Willam Merritt Gillam

[Coils59]

Hi - I think I am a direct descendant of William Merritt Gillam - He was born in 1805 and died in Guayaquil Ecuador in 1859, after spending some time in ?India and California(1854) . His grandson, Norman was my grandfather, and had at least 2 brothers (Hope died WW1) and Basil who emigrated to Australia. Norman Merritt Gillam fought in WWI and emigrated soon after, first to South Africa. There he married a relative of the Bullers (need to check my records). He eventually went to Blantyre Nyasaland (now Malawi) where he set up the first Barclays Bank there (early 1920's). from there he went to Beira Mozambique and eventually Umtali Rhodesia (now Mutare zimbabwe) all with Barclays Bank. He eventually returned to the UK in the late 70's where he died in Norfolk. He had 2 children Boyd Merritt b 1924 d 1989, and Fiona Merritt.  Boyd Had 5 children of which I am one and I have 2 sons - We all still keep the Merritt in our names. Should you wish further more detailed info I can assist. I would also appreciate any info of williams ancestors as my info ends with him. I look forward to hearing from you

[Coils59]

I have gone through my Grandfathers papers, and Family Bible - This is the info I have

William  Gillam b 14/12/1805 d 1858/9 Guayaquil Ecuador
Children: William Merritt Gillam b 1/11/1841? Calcutta
                Frank Andrew Gillam b 30/5/1843 Madras
                Alexander Charles Gillam b April184? Madras
                Alfred Lorn Gillam d 1/7/1849 San Francisco d 22/6/1889
                Clara Gillam b 1/12/1852 San Francisco d 1853/4
                Charlotte Emily Gillam b 25/3/1856 San Francisco

William Merritt Gillam - married Edith Emily Buller
Children: Basil Merritt Gillam b 6/2/18888 21 Kilburn Park Rd London
               Norman Merritt Gillam b 23/7/1889 40 Chepstow Place Bayswater
               Grace Dorothy Gillam b 29/2/1892 19 Kensington Manors SW
               Hope Francis Merritt Gillam b 5/9/1893 18 Kensingtom Manors SW
               d 1918 WWI

Norman Merritt Gillam - married Olive Boyd (Pretoria South Africa) Fought WW1 in Tanganyika East Africa
Children: Boyd Merritt Gillam b 2/3/1924 Blantyre Nyasaland d 7/5/1989  Mutare
               Fiona Mary Merritt Gillam b 15/7/1926 Mossel Bay South Africa d 1998 Cape Town

Boyd Merritt Gillam - Married Marjory Frances Ellis Drummond b 20/10/1924  (fought WW11 North Africa and Italy Southern Rhodesian anti Tank Reg.) Dentist
Children: Frances Anne Merritt Gillam 3/8/1953
                Louse Barbara Merritt Gillam b 30/11/1955 d 9/10/2008
                Brian Merritt Gillam b 11/4/1957 d 17/5/1957
                Bruce Norman Merritt Gillam b 8/12/1959
                Ritchie Gordon Merritt Gillam b 31/1/1963

Bruce Norman Merritt Gillam married Diana Marie Pijper
Children: Matthew Boyd Merritt Gillam b 20/01/2001
               Benjamin Jon Merritt Gillam b 24/4/2002

 I have quite a bit of info re the Buller tree should you require it.

[Ford1960]

I'm also descended from William Gillam (1805-59).  One of his grandsons (the son of Frank Andrew Gillam 1843-1919) is thought to have owned or run an hotel in Lorenco Marques, Mozambique.  Might anyone have heard a similar story, please.  F.

[Dave Jones]

Leicester Chronicle
Saturday 8th May 1858
Deaths
On the 13th March, of dysentery, at Guayaquil, South America, aged 50, Captain William Gillem, formerly of Calcutta, son of the late Thomas Gillam Esq. of Countesthorpe.

[Coils59]

Dave - Tks for this snippet of info. My niece travelled through Guayquil last year, she said it was a cesspool, so not surprising he died from dysentry. Rgds

[Coils59]

Hi Ford - My mother has no recollection of my Grandfather knowing his cousin was in LM. I have a friend in LM but don't think I will have much success in finding any info. If you had a name or the name of the hotel it might help Assuming it is still standing. Rgds

[Ford1960]

 Many thanks, Coils59, for checking with your Mother.  We hope to get to LM this coming week and will try to track down the hotel, name as yet unknown.  Frank G (1843-1919)'s son was also Frank (1876-1924).  His wife Ethel died in 1938.  Rgds F.

[Coils59]

you sound as if you are in SA? I am in Zim.

[Ford1960]

We were transitting SA from UK en route for LM.  Friends helped us seek out the early C20th hotels, but we havent yet identified Frank and Ethel's establishment.  Still working on it.  Rgds F.