Duncan Thomson, b.c. 1863, Ballieston

[bmanson]

My g grandmother Elizabeth Smith McKay (b. 1866), a widow, married Duncan Thomson, a widower, in Glasgow in 1919.

Married 21 Jun 1919 at 21 Hope St. Glasgow by Warrant of the Sheriff Substitute at Lanark under declaration of John Thomson, engine labourer, and Mary Carroll or Thomson
1. Groom:  Duncan Thomson, coal miner, widower, aged 56, of 5 Dyke St. Ballieston
2. Parents: John Thomson, coal miner, and Annie Thomson (M/S Bell) both deceased.
3. Bride:  Elizabeth McKay, widow, age 52 of 8 Ronsdale Terrace, Ballieston.

We know that Duncan died by 1934.  We are trying to locate the name of Duncan's first wife since we have a photo (date unknown) showing Elizabeth caring for a young child, female about age 12, nicknamed 'Cissie'. 

Brian

[apanderson]

Hi Brian,

I don't have anything positive to tell you about your ancestors, but I think Elizabeth McKay's address may have been Rhinsdale Terrace, Baillieston.

If you key 'Rhinsdale Terrace, Baillieston' into Google, there are a few local Baillieston sites with photos of the building which is still there.

Anne

[MonicaL]

Brian

If you could find Duncan's death cert on Scotlands People, it will most likely state the name of his first wife..." married to 1st xxx, 2nd xxx.  Hopefully you can find out her name that way.

Regards.

Monica

[LindsaySiam]

By sheer coincidence, I noticed today that the entry for a 1938 death in Baillieston below that of one of my relatives was an Henry McAdam, 1 day old, died of premature birth, son of Patrick McAdam and Jane McAdam m/s not clear of 8, Rhinsdale Terrace, Baillieston.

I am sure it will be entirely unrelated to your people ... but on the off chance, let me know if you want the detail.

Lindsay

[bmanson]

Sadly, just a coincidence.

[jjardine]

hi Brian

While looking up my family tree , I came across your post on roots chat. My great-
grandfather was Duncan Thomson.  His youngest daughter was Sarah Thomson (Cissie) whom you speak about in the photograph. Would it be possible to obtain a copy of the photograph for my mother, Sarah's youngest daughter.  If you need any information regarding Duncan Thomson or the Thomson family please do not hestitate to ask . 

Yours

Jacqueline Jardine

[bmanson]

Jacqueline,
Thank you for the e-mail. It may take me a few days to find that photo, but I will forward it to you as soon as I go through some old albums.
Any information you can share on Duncan would be greatly appreciated (his parents John and Annie; his daughter Sarah; first wife; any reference at all to Elizabeth or 'Bessie').

Thanks

Brian

[jjardine]

Hi Brian

So glad to hear from you, I appreciate you taking the time to find the photograph. Duncan Thomson was born on 1863 in Dugshai West Benegal, India his father John McKye was a life long soldier, his mother Anne McKye (Bell) was a nurse in India.  Both born in Lanarkshire.  Duncan Thomson a soldier he  married his first wife Mary Dalziel Hutchinson in 1890 Belfast, they had 4 boys and 2 girls, Sarah Thomson (born 1911 in Ballieston ) being their youngest, his first wife died 1916 when he and his 2 oldest sons were serving in the 1st World War, Sarah was very fond of Elizabeth's son Peter McKay and they corresponded with each other when he emigrated to New York, right up to the late 1990s, Sarah told us Elizabeth was a midwife and also prepared  bodies for burial too.   Elizabeth is the owner of a lair in Alexandria cemetery the inhabitants are listed below.

Samuel McKay            20.01.1883     age17
Jane McKay                28.10.1883     age 37
Henry McKay                7.12.1904     age 9 months
John McKay                20.04.1916     age 72
Duncan Thomson       15.03.1929     age 65

Unfortunately there is no headstone. I hope I have given you some new information

Jacqueline

[bmanson]

Thank you very much for the information. I haven't been able (so far) to locate the photo of the young "Cissy", but I have found the photo below of Elizabeth and I think Cissy, taken in the early 1930s (Elizabeth or Bessie died in November 1937, age 71). Unfortunately, I have no proof that this is of "Cissy" as the writing on the back is unreadable. I will keep looking for the other younger Cissy photo.
As for Peter McKay, I met him on the occasion of my grandmother's (and his sister's) 100th birthday in Aug. 1992. I do recall that he had a wonderful sense of humour. Peter passed away at the age of 98 in Aug. 2004 in New Jersey.
I have no information on most of Peter's and Agnes's several brothers and sisters (17 in total - 7 from the first marriage of John & Jane McKay and 10 from the 2nd marriage).
I will keep looking for that photo. I always thought I was well organized, but so far this is proving otherwise.
Brian