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Hi All,
I'm researching the family of John Swanson (b. Aberdeen 1859-d. Thurso 1915). One of his sons, Hugh (1899-1967) immigrated to Australia in the late 1920's, but I've drawn a blank on the fate of his other children who may or may not have remained in Thurso.

I am planning to travel to Thurso in mid October and if anyone has any leads they could share that I could follow up I would be very grateful.

Here is a list of what information I have  and I would also be very interested to hear from anyone who shares links with this family

1859 Birth
Scotland, Births and Baptisms
Name: John Swanson
Birth Date: 15 Oct 1859
Birthplace: SAINT NICHOLAS, ABERDEEN, ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND
Father's Name: John Swanson
Mother's Name: Mary Nevan

1861 Census
10 Gardners Lane, St Nicholas, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
John Swanson    43, Seaman, b Thurso
Mary Swanson    41, Wife of seaman, b Aberdeen
Hugh Swanson    12, Son, Errand Boy, b Thurso
Williamina Swanson    7, daughter, Scholar, b Wick
John Swanson 1, son, b Aberdeen

1885 Marriage
1885. MARRIAGES in the Parish of Thurso in the County of Caithness
No. 3
When Where and How Married:
1888
on the Twelth
day of January
at Thurso

After Banns According
to the Froms of the
Church of Scotland
|
Signatures of Parties - Rank or Profession whether Single or Widowed and Relationship (if any)
(Signed)
John Swanson
Sailor (Merchant Service)
(Bachelor)
|
Age.
27
|
Usual Residence
Shore Street Thurso
|
Name, Surname, and Rank or Profession of Father
John Swanson
Sailor (Merchant Service)
(Deceased)
—
name, and Maiden Surname of Mother
Mary Swanson
M. S. Niven
———
Signatures of Parties - Rank or Profession whether Single or Widowed and Relationship (if any)
(Signed)
Catherine Davidson
Domestic Servant
(Spinster)
|
Age.
22
|
Usual Residence
Shore Street Thurso
|
Name, Surname, and Rank or Profession of Father
Alexander Davidson
Sailor (Merchant-Service)
(Deceased)
—
name, and Maiden Surname of Mother
Elizabeth Davidson
M. S.  Coghill
|
If a regular Marriage, Signatures of officiating Minister and Witnesses. If Irregular, Date of Conviction, Decree of Declarator, or Sheriff’s Warrant.
(Signed)
Jos Stewart Miller
Parish Minister

(Signed)
David Begg
     Witness
Jessie Carnaby
     Witness
|
When & Where Registered and Signature of Registrar.
1888
January 14th
At Thurso

Hex Ryrie
Assistant Registrar
J III


1871 Census
11 Chronicle Lane, St Nicholas, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Mary Swanson, Wife, Married, Female, 51 (b. 1820), Seaman's Wife, b. Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Hugh Swanson, Son, Unmarried, Male, 21 (b. 1850), Seaman, b. Wick, Caithness, Scotland
Williamina Swanson, Daughter, Unmarried, Female, 17 (b. 1854), Millworker, b. Wick, Caithness, Scotland
John Swanson, Son, Unmarried, Male, 11 (b. 1860), Scholar, b. Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Isabella Green, Boarder, Unmarried, Female, 20 (b. 1851), Millworker, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Elizabeth Stuart, Boarder, Unmarried, Female, 17 (b. 1854), Millworker, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

1881 Census
Shore Street, Thurso, Caithness, Scotland
John Swanson    63, Head, Sailor, b Thurso
Mary Swanson    60, wife, b Aberdeen
John Swanson, 21, son, Sailor, b Aberdeen

1891 Census
Shore Street, Thurso, Caithness, Scotland
John Swanson    31, Sailor [Tailor], b. Aberdeen
Catherine Swanson    21, wife, b. Thurso.
Edan Swanson    1,  daughter, b. Thurso

1901 Census
At sea on “The Lark”
Harry Dunnett    57, Master, seaman
John Swanson    41, Mate, seaman
James Mckenzie    15, Cook, seaman
Lewes Dennez    65, Watchman, born Gibraltar.

