Death - Peter Nisbet Cunningham

[LizzieS]

Hi,

Can anyone help? I have been searching for sometime now for information regarding the death of my grandfathers oldest brother Peter Nisbet Cunningham. I have found births, deaths and marriages for all his other siblings but can't find him anywhere.

He was born on 6th Sept 1879 , Newton, Cambuslang.
He married Marion Sneddon 6th Aug 1914.
He seems to have traveled about a fair amount being in Germany in 1912, according to some old family letters, and the last date I can find him is returning to Britain via Liverpool from New York on 29th Oct 1917 having gone out there 17th April. His address at that time was Broomknowe, Carmyle Ave, Tolcross, Glasgow.
His profession is variously given as Engineer or Mechanical Engineer.
He was probably involved in the steel industry in some way as all his family, including his father, were.

His wife dies a widow in 1958 in Edinburgh.

It would seem likely that even if he died abroad there would have been an obit in the Glasgow Herald but not having any idea of the date that's an impossible search!

As always I'd be delighted with any suggestions.

Lizzie

[WilmaM]

The obvious answer would be the War!

I checked the Commonwealth Graves Commision site and found:
CUNNINGHAM, PETER NESBIT
Rank:Second Lieutenant
Date of Death:02/12/1917
Regiment/Service:Highland Light Infantry
17th Bn.
Panel ReferencePanel 131 to 132.
MemorialTYNE COT MEMORIAL
Additional Information:

the Scottish War Memorial site
http://www.snwm.org/website/frames.html
gives much the same detail.

He may appear on the Glasgow Roll of Honour too or in The Glasgow Herald's casualty lists.

[Currie]

It looks like the one killed in the War was only a boy.

The Scotsman, 13 December, 1917: 7.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
Sec. Lt. P. NISBET CUNNINGHAM (killed) was the younger son of Mr William Cunningham, Rockland, Wishaw, director of the Etna Iron and Steel Company, Motherwell. After obtaining his electrical engineering diploma in Glasgow Technical College, he enlisted, and fought for a year in France in the ranks. In the beginning of this year he was given a commission in the H.L.I. He was 25 years of age.

And the Ellis Island site has what appears to be the 1917 voyager as 37 years old, i.e. born 1880. http://www.ellisisland.org/search/Forma ... shipid=916

There seems to be a lot of them around.

Alan

[Montrose Budie]

Given the short period between his return from the USA and death in France it looks like he survived for about the average period of time for a new 2nd Lt in Flanders, sadly.

mb

[WilmaM]

OK I thought that was too easy!

The CWGC and SNWM site gave no indication of age.

That WWI casualty would seem to be connected though, as there's mention of Steel in the info Currie has found.

Must have been a family name as on Scotlands people there are 6
Peter Nisbet Cunninghams showing on a death search.
Only 4 post -1917, but none match the birth year you have, even by widening it +/- 10y, or just using his middle name.

What about his children? did they have any? and where and when were they born -
could help narrow down a time frame or indeed a country for his demise.

[LizzieS]

Hi,

Thanks for all your suggestions. His father was yet another Peter Nisbet Cunningham so not the son of William I'm afraid and I doubt he would have enlisted so soon after returning from US. Still maybe he did. I too had thought of the war but couldn't find anyone that really looked possible. I'm not sure about children but thats worth following up. Will keep trying.

There are a lot of Peter Nisbet Cunninghams about. It seems every generation and each child called their first son PNC from the first Peter b 1822 who had 11 children right through to my father!!!!

Lizzie

[Aliballibee]

Hi Lizzie

This might be stretching things a little but going back to your first post I noticed that your relation married a Marion Sneddon.

Although they are common names I have a JANET SNEDDON NISBET in my family tree b: 4th November 1885, married December 1909.

I wondered if she might figure somewhere in your tree - her family were from in and around Cambuslang as well.

Kind regards

Alan Taylor

[LizzieS]

Hi Alan,

Probably is stretching it a bit far but you never know.

The Nisbet name came from way back. Peter Nisbet married Marion Shaw and as far as IGI is concerned they had 2 daughters, Jean B 16/03/1798 and Elisabeth 4/03/1800 both in Livingston. My tree then follows Elisabeth when she married into the Cunninghams. She married James Cunningham b 10/03/1795 in Lilithgow, West Lothian 12/08/1821 and the name Peter Nisbet Cunningham was established in the family through their first child. I have not been able to find any more about Peter Nisbet or Marion Shaw as yet. Do they happen to feature in your tree?

The Sneddon family whose daughter Marion (known as Minnie) married Peter Nisbet Cunningham (whose death I am trying to find) were Robert and Grace Sneddon. According to the 1911 census they had 11 children so I guess your Janet may be a daughter of one of their daughters. Do you see any connections here?

Lizzie

[LizzieS]

Hi,

Still searching

He's not the one in the Highland Light Infantry who d 02/12/1917 as I found that one in the Medal Rolls which gives his father W Cunningham.

He is the Ellis Island one.

I traced a child of Marion "Snaddon" and Peter Nisbet Cunningham as Wilma suggested. On a tree in Ancestry. He was yet an other Peter Nisbet Cunningham. Looked for him on SP. There are 2 possibles and one is my father BUT its one of those one has to buy at £12 - a lot if its not him. Even if it is, it only proves they had a child in 1915 which doesn't help in finding Peters death.

Anyone any idea how to search for an Obit when I don't know when and where he died?

Lizzie

[WilmaM]

Even if it is, it only proves they had a child in 1915

but it proves they were in Scotland then,
can you narrow down the 'where ' of that birth?

Who signed his widow's death cert? that or another child
do you know where she is buried? as he may well be there too.

questions questions and no answers...

back with another question do you have a death notice for her? in the Scotsman maybe

and another: son Peter b 1915 - did he marry, checking his Marriage cert would show if his father was marked as deceased or not.
In fact I'd do a search for Peter Nisbet Cunninghams marrying all last century - they are bound to be connected somewhere!!

OK I'll stop now and go and ice a birthday cake.....