Our Family Historyby

Neil McKayCovering the following family groups:

MacKay / McKay

Rich Forsdyke

Adlington Kemp

Bailey Trimmer

and other families connected by marriage.

Neil and Malcolm McKay

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(circa 1945)

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AcknowledgementsI would like to thank the following relatives for their contributions and assistance in

compiling the information in this narrative:

Malcolm James McKay – my BrotherAlyson Jane Hughes (nee McKay) – my Niece

Henry Bernard Thompsett – my 1st CousinJanet Ann Campbell (nee Grant) – my 1st Cousin

Richmond Stuart Manyweathers – my 2nd Cousin in AustraliaIsobel Janet Ballingall MacKay – my 1st Cousin (once removed) in ScotlandRobert (Bob) Uchechukwu Moody – 2nd Cousin (once removed) in England

Michael Rich – 3rd Cousin (once removed) in EnglandJill Diane Sutton (nee Butters) – 2nd Cousin (once removed) in England

Dennis Robins – a Cousin on the Bailey Family lineRosie Lee – a descendant of the Kemp Family

Margaret Heywood nee Wilbow – a distant ‘cousin-in-law’ in AustraliaKevin Stott – my 2nd Cousin (once removed) from New ZealandBarbara Rose Lewis nee Stott – my 2nd Cousin in New Zealand

Bailey Cousins in Australiaand others too numerous to mention.

Contents:Page

Introduction 3

Chapter 1) The MacKay / McKay Family 5

Chapter 2) The Forsdyke Family 30

Chapter 3) The Kemp Family 31

Chapter 4) The Rich Family 34

Chapter 5) The Bailey Family 42

Chapter 6) The Trimmer Family 45

Appendix 1) Army Service Records for various family members 47

Appendix 2) The Last Will and Testament of Edward Hector MacKay 1 st 68

Appendix 3) Information Sources 69

Appendix 4) Reference Documents 71

Appendix 5) Edward Hector MacKay’s Diary 74

Appendix 6) Summary of the London Electoral Registers 82

Appendix 7) Alexander John MacKay and his Family 85

Conclusion 90

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Introduction:

Many years ago before the advent of the Internet, I attempted to research our family history. At that point, both of my parents were deceased and consequently I was unable to call upon them for assistance. With the little information that I had at the time, I was only able to determine the date of the death of my Paternal Grand-father, James McKay from the burial records at Greenwich Cemetery. Although I had some other documents to hand, they were of very little help.

A few months ago I received a telephone call from my brother, Malcolm James McKay, to say that his daughter, Alyson Jane, was hoping to research the family and would I provide her with any information that I had on the subject. This revived my interest and with the aid of the Internet, we set to work.

Much of the credit for the early research must go to Alyson with whom I was in regular contact by e-mail. At a later stage, more assistance was provided by two of my 1st

Cousins, Janet Ann Campbell (nee Grant) and Henry Bernard Thompsett, also more distant Cousins Isobel Janet Ballingall MacKay in Scotland, Richmond Stuart Manyweathers in Australia, Robert Moody, Michael Rich and Jill Sutton in England, and several other extended family members, but more on this later.

Initially, we set out to research the McKay family line, however, this soon expanded to include my Paternal Grand-mother’s family (the Richs) and then my Mother’s two family lines, (the Baileys and the Trimmers). Later, when we discovered that my Paternal Great Grand-father had married three times, both of the family lines of his three wives were included, (the Forsdykes, the Kemps and the Millers). Separately, I am also attempting to research the families of my Wife, Mary, these being the Leacys and the Halls in Ireland.

The documents that I originally had to hand were:

The short and long Birth Certificates of my Father, Walter George McKay The Death Certificate of my Father. The Cremation Record Card of my Father The short Birth Certificate of my Mother, Ivy Elizabeth Primrose Bailey The Death Certificate of my Mother The Marriage Certificate of my Parents The Baptismal Certificate of my Father The Employment Agreement between my Grand-mother, Fanny McKay and

the South Metropolitan Gas Company in Greenwich. Sundry photographs of the MacKays and Baileys.

The above documents provided the starting point for our research and with the aid of the Internet, we were able to build on this. As Births, Marriages and Deaths (BMD) of principal members of the families were identified, between us we obtained copies of the appropriate certificates which then provided us with further information enabling us to work further back in time. As the information was found in a random fashion it then had to be pieced together much like a Jigsaw Puzzle into a coherent form. Along the way we found some false trails often due to commonality of certain names and inaccurate

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recording of data on Census Returns. Examples of this found on the ‘Ancestry’ and ‘1911 Census’ web-sites were:

Mis-transcription of names due to poor hand-writing, resulting in such things as Edward McMay, Bailey as Bialey, Rich as Rick, and the classic one being Amelia Crossthwaite Kemp recorded as Cametin Crapthant Kemp. The 1911 Census for Edward Hector MacKay (1st) had actually been transcribed as Edward Newton MacKay, although his name was clearly written on the Census Return.

People ‘adapting’ their names between Census Returns resulting in Edward Hector MacKay (1st) becoming H. Edward MacKay or William Robert Rich becoming Robert W. Rich or Amelia MacKay becoming Minnie MacKay

Abbreviations of names on the Census by the Enumerator such as Rebecca Forsdyke recorded as Rebie, Celia Emmily Rich recorded as Emily, etc.

Inaccuracies of recorded ages between Census Returns possibly due to guess work or rounding-up or rounding-down.

Place of birth being recorded differently between Census Returns as is the case with Edward Hector MacKay (1st), who gave his birth place as Scotland on one, St. Margaret’s Westminster on another and finally in 1911 as “Uncertain”.

There may well be some minor errors or inaccuracies in the information we have recorded and this is to be expected considering its extent. Several web-sites were principally used, ‘Ancestry.co.uk’, ‘Ancestry.au’ ‘ScotlandsPeople’, ‘1911Census.co.uk’ and ‘Familysearch.com’. The former lists all BMD records back to 1837, the Census Returns from 1841 to 1911 for England, Scotland and Wales and many other sources of reference. The ‘FamilySearch’ site is operated by the ‘Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints’ (the Mormons), who are attempting to record everyone who has ever lived. They are compiling the information in a random fashion from Official Records and Parish Records etc. therefore information that is still available, may not yet be recorded on their Web-site. Access to this web-site for family history research is completely free to the general public. In addition, the 1911 Census Returns for England were initially obtained from the Official 1911 Census Web-site, ‘1911.census.co.uk’, but later from the ‘Ancestry’ site, and for Ireland, from ‘rootsireland.ie’.

Unfortunately, when it came to researching the family history in Ireland, this proved to be far more difficult. Although a Census was also taken for the years 1841 to 1911, Ireland was still under the control of the UK for this period and the authorities in London decided to pulp many of the Census Returns in order to save storage space. The remainder were stored in the ’Four Courts’ in Dublin, which regrettably was destroyed during the War of Independence resulting in their loss. In addition, during this period, many other buildings were deliberately destroyed, including churches, by the British Army and the ‘Black and Tans’, resulting in the loss of some Parish Records.

In general terms, the following Records / Documents have been obtained from which Family Trees have been drawn and Family Histories recorded:

Official copies of Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates of Family members. Copies of many of the Official UK Census Returns Copies of Australian, New Zealand and London Electoral Registers Military Service Records for John MacKay, Edward Hector MacKay 1st, James

McKay, William McKay, Walter George McKay, Edward John McKay, William

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George McKay, Arthur McKay, Arthur Edward Hector McKay, Richmond William Manyweathers, William MacKay Manyweathers, Richard Gadsby Rich, Horace Rich, Donald John Stott plus more distant Family Members.

Military School Records for James and Walter George McKay

The information has been recorded in the following manner:

A summary of all the Census Returns and Transcripts showing name, place and date of birth, recorded age at each Census and relevant notes.

A record of the BMD Registrations of the extended families, the names of spouses and relevant notes.

Family Tree Charts Descendants Lists Parish Register Lists A Family Tree on the ‘Ancestry’ Web-sire A personal web-site at ‘www.mackayresearch.com’

I will now attempt to explain how and what we discovered family by family.

Chapter 1

The MacKay / McKay Family HistoryFirstly, I should mention that in the course of my research, it became apparent that the family surname was spelt as both McKay and MacKay. Even individual members of the family used both spellings. In this narrative I have generally used the spelling that an individual was given at birth rather than the spelling subsequently used in later life. As it turned out, Malcolm and I actually knew very little of the early life of our Father, Walter George McKay, and that of our Grand-parents, James and Fanny McKay. It was our belief that our Father had been born in Scotland, but this was shown to be incorrect when, following his death, I obtained a copy of his Birth Certificate from what was then Somerset House in London. In fact he was born in East Greenwich, London in 1905 at 15 Commercial Street. From this we learnt that our Grand-mother’s maiden name was Fanny Rich and that our Grand-father James worked as a Labourer at the Gas Works.

As young children, Malcolm and I were taken to visit ‘Granny Mac’ and our Aunts, Kate and Agnes from time to time. We were of the belief that we only had one 1 st Cousin, namely Janet, the daughter of Aunt Kate. As our searching progressed this proved to be incorrect, but more on that later.

We were aware that both Walter George and James enlisted in the army, Walter being in the Scots Guards and James in the Royal Scots. I obtained a copy of Walter’s Service Records, which showed that he originally enlisted with the Grenadier Guards but applied for, and was granted a transfer to the Scots Guards, one week later. The family address at that stage was 37 Whitworth Street, Greenwich, where our Grand-mother continued to live until just before her death in 1970.

I have a photograph of Walter at about the age of 8/9 years in what appears to be a Military Cadet style uniform, however we had no knowledge of his school life. A close study of his Baptismal Certificate revealed that it bore a partially legible rubber stamp

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impression stating ‘Duke of York’s Royal Military Xxxxx’ and the date 5 th Nov. 1913. This date appeared to tie in with his possible age in the photograph, so I searched the Internet and discovered that the Duke of York’s Royal Military School did and still does exist in Dover, Kent. Their web-site states that ‘the school retains its strong Christian ethos’, hence the rubber stamping of the Baptismal Certificate. It also states that ‘records have been kept on every pupil who ever attended the school’. Alyson then contacted the school by e-mail and in due course was advised that Walter was indeed a past pupil and that they had his records. Additionally, they were able to tell her that James had also been a past pupil when the school was named the Royal Military Asylum and located in Chelsea. Photocopies of both sets of records were subsequently sent to us, and it was these that provided the majority of the information relating to past Military service of family members.

Walter’s School Records revealed that his Father, James had indeed served with the 1st

Battalion, Royal Scots for a total of 21 years and achieved the rank of Sergeant Drummer. He was posted to Middelburg, Transvaal and Pietermaritzburg, Natal in South Africa for 9 years and 1 month and was awarded 3 medals, the Queen’s South Africa Medal with 4 Clasps, the King’s South Africa Medal with 2 Clasps and the Good Conduct Medal. At a later stage in my research, I obtained his Army Service Records from the National Archives in Kew, which revealed considerably more in this regard, which I will detail with later in this narrative.

James’ School Records revealed that his Father was Edward Hector MacKay who had also served with the Royal Scots in the 2nd Battalion which was then known as the 1st

Regiment of Foot. Edward Hector served for a total of 10 years and was posted to Malta, Crimea, Gibraltar and China and was awarded a medal plus 2 Clasps for ‘Taking part at Peking’. Included with the School Records was a letter in Edward Hector’s own hand, stating that James had expressed a desire whilst at home for the holidays, to enter the 42nd Highlanders (The Black Watch) as his Grand-father had served with them at Waterloo. The name of James’ Grand-father, our Great Great Grand-father was not stated in the letter, but which we later discovered was John. The letter also petitioned the school to accept James’ younger brother, also named John, as a pupil, however we now know this did not happened. See below for further information on John MacKay senior.

Knowing that two generations had served with the Royal Scots, I then contacted the Archive Section of the Royal Scots in Edinburgh Castle requesting a search for their Service Records. Regrettably, I was informed, that they no longer held these records. (As I mentioned above, I have subsequently obtained copies of James’ Records from the National Archives). However, their letter did confirm that the regiment had served in Malta, Crimea and China as Edward Hector claimed. I have since used the services of a researcher at the National Archives who has found some of the Muster Records for Edward Hector which confirm his postings above. The Records also show that he spent time with the Regiment in the Channel Islands. A transcript of the Muster Records in included in Appendix 1. I also have copies of some of the actual Muster Records for reference. In about 1910, Edward Hector wrote an article concerning his life in the Army which is reproduced in Appendix 5.

As I said above, James served in South Africa, and we have a photograph of him in uniform taken there, the back of which is inscribed ‘With my kindest Love, yours Jonny’. We have absolutely no idea who ‘Jonny’ was, unless it was a nickname of James’, which would seem rather odd as his younger brother was named John.

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In the early stages of our research, we puzzled over how and where James and Fanny met. As information was gathered the following scenario seemed to provide the answer.

On his return from South Africa, we believed that the Troop Ships disembarked at Gravesend or Dartford, which would have been common practice at that time as it was an inland safe port on the River Thames. His Marriage to Fanny Rich then took place soon after his return. We have no evidence that they knew each other prior to James being posted to South Africa, so unless we can prove otherwise, it must be assumed that they met on his return. After the sea voyage, the troops would probably have been rested in or near the Gravesend / Dartford area before returning to barracks in Scotland. Their Marriage took place on September 19th 1896 at the Parish Church of St. Margaret of Antioch in Darenth, Dartford after Banns had been read, (see below). This suggests that they were in the area for more than just a few days. The Witnesses recorded on their Marriage Certificate are Edward Hector McKay, William McKay and Florence Eva Ollett. We have since found that James had an elder brother also named Edward Hector, named after his Father, and a younger brother named William. The hand-writing of Edward Hector on the Marriage Certificate is clearly different to the hand-writing on the letter to the Military School and also the 1911 Census Return so presumably the Witnesses were his two brothers. The 3rd Witness, Florence Eva Ollett is a mystery. The 1881 Census reveals that she was born in Kings Lynn, Norfolk in 1877, in 1891 she is recorded living with her parents and siblings in Woolwich, she is then a Witness at the Marriage and the last record of her is her own Marriage in 1902 in Greenwich. Alyson has suggested that maybe both Fanny and Florence were employed in the Dartford area and became friends, subsequently Fanny met James and they married. By coincidence, the Parish Church of St. Margaret of Antioch in Darenth, is only approximately 1 mile from the house in which Malcolm and I were raised. Later research on the Rich Family has now revealed the probable reason for Fanny Rich being in Darenth where she met and married James McKay. (See the Rich Family Chapter). Just to confuse matters more, the Banns for their Marriage were read in Christchurch Greenwich, (of which I have a copy), that shows James was resident at the time at ‘The Lodge’, his Father’s address in Greenwich and that Fanny was resident in the Parish of St. Margaret, Darenth where the Marriage ceremony was performed.

Having obtained James’ Army Service Records the above scenario was in part shown to be inaccurate. A transcript of relevant information is included in Appendix 1.

We knew that he attended the Royal Military Asylum in Chelsea (later named the Duke of York’s Royal Military School), and left there on 26 th August 1882. His Army Records show that he applied to enlist with the Royal Scots on the same day and that he was accepted 4 days later on the 30th August, aged 14. Although the Records show that his Medical Examination was performed at the Royal Military Asylum and that he took the Oath at Bow Street Police Station, they state that he enlisted at Fermoy, Co. Cork in Ireland. Presumably that is where the Regiment was stationed at the time and that he was sent there for his initial training. There is no record of any time that he spent there.

His Military History Sheet details where and when he was stationed as follows: Home: 26th August 1882 to 13th October 1885 South Africa: 14th October 1885 to 1st September 1891 Home: 2nd September 1891 to 5th November 1899 South Africa: 6th November 1899 to 23rd March 1903 Home: 24th March 1903 to 25th August 1903

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On 25th August 1903 he took his discharge at ‘Blackdown’ which I have since found has been renamed Deepcut Barracks in Surrey.

Clearly, it can be seen from James’ Military History Sheet that our above thoughts regarding how he met Fanny are inaccurate. They married in 1896 which is in the middle of his Home Posting between 1891 and 1899. However, we have a photograph of James and his Brother William, both in Royal Scots Uniform, taken by a professional photographer in Chatham, Kent. It is therefore a reasonable assumption that all or part of that period of Home Posting was in Chatham Barracks. That would still place him in an area close to where we believe Fanny was living at the time.

We have been unable to find James, Fanny, Agnes or Alice on the 1901 Census, so it must be assumed that when James was posted to South Africa in 1899, he took the family with him.

We have obtained copies of the original Census Returns for the years 1841, 1851,1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901 and 1911 for various members of the McKay Family which turned out to be quite revealing.

Malcolm and I were of the opinion that our Father, Walter only had 2 sisters, Agnes and Kate. It came as a shock to find that the 1911 Census recorded an Agnes Rebecca and Alice Jessie with no mention of Aunt Kate or even of Walter. The mystery regarding Walter was soon solved when Alyson found the 1911 Census for Fanny’s Parents in Souldrop Bedfordshire where Walter was residing at the time. Some time later we found the Birth Registration for Kate Victoria McKay in 1912, so clearly, Alice Jessie was a third daughter of James and Fanny.

The 1911 Census also revealed another disappointment as James was recorded as being born in East Retford in Nottinghamshire rather than Scotland as we had assumed. However, Agnes Rebecca and Alice Jessie were born in Edinburgh as James completed his Military Service there. Alyson subsequently found the Birth Registrations for them both at St. Giles in Edinburgh which confirmed that James was stationed at The New Barracks in Johnston Terrace. By 1911, James had left the Army and the family had settled in Greenwich where he worked as a Labourer in the Gas Works. Following his Death in 1914, Fanny also gained employment in the South Metropolitan Gas Company and her Employment Agreement is to hand. We also know that Edward Hector (1st) lived in Greenwich in his later life and worked at the Gas Company. This then probably had some bearing on James and Fanny settling in Greenwich and gaining employment at the Gas Company also.

Agnes never married, she was involved in a road traffic accident and confined in St. Alfege’s Hospital in Greenwich until her death. Kate married Henry George Grant and they had one child, Janet Ann, whom I have managed to trace to West Meon in Hampshire and am now in contact with. But again, more on this later. The discovery of Alice Jessie really opened a can of worms so to speak. She married Henry Thompsett, a marriage that the family apparently did not approve of for some reason, and they settled in the Croydon area. They had 4 children (our 1st Cousins), June Mary, Henry Bernard, Jean Anne and Margaret Victoria. I was able to track down Henry by means of the BT on-line Directory Enquiries. Contact was made and we are now in regular contact by e-mail. Malcolm has confirmed that he was also unaware of the existence of Alice Jessie and consequently our other 4 cousins. For some unknown reason, our Father chose not to tell us about them. Henry is older than Malcolm and I and can

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remember being taken to visit us in Lanes End when we were quite young. He has also provided me with a copy of a group photograph taken at the wedding on his sister Jean which clearly includes our Father.

