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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Dunbartonshire => Topic started by: griogair on Wednesday 20 June 07 10:10 BST (UK)

Title: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: griogair on Wednesday 20 June 07 10:10 BST (UK)
I've got a few Duntocher pictures here that I'd like to share. I'll try this one first and make sure that it works before I continue with the rest.

This first pic features who I’m 99% certain is my grandfather, John Thomson, in the back row and far left of the picture, and my grandfather’s brother, Alexander Thomson, fifth from the left in the back row. My granda was born in Duntocher in 1907 and his brother Alex was born in 1904 in Duntocher, and from the picture I’d say that they’re roughly in their mid 20s. So, using my (probably incorrect) logic the picture was taken sometime in the early 1930s. I presume the picture was taken in Duntocher or Hardgate and perhaps some eagle-eyed viewer may have an idea of which back garden it was taken in! I’m not sure at all what the occasion is; perhaps the accordion gives some sort of clue, I just don’t know, but it does look as if they’re dressed for a leisurely day out, perhaps the Duntocher Gala, or something similar. I’d be delighted to hear if anyone recognises someone from the picture.

More to come.....
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: griogair on Friday 22 June 07 14:41 BST (UK)
Here's another picture, for your perusal. Again, I'd love to hear of anyone who has a connection to someone in the picture. The title at the bottom says "The Hardgates of Duntocher". As this one was taken from quite a distance it's quite difficult to zoom in and make a positive identification of the individuals. I'm presuming my grandfather is in the pic (I haven't got round to getting my dad to make a positive ID yet) and if he's one of the younger ones at the back, that would mean the photo was mid to late 1910s.

All the best
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: pettsy on Saturday 23 June 07 15:22 BST (UK)
What great photo's griogair, thank you for sharing them with us.
I was searching the 1910 photo to see if I could recognise my great grandfather and his brothers, the Munn's from Duntocher.

Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: tootsiepie on Sunday 24 June 07 14:22 BST (UK)
What wonderful photos ,  but does anyone else think they have been taken in the same time frame???  Not 20 yrs apart.   Look at the characters and their clothing....  That ''cricket'' jumper with the shirt underneath, also the chap with the neckerchief,   the ''dapper'' lad who liked to appear smart at all times  ;D..  I think they were taken the same year.
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: pettsy on Sunday 24 June 07 14:29 BST (UK)
What year do you think they were taken?
1910?

 :)
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: tootsiepie on Sunday 24 June 07 15:43 BST (UK)
1930 ish?????  but I really don't know.
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: pettsy on Sunday 24 June 07 15:45 BST (UK)

My family wouldn't be in it then, they were all killed in WW1  :'(

Still they are great photo's.

Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: griogair on Sunday 24 June 07 23:33 BST (UK)
Many thanks for your comments. I can now see clearly what you mean about the lad with the cricket jumper. The photos are clearly taken at around the same time as he has the same clothes on in both photos! Therefore both would've been taken around the late 20s/early 30s. I feel a bit daft for not noticing before  :-[

I'll post any others I have on this board if anyone's interested.
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: farmer on Monday 25 June 07 00:19 BST (UK)
Aye, Griogair,
Great photos.   The Hardgates - a lot going on in that photo!  I wonder what the occasion was?
More photos please!
Pete
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: pettsy on Monday 25 June 07 00:35 BST (UK)
Yes more photo's please  ;)
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: tootsiepie on Monday 25 June 07 13:46 BST (UK)
I'd also like to see more photos  :)  and I'd love to know what they were up to in the second photo.   Rolled up trousers and Nicky Tams!!!!
Either dirty work where they didn't want the bottom of their trousers dirty  OR  they didn't want ''something'' going up the legs of their trousers  ;D .. Also the inscription on the second photo looks like they were a kind of team.  ''The Hardgates''. 
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: joette on Tuesday 03 July 07 11:22 BST (UK)
Hardgate is a part of Duntocher.As you come to the Roundabout from Main St Duntocher that then is Hardgate.Goldenhill Park is just above.Where I spent many a happy hour.
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: Debbie in B.C. on Tuesday 07 August 07 22:54 BST (UK)
I echo everyone Else's sentiments... More pictures please!

