch. Agnes Gray was his wife, 22 years of age, married, and
bom at Aryshire, Scotland. Helen Gray was the mother, widow, 58 yrs of age, a cotton
yam winder, and bom in England." It sounds as if this was Ellen Wardrop Gray, mother
of Alexander Wardrop Gray.
While this young couple, Alexander Wardrop and Agnes Camegie Gray lived at
72 Oswald St., Glasgow with Helen Camegie, Agnes' grandmother, their first child was
bom. She was a beautiful little baby girl that was bom on 19 April 1861 at 2 h 20 m AM.
She was named Ellen Gray after Alexander Wardrop Gray's mother, Ellen Wardrop. The
record was verified by Agnes Gray "X" making her mark.
A son, Samuel Wardrop Gray was bom on 26^ Jan 1864 to Alexander Wardrop
Gray, cotton weaver and Agnes Camegie Gray at 82 Oswald Street, Glasgow. Agnes
Gray was the informant, signed "X" her mark, mother. The family had moved from 72
Oswald Street to 82 Oswald Street in Glasgow. Samuel died 31 Oct. 1865, cause of
death, bronchitis, (6 weeks duration)."
Alexander Gray was bom on 26 July 1866 to Alexander Wardrop Gray, cotton
weaver, and Agnes Gray, her mark "X", mother. Alexander married Maria Winton, 21
Jan 1894 and she died 28 May 1898. He had two children by Maria. He married Mary
Craig Fitzsummions 23 Dec. 1898 and she died 26 June 1911. Alexander Gray came to
the United States. He and Mary Craig Fitzsimmions were the parents of seven children.
(After Alexander Gray's second wife, Mary died and left so many little children, A. C.
and Ellen McCombs mortgaged their farm and sent Alexander the money to bring the
family to the U.S.A. The children left Scotland in Nov (no date found) 1911 and arrived
8 December 1911. The children were all baptized as they became of age, but Alexander
never joined while he was alive - none of his children did anything in the church,
although Margaret, Alex, and Nellie had their children baptized. Arvid's mother felt so
bad that they didn't appreciate coming to the U.S.A. and the church.)
Alexander Wardrop Gray started to keep company with Agnes' best friend,
Margaret Robinson. He left Agnes and came to the United States with Margaret
Robinson. They were endowed in the Endowment House on 24 Oct 1876 in Salt Lake
City, Utah. We have been told that they wentto California and had a family there. Glen
Gray, the band leader, is from their family.
We couldn't find anything about Agnes until the BridgetonCensus, Glasgow, 48
Rumford St. 1881 recorded that "Agnes Gray was 39 yrs old, cotton weaver, widow and
was bom in Beith Ayrshire, Scotland. Ellen was a sister, unmarried, 19 yrs. old, a weaver
and bom at Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Alexander Gray was a message boy, 14 yrs.
old, and bom at Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Catherine was a daughter, age 10, bom
at Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, and a scholar". A question was asked, "Who is
Catherine?"
"On 1®^ July 1881 at48 Rumford St., Bridgeton, Glasgow, Scotland, William
Shaw, 37, widower. Iron Factory laborer, son of William Shaw, hand loom weaver,
dec'd, and Christina Hunder, formerly Shaw, MS Walker, married Agnes Stewart or Gray
"X" her mark, widow, 37 years old, daughter ofJames Stewart, silk weaverdec'd, and
MaryStewart Currie, Evangelical Union Church, witness, Hugh Todd and Jane Lewell.
Ellen Gray was baptized 6 May 1881. After she joined the church she had to
leave home when hermother married William Shaw. Ellen went to live with Maggie
Cullen an unmarried close friend. She wouldn't renounce Mormonism. She left Scotland
21 Oct 1882 andarrived in the U.S.A 10Nov 1882. She was given the money to come to
theUnited States by Elder Stoddard which she could pay back byworking for him or she
couldbecome his plural wife. She worked for him in Logan, Cache Co., Utah, then went
to Trenton, Utah to live with Andrew Gray, her cousin. She met Andrew Carlos
McCombs and married him 26 June 1884. They were the parentsof eleven children.
They lived in Afton and Grover, Lincoln Co., StarValley, Wyoming. Shenever sawher
mother after she left Scotland.
William Shaw had been married previouslyto Helen Barr. When Helen died the
children ranged in ages from 7 to 17. The youngest child was John Campbell Shaw.