I found the Birth Registration for Janet which showed her second initial is A. Janet is 1 year older than I am, so on the assumption that she may have married at about the same time as my Wife Mary and I, give or take a couple of years, I searched for the Marriage of a Janet A. Grant between 1965 and 1975. The search produced several results, one of which was in Greenwich to a man named Campbell. Jean Thompsett attended the Marriage Ceremony but could not now be absolutely certain about her married name, although Campbell rang a bell with her. A further search confirmed the Marriage of Janet A. Grant to Graham A. Campbell in 1968 at Blackheath. Now we had to find her. Henry managed to obtain a copy of the Death Certificate for Kate which gave her address at the time as 8 Hiller Walk, Lee on Solent. I wrote to the present owners in the hope that they may have some knowledge of the family. I soon received a reply saying that Henry George Grant had only died 4 years earlier (aged 93) and that Janet now lived with her husband at ‘The Stables’, West Meon in Hampshire. Again, the BT on-line Directory Enquiries provided the telephone number and I am now in contact with her. She has been able to provide certain information, which I will return to later.

Initially, the earliest Census I had found that definitely recorded Edward Hector is 1871 for East Retford. He is listed as being 34 years old and born in St Margaret’s Westminster which again is another mystery as he claimed to have been born in Scotland on the 1891 Census and on the 1911 Census he was “uncertain”. Since he left the Army he worked as a Railway Guard, a Foundry Storekeeper, a Gas Stoker, a Time-keeper and finally an Assistant Store-keeper at the Gas Works. The various jobs took him from East Retford to Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex to Greenwich. This could well be the reason that James and Fanny finally settled in Greenwich also.

Later in my research, I obtained a copy of a ‘Diary’ (thanks to Kevin Stott), that Edward Hector had written regarding his time in the Royal Scots (more on this Diary later) and in it he mentions a brother, but did not name him. Knowing that St. Margaret’s, Westminster was the only positive place that he had claimed to have been born in and that as his Army Records later revealed, he had enlisted in Westminster, I made a more thorough search of records for that area but to no avail. As a last resort, I e-mailed the Archive section of Westminster City Council and asked if it was possible for a search to be carried out on my behalf of the Parish Records of St. Margaret’s. I received a very quick response from them to say that they had indeed found a record of his Baptism and for a very modest fee, they sent me a copy. It showed that he had been Baptised on 29th March 1837, (but did not include his actual birth date), and that his Parents were John and Harriott MacKay living in Tothill Street, Westminster.

I already knew at this stage that his Father was John MacKay and that his Mother was Harriott Hollington (see reference to his 3rd Marriage Certificate). Her Surname subsequently proved to be incorrect, but more on this later. This led me to find the Baptism of his brother, Alexander John MacKay on 20th January 1833 in the Parish of St. Martin in the Fields, Westminster. This in turn enabled me to locate the missing 1841 and 1851 Census Returns. The 1841 Census records his Parents, John (aged 48) and Harriett (aged 31) MacKay plus Edward Hector (aged 4, abbreviated to just Edw.), but does not include Alexander John who would have been 8 years old at the time. However, I have assumed that he was away at boarding school at the time as he reappears for the 1851 Census. The 1851 Census records John MacKay and his 2

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sons, Alexander and Edward but not his wife Harriott who had died in 1842. In both Census Returns, John is recorded as having been born in Scotland and his 2 sons in Westminster. The Census for England taken in 1841 was rather limited in the detail that it contained. It showed if a person was born in Scotland, Ireland or ‘Foreign Parts’, but otherwise it merely indicated if or not a person was born in the County in which the Census was taken (Yes or No). Therefore, in the case of John it states S (for Scotland), for Harriett, N (not born in the County) and for Edward Hector Y (was born in this County). Edward Hector was not included in the 1861 Census as he was serving overseas with the Royal Scots at that time.

Knowing that Harriott had died in 1842, I was able to obtain a copy of her Death Certificate from the G.R.O. which showed that she had died on the 21 st December 1842 whilst the family were living at 25 Tothill Street, Westminster. It also recorded that she was the wife of John MacKay, an ’Out Pensioner of Chelsea Hospital’. Despite much research, I had been unable to find a Marriage for them, however I have now found a Marriage for a John MacKay and Harriott Adlington, dated 7th March 1831 in the Parish of ‘St. Botolph without Aldgate’, London. The Parish is not too far from where the family later lived in Westminster and the date of the Marriage is just before the birth of Alexander John MacKay in 1833. There is only one other reference to Harriott’s maiden name and that is on the registration of Edward Hector’s 3rd Marriage to Janet Miller in Stranraer in 1914, where it states her name was Harriott Hollington. Edward Hector was 77 years old at that time and his Mother had died 72 years earlier when he was only 5. Coupled with this, although he correctly stated his birth place as St. Margaret’s, Westminster on the 1871 Census, by the time of the 1911 Census, he was ‘uncertain’ of his birth place. These 2 points lead me to guess that he may have suffered long-term memory loss in later life and was confused over his Mother’s maiden name. As the names Adlington and Hollington as quite similar, only the first couple of letters being different, I am firmly of the opinion that, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, her maiden name was indeed Adlington and not Hollington. Therefore I believe the 1841 Marriage is the correct one. Additionally, I have found what I believe to be the birth of Harriett Adlington in Chesterfield, Derbyshire on 31st March 1810 and that her parents were Jethro Adlington and Hannah May. I have also been able to trace her family line back to her 4 x Great Grand-parents, John Adlington and Emma Browne, who were married on 21st January 1575 in Barrow-in-Soar, Leicestershire.

Edward Hector’s Diary records that his Father had sent him a watch some time after he had enlisted in the Royal Scots in 1854, so clearly John was still alive then, however, I have been unable to find him on the 1861 Census, so initially I was of the opinion he died some time between 1854 and 1861. Much later in my research a photograph came into my possession taken in June 1880 at The Royal Hospital, Chelsea. It was of 5 Chelsea Pensioners who were recorded as being the last surviving veterans of the Battle of Waterloo, one of which was John McKay. I subsequently found his Death Registration dated 1886 and his Burial Record for the West London and Westminster Cemetery in Old Brompton, London dated 9th July 1886. The photograph recorded his age in 1880 as 95 and in the Death Records as 101 years. From other records I know this to be somewhat inaccurate and that in fact the photograph should probably read 85 years and his death 91 years.

In addition to the Baptismal Record for Alexander John in 1833, I have also found the Parish Record of his Marriage Banns and his subsequent Marriage Record to Margaret Hammick Anniss in Islington on 4th September 1853. Following their Marriage, they settled in South Hackney where they had 4 children, Alexander Samuel MacKay in

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1855, Margaret Archer MacKay in 1857, Arthur John MacKay in 1859 and Emma Louisa Ruth MacKay in 1862. The documents that I have found relating to Alexander John MacKay variously record him as a Clerk, Customs Clerk and a Mercantile Clerk.

Margaret Hammick Anniss and her brother Samuel Hammick Anniss, were the children of John Anniss and Elizabeth Hammick who were both born in Torquay, Devon in 1798 and 1799 resp., and married circa 1823. Other information found on the Anniss family is included in the BMD Registrations chart etc.

The information that I have found so far on the 4 children of Alexander John and Margaret MacKay is as follows:

Alexander Samuel MacKay was born on the 26th March 1855 in Hackney and Baptised in the Parish of St. James, Enfield. He married Elizabeth Jane Bacon on the 21st February 1891 at Portsea Island, Hampshire. They had 1 daughter, Margaret Elizabeth, born 1898 in Caterham, Surrey, and 2 sons, Alexander Samuel Jnr., born 1899 in Caterham, Surrey and Arthur John, (named presumably for his Uncle), born 1901 in Godstone, Surrey, It appears that Margaret Elizabeth did not marry and died in 1982 in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Alexander Samuel Jnr. enlisted in the East Yorkshire Regiment during World War 1 and was killed in action on 12 th April 1918 at Ypres. Arthur John married Emily Kate Collins, 1932 in Edmonton and died in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire on 24th October 1983, Emily Kate died in Margate, Kent on 24th

January 1966.

The 1871 Census records Alexander Samuel Snr. as a Boy, 2nd Class Sailor, aged 16 in Portland Harbour. 1881 Census records him as an AB Sailor aged 26, on board HMS Rambler. The 1891 Census records him as a Chief Petty Officer (Retired) and living with his wife Elizabeth Jane in Portsmouth. I have been unable to find him on the 1901 Census. He died in Godstone, Surrey in 1907. Elizabeth Jane died in Reigate, Surrey on 11th August 1912.

Margaret Archer MacKay was born on the 29th April 1857 in Hackney but not baptised until the 18th December 1859 in Bethnal Green, London at the same time as her younger brother Arthur John. I have not found any record of a Marriage or Death for her. The only Census record found is in 1871 where her name is mis-spelt as McKaye, and living with her aunt Caroline Coles, aged 13 and employed as an Apprentice Dressmaker to her Aunt. I have not yet found where Caroline Coles fits into the family.

Arthur John MacKay was born in Hackney on 25th October 1859 and baptised on 18th

December 1859 in Bethnal Green at the same time as his older sister. Again, I have been unable to find any record of a Marriage or Death for him. The 1871 Census records him living with his Uncle and Aunt, Samuel and Eliza Anniss, (obviously the brother of his Mother, Margaret Hammick Anniss), in Enfield, Middlesex, aged 11, Scholar. His Mother had died in 1862 so they had presumably taken him in. In 1881 he was still living with his Uncle and Aunt in Enfield and employed as a Banker’s Clerk. The 1891 Census records a John MacKay age 32, lodging in Islington, London and employed as a Clerk, however, his birthplace is recorded as Barnsbury, London. Although initially I believed this to be Arthur John MacKay, I am now less certain. I have found an emigration record for an Arthur J. MacKay born 1860, departed London on-board the ‘John Elder’ and arrived Melbourne, Australia on 14th January 1883, but no further record has been found for this person in either Australia or New Zealand. The arrival date of 1883 would fit in with him not being positively found on the 1891 Census.

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Emma Louisa Ruth MacKay: The Civil Registration of her birth in 1862 was recorded in Hackney where the family lived at the time, however, she was Baptised in the Parish of St. James in Shaftsbury, Dorset on the 17th August 1862. The Parish record confirms her name, the names of her Parents and that their place of abode as being Hackney, London. From this I can only conclude that Margaret had originated from that Parish and as a consequence they chose to have their daughter baptised there. She married Ebenezer (Eben) Walter Collin in Andover, Hampshire in 1885. Ebenezer used the abbreviation Eben as an adult and Emma Louisa Ruth dispensed with Emma and was recorded as Louisa Ruth or Louisa R. on the Census Returns. In 1891 they were in Cowley, Oxford, 1901 in Yeovil, Somerset and 1911 in Wansford, Cambridgeshire, Eben being variously described as a Church of England Clergyman or a Clergyman in the Established Church. Emma Louisa Ruth died in Southport, Hampshire in 1945 and Eben in Rugby, Warwickshire on 27th March 1930. The Probate of his Will records that his Effects amounted to £1,559. 11s. 2d, 3 people were named in the Will, his wife Louisa Ruth, another Reverend and a solicitor, presumably they all had a share.

There is a puzzle in regard to the Civil Record for her Marriage to Ebenezer where her name is recorded as Emma Louisa Ruth MacKay-Archer. You will see from above that her sister’s 2nd Christian name was Archer (Margaret Archer MacKay). Why she would have hyphenated Archer on to her correct family name of MacKay is lost in the mists of time. Clearly the name Archer must have had some significance to them. Another point worth a mention relates to her Birth Certificate, which records her name initially as simply Ruth MacKay. It also records that she was renamed Emma Louisa Ruth MacKay after the initial registration, but no explanation is given. Both name registrations are recorded in the Civil Records under the same Volume and Pages Numbers. Later research provided an explanation for the use of the name ‘Archer’. Elizabeth Hammick had a sister named Jane Hammick who married John Bright Archer senior in 1826. They had a son also named John Bright Archer who was ordained into the Church of England and it was he that baptised Emma Louisa Ruth MacKay.

Following the Death of Margaret McKay nee Anniss on 24 th May 1862, Alexander John MacKay remarried to Fanny Bolton on 1st November 1862 in St. James’, Westminster. There is no evidence of any further children from this 2nd Marriage. Finally, I found the Parish record of the burial of Alexander John MacKay in the Parish of South Hackney on 5th March 1866. I later also obtained a copy of his Death Certificate which showed he had died at home on 26th February 1866 from pneumonia.

Following the death of Alexander John MacKay, I believe his widow, Fanny, remarried to Robert Kemp but as yet I have been unable to find the actual record of their Marriage. I have however found reference to them on various Census Records. The 1841 and 1851 Census show that Robert was born 1833 in Patrington, Yorkshire and that initially he was a Farm Labourer. The next reference to them is as husband and wife on the 1870 and 1880 Census for Wisconsin in the USA where Robert is recorded as a Farmer. It appears that some time before the 1891 English Census they returned to England and settled in Newington, Hull, Yorkshire where they were recorded as ‘living on their own means’. They again appeared together on the 1901 Census, but by 1911, Fanny was recorded as a Widow as Robert had died the previous year of 1910 in Hull. Fanny died in 1915 also in Hull. There is no record that they had any children.

The ‘Ancestry’ web-site also includes a Family Tree by someone descended from Alexander Samuel MacKay but he/she have withheld their identity. I have posted a

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message on their Message Board requesting that they make contact with me but I have not had a reply yet. More detailed information on Alexander John MacKay and his family is included in Appendix 7. Edward Hector MacKay was married three times, firstly to Rebecca Forsdyke who died in 1888 and secondly, to Amelia Crossthwaite Kemp, also in 1888. I have obtained copies of both Marriage Certificates. Rebecca was the birth Mother of all the children, Amelia (according to information from Janet), apparently did not like children and as a consequence 7 were shipped off to Australia and New Zealand. Later information from Margaret Heywood, in relation to Arthur McKay, suggests that Amelia was actually ‘cruel’ to the children and that Arthur had run away from home at an early age, but more on that later. I came across the third marriage quite by accident at a very late stage in the research and will elaborate on that at a later point in this account.

The two Marriage Certificates provide some very useful information. Firstly, we see that his Father was definitely John, however, the 1st Marriage records him as John Mackay and the 2nd as John McKay. In both cases he is shown as being a Soldier but it does not indicate whether he was still alive. Incidently, the 1851 Census shows that John MacKay was in receipt of an Army Pension. The 1st Marriage took place on 14th

February 1864 between Edward Mackay and Rebecca Forsdyke in the Parish of Holy Trinity, Colchester. He is recorded as being a soldier in the 2nd Battalion of the 1st

Regiment of Foot (The Royal Scots), stationed at The Camp, St. Botolph’s, Colchester, so clearly he was still in the Army at this point. The 2nd Marriage took place on December 30th 1888 between Edward Hector MacKay and Amelia Crossthwaite Kemp in the Parish Church in Walton le Soken, Essex. He is now recorded as being a Storekeeper living in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex. In neither case, were the Witnesses apparently relatives of either the Bride or Groom. It appears that the spelling of our surname as ‘McKay’ did not become the norm until James’ generation. We have carried out some research on both the Forsdyke and Kemp Families, which I will discuss later.

Edward Hector and Rebecca MacKay had 10 Children. Edward Hector (2nd) 1864 (named for his Father), Harriett (1st) 1866 (she died in infancy in 1869), James 1868 (my Grand-father), Harriett (2nd) 1870 (the name Harriett was re-used because presumably it had some family significance). (Maybe it was her Grand-mother's name – more later on this), Rebecca 1872 (named for her Mother), John 1874 (named for his Grand-father), William 1876, Annie 1878, Elizabeth 1880 and Arthur 1882.

As previously mentioned, Amelia did not like children and possibly as a consequence, Edward Hector (2nd), emigrated to Australia, James was in the Army, John was living with his Aunt Sarah Batchelor (Rebecca’s Sister) and working as a Carpenter and William had joined the Royal Scots as a Boy Soldier age 14 and was stationed in Aldershot Barracks. Subsequently, Harriet, Rebecca, John, Annie, Elizabeth and Arthur all followed Edward Hector 2nd to Australia.

Janet provided me with the name and address of one of the descendants of Harriet; Richmond Stuart Manyweathers, with whom I am now in contact via e-mail. Richmond has been able to provide me with the following information.

Harriett (aged 18) and Rebecca (aged 15) emigrated together in 1888 on the ‘MV Dacca’ and Annie (aged 14) and John (aged 18) emigrated together in 1892 on the ‘MV India’, disembarking in Rockhampton where Edward Hector 2nd was living. At some point, Elizabeth and Arthur also emigrated to Australia but Richmond has not been able

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to provide information in this regard. Mystery surrounds the whereabouts of Elizabeth and Arthur for the 1891 Census as they should still have been living with their Father and Step-mother in Greenwich, but more on this later. Margaret Heywood is of the opinion that at least Arthur had run away from home at an early age due to his ‘cruel’ step-mother, Amelia.

Harriett married William Manyweathers, their eldest son was Richmond William Manyweathers, who in turn, married and had 2 sons, William MacKay Manyweathers and Richmond Stuart Manyweathers. Richmond was born 9 th November 1936 and married Jeanette East, they have 2 daughters, Margaret MacKay Sheely and Jennifer Jane O’Leary. Margaret has 5 children and Jennifer has 3.

The ‘Ancestry.co.uk’ web-site more recently included BMD registrations for Australia. Also their Australian site includes a lot of the Australian Electoral Registers. This has now enabled me to carry out a lot of research on the members of the family that emigrated there. See the later section headed ‘The Australian Emigrants’ in this regard.

Initially, William McKay was a mystery; the last reference we had found for him was as a Witness at James’ and Fanny’s Wedding in 1896 when he would have been 20 years old. Extensive searching of the ‘Ancestry’ web-site failed to reveal any further reference to him. Janet also was unable to help and suggested that I speak to Richmond in this regard. He was able to provide quite a lot of information including the fact that one of William’s daughters (Isobel MacKay) was still alive and living in Barry, in Scotland. He met her several years ago and was able to provide me with her address and telephone number, and consequently I have had two very informative telephone conversations with her. It should be mentioned that at the time of writing this, she is 82 years old and very softly spoken, making it rather difficult to fully understand her on the telephone. However, between Richmond and Isobel we now know the following regarding William’s family line.

Firstly, Isobel spells her name MacKay as did her Father William, although we know from his Birth Registration, Census Returns etc., that his name was originally spelt McKay. It would appear that he started to use the spelling MacKay at the time of his first Marriage.

Isobel was unable to provide very much information regarding William’s Army Service and early life. After his discharge from the Army, William managed a ‘Gentleman’s Club’ in Edinburgh and when that closed, he moved to Barry in Angus where he served as Steward of the Panmure Golf Club for 21 years and it was there that Isobel was born. William died in Carnoustie in Angus on 26th April 1958.

William married twice, firstly to Mary Jane Robin Boyne on 12 th June 1901 in Edinburgh. The second marriage was to Janet Ballingall Stuart on 5 th August 1920 also in Edinburgh. There were 3 children from the first marriage, Marion Williamson MacKay (1903), Edward Hector (3rd) MacKay (1906) and Rebecca Forsdyke MacKay (1910) and 1 child from the second marriage, Isobel Janet Ballingall MacKay (1928) in Barry. Isobel never married, and at the time of writing, still lives in a big old house in generous grounds at: ‘Balvaird’, Station Road, Barry, Angus DD7 7RS.