I wouldn't be surprised if some of my lot are in that picture - Stewarts. 
I have sent the link to my Uncle, maybe he will recognize some of the faces?  Fingers crossed.
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: lindy-lou on Thursday 03 January 08 21:51 GMT (UK)
Hi there, going through your posts we came across your photos: a little info for you, 5th from the left rear row is Alexander known as "Sanny" and rear row far right is Robert "Roger"(Delias father). the 1st group photo shows the Hardgate "Quoiting" club, a game where horseshoes are tossed at a stake, the group travelled and were successful throughout scotland. the 2nd photo is believed to have been taken at the "Knowes" at the old Hardgate hospital, "Roger" 2nd row in middle is the  only one we recognise, we are going to show photo to other family members and hopefully get back to you with more names etc, etc.
look forward to hearing from you
lindy-lou :)
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: FINNE on Friday 25 July 08 15:38 BST (UK)
Hi

I am related to a Peter Gillan (or Gillon) and Anne Keenan married in Duntocher in about 1843.  They lived there (or Old Kilpatrick) till the 1860s when Anne died I think - later Clydebank.  They had several children: Thomas, John, Peter/Hugh twins, possibly another boy.  He later remarried and has 3 more children: Peter, Isabella plus another boy who were orphaned when he died in 1880s I think.

Where in Ireland are your Gillans from?

I'm interested in chatting with any Gillans from Glasgow or Ireland or anyone who is researching Irish/Scottish links.

Best Wishes
Finne
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: Les Horn on Saturday 09 August 08 23:30 BST (UK)
Hi Finne

I can give you some info re Peter Gillan/Gillon b c1823 IRL :

Peter Gillon b 1823 IRL d 28/12/1883 Western Infirmary, Glasgow LNK
m1 Nov 1843 Duntiocher DNB
Ann Keenan b c 1827 IRL  d 28/6/1865 Orchard St (now Vine St) Partick LNK
___ Thomas Gillan b 1846 OK DNB
___ Francis Gillan b 1848 OK DNB
___ John Gillan b 1850 OK DNB
___ Peter Gillan b 20:30 - 27/2/1857 Wilkie's Land, Main St (now Dumbarton Rd) Duntocher DNB
___ Hugh Gillan b 20:55 - 27/2/1857 Wilkie's Land, Main St (now Dumbarton Rd) Duntocher DNB
m2 1/12/1867 St Joseph's Chapel, Milton, Glasgow LNK
Euphemia Wilson b 1832 Barrhead RFW  d 3/9/1883 Walker St., Partick LNK
___ Euphemia Gillan b 11/5/1867 Maryhill, Glasgow LNK
___ Isabella Gillan b 11/1/1870  Maryhill, Glasgow LNK
___ Mary Gillan b 7/3/1873 Maryhill, Glasgow LNK
___ Peter Gillan b 1876 Maryhill, Glasgow LNK

My wife is descended from Hugh Gillan (b 1857)+ Mary Brown m 10/7/1878 St Patrick's RC Chapel, Anderston, Glasgow LNK.

Hope this is useful
Les
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: elorac64 on Monday 23 February 09 21:53 GMT (UK)
hello there....yes my husband is a relative of yours....will explain more if you reply to this as i dont know if you still use this
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: Les Horn on Monday 23 February 09 23:11 GMT (UK)
Hi

Can you reply off-List.
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Please replace _ with @ sign

