Thomas Gillan

[Wee Ann]

I have caught up with Thomas Gillan again! (He is my great grand mother's brother who came to Australia and died here, in 1914).

I gave in and sent for the transcription of his death certificate, and has that ever opened up a can of worms?

It gives as the informant of his death, his wife Margaret Buchanan (M.S.Burns). Not the same one I had for him! I had Mary McVay. It lists his children as Elizabeth B. and James B., not the offspring I had for him,. I had three sons - Thomas, John and David.

I have no doubt that I have the right Thomas Gillan,it has his parents named correctly, but how do I link him up with his 'new' family?

I have tried to find him (and them) on the census in Scotland before he left for Australia, but with no luck. I am having difficulty getting on to Scotland's People, so I cannot check for a marriage, or births for the children.

I am stumped!

What do I do next?

Regards to all

Ann

[Currie]

Hello Ann,

Looks like the children were Elizabeth Buchanan Gillan who married in 1893 and died 1958 and James Burns Gillan who probably married 1906 and died 1950. That should give some idea of their ages.

These are from http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/familyHistory/search.htm

NSW Marriage
4765/1893 GALLOWAY WILLIAM S, GILLAN ELIZABETH R, MEREWETHER
NSW Death
20348/1930 GALLOWAY WILLIAM S, JOHN, KATHERINE, HAMILTON
13214/1958 GALLOWAY ELIZABETH BUCHANAN, THOMAS, MARGARET BUCHANAN, NEWCASTLE
NSW Births
20807/1894 GALLOWAY MARGARET B B, WILLIAM S, ELIZABETH B, MEREWETHER
4846/1898 GALLOWAY ELIZABETH B, WILLIAM S, ELIZABETH B, MEREWETHER
30345/1906 GALLOWAY WILLIAM A, WILLIAM S, ELIZABETH B, WICKHAM

NSW Marriage
2735/1906 GILLAN JAMES B, FORSHAW ALICE, WICKHAM
NSW Deaths
7591/1909 GILLAN VIOLET H, JAMES B, ALICE, WICKHAM
14510/1950 GILLAN JAMES BURNS, THOMAS, MARGARET BUCHANAN, KURRI KURRI

You’ll probably also find index entries for the Galloway children’s marriages etc at NSW BDM. Apart from Kurri Kurri which is not far away all the places are Newcastle suburbs. All the deaths, including Kurri were probably reported in the Newcastle Morning Herald. The Galloway burials were probably in the local Sandgate Cemetery.

Alan

[Wee Ann]

Hi Alan,

Thank you for that!

Would you believe up to five years ago, when we moved to Queensland, we lived within 'shopping' distance of Newcastle for the previous 26 years, and watched with interest the clean up of Sandgate Cemetery, never once even thinking it a possibility that there was anyone of interest to us, buried there.

Nose to the grindstone again to follow up what you have found for us.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Best regards

Ann