Greenock - James L. Wilson

[joseph.mcmahon]

James Lennox Wilson's parents John Wilson and Janet Lennox married 09/09/1838 at Galston.

Parents of John Wilson:

WILSON JOHN
JOHN WILSON/JANET NEILSON FR499 (FR499)
M
03/08/1817
593
20 / 351
Galston

Can I ask where you have found this information? (along with the Baptism records).

[Alan of Kaslo]

Grave of John Wilson and Janet Lennox  (attached)

Burial    Galston Cemetery, Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland
Transcription:   ILMO John Wilson d. 23.8.1893 aged 78. Also his family Hugh d. 4.8.1867 aged 22. Annie d. 10.10.1870 aged 5 weeks. Helen d. 7.4.1872 aged 29. Rachel d. 12.1.1877 aged 39. Also his wife Janet Lennox d. 31.1.1890 aged 81

[joseph.mcmahon]

He was born in Galston, April 13, 1847, and he works at 20 Octavia Cottages, Greenock. He is not a professional maker, albeit his work has not a trace of the amateur about it. Nothing can be more true to the original than his copies of Gasparo da Salo, nor more beautifully finished than his last half-a-dozen instruments. He got a few lessons in violin-making from the late John A. Mann, and being of an artistic turn of mind, he soon made progress. He can paint very fairly in oil and water-colours, and he generally draws a bust of himself with indelible ink on the back of the violin under the button. His work as an amateur violin-maker is of great merit, and will bring him considerable fame by-and-by if he perseveres with it. He won the gold medal for an exhibit of violins at the Greenock Exhibition, 1893.

Looks like violin making was more of a hobby...

What type of info were you hoping to learn about James. L Wilson?

I am looking to find out as much information about him as I can. Ideally, a few images would also be nice to have (especially from this exhibition he won medals at in 1893).

If Violin Making was a hobby then he was a very talented hobbyist indeed.

[Alan of Kaslo]

From 1851 census info about Janet Wilson:

   born: Circa 1824
 Kilbride, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Corresponding birth on SP:

LENNOX JANET     JAMES LENNOX/RACHEL EWING FR634 (FR634) F 30/09/1823 643 30 / 18 East Kilbride

[GR2]

Greenock Telegraph 30-12-1892 (under "Greenock Exhibition Awards"):

Violins - 1st prize, Mr James L. Wilson, Greenock.

Greenock Telegraph 4-2-1893 (under "Greenock Exhibition Awards"):

Mr James L. Wilson, 17 Nelson Street, West
Greenock - Diploma, with medal, for violin after
the model of Joseph Gueruerius.

[joseph.mcmahon]

In 1891 he is shown as an insurance agent & in 1901 he is a gamekeeper.  1901 he is at 20 Octavia Cottages with 5 of his children.  Looks like he is a widower

The 1901 entry shows his full name & birthplace so no doubt it's him

Could you show me the 1901 record that you saw? I have been able to find his wife's death certificate and she died in December 1922 (he died in the July of that year).

[Alan of Kaslo]

Can I ask where you have found this information? (along with the Baptism records).

I searched on ScotlandPeople site.

Searched surname Wilson
-went to old parish marriages
-searched for a male Wilson marrying a Lennox in Ayr

From that list you see the Galston entry for the couple. Everything lines up.

Did the same thing for baptism. Searched Wilson in old baptisms, set to Ayr/Galston.

I forgot to give the link with that quote about him being an amateur violin maker...

https://amati.com/maker/wilson-jamesl-

It could just be one person's opinion. If it was just a hobby then he was deeply immersed in it!