Edward Hector (3rd) MacKay joined the RAF and died overseas in 1952, Isobel was a little vague on the details regarding how he died. Rebecca married Henry Moody in Brighton in 1937 and they had 1 son named Donald MacKay Moody. Donald married a

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nurse from West Africa named Helen Anislji and they in turn had 2 sons and a daughter. Donald died of cancer about 8 years ago. The family lived at 74 Wren Road, Sidcup, Kent DA14 4NF. I have made contact with his widow, Helen and in turn with one of her sons, Bob, who was able to provide me with quite a lot of information regarding his Great-Grand-Father William MacKay. This included a copy of his Army Records, a Testimonial and some photographs. The Testimonial and an e-mail from the Ministry of Defence regarding the 467 th Agricultural Company are included in Appendix 1). One of the photographs was of particular interest as it was of Edward Hector MacKay 1st, taken in Walton-on-the-Naze circa 1880 / 1890.

See the transcript of his Army Records in Appendix 1. Copies of the Records etc. are filed separately.

At a later date, quite by accident, I stumbled upon an entry in the ‘National Probate Calender (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1861 to 1941’ section on the ‘Ancestry’ web-site relating to Edward Hector McKay. The entry was recorded on page 251 of the 1924 Probate Register and reads as follows:

McKay Edward Hector of Riverway East Greenwich Kent died22 October 1923 Administration (with Will) London 4 April toWilliam Miller beltmaker. Effects £248 10s. 4d.

Further down the page there is a second entry which reads as follows:

McKay Janet of 72 Riverway Blackwall Lane East GreenwichKent widow died 12 November 1923 Administration London9 February to William Miller beltmaker. Effects £244.

I had found a reference to a Janet McKay in Greenwich previously but as there did not appear to be a connection, I discarded it. Edward Hector’s Death Certificate records him as living at 72 Riverway, the same address as recorded above for Janet McKay, so clearly there was some connection.

There were two possibilities, either she was his third wife or his sister-in-law. She was recorded as being a widow, so if she was his third wife, this would be correct as he had pre-deceased her by about 3 weeks. I searched for a third marriage for Edward Hector in England but was unable to find any record that fitted. The next course of action was to obtain a copy of her Death Certificate as it is normal practice to record the name of the husband on the Death Certificate of a deceased female.

The Certificate duly arrived and showed that she was in fact the widow of Edward Hector McKay, his 3rd Wife. I then endeavoured to find a reference to their Marriage, which I assumed took place soon after 1911 in Greenwich.

In the hope of finding more in relation to his Will, I applied to the Probate Service for a copy of the Administration and/or his Will which after a long delay, duly arrived, a transcript of which is included in Appendix 2.

I was also curious as to whom William Miller (beltmaker) was, as he was clearly the sole beneficiary in both cases. Although Edward Hector’s son James had pre-deceased him, his daughter-in-law, Fanny, was living close by with a young family. I can only surmise that there may have been an upset in the family.

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The Administration of the Will recorded that William Miller lived in Glasgow which led me to wonder if the marriage ceremony was performed in Scotland. A search of the ‘ScotslandsPeople’ web-site soon revealed a Marriage between Edward Hector McKay and Janet Miller in 1914. I down-loaded the Register image which proved to be as good as a Marriage Certificate.

Janet was a Widow at the time of her Marriage to Edward Hector, so I assume that William was most probably her son from her first Marriage. The Register records the Parents names of both the Bride and Groom, and in Janet’s case, she was the daughter of James Fowler and Agnes Wilson. More importantly, in Edward Hector’s case, it confirms that his Father was John McKay, a Soldier, but it also shows that his Mother was Harriet Hollington, (but later shown to be Adlington). Later research at the National Archives in Kew provided more information on John McKay, (see below).

The Marriage Register also records the usual residence and occupation of the couple. In Edward Hector’s case it confirms what we already know, that he was a Storekeeper residing at the Gasworks, East Greenwich. Janet however, is recorded as being the Cook at the George Hotel in Stranraer. In 1914, Edward Hector was 77 years old, and living in Greenwich, so how on earth did he meet and marry a lady 17 years his junior living and working about 600 miles away in Scotland?

The marriage ceremony took place in St. John’s Episcopal Church in Stranraer. I was able to find an address for the church on the Internet so I wrote to the Minister in Charge. In due course I received a reply from the Rev. Canon Nigel E.H. Newton, the Priest in Charge, who was able to confirm the marriage from his records but was unable to provide any additional information. The George Hotel in Stranraer is still in existence, although probably rather dated, and according to an Estate Agents’ web-site, is for sale.

Further research into the Miller family produced the following information:

The Marriage of Edward Hector McKay and Janet Miller

The 3rd Marriage of Edward Hector McKay was to say the least, somewhat of a surprise, bearing in mind his age and its location in Stranraer. It raised various questions, such as, why was the son of his 3 rd wife the sole beneficiary in his Will rather than any of his blood relatives. It has become apparent that his 2nd Marriage to Amelia Crossthwaite Kemp was not well received by his children, as it was instrumental in several of them emigrating. His children had obviously distanced themselves from him and were therefore presumably not beneficiaries in his Will.

Initial research with their Marriage Registration and Edward Hector’s Will, had shown that Janet’s maiden surname was Fowler and that she was probably born in or near, Glasgow. At the time of their Marriage she was described as a widow and that her married surname was Miller.

The William Miller, Belt-maker of 269 Dalmarnock Road, Glasgow, was therefore almost certainly her son. With this information, I was able to work backwards and find the following using the ‘Ancestry’ and ‘ScotlandsPeople’ web-sites.

I found Janet’s birth recorded in the Old Parish Registers of pre-1855 as:

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22nd August 1854, in the Parish of Barony in Glasgow City. Her full name was recorded as Janet Wilson Fowler and her parents were James Fowler and Agnes Wilson.

I next found her Marriage Registration dated 24 th September 1875 in the Bridgeton District of Glasgow, her Husband being Hugh Miller, a foreman bricklayer. The ceremony was performed at her home address of 296 London Road, by a Minister of the Free Church of Scotland. Although her Birth Registration records her parents as James Fowler and Agnes Wilson, the Marriage registration records them as James Fowler and Janet Wilson. In both cases James Fowler is recorded as a Cartage Contractor.

William Miller was born on the 6 th August 1876 also at their home address of 296 London Road in the Bridgeton District of Glasgow. The Birth Registration confirms his parent’s names and their date of Marriage.

The next record found was the Death Registration of Hugh Miller, 1898, in Bridgeton. His age at death is recorded as ‘0’, however, I have found that this is quite normal with a lot of the early Scottish Registrations.

On 29th December 1899, William married Sarah Thomson at the Fairbairn Free Church of Scotland in Glasgow. I later found the ‘GlasgaPals’ web-site which made reference to this church being located in Baltic Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow, but unfortunately has now been demolished. His profession is shown as ‘Machinery Beltsewer’ and his address as 269 Dalmarnock Road, his parent’s address.

His next appearance is on the 1901 Census at 9 Dunn Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow, living with his wife, Sarah, and their daughter, Elizabeth. There is a slight mystery here, as Elizabeth is recorded as being 3 years old, whereas the 1911 Census (see next paragraph), records her as only 10 years old. William’s occupation is shown as a ‘Leather Belt Stitcher’ and his wife, Sarah, is recorded as being born in Ireland.

The 1911 Census now includes a second daughter named Margaret, aged 2 years. It also shows that Sarah had given birth to 3 children and that they were all still alive. There is no indication as to who the third child was or its sex or age. William’s occupation is now recorded as a ‘Machinery Beltmaker’ and was working for a Sewing Machine Company. They were then living at 269 Dalmarnock Road, his parent’s former address. Again, Sarah is recorded as having been born in Ireland, but no further detail is given.

The Marriage Registration for Edward Hector McKay and Janet Miller, confirms that her parents were James Fowler and Agnes Fowler nee Wilson and that her father had been a Contractor. As I have mentioned elsewhere, the Marriage took place on 13 th

September 1914 at Saint John’s Scottish Episcopal Church in Stranraer. Following their Marriage, they settled in Greenwich, where Edward Hector was still employed at the Gas Works.

Both of their Wills record William Miller as their sole beneficiary and that he was still resident at 296 Dalmarnock Road in Glasgow and employed as a Belt Maker. It is to be assumed that he also inherited any personal effects as well as the sums of money stated in the Probate Records. It is possible that Edward Hector’s personal papers and effects etc. may have been passed on to William Miller. I would very much like to try and trace his descendants but this may prove difficult.

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The following documents are to hand:1). A transcript of the Birth Record for Janet (Wilson) Fowler2). A copy of the Marriage Registration for Janet Fowler and Hugh Miller3). A copy of the Birth Registration of their son, William Miller4). A transcript of the Death Record for Hugh Miller5). A copy of the Marriage Registration for William Miller and Sarah Thomson6). A copy of the 1901 Census Return for William Miller and his family7). A copy of the 1911 Census Return for William Miller and his family8). A copy of the Marriage Registration for Edward Hector McKay and Janet Miller9). A photograph of the Fairbairn Free Church of Scotland in Glasgow

Note:Research into Sewing Machine Companies in Scotland showed that William Miller almost certainly worked for the Singer Sewing Machine Company in Bridgeton, Glasgow. I located a web-site devoted to the history of Sewing Machines which records that the Singer Company originally opened a factory in Glasgow in 1867 and then in 1871 moved to larger premises in Bridgeton, Glasgow. It is most unlikely that there were 2 manufacturers in the same area.

The Death Certificates of both Edward Hector and his 3 rd Wife Janet, record the Informant as a T. J. Russell, living at 106 Annandale Road, who ‘caused the body to be buried’. Thanks to the Electoral Rolls and the 1911 Census, I was able to find that T. J. Russell was in fact Thomas John Russell, employed as a Time-keeper at the Gas Works and therefore a work colleague of Edward Hector. Again, as with his Will, his daughter-in-law, Fanny, is not mentioned. I also found a reference for a T. J. Russell in the 1939 Telephone Directory which lists him still living at 106 Annandale Road and with the Telephone Number of Greenwich 0291. An enquiry to Greenwich Council revealed that Edward Hector was buried in Greenwich Cemetery on 26 th October 1923, in a public grave in Section Z, grave number 1346. There is no headstone.

Knowing that both James and Harriet 2nd had been born in East Retford, and that James had been baptised in the Congregational Church there, I decided to see if I could get more information in this regard. I initially contacted the Archives Department of Nottinghamshire County Council, who in turn referred me on to the Manuscripts and Special Collections Department of the University of Nottingham. They were able to confirm that they held the relevant records and would carry out a search for me. In due course I received an e-mail from them confirming that they had found the following information in the Baptismal Registers:

Child: James McKay, Father: Edward H. McKay, Mother: Rebecca F., (Father’s) Occupation: Guard, Church Relation: Not given, DOB: Not given, Place of Birth: East Retford, Date of Baptism: Sep. 1868, Administrator: Robert Jackson.(This ties in with the information we had already obtained and in particular with the letter included with the application for James to attend the Military Asylum).

Child: Harriet McKaye, Father: Edward H. McKaye, Mother: Rebecca Fosdyke, Occupation: Railway Guard, Church Relation: Father Member, DOB: 20 th Nov. 1870, Place of Birth: Retford, Date of Baptism: 28th June 1871, Administrator: Thomas S. King.(Note the incorrect spelling of the 2 surnames).

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They also found an entry for Edward Hector in the Roll of Church Members as follows:

Name: Edward McKay, Age: Not given, Residence: Albert Road, Occupation: Railway Porter, Date of Admission: 31st Sep. 1868.

This may have had some bearing on his eldest son, Edward Hector 2nd becoming a non-conformist preacher after he settled in Australia.

I have subsequently been able to obtain copies of these records, images of which are stored on computer.

The final piece of the puzzle was to find more information on John McKay (senior) which I have recorded as follows:

John McKay (Senior)

We have evidence that the name of Edward Hector 1st Father was John MacKay. He is named on all three of Edward Hector’s Marriage Certificates and in addition, his wife, Edward Hector’s Mother, is named as Harriett Hollington on his third Marriage Certificate from Scotland.

The fact that John MacKay was a soldier is also recorded on the Certificates; Edward Hector also made reference to this in a letter he wrote to the Royal Military Asylum [The Duke of York’s Royal Military School] in relation to James McKay. This letter also stated that John MacKay had served with the 42nd Highlanders, [aka the Black Watch], at Waterloo.

I made e-mail contact with the Black Watch Archivist who was able to provide me with the following information:There were 3 men named John MacKay on the Waterloo Medal Roll for the 42nd, but then in a subsequent e-mail, he changed that to only 1 of them actually serving there. It is reasonable to conclude therefore that this is indeed our ancestor.

The brief details provided by the Archivist showed that he was born in the Parish of Rogart, near Dornoch in Sutherland and that he attested for the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment of Foot on 25th February 1810 at the age of 15. He was discharged on 11 th

October 1837 following a review by the Regimental Board in Glasgow. At the time of his discharge, he held the rank of Corporal and was aged 42 years and 7 months.

Subsequently, with the assistance of a Researcher at the National Archives in Kew, I was able to obtain copies of his Discharge Papers, the 1815 Muster Records and his Admission to Pension details.

I have completed a full transcript of the Discharge Papers which is stored on computer and a copy included with the Discharge Papers in the Military ring-binder. In addition to the above information, they also show that he was a Labourer by trade, he served in France (Waterloo), Gibraltar and Malta and that he was promoted to Corporal on 30 th

April 1829.

His discharge was as a result of ill health following a review by the Regimental Board. The Regimental Surgeon’s report stated that it was a case of ‘Disease and Disability contracted on Duty; without being attributable to Neglect, Design, Vice or

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Intemperance’. He was also examined by a Principal Medical Officer at a hospital in Chatham, Kent, who was of the opinion that he was unfit for service and likely to be permanently incapacitated for military duty having ‘inordinate action of the heart and difficulty breathing’.

The Muster Records for 1815 (the year of the Battle of Waterloo) of which I have a copy, are of little help. The Admission to Pension details confirm the information regarding his service and medical condition at discharge; however, they provide no additional information other than his intended place of residence was to be Glasgow.

Knowing his age on enlistment was 15 and that he was born in Rogart, I checked ‘FamilySearch’ website and found his Christening recorded as:John McKay, Baptised 31st August 1796 in Rogart, Sutherland, Father James MacKay, Mother Murriad McDonald.

I then searched the ‘ScotlandsPeople’ website Parish Records section and found an image of his actual Birth Registration recorded in the Parish of Rogart as follows:

“James Mackay in Grudy had by his present wife Marrian Macdonald a son born to him named John”.

Grudy refers to Milton Grudy which appears to be a village or hamlet within the Parish of Rogart. Clearly, the ‘FamilySearch’ record has been mis-transcribed.

Copies of both the ‘FamilySearch’ and ‘ScotlandsPeople’ records are stored on computer and a copy included in the Registrations ring-binder.

It is worth noting that in the course of our research, it has become apparent that various members of the extended McKay family have aligned themselves with most of the conformist and non-conformist Christian religious denominations:Church of England, Church of Scotland, Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist, Scottish Episcopal, Free Church of Scotland, Plymouth Brethren and possibly a few others.

The Australian Emigrants:As I mentioned previously, contact had been made with Richmond Stuart Manyweathers, the Grand-son of Harriet McKay who had emigrated to Australia with her sister Rebecca in 1888. Richmond has been able to provide a lot of information regarding his family group but his knowledge of the other family groups (Edward Hector 2nd, Rebecca, etc) is limited.

The ‘ancestry.co.uk’ web-site now includes Australian Birth, Marriage and Death records but due to the strict Australian Privacy Laws, these are limited to Births 1788 to 1922, Marriages 1788 to 1949 and Deaths 1787 to 1985. Having made great use of these records, it became obvious that even within these periods, the records were incomplete. However, I was still able to obtain a lot of the BMD records of the emigrants.

I already knew that many of the Australian Electoral Registers were available on the ‘ancestry.au’ web-site, the earliest being 1903 and the latest 1980, however, some States were only available from 1930. Between the BMD Records and the Electoral

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Registers, I have so far been able to piece together the following information. Much of the detail is recorded in the Family Tree Chart and BMD Registration Chart so I have not repeated it all here.

More recently, the ‘ancestry.co.uk’ web-site included Electoral Registers for New Zealand between the years 1905 to 1954, which have provided some information regarding Annie and John.

I have also found the ‘Index to Registers of Immigrant Ships’ Arrivals 1848 – 1912’, on the Internet and included is the information relating to the arrivals of Harriet, Rebecca, Annie and John, showing their ages, date of arrival and the ship they travelled on. Copies of the relevant pages are stored on computer.

Edward Hector MacKay 2nd:He was the first to emigrate at the age of 21 on board the ‘Roma’, arriving in Australia on 19th May 1886. He settled in Rockhampton, Queensland and subsequently sponsored some of his siblings to emigrate in pairs in the following years. He was employed for many years as an Engineer/Turner with the firm of Burns and Twigg Limited. An Internet search revealed that Burns and Twigg are now part of ‘Queensland Windows’ in Rockhampton, so I e-mailed them on the off-chance that they held employment records still. I received a reply to say that they had found records of Edward Hector having purchased shares in Burns and Twigg. The records, (8 pages), recorded the original purchase, the transfer to his wife Mary following his death and the subsequent transfer to their daughter, Evelyn Ruth McKay following Mary’s death.

He married Mary Roscoe in 1889 and they produced 8 children:Annie Rebecca, Edward John, Florence Helen, Doris May, Thomas Roscoe, Evelyn Ruth, Donald Hector and William George, some of whom are worth mentioning in greater detail.

Edward John McKay served in World War 1 with the 31st Battalion of the Australian and Commonwealth Military Forces. He enlisted on 10 th July 1915 and was sent into action in France. He was awarded 4 medals; Croix de Guerre (France), 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Recently, I found an Army Form W.3121 which recorded the action for which he was recommended to receive the Croix de Guerre. It reads as follows:“During the period covering 8th to 13th August, this Officer showed Conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He was continually on the road between Villers Brettoneux and Harbonnieres and during the shelling of Warfusee-Abancourt and Harbonnieres, through his disregard of danger and his example to traffic sentries and other rank and file on the road, he maintained a continuous stream of traffic thereby avoiding delay in getting guns, etc., forward.”

A brief record of his service is included in Appendix 1. See also the images of his full World War 1 Service Records.

Thomas Roscoe McKay married Doris Lillian Augusta Weisse in St. Paul’s Cathedral, Rockhampton on Saturday, 11th January 1930. An account of the wedding was reported in the ‘Longreach Leader’ which makes very interesting reading. Thomas’ brother Don (Donald Hector) performed the duties of Best Man. The Australian National Archives record that he enlisted in the Australian Forces during World War 2. I have obtained copies of his Service Records which show that he served in the Australian Army

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Medical Corps Dental Unit as a Dental Mechanic which was his civilian occupation. A brief summary of his service is recorded in Appendix 1 and copies of his records are stored on computer.

William George McKay also enlisted during World War 2 in the 2/25 Infantry Battalion and served from March 1942 to October 1944. Part of his service was in the Middle East where it appears he contracted Malaria, which ultimately rendered him unfit for further military service resulting in his early discharge. I have been able to obtain copies of his Service Records from the Australian National Archives web-site.

Doris May married David Moodie in 1931 and he also served with the Australian Forces during World War 2. Again, his records have not yet been digitised but the National Archives show that he enlisted at Murgon, Queensland and that his Service No. was Q210125.

