RootsChat.Com
Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Midlothian => Topic started by: CathyGunn on Friday 09 May 08 13:40 BST (UK)
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My grandfather George Wemyss Gunn lived in Leith and married Bessie Gillies on 2nd January 1926. George's parents are listed on the marriage certificate as (also) George Wemyss Gunn and Margaret Gunn nee Ferguson. I trace this branch of the family back to an address at 5 East Cromwell St (4 rooms with one or more windows in the 1901 census!) I find lots of kids and two previous addresses at 35 Fox St and 2 Poplar Lane. So far so good.
The puzzle is where was my grandfather born (in July 1903 I think) and how is it possible that he was half black when both his parents and all his siblings seem to have been 100% white? I think this is unusual for Leith in the early 1900s, although I suppose the sea port angle could make it a no brainer. Like so many families - no one ever talked about this and there is no one old enough to know
This list - which I have just joined seems to be a mine of useful information so I am posting this request in the hope that someone might be able to assist. I'd also be interested to know if East Cromwell St is still standing.
Thanks in anticipation
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Hello Cathy - welcome to Rootschat.
19 George Gunns born in Scotland from 1900 to 1905. Only 2 in Edindurgh. The other is shown with the wrong middle name.
This looks like yours - from the pay per view site www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
1904 GUNN GEORGE M LEITH NORTH EDINBURGH CITY/MIDLOTHIAN 692/01 0077
No guarantees. £6 buys 5 download extracts - which give a mine of info. Am out of credits - again - or I'd do it. Good luck. Regards, Steve :O)
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Hi Cathy
East Cromwell street is still standing ;) Just have a look at one of the modern mapping sites such as google maps or streetmap. The full address with postcode: East Cromwell St Edinburgh, Midlothian EH6
Monica :)
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Thanks for these two (prompt) replies - the George Gunn born in 1904 suggested is not my grandfather. I have spent quite a bit of time searching the scotlandspeople website and his birth seems not to be registered here. I have ordered copies of his marriage and death certificates in the hope these might reveal something. Takes a while for these to arrive - and longer because they have to get to NZ.
Good to know that the street where the old family home was still exists. I'll keep looking....
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Cathy -
East Cromwell Street still exists, down in North Leith and just off Coburg Street, but it has mostly - or all - been redeveloped and I doubt whether any houses are still there. On an aerial photograph taken about 2000 the buildings in the street look like warehouses. The same applies to Fox Street and Poplar Lane which you mention.
Sorry if this is unwelcome news.
I'll have a look, next time I'm down that way: I live only a few miles away.
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Hi Cathy
Just discovered this posting. Your great, great grandparents would have been the same as mine - George Wemyss Gunn (b 1847) who married Margaret Laughton Scott (b. 1847). Their son George did indeed marry Margaret Ferguson and their son George was your grandfather who, on the records I've got, was born in 2 East Cromwell Street, Leith, in 1904.
2 and 5 East Cromwell Street, and Poplar Lane, are addresses that pop up regularly with the Gunns.
My great grandmother was Helen Gunn, born 1871 - the daughter of George Gunn and Margaret Scott.
Have a reasonable amount of info on all this, plus a gedcom file. Get in touch as I've discovered very few living relatives on this side of the family!
All the best
Dave
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And I've just re-read your other posting about the 1904 George not being your grandfather...
Still clearly a connection, even if it looks like I've the wrong George in as your grandfather..
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Have just discovered this website and your posting from 2008.
My mother was Margaret Scott Gilchrist (nee Gunn), you grandfather's young sister.
I have vivid memories of Uncle Dodo (as we called him) and Auntie Bessie living in Coburg Street as we lived with my grandfather, George Gunn, at 2 East Cromwell Street until 1952. My great grandparents, George Gunn and Margaret Laughton Gunn had lived on the opposite side of the street at No. 5 and had a grocer shop (as you probably know).
I remember quite a lot about the family from things my mother spoke of but your grandfather has always been a mystery as nothing was ever said. I have assumed from the secrecy that his birth mother might have been another member of the family or a friend. A black baby with white parents must have raised a few eyebrows in Leith at the time.
I would be most interest to know if you have discovered anything more and sincerely hope you are still checking this site.
Best wishes
Evelyn
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Time passes and the 1911 census is now available which gives the answer.
George aged 7 is the adopted son of George and Margaret. Born Lanarkshire, Glasgow.
Adoptions before 1930
Before 1930 adoptions were arranged on a private basis, either by individuals or by one of a number of charitable adoption agencies. NRS currently holds no records for adoptions before 1930.
