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Peter Byron McLean (1832-1895)

Peter Byron McLean was born 21 Jul 1832 in New York City, New York,¹ the second known child of Peter Charles McLean (1805-1872) and Margaret Swasey (abt 1806-1854). He relocated to Williamsburg in Brooklyn with his parents in about 1842. He was enumerated there with his father and siblings in 1850 and then again on the June 1855 New York State Census.^2,3 In researching Peter Byron, I refer to him as Peter B. to distinguish him from his father Peter C. While I have many documents for Peter B., I have not yet located a photo of him. His physical description from his pension file states he was 5’8″, 145 lbs., light complexion, brown hair, and blue eyes.

Peter B. married Susan Winn Frith on 27 Aug 1856, at St. Mark’s Protestant Episcopal Church, in Williamsburg.⁴ Susan (24 Jun 1839-21 May 1915) was the daughter of William Frith (1807-1855) and Frances Brown (1815-1854).

Marriage Certificate provided in 1895 by Susan as proof of marriage.

Like his father and brothers, Peter B. was a house, sign, and fresco painter as well as a stainer and grainer. A grainer was a painter who could stain and change the colors of wood with both paints and varnishes. He worked first with his father and then opened his own business.

On 5 Oct 1861, Peter B. joined the Union Army. On 1 November he was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in Company H, 87th New York Infantry Regiment. He was mustered out on 4 May 1862 after contracting typhoid fever and malaria during the Siege of Yorktown in early 1862.⁵ A separate series of posts about Peter B.’s civil war service and information from his pension file will follow this post.

After his return from the Civil War, Peter B. and his family were dependent on his father’s assistance until he was able to resume his career as a painter almost three years later. By 1870, Peter B. had his business at 156 Grand in Williamsburg, near the businesses of his father and his brother Washington.⁶

After the death of his father in 1872, Peter B. relocated his family to Roslyn in Queens County. He filed for his Civil War Invalid pension and was granted disability on 29 Jan 1890, although he continued to operate his business until 1893.⁷

Upon suffering a mental breakdown, he was committed to the insane asylum at the State Homeopathic Hospital at Middletown on 1 Jul 1893.⁸

He died 1 Oct 1915 at Middletown, Orange, New York.⁹ A copy of his death certificate was found in his Civil War pension file and states his cause of death as chronic melancholia consecutive with pulmonary hemorrhage. He was buried in Roslyn Cemetery.

Died. Peter B. McLean, an old resident of Roslyn, died in Middletown, N.Y., last Tuesday, age 61 years. He was a war veteran, having served in the Eighty-seventh New York volunteers. He was a member of Mansfield post G.A.R. of Brooklyn. Funeral services were held in the Methodist Episcopal Church of Roslyn and the interment was in Roslyn cemetery. Elijah Ward post G.A.R. furnished the pall bearers, and the members of the Roslyn Benevolent society, of which the deceased was a member, also attended in a body and performed the last burial services at the grave.¹⁰

Susan survived her husband by ten years and will be discussed in a separate post. According to her widow’s pension file, she and Peter B. had twelve children together. Eight are known by name, one burial for a stillborn has been found, but the other three have not yet been located. It is possible they were interred in Union Cemetery in Brooklyn. There are no extant records for this cemetery.

1. Franklin Byron McLean, born 6 Nov 1857, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, died 10 Oct 1925, Hempstead, Nassau, New York, buried 19 Oct 1925, Greenfield Cemetery in Uniondale. On 26 Sep 1887, he married Martha (Mattie) Elizabeth Wetterau, born Jan 1867, died 28 Nov 1949. They had three children: Emma McLean, Francis Byron McLean, and Jennette (Jane) McLean. All but Francis Byron are interred together in Greenfield Cemetery. Francis Byron is in the Cemetery of the Holy Rood.
2. Washington McLean, born Feb 1859 and died 24 Feb 1861 of convulsions in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Kings, New York. He was interred in Union Cemetery.
3. Sarah R. McLean, born 28 Mar 1861 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, died 21 May 1948 in Floral Park, Nassau, New York, buried Roslyn Cemetery. In about 1883, she married Wallace Thurston, born Oct 1863, died 9 Dec 1941. They had five known children: Wallace Bruce Thurston, Edward McLean Thurston, Henry Thurston, Albert McLean Thurston, and Byron McLean Thurston. All are interred in Roslyn Cemetery.
4. Charles Wallace McLean, born 30 Dec 1863, died from diphtheria 24 Jun 1867 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Kings, New York. He was interred in Union Cemetery.
5. Peter McLean, born 1865 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Kings, New York. He is not found on the 1880 Census or in any documents after 1870.
6. George Edward McLean – previously discussed.
7. Matthew Taylor McLean, born 7 Sep 1869 and died 21 Jul 1871 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Kings, New York. He was interred in Union Cemetery.
8. Unknown McLean, born circa 1872, died before 1878, probably interred in Union Cemetery. Probable stillborn as no death certificate on file.
9. Unknown McLean, born circa 1874, died before 1878, probably interred in Union Cemetery. Probable stillborn as no death certificate on file.
10. Stillborn McLean, born circa 1876, probably interred in Union Cemetery. Probable stillborn as no death certificate on file.
11. Stillborn McLean, born and died 1878, interred Roslyn Cemetery. This is the unnamed McLean baby interred in the family plot when it was purchased in 1878.
12. Virginia Stuart McLean, born 17 May 1881 and died 10 May 1896 of malaria in Roslyn, Queens, New York. She was interred in Roslyn Cemetery.

