john gordon where are you ?

[*Sandra*]

Hello Grannysmoke,

Sorry I have'nt received an e-mail - you would need 3 posts to send a personal message - is that what you mean ?

Do you have the marriage certificate for John and Elizabeth ?  Just wondered if any Gordans are listed as witnesses and whether that could give any further clues about John.

Regards
Sandra

[grannysmoke]

Sandra yes I have the marriage certificate of john gordon and elizabeth ramsey widow maiden name simpson john gordon's father was john gordon his mother was elizabeth kirk the witnesses were a john mellon(looks like) and jane mck linwood I have traced jane linwood and her mother also was elizabeth kirk but I can't get the connection, have tried numerous census searches the year of the marriage is 1903.
after the birth of the 3rd child the mother seems to have returned north to aberdeenshire where she died a number of years later but there's no sign of the father!

grannysmoke

[*Sandra*]

So Jane is John Gordons sister and you have managed to traced her, What age is Jane ?  What does "mck" stand for in the middle of Jane's name ?  Would like to have a look at her on Census.

Sandra

[grannysmoke]

Hello Sandra
The name of the witness was Jane McKeekin Linwood I think that is right as the eldest daughter of John Gordon was named after her I'm not sure if she was a sister to John but like you I think she may have been , in the 1891 census  for Paisley  Renfrewshire Jane Linwood appears aged 17 with a brother John aged 15 born about 1874  and her occupation is Millworker address 14 Thread Street, on John Gordon's marriage certificate his occupation is a mason but his fathers is a dyer I'm wondering if he'd taken another name.  On Jane McMeekin's birth certificate in 1874 her father John Linwood's occupation is a cotton dyer, could this be the same family?
Regards Grannysmoke

[*Sandra*]

Think I've found Jane McMeekin Linwood born 23 Dec 1873 Govan. Lanarkshire  - daughter of John Linwood 1846 Glasgow. Lanarkshire and Elizabeth Kirk born 1848 Ireland. They appear on Census from 1881 to 1901 (apart from John Linwood Snr is not with them in 1881)
The first born was Alexander Bruce Linwood 1869 Milngavie. Dunbartonshire but John Linwood does'nt marry Elizabeth Kirk until 16 June 1871 in New Kilpatrick. Dunbarton.  
Sounds crazy but I am wondering if John Linwood Jnr born in 1876 could have changed his name to John Gordon    He is the only one of all the children that the Census says was born in England  

We've crossed on this post but we are thinking the same.

Regards
Sandra

[grannysmoke]

Thanks Sandra I agree with you the family always thought there was an Irish connection, I'm wondering if he moved to America under the name of John Linwood that's maybe why I can't find him he disappears around the time his son was born in 1906 as it's his mother who registers the birth! on the certificate I've got for Jane Linwood's birth the marriage is given as 16 June 1871 New Kilpapatrick, if the family had been in the cotton dying trade it makes sense for John to have been born in England as there are a lot of mills there and Coates the thread people I believe had a factory at Paisley.

Grannysmoke

[*Sandra*]

Have checked the passenger lists for John Linwood but nothing comes to light  
Can only see 1 birth in Haslingden. Lancashire for a John Linwood in January 1876 - Lancashire would be ideal for the mills    But to move the whole family for a short time  Very strange
I suppose the only way is to try and track that name to either prove or disprove the theory  

Oops, we have crossed again.

Sandra

[grannysmoke]

Hi Sandra

Looks as if we are getting somewhere I'l try a search for a death of John Linwood just in case he was still around , the 1911 census may show up something when it comes out.
I'm just remembering the second daughter of John Gordon had Linwood for a middle name, the plot thickens!!

Grannysmoke

[*Sandra*]

Hello Grannysmoke,

No real progress for you but a friend had a look at John Linwood marriages in Scotland for me - just to see if we can prove or disprove that John Linwood was John Gordon.
Apparently, only two John Linwood marriages one in 1907 to Marion Ballantyne in Kircubright the other in 1926 to Rebecca Ballantyne Ayr - any others were to early.
Hope you have faired better. 

Regards
Sandra