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Hi
Thanks for pointing me back to the list Dave. I hadn't logged in for a while so hadn't seen the messages.
Great to hear from another living relative. For such a large family a few generations back we seem to be few in number now. Maybe the connections have been lost.
I did find the 1911 census record about my grandfather being born in Glasgow and adopted, and also wondered if one of his birth parents might have been a Gunn family member. I'm thinking of DNA testing to find out if this is the case as no other trails can be found. My father (who is still alive but doesn't talk about his father!) said he believed his father was born in Leith and never asked or wondered about his background.
I'd need some volunteers for the DNA matching....
cheers
Cathy
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Cathy
So nice to read your recent posting and very glad you have picked up the list again. I would be happy to do DNA test if you think I'm a suitable candidate. As I have said, my mother was your grandfathers sister with about 7 years between them and this posting has brought it all back to me.
I still exchange Christmas cards with your mother. Perhaps she would let me have your e-mail address so we can exchange information as we have done considerable research into various branches of the family.
Best wishes
Evelyn
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Hi Evelyn,
You need to have made 3 posts before you can use the PM system. Reply to this message and that will be you complete. Then go to Cathys last message, you will see a little scroll, coloured darkngreen if offline, bright green if online, just click on that and you will be able to send a personal message, exchange emails without anyone else seeing.
Good Luck with your research,
Tom
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Tom
Thanks for that. I am not yet sure of all the procedures.
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Just a quick post to join the discussion, and say Hi!, from another branch of the clan! My roots are from the Flanagan line, same as Dave, my father being William Ward Flanagan, son of JC Flanagan and Helen Flanagan nee Gunn. Dave's grandfather being my uncle. This line dropped the Flanagan and my Dad took his middle name as a surname.
Anyway, my Dad worked with Gillies Slaters and Roofers and my sister and brother remember George 'Dod' Gunn from those days, presumably in the '40s and into the '50s. My sister also said that somewhere in the family is a workplace group photo with Dad and Dod. I'm searching!!!
Regards from Scotland,
Alex
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Nice to get another response.
My grandfather, George (Dod) Gunn certainly worked with Jack Gillies until he retired at 65, and lived with us in Juniper Green into his 80s. His daughter, Margaret (my mother) , also worked in Gillies's office from leaving school until the end of the war.
Jack Gilllies's first marriage was to my grandfather's sister, Johanna, a professional pianist who died very young.
I seem to recall the name May Flanagan - am I on the right track - was she perhaps my mother's cousin??
Regards
Evelyn
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Evelyn, can't PM you yet as I've not made enough postings. Just piecing together the Gunn/Laughton/Scott side of the family tree after a long break from it all. You're more than welcome to have access to the information I have so far.
So far I've never been able to find a birth record for your great grandfather (my great, great grandfather) George Gunn 1847-1908. Nor have I been able to trace the family's origins beyond Leith. Assume they would have come from Caithness at some point in the past. Not sure if it was ever discussed within your family.
As far as the Flanagan line goes, we're assuming my great grandfather (an Irish seaman) lodged with my great, great grandparents George and Margaret (the grocers) as he subsequently married their daughter Helen. Cousin Alex is currently on the case too. More the merrier!
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Hi DaveFlanagan,
Dave just to advise you that you have reached the 3 post mark, and as such you can use the PM system now.
Tom
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Dave
My son in London is the one who is doing all the research on this - so I am getting it all '2nd hand'. He has promised to join in this conversation when he is a bit less busy.
We have the Gunns going back to Renfrewshire and the Laughtons/Scotts to Orkney. Would be glad of any info you have.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Regards Evelyn
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Hi
I'm back on the trail after a long absence - and a change of email address which ment that I was not receiving new notifications from RootsChat :'(.
I'm interested in what Evelyn said about tracing the Gunns back to Renfreshire and would welcome any information. I never got further back than Leith in the 1840s. I also assume our line of Gunns came from Caithness, but have no idea if that would be a result of the clearances.
I'm interested on Dave's comment that 'Their son George did indeed marry Margaret Ferguson and their son George was your grandfather who, on the records I've got, was born in 2 East Cromwell Street, Leith, in 1904.' If this George Gunn wasn't my grandfather, then who was he? I've found another line of descendants who moved to Fife from Leith but haven't been able to trace down to the current generation.
Anyway, I hope we can pick up the threads of conversation and share any new information,
cheers
Cathy