1. Declaration For A Disability Pension filed by Peter B. McLean; Application #751962; Civil War and Later Complete File (NATF 85D); Federal Military Pension Applications; National Archives and Records Administration. Cit. Date: 20 Dec 2008.
2. Declaration For A Disability Pension filed by Peter B. McLean; Application #751962; Civil War and Later Complete File (NATF 85D); Federal Military Pension Applications; National Archives and Records Administration. Cit. Date: 20 Dec 2008.
3. 1855, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn Ward 14, Kings, New York, p. E.D. 2, dwelling 832, line 6, P.C. McLean; digital images, Ancestry(accessed 10 May 2014). Cit. Date: 10 May 2014.
4. 1855, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn Ward 14, Kings, New York, p. E.D. 2, dwelling 832, line 6, P.C. McLean; digital images, Ancestry(accessed 10 May 2014). Cit. Date: 10 May 2014.
5. Declaration For A Disability Pension filed by Peter B. McLean; Civil ar and Later Complete File (NATF 85D); Federal Military Pension Applications; National Archives and Records Administration. Cit. Date: 20 Dec 2008.
6. Declaration For A Disability Pension filed by Peter B. McLean; Civil ar and Later Complete File (NATF 85D); Federal Military Pension Applications; National Archives and Records Administration. Cit. Date: 20 Dec 2008.
7. Declaration For A Disability Pension filed by Peter B. McLean; Application #751962; Civil War and Later Complete File (NATF 85D); Federal Military Pension Applications; National Archives and Records Administration. Cit. Date: 20 Dec 2008.
8. Declaration For A Widow’s Pension filed by Susan W. McLean 1905; Application #622894; Civil War and Later Complete File (NATF 85D); Federal Military Pension Applications; National Archives and Records Administration. Cit. Date: 20 Dec 2008.
9. New York death certificate (1915), Peter B. McLean, died 1 Oct 1895, Middletown, Orange, New York, Melancholia Chronic, Pulmonary hemorhage. Cit. Date: 11 May 2014.
10. “Obituary – Peter B. McLean,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 5 Oct 1895, p. 7 c.6; digital images. Cit. Date: 27 Apr 2014.

McLean/Frith/Brimlow/Brown

George Edward McLean (1867-1915)

George Edward McLean was born 10 Sep 1867, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York,¹ the fourth known child of Peter Byron McLean (1832-1895) and Susan Winn Frith (1839-1915). His Brooklyn birth certificate states he was born at home, 428 Grand Street, Brooklyn, and provides both his parents full names as shown below.

On 12 Jul 1893, twenty-six-year-old George married his eighteen-year-old, first cousin Henrietta “Nettie” Ella Frith (1875-1963) in Brooklyn.² Nettie was the daughter of George Richard Frith and Henrietta Brimlow. Her cousin Cordelia Edith (Frith) and husband Norman Roscoe were the witnesses.

For some reason, George and Nettie kept the marriage secret from his family for almost two months. When the marriage did come to light, it made the 18 Sep 1893 edition of the New York Times.³

Became Jealous and Claimed Her Husband. ROSLYN, L.I., Sept. 17. – George E. McLean of this village married his cousin, Miss Nettie Frith of Brooklyn, July 12. The ceremony was performed in Brooklyn by the Rev. A. J. Wright. The couple kept the marriage a secret, and there is no telling when it would have leaked out had not McLean caused his bride to become jealous of his attentions to other girls. She yesterday told her husband’s parents of the marriage. The announcement caused considerable surprise.The bride’s father is a brother of Mrs. McLean senior, and is well known in the Eastern District of Brooklyn, where he lives. The young people have been forgiven.

My cousins and I have spent a great deal of time wondering what it is about this thin, long-necked, big-eared man that was so captivating.

l-r: Margaret , Nettie holding Welling, Sue, George with Edward, and Ada. c.1909 Roslyn Height, NY.

