John & Alexander Cameron - born Kirkcaldy/Leith

[portybelle]

Hi, I'm researching my Great Great grandfather John Cameron. He shows on the 1851 census at Hill Street Kirkcaldy aged 5 living with his parents John (born Pathhead, Fifeshire)  and Elizabeth (born Tain). I have not been able to find a birth certificate for him or any marriage record for his parents as it's pre 1855 and nothing showing on OPR.

The family moved to Edinburgh and he marries in South Leith on 22/7/1870 to Helen Ramsay. His mother's maiden name is listed as Innes on the marriage record. His occupation is listed a joiner.

The mystery I am trying to resolve is why and when he went to Hong Kong. We know he and his son Alexander must have been in Hong Kong as we have photos from a Hong Kong studio. He appears on the 1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901 census all in South Leith. His son Alexander also appears on all these census records (bar 1871 not born)  but in 1901 is a patient in Leith Hospital. John had time to have plenty children (9 are listed on 1891 census) and Alexander had 10 children between 1891 and 1914.

So does anyone possibly have any ideas or info about these two and why or when they were in Hong Kong? From photos we guess it was probably in the 1890s. Perhaps Alexander caught some foreign illness and that's why he was in hospital?

Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

(Have posted in Fife Forum too)

[alicameron8303]

I think I might be able to help with this one, John Cameron is also my Great, Great Grandfather as per the attached tree.

I am not aware of John Cameron as having traveled to Hong Kong, but his son (My Great Grandfather, William Ramsay Cameron) trained as a ships engineer and traveled to Hong Kong around the turn of the century.

Family folklore has it that that William Ramsay Cameron traveled to China with the Ben Line, based in Leith around the turn of the century. He somehow missed his ship back home and ended up in Hong Kong holding a senior position in the just built Hong Kong harbour.

I can speak to my father, who can recall many of William Ramsay Cameron's stories - But I believe that your pictures may well be of him.  If you have any scans or any other details of him, I'd be extremely grateful to receive it and fill in this piece of family history myself...  I've always been fascinated by his story.

Alistair Cameron

[portybelle]

That's brilliant. I do have the photos which I can send to you if you PM me your email address. To be honest, the photo we have of young Alexander deosn't look to me like the photo we have of him as an older man so wouldn't be surprised if it was your great grandfather William. The one we think is John is definitely an older man with a very scary beard! When I have your email I'll send you an invite to the myheritage site so you can access my research - I have one more generation back from John and Helen.

[MonicaL]

Hi Alistair

Welcome to RootsChat 

If you do one more posting here on the main forum, this will activate the Private Message service on your account. If you click on the small green scroll under portybelle's name on the l/h side, this will take you through to the PM service. This works very much like a standard personal email service with an in/out box. You can then exchange personal emails with portybelle this way.

Monica

[MonicaL]

Alistair, just realised that on your family diagram that you have included, you have likely details of living people. This is contra what RootsChat can allow on the main open forum (to protect people's privacy). Can you amend please?

Monica

[alicameron8303]

Hi Monica,

Oops sorry - Now done

Thanks

[MonicaL]

No problem Alistair  You should now be able to use the PM system to contact portybelle - great way to exchange personal or sensitive info!

Enjoy your time here on RootsChat 

Monica

[portybelle]

Just been checking through the photos I have and have quite a few of John and Helen at varying ages. Also a collage of the Ramsay/Cameron family where we have just spotted that one of the photos was taken in Shanghai (not one of the two I previously mentioned) so fair chance it is your great grandfather William. Will be happy to email them to you - perhaps you will be able to put some names to faces.

[portybelle]

Have sent you photos - did you get them okay? My dad has found another one which is definitely of your grandfather Robert as a toddler. Once I know you've got the rest, I'll send that too!