RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: JaneyJ on Thursday 12 April 12 17:15 BST (UK)
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Hi All,
I am hoping that someone could offer me some advice.
I am looking for a family friend (he is no longer alive) who went to Australia in the 1970s or 1980s from the Lothians in Scotland.
I have very few details about him, all my information comes from childhood memories, and I have no living relations from that era that I can ask.
What I know is:
His name was John (Jock) GRAY.
He was born abt 1920 to 1930 in the West Lothian or Midlothian area of Scotland.
He was a Coal Miner and a member of the Pit Rescue Team.
He served in Korea in the 1950s
He was married, but I do not know his wife's name.
He only lived in Australia for a few years, then returned home to Scotland.
I have guessed that he went to Queensland or NSW as there is large coal mining industry in these places...unless you can tell me differently...
I know this is all very vague, but any suggestions would be most helpful, over here (England) my research resources only allow me to search up to 1960.
Yours Hopefully
Jane.
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Hi
Can you clarify exactly what type of info you are looking for?
If he returned to Scotland - he presumably died there so if you are researching his ancestry, a copy of his death cert will give you his parents names and his mothers maiden name.
The timespans you give are very wide ones and could describe many with that same name which makes looking at passenger lists difficult
born 1920-1930
Emigrated 1970's or 1980's
When you say he was from The Lothians - do you mean he was actually born there or just lived there - possibly after marriage. The reason I ask is that a basic search on Scotlands People for a birth for John Gray between 1920-1930 gives matches as follows:
Midlothian = 60
East Lothian = 5
West Lothian = 8
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Hi Carole,
I can't be more specific I'm afraid, as I said, it is all from memory from over 45 years ago.
I was hoping to gather as many John Gray's arriving in Australia in this time period as I could, which would help me narrow my search on SP (I had already come up with the same figures as you :)).
I don't know for sure if he was born in the Lothians, but he did live there, and I believe his father was a Miner, so it is "likely" he was born there.... ???
I am going back up to Edinburgh in the next couple of months and I'm trying to gather as much info as I can to narrow the search, so anything no matter how small might help.
Jane
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His war service record would also give you a lot of details, as there are far too many John Gray's to enable us to help you in any proper search.
This is an emigration possibility... but I have no way to prove it's him :-\
GRAY John born 22 June 1930; arrived with a wife & two children: travelled per BRITANIS departing Southampton on 23 March 1973 under the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme.
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/BasicSearch.aspx
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Hi Merlin,
Thankyou for your reply.
I forgot to say that he did not have any children.
The web site you have attached is very helpful, thank you so much, it is just what I'm looking for, I'm off to have a search.... :).
I can't access his war records unless I pop down to London....another train ride....love this hobby don't you think.
Once again a big thankyou. ;D
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Hi Merlin,
Great site....I've found 6 possibles and a couple of maybe's, it will help narrow my search when I go to Edinburgh.
Once again a Big Thankyou.
Jane.
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Hi Jane
Unfortunately the link to the National Archives that Merlin gave you is not a complete index of migrants, I'm not on it and neither are others I have looked up that I know migrated.
I can't access his war records unless I pop down to London....another train ride....love this hobby don't you think.
Service records post 1921? are still held by the Ministry of Defence, closest next of kin can apply for a copy see link below.
http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/service_records.html
Electoral Rolls for some states are on Ancestry but it would be helpful to confirm both his and his wifes full name as John Gray is not uncommon.
Andy
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Hi Andy,
Thank you for the link, I'll give it a try tomorrow and let you know how I get on.
I forgot all about the electoral rolls....I think I've been searching too long ::)..its official I am brain dead :P
I wish I could remember more about John, believe it or not this is how I found my Father's brother, it led me to Cousins in Australia, an Aunt in Greece and an Uncle in Scotland. Once I get the bit between my teeth I can't let go.
Once again many thanks for your help, people on this site are so helpful.
Jane.
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" I have guessed that he went to Queensland or NSW as there is large coal mining industry in these places...unless you can tell me differently... "
Coal mining is also carried out in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.
In fact, every state of Australia (but not in the territories of ACT & NT)
Dawn M
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Hi Dawn,
Many thanks....I think... ;) This is getting worse and worse, well I'll plod on you never know :). But knocking out ACT & NT is a plus...lol...maybe with my luck I should start there.
Seriously, thank you for the info, every little helps.
Jane
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Hi Guys,
Well I think we have done it.
I found a John Gray and Mary White Grey nee Orr, arriving in 1970 on the NAA that you recommended Merlin.... along with a few others...lol.
I then found John and his wife Mary on the Electoral Roll, thanks to you Andy, in Western Australia in 1972 and he was a miner...along with a few others... ;)
I was able to discount the others I found as they appeared on other Rolls on the years I knew John was not in Australia.
I decided to take a break from the Rolls after 350 John Grays and their variants and that was just in Queensland, and have a look on SP for a marriage for John and Mary, and hey presto there was only one couple with those names married in Scotland in ......Linlithgow, West Lothian. Then had a search for the birth for Mary, she was easy to find, born in East Lothian. John is more difficult I have narrowed it down to about 7 so far, also found Mary's death and again about 7 possibles for John.
I avoided lookin at ACT and NT, Dawn, so that did cut down my search. :-* ;)
Well until I get up to Edinburgh, I won't know for sure, but thank you all for all your help, it cleared up an old girls brain, and I've got a few new research tools under my belt.
Thank you all so much
Jane.