GAY FAMILY - CRAIL AND BEYOND

[BW252]

I have a problem finding details of the following Gay family from Crail:

Alexander b1826 Crail married Isabella Anderson b1816 Kilconquhar d1906 rail.    No death for Alexander.   He was a Ship Master.    Three of their family all born Crail are proving elusive:

Alexander b1848 no trace after 1861 census
George b1852, Draper no trace after 1871
James b1856, Grocer no trace after 1871

help, as always very greatly appreciated.

Harry

[MonicaL]

Harry,

Sure you have this photo of gravestone for Alexander and Isabella...but just in case https://hu.billiongraves.com/grave/Isabella-Anderson-Gay/15007551#

Monica 

[BW252]

Monica
thank you very much.   I had the death details on Isabella but not the grave stone.    This certainly helps with Alexander - now to find the details of his drowning!

thanks again
Harry

[MonicaL]

Oh, that is good that it is new to you.

Also, re son George:

GEORGE ANDERSON GAY is noteworthy among a large group of Scottish merchants who came to America at about the same period, the middle of the nineteenth century, and all of whom, in various cities, have attained signal success.

Mr. Gay was born in Crail, Fifeshire, Scotland, September 28, 1854, the son of Captain Alexander and Isabella (Anderson) Gay. He entered school in his native town, but left at a very early age and served a four years’ apprenticeship in the general store of Sharp & Murray, Cellardyke, Fife.....
www.electricscotland.com/history/descendants/chap60.htm

[MonicaL]

It was George himself who gave his birth year as 1854 not 1852 (fitting with this entry that you have https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYCR-LKM).

This is his 1920 passport application here https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVR2-GYZM and also for 1922 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKDF-QY35

His 1871 shipping manifest entry https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVPV-2NN1
1880 census https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFCF-RBV
1930 census https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XMPY-F7Q
1940 census https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K716-4FP

The 1900 and 1910 census entries would be good to find for you to check whether he had any children etc.

Monica

[Millmoor]

Hi

I suspect that George left a will, Monica - Connecticut wills are on Ancestry.

William

[MonicaL]

That is good news, William 

George was a busy transatlantic man over the years. Many shipping manifest records going back and forth for his and family members.

Main UK address being given by his was 6 Downie Terrace in Crail.

Monica

[BW252]

Monica

thanks again for all this fabulous information.   I have also been researching his brothers family and found that the 3 sons (of John Guthrie Gay, Alexander, David and George) had gone to the USA (Hartford) they will be the 3 nephews he put thro Yale!   Very interesting to see what he did for Crail, I have many connections with Crail thro the Taylors, Gays, Tobits.     I noticed on Alexanders grave stone that he was 47 years old.    I have him as being born in 1826 (Isabella was born in 1816) this would mean that he married at 16? Doubts creep in when I see this although all his childrens MCs and DCs are correct with parents.

again thanks very much for the links and data

Harry

[MonicaL]

I think his nephews show with George on one of the census entries in the US linked and also on shipping manifests.

Harry, re brother James. I wondered about these details for him.

His mother Isabella shows alone with grandchild in 1901 (you have this I am sure but just for detail here):

Isabella Gay 82 Living On Own Means
Alexander A Gay 9

Address: Nethergate, Crail

I couldn't see a will for her however there are two will & testament entries showing in 1916:

James Thomas Wilson GAY - 20/10/1916. NETHERGATE, CRAIL, D. 19/06/1916 AT CRAIL, TESTATE.

James Thomas Wilson GAY - 20/10/1916. RETIRED COMERCIAL TRAVELLER, NETHERGATE, CRAIL, D. 19/06/1916 AT CRAIL, TESTATE. CUPAR SHERIFF COURT INVENTORIES   SC20/50/98

There is a death for this James in Crail in 1916, aged 60.

Monica