Edward Hector 2nd was also a non-conformist preacher and was much revered amongst the ‘Islander Groups’ in the Rockhampton area. He subsequently inspired his grand-daughter, Doris Ellen Fletcher, (the daughter of Annie Rebecca McKay and George William Fletcher), to become a Baptist Deaconess, and another grand-daughter, Mary Agnes Moodie, to become a Presbyterian Deaconess.

The ‘Islander Groups’ were groups of labourers brought in from Pacific Islands during the 19th and early 20th centuries to work on the sugar cane and tropical fruit plantations. Some were legal workers whilst others were illegal. The most infamous group were the Kanakas, who were brought in from a number of Pacific Islands. They were indentured labourers who were ‘on contract’ for a specified period. Many did not or could not return home and ended up forming their own settlements or ghettos in larger towns. Many had a religious upbringing due to the work of Missionaries in the 19 th century. Edward Hector befriended these groups around Rockhampton, cycling out to their settlements to conduct services. He was well respected by the people and recognised in the community for his work amongst them.

I have found a web-site which lists all the people called before the Queensland Government Committees during the period 1902 to 1920. Edward Hector 2nd is included on the list in connection with his work with the ‘Pacific Islanders’, but unfortunately, no information is available on-line in regard to the committee findings.

His Death Notice and Obituary were published in the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin on 1st and 2nd April 1940, copies of which are stored on computer. The Obituary includes a photograph taken late in life in which he is sporting a long white beard. The transcript of the Obituary is as follows:

The Obituary of Edward Hector MacKay 2nd

as reported in the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin on Tuesday 2nd April 1940.

After an illness of nearly six months, the death occurred during the week-end of Mr Edward Hector McKay at the age of 75 years. The son of a sergeant in the 1st Royal Scots, Mr. McKay was born in the barracks at Colchester, Essex, on December 17th 1864. He came of a well-known soldiering family, his father having served in the Crimea and his grandfather with His Majesty's forces at Waterloo.

At the age of twelve, he commenced work with the makers of the world famous Big Ben, J. Warner and Sons, at Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex. His soldiering instincts prevailed and he left to join the army, only to find that he was forced to fulfil an apprenticeship agreement with his firm. He left England in his early

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twenties in the s.s. Roma and arrived at Brisbane on May 10 th 1886, where he worked with engineering firms for two years.

In February, 1888, he commenced work as a turner with Messrs Burns and Twigg, engineers, a job which he held continuously for 62 years. About two years after his arrival he married Miss Mary Roscoe in the Baptist Church, then in Denison Street. Their Golden Wedding anniversary was celebrated on December 24th last. Years ago Mr McKay conducted religious and educational classes for the Chinese in Rockhampton and the coloured people at Farnborough, in the sugar growing days, and also at the Sandhills.In later years and up to the time of his death, Mr McKay was actively associated with the services at the.Gospel Hall.

Standing 6ft 4ins in height and possessed of a well-groomed white beard, Mr McKay was a conspicuous and popular personage in the foundry at Burns and Twigg.

The deceased is survived by his wife, four sons, Edward and Donald (Rockhampton), Thomas (Cairns) and William (Barcaldine), and his three daughters, Mrs D. Moodie (Murgon), Mrs G. W. Fletcher and Miss Evelyn (Rockhampton). There are seventeen grand children.

Harriet McKay 2nd:Harriet was aged 17 when she emigrated with her younger sister, Rebecca aged 15, in 1888 on the ‘MV Dacca’. Although she was registered at birth as Harriet McKay, following her arrival in Australia, she became known as Harriett MacKay. She returned to England on one occasion as a nurse, accompanying a wealthy Grazier and his family to ‘take the waters’, (Richmond’s words).

Harriet married William Manyweathers, in 1905 in Ballina, New South Wales and they produced 3 children: Richmond William Manyweathers, Flora Elizabeth Manyweathers and William MacKay Manyweathers. Richmond Stuart Manyweathers that I am now in contact with, is the son of Richmond William.

William Manyweathers, like his wife, Harriet McKay, was an immigrant from England. He owned a Furniture retailing business in Lismore, NSW and was joined in the business by his son, Richmond William in 1921. Richmond William continued to work in the family business until 1968 when he was elected to the NSW Legislative Council where he served until 1978. He saw active service in the South Pacific with the Royal Australian Air Force during World War 2. During the post-war years he was also involved with various local business and community organisations. Shortly before retiring from politics, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1976.

Rebecca McKay:Rebecca, as mentioned above, emigrated in 1888 with her sister, Harriet. She married Albert Lewis in 1893 in Queensland and they produced 3 children, Edward Albert, Ivy Rebecca and Ethel. They settled in Townsville, Queensland where Albert was employed as a Wharf Labourer. I have not found any further information on his family.

Annie McKay:Annie was aged 13 and John was aged 17 when they emigrated to Australia together in 1892 on the ‘MV India’. Annie married Robert Edward Stott on 20 th December 1899 in Rockhampton, Queensland and gave birth there to their first child, Hector William, on 9 th

October 1900. Apparently the temperature in Australia was not to their liking and as a consequence, they moved to New Zealand in 1902 and initially settled in Devonport, before moving on to Birkenhead.

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Annie and Robert had 5 children, Hector William, Alexander Robert, Robert Hammond, Ethel McKay and Donald John. Hector, Alexander and Robert joined their father in the family butchery business, while Donald became a Rotary Machinist for the New Zealand Herald . Ethel McKay Stott did not marry, and was employed as a clerk. She died in 1980 while watching the Kiwis playing Rugby on Television; they scored, she cheered and promptly passed away. With the advent of World War 2, Donald enlisted in the New Zealand forces, serving initially with an Artillery Regiment in Greece where he was taken prisoner. He managed to escape from the POW Camp by pole-vaulting over the fence and evaded capture for seven months before escaping from Greece. In 1942 he volunteered for service with the Special Operations Executive in Europe. Later in the War he served with them in the Far East against Japan and unfortunately went missing during the landings in Borneo. Donald had married Mary Kathleen Snow before the War and she gave birth to their only son, Geoffrey, in 1945, just days before Donald was sent on his final mission. Mary re-married after the War. A full account of Donald’s service is recorded in the Military Records files.

Following generations of the Stott Family are recorded in the BMD Registration Chart and on the Family Tree Chart. It is worth noting that Hector’s eldest son, Graham Edward, served as the Mayor of Birkenhead from 1977 to 1986.

I have found quite a lot of information regarding the Stott Family on the Auckland Libraries History On-line web-site. 17 photographs of Donald Stott are listed there but because of copyright, may not be displayed on the Internet. I contacted the library by e-mail and it transpires that the photographs have been loaned to the library by Barbara Lewis nee Stott. The Librarian, Kirsty Webb, has made contact with Barbara Lewis who has given permission for copies of the photographs to be made available to me. I have since received a CD containing copies of all of the photographs.

Her reply to my initial e-mail is as follows:

Hi Neil

Thank you for your interesting enquiry. I am sure we can sort something out for you as you are a member of the family. Because of our copyright legislation and the date of these photos we can't put them online ourselves, but I am in regular contact with Barbara Lewis (nee Stott), who loaned us the photos for copying, and I do not think she will have any problems with you having digital copies.

At the moment, those images are all off being digitised as she only loaned them to us recently, so I will not be able to send them just yet. They are part of an archive of Don Stott's letters, all written between 1940 and his death in 1945 - amazingly, someone in the family had thrown them out and Barbara rescued them from the side of the road.

At the time she was the only one in the family with any real interest in his war career, but there has since been a biography written about him, and there is now a lot of interest him from the professional historians. Much of his war career seems to have been in covert operations, so for a long time, not much was available about him and what he did.

Barbara loaned us the letters, which we are in the process of scanning. These will eventually be available from Local History Online also - all going well, before the end of this year.

The Stotts were and still are a very well known Birkenhead family and that butchers shop was a local institution – you have probably found the photos of it online already. It still exists, but it is now a well patronised café - a rather nice old building, as they kept all the tiled floors and old fittings.

Kind regards

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Kirsty WebbLocal History OnlineNorthern Research Centre, TakapunaAuckland Libraries

In an attempt to make contact with other members of the Stott family, I contacted the ‘New Zealand Women’s Weekly’ Magazine and asked if they would publish a notice for me. This they did and very soon after contact was made firstly with Graham Edward Stott (mentioned above) and secondly with Kevin Stott, a nephew of Graham. Kevin is currently living and working in London but hopes to return to New Zealand in the near future. Kevin is also involved with family research and we are in regular e-mail contact and exchanging information.

There is a collection of letters written by Donald Stott during the war to his Mother, Annie, that I am hoping Kirsty Webb at the Takapuna Library will also be able to obtain copies of for me. In the meantime, I found an article on the Internet referring to these letters which included excerpts from some of them. One was of particular interest as follows:

December 9, 1940:"I have just had my last look at London. I could not get to Aunt Fanny's house because the road had been bombed and it would have taken too long”. The Aunt Fanny he referred to was Fanny McKay (nee Rich), my Grand-mother, the widow of his late uncle James McKay, living at 37 Whitworth Street, East Greenwich. When I informed Kevin Stott of this, he said that the family had often wondered just who ‘Aunt Fanny’ was.

I have also now made contact with Barbara Lewis nee Stott by post and she is providing me with further information on the emigrants.

John McKay:John (Jack) emigrated to Australia at the age of 17 with his sister Annie in 1892 on board the ‘MV India’. He married Eliza Binstead in Queensland, and they later moved on to New Zealand, they did not have any children. His Grand-nephew, Graham Edward Stott was able to provide some information on John’s life which I have reproduced in the ‘Sundries’ section of my research notes.

In brief, John worked as a carpenter in England and following his arrival in New Zealand, he set up his own Carpentry and Building company. He was very successful in the Devonport area of Auckland and built many fine houses and apartments. He apparently also built the Stott’s Butcher’s Shop for his brother-in-law, Robert Edward Stott. Regrettably, the ‘Great Depression’ of the early 1920’s saw the demise of many businesses including John’s, which resulted in him taking his own life aged 53 in 1927.

Elizabeth McKay:Elizabeth’s early life is a bit of a mystery. She was born on 3 rd April 1880 at Tendring, Essex and appears on the 1881 Census aged 1 year living with her parents. She, along with her younger brother, Arthur, are then missing from the 1891 and 1901 Census. The next record for her is her marriage to Andrew Sharp Liddle at Newbattle near Edinburgh on 6th August 1909. Their Marriage Certificate states that Andrew was a Coal Miner and that Elizabeth was a Domestic Servant at 24 George Square, Edinburgh. I

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have been able to find the 1901 and 1911 Census for 24 George Square which records that David Scott Moncrief was the Owner / Occupier and was living there with his family and servants for those 2 Census dates. In neither case is Elizabeth recorded as one of the Servants so it can therefore be assumed that she took up employment there at some date after the 1901 Census. David Scott Moncrief is described as ‘A Writer to the Signet’. A Google search revealed that this relates to the ‘WS Society’ in Edinburgh and that the ‘Signet’ is their Society magazine and is concerned with matters relating to the Legal Profession in Scotland.

This still does not answer the question as to why Elizabeth was in Scotland at such a young age. It has been suggested by other family members that her step-mother Amelia either did not like children or was cruel to them and as a consequence, Elizabeth and Arthur ran away from home. At the time in question, 5 of her siblings had already emigrated to Australia, my Grand-father James was serving with the Royal Scots in South Africa and William was stationed at Leith in Edinburgh with the Royal Scots. It is quite possible therefore that William had taken Elizabeth ‘under his wing’ and found employment for her with the Moncrief Family. I have also researched the present ownership of 24 George Square and found that the building was sold to a Religious Order in 1931 so there is little chance of finding any records relating to the time that Elizabeth was employed there.

Andrew and Elizabeth’s first child, Rebecca MacKay Liddle was born in Newbattle the year after their marriage, on 19th June 1910. They apparently remained in Scotland until Rebecca was 1 year old before returning to Australia. A second daughter, Margaret Sharp Liddle, was born in Australia and married Clifford Cook in 1942, but as yet I have no further information on her other than she had 1 daughter named Barbara Elizabeth. Elizabeth and Andrew settled in Kurri Kurri, a major mining area of New South Wales, where Andrew continued to work as a miner. Probate was granted in connection with Andrew’s Will by the Supreme Court of NSW with his creditors being the sole beneficiaries.

Rebecca married Percy Joseph Coleman in 1943 at Burrowa, New South Wales. They had one child, Susanne Elizabeth (Sue), who became Sue Zammit on marriage.

Arthur McKay:Firstly, we have absolutely no idea how or when Arthur arrived in Australia. It has been suggested that after he left home in England, he ran away to sea. It may be assumed therefore that he arrived in Australia as a crewman and possibly jumped ship. Initial research revealed that Arthur had married Hannah Mary Cullen in 1906 in Sydney and that he was a Gaol Warder. Later information that I obtained from Maitland Gaol showed that he was appointed to the Prison Service on the 12 th November 1907 serving initially at Long Bay Gaol in Sydney. He transferred to Maitland Gaol, (which was a maximum security gaol), on 11th September 1918 where he was promoted to ‘Warder Foreman’. We also know that Arthur Edward Hector (his son), became a Gaol Warder at Maitland Gaol (see below).

Whilst searching for any references on the Internet for Edward John McKay in relation to his WW1 service, the name Arthur Edward Hector McKay appeared. I followed a link to a site operated by Warwick McCall who was also researching his Family History. Also included was Arthur McKay, his Wife Hannah Mary Cullen and their children, Arthur Edward Hector and Mary Robina McKay. The names were too much of a coincidence for them not to be directed connected to our research. I made contact by e-

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mail with Warwick who promised to get back to me if he could provide further information. In the meantime he recommended that I searched a web-site operated by the National Library of Australia which provides access to the main Australian Newspapers on-line, (http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/home).

A search for Arthur Edward Hector McKay produced several newspaper articles, copies of which I have reproduced.1) The ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ dated 22nd March 1930, relating to a Civil Court case where he was claiming damages from Ilmer Westerland following a Road Traffic Accident.2) The ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ dated 18 th December 1940, relating to a case in the Criminal Court, where Arthur Edward Hector McKay, Gaol Warder, was accused of aiding 2 prisoners to escape.3) Articles in the ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ and the ‘Melbourne Argus’ dated 4 th April 1941 showing that he was acquitted of the crime.4) Three further articles in the ’Sydney Morning Herald’ dated 10 th May 1948 referring to his death in Newcastle Hospital as a result of an accident, having fallen from a crane, and his subsequent Funeral. Interestingly, he was buried in the Catholic Cemetery in Botany following a Requiem Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Kensington. We must assume therefore that either he converted or was raised as a Catholic.

The Newspaper articles relating to Arthur Edward Hector’s death, refer to his siblings as Gertie, Jessie and Dolly; plus his children as Don, Bobbie and Billa, (see below for their correct names).

Hannah Mary Cullen had previously married Joseph Conlan, in Singleton, NSW, in 1892 and gave birth to 3 children, Gertrude Lillian (Gertie) in 1893, Jessie Mabel in 1896 and John in 1898 who died the same year. When Joseph died in 1904, Hannah reverted to her maiden before getting remarried to Arthur McKay in 1906 and giving birth to Arthur Edward Hector in 1907 and Mary Robina in 1911. Gertie and Jessie were therefore Arthur Edward Hector’s half-sisters. The reference to ‘Dolly’ in his Death Notice is the only time the name has appeared and I have since found that it was a ‘pet name’ for Mary Robina.

Gertrude Lillian married John Reginald George Wilbow in St. Peter’s, NSW in 1915, Jessie Mabel married Albert Edward McLaren in Parramatta, NSW in 1916 and Mary Robina married David Ambrose Worrad in Randwick, NSW in 1945. By chance, I found an entry on an Internet message board for Margaret Heywood (nee Wilbow – the daughter of Gertrude), whom I am now also in contact with. Margaret has been able to fill in some of the gaps relating to Arthur McKay as follows:

Arthur McKay: He had a distinct Scottish accent, although as we know, he was born in Essex.

Could it be that when he went missing as a child, he was in Scotland, and picked up the accent then?

Margaret described him as a strange person, a drifter and not her Mother’s favourite person.

He started work on Joseph Conlan’s Cattle Station just after his death and subsequently married his widow, Hannah Mary Conlan (nee Cullen).

Joseph Conlan had died suddenly without having made a Will. The property was sold with Arthur and Hannah Mary making merry with the proceeds. A court action was taken to see if the money could be held in trust for Gertrude and Jessie.

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He had no trade or profession, and as we already knew, he entered the Prison Service as a Warder in Sydney and later in Maitland.

Margaret recounts a visit by his sister Harriet to Arthur and Hannah Mary, when Arthur was quite rude to a school friend of Hannah’s who was also visiting at the time. Harriet apparently spoke severely to him at the dining table. She later explained that Arthur had had a very unhappy early life with his Mother (Rebecca) dying young, and then had a very ‘cruel’ step-mother (Amelia) from whom he ran away as a young boy. See my previous comment regarding him being missing from the 1891 Census.

Following the death of his wife, Hannah Mary in 1942, he re-married in 1946 to Vera Ivy Myrtle Charlesworth, much to Mary Robina’s horror apparently. A liaison between Arthur and Vera had been going on for a long time and Hannah Mary knew of it. On her death bed, Hannah informed Arthur that she would be Hannah Mary Conlan until the day she died.

Arthur clearly failed to appreciate Hannah, who was well educated, having been sent to finishing school by her first husband, Joseph Conlan, prior to their marriage. Margaret has described her as a beautiful and brilliant lady who was dearly loved by her children and grand-children. She was capable of writing the most amazing letters, many of which were to officials trying to get Arthur out of trouble.

Arthur Edward Hector, (usually known as Hector), married Susan Eileen Mychael in Randwick in 1929. As mentioned above, they had 3 children, Donald Arthur (Don), Audrey Eileen (Bobbie) and Billee Fay (Billa). Again, Margaret has provided the following additional information:

Arthur Edward Hector McKay (Hector): Margaret described him as a ‘loveable man’, but also a bit if a drifter. He and his sister Mary Robina were talented musicians. As a child, he had a wonderful voice and was selected to sing in the Sistine Chapel

in Rome, but Hannah Mary would not allow him to go. We know that he followed his father into the Prison Service.

Mary Robina McKay: She had suffered from ‘infantile paralysis’ as a child, and was quite crippled all her

life. In later life she moved to a Nursing Home on the Gold Coast. The Gold Coast Family History Society record her death on 9 th March 1991 and her

burial on 12th March in the Southport Lawn Cemetery, Southport, Queensland, Grave No. 316.

Richmond is now in contact with Sue Zammit, the grand-daughter of Elizabeth McKay, who also has knowledge of Arthur’s side of the family and should therefore be able to clarify some of these points.

As with Thomas Roscoe McKay, both Arthur and Arthur Edward Hector McKay enlisted for service in World War 2. I have obtained copies of both Arthur’s and Arthur Edward Hector’s Service Records. They both enlisted in Paddington, N.S.W., Arthur’s Service No. was N391718 and Arthur Edward Hector’s was N409962.

This should be read in conjunction with the Registrations Charts, Census Returns, Electoral Rolls and BMD Certificates etc. that I have also prepared.

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Edward Hector MacKay 1st - Employment Information

The following information relates to his employment and place of residence as recordedon his 3 Marriage Certificates, the Birth Certificates of his 10 Children

and the Census Returns for 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901 and 1911.