Many thanks
Les

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Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: maggiepiano on Sunday 02 August 09 00:34 BST (UK)
my gillons are in antrim and sligo in 1801. i have discovered several different spellings - gillan, gillen. But because there are lots of gillons in scotland and the name is french originally I though they might have come over in the 1500s and then went to ireland after the act of union in 1701. If you read the history of scotland- there was a lot of ill feeling because it basically removed all power from the scottish parliament and lots of people emigrated to the us and ireland after that- any thoughts?
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: allan.coyle on Wednesday 12 August 09 13:33 BST (UK)
showed these photos to my grandfathew William John Connelly who recognised the two Thomson brothers and believes one of them later moved to Aukintoshan av and may have died there. He also recognised the tallest guy second from the right back row as Borland Black, a well known chap who can be seen taking centre stage in the second photo. The guy on the far bottom right is one of the McKinleys who stayed at Hornes land.

He recognises the back court of the cottages that used to line the north side of dumbarton road where the shops at the cammeron house now stand, which would tie in nicely with the Quoiting club explanation. The remains of the quoiting green and clubhouse can still be seen hidden amoungst the trees.

Has anyone heard the legend of the Black diamond club in duntocher ?

It may have been secritive and would have had a Grand Master and pecking order etc. Little is known about this, but older relatives may have heard of some of the violent initiation ceremonys.

Cheers

AC

Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: Marie Kelly on Sunday 06 September 09 12:32 BST (UK)
Don't think I could recognise anyone in this photo but would love to know if my Grandfather, Patrick Kelly, is in it. He was born in Duntocher around 1901, married to Agnes Cassidy about 1932, they had 2 sons and 2 daughters. He later died in 1941.
Any help would be appreciated. My Dad died last year and I would love to know more about my family.
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: allan.coyle on Monday 07 September 09 09:30 BST (UK)
I know of Cassidy's and Kelly's that still stay in the village but will ask My grandfather about your other family members. He should know them, the village was pretty tight before the 50's and 60's

Cheers

AC
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: Gillan on Wednesday 23 September 09 03:18 BST (UK)
Hugh Gillan was my grandfather.  My father was William Brown Gillan (b.5 May, 1892) and died on 29 Dec.1945.  He is buried in the British Cemetery in Mexico City along side his older brother Hugh.  My father's brother Nicholas remained in Glasgow and later raised Hugh's two sons (who were born in Mexico).  Sister Mary also remained in Glasgow, but another brother (Frank?) was in Coventry at the time of the notorious blitz of that city.  Keep in touch!

David Gillan (U.S.A)
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: allan.coyle on Wednesday 23 September 09 09:49 BST (UK)
There are also Gillans still living in the village. Im assuming that your Father/uncles etc were from the village ?
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: Gillan on Thursday 24 September 09 03:00 BST (UK)
Hugh Gillan's marriage certificate indicates that he resided in Renfrew.  His son William was born in Renfrew...so there might not be a direct connection with the Gillans in Duntocher.

David Gillan (U.S.A.)
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: griogair on Monday 01 February 10 15:32 GMT (UK)
Sorry to take so long in replying. Many thanks to everyone who has posted on this thread and especially to Allan Coyle who mentioned the names of a couple of boys in the photos. I would also be intrigued to find out more about the "Black Diamonds". I must ask my dad when I speak to him next. I was wondering Allan, if you would mind showing another few photos to your grandfather. They were among my gran's photos, so there will definitely be a Duntocher connection - she died about 10 years ago and no-one in the family now knows who the people are in the pictures. It's a long shot maybe but you never know. I'll post the pictures on this thread later once I've scanned them.

Many thanks,

Griogair
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: allan.coyle on Monday 01 February 10 17:27 GMT (UK)
No problem Griogair,

We might as well put his village cliquishness to good use while we still can. Anything from the 20s onwards.

As for the "Black Diamond", I did manage to find some info on this. It apparently started amongst a group who worked and frequented the old Hibs park.
It was initiated by a well known village character called "William"(I think) Boyd, a well known village prankster and major player in the parks construction during the depression.

