James

This material is a proposed chapter for a future book on the History of the Russell family.

As with the previous extract (see post from January 28) comments are welcome, either here or send back-channel to Jerome.

The Aunt Sarah document that is the starting point for this article can be examined here in an earlier draft of this material:

https://truthhistory.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-russell-family-tree.html

    

     James was the oldest of the ten children of James Russell and Fannie Grier who survived to adulthood, and was born c.1796. His register of death from 1847 simply states that he came from Ireland. He will have been one of the first to go to America if not THE first, paving the way for others. His history, as given by Aunt Sarah, suggests a possible trail-blazer, a patriarch of the family, but he ended up in Pittsburgh and died comparatively young, five years before CTR was born. Aunt Sarah tells us that James married Sarah Ann Risk. We learn elsewhere in the document that the Risk family were Episcopalians in Faun, Ireland (which is most likely Fahan in County Donegal), and father George Risk (married to a Sarah) was an excise officer. We also note from the history of Alexander Russell, who we will come to later, but who married Sarah Ann’s sister, Margaret, that James and Sarah were already a married couple in America in Elmwood Hill, New York, by 1832.

     James’ history gives a field for more research. Quoting directly from Aunt Sarah:

“James was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, conducted his Collegiate and Commercial Institute at Elmwood Hill, Bloomingdale, N.Y. now included in Central Park near West 103^rd Street.”

     So he started his education in Dublin but then “conducted” an institute in New York.

     Trinity College, Dublin, was founded in 1592. Famous alumni include James Ussher (he of Bible chronology), literary figures like Jonathan Swift, Oliver Goldsmith and later Oscar Wilde, philosophers like Edmund Burke, and statesmen like Eamon de Valera. it was specifically founded as an educational institution for Protestants who supported the established church. That meant Anglicans; non-conformists like Presbyterians would have issues.  However, James was to take the faith of his wife and her family and become Episcopalian. As for Roman Catholics, they were basically barred by a required oath until 1793. Matters were then relaxed somewhat and religious tests were abolished by Act of Parliament in 1873, at which point the Irish Catholic Bishops banned their flock from enrolling. The matter was not finally resolved until 1970.

     By the time James enrolled Protestants of all shapes and sizes could attend. The original emphasis on theology gradually broadened to include a whole range of subjects, including mathematics, medicine, law, science and engineering.

     The enrolment records for Trinity have survived. Examining lists of those who enrolled between 1803 and 1829 (which are in two volumes covering 1803-1814, 1815-1829) there are twenty Russells in total on the books – but only one James.

     This solitary James was entered for enrolment on 3 November 1823 and “put on the books” as the register puts it, on 22 November 1823. His tutor is listed as W. Harte.

     At this time, if this was OUR James he would have been in his late twenties. One might expect the James Russell in Aunt Sarah’s account to have attended college a little earlier in life. However, this is the only James found in extant enrolment records for Trinity College, and they do appear to be very comprehensive. It seems likely that James returned to Ireland from America for a short while for some of his education. As we will see when discussing Alexander Turney Stewart in the chapter on Charles Tays Russell, some people did travel back and forth across the Atlantic at this time if they had good enough reason to do so.

     According to Aunt Sarah the institute that James was involved with was called the Collegiate and Commercial Institute at Elmwood Hill, Bloomingdale, New York. There were some name changes over two decades but always with James G Russell at the helm.

     The New York papers, particularly The Evening Post ran a prospectus and advertisement for this for a good number of years. On the next page is one example, taken from the paper for 10 September 1835. As the reproduction is quite small, the details will be reviewed on following pages.

     The school had been established at its present location for the past eight years. That would take us back to around 1827.

     It was a boarding school for young boys. There were four classes covering four years, and the wide range of subjects included: Spelling, Reading, Writing, Mathematics (including book-keeping), Geography, Elocution, Mythology, Astronomy, and History (particularly of the United States). If a young person stayed to the final year they could enjoy:

 “Logic, Belle Lettres, Natural and Moral Philosophy, Chymistry (sic), Political Economy, with an explanation of the Constitution of the United States, and of the State of New York.”

     There were extra charges for those who needed Greek, Latin, French, Spanish and Drawing. The terms per annum were not cheap but did include “Board, Tuition, Washing and Mending.”

