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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Selkirkshire => Topic started by: kb0fhp on Thursday 25 October 12 04:15 BST (UK)
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I found the attached postcard in a box of my father's, from his father. It was among an envelope of items from my grandfather's grandfather, Thomas McKenzie. Thomas McKenzie was born 24 July 1848 in Forres, Moray and died 07 February 1925. The postmark on the post card appears to be 22 July 22. However, at this time (assuming it to be 1922),Thomas McKenzie would have been at Sidney House, Nevendon, Wickford, Essex, England. I have this from a series of letters showing the location, as well as his death certificate.
Using Photoshop, I was able to bring out the very faded writing:
"Dear Cousin:
I have mailed you a P.C. [post card] so here it is. I enjoyed my sail (stay) Rothery(?) all you with you but it was a miserable day. Hope you are all hearing (?) well. Wish ____ and everything ___ holidays.
Best love from Sue"
I have absolutely no clue who this Thomas is - it could be my Thomas McKenzie, but the location is completely wrong. He did not have any sons with the name Thomas, but yet this was found among his things. Further, none of my relatives, as far as I can tell were from the Selkirk region, but were from the North Berwick, East Lothian area or Logierait, Perthshire.
I am not familiar with the stamps of this time. I am assuming that it is the U.K. Can any one provide me with some ideas regarding this postcard - like who is Thomas McKenzie, and why Selkirk?
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Not knowing the geography, I would read that as the writer spent a day with thomas and family at that address where they were staying on holiday (as you say they were not from Selkirk)
Could this not be the case? Especially if it's been kept in the family all this time.
Dawn M
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Dont know is this helps, the postcards has been posted to an address in Galashiels not actually Selkirk.
Terry
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It is a UK stamp and the postmark is Jy 22 10. I wasn't sure whether Jy would be January or July but a bit of a google reveals 22nd January 1910 was a Saturday and 22nd July 1910 a Friday. I think the first word of the correspondence is '(Friday)', therefore most likely written and posted in July I reckon (not that that helps at all really!).
Have you found any relatives named Sue/Susan/Suzanne who could be the cousin?
Heather :)
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Selkirk on the address would be short for Selkirkshire(County of) I think.
"Master" could refer to someone who is young , which may tie in with the photograph :-\
(Would an older man be addressed as "Tom" ?)
ev
Added - wonder if "Rothery" is actually Rothesay , Bute ?
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"Dear Cousin:
I have mailed you a P.C. [post card] so here it is. I enjoyed my sail (stay) Rothery(?) all you with you but it was a miserable day. Hope you are all hearing (?) well. Wish ____ and everything ___ holidays.
Best love from Sue"
I think hearing is actually keaping (as spelt)
I agree with the date Jy 22 10. Trying to decipher where it was posted (round the top of the stamp) but not doing very well!
Linda
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This could be where Tom was living/staying
www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1106554
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Postmark looks like TARBOLTON (South Ayrshire).
"I enjoyed my sail? to Rothesay"
"..... & Adam ....."
I'm not about the signature being Sue - the second letter looks more like a an 'L' or an uncrossed 'T'.
Anne
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Is this a family photograph or might it be a stock postcard with just a cute picture of a little lad in his father's boots? Something that anyone might buy from a gift shop or similar? The verse on the front of the card seems to indicate this, unless of course the original poster recognises the lad.
Heather
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WR&S - William Ritchie & Sons 1902 - 1928
London England and Edinburgh Scotland
This one is printed in Germany so it may be pre WW1 stock
ev
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Definitely pre WW1 stock as it was posted in 1910! ;)
Heather
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have a friend in the local area who's family name is mckenzie, I know her family came from the arygll & bute area back in the past and moved down to the Scottish Borders in the late 1800's.
I'll ask her if it means anything to her.
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Just turning the postcard text the right way round for ease of reading if it helps with the deciphering:
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Definitely pre WW1 stock as it was posted in 1910
I was thinking it was 1922 :-[ ::)
ev
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Is there any connection to golf, greenkeeping or the likes? As Danuslave pointed out, there is a house of this name associated with Galashiels Golf Club and though the club was in abandonment at the time in question, it was reformed shortly after:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galashiels_Golf_Club
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Is this a family photograph or might it be a stock postcard with just a cute picture of a little lad in his father's boots? Something that anyone might buy from a gift shop or similar? The verse on the front of the card seems to indicate this, unless of course the original poster recognises the lad.
Heather
I really think that this is a stock photograph.