George was a painter and general contractor by trade. There are several notices in the newspapers of his receiving contracts for painting and building in the Roslyn area. The family can be found there on the 1900 and 1910 Federal Censuses.^4,5 However, I have not been able to locate them on 1905 New York State Census yet.

He died 25 Mar 1915 at the age of 47 and was buried in the Roslyn Cemetery.⁶ He died of chronic parenchymatous nepritis – bad kidneys. His widow Nettie is the one who changed the spelling on this line to MacLean after his death.

I will discuss Nettie and their children in more detail in a separate post. Their known children were:

1. Stillborn Boy McLean, 19 May 1894, buried in Roslyn Cemetery.
2. Susan Wynn McLean, born 20 Mar 1897, No. Hempstead, Queens, New York, died 15 Sep 1993, Campbell, Santa Clara, California. Married 1st about 1916 – John T. Kelley (18 Jul 1888-29 Oct 1918). Children: Nettie E. Kelley and John Stewart Kelley. Married 2nd about 1922 – Edmund Griffin (6 May 1894-7 Apr 1977). Children: Edmund Griffin Jr. and Benjamin Payne Griffin.
3. Margaret Frith McLean – previously discussed.
4. Ada Mae McLean, born 25 Aug 1901, No. Hempstead, Nassau, New York, died 30 Dec 1982, Long Branch, Monmouth, New Jersey. Married 1st about 1919 – John (Jack) Stillwell (10 Aug 1897-aft 1951), children: Dawn Stillwell and John Wesley Stillwell. Married 2nd – Henry Sykulski (10 Feb 1913-Dec 1982). They had no children.
5. Edward Frith MacLean, born 29 Aug 1906, No. Hempstead, Nassau, New York, died 29 Feb 1988, Mineola, Nassau, New York, buried All Saints Cemetery, Great Neck, Nassau, New York. Married Dorothy Coleman 26 Apr 1947 in Roslyn, Nassau, New York. Children: Laurie E. MacLean and Leslie MacLean.
6. Welling Seeley MacLean, born 1908 in No. Hempstead, Nassau, New York, died 25 Oct 1964, Caldwell, Essex, New Jersey, buried Roslyn Cemetery. Married Mabel Ramee 2 Sep 1935 in Garden City, Nassau, New York. Children: Nancy Ruth MacLean (16 Jun 1939-23 Jul 1945). Family sources have stated there was a stillborn child early in the marriage and that Nancy was adopted.

1. Kings, New York, (FHL microfilm, Salt Lake City, UT), birth certificate no. 3453 (10 Sep 1867), George Edward McLean; FHL microfilm 1,324,344. Cit. Date: 2 Aug 2010.
2. Marriage Record, Certificate of Marriage Brooklyn #3969, 12 Sep 1893, George Edward McLean and Nettie Ella Frith, witnesses: Norman and Cordelia Edith Roscoe. FHL Film #1,523,044. Cit. Date: 26 Apr 2014.
3. “Became Jealous and Claimed Her Husband,” The New York Times, 18 Sep 1893, online archives (http://nytimes.com : accessed 20 Dec 2008), p. 5. Cit. Date: 21 Dec 2008.
4. 1900 U.S. census, population schedule, No. Hempstead, Nassau, New York, enumeration district (ED) 711, p. 4B, dwelling 77, family 82, McLean, George E.; digital images, Ancestry (accessed 11 May 2014); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T623, roll 1079. Cit. Date: 11 May 2014.
5. 1910 U.S. census, population schedule, No. Hempstead, Nassau, New York, enumeration district (ED) 1123, p. 2A, dwelling 22, family 22, Mclean, George E.; digital images, Ancestry (accessed 12 May 2014); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T624, roll T624 995. Cit. Date: 12 May 2014.
6. Roslyn Cemetery (Letter from Dominick Tarantino, Manager, Roslyn Cemetery, Roslyn, NY dated 24 Mar 2008. List of people in McLean plot #61, Section Old Chart, with Name, Date of Internment and Age (if known)), George E. McLean, Age 47 years 6 mo 15 days. Cit. Date: 10 Apr 2008.

McLean/Frith/Brimlow/Brown

MARGARET FRITH McLEAN (1899-1977)

My grandmother Margaret was one of my favorite people. She came to live with us in 1965 when my father was in Vietnam. My mother Shirlee had hurt her back and Grandma came to take care of my brother and me and never left.

Margaret is also the first step back on the McLean, Frith, and Brimlow lines. I’ll work back through the McLean line and then return to Margaret’s mother and work up the Frith and Brimlow lines.

Margaret Frith McLean was born 22 Apr 1899, in North Hempstead, Queens, New York.¹ She was the second daughter of George Edward McLean (1867-1915) and Henrietta “Nettie” Ella Frith (1875-1963). She told me that she often claimed to be one year younger than she really was because being born in the last century made it harder for her to find work.

