Looking for missing family

[mjsmart90]

I am trying to find out what happened to my mother's great aunt, Maggie Pye. She was born Margaret Smart in 1870 in Dysart, Fife, Scotland. Her parents were David Smart and Christina Hoy. Maggie married Andrew Pye in 1896. He was a railway clerk and his parents were David Pye and Ann More. He was born in Glasgow in 1869 but the Pye family were from Dysart originally and moved between the two places frequently before settling in Kirkcaldy.

In the 1901 census, Andrew was in Glasgow with his two sons, David (born c. 1897) and George (born c. 1900), and his sister-in-law Davina Smart. Maggie was in Dysart, staying with her father David. After that, I am unable to find Andrew, Maggie or their children in the 1911 census, and I haven't been able to find any death records either. I thought they might have emigrated but I am not sure how to find out if this is the case.

I was hoping that someone might know what happened to them, or have some helpful advice or better luck finding further records in Scotland for them.

Thanks in advance for any help,
Michael

[CaroleW]

http://www.findmypast.co.uk/passengerListPersonSearchStart.action?redef=0

There is one entry for an Andrew Pye b 1869 leaving Liverpool for Melbourne in 1923.  On the same index is a Marion Pye b 1880 who also left Liverpool for Melbourne in 1923

[Daisypetal]

Hi,

It looks like that Andrew was a Reverend/Minister, maybe too much of a change from a railway clerk


I found this passenger list which might be 'your' family,


Ship:  ORVIETO 
Date of departure: 17 March 1910   
Port of departure: London   
Passenger destination port: Melbourne, Australia   

Mr & Mrs A PYE    Married    Farmer   
Occupation: Farmer   
David PYE
Geo S PYE   
 


I found this address on the Australian Electoral Roll 1914,

State: Victoria
District: Gippsland
Subdistrict: Traralgon

PYE Andrew      Traralgon  railway employe    M
PYE Margaret    Traralgon    Home duties    F



I found these deaths,


Andrew PYE
Age: 93
Father's Name: David
Mother's name: Ann MORE 
Registration Year: 1963
Death Place: Victoria
Registration Place: Victoria 


Margt PYE 
Age: 44
Father's Name: David SMART
Mother's name: Ctina SHAND
Registration Year: 1914 
Death Place: Traralgon, Victoria
Registration Place: Victoria


Not sure where the SHAND surname comes into it but otherwise it seemed like a good match.



David PYE
Age:  74
Father's Name: Andrew
Mother's name: Margaret SMART
Registration Year: 1971
Dath Place:  Bentleigh, Victoria


Regards,
Daisy

[mjsmart90]

Thank you for your replies

Daisy, that is a perfect match, I am sure it is them. Maggie's grandmother was Margaret Shand, so it's probably just a mix up. Thank you so much for your help, I've been looking for them for so long! This is great, can I ask how you found all that information?

Michael

[Daisypetal]

Following CaroleW's lead of the family going to Australia I looked at Australian BMDs and electoral rolls at Ancestry, I found Andrew and Marion PYE but also 'your' PYEs. I then looked at the "Victoria, Australia, Assisted and Unassisted Passenger Lists, 1839–1923" this had Andrew and family transcribed but no image available. Going to findmypast passenger departures I couldn't find Andrew PYE so just searched for PYE with ship and date and there was an image to view I think this is a different list to the Victoria passenger list as it only has Andrew down as Mr & Mrs A, I don't know if that list can be viewed anywhere or if it would give anymore info.

I'm glad the 'SHAND' can be explained so it all seems to fit



I have found this marriage which could be Andrew remarrying but unfortunately there is no corresponding HILL to match him with

Andrew PYE
Spouse Name: HILL
Victoria, 1917
Registration Number: 5825

I don't have any other access to Victoria's BMDs maybe someone with more local knowledge would be able to help.

[mjsmart90]

Thanks, that is very helpful! I will have to look into all of this.
Well I would like to think he remarried, since he lived to the age of 93, it seems sad that Maggie Pye died in 1914 and he lived to 1963. Her siblings also died in their 40s or younger, and their father David outlived almost all of them.
Thanks again for your time and help in solving a family mystery

Regards,
Michael

[Daisypetal]

My pleasure

I agree that it is sad about Maggie's early death, just think of all the things George saw and lived through in those 50 years, how much the world had changed.

Good luck with your further research.

Regards,
Daisy

[Dundee]

Hi Michael,

A bit more to the story.  Unfortunately it seems that Margaret was very ill and took her own life.  Some news articles:

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0jf9/
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0jfa/

Andrew remarried to Marian HILL in 1917

Very poor copy
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0jfb/

Their engagement
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0jfc/

David enlisted in the AIF
http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080/showPerson?pid=247582

You can see his full digitised service record at
http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/using/search/  (Search as a guest)

Use Search term - PYE David : Service Number - 690

This digitised document includes a letter written by his grandfather in Scotland, David PYE
Use Search term - Returned soldier David Pye [pension etc for]

You will see from these documents that Andrew was indeed the Presbyterian Minister that Daisypetal found on the shipping list.  He and his second wife Marian were returning to Australia - they had departed in May 1923 on the Persic.

All very interesting as he must have become a Minister soon after Margaret's death.  Perhaps it would be worth contacting the Church's archives in Victoria for more information.  If you have a look through the papers you will find references to him as a Minister.

You will find Andrew, Marian and David at Springvale Cemetery http://www.deceasedsearch.com/  With a date of burial for Andrew you can use the "Ask a Librarian" service at the Victorian State Library to find an obituary, as I am sure there would be one.
http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/services/ask-librarian

Debra 

[Daisypetal]

Wow Debra, great finds

I forgot all about Trove when I was looking, head like a sieve 


This article of 22 Dec 1922 shows when he became a minister,

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0jgk/


Daisy