"On a 1891 census of 135 W Scotland St., Glasgow, William Shawwas the head
of the house, married, 47 yrs., hammerman, and bom at Johnstone. Agnes Shaw was the
wife, married, 45 years, bom at Paisley. Catherine Shaw was the daughter, unmarried, 20
yrs, silk warper and bom at Dairy. John was the son, unmarried, 16 yrs, and bom at
Glasford. We still didn't know who Catherine Shaw was. Now another one was added,
it was John Shaw. We found that he was William's youngest son." Catherine Shaw was a
silkwarper and she was 20 yrs old when she married (24 Apr 1891) Robert Forbes,
boilermaker, 22 yrs old. Her father was given as William Shaw, Hammerman, her
mother Agnes Stewart." "We also found records stating that Catherine Shaw Forbes 28,
died on 5 May 1899 at Govan Poorhouse, Merry Flatts. She was the widow of Robert
Forbes and her father was Alexander Gray, carpet weaver and her mother was Agnes
Shaw, previously Gray, M.S. Stewart. Catherine died with Phthesis Pulmonalis which is
TB. Her stepfather, William Shaw was the informant." This proved that she wasn't the
daughter of William Shaw. Aunt Ella Van Lueven, a daughter of Ellen Gray, said that
her Grandmother Agnes Camegie raised a girl by the name of Katie Fleming and she
wasn't Agnes' daughter even if the census, marriage, and death records said that she was
- so our search went on for Catherine Fleming Shaw Gray.
"In Dairy, Ayrshire census 1871,25 Park Terrace, we found a daughter bom to
William Fleming. Her name was Catherine and she was three months old. In the Dairy,
Ayr birth records in 1871 we found the information that we had been seeking for a long
period of time. On 5 Jan 1871 Catherine Fleming was bom at Park Terrace, Dairy Ayr to
William Fleming, Iron miner and Henrietta M.S. Campbell 1869 Nov, Dreghom,
informant Henrietta Fleming, her X mark, Henrietta Campbell ill term of imprisonment."
Henrietta had lied and said that she was married to William Fleming so they put her in
prison. Henrietta had been the housekeeper to William in the 1871 census after his wife
had died and left him with five children.
William Fleming, father of Katie, was the son of Thomas Fleming who married
Hannah Murdoch Camegie. Agnes Camegie, no doubt, heard about Katie so she took her
to live with her. Agnes loved Katie and treated her like one of her own. Aunt Ella said.
Uncle Arvid and Uncle Elmer had Katie Catherine Fleming Shaw Gray sealed to Agnes
Camegie and Alexander Wardrop Gray. Katie and Robert had three children and only
one girl lived. They named her Agnes Stewart Forbes after Agnes Stewart Camegie Gray
Shaw. Two sons, William Shaw Forbes and Peter Forbes died shortly after they were
bom. Robert Forbes, husband of Catherine Shaw, died on 28 Oct 1895 at the age of 27,
so only one person out of his family of five lived past the age of 27 an that was Agnes,
her daughter, who lived to be 66 years old.
On 24 August 1898 at 135 West Scotland St., Kenning Park, Glasgow, Agnes
Shaw died. She was married (1) Alexander Gray, (2) William Shaw. She was 54 yrs old.
On her marriage certificate she had put her parents James Stewart, dec, silk weaver, and
her mother as Mary Currie, dec., when she married William Shaw. On her death
certificate, William Shaw was the informant and he put her father, James Stewart, dec.,
silkweaver, and her mother, Mary Currie, dec. The cause of her death was cancer of the
liver, I think James Stewart and Mary Currie must have been Hannah's grandparents.
Agnes was truly a noble woman to be the mother of our beloved mother, grandmother,
and great-grandmother, Ellen Gray McCombs. She loved beautiful pleddwool cloth. She
called her Agnes Stewart after her mother's mother, Mary Stewart, the mother of Hannah
Murdoch. Agnes is known by Agnes Shaw. It has also been hard to find her. One
genealogist said that she cannot be the same person.
William Shaw died 24 Sept 1890 at Goven, Lanarkshire. He was 64 yrs old when
he died. The cause of his death was Cardiac and Brights disease. He worked as an iron
laborer. He was the widower of (1) Helen Bar, (2) Agnes Carnegie Stewart Gray. He
was the son of William Shaw and Christina Walker.
Agnes Carnegie Gray Shaw was a beautiful woman. We give thanks to her for
the great birthright that she has given us. She no doubt rejoices in heaven to see her
posterity scattered over the world as stalwart sons and daughters.