On Tuesday, 23 June 2015 I finally ordered an AncestryDNA test. I've been mulling it over for a while now, and finally 'bit the bullet' as it were.
A cousin of mine in Utah sent did a test a few months ago, and happily shared his results with me. I was transfixed by the break down of ethnicity and percentages that make up his DNA.
My DNA test arrived today, Friday 26 June. I quickly took the test, making sure to follow each and every instruction. I hope to also send the test away today.
And now the anxious 6-8 weeks wait ...
Friday, 26 June 2015
Wednesday, 24 June 2015
Found at Sea
At around 7:15 pm on 28 December 1879 the Tay Bridge collapsed, taking a train with it and seventy-five people to their deaths. At the time of completion, the first Tay Bridge was the longest in the world at nearly two miles long.
Around five months after the Tay Bridge disaster, James Storey the brother of my 3x Great Grandfather, Adam made quite a discovery out at sea.
Around five months after the Tay Bridge disaster, James Storey the brother of my 3x Great Grandfather, Adam made quite a discovery out at sea.
__________
PART OF THE TAY BRIDGE PICKED UP NEAR NEWBIGGIN. - At an early hour one morning last week as James Storey, a fishermen, of Newbiggin, and William Armstrong, a young man belonging to the same place, were proceeding in their coble to Cresswell Rocks, in order to draw their crab pots, they observed something floating in the sea to the south of Cresswell. After performing their work, and when about two miles to the north of Newbiggin, at seven o'clock in the morning, Newbiggin point at that time bearing south-west, they overtook and took in tow what appeared to be an ordinary balk of timber; but they soon found that it was very heavy, and after a great deal of laborious rowing, they landed it at Newbiggin at about half-past ten o'clock in the morning. The timber, which was covered with slime and mud appeared to have been embedded somewhere for a long time; and as Mr Storey was in the act of scraping it off with his knife, to his surprise he discovered that on one side of it there was a long piece of railway track, as well as two shorter pieces, which appeared to have been wrenched and broken. There can be no doubt that the log of fir or pitch pine - which is 20 feet long and 15 inches square, and to which there is a broken piece 5 feet long, fastened with an iron screw bolt about 2 feet 6 inches long, which is very much bent and twisted, and at the other end of the log there is also a bolt of the same length - forms part of the ill-fated Tay Bridge, which was blown down on the night of the 28th of December last.
__________
- From the Dundee Evening Telegraph, 24 May 1880.
__________
- From the Dundee Evening Telegraph, 24 May 1880.
References
Wednesday, 17 June 2015
Ann Gilligan
When Charles Leslie, my 2x Great Grandfather was baptised on 24 June 1858 at Shettleston his godmother was recorded as Ann Gilligan. His parents were Patrick Leslie and Margaret Gilligan/Galligan, so naturally I assume Ann was related, but not sure how.
When Margaret died in 1902 in St Joseph's Home, Garngadhill her parents were noted as James Gallaghan [sic] and Bridget Lynch.
I soon found a record for a woman named Ann Gilligan who died on 22 February 1864 at Tollcross. Ann's parents were stated to be Patrick and Margaret Gilligan. Ann's mother's maiden surname was Lynch, the same as stated on her sister Margaret's death certificate.
Although there are discrepancies with the names of the parents, I am certain that Ann was a younger sister of my 3x Great Grandmother, Margaret Galligan Leslie. The informant of Ann Gilligan's death was 'Patrick Leslay [sic] brother-in-law'. Patrick was not present for Ann's death, but she had been ill for around one year. Ann's cause of death was stomach cancer. She was only 25 years old.
When Margaret died in 1902 in St Joseph's Home, Garngadhill her parents were noted as James Gallaghan [sic] and Bridget Lynch.
I soon found a record for a woman named Ann Gilligan who died on 22 February 1864 at Tollcross. Ann's parents were stated to be Patrick and Margaret Gilligan. Ann's mother's maiden surname was Lynch, the same as stated on her sister Margaret's death certificate.
 |
| An extract of Ann's death certificate. |
Wednesday, 10 June 2015
Philip Colvin
Margaret Leslie and Patrick Colvin were married on 4 November 1857 in a Roman Catholic ceremony at Dalbeth, near Glasgow, Scotland. Just over one year later on 14 December 1858, the couple had a child which they named Philip, after Patrick's father. Philip was baptised soon after at St Paul's RC Church, Shettleston.
Margaret and Patrick went on to have three more children; Catherine in 1865, Patrick in 1871 and Edward in 1873. Throughout this time the family lived at 13 Calton Street, Tollcross.
On 1 October 1875, Patrick Snr sadly died of 'cerebral congestion' at the family home. Margaret obviously remained close to her own family, as her brother Peter registered the death. Peter was my 3x Great Grandfather.
The Colvin family continued living at 13 Calton Street for decades after. The family appeared on the census at this address, and Philip was described as being an "imbecile from childhood".
Philip eventually ended up in Woodilee Asylum, Lenzie, Dunbartonshire, although he was now being described as a 'Lunatic'. Philip's mother Margaret died 30 November 1901 but by this time I presume he had been in the asylum for a number of years.
Philip Colvin died on 2 May 1910 in Woodilee Asylum of enteritis. He was 51 years old. Philip's parent's names were not recorded, but his usual residence was written as 13 Calton Street, Glasgow.
Philip's sister Catherine had died five years before in 1905, but his brothers Patrick and Edward both died in 1941.
The full extent of Philip's illness is not known, but he may have had learning difficulties or he could have been autistic. The term imbecile is no longer politically correct, and rightfully so. Thankfully mental health is now better understood, and there is not as much of a stigma attached to it.
 |
| An extract from Philip's birth certificate. |
On 1 October 1875, Patrick Snr sadly died of 'cerebral congestion' at the family home. Margaret obviously remained close to her own family, as her brother Peter registered the death. Peter was my 3x Great Grandfather.
The Colvin family continued living at 13 Calton Street for decades after. The family appeared on the census at this address, and Philip was described as being an "imbecile from childhood".
Philip eventually ended up in Woodilee Asylum, Lenzie, Dunbartonshire, although he was now being described as a 'Lunatic'. Philip's mother Margaret died 30 November 1901 but by this time I presume he had been in the asylum for a number of years.
Philip Colvin died on 2 May 1910 in Woodilee Asylum of enteritis. He was 51 years old. Philip's parent's names were not recorded, but his usual residence was written as 13 Calton Street, Glasgow.
Philip's sister Catherine had died five years before in 1905, but his brothers Patrick and Edward both died in 1941.
The full extent of Philip's illness is not known, but he may have had learning difficulties or he could have been autistic. The term imbecile is no longer politically correct, and rightfully so. Thankfully mental health is now better understood, and there is not as much of a stigma attached to it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)