1864 – His first Marriage to Rebecca Forsdyke – Soldier stationed in Colchester, Essex1864 – The Birth of Edward Hector 2nd – Soldier stationed in Colchester, Essex1866 – The Birth of Harriet 1st – Railway Porter / Guard in East Retford, Nottinghamshire1868 – The Birth of James – Goods Guard on the Railway in East Retford, Nottinghamshire1870 – The Birth of Harriet 2nd – Railway Guard in East Retford, Nottinghamshire1871 – Census Return – Railway Guard in East Retford, Nottinghamshire1872 – The Birth of Rebecca – Railway Labourer in Falkenham, Suffolk1874 – The Birth of John – Farm Labourer in Falkenham, Suffolk1876 – The Birth of William – Farm Labourer in Falkenham, Suffolk1878 – The Birth of Annie – Store-keeper in Walton-on-the Naze, Essex1880 – The Birth of Elizabeth – Store-keeper in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex1881 – Census Return – Store-keeper at the Foundry in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex1882 – The Birth of Arthur - Store-keeper in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex1888 – His 2nd Marriage to Amelia Crossthwaite Kemp – Store-keeper at the Gas Works in Greenwich1891 – Census Return – Gas Stoker at the Gas Works in Greenwich, London1901 – Census Return – Time-keeper at the Gas Works in Greenwich, London1911 – Census Return – Assistant Store-keeper at the Gas Works in Greenwich, London1914 – His 3rd Marriage to Janet Miller - Store-keeper at the Gas Works in Greenwich, London

Notes:1). The Australian Marriage Certificate for Annie in 1899 records his employment as a ‘Clerk’. This

would relate to his employment at the Gas Works probably as a Time-keeper or Store-keeper.2). I have been unable to find any information relating to a foundry in Walton-on-the-Naze, however

there is a current address of ‘Foundry Yard’ in the town. During later research, I found the obituary of his eldest son, Edward Hector 2nd in Australia which stated that his Father had worked for ‘J. Warner and Sons Foundry’ in Walton-on-the-Naze, the company that cast the ‘Big Ben’ bell.

3). I have also been unable to find information regarding what Railway Company he worked for.4). The Gas Works in Greenwich would be the ‘South Metropolitan Gas Company’ where James

McKay worked after his discharge from the Army and where Fanny McKay worked after James’ Death.

5). Falkenham in Suffolk was the birthplace of his wife, Rebecca. It is possible that her family may have found employment for Edward Hector in the area.

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Chapter 2

The Forsdyke Family HistoryIn the process of researching the Forsdyke Family it was found that the name took various spellings such as Forsdyke, Forsdike, Forsdick, Forsdik, Foradick and several others. Some of these variations may simply be as a result of mis-reading the hand-writing on the original Census Returns. I have standardised with Forsdyke in this text.

Rebecca Forsdyke, the first Wife of Edward Hector MacKay (1st), was born 20th

November 1842 in Falkenham, Suffolk. She was the eldest daughter of Thomas Forsdyke and Ann Forsdyke (nee Rivett). (See the Family Tree and BMD registrations for other members of the Rivett Family). Thomas was variously recorded as being an Agricultural Labourer and a Shepherd. Janet recalls there being a portrait hanging in Granny Mac’s house in Whitworth Street, depicting a shepherd, which may have been Thomas Forsdyke.

Thomas and Ann had 7 children, Charles 1840, Rebecca 1842, James 1846, Sarah 1848, Harriett 1852, William 1854 and Mark 1857.

Rebecca proved a little difficult to trace during her early years, the first Census of her being in 1851. The Enumerator must have suffered writer’s cramp as he lapsed into abbreviations. The name of her Brother Charles was written in full, however, Rebecca was abbreviated to Rebec (and mis-transcribed by ‘Ancestry’ as Rebie), James to Jas and Sarah to Sar. Perseverance paid off in the end. In 1861 she was recorded working as a Housemaid with the Bone Family in East Greenwich. By the 1871 Census she had married Edward Hector MacKay 1st (in 1864) and they were living in East Retford in Nottinghamshire. Although we do not know where and how they met, the fact that Rebecca was working in Service in Greenwich, it is possible that they met in that area. Alternatively, as previously, mentioned in regard to Edward Hector MacKay, Rebecca’s birthplace of Falkenham, Suffolk is only a short distance from Landguard Fort near Harwich where Edward Hector spent time on guard duty whilst serving in The Royal Scots.

Little is known at this stage of Rebecca’s Siblings other than some of the BMD Registrations and Census Returns. In 1871, James was recorded as a ‘Discharged Soldier’ and later married Emma Wellham in 1879; and Sarah was married to Frederick James Batchelor. Harriett married John William Snowdin in East Retford; William does not appear on a Census after 1861 and in fact died later that year and in 1881 Mark was lodging with the Simnett Family in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, working as a ‘Maltster’, presumably in a Brewery. By the 1891 Census, Mark and his family have settled in Kirton where he worked as a shepherd. I have obtained a listing of the graves in the Parish Church of St. Mary and St. Martin in Kirton which includes reference to the grave of Mark and his wife Elizabeth. I also have a photograph of their now untended grave and headstone. See the Sundries folder on computer.

Later research showed that Mark and Elizabeth produced 6 children, Emily, William, Mary Ann, Bessie May, Robert and Thomas. Both Mary Ann and Bessie May emigrated to Canada and settled in Virden, Manitoba where they married William Quinn and Fred Markham respectively. I have found them recorded on Passenger Lists and copies of which are stored on computer.

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Charles proved to be very difficult to trace because for some reason, just prior to his first marriage to Sarah Lenny in 1864, he adopted his Mother’s maiden name of Rivett. This was confirmed with his marriage registration and again with his 2nd marriage to Louisa Ellen Hill in 1882. I have managed to trace him on all the available Census Returns from 1841 to 1911. For the 1841, 1851 and 1861 Returns, he was living with his parents and used the Forsdike name. Following his first marriage, he reverted back to the Forsdike name for the 1871 and 1891 Census Returns, but used the Rivett name for the 1881, 1901 and 1911 Census. The Death Registration of his first wife was also recorded in the name of Sarah Rivett.

In 1881, following the death of Sarah in 1878, Louisa Ellen Hill was living with the family with her son Samuel as Charles’ Housemaid. They later married in 1882 and Samuel is then recorded as his Step-son. Samuel was born in 1879, the year after the death of Sarah. There is no evidence that Louisa Ellen Hill was previously married and in fact I have found her Birth Registration in that name. This implies that Samuel is illegitimate and although it cannot be proved, he may in fact be the son of Charles Forsdike aka Rivett. His 1st wife Sarah, gave birth to 5 sons, Thomas, Charles, Robert, James and William and Louisa produced 1 daughter, Ellen Jane. All the children were registered with the Rivett name at birth.

I have since obtained copies of the Parish Registers on CD for the Parishes of Falkenham, Kirton, Walton and Trimley St. Martin with a view to tracing the Forsdyke and Rivett Families further back in time. For whatever reason, some of the pages of the Registers are missing one of which is for 1816, the year that Thomas Forsdyke was born/baptised. However, there is compelling evidence that his parents were James Forsdyke and Mary Rivett (persumably a relative of Ann Rivett), that his Grand-parents were James Forsdyke and Sarah Brown and that his Great Grand-parents were Joseph Forsdyke and Martha Briggs or Bridges. Details of these earlier Forsdykes and Rivetts are recorded in the relevant Birth, Marriage and Death Registration Charts and Family Trees. Subsequent research traced several more earlier generations going back to the birth of an Andrew Forsdike ca. 1550. Details of these earlier generations can be seen in my Family Tree Chart and BMD Charts.

This should be read in conjunction with the Registrations Charts, Census Returns, BMD Certificates etc. that I have also prepared.

Chapter 3

The Kemp Family History

The second Marriage of Edward Hector MacKay (1st) was to Amelia Crossthwaite Kemp on 30th October 1888 in Tendring, Essex. It is worth noting that his 1st Wife, Rebecca, had only died earlier in the same year also in Tendring.

Initially, we thought that her name was Amelia Crossthwaite-Kemp, in other words, a hyphenated surname. Subsequent research showed that in fact her surname was just Kemp and that Crossthwaite was a second forename. All of her siblings were given 2 nd

or 3rd forenames which were obviously only normally used as surnames.

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Her parents were Thomas Reginald Kemp and Esther Nesbitt and lived in the Paddington / Kensington areas of London. Thomas is recorded variously as being a Banker, a Bill Broker and later as ‘of independent means’.

They had 9 children, Thomas Richardson 1836, Reginald Llewellin 1838, Louise Adelaide Horneman 1839, Ada Elizabeth Carter 1841, Alfred Charles Holmes 1845, Frederick Nesbitt 1847, Edward Owen 1850, Amelia Crossthwaite 1850 and Arthur Wilde 1853. Frederick Nesbitt Kemp took his 2nd name from his Mother’s maiden name, but as yet we have found no explanation for the other names. It is possible that they were named after other family members or simply after fictional or prominent people of the time such as Sherlock Holmes and Oscar Wilde. We may never fully know the answer to this, however, later research provided a probable answer in regard to Amelia being given the second name of Crossthwaite. Her older sister, Louise Adelaide Horneman, was recorded on the 1851 Census as attending a boarding school in Hammersmith run by George Francis Crossthwaite and his wife!

Several of the children did well for themselves, Thomas Richardson became a Barrister, Alfred Charles Holmes a Bank Clerk, Frederick Nesbitt an Architect and Surveyor and Arthur Wilde became the Editor of the East Kent Times. Ada died at the age of 6 in Brighton, which seems to be rather young to be away from home. As she was born and died between Census Returns, we have no further information on her. She may have been sent away to Brighton on health grounds and unfortunately, died. Only a Death Certificate could provide this answer.

I have found some references to the Kemp Family on the Internet: The transcript of a court case at the Central Criminal Court, (The Old Bailey), in

which Thomas Richardson Kemp Q.C. was involved. An extract from an account referring to the ‘Edwardes’ Estate’ in the Cromwell

Road area of London where Frederick Nesbitt Kemp was retained as an Architect.

The transcript of a court case relating to a forged bill of exchange, in which Thomas Reginald Kemp, Bill Broker, appeared as a witness.

An article indicating that Thomas Reginald Kemp was a Registered Director of the ‘North Metropolitan Junction Railway Company’.

An extract of a transcript of Parish Register Baptism, Marriage and Death entries in London for people with the surname of ‘Nesbitt/Nisbett/Nesbit’ etc. The Marriage of Thomas Reginald Kemp to Esther Nesbitt in ‘Saint John at Hackney’ is included.

Parish Register images for the Baptisms of Amelia, Ada, Alfred, Edward and Arthur; and the Marriage of Edward Owen Kemp to Adeline Mary Prosser.

The above items are on file and stored on computer.

As I mentioned in the ‘Introduction’, for the 1851 Census, ‘Ancestry’ managed to transcribe Amelia Crossthwaite Kemp as Crematin Crapthant Kemp and to further confuse things, on the 1891 Census she was called Minnie McKay and on 1901 Census, Amelia McKay.

Much later in my research, I obtained a copy of the Death Certificate for Amelia Crossthwaite McKay not really expecting to find any useful information. However, I was surprised to find that the Informant of her death was recorded as ‘G. M. Cambridge,

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Daughter, living at 59 Mauritius Road’. Initial reaction was that either Edward Hector had fathered another child or that G. M. Cambridge was Amelia’s daughter from a previous marriage. The 1911 Census recorded a family named Cambridge living at 59 Mauritius Road, East Greenwich, the Head of the family being Francis Edwin Cambridge and his wife was Gladys Muriel Cambridge. This in turn led me back to the 1901 Census which also recorded them living in Mauritius Road. In 1901, Gladys Muriel was recorded as being born in Honor Oak, Surrey and in 1911 in Penge, Surrey. Her stated ages suggested she was born in 1880.

I then found their Banns of Marriage and the Marriage Registration in the Parish Records for Christ Church, East Greenwich in 1900. Her maiden name was Lewis, her Father was Henry Lewis (a deceased Solicitor) and her residence at the time of the Marriage was Edward Hector’s and Amelia’s address at The Lodge, Greenwich Gas Works.

It was then a simple matter to find her birth registration in 1880 at Camberwell, Surrey. In addition I found her recorded on the 1881 Census in Camberwell with her Father, Henry Lewis, a Solicitor, and her Mother, Minnie Lewis. The 1891 Census for Edward Hector also records her using the name Minnie rather than her correct name of Amelia.

Despite much trying, I have been unable to find any record of a Marriage for Henry and Amelia/Minnie either in the Civil Records or the Parish Records which led me to wonder whether she was his ‘Common Law’ wife. I decided to apply for the Birth Certificate of Gladys Muriel Lewis in the hope that it may throw some light on this. The Certificate stated that her parents were Henry Clark Lewis and Amelia Kemp, which suggests that they were not married. If they had been, Amelia would have been described as ‘Amelia Lewis, formerly Kemp’. The Certificate also described Henry as being a ‘Solicitor’s Managing Clerk’ rather than a ‘Solicitor’ as he had described himself on the 1881 Census.

In addition, I also found the 1851, 1861 and 1871 Census Returns showing Henry living with his parents, James Henry Frederick and Elizabeth Lewis, initially in Westminster and later in Chelsea. His Father’s profession was recorded as ‘Solicitor’, so it is possible that Henry worked as a Solicitor’s Clerk with his Father. I also found the 1891 Census for James and Elizabeth Lewis and some of their other children living in Putney. It was a Census that I had previously found in relation to the Kemp family. Amelia’s older brother, Frederick Nesbitt Kemp was a boarder with the Lewis family, which may have some bearing on the relationship between Amelia and Henry Lewis.

Gladys Muriel died in 1928 at Lambeth and was survived by 4 children. I have not carried out further research on the family other than finding a descendent of Gladys Muriel named Frank Cambridge living in Orpington. As Frank Cambridge was advanced in years and living near Henry Thompsett, I asked Henry to make contact to see if he could provide any further information of interest, which unfortunately, he could not.

This should be read in conjunction with the Registrations Charts, Census Returns, BMD Certificates etc. that I have also prepared.

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Chapter 4

The Rich Family History

Again, our knowledge of the Rich Family was virtually zero. I already had a copy of the Birth Certificate of my Father, Walter George McKay, which recorded his Mother as Fanny McKay nee Rich. Other than that, we knew nothing of her early life or of her family. Information that we have obtained relating to her Marriage and later life is recorded in the section of the McKay Family History.

We have been able to trace the Rich Family back through the 1841 to 1911 Census Returns, the Family Search web-site and the Parish Records for the villages of Salford and Cranfield in Bedfordshire. The earliest confirmed record is for a John Rich, born in Cranfield circa 1728. However, I have also found a reference in the Parish Records for Cranfield to another John Rich born 1670. During the late 1600’s and early 1700’s there is only reference to one Rich Family group living in Cranfield so it is most probable that this earlier John is the Grand-father of the John born in 1728. Some of the pages of the Parish Records for this period were lost many years ago so this link cannot now be proven.

Again, the following information was obtained randomly, but for the purposes of clarity, I have arranged it in sequence working forward generation by generation starting with the John Rich born in 1670.

As I said above, I cannot prove that this John Rich is directly related, but it is a fair assumption that he is. He was born in Cranfield in Bedfordshire in 1670 and married Elizabeth Curtis on 30th September 1695 also in Cranfield. Elizabeth was born in Cranfield in 1674. No records were found of their deaths.

The first proven ancestor is also John Rich (the Great, Great Grand-father of Fanny Rich), born circa 1728 in Cranfield and married to Ann (maiden name unknown). They had 10 children, Elizabeth 1st 1754 (she died in infancy in the same year), Hannah 1755 (she married a George Higgs), Elizabeth 2nd 1756, (another case of a name being re-used), James 1758 who married Mary Hannell, (the Great Grand-parents of Fanny Rich), Martha 1760 (she died a spinster in 1797), Thomas 1762 (who died in infancy the following year), George 1766, John 1767, Ann 1771 and Esther 1773 (who married Thomas Perry in 1796.

James Rich (the Great Grand-father of Fanny Rich) was born on 25 th November 1758 in Cranfield. At some point, he appears to have moved to Salford in Bedfordshire where he married a local girl named Mary Hannell. Mary was born in Walton, Buckinghamshire in 1766 so she was 8 years younger than James. They married in Salford on 1 st April 1788 and had 11 children, one of whom would become Fanny’s Grand-father. They died in 1836 and 1826 respectively. See further reference to the ancestors of Mary Hannell at the end of this chapter.

The 11 children were: Elizabeth 1789, John 1791, Mary Ann 1792, Martha 1793 (she died in infancy in 1797), Thomas 1797 (he also died in infancy in 1803), William and Edward 1799 (twin sons), Mary 1801 (she married James Dalton), Ann 1803, James 1806 (he married Elizabeth Ashwell) and George 1811. This George is referred to as George 1st as the next link in the family tree is his son George who is referred to as

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George 2nd. Confusingly, they named their 2nd daughter Mary Ann and their last 2 daughters, Mary and Ann.

We now move on to the next generation which was headed by George Rich 1 st. As with his Father, George 1st moved presumably in order to find work and settled in Souldrop in Bedfordshire. There he married Sarah Gadsby on 23 rd December 1834 and they produced merely 3 sons, which would have been a very small family for the times. See notes on the Gadsby Family at the end of this chapter. From this point, much more information became available to us as we now had access to Census Returns. George is described as an Agricultural Labourer, it would therefore be reasonable to assume that the males of previous generations were likewise. On the 1851 Census, Sarah is described as a Washer-woman. The 1881 Census shows that George 1st ended his days in the Bedford Union Workhouse at age 69 and still working as an Agricultural Labourer, having been pre-deceased by his Wife Sarah in 1878

Their 3 sons were Richard Gadsby Rich 1835, Edward Rich 1838 and George Rich 2 nd

1851 (Fanny’s Father). Before continuing with the line of descent, it is worth side-tracking and mentioning Fanny’s 2 uncles, Richard Gadsby Rich and Edward Rich.

Richard Gadsby Rich was born in Souldrop in August 1835 and initially worked as an Agricultural Labourer. He appears on the 1841 and 1851 Census Returns but is missing for the 1861 and 1871 Returns. In 1881 we find him settled in Wymington in Northamptonshire with a Wife and 4 children, again working as an Agricultural Labourer. His Wife is named Katherine (nee Donohoe) aged 30 born in Dublin, Ireland. The children were Joseph aged 11 born in Ireland, Mary Katherine aged 5 born Dagshai, India, William B. aged 2 born Wymington and Margaret 4 months born Wymington. This posed the question, why was he in Ireland and India? Initially it was assumed that he had joined the Bedfordshire Regiment and in the course of his service was posted to both Ireland and India. Records show that the regiment was indeed stationed in both places during the time in question. As Mary was born in India, then clearly he was able to take his family with him. However, I later found his Discharge Papers on the ‘FindMyPast’ Web-site which proved this to be incorrect. He had in fact enlisted in the 39th Regiment of Infantry in Galway, Ireland in 1856 when he was 19 years old. Why he travelled to Galway to enlist we will never know.

