Another Ellusive Skelly Daughter!

[fridayjan]

I wonder if anyone would be able to help me trace another of my elusive Skelly family?  This time it's Janet - who married William Murray Thomson in Irvine, Scotland in 1838 and disappears (as far as I can see!) after the 1861 census.

At that time the family were living at No 1 St Vincent Park, Govan, Glasgow :

William M Thomson, born 1815, Dabry(?), Ayrshire -  an Iron Merchant (in 1851 a Commission Merchant)
Janet Thomson, b1815, Monkton, Ayrshire
Jessie S Thomson, b1843, Govan, Lanarkshire
John Thomson, b1845, Govan - Accountants Clerk
William M Thomson, b1846, Govan
Jane C Thomson, b1849, Govan
Adam S Thomson, b1850, Govan
Robert McG Thomson, b 1853, Govan
David Thomson, b1855, Govan

In 1861 Janet's sister, Margaret and her family were living next door at No. 2 St Vincents Park, but in 1862 they left Scotland aboard the "Helenslee" and emigrated to Queensland, Australia.  This is the link to all the fantastic information that Rootschatters (particularly Ruskie and Karenlee ) have found for me http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,301639.0.html.

Although Robert and William appear to have been in partnership in a shipping company "McGavin and Thomson" I've been unable to find the Thomson's in Australia (or anywhere else for that matter  ) - mainly by searching Ancestry and the Australian BMD's.

There is a family connection with the island of St Vincent, in that my gt x 3 grandfather Adam Skelly was born there when his father Adam (Janet and Margaret's brother) was there as a Commission Merchant.  I have adverts from McGavin and Thomson for cargo for the barques "Janet Boyd" (named after Adam, Janet and Margaret's mother) and the "Margaret Skelly".  David Boyd, their uncle, appears to have had a business on the island and in his Will left most of his possessions etc. to his nieces and nephews.

Any help with this family would be very welcome 

Thanks,

Janet

[fridayjan]

Oops, sorry about the spelling mistake in elusive!

This is the link to an early question about Margaret Skelly http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,300539.0.html

[gordonmac]

the thomsons went to nz

[fridayjan]

Hi Gordon,

Do you have any other hints that could help me .    In the past I haven't had much luck searching for New Zealand records.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Janet

[gordonmac]

hi janet,
             robert mc gavin thomson sailed to nz on the barque ss jessie osbourne landing at lyttleton in 1876
     after a year in nz he married georgiana palmer they had 5 children
      the eldest robert lennard thomson married elsie amy mayo in 1905,they in turn had 5 children the eldest being gerald
      i think most of their decendants live in the nelson area nz
     hope this helps you janet
                                  cheers gordon                                             

[fridayjan]

Hi Gordon,

That's brilliant.  Thanks for your help - it's given me lots to look for now!

Are you related to them in any way?

Best wishes,

Janet

[gordonmac]

hi janet,
              i only have a two page family history of the thomson family ,it is titled robert mcgavin thomson and is clearly incomplete,it names robert mcgavin thomsons children as robert leonard ,percy,ida,james,and dene. then leonards children are gerald,rona,sybil,pat,and joan,iam fairly sure gerald full name was gerald gilbert mcgavin thomson ,ibelive he had 3 children.janet i have a sister in nz she is a member of the nz society of genealogists and may be able to help you.my main intrest in the thomson family is to find out how a catholic nun called queenie sister paulinus of nola fits in,she gave me a picture of my gg grandfather rev matthew mcgavin
                         cheers gordon
   

[Puddleford]

Hi Janet

It may interest you to know that your ancestor Adam Skelly is buried alongside his uncle David Boyd in Irvine Old Parish kirkyard.  Their memorial is a grave-slab which reads:
ERECTED BY ADAM SKELLY / IN AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE OF HIS UNCLE DAVID BOYD ESQ LATE MERCHANT IN THE ISLAND OF ST VINCENT / WHO DIED AT IRVINE THE 30TH JUNE 1832 IN THE 61ST YEAR OF HIS AGE / MUCH REGRETTED / HERE ALSO ARE INTERRED THE REMAINS OF THE ABOVE NAMED ADAM SKELLY WHO AFTER MAINS YEARS RESIDENCE IN THE WEST INDIES, DIED AT LONDON ON THE 4TH JUNE 1842 AGED 36. 

Regards........Billy

[fridayjan]

Hi Billy,

Thank you for this information .  I had Adam's date of death from his Will, but even though I had the date, I've not been able to find a death registration for him.  I'd had no luck looking for his burial in on-line records for London either - now I know why!

I'll add Irvine Old Parish Kirkyard to my list of places to visit!

Thanks again for your help,

Janet