Gordon Blair - Mystery? or Not!

[loobylooayr]

It was the entry under informant that I was querying, not the place of birth of Gordon, which is clearly Stirling.
Isobel

I see what you are referring to Isobel  and there does seem to be another address under Gordon's signature. Unfortunately I can't make anything out 
In the past when I had a very poor DC image from SP I asked for their assistance to read it (cause of death was faint and illegible)  and they were able to enhance the image, greatly improving it . Maybe worth a wee message to them Isobel 

Looby

[sparrett]

I think the street name starts with M and, in my opinion, there is a good chance the last word in the address is Sterling.
Sue

[isobelw]

Thanks Loobylooayr, have sent a request to SP.
Have been trying to trace John Blair, Changekeeper, in the Glasgow Directories-
First entry I found was 1804 in New Wynd. Continual entries to 1820 where address is given as 81 New Wynd. Changekeeper there until 1823 when he becomes a Vintner at same address. 1824 he is still down for New Wynd but also new entry for a John Blair at Britannia Tavern. From 1825-6  81 New Wynd is listed to Mrs John Blair, Vintner with John at Britannia Tavern. From 1827-30  Mrs John Blair listed as Vintner 60 New Wynd, John at Britannia Tavern. John disappears 1830 and Mrs John continues at 60 New Wynd till 1832 when she also disappears.

There is a marriage for a John Blair and Jane Dunn in Drymen in 1788 ( scanned copy on a tree on Ancestry). John is described as servant to John McEwan in East Cashlie and Jean Dunn as daughter of deceased James Dunn late in Ballochneck?, both of this parish. They had a son called Thomas in 1788 in Drymen who went on to be minister of Colmonell Church in Ayrshire. Not sure if this is the same couple who had two children (Jane and John) in the early 1800's in Glasgow.
Isobel

[Skoosh]

Ballochneck's in Buchlyvie.

Skoosh.

[jennywren001]

A couple of points...in 1893 it would appear Gordon Blair was notified of his retirement (based on reaching retirement age for the civil service) and from the newspaper clipping (Oct 13th) it would appear this came as a bit of a surprise - or perhaps I'm reading too much into the piece?

In 1848 Jean Blair (Gordon's sister) married James Kippen the banns were called in both St Ninians and Dunblane. A daughter Isabella was born shortly afterward and a son in August 1851 - both children were christened at St Ninians. I've failed to find them on the 1851 census.
Jen

[RJ_Paton]

Agh,  thanks.   Earlier (much earlier) in the thread our OP mentions sighting certificates which mention "Writer" as the occupation.   Are you saying that this means that the "Writer" was a solicitor in Scotland. 

 

..... I also saw him on some certificates as a 'writer'. Whatever that means. Did he publish? probably not much income doing that, and that as well may have lured him here or caused a problem at home. ? We may never know. .....

JM

In Scotland at that time to be described as a WRITER did mean that you were a qualified and practicing Solicitor. See my summary at reply 145.

[loobylooayr]

A couple of points...in 1893 it would appear Gordon Blair was notified of his retirement (based on reaching retirement age for the civil service) and from the newspaper clipping (Oct 13th) it would appear this came as a bit of a surprise - or perhaps I'm reading too much into the piece?

I would agree Jen that the newspaper clipping gives the impression that Gordon was not expecting to be  "retired" . The article is written Oct 13th....which would fit in with a September date of birth for Gordon , if he had just reached the maximum age for the Civil Service. I wonder what that age limit was in 1893 ?

Looby

[wivenhoe]

Daily Northern Argus 30 Jun 1892 p6
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/213429597?
...article about Public Service retirement conditions......
 
Possibly Gordon had attained the age of 60 years......and sometime after that he was being retired, hence the surprise.......

[RJ_Paton]

Daily Northern Argus 30 Jun 1892 p6
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/213429597?
...article about Public Service retirement conditions......
 
Possibly Gordon had attained the age of 60 years......and sometime after that he was being retired, hence the surprise.......

An interesting article ... It is possible that Gordon Blair made the mistake that many others of his age group made according to that article and believed that mandatory retirement was not until 65 whereas between 60 and 65 it was entirely at the discretion of the "Governor in Council".
60 would tie in with the claimed birth date of 1833 but that in itself is problematic as it then excludes the Gordon Blair in Glasgow