James Magson was christened on the 19th of October, 1801 at Hovingham, Yorkshire, England, the son of Thomas Magson and Ann Taylor. He married Mary Hornby by Licence in the Parish of Kirkdale, Yorkshire, England on the 12th of August, 1822.
The marriage record lists James' occupation as Farmer's Servant but by the birth of their first child, Ann, in 1823, James' occupation had changed to Farm Laborer. James and Mary would see their family grow with the birth of a son, Thomas,
in 1825 and a daughter, Betsy, in 1828. By around 1830, they chose to emigrate to Canada. Better wages, cheap land and similar life style made Canada a popular choice among British emigrants during the post Napoleonic Wars depression.James, Mary and family probably arrived in Montreal and by 1842 were settled in the seigniory of Lacolle, Quebec. Stories have been told of James' sons walking from the farm across the border to Centerville (Mooers Forks), Mooers, New
York. At least four of James and Mary's children settled in the Mooers, N.Y. area in the 1850s and 60s..1 HIST Various photos of Wombleton and Kirkdale, 1995
1 HIST Map, Yorkshire's ancient parishes and chapelries
1 HIST Map, Yorkshire showing Kirkdale Church
1 HIST IGI printout, James/Mary marriage1822
1 HIST Extract, Origins of Surnames, pg 134
1 HIST Report from Kirkdale/Yorkshire trip
1 HIST Book
1 HIST Photo, W.H. Wolcott
1 HIST Photo, Charles and Hattie
1 HIST Photo, Charles and Hattie, group on porch
1 HIST Marriage record, Charles and Hattie, Mooers Methodist Church, 1878