James Muir (1905-1974) or James Muir (1906-1981): Untangling Scots Immigrants

Muir is a common surname in Scotland. And because of the Scots convention for naming their children after grandparents and parents, there are many people running around Scotland with the same name, but when there are two men both named James Muir, born a year apart to parents named Robert and Janet, things get complicated, especially when they both immigrated to Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. I am only related to one of them but which records belonged to which man?

Here's what many, many hours of research and burning through several credits on ScotlandsPeople has revealed:

James Muir (1905-1974)

• Born on 8 December 1905, Camlachie, Glasgow, Scotland
• Parents: Robert Muir and Janet Boag Morrison Speirs (married 30 August 1889 in Blantyre, Lanarkshire, Scotland)
• Arrived in New York City on 28 October 1907 aboard the SS Caledonia, traveled with his mother and three older siblings
• Married Katherine Rolfe Davis, daughter of Frank Davis
• Known children:
• David James Muir (1928-1994)
• Martha Caroline Muir (1935-1998)
• One living daughter
• Lived in Homestead and Munhall, Pennsylvania
• Died in Jun 1974
• Last Social Security benefit payment was sent to an address in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

World War II Draft Registration Card for James Muir (1905-1974);
courtesy of Fold3.com

This James Muir's ancestry is as follows:

Robert Muir (?-?) married Ann Ferrie (or Ferry)

> Robert Muir (c1836-1890) married Jane McColl

>> Robert Muir (1863-1933) married Janet Boag Morrison Speirs

>>> James Muir (1905-1974)

If you are an Ancestry.com subscriber, you may find the relevant record transcriptions on my public tree. 

James Muir (1906-1981)

• Born on 19 April 1906 in Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, Scotland
• Parents: Robert Muir and Janet Early (or Earlie) (married 13 July 1888 in Bothwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland)
• Arrived in New York City on 29 August 1923 aboard the RMS Olympic, traveled with his father and three brothers
• Married Eleanor Henderson, daughter of James Russel Henderson and Rosetta O'Neill
• Known children:
• Robert James Muir (c1933-1947)
• Douglas Errol Muir (1938-2003)
• One living daughter
• Lived in Homestead, Pittsburgh; Glenville, New York; and Georgia
• Died 20 March 1981 in Fulton County, Georgia
• Interred at Mount Zion Baptist Church Cemetery in Hickory Flat, Georgia

World War II Draft Registration Card for James Muir (1906-1981);
courtesy of Fold3.com

This James Muir's ancestry is as follows:

James Muir

> Robert Muir (c1800-1869) married Henrietta Brown

>> Robert Orr Muir (1839-1917) married 1) Jane Paton Loudon and 2) Mary Watson Shaw

>>> Robert Muir (1863-1927) married Janet Early (or Earlie)

>>>> James Muir (1906-1981

If you are an Ancestry.com subscriber, you may find the relevant record transcriptions on my public tree. This James Muir was my second cousin twice removed and I have a few DNA matches with his descendants.