I have visited the National Library of Ireland in Dublin in the hope that I might find a record of their Marriage and/or Birth of Joseph but without success. The NLI records only cover Catholic BMD Registrations, so I hope to visit the National Archives at a later date and search the Anglican and Civil records. Unfortunately, his Discharge Papers make no reference to his Wife and Children. This information would only appear in his Attestation Papers which I have not been able to find. At a much later date in my research, I was contacted by a Rich Family descendent in Australia with whom I exchanged information on the Family. During the course of this exchange, he asked why I believed Katherine’s Maiden Name was Deayne as it was the belief in their family that it was Donohoe. I explained that the reason for this was the Birth Certificate of Richard and Katherine’s son William Baswell Rich where she is named as ‘Catherine Rich formerly Deayne’. In an attempt to prove which was correct I carried out further research on the ‘Ancestry’ web-site and found a Marriage for Richard Rich and Catherine Donohoe in Dublin dated 5th November 1867. As a consequence I applied to the General Register Office in Ireland for a copy of the Marriage Certificate which duly arrived confirming the above information and stating that Richard Rich was a Private in the 39th Regiment. This proved beyond doubt that Katherine’s or Catherine’s Maiden

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Name was Donohoe. We then still had the puzzle as to why she was named as Deayne on William Baswell’s Birth Certificate. Another 2 of their children were born in England namely Margaret and Agnes so I applied to the G.R.O. in the UK for a copy of their Birth Certificates which only complicated matters further as Catherine was named as ‘formerly Dayne’ on Margaret’s Certificate and ‘formerly Dryna’ on Agnes’s Certificate. Neither Deayne, Dayne nor Dryna could be confused with Donohoe so why she chose not to use her correct name we will never know.

Later research revealed that they had another son, George Edward, born on 20 th March 1873 in Peshawar, India. He unfortunately died within a few weeks on 10 th July 1873.

A summary of his Richard’s Discharge Papers is included in Appendix 1.

The 1891 Census confuses matters rather as Katherine is now Catherine, age 50 (her age has increased by 20 years in a 10 year period !!!) and born in ‘Waxford’, Ireland. The Enumerator has clearly mis-understood her pronunciation as ‘Waxford’ is in fact Wexford, coincidently, the county in Ireland in which I now live. William B. is now recorded as Bassell and 2 other children have been born, Agnes age 9 and Stonislaw age 6. Later research into his Marriage and Death revealed that his name was actually Stanislaus. Presumably he was named after St. Stanislaus.

As Katherine died in 1898 she is missing from the 1901 Census and Richard is now living in Irchester in Northamptonshire with 3 of his children, his son-in-law and Grand-daughter. William B. is now referred to as Basil, although his correct name is William Baswell Rich, Stanislaus is now called Richard (maybe only his Mother liked the name Stanislaus and it was changed to Richard after her death), Agnes is married to Albert Clements and they have 1 child named Margaret Katherine.

Joseph is recorded on the 1891 Census as an Infantry Soldier in the Bedfordshire Regiment and stationed in the Kempston Barracks. In 1901, Mary was a Laundress with a Family in Staffordshire. I have obtained copies of Joseph’s Service Records which are stored on computer and a copy displayed in the Military ring-binder. A summary of his records are also to be found in Appendix 1.

In later life it would appear that Richard got himself into a spot of trouble and ended up in court. The following information was found on the web-site of the Bedfordshire Records and Archives Department.

The following is an extract of the Minutes Book of the Sharnbrook Petty Sessions (Magistrate’s Court) in 1882 and relates to an assault by Richard Rich on his Employer, Alfred Peet in Wymington.

PSS1/10 Information & Complaint of Alfred Peet of Wymington that Richard Rich of Wymington, on that day, threatened to do him grievous bodily harm with a scythe and struck him in the face with his fist. 22 Aug 1882.

PSS1/13 Examination of Alfred Peet of Wymington, farmer, and Eli Bayes (?) constable of Podington. AP had asked Richard Rich, his employee, why he had not cut the hay cleanly, RR, under the influence of drink then aimed his scythe at AP, but missed, AP took it from him and RR hit him in the face, drawing blood. RR also seized AP's fishing rod and threatened to put his eye out with it. AP "in fear of his life" applied to the justices (see PSS 1/10). 18 Sep 1882.

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There is no record of his punishment. It is also worth noting that his employer, Alfred Peet, was in fact the Reverend Alfred Peet of Wymington, a Baptist Minister and Farmer.

Fanny’s Uncle Edward had an altogether different life, remaining in Souldrop working as an Agricultural Labourer and in later life, as a Night Watchman. He married Mary Bailey from Sharnbrook on 19th October 1858 and they had 13 children. The children’s names tended to vary slightly on later Census Returns, but as far as I can make out, their full and correct names are:

Fredrick Richard 1859 , Sarah Elizabeth 1861, Ralph (mis-spelt as Ralf on the 1871 Census) 1862, Mary Judith 1864, Jesse (the archaic spelling was used on the 1871 Census which caused some confusion - Jeʃse) 1866, Arthur 1868, Emily Anne 1870 (died in infancy in 1871), Annie 1872, Clara Jane 1875, Emily Celia 1877, Harry 1879, Ellen/Helen 1882 and Rose 1884.

Sarah worked initially as a Lace-maker but later went into Service as a Cook. Mary, Annie, Celia and Clara all went into Service as Domestic Servants. Fredrick became a Signalman on the Railway whilst Ralph and Arthur became Police Constables in Westminster. By 1901, Arthur had been promoted to Sergeant and was living in Ilford with his wife Rose and their 4 children. He left the Police in 1918 with the rank of Station Sergeant. I have been able to obtain a record of their Police Service from the Metropolitan Police. Jesse variously worked as an Agricultural Labourer, a Brick-layer’s Labourer and a Garden Labourer. Harry’s first job was as a Groom’s Helper in Paddington.

In the course of researching Edward and his children, I made contact with one of his descendants, Michael Rich, who is my 3rd Cousin (once removed). Michael’s line of descent is via Edward, his son, Arthur Rich, his son, Norman George Rich and then his son, Brian Godfrey Rich, who married Maureen Dray. Brian and Maureen had 3 sons, Michael, Jonathan and David.

Michael has been able to provide me with a comprehensive chart of his research which is stored on computer in .pdf format, plus copies of BMD Certificates relating to his line of descent, which are also stored on computer.

Now we can return to Fanny’s Father, George Rich 2nd. He was born in Souldrop in 1851 and married Sarah Ann Willmott from Daventry on 29 th June 1875 in Oundle. (See further reference to the Willmott Family at the end of this chapter). He worked all his life as an Agricultural Labourer as had the generations before him. George and Sarah Ann had 14 children, which is probably the reason why no occupation is recorded for Sarah Ann. They were as follows:

Margaret 1876 (married Arthur Frederick Butters); Fanny 1877 (married James McKay 1896, aged 19); William Robert 1879 (married Angelina Jane Hunt); Alice 1881 (married Levi Harbord); Leonard 1883 (married Nellie Barrett); Louisa 1885 (married Ernest Edward Billington); Albert George 1886 (married Minnie Mabel Clements); Edward 1888 (married Emma Knights); Walter 1890 (died in infancy the following year); Horace 1892 (married Elizabeth Partridge); Sarah Agnes 1893 (married Samuel Elmer); Edith 1895 (married William Goodwin); Herbert 1897 (died in France in WW1) and Amy 1899 (also died in infancy the same year).

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Little is known of the early lives of Fanny and her siblings other than Margaret being in Service in 1891 at the age of 14 in Streatham (see below); William was married to Angelina in 1901 with 1 son named William George C. and living in Plumstead; Alice working in Service in 1901 in Souldrop; both Leonard aged 18 and Sarah Agnes aged 7 were living with their Uncle and Aunt, Kate and George Storey in Woolwich and Albert working as an Agricultural Labourer at the age of 14.

Prior to her marriage to James McKay, Fanny is recorded on 2 Census Returns, 1881 aged 3 as a Scholar and 1891 aged 13 but no occupation recorded. However, we know that at some point she moved to the Dartford / Gravesend area of Kent where she met and married James McKay. I later found that Margaret was also in the Dartford area where she married Arthur Frederick Butters. The 1901 Census records them living in Wilmington with their daughter Edith. Initially, I thought that this may have had some bearing on why Fanny was also in the Dartford area. As children, Malcolm and I were occasionally taken to visit ‘Uncle Ernie’ who owned a Ladies Hair-dressing Salon on Danson Parade in Bexleyheath. I recall that he was referred to as a cousin of our Father, Walter. Further research proved that ‘Uncle Ernie’ (Ernest Frederick Butters) was the son of Margaret (Rich) and Arthur Frederick Butters. I have since made contact by post with one of their sons, Barrie Butters who now lives in Kings Lynn. Barrie has in turn put me in contact with his Niece, Jill Sutton. Jill is the daughter of Barrie’s older Brother, Roy Butters.

Further research revealed a more compelling reason for Fanny being in the Dartford area. I had previously found the 1901 Census for Leonard and Sarah Agnes Rich (Fanny’s younger brother and sister), living with their Uncle and Aunt, George and Kate Storey in Woolwich, but thought no more of it. Later, I became curious as to who George and Kate Storey were, and which was the blood relative. Searches for Births and Marriages etc. initially proved unproductive, so I searched for them on the earlier Census in 1891. A later search revealed that Kate was in fact Kate Willmott, the younger sister of Fanny’s Mother, Sarah Ann Rich (nee Willmott).

This Census recorded them as working in the Laundry of the Darenth Asylum and School, which later became the Darenth Park Training Colony or as it was known locally, the Darenth Park Mental Hospital. Which, incidentally is where my Father, Walter worked for many years as a Psychiatric Nurse.

As George and Kate Storey were to subsequently take Leonard and Sarah Agnes under their wing about the time of the 1901 Census, it is conceivable that they may also have done the same for Fanny earlier. In 1891 Fanny was still at home in Souldrop aged 13, however, 5 years later, she was in Darenth and married to James McKay. They married in the church of St. Margaret of Antioch in Darenth and Darenth Asylum was in the same parish. Their Marriage Certficate indicated that Banns had been read prior to their Marriage, so she must therefore have been resident in the parish.

From this I have made the assumption that George and Kate obtained employment for Fanny at the Asylum some time after 1891 and she would most likely have had accommodation within the Asylum. As I have shown in the McKay Family History section, following James’ return from South Africa after his first posting there, he may well have been stationed in Chatham Barracks. The circumstances of their meeting may for ever remain a mystery, however, they did and as the saying goes, the rest is history.

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We know that Agnes Rebecca was born in Edinburgh 6 months after their Marriage, so clearly Fanny was 3 months pregnant at the time of the Marriage. We will never know for certain whether the Marriage was by choice or if they were pressured into it by family members. Equally, it may have been for the ‘Honour of the Regiment’.

It is also worth noting in case it has some bearing on this, that soon after the Marriage of James and Fanny, George and Kate Storey left what would have been secure employment in the Asylum, and moved to Woolwich, where George became an ‘Engineer’s Labourer’. Could it have been because shame had been brought upon the Family?

A later search of the 1911 Census for Kate and George Storey and Leonard Rich revealed that Kate was a Widow and living with her Nephew, Leonard at 41 Greening Street, Abbey Wood. Kate was employed as a Charwoman and Leonard was a Tram Driver.

The Hannell and Hawkins Families:As mentioned above, James Rich married Mary Hannell in Salford in 1788. By chance, I found a ‘Hannell Family Tree’ on the Ancestry web-site, which took Mary’s ancestors back several generations. I decided to look into this further and was able to substantiate the information that I found with transcripts of Parish Records obtained from Bedfordshire Archives. In addition, several images of the Parish Records were available on ‘Ancestry’.

The earliest Hannell found was John Hannell, born 1570 in Heath and Reach, Bedfordshire. From there, through several generations, the family moved to Hockliffe in Bedfordshire and finally over the county boundary to Walton in Buckinghamshire. It was there that Mary Hannell’s father, William Hannell and subsequently, Mary Hannell were born. Incidentally, James Hannell would be my 9 x Great Grand Father.

My 7 x Great Grand Father, Abraham Hannell (born 1635), married Rebecca Hawkins on 20th January 1657 in Chalgrave, Bedfordshire. Rebecca was born 12 th October 1639 in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, so I carried out further research to see if I could trace her family line further back in time. With the aid of the International Genealogy Index (I.G.I), I was able to go back a further 5 generations to my 12 x Great Grand Father, Robert Hawkins, born ca. 1515 in Houghton Regis. Details of these 5 generations are to be found in my BMD Registrations Chart, Descendants List and Family Tree charts. What made this more interesting was that I found transcripts of the Wills for some of these Hannell and Hawkins Family members in the Bedfordshire Archives. All the transcripts are stored on computer, but I have included 2 of them here, namely John Hawkins, (my 9 x Great Grand Father – 1585 to 1656) and Abraham Hannell (my 7 x Great Grand Father – 1635 to 1718).

A transcript of the Last Will and Testament of John Hawkins 1585 to 1656.{Courtesy of Bedfordshire Archives}

I have re-formatted the text enabling it to be more easily read. The wording, spelling, grammar and punctuation etc. is as per the original transcript.

I John Hawkins of Houghton Regis in the County of Bedford Doe this three and Twentieth Day of November one thousand six hundred ffiftie five make & ordayne this my last will & Testament in manner & forme as followeth.

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Imprimis I give & bequeath unto my loveing Daughter Joane Prentis & to her heires the Sume of Twentie pounds of lawfull money of England to bee paid by my Executor hereunder named within sixe months after my Decease.

Item I give & bequeath unto my loveing Daughter Elizabeth & to her heires the Sume of Twentie pounds of like currant money to bee paid by my Executor within three monthes after my Decease the said Twentie pounds I gave bond for at the marriage of the Said Elizabeth

Item I give & bequeath unto my loveing Daughter Sarah Hawkins the Sume of Three Score pounds of Currant English money to bee paid by my Executor within sixe months after my Decease

Item I give & bequeath Unto my loveing Daughter Marie Dixson & to her heires the Sume of Twentie pounds of lawfull money of England to bee paid by my Executor within sixe months after my Decease

Item I give & bequeath unto my Sonne Thomas Hawkins the Sume of Sixteen of lawfull English money To bee paid by my Executor when hee the said Thomas shall come to the age of one & Twentie yeares

Item I will & bequeath unto my Daughter Sarah Hawkins the bedstead in the Chamber over the Hall with the Curtaynes & Vallance the best Coverlid and paire of blanketts and paire of Sheetes & featherbed one boulster two pillows & Matteris & a strawbedd with the Truckle bedd I give Unto the said Sarah the best Chest with a Drawer in it & the Truncke with the goods in it & a table & a little Cupboard standinge in the Chamber neare the bedd the best Pottage pott & the best kettle & the least kettle & the least but one & five pewter Platters & a little box to hold handkercheifs

Item I give & bequeath unto my Sonne Thomas one Coffer standinge in the Chamber over the Hall All the rest of my goods in the hall & kitchin & Chambers & butteries (Except the ffurnace & benches & shelves and Salting Troffe) not before by this presente alreadie bequeathed I give & bequeath unto my Sonne & Daughters above named equally to be devided betweene them

Item my will is that if my Sonne Thomas or my Daughter Sarah shall Dye before there tyme appointed for the receipt of theire severall portions abovementioned Then they or either of them Soe Dyeinge theire portion or portions Shall be equally Devided betweene the rest of my Children or theire heires

Item I give & bequeath unto my Sonne John's five Daughters Rebeccah Alice Marie Sarah & Judeth to each of them Tenn Shillings

Item I give & bequeath to Rebeccah Prentice Daughter of my Sonne in lawe William Prentice tenn Shillings

Item I give & bequeath to Elizabeth ffox Daughter of my Sonne in lawe Thomas ffox tenn Shillings

Item I give & bequeath unto the poore Inhabitants of this parish twentie Shillings

Item I give & bequeath unto my Servant Annie Clarke Tenn Shillings

Item all the rest of my estate Reall & Personall whatsoever & wheresoever not before by these presents bequeathed I give & bequeath unto my beloved Sonne John Hawkins & to his heires for ever And I Doe hereby Constitute & ordaine my said Sonne John Hawkins Sole Executor of this my last will & Testament & to pay all my Debts & Legacies and to fulfill & performe this my will according to my Desires therein expressed for the Confirmation hereof I have Sett to my hand & Seale the three & twenty day of November One thousand Sixe hundred ffifty five John Hawkins In the presence of John Hawkins Thomas ffox Thomas HeywardThis will was proved at London in the name of Oliver Lord Protector of the Comonwealth of England at the tenth Day of Decmber in the yeare of our Lord 1656 Beds RO ABP/W1656/121 Also PCC Prob11/260

{Family beneficiaries named: Joane Prentis (husband not named), and her daughter Rebeccah Prentis, Elizabeth Hawkins, Sarah Hawkins, Marie Dixson (husband not named) Thomas Hawkins, Son-in-Law Thomas Fox (does not say to which daughter he is married) and his daughter Elizabeth, John Hawkins and his children, Rebeccah, Alice,

Marie, Sarah and Judeth}.

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A transcript of the last Will and Testament of Abraham Hannell, 1635 to 1718.{Courtesy of Bedfordshire Archives}

I have re-formatted the text enabling it to be more easily read. The wording, spelling, grammar and punctuation etc. is as per the original transcript.

In the name of God Amen the fourteenth day of March 1718 in the fifth yeare of the reign of our sovraigne Lord George by the grace of God of Great Brittaine I Abraham Hannell of Dunstable in the County of Bedford yeoman being ill in Body but of sound and perfect mind memory and understanding [Praised be God therefor] doe make and ordeyne this my last will and testament in manner and forme following:

Imprimis I doe nominate and appoint Give and devise unto Edward Hannell my oldest sonne his heires all my coppyhold Land and hereditaments holden of the Mannor of Leighton Buzzard ats Grovebury all and singular the appurtenances subject nevertheless to all provisoes and conditions herein aftermentioned touching and concerning the same (that is to say} provided alwayes upon condition that the said Edward Hannell my said sonn or his heires doe and shall of the said coppyhold premises well and timely pay the rents.

Provided always and upon condition that the said Edward my son or his heires do and shall out of the said coppyhold premises well and truly pay or cause to be payed unto Alice Crouch my daughter Sarah Homan my daughter and Mary Bigg my daughter the summe of ten pounds apiece of Lawful money of Great Brittain within three months after my decease provided also and upon this condition that he the said Edward my son do and shall upon the request of my executor hereafter named acquit release and discharge my Executor of and from all debts dues and demands whatsoever by me now owing to him (or which he may pretend that I now owe to him) And if he the said Edward my son or his heires shall refuse shall refuse to pay to my said three daughters their said Legacies of Ten Pounds apeice according to this Will and make default in payment thereof, or if he the said Edward my son shall refuse to release and discharge my Executor as aforesaid, then I do nominate and appoint give and devise all my said Coppyhold lands and hereditaments with their appurtenances unto John Hanwell my son my Executor hereafter named and his heires forever, he or they paying tomy said three daughters their said legacies of Ten Pounds apiece aforesd any thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding

Item I do give unto Elizabeth Bradford my daughter a Guinea to buy her a Ring to weare in remembrance of me.

Item I do give unto my said three daughters namely Alice Crouch Sarah Homan and Mary Bigg Twenty pounds apeice of lawful money of Great Britain to be payed unto them by my Executor out of my personal Estate within three months after my decease.

