Reverend James Anderson Beattie, 53, was a missionary of the Reformed Church returning to the Arcot Mission in India with his wife Margaret. He had just spent a year’s leave in the United States. Reverend Beattie was born in Scotland and received his education in Edinburgh, and came to the United States soon afterward and became a naturalized US citizen.
Beattie had long served as a missionary in foreign fields, supported by the Board of Foreign Missions of the Reformed Church in America, with headquarters in New York City. His salary was $1,200.000 with house rent and other accommodations, bringing his annual compensation to approximately $1,800.00. Margaret lived with James and assisted him in his work. James had been a pastor of a church in Amsterdam, New York, but he resigned to take up missionary work. He had been an Indian missionary for twenty years.
When the Lustania was sunk, Margaret was in the water some 4 ½ hours before she was rescued. James was lost. She also lost lost personal property valued at $1,010.
James Beattie’s body was recovered. Per the list of interments at Queenstown, Rev. James A. Beattie was body #9, age 54 years, grave 476.
Margaret brought suit against Germany for the loss of her husband and belongings and was awarded for both claims.
Related Pages
Margaret Beattie at the Mixed Claims Commission
Links
Descendants of James Glendinning and Agnes Little
Contributors:
Michael Poirier
Judith Tavares
References:
“Complete List of Passengers on Lost Lusitania and of The Known Members of Her Crew,” The New York Times, Saturday, 8 May 1915, page 4.
Mixed Claims Commission, Docket No. 261, p. 449.
The New York Times, Sunday, 9 May 1915, pages 5-6.
The New York Times, Monday, 10 May 1915
The New York Times, Tuesday, 11 May 1915
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