Ive got hold of the marriage cert. and Andrew McQuilter and wife Mary Anne Monaghan were married 0n 26th Sept 1862 in Houston & Killellan.
Also have a birth cert for Elizabeth, born 16 April 1861. Listed as Illegitimate. My 4 times removed Grandfather (Neil Thomson) had an affair with Mary Anne in 1860 - so she must have been "dating" Andrew at this time for Elizabeth to take the McQuilter surname?? I'm surprised she even married having had Elizabeth.
Neil married Sarah Hemphill (born 1836) on 22 March 1862. Sarah was pregnant at that time with Francis. They lived at 25 Rutherglen Lane, Govan, Glasgow for 3 months. Around this time, Elizabeth McQuilter was dropped off at their place and Neil and Sarah raise her under the surname Thomson.
I'm sure Sarah would have been surprised with the new family addition.
On 18 August 1866, Neil, Elizabeth and new daughter Mary Irvine travel to NZ.
Sarah stays to look after her Dad who dies in September and Sarah ends up in the poorhouse. Seems this was a common place to hang out !! At this time, Sarah had son Neil (who dies) and daughter Ann is born. After 9 months in the poorhouse, Sarah and Ann depart for NZ.
Its a pretty dysfunctional family - in fact, Elizabeth later has a child by Neil.
I'm now looking for Neils and Mary's roots (as these are direct bloodlines). Neils ancestors were the MacThomas's who lived near Renfrew.
Any other help greatly appreciated.