RootsChat.Com

HI Ruskie and Janet,
Back in the land of the living - a little confused about who is who is Ruskie Nicole?
I was so delighted with McGavin letters, still trying to read them and take in what it all means, the writing is so descriptive its had to get to the bottom line sometimes and sort out the continuity of it all.
Still only able to sit at computer for short spells which is really annoying but each day is getting better so hopefully in next few days I''l be able to get stuck into it, as cabin fever is starting to set in.
Interested in finding out about your Skelly thread going back to 1600's how exciting.   I did recall getting an email amongst the hundreds that are still sitting there unread from a Craig that seemed to have a number a hits through Genes Reunited is this the same contact? Can't wait to check this out more/
Trouble is bum is getting numb already - grrrrrrrrrrrr
Talk later
Elizabeth

Hi Trish,
Is PM personal mail? New to this so don't know how it all works.
Thanks Elizabeth

A photo I found of St Vincent Is. c1890
Add to the collection
Liz

Satchwell
You can access QLD B>D>M online at Queensland Archives Search   Also at QLD DEpt Justice and Attorney General Data Base.
Hope this helps
Elizabeth

Hi Janet and Ruskie,
I have the death of  Robert McGavin(the disowned one)  Died Clermont QLD 28th December 1902.

ANOTHER MYSTERY SOLVED:
I have found the details of a headstone errected in a cemetry in Scotland will have to check notes can't remember which one at present .   but it solves the Matthew - James query.
In Memory of Margaret Wife of Robert McGAvin late Merchant of Glasgow.
Died 25th July 1886 age 75 years.
Also of her daughter Mary Reid Marsh who died April 20th 1899 aged 59 years.
John Adams Skelly McGavin died 8th October 1921 age 77 years.
[]bJAMES (MATTHEW) MCGAVIN died 27th December 1924 age 78 years.
William Thompson McGavin died 8th March 1933 age 84 year.

So I think  this solves the problem of James and MAtthew I felt they were the same as the birth dates matched.   They seemed to change names and middle names around a bit back th - same with Jessie she is sometimes called Jessie and sometimes Janet.

I haven't really done a lot iwth what I found during my visit as had a girlfriend die whilst I was away which through me for a while.  So this contract with you has thrown me back into catching up with it all.    I was so confused when I was over there with so many McGavins and incomprehensible headstones and sketchy birth records I felt quite dislexic.

Other information of interest to you I feel will be these details I found at Glasgow Library with reference to the business's that Robert McGavin was involved in.  This was taken from books with lists of business owner printed each year.
1850-51  McGavin & Thompson - Commission Merchants
109 and or 33 Virginia Street Glasgow.
Robert McGavin listed as Justice of the Peace acting for the lower ward.

1857-58 McGavin and Thompson Clyde Gale and Co Merchants
12 Dixon Street and Mavisbank Broomilaw.

1861 Robert McGavin of Clyde Galvanising Co.
House St Vincent Park  and Business Mavisbank.

I found the address in Virginia Street, Glasgow aptly named as it was the area for tobacco merchants which I thought may tie in with the West Indies connection.   Sadly they had just demolished the old building on the sight but I have a photo in any case as it shows you the style of building it would have been by others in the street.

Did not bother to find Broomilaw as it all moderised now but is was on the banks of the Clyde River where all the shipping was and there are some good old photos on the net  - maybe on net with Glasgow Library digital photo section I think.

Whilst all this was going on in Glasgow - Robert Senior was in Irvine c1850 as I found this refence to him in  a publication of the History of Irvine.
"In 1850 the council was willing to sell sand from the Moor to the Glengarnock Iron Company.  But when in 1853 Robert McGavin a local man now based in Glasgow proposed establishing an ironworks  beside the river and adjoining the railway, some concillors thought it would be a nuisance, there was a petition against it and the scheme fell through".   It seems clear that councillors and the small electorate they represented were many of them antagonistic to industrial developments.   and in 1858 it was reported that Irvine was retrogressing.    
From our visit there it still seems to be in the same malaise.

All in all what ever I found out about the McGavins they certainly seemed to get in have a go at life.
More later when I dig it out of my bundles.