Hamish Roger Biography
WHO WAS HAMISH (HAY-mish)?
By Kim Black, December 2022
HAMISH - the Anglicized form of Sheumais or Seumas. Seumas (SHEH-mes): The Scottish Gaelic form of James. Assuming our readers have been following the James Roger diary entries, they (you) are then well familiar with the name Hamish. James, almost daily, mentioned Hamish's comings and goings. Arguably, the Roger family vicariously satisfied any longing for adventure they may have had through Hamish. He came and went by way of the train that stopped in Greenville, regularly pursued various forms of available work, and moved around Massachusetts often due to job location(s) as well as dissatisfaction with his "digs". After a good deal of research, I strongly believe Hamish was the youngest son of James and Margaret Roger. When two family members share the same name in any given household, somebody is going to acquire a nickname. It appears the Roger family was no exception and young James became Hamish. As you'll see below, many more bits of information support my claim. On 15 October 1897, the Roger family sailed aboard a steamship - the SS State of Nebraska. A diary entry from that date states, "My daughter the afternoon fell down the stairs of the companionway and hurt her ankle her mother turned sick at four. David was squeamish and poor Hamish who had suffered from asthma was very much exhausted. I was up all night amongst them..." The Schedule B Passenger List shows young James was 11 years of age and it can be assumed he was the Hamish that James referred to.
Passenger List
James Roger listed at bottom at age 11 is “Hamish”
The 1900 US Federal Census - James and Margaret in New Ipswich with children David, Alice, Marion, and James (15).
28 February 1906, young James (Hamish) applied for naturalization. Birthdate 30 July 1884 in Scotland, arriving in the US on the SS State of Nebraska on 26 October 1897. Witnesses: Daniel J. Brown of Greenville and Leander J. Davis of New Ipswich.
1910 US Federal Census - James/Hamish (25) rented a room at 96 Revere St., Springfield, MA. This lines up with elder James' diary entries where he mentions Hamish working in Springfield.
1 June 1914, James married Lucey V. Rubino. She was born 29 September 1888, Buffalo, NY, to parents who came from Italy. James/Hamish and Lucy lived at 662 Bedford Ave., Richmond Hall, Queens Co., NYC. Hamish's occupation - salesman at Jones & Naudin on 220 Fifth Ave., NY, NY. Note: a search of Jones & Naudin revealed a leather glove manufacturing company in Gloversville, NY (upstate). Perhaps they had a storefront in NYC in 1914.
Jones & Naudin, Gloversville, NY
1915 NYS Census - James and Lucy in Buffalo, NY, but listed their permanent residence as Massachusetts. James/Hamish was a clerk in an Express Office.
1917 - WWI Draft Registration - James Roger, b. 30 July 1884, addr: 662 Bedford Ave., Queens, NY, wife Lucy V.
1920 - US Federal Census - James (Hamish), age 35, b. Scotland, rented at 110 Kingsboro Ave., Gloversville, NY; salesman in silk mill, wife Lucy age 32, daughter Janet A. born in NYS, age 4 years 2 months.
1930 US Federal Census - James (Hamish) age 45, sales manager of silk mills, owned his home at Oxford Terrace, Gloversville, NY (valued at $15,000) and had a radio set! Wife Lucy age 42 and daughter Jannette age 14 was living in the household.
1942 - WWII Draft Registration - addr: 11 Oxford Terrace, Gloversville, NY, age 57, born in Scotland 30 July 1884, wife Lucy V. Roger, James' employer - Fulton County Silk Mills in Gloversville.
In 1957 & 1958, Hamish travelled to Puerto Rico and Bermuda. Presumably, he was retired (age 72).
In December of 1973, Lucy died in Gloversville. However, she is buried here in the Central Cemetery. The following year, December of 1974, James/Hamish died in Gloversville and was buried at our Central Cemetery.
Hamish, like his father, was unafraid to pursue different jobs to ensure bread was on the table. Also, like James Sr., he was not averse to travelling or relocating if that's what it took to succeed in this world.
Note: Hamish and Lucy's only child, Janet, married Merrill Shook and had two children. She lived to be 98 years old and died in Scotia, NY. She took a few trips across the water during her life and I'd like to think she was checking out Hamish's roots.
References:
Google maps & Google Books
Chiefs on the State of Nebraska
Facebook - Johnstown, Gloversville, Broadalbin and More..., Public Group
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