I wasn't sure how to read the postmark. If the date is 1910, then it could be the brother of my grandfather Adam, Tommie McKenzie, who died 08 January 1912 of diphtheria in Ottawa Canada. He was born in Kilmarnock.
My GGF was a gardener/forester, and was at Dean Castle (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,609625.0.html) so this is possible that he was there on holiday or for work. I have no documentation of any connection with the golf course.
I have no idea who Ellen or Sue could be.
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I tried to find out how to read old postmarks to verify the date but haven't had much luck.
What I did find though was that this green stamp is a King Edward VII halfpenny (probably obvious to the stamp collectors among us!), and that he reigned from 22nd January 1901 - 6th May 1910. That seems to confirm the likely date of 1910 for postage.
Heather :)
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definately 1910 and JY is january, JL was july.
mike
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"..... & Adam ....."
As Anne(apanderson) has already mentioned
Also there is a Thomas B.(R ?) Mckenzie b. c1904 going from Glasgow to Quebec in 1910
In the 1911 Census there are only 4 M*ckenzie's in Selkirk(shire) , only one in Galashiels
ev
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"..... & Adam ....."
As Anne(apanderson) has already mentioned
Also there is a Thomas B.(R ?) Mckenzie b. c1904 going from Glasgow to Quebec in 1910
In the 1911 Census there are only 4 M*ckenzie's in Selkirk(shire) , only one in Galashiels
ev
From what I can tell, this Thomas in the post card, is the same "wee Tommie" in the memorial cards. The family traveled from Glasgow to Montreal on the Saturnia in 1910.
I am wondering the connection to Galashiels - and who this McKenzie is, and how they are related (cousins probably). How is the best way to get this census?
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Don't forget about the postmark being Tarbolton and why it would have been posted from there.
I have no idea if there were any 'central' post-offices to which all the mail would go to be sorted, but it's found it's way there somehow!
Anne :)
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That is a good idea - I never thought of that - I was too focused on the person that the card was addressed to. I believe that Tarbolton is in Ayrshire?
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Yes, South Ayrshire - almost directly east of Prestwick.
Anne
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I have found some additional information regarding the location. Thomas McKenzie and Eliza Merrilees McKenzie had a daughter Caroline Larpen McKenzie, who married Peter Irvine. See the attached marriage record. It shows that Caroline lived at Appletree Leaves in 1903. However, this shows that it is in the districk of Langshaw, in the county of Roxburgh. I believe that this is in Selkirk.
It appears that Thomas changed positions from being gardener at Ballechin, Logierait, Perthshire to Selkirk. So it appears that Tommie, son of William Hay McKenzie visited his father in Appletreeleaves...it also appears that he was the witness to his sister's marriage.
Whew!
Moderator Comment: Only small sections of images should be included for help with deciphering etc. Thank you.
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Hi,
It is definately in Galashiels. At one time parts of Gala were in Roxburghshire and the rest in Selkirkshire. This property is at the end of Gala that was in Roxburghshire which is the part furthest away from Selkirk. Confusing I know. Selkirk in Selkirkshire (at that time) is maybe 5/6 miles from Gala.
Now both are in Ettrick and Lauderdale District. Hope this helps.
Terry
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just to set the record straight Langshaw area is now split between Melrose Parish, Roxburghshire and Galashiels Parish, Selkirkshire, its a couple of miles north east of Galashiels
However this only applies to the last 50-100 years, due to boundary changes
In the past the Langshaw & Langlee and Ladhope areas of Galashiels were all part of the Melrose parish, Roxburghshire the boundary was the Gala Water which runs through Galashiels north was Roxburghshire & south was Selkirkshire - Galashiels was a smaller town back then and only started growing in the mid to late 1800's with the Tweed Mills.
for instance the Langshaw SWRI is part of Roxburghshire Federation till this day
But having Selkirk on the Address could be a simply mistake because its closest, and because the Postal service was local they would know the local area and would get there easily
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Thank you.
Now the issue is whether the post card was sent to "wee" Tommie or his grandfather. I am suspecting that it was sent to the younger Thomas because of the "Master". Was this usage common at that time?
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"Master" as far as I know was often used to address a young boy.
Would a Victorian grandfather be addressed as "Master Tom Mckenzie" c1911 :-\
ev
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Not familiar with Victorian customs, I am not sure, but I suspect that you are right, and it was addressed to the son of William Hay McKenzie, who was Gardener at Dean Castle, and eventually emigrated to Canada in August 1910. Perhaps it was a "goodbye" trip.