I think I can help you with information about T G Thorburn, who was my maternal grandmother's first cousin. I have carried out a good deal of research into the Thorburns, and as I write, I have before me several items sent home by him to my grandparents in Glynneath, Wales. The first is a floral postcard with "Wilkes Barre "printed in glitter on it, which bears the message ; "Dear Friends. I suppose you thought I had forgotten you, but I have not. Well we crossed the ocean alright, and are quite settled down once more, but often wish I was in dear old Wales to have our photos taken. With best love to all".
There is a New Year card dated 1911 ; "to cousins Bessie and Ben (my grandparents) with best wishes from cousin Tom and family, Scranton". There is a booklet with photographs of Scranton: also a letter card with 20 colour photos of Scranton, sent in Sept 24, saying on it "If not delivered return to Thorburn 13th St. Scranton". Finally, there is a copy of the words and music of a song he composed entitled "America Blest Land of Freedom" with words by Ivor.C. Parry and T.G. Thorburn; music by Thos. Geo. Thorburn. Dedicated to our National Army and Navy.
The history of Thorburns in South Wales begins with Thomas Thorburn (1805 - 84). He was born in Ashkirk near Selkirk in the Scottish Borders, and died in Kidwelly (Cydweli in Welsh) in Carmarthenshire. I have a letter written by him saying that his father (also Thomas, a cabinet maker) died at sea on his way home from visiting relations in America. Thomas Jr. was a customs and Excise officer. He married in Scotland, but his wife died giving birth to a son, who survived. Thomas then moved several times, coming to Haverford West in Pembrokeshire in 1841, eventually settling in Kidwelly. He married Mary Rees from the town of Cardigan and they had ten children, eight of whom survived into adulthood. One son, Alexander Hamilton Thorburn was my great grandfather, father of my maternal grandmother. A younger son was called George Rees Thorburn. Both of them moved to Glynneath at the top of the Neath Valley in Glamorganshire. Silica-rich limestone was quarried nearby, and there was a brick works Called Abernant Brickworks in Glynneath making silica fire-brick for furnace linings. Alexander was the foreman and George Rees was a worker there. They lived in Abernant Terrace in the row of company houses. George Rees married a lady called Emily (I don't know her surname). They had five children, Sarah Jane, Thomas George (later of Scranton), William Rees, Mary Ann, and David. Apparently, Thomas George and William Rees married two sisters. According to my information, Thomas George went to the USA in 1903.
The family musical talent persisted, and one of David's sons, Aubrey, a noted musician locally, played the organ at my parents' wedding in 1933. My grandmother's brother, another William Rees Thorburn, was also a well known musician in the village.
If I can give you any further information, let me know.