     To offer these services for four classes, which one assumes ran concurrently, would require the hiring of staff.

     The principal (James G Russell of Elmwood Hill) explained the regime:

“It is exclusively a Boarding School; and no pupils are admitted but such as will board and reside in the family, and under the constant supervision of the principal, and pursue the prescribed course under his immediate direction. The discipline of the school is mild and parental, but sufficiently energetick (sic) to secure the performance of the prescribed duties; but it has been a favourite object to dispense with corporeal punishment, and substitute the incentive of emulation, a sense of honour, duty and propriety. Principles of piety and morality are constantly inculcated without interfering with the tenets of any particular sect. The family of the principal, and the pupils, attend the Episcopal Church.”

     It noted in passing that “a small item is charged for pew rent.”

     One trusts that this was a step-up from Dotheboys Hall in Charles Dickens’ Nicholas Nickleby.

     Of particular interest is the announcement that ran at the end of the advertisement for many years that those who wanted a prospectus or more information could obtain such from Messrs. A.T. Stewart and Co., 257 Broadway. We will see when discussing Charles Tays Russell that his obituary has him working either with or for Stewart when he came to America. There was obviously a long connection between Alexander Turney Stewart and some of the Russell family, even if we can’t join all the dots today.

     The advertisements for a New York boarding school featuring James G Russell go right back to 1820. James would have been about 25 years old at the time.

     The first known appearance of James was in The Evening Post for 9 June 1820.

     The heading was ACADEMY AT STATEN ISLAND and it announced its opening. It offered the usual subjects and noted that:

“A limited number of young gentlemen, not exceeding 12 years of age, can be accommodated with boarding, washing and mending in the family of the teacher.”

     The location was on the northeast side of Staten Island. James’ hype concluded:

The local situation of the academy, in point of beauty, convenience, and salubrity of air, is surpassed by none. The subscriber flatters himself that the above advantages, joined to his own exertions, to promote the improvement and regulate the morals of those committed to his care, shall entitle him to a share of the public patronage.”

     It was signed JAMES G. RUSSELL and had references from a Naval Officer and two Health Officers.

     It looked very much like a start-up operation. However, the date does suggest that James was the first of his generation to travel to America, therefore able to help younger family members when they arrived. Charles Tays Russell, for example, was only about 16 years old when he made the trip in 1822.

     By 1824 James’s Academy had moved to the “rear of the Dutch Church” and was advertised as a “Boarding School at Bloomingdale.” (The Evening Post for 7 May 1924; unless otherwise indicated, all further references to James’ school will be from this paper).

     In 1825 (9 May 1825) it was “J. G. Russell’s Boarding School” which was “now open for the accommodation of six or eight young Gentlemen.”

     The advertisements then disappeared for nearly two years, which may supports the assumption that James went back to the old country to do courses at Trinity College, Dublin.

    When James reappeared in 1827 (3 April 1827) he announced a relocation of his Boarding school, and revealed his “object is to establish a s  elect school, exclusively for boarders, the number of whom is limited to 20.”

     The idea of the school being “select” – with a specific class of clientele as a target – comes over in the promise:

“French and Spanish are taught by a highly approved teacher, who is detained as a permanent resident in the family, with a view to render the French, as much as practicable, the language of the family.”

     Again, it sounds very much like a start-up venture, or a re-start-up. It ties in with his 1935 announcement (already reviewed) that the school had operated in its present form for the past eight years.

     By 1930 (27 November 1830) it had become ELMWOOD HILL JUVENILE INSTITUTE  with James G, Russell as principal, and was now linked to Mr A T Stewart’s premises at 257 Broadway.

   The 1931 advertisement (28 May 1831) show the number accommodated to have risen to about 40, with extensive enlargements underway to expand further. By now it sounds like a success story.

    In 1932 (21 September 1832) the name changed again Now it was ELMWOOD HILL BOARDING SCHOOL (Six miles from City Hall, New York). James noted for prospective new clients:

“The number of pupils and limited and select, and none are admitted but such as reside with the family of the principal, with whom they fare at a common board, and by whom they are treated in all respects as children in a well regulated and Christian family.”