It was apparently started as a kind of mock Masonic club for a laugh and took place in the hibby groundsmans shed. The entrance fee was a piece of coal which would have been stolen from the adjacent primary school bunker, hence the "Black Diamond".
There was a pecking order with Boyd as chairman and another guy as Grand Wizard ! Outside the gathering they would mix in the pubs and shops as normal with no mention of the club. If someone was said to have spoke of the club or the grand wizard was physically touched by a member during the day or in the pub, that member would face a kangaroo court at the club that night, where Boyd would wear a knitted wig and dish out some kind of painful or embarrassing punishment in front of the other members.

This might all seem like a bit of a laugh, but I know for a fact that the "black diamond" grew to a point where there were new larger premises rented to fit all members.
The BD lasted for decades I'm told.
I know many of the names of members and rented venue which still exists today but many people still seem to be unwilling to talk about it. One old guy even advised me "Don't ask daft questions about stuff that's long dead son".

This has left me even more intrigued.

The badge of the "new" duntocher hibs juniors has a Black diamond as part of the motif, I think there is a misconception that local fans were so poor that the would gain entrance to the games with a lump of coal. This was never the case as poorer fans would have been allowed in for free.
does the "Black Diamond " still have an influence ??
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: griogair on Tuesday 02 February 10 10:50 GMT (UK)
Hi Allan, thanks for the info on the Black Diamonds. I'll definitely be asking my dad about them but I doubt he'll say much even if he does know!

Here are some Duntocher related pictures. Incidentally, my profile picture is of my great-grandfather, John Thomson a.k.a. Auld Jock, who lived in Carleith Avenue until he passed away aged about 80 odds in the early 1960s. I wonder if your grandfather remembers him? Anyway, these first 2 are group shots with a few of the same faces from the first 2 pictures I posted and a good few others as well.

Cheers,

Griogair
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: al graham on Wednesday 25 January 12 13:48 GMT (UK)
Sorry to take so long in replying. Many thanks to everyone who has posted on this thread and especially to Allan Coyle who mentioned the names of a couple of boys in the photos. I would also be intrigued to find out more about the "Black Diamonds". I must ask my dad when I speak to him next. I was wondering Allan, if you would mind showing another few photos to your grandfather. They were among my gran's photos, so there will definitely be a Duntocher connection - she died about 10 years ago and no-one in the family now knows who the people are in the pictures. It's a long shot maybe but you never know. I'll post the pictures on this thread later once I've scanned them.

Many thanks,

Griogair
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: griogair on Thursday 22 March 12 10:05 GMT (UK)
Hi Al Graham,

Many thanks for the info on your grandfather. I think your first post relating to this thread ended up elsewhere but for anyone else who is interested in these photos I'll copy and paste Al's post here:

"Hello all

New to this so bear with me please. The last 2 pics on page 3 of the Duntocher thread includes my grandfather Daniel Black, brother of (David) Borland Black and a well known quoits man in his day.

Dan is

Front row -4 in from right pic 1
Back row - 5 in from left.

Dan had 4 brothers, David Borland Black, William Watson Black, Archibald Black, George Paterson Black.  His Father also Daniel was killed in Dec 1914, WW1.

If anyone wants more information on the Black family of Duntocher/the Hardgate please let me know.

Dan was a lovely man and a real thrill to see him as a young man. Thanks for posting

Al Graham"
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: allan.coyle on Sunday 08 November 15 19:55 GMT (UK)
Hi peeps,

Not been on here in a while, wondering if any of you guys can help with this Duntocher photo. We beleave that the boy second from the left on the front row may be my grandfather. the photo might be Duntocher public school or the scouts. We reckon it's mid 30s.
Can anyone claim any of these boys ?

Thanks

AC
Title: Re: Some Duntocher laddies
Post by: Bethgillan on Friday 14 April 17 05:58 BST (UK)
I just found this site.  I am Beth Gillan.  I am related to a string of Gillan's from Partick, mostly John Gillan's.  I father in law is a John Gillan living in the US.  I am planning a trip soon to Scotland with my son to see where the Gillan's lived.