John Steel and Mary Neilson

[Maggie1895]

Blackfacesheep, what really stuns - and delights - me is that I can sit here in the UK, and from what you have written I assume you are somewhere in Australia, and together with ev and others we can all work on something and discuss it instantly.
We are all hooked on finding our ancestors, and there are so many questions we wish we could put to them,  I just wonder what they would have thought of us tracking them down in the ether like this?

[blackfacesheep]

Maggie1895
Yes, I am in Australia's southern highlands of NSW.
Isn't technology wonderful? We can access information our forebears could not have dreamed of. All those secrets never revealed when they were alive are now ours to discover.
My husband's great great grand father was an Irish convict, sent to Australia in 1831. Nobody in the family had any idea until a cousin began doing some research a few years ago and now they have a line traced back to the 1700s in Ireland (complete with DNA confirmation).

[islay 1]

Hi,blackfacesheep,

      These people are also in my family tree as gggrandparents were John steel and Jane Owens - I have their original marriage certificate here with my family papers. I wonder if you are related to the Robert Steel my dad told me about,whose son Jack went to Australia and daughter Margaret steel to New Jersey,USA?
     Anyway,the above information gathered by these wonderful Rootschat helpers is definitely about my direct line,and I can confirm various pieces of the puzzle for you if you wish. Good luck with this addictive hunt that is our family tree! Islay

[islay 1]

     (Forgot to add that I know about the James Beaumont Neilson link too.)

[islay 1]

  Not very good with these computers,and can't see how to reply other than come here.

    How fascinating that you knew Uncle Jack and had a close relationship him,and met up with Margaret's family in America. According to the 1901 census,there were other siblings too,that my dad didn't mention to me.
   
       Harry,b1885
       Robert,b1892
       Frank,b1894
       John,b1897
       Margaret,b1898
       Lilly,b1900
       Alex,b 1904
       Stewart,b1906

     I see your dad there - did you know the other uncles and aunts too?
                    OK this is how the connection you wanted to know about fits into your tree.

       Going back past Robert Neilson Steel's parents,John Steel and Jane Owens,his mother was Mary Neilson,daughter of John Neilson who was the brother of James Beaumont Neilson. John Neilson was in my opinion equally as important a man,and has an interesting history too,and was very wealthy.Worth a look!

[blackfacesheep]

How very interesting Islay.
Like you, I'm not good with computers and I've been struggling with negotiating my way around the site.
Yes, I also knew Uncle Stewart who settled in New Zealand and visited us when he was in port as he was in the merchant navy (as was Dad before he joined the Royal Australian navy). Stewart was a twin and the other twin died at birth. As well as meeting Aunt Margaret's family, I also met her in the 1960s when she visited Australia briefly with her husband.  I have also met John and David Dodds who are Aunt Lil's sons. Both have visited Australia and I visited Liverpool, UK, in 1992.
There was a very strong seafaring tradition in the Steel family as I'm sure you already know. Cheers Blackfacesheep

[islay 1]

Hi,Blackfacesheep,
   
             To go on with the sea-faring theme,John Steel was the First Officer in "The City of Aggra" And you can trace some of her voyages through the internet,as well as see pictures of what the ship was like. I have a parchment - very large - of calligraphy that he whiled away the hours doing on these longs trips,and there is a man on Ancestry of a similar name who has his master mariner's certificate. I would love to have a copy of that! It absolutely amazes me that there are people all over the world,who have never met,and yet who each have a share of "my" history,and another piece of the puzzle.

            Look up John Neilson.He founded the Summerlee works and was a rich and innovative man. Look up "The Faerie Queen",one of the first ever steam passenger boats that went to Largs for its maiden voyage. He financed the development of that exclusively.At one time he employed over 1000 men.(Or women!)

[blackfacesheep]

Hi Islay,
Yes, it is amazing that we are all linked and doing similar research from different parts of the world.
The man who has John Steel's mariners certificate is the grandson of Dad's brother, Robert, also named John Steel. If you send me your email address, I can put you in touch with him.
I will look up John Neilson. I did read quite a bit about JB Neilson and remember a brother being mentioned.  I now realise that this person is our direct ancestor (my great great great grandfather). Fascinating! Gradually the pieces of the puzzle are coming together.
Do you know the occupation of the John Steel who married Mary Neilson? and do you know the name of that John Steel's father and mother?  Do you know where those earlier family members lived? Was it Lanarkshire, Scotland, as I believe it was?
It is late here in Australia and time for me to get some sleep but will keep in touch.
Cheers. Blackfacesheep

[islay 1]

  Hi again,Blackfacesheep,

   Hope you slept well. I will certainly give you my e-mail address,but not here on a public place. Do you know how else to send me yours so that I can reply with mine??!! Told you I was rubbish at these computers! 

   I would certainly also love a copy of the master mariner's certificate,so I'd be grateful if you could put me in touch with the gentleman who has it,if he wouldn't mind.Does anyone have any idea as to when John Steel died,or where? Can't track that piece of the puzzle down anywhere and would love to know!

  Finally,in answer to your last three questions,yes,yes and yes,but would appreciate sending the information privately to you,as I have spent not only hours abut many,many pounds to find the information,and am reluctant to offer it to just anyone dipping in here.Best wishes,Islay