John
,
My apologies for not having written for a couple of weeks. I have, however, been in touch with a cousin in Australia who emigrated some 36 years ago. Anyway, she has far more information about our family tree than I have.
She told me that our grandfather's partner was one Davy Wilson who I assume would be your relative. We don't have any knowledge of the partnership but Avryl did tell me that when our grandmother passed away in 1956 she had the task of going round all the wreaths and collecting the notes and there was a wreath from Davy Wilson. I don't know if you know when you relative died. It seems as though our grandfather's were in business together. I would love to go to Johannesburg to see where the Foundry is, however, it is not a safe area these days. We live in a town called Springs where a lot of the gold mines were in the early days and I believe the foundry made a lot of whatever it was that the mines needed. In those days it was a 2 day oxen trek to move the part; it now takes 40 minutes into Johannesburg from Springs.
I am very interested in keeping up to date with your search so I will continue to check on whatever you post. If you have any further questions I can always put them to my cousin. She may or may not know the answers.
Having re-read your last reply to me I see that you said David Wilson died in 1956 the same year as my grandmother, I think my grandmother died in the January/February.
I don't know if my Wilson family is connected to your Wilson family. My paternal grandfather was also one David Wilson he married a Jessie Watt(s)? they had 3 sons, the eldest Harold Wilson, David Monroe Wilson and my father Norman Burness Wilson. My grandfather was a watchmaker & jeweller in Aberdeen. The three boys all came to Africa, Harold ended up in Rhodesia, married and had 3 children Hugh, Morag and Forbes. David married a Scottish lass Florence, they had two daughters Mary and Elaine and my dad Norman came to SA in 1936 when he was 18 years old.
When the second world war broke out he joined the SA forces and was de-mobbed in 1945. My mum and dad married in 1952, I was born in 1953. Dad passed on in 1984, mum in 2003. David was the second to die and Harold the eldest the last.
If you come across any of my Wilson's in your search I would love to hear from you. One day, when I retire I would like to trace my paternal family tree.
I believe there was a black sheep somewhere in our family who was shipped from Ireland to a prison in Scotland, he escaped from the prison and where he ended up is anybody's guess. Not even sure what his name was.
Look forward to hearing more news from your search.
Regards
Jennifer
Jennifer
