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Hello,

After you mentioned the 'Hunts' I had to go check through my records to see if the birthplace listed might have been Hunts, and not Hants. However, it seems to be Hants.

I have looked into the Phillips family in Portsea, and it was suggested there was a Fysher Phillips that had a son Robert Phillips in the Alverstoke area of Portsmouth, and thought this avanue must be worth a look see.

Can anyone help please with information about this Phillips family please.

Robert Phillips baptised 16 Jul 1820 (born April 1816) in Alverstoke, son of Fysher & Elizabeth Phillips. I am told there was a brother Fysher baptised the same day

I am looking for a Robert Phillips born abt. 1819 to 1820 born Hants. England, Found with a Shepard family in 1851 Loch Arkaig, a visitor to a family aged 30 years a shoemaker, who eventually married in Fort William in 1856.

His father was also a Robert (possibly Fysher?) Phillips listed on his sons marriage cert. as a ships carpenter, Mother, Elizabeth Negus.

Hello Trish,

Thank-you for your reply, and I very much welcome your post, and am open to any suggestions that might lead to the family home of the Phillips.

we can only go by the information we have accumulated from various entries, which I have listed below. From the information we have, we can only assume that Robert Phillips junior b. abt. 1820 was born Hampshire, England. However, it could be possible he was mistaken, or that he was born in Hampshire, and the family moved to another town or parish, maybe the father, also Robert Phillips work took the family to another town, or even abroad?

we have not managed to find the marriage of the parents father Robert Phillips, mother Elizabeth Negus to date, the parents names, and occupation (Ships Carpenter) were obtained from Robert Phillips junior's marriage certificate in 1856 Fort William, Scotland. It might be worth mentioning that, his parents were not listed as deceased on Robert Juniors marriage cert. 1856.
There might only be an OPR entry for the marriage, and possibly no marraige certificate available due to the time period, and a OPR entry very difficult to find, without locating a town for the family.

1851 Census entry find, staying with a Shepard Family in remote area of Loch Arkaig, listed as shoemaker, born Hants, England. I am intrigued why Robert Phillips is found here, and find myself asking lots of questions. I wonder why he is found here, how he got here, how did he know this family, is the wife a relative, are the Phillips listed Hampshire originally from Scotland or Wales, hopefully time will tell?

1851 Census Loch Arkaig/Kilmalie

John Angus head 24 Sheppard Roxborough
Christine wife 28
John Angus son 3
James Angus son 17 months
Jane Cameron hse servant 20
Alain Scott sheepsherd 23
Robert Phillips shoemaker 30 Hants, England.

1861 Census Fort William Area - Inverness-shire Scotland Page 5 - MALL

MALL STRONE 2 ROBERT PHILIP M HEAD M 41 AG.LAB. ENGLAND
MALL STRONE 2 ELIZABETH PHILIP F WIFE M 45 KILMUIR
MALL STRONE 2 ALEXANDER PHILIP M SON U 12 SCHOLAR KILMUIR
MALL STRONE 2 ELIZABETH PHILIP F DAUR U 6 SCHOLAR KILMALIE
MALL STRONE 2 JOHN PHILIP M SON U SCHOLAR 4 KILMALIE

Source of information: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ked1/ftwillcen.html

1871 census Kilmallie, Argyll/Inverness.

ROBERT PHILLIPS 51 LABOURER ENGLAND
ELIZABETH PHILLIPS 51
ROBERT PHILLIPS 22 CARTER KILAMLLIE
JOHN PHILLIPS 14 SCHOLAR KILAMLLIE
MARY ANN PHILLIPS 11 SCHOLAR KILAMLLIE

1881 Census Greenock, Scotland.

Dwelling: 35 Nicolson St
Census Place: West Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203574 GRO Ref Volume 564-3 EnumDist 17 Page 12
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Robert PHILLIPS M 61 M England
Rel: Head
Occ: General Labourer
John PHILLIPS U 24 M Fort William, Inverness, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Plumber

In 1882 Robert Phillips died, and his occupation is listed as, night watchman of a shipyard, and his father also Robert, by now deceased, is now listed as a shipwright.

This is all the information I have for Robert Phillips the son to date, and the headway is slow. I did read on a pirates website, that some Ships carpenters were resident onboard wooden hulled ships to maintain and repair any leaks, not that I am indicating Robert Phillips senior was a pirate, but maybe a mariner?

I was really hoping to simply find an entry for the parents, Robert Phillips and Elizabeth Negus, but it's proving far more difficult, so any suggestions welcome.

I am looking for Josiah Gilray, born about 1879 Greenock, and if he may have migrated on an emigration scheme, or what become of him.

Josiah Gilray is found in the 1881 Census dwelling at, 6 Roslin Street, Greenock with his father James Gilray, mother Elizabeth Phillips,  Catherine daughter born 1878. A death entry was found for a daughter Elizabeth is born 1876 but sadly died 4 months, old due to Bronchitis,

Mother Elizabeth died relatively young in 1883 aged 28 years old due to TB. Widower James Gilray eventually married a Isobella, and possibly unable to cope, or young Josiah found where he shouldn’t,  is found in the Greenock Industrial School.

1891 census, Josiah Gilray is found in the 'Greenock Industrial Training School', listed as aged 12 years old, along with a long list of other boys.
 
I contacted the James Watt Library in Greenock, who gave me the following information taken from the Greenock Post Office Directory of 1891 and is the entry is headed

Greenock Ragged School Association:
It is the object of the Association to reclaim the neglected and destitute children of Greenock by affording them the benefit of a good common and Christian education, and training them to the habilts of regular industry so as to enable them to earn an honest livliehood and fit them for the duties of life. 
The plan upon which the school is conducted is as follows: The children receive an allowance of food for their daily support; are instructed in reading, writing and arithmetic; trained to industry by employing them daily in such work as is suited to their years; and taught the truths of the Gospel, making the children receive suitable religious teaching.

Mysteriously, after 1891 Josiah disappears, he is not found in the 1901 census, no marriage, and no death records.

Indidentally, there is a marriage of a Josiah Gilray to Hannah Wilson on 23rd September, 1892. But suspect this is James Gilray's brother.

I understand, the boys were trained on ‘Industrial Training ships’, such as the ‘Cumberland’ which would have been moored on the Clyde, she was destroyed by a fire in 1889 and replaced by a ship called the ‘Empress’.

I have read, 'boys were trained for entry into both the Royal Navy and the Merchant Service. However, after the Royal Navy decided to accept only boys of good character, the training became more oriented towards the Merchant Navy'.

Does anyone know where I might find the records for children in Industrial Training Shcools, in Greenock, and how I might find further information, or even locate Josiah Gilray.