Item I do give unto Robert Overing my Grandchild the sume of ffive pounds of lawful money of Great Brittain.

Item all the rest residue and remainder of my money Goods household stuff Bills bonds Mortgages Debts Heredits Chattells and personal Estate whatsoever unbequeathed after my Legacies and ffunerall Expences shall be paid out and discharged I do give and bequeath unto the said John Hanwell my son and I do ordain and make him the said John my son full and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament Abraham Hannell

Witnesses:Samuel Townsend John Sanders Jn AshwellProved: 3 June 1719PCCProb11/569

Family beneficiaries named: Sons Edward and John, Daughters Alice Crouch, Sarah Homan, Mary Bigg and Elizabeth Bradford, Grand-son Robert Overing, the son of Rebecca Hannell and Charles Overing.

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The Willmott Family:As with the Hannell Family, I have researched the relatives of Sarah Ann Willmott who married George Rich in 1875. The earliest member of the family that I have been able to find is John Willmott, born in 1799 in Cotterstock, Northamptonshire, who would be my 3 x Great Grand Father. Full details of the family are recorded in their BMD Registration Chart and Family Tree etc.

The Gadsby Family:The earliest member of the Gadsby Family that I have found is Edward Gadsby, but I have no idea of his date or place of birth other than it was early in the 1700’s. His wife’s name was Anne and she was born in Heather, Leicestershire. They probably married circa 1747 as their only known son, Richard, was baptised on 3 rd May 1748 in Woolley, Huntindonshire. From then on much more is known of the family as Richard married in Swineshead in Bedfordshire which enabled me to trace the family through the Parish Register transcripts that I have obtained from Bedfordshire Archives.

It was one of Edward Gadsby’s descendants that married into the Rich family eventually leading to Fanny McKay nee Rich, my Grand-mother. Consequently, Edward Gadsby was my 5 x Great Grand Father.

Richard Gadsby married Jane Cole in 1773 and they settled in Knotting in Bedfordshire where they raised a family of 9 children. Richard’s 4 th child was also named Richard who settled in Souldrop after his marriage to Keziah Wright. It was their 5 th child, Sarah that married George Rich in 1834.

I have also researched quite a few of the other Gadsby family members, details of which are recorded in the BMD Registrations Chart, Census Returns and Family Tree, etc.

Two members of the extended family are known to have emigrated, one to Canada and one to America, details of which are recorded on computer. One of Sarah Gadsby’s relatives was rather creative in regard to the names he gave his children, including such as Tabitha, Tryphena, Zimran, Elisheba, Asenath, Herbert Nahor, Araunah and Othniel to name but a few. Records that I have found for them in later life show that they continued to use their given names, unlike one of their cousins who was named Jeroboam at birth but changed it to Jerome in adulthood.

This should be read in conjunction with the Registrations Charts, Census Returns, BMD Certificates etc. that I have also prepared.

Chapter 5

The Bailey Family History

Our Maternal Grand-parents were William James Bailey and Louisa Florence Bailey (nee Trimmer) and the earliest records we have for them indicate that both families originated from Hampshire. As with the extended families of my Paternal Grand-parents, we knew very little about them. The extent of our knowledge was that our Grand-father was William James Bailey and that at the time of our Mother’s (Ivy

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Elizabeth Primrose Bailey) Birth, they lived in Lee, Lewisham. I only had a short copy of our Mother’s Birth Certificate which does not include the maiden name of her Mother. I therefore obtained a copy of the full Birth Certificate from which I discovered that her Mother’s maiden name was Louisa Florence Trimmer.

As with the other family groups, the information we now have was obtained randomly so I will work forward generation by generation. Again, much use was made of the ‘Ancestry’ and ‘Family Search’ web-sites for Census information and BMD Registrations. In addition, I obtained a CD of the ‘Hackman Bishop’s Transcripts of the Parish Records for Hampshire’ which enabled me to research back as far as the marriage of our 3 x Great Grand-parents, James Bailey and Charlotte Vidler on 29 th July 1789 in the village of Newton Valence. Later searches through the I.G.I. revealed that James Bailey’s Parents were Robert Bailey born 1750 in Twyford, Hampshire and Frances Bailey (maiden name and birth unknown); and that his Grand-Parents were David and Mary Bailey (dates and birth places unknown).

James was born in Ropley in 1769 and Charlotte in Newton Valence in 1772. They married in 1789 and settled in Ropley where they raised a family of 10 children. Charlotte 1790, James 1792, Robert 1795, Mary 1797, Phillip 1799 (our 2 x Great Grand-father), John 1801, Ann 1803, Eli 1806, Lucy 1810 and George 1814.

Phillip married twice, firstly to Elizabeth Goddard in 1823. Elizabeth was born 1804 in Froxfield and it was there that they settled. His second marriage was to Martha Goodall in 1864 following the death of Elizabeth in 1860. Martha was also born in 1806 but in West Meon. 10 children were born from his first marriage. Mary 1823, Anne 1827, William 1829, (our Great Grand-father), Charlotte 1832, George 1834, John 1837, Harriett 1839, Eliza 1841, Emma 1844 and Caroline 1847. There are no records to indicate that there were any more children from the second marriage.

The 1841 Census records Phillip’s name as Baily but this may simply be an error on the part of the Enumerator as subsequent Census Returns record the name as Bailey. The 1841 Census also records a John Baily and Family and it is most likely that Phillip and John were brothers.

When searching through the Hackman Transcripts it was obvious that the spelling of Bailey varied quite considerably. I found cases in the Baptism Records where the spelling of the parent’s surname took as many as 3 variations. The name was variously spelt as: Bailey, Baily, Bayley, Bayly, Baylie etc.

From the 1841, 1851, 1861 and 1871 Census Returns, we know that Phillip and his Brother John, were Agricultural Labourers; William was an Agricultural Carter and later a Labourer; Emma was in Service in West Meon and later in Marylebone and Esher, and that Eliza was House-keeper for her Father, as her Mother had died the previous year. Folllowing Phillip’s second marriage, Eliza settled in East Meon and Caroline was in Service in Petersfield.

William was the next link in the chain. He was born in 1829 in Froxfield and married Lois Dyer Clift in Portsea, Hampshire in 1863. She was born in 1832 in Norton, Gloucestershire and died circa 1882. She is recorded on the 1841 Census with her parents where her name is recorded as Loise Clift and next on the 1851 Census working as a Servant in Portsea where her name is recorded as Lois Clift. I have been

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unable to find her on the 1861. The name Dyer comes from her Mother’s maiden name; Jemima Dyer

They had 6 children: Anna 1864, William James 1864 (our Maternal Grand-father), Caroline 1866, Phillip 1869, Elizabeth 1871 and Ada Sarah 1880. By the time of Ada’s Birth, the family had moved to Sheet in Hampshire. On the 1891 and 1901 Census William’s wife is recorded as Elizabeth, born circa 1832 (the same year as Lois) in Priors Dean, Hampshire. I have not been able to find a confirmed death for Lois but believe it to have been circa 1882, however, I have found a 2nd marriage of William Bailey to Elizabeth Wiggins in 1884, registered in Petersfield. This is between the 1881 and 1891 Census when William’s wife changed from Lois to Elizabeth. Elizabeth was previously married to William Wiggins and following his death sometime between the 1871 and 1881 Census, she remarried William Bailey. The marriage registration to William Wiggins recorded her maiden name as Trimmer. A little searching revealed that she was the younger sister of Charlotte Trimmer who had married their 1st Cousin, Henry James Trimmer, in 1862.

Our Maternal Grand-father, William James Bailey now takes centre stage. He was born in 1864 in Froxfield and married Louisa Florence Trimmer in 1891 in Lewisham. They had 8 children: William Henry 1892, Violet Annie (Aunt Nan) 1894, Florence May (Aunt May) 1895, Sidney Francis 1896, Charlotte Daisy (Aunt Daisy) 1899, Harry Edward 1901, Lily Augusta Louisa (Aunt Lil) 1903 and Ivy Elizabeth Primrose (our Mother) 1905. Further information on these Aunts and Uncles, their Marriages and Children is to be found in the Registrations Chart.

The family group first appear on the 1901 Census living at No 6 Manor Lane, Lee, Lewisham. When we first found this Census, it was not immediately noticed that living at the same address was another family named Trimmer. As it turned out, they were Louisa Florence Bailey’s, Father, Mother, Sister and Aunt, but more on this in the Trimmer History. In 1911, the Census shows the two families still living together but having moved to 27 Taunton Road, Lee.

Only William James appears to be in employment as a Builder’s Labourer, the children still being too young. By the 1911 Census only Sidney, Daisy, Harry, Lily and Ivy are still at home, however, Violet Annie was a Housemaid with the Whatley Family in Blackheath, Woolwich and Florence May was a Domestic Servant with the Castle Family in Lee. I have been unable to find any further reference to William Henry. On 10th July 1929, Harry Edward emigrated to Australia with his wife, Winifred Ada and their son, Stanley Gilbert. Although he remained in contact with Aunt May and our Mother, we have little knowledge of his life in Australia other than references to the family in the Australian Electoral Registers. I have however found that Stanley Gilbert married Betty Pappin 1945 in Coff’s Harbour, Victoria. A search of the Australian Telephone Directories revealed an S.G. Bailey living in Marbein, Victoria to whom I wrote in the hope he is my Cousin. In due course I received 2 e-mails, I from his son Robert and the other from his Grand-daughter, Holly, both confirming how pleased Stanley Gilbert was to have received my letter. They have promised to send me further information and photographs of the family in Australia. Sadly, Stanley Gilbert passed away on the 10th May 2013 following a short illness.

In January 2012, I received an e-mail from Ralph Goddard, who is a descendent of the family of Elizabeth Goddard, (the 1st wife of Phillip Bailey). Ralph had in turn been contacted by the Reverend Barry Harte in Tennessee in America. Barry Harte had in his

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possession a Bible with a hand-written notation on the flyleaf that stated ‘Charlotte Daisy Bailey, with love from Mother, L.F. Bailey, August 1916. The L. F. Bailey was clearly my Maternal Great Grand Mother, Louisa Florence Bailey. I made contact with Barry Harte who told me that the Bible was in his Mother’s possessions when she died but that he had no idea how this came about. I have since discovered that Marjorie Stevens emigrated to America so I am assuming that she had inherited the Bible and took it with her. As I was a close relative of Charlotte Daisy Bailey, Barry was kind enough to send the Bible to me and which is now in my possession.

Charlotte Daisy Bailey married Albert Stevens and they had 5 children, Albert Cyril, Muriel Daisy Roy K., Marjorie I. and Olive J. Stevens.

This should be read in conjunction with the Registrations Charts, Census Returns, BMD Certificates etc. that I have also prepared.

Chapter 6

The Trimmer Family History

As with the Baileys, the Trimmers originated from Hampshire within the scope of our research and again they were predominantly Agricultural Labourers.

The earliest record we have is for an Edward Trimmer, born 1762 in Odiham, Hampshire. He married Martha Hellier on 11th December 1787 in Odiham where they settled. We have only found a record for 1 child named William born August 1790. This William we shall refer to as William 1st for reasons that will become clear.

William 1st married Elizabeth Nenthen on the 5 th August 1811 in Mitcham, Surrey and they settled in Merton, Surrey. Elizabeth had been born in 1791 in Braintree, Essex and somehow made her way south to Surrey. They had 8 children: Eliza 1812, Thomas 1814, William 1818, Mary Ann 1820, Joseph 1822, Edmund and Martha (twins) 1825 and Henry James 1829 (our Maternal Great Grand-father). In some documents, Edmund’s name was recorded as Edward. Before continuing with the family line, I will side-step briefly and mention William.

William married Mary Buckley in 1852 and they had 7 children: Mary Ann 1854, William Henry 1855, George 1857, Alfred 1860, James 1863, William 1867 and Joseph 1870. As two of their children were named William, it is reasonable to assume that William Henry died in infancy. We have found that it was quite common to do this in past centuries as there appeared to be greater attachment to a name rather than the deceased child.

To return to the family tree, Henry James was born in May 1829 in Merton and married Charlotte Trimmer on 29th September 1862 in Merton. The reference to their marriage was found on the Family Search web-site and at first I wondered if a mistake had been made in regard to her maiden name. They have not been found jointly on a Census until 1901 when they were living with the Bailey family in Lee. However, as maiden names are not recorded on Census Returns, this would have been of little help. We had

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their marriage details so the only answer was to obtain a copy of their Marriage Certificate. This showed that her maiden name was indeed Trimmer and the assumption was then made that they were 1st Cousins. The 1901 Census included a Louisa Trimmer aged 71 and described as Henry’s Sister-in-Law, which would make her Charlotte’s Sister. Further investigation revealed their parents to be Thomas Trimmer and Charlotte Trimmer (nee Mills) and that Charlotte and Louisa had been born in Priors Dean. Louisa first appears with her family on the 1841 Census aged 12, her next appearance is not until the 1881 Census where she is living alone and working as a Needlewoman aged 51. The next reference to her is the 1901 Census, living with her sister Charlotte, her Brother-in-Law Henry James and the Bailey family in Lewisham, working as a Charwoman. The final reference to her is the 1911 Census where she is living with her widowed sister, Charlotte and her daughter, Emily Anne Jane. Further reference is made to Emily in the next paragraph. Further information on the Thomas and Charlotte Trimmer family is recorded in the Registrations Chart and Census records.

Henry James and Charlotte Trimmer had 2 children: Louisa Florence 1866 (our Maternal Grand-mother and Emily Anne Jane 1870. On the 1901 Census, Emily is recorded as being an ‘Imbecile’ and on 1911 Census as being ‘Feeble-minded from Birth. In fact she may have been what we now call a ‘Downs Syndrome’ child. The fact that Henry James and Charlotte were 1st Cousins and that Charlotte was 43 years old when she gave birth to Emily lends credence to this possibility. Emily died in 1925 aged 55, which is quite exceptional if indeed she was a ‘Downs Syndrome’ child. Her Death Certificate shows that she had suffered from Epilepsy from birth. See the Bailey Family section regarding Charlotte’s younger sister, Elizabeth, marrying William Bailey.

As I mentioned in the Bailey history, the 1901 Census shows the Bailey and Trimmer families living together at No 6 Manor Lane, Lee. How or why this came about will forever remain a mystery. However, this obviously had some bearing on William James Bailey marrying Louisa Florence Trimmer. The 1891 Census, which would have been taken in April, records Louisa Florence aged 24 working as a Housemaid with the Pinniger family in Lee. William James and Louisa Florence married late 1891 and first appear together on the 1901 Census with their first 5 children and the remainder of the Trimmer family. They finally appear together on the 1911 Census as the Bailey family living at 27 Taunton Road, Lee. Living with them still is Louisa Florence’s Mother, Charlotte, her Aunt Louisa and her sister, Emily.

This should be read in conjunction with the Registrations Charts, Census Returns, BMD Certificates etc. that I have also prepared.

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Appendix 1This Appendix is a brief summary of the Military Service Records of various members of the extended family. In most cases, images of the original records are stored on computer with a full transcript of each page giving a more detailed account of their Military Service than is recorded here. The condition of the documents vary between very good and poor, consequently, in some cases they are quite difficult to read.

Also included at the end of the Military Records, is a summary of the School Records for James and Walter McKay when they attended the Duke of York’s Royal Military School, (Royal Military Asylum).

The images have been obtained from various sources such as the National Archives in Kew, the Scots Guards Association and on-line from a number of web-sites. In the case of the School Records, these were kindly supplied by the Military School in Dover.

John MacKay42nd Royal Highland Regiment of Foot

(aka The Black Watch)1810 - 1837

Initially, the only definite information we had is to be found in the letter that Edward Hector MacKay wrote to the Royal Military Asylum in relation to his son James having expressed a desire to enter the 42nd Highlanders: “his Grand-father having served in them and with them at Waterloo”. Subsequently, a copy of his Discharge Papers has been obtained from the National Archives in Kew. They consist of 9 pages, all of which are in good condition considering their age. I have made a transcript of the Papers, a summary of which is as follows:

He was born in Rogart near Dornoch in Sutherland and attested for the 42nd

Highlanders at Thurso in Caithness on 25 th February 1810 at the age of 15. He served for a total of 26 years and 271 days and was discharged on medical grounds in Glasgow on 22nd November 1837.

He is recorded as having served in France, Flanders, Gibraltar and Malta. He is also recorded as having served for 2 years at Waterloo but does not appear on the Waterloo Medal Roll. It must be assumed that he did not take part in the actual battle and was therefore not eligible for the medal. A notation at the end of his Papers, states “Waterloo Fund exhausted”, whether this is significant is unknown.

On 30th April 1829, he was promoted to Corporal, a rank he held until his discharge.

As mentioned above, he was discharged on medical grounds. The Papers show that he was examined by the Regimental Surgeon, and later by the Principal Medical Officer at the General Hospital, Chatham, both of whom declared him unfit for further Military duty, having “inordinate action of heart with difficulty of breathing”. The Regimental Surgeon had commented that his condition was “a case of Disease and Disability contracted on Duty, without being attributable to Neglect, Design, Vice or Intemperance”.

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His Character Report stated that he had been “a good and efficient Soldier, seldom in Hospital, most trustworthy and sober, and his name never has appeared in the Defaulter’s Book”.

The section relating to Pension is crossed through so presumably he was not in receipt of such. His description at discharge was shown as:427/12 years of age, 5 feet 8 inches in height, with brown hair, Hazel eyes and a fresh complexion. His trade was a Labourer.

Page 2 included his signature: so clearly he was literate.

At a later date, I obtained copies of the 1815 Muster Records and Admission to Pension Records which merely confirm the information from his Discharge Papers.

Edward Hector MacKay2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment of Foot, (The Royal Scots)

1855 – 1865

The following information has mainly been extracted from the Muster Records held at the National Archives in Kew, by an Independent Researcher on my behalf. Muster Records for which I have paper copies are marked {**}, but are of rather poor copy quality.

Catalogue Ref: WO12/1988 (1855 – 1856) {**}

Quarterly Pay-List from the 1st October to the 31st December 1855:

The Battalion was stationed for this period at Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland. He was recruited at Westminster on 21st September 1855 and is recorded as being 19 years old and 5ft-4¾ins in height. A Bounty of £7 was paid to him and 2s / 6d paid to the Recruiting Party. During this period he was also paid for 91 days service at 1s per day and was in receipt of his ‘Full Allowance on a March’ for 1 day.

Quarterly Pay-List from the 1st January to the 31st March 1856 at Fermoy:

He had joined the Battalion at Fermoy and is recorded on the ‘Private’s Pay List’ as having been paid for 37 days of Ordinary Pay, (1st January to 6th February). On the 7th

February he was transferred to the Reserve Company in Malta. The Pay-List records that he was on board ship for 25 days having presumably sailed from either Cork or Cobh. There is an entry in the ‘Allowances’ column which looks like 25, and presumably refers to an allowance payable in lieu of Ordinary Pay.

Quarterly Pay-List from the 1st January to the 31st March 1856 on Malta:

On Malta he was in receipt of 21 days of Ordinary Pay, (7 th – 27th February), at which date he was transferred to the Crimea. He was subject to stoppages from full pay of 3½d per day for 32 days while on shore. The Armistice was signed on February 29 th

1856, so he presumably did not see action in the Crimea.

