The Kissock
Connection
A search for ALL Kissocks
Kissock is a fairly uncommon name but also has
several variants. Listed as among septs
of Clan Cambell are: Kissack, Kessock, Kissock, MacKessack, MacKessock,
MacKissoch - but all probably derive from McIsaac.
For the time being, however,
I must limit my attention only to Kissock.
I've taken the unusual approach of adding
essentially all Kissocks that I find into my data - whether connected to my own
Kissock line or not. My hope is that
people will recognize the name or family and offer additional information that
may allow me to connect as many as possible over time.
If you also have a Kissock connection, PLEASE, look
over the names here and the many more I have at my WorldConnect site (the link
is at the bottom of the page).
I'll start by introducing
you to my own line.
Phyllis Marie (Kissock) Travis (1925-1997): New York-> Texas-> Kansas->
Ohio-> New York-> Texas-> Kansas-> Oklahoma-> Kansas->
Utah-> Kansas-> New Mexico-> Kansas-> Utah.
'Phyl', as she preferred to be called, was born in
Windham, Greene Co., New York and died in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was the last living member of my Kissock
line to have borne the name. As you can
see, she was a bit of 'gypsy' in that we moved 2, 3, -even 4 times a year
throughout my school years. Perhaps
across town, across the state or between states. Obviously I could say a great deal about her - she was my mother,
but I'll keep it short. I think anyone
who knew her personally would agree that she was an unconventional, unyielding,
and largely unforgiving woman. She
enjoyed camping, fishing, working with ceramics and genealogy.
Her father;
Jay Ichabod Kissock (1886-1950): New York
He was born in Windham, Greene Co., NY and died in
Halcott Center, Greene Co., NY. I was
two years old when he died, so I didn't know him personally. He had been manager of a small dairy in
Halcott Center and when my mother spoke of him, she seemed to describe a gentle
man. Among his passions was 'fly'
fishing and he apparently developed significant skill at making his lures and
using them in local streams.
His father;
Charles Sabra Kissock (1859-1930): New York
He was born in Roxbury, Delaware Co., NY and died in
Windham, Greene Co., NY. The 1820
Census of Roxbury reports he "works in marble" and the 1915 Census of
Windham gives his occupation as "Marble Carver". He had a shop in Windham, formerly known as
the business 'Kissock and Coon'. A big
part of the 'Marble Business', was, of course, headstones. While I assume that examples of his work can
be found in many local cemeteries, known examples can be found in the Sutton
Hollow/Mountain View cemetery in Ashland, Greene Co., NY.
A curiosity; 'Pratt
Rocks'
His father;
James Kissock [Jr.] (abt. 1825-bef. 1900): Scotland->
England-> Canada-> New York
The Naturalization Records of Delaware Co., NY show
that this James Kissock (Jr.), as age 29 when sworn in on 9/27/1854 and a
resident of Bovina, Delaware Co., NY.
It also records that he emigrated from London in 1850, but born in
Scotland. The 1850 Census of Roxbury,
Delaware Co., NY identifies him as a "Marble Cutter" with three
children: Isabella, Jennette, and Charles (above). The next Census record I find is 20 years later and only one
child remains in the home, Ulia (so, three daughters and one son named). However, the obituary of son, Charles,
reports he came from a family of "three sons and two daughters". Apparently a son was born after the 1850
Census but no longer in the home 20 years later. This still doesn't explain why three daughters are named, but
supposed to be only two.
Examples of James' headstones can also be found in
the Sutton Hollow/Moutain View cemetery.
Seems they competed for business - James out of Roxbury, Delaware Co.,
NY and Charles based out of Windham in the neighboring county of Greene.
His father;
James Kissock [Sr.]
(1798-abt 1884): Scotland->
England
In 1872 he was living in his '70's and living in
Kendall, England where he wrote a letter to his son, James Kissock [Jr.]. The letter is clearly describing the status
and location of family members for his son.
Initially, I was forced to simply assume they were siblings of James
[Jr.], but have since been in contact with descendants of two of those
mentioned - those two, were indeed, siblings.
Records of Buittle Parish, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland show his
marriage to Isabel Cowan on Aug. 2, 1819.
1872 Letter of James [Sr.]
to James [Jr.]
His (likely) father;
William Kissock (?-?) Scotland.
Records of Buittle Parish, Kirkcudbrightshire,
Scotland show a James Kissock baptized on 11 Dec. 1798 and child of William
Kissock and Margaret Thomson. This
would be only five days after the birth of MY James Kissock. I believe this to me MY James Kissock's
birth record.
Other Kissocks I have found.
Where I give a specific
name, search at my WorldConnect Site for identified descendants. In most cases, I have been in contact with a
living descendant and might be able to help you contact them directly.
Scotland
I assume there are numerous places that Kissock families
can be found in Scotland. Of primary
interest to me are those in the extreme southwest corner. It is in Buittle Parish that I find the
earliest records of my own Kissock family.
Here my ggg-grandfather, James Kissock (Sr.) was apparently baptized in
1798 as son of William Kissock and Margaret Thomson. It is also here that he marries Isabel Cowan in 1819. Other contemporary Kissocks are found in
nearby Kirckudbright Parish. Next door,
there are also some in Dumfriesshire.
Check out these sites in
Scotland and search for Kissock
Buitle Parish
| Kirkcudbright | Dumfriesshire
Australia
I've run into a few Kissock names here, but have not
been able to identify family groups.
Canada
I find many individual Kissock names, but few
identified Kissock family groups. They
are usually at the top end of other family genealogies (starting in about the
1830's). Almost all seem to have come
from Ireland.
England
Again, many individual Kissock names, but few
identified family groups.
Colorado
John 'Jack' Alexander Caverhill Kissock (1855-??)
Toronto, Canada-> Ft. Collins, Colorado
More commonly called 'Jack', he was born in 1855 in
Toronto, Canada and arrived in Fort Collins in 1874. The 19 year old accountant was seeking a better climate for his
poor health. Educated in Montreal, John
Kissock came to Fort Collins and entered the cattle business; continued
ranching until 1878 when he entered the mercantile business, branching off into
real estate, abstracting, and insurance.
Eventually he joined the firm of Edwards, Kissock, and Abbott and was
very successful.
Connecticut
William Wilson Kissock (1868-1950) Falkirk,
Scotland-> New Haven, Connecticut
Married Margaret Raeburn of Jumbie, Scotland on
8-14-1893 and died 10-9-1950 in New Haven, Connecticut.
Missouri
James Alexander Kissock (1844-1887) Ireland->
Dent Co., Missouri
From: Ozark Heritage, Dent County; "Mr. Kissock
came from Belfast, Ireland about 1869.
He, a teacher and a farmer, wrote and spoke five languages." From: James Aldridge Kissock: “My great grandfather Kissock apparently
came here from Ireland. I have been
told he was of either of Scotch or Irish descent. He was apparently somewhat of a learned man and a
wheeler-dealer. He is suppose to have
made the first double boiler still in the area and trafficked heavily with
Indians.
Montana
Alexander Patterson Kissock. (1892-1889)
N. Ireland-> New York-> Silver Bow, Montana
Alexander was born Jun. 15, 1892 in Dunord
Broughshone, Co. Antrim, N. Ireland.
His parents are identified as Joseph Kissock and Mary Mulholland. Alex came to the U.S. through New York, NY,
married Bridget in St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City and arrived in
Butte, Montana on May 28, 1912.
New York
James Kissock [Jr.]
(abt. 1825-bef. 1900):
Scotland-> England-> Canada-> New York
This is, of course, my own line as introduced above.
Genealogy
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