John McCree Pallister [p.1.6.3.1.1.6.1]

John McCree Pallister was the son of Sarah McCree Pallister, father unknown, born December 1870 at Ryhope, & christened March 12th, 1871 at St Paul’s, Ryhope, Co. Durham.

At the time of the 1871 census John, just 3 months old, & his mother were living at 66 Burdon St, Ryhope. This was the home of Sarah’s brother, John McCree Pallister. Also living there was Sarah’s brother Ralph, a fireman & her mother Ellen (Eleanor Pallister).

In 1881 census John was living with his uncle Ralph at 29 Doctors St, Seaham, Co. Durham. Also living there was Ralph’s mother Ellen. John’s mother Sarah had married by this time & was living with her second husband William Willett at Chester-le-Street.

In 1892 John's mother Sarah & her husband William (named Woollett on the passenger list) sailed from Liverpool on the Teutonic, arriving in New York on August 3rd. William was a coal miner & their last address in the UK was Merton Colliery. Travelling with them was John Pallister, described as a miner from Merton Colliery. This is likely to have been John McCree, who is known to have emigrated to USA in 1892, although his age on the passenger list was given as 43 & not 21! Oddly all three were described as American citizens!

In 1895 John married Clara Bowen on April 27th, at Jackson, Ohio. Clara was born November 2nd, 1875 in Ohio, the daughter of John Bowen of Pennsylvania & Gwendolyn James of Ohio. They were living at Glen Roy, Ohio at the time of the birth of their son Ralph S in September 1895.

By the time of the 1900 US census John & Clara were living at Coal Township, Jackson County, Ohio. The census shows that John had emigrated to the US in 1892 & was now naturalised. He was working as a coal miner & owned his house. They still had just son Ralph with them.

On August 6th, 1902 John returned to the US aboard the S.S. Teutonic, presumably after a visit home, his last residence in the UK being given as Sunderland. He sailed from Liverpool & arrived in New York on August 14th, his final destination being Millston, Ohio. John’s age was correctly given as 31 this time & he was a miner.

Passenger list showing John Pallister on S.S. Teutonic 1902

In 1910 John & Clara had moved to Sugarcreek Township, Terre Haute Ward, Vigo, Indiana. John was still a coal miner & with them was son Ralph & a daughter Gertrude, 11 months old, born in Indiana.

John died some time before 1930 when his widow Clara was living at Harrisburg, Saline County, Illinois. With her was daughter Mildred (16) & Clara’s mother Gwendolyn Bowen, a 73 year old widow.

In 1940 Clara was living at 210 West College St, Harrisburg & with her was daughter Gertrude (30), now married to Willard Morse (27), a truck driver for a wholesale grocer & their son, Phillip Day, aged 1. Willard was born August 30th, 1913 in Illinois, the son of Rose Reed & Harry Hart Morse.

By 1940 daughter Mildred (known as Millie) had married Harry Moore & they were living in Eldorado, Saline, Illinois at the time of the 1940 census with a 1 year old son, Harry.

In 1942 son Ralph gave his mother's address as 210 West College Street, Harrisburg on his enlistment into the American Forces.

Clara died in November 1970, aged 94, at Eldorado, Saline, Illinois.

The children of John McCree Pallister & Clara Bowen were:

p.1.6.3.1.1.6.1.1 Ralph S Pallister born September 17th, 1895 at Glen Roy, Ohio, USA, died October 1989 in USA
p.1.6.3.1.1.6.1.2 Gertrude Pallister born June 6th,1909 in Indiana; died January 1st, 1975 & buried at Sunset Hill Cemetery, Harrisburg
p.1.6.3.1.1.6.1.3 Mildred Pallister born c1914 in Illinois, USA; died January 1987 in Harrisburg