Catharine (Robinson) and John Henderson were the parents of my grandmother, Mary Ellen (Henderson) Choyce (See Choyce Family Chart.) Except for their names, and the fact that John was the "son of a sea captain of Caithness, Scotland," and that the family was of the Clan Gunn, I know nothing about them. I have been told that there were Hendersons at Brabsterdowan, Caithness, as early as 1638, but have done little research on this family.

Catherine (Robinson) and John Henderson had two children (of whom I am aware), John Graham Henderson and Mary Ellen Henderson.

MARY (DICKINSON) AND JOHN GRAHAM HENDERSON, ACTOR, OF THE BRITISH ISLES

John Graham Henderson was the son of Catharine (Robinson) and John Henderson. His date and place of birth are not known. John has been described by older family members with long memories, as a Shakespearean actor of some renown throughout the British Isles. (This would lead me to believe that he probably was born in Britain.) He is said to have toured the country in the company of John Drew, uncle of the Barrymore family of actors. As family lore has it, Henderson and Drew would play lead roles in various plays and would draw upon local talent to fill out the productions. I have made many attempts over the years to try to substantiate these family recollections, but have not met with any success.

John Graham Henderson married Mary Dickinson at a time and place not known. Mary (Dickinson) Henderson is said to have been a direct descendant of Sir Walter Scott of British literary fame. Again, I have been unable to substantiate such a claim but then, I've not pursued the search vigorously. A search of the Scott family genealogy would confirm or deny the claim.

Mary (Dickinson) and John Graham Henderson had two children, Isabella Frances Henderson, and Graham Henderson.

I do not know the earliest emigrant for this family. Perhaps the widow and her children emigrated after the death of John Graham Henderson. I have no dates or places of death for either Mary (Dickinson) or John Graham Henderson.

ISABELLA FRANCES HENDERSON, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, OF NEW YORK, JERSEY CITY AND POUGHKEEPSIE

Isabella Frances Henderson was the daughter of Mary (Dickinson) and John Graham Henderson. Her date and place of birth are not known but the family believes she was born in America, probably in Brooklyn, New York. A search of U.S.Census records for Brooklyn (King's County) Ward 20, where her aunt lived, might prove fruitful. Isabella never married.

I am told by Isabella's nieces, that she collected a sizeable amount of genealogical information concerning her Henderson heritage, and that she printed the information in a small booklet for her family. I have not been able to locate a copy.

My cousin told me that Isabella was the first female executive secretary in the City of New York. I have not been able to verify that claim, but I did find Isabella listed as, "...secretary, Railroad Co-Operative Bldg. & Loan Assn." in the 1933/34 NEW YORK CITY DIRECTORY.

After Isabella retired, she moved from New York to Jersey City, New Jersey. She died there at the age of 80 years, but no date of death is available. At the time of Isabella's death, the Henderson family burial plot in Jersey City was filled, therefore, Isabella was buried in the Taylor family burial plot at Poughkeepsie, New York, along with the family of her sister-in-law, Maud (Taylor) Henderson.

Isabella had a Crest designed from what she said was her Henderson family Coat of Arms, and had it printed on her personal stationery. I shall describe it as my cousin described it to me. (Keep in mind that I have no knowledge of Heraldry.) "The Crest was surmounted by a flexed mailed hand, turned sideways, topped with a solid five-pointed star resting on the bent finger-tips. A recumbent crescent moon is placed on top of the star." The motto beneath the badge reads, "Sola Virtus Nobilitat", which Isabella translated to read "Virtue Alone is True Nobility."

MAUD (TAYLOR) AND GRAHAM HENDERSON OF JERSEY CITY, BRIDGEPORT, AND POUGHKEEPSIE

Graham Henderson was the son of Mary (Dickinson) and John Graham Henderson. His date and place of birth are not known. Graham Henderson married Maud Taylor relatively late in his short life. I do not know where, but would guess Jersey City. They did not have any children. I do not know Graham's profession.

Graham Henderson died at the age of 40 as a result of a burst appendix. He is buried in the Henderson family plot in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Maud (Taylor) Henderson was living in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in the year 1979. She never remarried. She is buried in the Taylor family plot at Poughkeepsie.