1901 Census
15 Shore Street, Thurso, Caithness, Scotland
Mary Swanson    81, Head
Cathine Swanson    33, Married, Sailor’s Wife
Johan Swanson    11, Daughter, scholar
Alexander Swanson    9
John Swanson    7, Son, scholar
Donald Swanson    5, son
Hugh Swanson    2, Son

1911 Census
38 Shore street, Thurso, Caithness, Scotland
John Swanson 51, Master Mariner, worker, b Aberdeen
Johan Swanson 21, daughter, single, b Thurso
John Swanson, 17, son, single, House painter, b Thurso
Donald Swanson 14, son, single, Plumber (apprentice), b Thurso
Hugh Swanson 11, son, School, b Thurso
Mary Swanson 6, daughter, School, b Thurso

Valuation Rolls Search
1905
Tenant Occupier
WIDOW
SWANSON JOHN
HOUSE SHORE STREET THURSO BURGH EAST
THURSO
CAITHNESS COUNTY
VR94 / 39 / 28

1915 Owner
SWANSON JOHN
HOUSE 38 SHORE STREET THURSO CAITHNESS COUNTY
VR94 / 42 / 163

1915 Owner Tenant Occupier
SWANSON JOHN
HOUSE 38 SHORE STREET THURSO CAITHNESS COUNTY VR94 / 42 / 163

Death Certificate
1915 DEATHS in the Paris of Thurso in the County of Caithness
Name and Surname: John Swanson
Rank or Profession: Seaman (Master)
and whether Single, Married, or Widowed: Widower of Catherine Davidson
When and Where Died: 1915, February Ninth 2h 0m, P.M. 38 Shore Street Thurso
Sex: M
Age: 55 years
Name, Surname, & Rank or Profession of Father: John Swanson, Seaman (Deceased)
Name, and Maiden Surname of Mother: Mary Swanson, formerly Williamson MS Neven (deceased)
Cause of Death: Natural Incompetence
Duration of Disease: 2 Yrs
Cause of Death: Clscites
Duration of Disease: 3mns
As certified by Alex Asher UB CM Edin
Informant: John Swanson, Son, present
Registration: 1915 February 10 AT Thurso
Registrar William McPherson

kindest regards,
Alan Thompson
Perth, Western Australia

Could this phrase be "died when young. Does not (know??)"

I'm half hoping it is not, as I have another dead end if that is the case!

Hi All,

I've located what I believe to be the documents recording the arrival of my GGGG grandparents as immigrants from England to New South Wales. They arrived on the "Duke of Roxburgh" 10 Jan 1842. I sourced the record on Ancestry from "New South Wales, Australia, Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896"

Source Citation: State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood New South Wales, Australia; Persons on bounty ships (Agent's Immigrant Lists); Series: 5316; Reel: 2135; ; Item: [4/4782].

They have easily been the most elusive of relatives to track down— this is the first document I've found that identifies Samuel Joseph Howard's partner's name as "Sarah", however, try as I might, I am unable to decipher the names of her parents on the immigration form.

Would any one have any thoughts?

All the best,
Alan Thompson

Hi Whipby,

Yes, I have seen this now, and I really do have to wonder! Another possibility is a death nearby in Hartlepool in 1920.

I really am going to have to purchase some certificates to find out. Unfortunately there was a complete break between my Grandfather (Ralph's son) and his family in England, and this might go some way to explaining it. My grandfather was a man I only later on found out was badly damaged by his experiences in the second world war, and I never really got to know him.

Its good to understand a bit more about his past however sad that was.

thanks for the links.

Hello, I'm researching my grandfather's family who came from Middlesborough, Yorkshire. My grandfather immigrated alone to Fremantle, Western Australia in 1928 on the s.s. Ballarat. I believe he was part of the Empire settlement scheme to Australia at that time. He pretty much left his past behind him, as did his children, (even more so!), so piecing together where he came from has been challenging.

His father was Ralph Thompson, who was born in Bishopwearmouth, Sunderland, Durham, about 1859 and moved as a child with his family to Middlesborough. His father, John Thompson was an Enginewright and died when Ralph was 12. He lived with his widowed mother Margaret (nee: Tomkinson) (or vice versa?) until her death before 1901.

They lived at 63 Wood Street, Middlesborough

Ralph married Elizabeth Ann Gray, born 8 Jun 1870 in Stockton, Durham at the registry office in Middlesborough on 25 Nov 1895. Elizabeth already had an illegitimate child born 29 Nov 1894. I have no idea if Ralph was the father, however Maud was part of the family along with the the following children, all born in Middlesborough:

Annie Lilian Victoria Thompson (b. abt Mar 1898)
John William Thompson (b. abt Sep 1899)
Ethel Thompson (b. Sep 1904)
Robert (b 8 Dec 1905) (My grandfather)
Charles Bloomfield Thompson (b. Sep 1909 d. Mar 1910)
Elsie Thompson (b. abt 1914)

I believe John William Thompson was killed in France in 1917.

Ralph Thompson was an Engine Driver and a Dockyard crane operator.
He was still alive at by 1914, but deceased by the time of my Grandfather's marriage in Western Australia, 1933.
According to a descendent of his wife's first daughter, Maude, her family tradition is that he died in an industrial accident on the docks.

I would very much like to know what did happen to Ralph as I have been able to find no record of his passing. I would also like to learn more about what happened to the rest of the family- are there any other relatives out there?

This is my first posing to this board, so my apologies if I've placed this request in the wrong place.
kindest regards,
Alan Thompson