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Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition / Re: Deciphering 1921 Census – Scotland
« on: Sunday 16 March 25 00:49 GMT (UK) »
You’re welcome, though I wish I could have seen it much sooner. In all honesty, I’ve been eagerly waiting for your response!
To answer your questions, I’m related through my great-gran Branusi (Bella), who was the middle child of Magdalena and Jonas. Unfortunately, she passed away in 2000 at the age of 82, so you’re sadly right; it appears as though Frances is the last living ancestor from their generation. I was unfortunately unable to meet Bella and have only heard stories to know her from. She was married to James Thomson, an iron moulder from Wishaw, and lived in Motherwell up until her death. As one of the oldest surviving siblings, she said that she often took care of the younger ones, and remained close with them growing up; this was until eventually they all spread out to other corners of the country or moved abroad with their own families. From what I’ve been told, Bella and her siblings were able to speak a great deal of Lithuanian, but I don’t think fluently; her parents, however, both spoke Lithuanian and Russian. As we know, they came from Russian-occupied Poland (and Lithuania by proxy), where the language was imposed at the time, so it’s unsurprising that their families would have spoken more multiple languages.
I believe Ona (Annie) and her husband James (Jim) Barrie lived in Tullibody, probably where your photo of all 4 sisters was taken! I also have a photo of them all in Tullibody. You also mentioned that Ellen married an American serviceman; would his name be Barney by chance, did they have a daughter called Janice, and did they live in Largs or Troon at some point? Another interesting fact I discovered through extended family is that Antanas (Anthony) traveled back to Lithuania, presumably to visit family. Everything you’ve shared about Frances has also lined up with what I have been told, which was that she married a man named Anthony Garvin and moved to Canada.
As you know, the family adopted the surname Martin, most likely a diminutive form of the place Magdalena and Jonas first lived after emigrating here—Kilmartin’s Land in Carfin (owned by William Kilmartin). For the most part, their English names were pretty easily translated from their Lithuanian counterparts; for instance, Magdalena became Margaret (Maggie or Meg), Jonas became John, Juazas became Joseph (Joe), Ona became Annie, Antanas became Anthony (Tony), Mare became Mary, Juilus became James, and Anele became Ellen. The only one I’m unsure about is Vincas (maybe Vince or Vincent).
Thank you so much for the photos! I have always struggled to put names to faces, but these help a lot. The photograph of Magdalena is also amazing; I never thought I’d ever be able to put a face to her. It makes me wonder what year it was taken and where! Mare (Mary) and Anele (Ellen) also appear to have a lot of similar facial characteristics as well—they could almost pass as identical twins.
I have attached some photos for you. The first is a photograph of Mary, her daughter Marie, Bella, and her daughter Helen at Ayr beach in 1961. The second is of Mary, Bella, Bella’s husband James, and their daughter Helen (I’m not sure who the other 3 children are). The last photo was taken at Annie’s in Tullibody in 1960; from left to right, you have John (unknown relation), Helen (Bella’s daughter), Janice (Ellen’s daughter), and Marie (Mary’s daughter) in the bottom row. In the second row you have Annie’s husband, James Barrie, 2 unidentified women, Mary, Ellen, and Annie who is holding a baby. In the last row you have an unidentified man, the brother Joseph, and 2 more unidentified men. I think the three younger boys in the back might be Annie and James’ sons. Let me know if you recognise anyone!
Here’s the link to my family tree if you’re interested in keeping updated on what else I find: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/176488529/family/familyview?cfpid=132293809699
To answer your questions, I’m related through my great-gran Branusi (Bella), who was the middle child of Magdalena and Jonas. Unfortunately, she passed away in 2000 at the age of 82, so you’re sadly right; it appears as though Frances is the last living ancestor from their generation. I was unfortunately unable to meet Bella and have only heard stories to know her from. She was married to James Thomson, an iron moulder from Wishaw, and lived in Motherwell up until her death. As one of the oldest surviving siblings, she said that she often took care of the younger ones, and remained close with them growing up; this was until eventually they all spread out to other corners of the country or moved abroad with their own families. From what I’ve been told, Bella and her siblings were able to speak a great deal of Lithuanian, but I don’t think fluently; her parents, however, both spoke Lithuanian and Russian. As we know, they came from Russian-occupied Poland (and Lithuania by proxy), where the language was imposed at the time, so it’s unsurprising that their families would have spoken more multiple languages.
I believe Ona (Annie) and her husband James (Jim) Barrie lived in Tullibody, probably where your photo of all 4 sisters was taken! I also have a photo of them all in Tullibody. You also mentioned that Ellen married an American serviceman; would his name be Barney by chance, did they have a daughter called Janice, and did they live in Largs or Troon at some point? Another interesting fact I discovered through extended family is that Antanas (Anthony) traveled back to Lithuania, presumably to visit family. Everything you’ve shared about Frances has also lined up with what I have been told, which was that she married a man named Anthony Garvin and moved to Canada.
As you know, the family adopted the surname Martin, most likely a diminutive form of the place Magdalena and Jonas first lived after emigrating here—Kilmartin’s Land in Carfin (owned by William Kilmartin). For the most part, their English names were pretty easily translated from their Lithuanian counterparts; for instance, Magdalena became Margaret (Maggie or Meg), Jonas became John, Juazas became Joseph (Joe), Ona became Annie, Antanas became Anthony (Tony), Mare became Mary, Juilus became James, and Anele became Ellen. The only one I’m unsure about is Vincas (maybe Vince or Vincent).
Thank you so much for the photos! I have always struggled to put names to faces, but these help a lot. The photograph of Magdalena is also amazing; I never thought I’d ever be able to put a face to her. It makes me wonder what year it was taken and where! Mare (Mary) and Anele (Ellen) also appear to have a lot of similar facial characteristics as well—they could almost pass as identical twins.
I have attached some photos for you. The first is a photograph of Mary, her daughter Marie, Bella, and her daughter Helen at Ayr beach in 1961. The second is of Mary, Bella, Bella’s husband James, and their daughter Helen (I’m not sure who the other 3 children are). The last photo was taken at Annie’s in Tullibody in 1960; from left to right, you have John (unknown relation), Helen (Bella’s daughter), Janice (Ellen’s daughter), and Marie (Mary’s daughter) in the bottom row. In the second row you have Annie’s husband, James Barrie, 2 unidentified women, Mary, Ellen, and Annie who is holding a baby. In the last row you have an unidentified man, the brother Joseph, and 2 more unidentified men. I think the three younger boys in the back might be Annie and James’ sons. Let me know if you recognise anyone!
Here’s the link to my family tree if you’re interested in keeping updated on what else I find: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/176488529/family/familyview?cfpid=132293809699
