On the eighth day of November, 1901, the last member of the fifth generation of the Maryland branch of the Ferguson family in the State of New York passed away. There immediately sprang up among the younger generations of the family in Ontario County, New York, an interest in their ancestors and a desire to know something of their genealogy. An investigation was begun by the author, making General James Ferguson of the English Army the key to the inquiry. After about a year's search, a clue was obtained through James Ferguson, K. C, of Edinburgh, Sheriff of Argyle.

The following traditions in regard to the family in Scotland have been handed down from generation to generation in the American family: That the family was descended from Fergus, the first King of the Scots; that there was a noted sea captain in the family who died leaving a large property, and that the family in America were among the heirs ; that one member of the family was in the Scottish Parliament, and another was a noted general who lived in the time of Oliver Cromwell; that one member of the family saved a portion of the people of Scotland from starving during a famine, and that he was the business man of a Duke; that a noted Colonel was killed on King's mountain in the Revolutionary War, and that the family in America was founded by three brothers who came to America at an early date, one settling in the New England States, one in the Southern States, and the other, Robert, in Maryland, on land where the City of Washington, D. C, is now located.