     By 1834 (6 August 1834), yet more improvements to the buildings made it possible to expand the business and accommodate additional pupils. Circulars with more information were still available from A T Stewart’s emporium.

     The 1835 advertisement has already been reproduced in full and discussed above. By now the name Aunt Sarah remembered, ELMWOOD HILL COLLEGIATE AND COMMERCIAL INSTITUTE was featured and remained in place (with just one slight tweak) for the rest of its history.

     So James G  Russell’s Collegiate and Commerical Institute was a success story, pitching its services to the wealthier classes who could afford the ever increasing fees.

     As noted earlier, Aunt Sarah’s source document gave a brief snapshot for James in 1832. He is well established in America, married to his own Sarah and living in Elmwood Hill, New York. Aunt Sarah records that:

“James and Sarah having no children ‘adopted’ Thomas Russell, son of (his brother) Alexander.”

     This Thomas Russell was born in 1833.

     It would appear that young Thomas joined the family of boarders at the Elmwood Hill School.

     James’ history leaves a number of questions for which we may never have the answers. Why did he start a Boarding school in 1920? Why was it in New York? Once the school was up and running it should have been quite profitable, but how was he able to fund such a venture initially?

     It all seems to have come to an abrupt end in 1840. The advertisements for the Elmwood establishment suddenly disappeared in May 1840, never to return.

     The final advertisement had a slight change of title:

     The reference to “the last ten years” suggests yet another change of venue from back in 1830. As always, more information was available from A T Stewart’s.

     But for all its appearance of a flourishing going concern, that was it.

     What happened next we do not know. We assume this might be when James and Sarah moved from New York to Pittsburgh, to join his younger brother, Charles Tays. We don’t know why they moved and we don’t know what they did when they got there. Was the master plan to start another school, or did James just work for his brother? We do know that he and Sarah returned to New York at one point but both were to die in the Pittsburgh area.

     As far as Pittsburgh was concerned, the first fairly positive sighting of James was in 1843.

     On Monday, 16 October 1843 The Pittsburgh Daily Post newspaper published a list of letters waiting at the Post Office for collection. It was a new feature of the newspaper that, regrettably for researchers, had only started that year.

     In the paper for 16 October, and repeated over the next two days, there was a letter waiting for James.

     We can reasonably assume this is the James who is married to Sarah. Next to him in the list, also with a letter to collect, is his brother, Joceph (sic) L(ytle) Russell. A few weeks later in the issue for 18 November 1843 the list included Charles T(ays) Russell, so it appears that all three brothers were in Pittsburgh together by 1843. We will return to Joseph and Charles later.

     James evidently intended Pittsburgh to be became a permanent home because in 1846 he bought one of the first grave plots to go on the market in the new Allegheny Cemetery. He obviously had sufficient funds to do this. He and his extended family were going to stay there. Forever. Literally.

     However, before this happened, there was one final try back in New York. From The Evening Post for 2 October 1845.

     James called himself “a graduate of a distinguished University” and offered accommodation for six boys in his own home at 227 Fulton Street, Brooklyn. It was almost a repeat of his first advertisement back in 1820. And the contact for more information was still A T Stewart and Co., Broadway, NY.

     It may be that declining health for both James and Sarah was why this last try was short lived. Within a little over a year Sarah would be dead, and in a little over two years, so would James. They would die in the Pittsburgh area and be buried in the plot James had bought in 1846 at the Allegheny Cemetery.

Insert material on the Allegheny cemetery and the Russell family plot. Adapted from:

https://truthhistory.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-russells-and-allegheny-cemetery.html

     The Allegheny Cemetery charter laid down strict legal provisions for inheritance of family plots. They would first go to children (James and Sarah did not have any) then to parents (who are assumed to be long dead in the old country), and then to brothers and sisters. Over the years ownership of the plot would pass first to James’ brother Charles, and then to his brother Joseph and finally to his son, CTR.

     In summary: of Thomas and Fanny Russell’s ten children who lived to adulthood, James appears as the oldest, the firstborn. He may have been a pioneer, perhaps the first of the family to travel to America, specifically to New York. By Aunt Sarah’s account he was well educated. By his own testimony he was “a graduate of a distinguished University.” What might he have accomplished had he lived? But sadly, he was to die comparatively young, several years before CTR was born. Hence, he was to be forgotten by history.