Margaret and her sisters. l-r Margaret, Susie, Ada

Margaret married William Harry Walker on 27 Sep 1919 in Roslyn Heights, Nassau, New York.² She’d met Harry when he was stationed at nearby Roosevelt Field during World War I. He stayed on Long Island to woo her after the war and worked as a mechanic.

27 Sep 1919 l-r: John Mortimer, Harry Walker, Margaret McLean, Jeannette McLean

After their marriage, she and Harry lived with her mother for a short time and can be found with Nettie on the 1920 Census.³ Margaret and Harry moved to his hometown of Philadelphia shortly thereafter. Their first child Harry Craig Walker was born there on 21 Aug 1923.⁴ In the summer of 1927, Margaret went back to Long Island to escape the city heat as she awaited the birth of daughter Shirlee Delores Walker. Shirlee was born 18 Jul 1927 in Howard Beach, Queens, New York.⁵

For a number of years, Margaret and Harry resided with Harry’s sister Ruth (Walker) Schoenleber and her husband Bill. Harry had changed careers and become a plasterer and building contractor. The 1930s were lean years and Harry went wherever he needed to in order to find work. Eventually, they were able to afford their own home. They remained in the Kensington section of Philadelphia through the 1950s; Harry’s mother and several siblings lived nearby.

1953 Harry, Margaret, and Shirlee on the Oregon Coast

When Harry retired, he and Margaret sold their home and moved to Egg Harbor Township, Atlantic, New Jersey. The cost of living was a little lower and Harry wanted to be out of the city. They weren’t there long when Harry suffered a fatal heart attack and passed away on 12 Nov 1961.⁶ Margaret was devastated. She moved to Horsham, Montgomery, Pennsylvania to be near her son Craig and his family.

In 1965, Margaret joined her daughter Shirlee (Walker) Burgraff in Alpena, Michigan, and remained with Shirlee and her family for the next seven years. In that time, Margaret lived in Michigan, Edmonds, Washington, Hamilton AFB, California, and finally in Eugene, Oregon.

l-r Susie McLean Griffin, Bruce Burgraff, Margaret Walker, Edmund Griffin, Shirlee Walker Burgraff, Jack Brugraff - 1969 Reno, NV — l-r Susie McLean Griffin, Bruce Burgraff, Margaret Walker, Edmund Griffin, Shirlee Walker Burgraff, Jack Brugraff – 1969 Reno, NV

While in Oregon, Margaret met seventy-nine year-old Lloyd Columbus Thomas at a senior citizen’s dance. They married 10 Jan 1972⁷ and remained together until Lloyd’s death 3 Feb 1976.⁸

Margaret died 19 Mar 1977 in Eugene, Lane, Oregon.⁹ She was cremated and her ashes were scattered.

Margaret was a gentle, sweet, woman, who was known as the peacemaker in our family. As was normal for the time, her white hair appeared blue from the rinse she used to keep it from appearing dingy, and she was well into her seventies before she wore slacks when it wasn’t snowing. Her skin was flawless, and I remember her commitment to Yardley’s lavender soap and Pond’s Cold Cream. She was soft-spoken, tender-hearted, and loved to play board games, dance, and be with her family.

1. New York Department of Health, birth certificate (1899), Margaret McLean; New York State Dept of Health, Albany. Cit. Date: 19 Jun 2008.
2. Marriage Record, Nassau Co., New York, Marriage License, 27 Sep 1919, William Harry Walker to Margaret Frith McLean. Cit. Date: 4 Jun 2014.
3. 1920 U.S. census, population schedule, Roslyn, No. Hempstead, Nassau, New York, dwelling 187, family 152, MacLean, Nettie; digital images, Ancestry (accessed 12 May 2014)
4. Letter in Margaret Walker’s hand detailing children & grandchildren births, Margaret McLean Walker’s Notes, circa 1960; privately held by Sharon Scott.
5. New York Department of Health, birth certificate 7646 (1927), Shirley Dolores Walker; New York State Dept of Health, Albany. Cit. Date: 19 Jun 2008.
6. New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services, death certificate (short form), (1961), Harry Walker; New Jersey State Department of Health, Trenton. Cit. Date: 19 Jun 2008.
7. Marriage Certificate, Marriage Certificate, 17 Jan 1972; privately held by Sharon Scott.
8. Oregon Death Index, 1903-1998. Salem, OR, USA: Oregon State Archives and Records Center.
9. Oregon State Health Division, death certificate (1977), Margaret Frith Thomas; Oregon State Health Division Center for Health Statistics, Portland. Cit. Date: 19 Jun 2008.

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