RootsChat.Com

Hello

Turns out my grandmother's "lost" baby brother, John Charles PRICE b. Pontypool 1884, was put into the Pontypool Workhouse aged 3 and remained there for 10 years when a Charles WATKINS, "coachman to Mr Llewellin, colliery owner of Abersychan" adopted him in 1897.  In the 1901 Pontypool census JCP is with the Watkins family and his name is indeed changed to Watkins - he is working as a coal miner.  The family of Charles, wife Emily & son William are still there in 1911 but John Charles has moved out.

I am having no luck trying to track him down and, of course, don't know if he might have reverted to his own birth name or retained the name Watkins.

Wondering if anyone has been trying to track a relative called John Charles WATKINS and doesn't know that he was adopted?  What a break that would be .

Grateful for any help or guidance.

Lorna

Hi Sancti

The other children are on the OPRs - first 3 in Kirkintilloch and last one in Hamilton parish (mother's name spelled Mairten)  .

Yes, Limekilnburn is very, very small now (and a bit sad looking) but when you read up about the area it used to be bigger and more active, particularly when all the coal mines were operating around Quarter.

Thanks for the link and your interest.

Lorna

Hi Hume

I think you're right.  Thanks for the info on Jeremiah.  The only suitably aged  Alexr. I can find is one in Bothwell who is not of the family either so reckon it is a dead end -  .

I also wonder if Margaret called her sons born in 1833 and 1838 after two dead brothers as, as far as I can see, they are the only ones to have Paul as a middle name, ie Alexander Paul and Jeremiah Paul. 

Since you know Limekilnburn so well (I have only been once to the area) I wonder if you know of a possible toll house near Broomleton/Glassford?  That is where Agnes Paul set up house when she married Alexander Torrance.  He was connected to the Crookedstane family.  I think the Pauls may have moved to a tollhouse there.  I hope you don't mind me asking.

Regards

Lorna

Hi Hume

Aha - now I am interested.     You have the Pauls in Coatbridge & Hamilton?  Could you tell me where you dug that up from please?  I have John Paul & Jean having son John in 1810 at Broomhouse Tollhouse where he was Tollkeeper.  While daugher Margaret married James Morrison and lived Lennoxtown, Agnes, my husband's gg grandmother married an Alexander Torrance and spent most of her days in Limekilns, P of Hamilton, while her brother John lived and died in Hamilton itself.  Older brother Alexander disappears.

Can you let me know about the Coatbridge/Hamilton connection for John Paul Sr please?  Makes sense since Agnes and John ended up there.  I did not find John & Jean's marriage either nor a death for either.  If there are no Hamilton records for the period that will explain it.  I have found Agnes' & husband's grave at Glassford.  Their grandson John  founded and ran (with two of his brothers) the Torrance bus company and motor hirers in Hamilton.

He married Mary (Polly) Grant a GP later in life and she attended our wedding in 1965.

Any clue about John Paul Sr. VERY welcome.

Regards

Lorna