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Quarterly Pay-List from the 1st January to the 31st March 1856 in the Crimea:

While in the Crimea, he was in receipt of 33 days of Ordinary Pay (dates illegible), 21 days of Good Conduct Pay at 6d per day, 13 days of stoppages from Full Pay while on board ship and 20 days of stoppages while on shore of 3½d per day. The reason given for him being absent from the Muster Rolls was that he had ‘Joined from Depot, Malta, 11th March’.

Catalogue Ref: WO12/1989 (1856 – 1857)

For the period April to June, he was initially stationed in The Crimea, and later in Malta. For the entire period of July 1856 to March 1857, he was stationed in Malta.

Catalogue Ref: WO12/1990 (1857 – 1858)

In April, he was initially stationed at Malta and later in the month transferred to Gibraltar. From June, he is recorded as being stationed at ‘North Front’, Gibraltar, which apparently is the site of the present day Airport. In February 1858, he is recorded as being in Hospital, but no reason is given.

Catalogue Ref: WO12/1991 (1858 – 1859)

For the whole of the period April 1858 to December 1858 he is recorded as being at sea to Hong Kong. The January to March 1859 period he is at Hong Kong and in Hospital during March. Again, no reason is given for him being hospitalised.

Catalogue Ref: WO12/1992 (1859 – 1860)

For the whole period from April 1859 to March 1860 he was stationed in Hong Kong and was again recorded as being in hospital in June and July 1859 and March 1860.

Catalogue Ref: WO12/1993 (1860 – 1861)

April to June 1860: Hong Kong and Expeditionary Force, North of ChinaJuly to September 1860 China Expeditionary ForceOctober to December 1860: China Expeditionary Force and at Sea

The 2nd Muster says “HMS Cressy”January to March 1861: At sea – “HMS Cressy”

Catalogue Ref: WO12/1994 (1861 – 1862)

April to June 1861: On voyage home and at Manchester.On furlough 1st – 29th June

July to September 1861: At Manchester. Promoted to Corporal on 24th Sept.October to December 1861: At Manchester, on Corporal’s Pay ListJanuary to March 1862: At Colchester, stationed at Landguard Fort

{See Comments regarding Landguard Fort}

Catalogue Ref: WO12/1995 (1862 – 1863)

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April to June 1862: The Battalion was mainly at Manchester & Aldershot.However, Edward Hector was at Colchester, still with the rank of Corporal.

July to September 1862: Initially at Colchester and then transferred to Yarmouth on 8th September.

October to December 1862: Transferred from Yarmouth back to Colchester on 26th October. He was on furlough from 1st to 30th Dec.

January to March 1863: This period was spent at Colchester.

Catalogue Ref: WO12/1996 (1863 – 1864)

April to June 1863: Edward Hector was at Colchester whilst most of the Battalion was at Aldershot.

July to September 1863: At ColchesterOctober to December 1863: At ColchesterJanuary to March 1864: At Colchester{He married at Colchester on February 14th but there is no record of this in the Musters}

Catalogue Ref: WO12/1997 (1864 – 1865) {**}

I do not have a copy of the records for April 1864 to March 1865 but apparently he was stationed at Colchester and transferred to the Svc Company on 30 th January.

The 1st January to 31st March 1865 Corporal’s Pay List shows he was stationed in the Channel Islands but does not specify which island. He was in receipt of 30 days Ordinary Pay at 1s. 4d. per diem (per day) and 30 days of Good Conduct Pay at 2d. per day, for the period 1st January to 30th January. He was transferred to the 9th Depot Battalion on the 30th January.

Catalogue Ref: WO12/1998 (1865) {**}

He is now shown as being attached to the 9 th Depot Battalion and stationed at Colchester. From the 31st January to 31st March, he was recorded on the Corporal’s Pay List as being in receipt of 60 days of Ordinary Pay at 1s. 4d. per diem (per day) plus 60 days of Good Conduct Pay at 2d. per day.

I do not have a copy of the records for the period April to June, but apparently he was again in the Channel Islands before returning to Colchester.

The last Pay List copy I have relates to his discharge in Cork on 21st September 1865. He was paid from 1st July to 21st September for 83 days of Ordinary Pay at 1s. 4d. per diem (per day) plus 83 days of Good Conduct Pay at 2d. per day. He was also in receipt of 4 days ‘Admiralty On Board Ship Allowance’.

Comments The Muster Records above are incomplete and therefore do not provide a full and

accurate record of his service with the regiment. Also due to the poor quality of the

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records, some of the entries are very difficult to read. I have obtained paper copies of some of the above Records but to obtain copies of all the records would be quite expensive. I have therefore relied mainly on the written report from the National Archives researcher.

We knew from Census Returns that he was born circa 1837 which is confirmed by the fact that he was recorded on recruitment in September 1855 as being 19 years old. It is unfortunate that his exact age and place of birth is not recorded. (I now know this from other research).

The Muster Records show that he was recruited at Westminster. The 1871 Census Return, the first one that we have found him recorded on, states that he was born in St. Margaret’s, Westminster, whereas on later Census Returns he is less positive. Could it therefore be correct that he was born in Westminster or is it just a coincidence? (Later research produced the 1841 and 1851 Census Returns which proved he was born in St. Margaret’s, Westminster in 1837).

Interestingly, he was only 5ft 4¾ins in height, a small man even for that time.

His surname is recorded as MacKay.

Edward Hector’s Petition to the Royal Military Asylum in respect of James, confirms much of what is recorded in the Muster Records. His overseas postings were:Malta: 1 year and 5 months, Crimea: 3 months, Gibraltar: 1 year and 2 months, China: 1 year and 9 months.

The Petition states that he was ‘In possession of a Medal and 2 Clasps for taking part at Pekin’, which refers to the 1860 Uprisings at Taku Forts and at Pekin (Peking/Beijing).

In the Petition he is recorded as being a Lance Sergeant which appears to have been added as an after-thought in a different hand-writing. His discharge details in the Muster Records still show him on the Corporal’s Pay List, so presumably that was an error or exaggeration.

Although we know that he married Rebecca Forsdyke at Colchester on February 14th 1864, there is no reference in the Muster Records of this event. We also still do not know how they met. In the 1861 Census, 3 years prior to their marriage, Rebecca is recorded as being a Housemaid to the Bone Family in East Greenwich at which time, Edward Hector was returning from China. From January 1863 until the time of their marriage, Edward Hector appears to have been mainly stationed in Colchester.

In 1862, he was recorded as being stationed at Landguard Fort which is approximately 25 miles from the Garrison at Colchester. The Fort was built in the 17th Century on a prominence of land at the mouth of the River Orwell over-looking Harwich Harbour. As the crow flies, Landguard Fort is about 5 miles from Falkenham. Rebecca must have returned home to Falkenham at some time and met Edward Hector whilst he was stationed at the Fort.

James McKayThe Royal Scots, 1882 to 1903

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James enlisted in the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Scots on 30th August 1882 at Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland, aged 14 years, immediately after leaving the Royal Military Asylum in Chelsea, on the 26th August 1882.

His description on enlistment was:Age: 14, Height: 5ft, Weight: 85lbs, Chest: 28”, Complexion: Fresh, Eyes: Grey, Hair: Fair. His Religious Denomination was Church of England and his Trade a Shoemaker.

Much of his period of service was spent in South Africa for which he was awarded the ‘Queen’s South Africa Medal with Clasps’, the ‘King’s South Africa Medal’ and the ‘Good Conduct Medal’.

He took his discharge at Blackdown Barracks (now named Deepcut) on 25 th August 1903 after having served for 21 years. His Conduct and Character was said to be ‘Exemplary, a thoroughly reliable, steady, willing and respectable man’. His special qualifications for employment in civilian life were recorded as: ‘Is a musician and a very handy man’.

William McKay The Royal Scots, 1890 to 1914

The Army Service Corps, 1914 to 1918

William enlisted in The Royal Scots on 3rd October 1890 at the age of 14 years and 2 months. His initial enlistment was for 12 years which was subsequently extended to 24 years and he took his discharge in 1914 at the outbreak of World War 1. From other information that has been obtained, it would appear that he re-enlisted for the duration of the War, was awarded the rank of Captain and put in command of an Agricultural Company, based in Hamiliton, Scotland. Apparently, the purpose of this Company was to advise and help local farmers to produce supplies for the troops at the front. It would appear that William was very successful in organising the labour to fulfil this task as can be seen from a Testimonial, a copy of which is in my possession. .

Between 1891 and 1898 he was awarded the 3rd, 2nd and 1st Class Certificates of Education. Between 1898 and 1911, he was also awarded a Certificate as an Assistant Instructor in Military Engineering and qualified at the School of Musketry and the Royal Small Arms Factory.

He was promoted Lance Corporal in 1897, Corporal in 1898, Sergeant in 1899, Colour Sergeant in 1901 and Sergeant Major in 1911. At the time of his discharge in 1914, he was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. His Commanding Officer described him as follows: ‘Sergeant Major McKay has an absolutely exemplary character, never having had a single entry in his conduct sheet during his whole period of service – 24 years. He is methodical, accurately and thoroughly reliable in keeping accounts and handling sums of money. He is a good organiser and tactful in dealing with men and is a most superior man in every respect’. This probably explains why he was so respected by the farmers of Hamilton during the War.

Walter George McKayThe Scots Guards, 1923 to 1935

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Walter George originally enlisted in The Grenadier Guards on 30 th October 1923 and transferred to The Scots Guards on 7 th November 1923. He was aged 18 years at the time of his enlistment which was to be for a period of ‘7 years with the Colours’ and ‘5 years with the Reserve’.

His description on enlistment was:Age: 18 years and 2 months, Height: 6ft 1¼ins, Weight: 137lbs, Chest: 36½”, Chest Expansion: 2½”, Complexion: Fresh, Eyes: Hazel, Hair: Auburn, Distinctive Marks: Scar on right eyebrow and right knee, mole on right cheek. Religious Denomination: Church of England.

He was awarded the 3rd Class Certificate of Education in 1923 and the 2nd Class Certificate in 1924. He qualified as a Regimental Instructor at the Chemical Welfare School in 1928. In addition, he attended courses in Hounslow to train as a Carpenter and Joiner and received a very good report. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in 1924, Corporal in 1925, Lance Sergeant in 1926 and Sergeant in 1927.

On his discharge, his Military Conduct was described as ‘Very good’, and his Testimonial stated: ‘A clean, honest, sober and hard working N.C.O. who has undergone a course in Carpentry and Joinery at Hounslow and achieved a very satisfactory report.

Ironically, by the outbreak of World War 2, he had already qualified as a Psychiatric Nurse and was employed at Darenth Park Training Colony. This was classified as a ‘Reserved Occupation’ and as such, barred him from re-enlisting for Military Service.

Alexander Samuel MacKay Snr.The Royal Navy, 1870 to 1893

Alexander Samuel Mackay was the eldest son of Alexander John MacKay, the brother of Edward Hector MacKay 1st. He enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Boy Sailor in 1870 at the age of 15 years.

The only record I have found of his service is a single page down-loaded from the Internet which records his personal details and his various postings. It records that he spent varying periods on the following ships:‘Rattlesnake’, ‘Duncan’, ‘Renard’, ‘Nymphe’, ‘Rambler’. ‘Firefly’, ‘Repulse’, ‘Excellent’, ‘Rifleman’, ‘Asia’ and ‘Victory’, additionally he spent 2 periods of service in Naval Barracks, but it does not state which one. He took his discharge on the 28 th March 1893.

The 1871 Census lists him as a Boy Sailor, 2nd Class, aged 16 years; in 1881 he was recorded as an AB sailor, aged 26 years on-board HMS Rambler and the 1891 Census records him as a Chief Petty Officer aged 36, married and living with his wife at 75 Simpson Road, Portsmouth, he was presumably shore-based by then. Having taken his discharge in 1893, he returned to live in Caterham with his wife and children and is recorded there on the 1901 Census as a Labourer.

Alexander Samuel MacKay Jnr.

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The East Yorkshire Regiment, 1914 to 1918

Alexander Samuel MacKay Jnr. enlisted in the 11th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment during World War 1 but a copy of his Service Records has not been found.

The only information found relates to him having been killed in action in Flanders on 12th April 1918 and being commemorated at the Ploegsteert Memorial near Ypres. He was posthumously awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

Edward John McKayThe Australian Imperial Force, 1915 to 1919

Edward John McKay was the eldest son of Edward Hector McKay 2nd in Australia. He enlisted for service during World War 1 on 10 th July 1915 at the age of 20. His Attestation Papers show that he enlisted in the 31st Battalion of the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) at Brisbane, Queensland.

His Battalion left Australia by sea on 9th November 1915 and disembarked in Suez on 7th December. He spent 2 days in Hospital in Suez suffering from ‘Urticaria’ before joining the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in Alexandria and travelling on to Marseilles by sea.

His Service Record shows that he suffered a Gun Shot Wound to his left elbow which necessitated a further spell in hospital. He rejoined his unit after being discharged from hospital and spent a further few months with them in the area of Etaples, France. Following some leave in England in August 1917, he was apparently transferred to the Australian Provost Corps (APC) and was attached to the 5th Division of the Australian Provost Marshall (APM) with whom he appeared to spend most of the remainder of the War. He had been promoted to Sergeant prior to leaving Australia and was further promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on his transfer to the APC.

In August 1918 he was awarded the French Croix de Guerre and was mentioned in the despatches of General Sir Douglas Haig in November 1918. I have now been able to locate a copy of the recommendation for the Croix de Guerre on Army Form W.3121 which details his actions at the time. This form is as good as the actual official Citation as it clearly details his act of gallantry. The image is stored on computer and a print enclosed with his Service Records. In addition, he was also awarded the ‘1914/15 Star’, the ‘British War Medal’, the ‘Victory Medal’ and 2 ‘Oak Leaves’.

During his service with the APM, he visited the UK on a number of occasions and after the War took his discharge there. However, we know that he did return to Australia shortly after.

Thomas Roscoe McKayThe Australian Military Forces, Army Dental Unit, 1940 to 1946

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Thomas Roscoe McKay was the 2nd son of Edward Hector MacKay 2nd and Mary Roscoe and was a Dental Mechanic by profession. He enlisted for War Service in 1940 with the Australian Army Medical Corps, 13th Dental Unit, where he served until 1943. He was then transferred to the Australian Army Dental Unit and based on Thursday Island, which in Richmond’s words is ‘the northern tip of the big pointy bit of Australia, in the Totters Strait’. Thursday Island was apparently used as the ‘jumping-off point’ between Australia and New Guinea. He served on Thursday Island until his discharge in 1946.

Arthur McKayThe Australian Military Forces, 1942 to 1948

Arthur McKay enlisted on 25th May 1942 at Paddington, N.S.W. and served in what was referred to as ‘Det. Bks.’ at Holdsworthy Camp. It is likely that this was a Detention Barracks which would fit in with his occupation as a Prison Warder in civilian life. He gave his age at the time as nearly 55 years but in fact we know he was actually nearly 60 at the time. This ‘inaccuracy’ was definitely deliberate but his reasons for doing so can only be guessed at. We do know his marriage was ‘shaky’ at the time and this may therefore have had some bearings on it. His 1st wife, Hannah Mary died in October 1942 and he remarried in 1946 to his 2nd wife, Vera Ivy Myrtle Charlesworth with whom he had been having an affair.

He spent his entire period of service at Holdsworthy being promoted several times as A/Cpl, A/Sgt, Sgt, A/S/Sgt and finally confirmed as a Staff Sergeant.

He spent some time in Military Hospital suffering from Bronchitis which was the cause of his Discharge in 1948.

Arthur Edward Hector McKayThe Australian Militia Forces and Australian Military Forces, 1939 to 1943

Arthur Edward Hector McKay, (the son of Arthur McKay), enlisted in the Australian Militia Forces on 5th January 1939 at East Maitland, N.S.W. and served in the 16 MG Regiment probably as a mechanic. His civilian occupation at the time was recorded as a mechanic in the Prison Service. He was discharged from the Militia on 5 th February 1941.

During his time in the Prison Service, he was accused of assisting 2 prisoners to escape but was acquitted of the offence. Following this, he enlisted in the Australian Military Forces on 14th July 1942 at Paddington, N.S.W. and initially served at the Detention Barracks at Holdsworthy. At this point he had clearly left the Prison Service as his occupation was described as ‘Sleeper Cutter’. Part of his service was spent at Darwin Details Depot before returning to Holdsworthy for his discharge on 1st January 1943 after only serving for 173 days.

His Discharge Papers state that he was ‘To be discharged at his own request whilst on War Service’. A condition of his request being granted was that he should be employed as a Crane-driver in the Graving Dock. A Graving Dock is a Dry Dock used for the building and repair of the hulls of ships.

William George McKayThe Australian Military Forces, 1940 to 1944

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William George McKay was the youngest son of Edward Hector MacKay 2nd in Australia. He enlisted for service during World War 2 in the 2/25 Infantry Battalion on 28th May 1940 at Rockhampton, at the age of 29 years and 1 month.

Although his Service Records are quite detailed, it is unclear what his service consisted of. It would appear that he was in the Middle East from May 1941 to February 1942 before returning to Australia. During 1942, there are 3 entries showing that he went ‘absent without leave’ for which he forfeited 1 days pay for the first offence, was fined £3.10s for the second offence and £2.10s for the third.

In 1941 he was hospitalised for a month with Hepatitis. He was again hospitalised in 1943 suffering from Malaria and yet again in 1944 as a result of Tonsillitis and a recurrence of the Malaria. This resulted in the Medical Board reclassifying him as Class D and consequently discharging him as being medically unfit for further military service from the 12th October 1944.

On discharge, he was described as being aged 33, 6ft 2ins in height, fair complexion, fair hair and with blue eyes. He had served for a total of 1,579 days, of which 794 were served in Australia and 491 overseas.

Richmond William ManyweathersThe Royal Australian Air Force, 1942 to 1945

Richmond William Manyweathers was the eldest son of Harriet McKay and William Manyweathers in Australia. He enlisted for service during World War 2 in the Royal Australian Air Force on 28th October 1942.

His Records also include a lot of other personal details as follows:Educational Qualifications: Intermediate (NSW) English, Maths 1, Maths 2, History,

Geography, Art, Agriculture 1, Agriculture 2.Professional Qualification: Studied with Hemmingway Robertson Accountancy

In 1943 he applied for a Commission and provided the following information to support his application: 10years Justice of the Peace, NSW 9 years Member Committee, Casino School of Arts 7 years Honorary Librarian 3 years President Casino Chamber of Commerce 3 years Vice-President Federated Chamber Northern NSW and Townlands Chairman Local Liquid Fuel Board Chairman Mobile Technical Training Unit Corporal in Y.D.C. from inception until joining R.A.A.F. 18 months Member Pre-selection Committee for R.A.A.F., Aircrew Applicants 4 years Director Casino Co-operative Home Building Society Chairman Casino Centenary Celebrations President Casino District Tennis Association President Casino District Cricket Association Represented District in Cricket, Tennis and Hockey, Captaining Teams in each. Member Lismore Ballina Surf Club. Holder of Proficiency Life Saving Certificate

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He was unsuccessful on this occasion and was advised to re-apply later, which he did in 1944 when he was successful.

Presumably because of his age and medical condition, he was attached to a Signals Unit and served at various locations in Australia and New Guinea as a Cypher Clerk. He enlisted with the rank of Aircraftsman 1st Class (AC1) and subsequently promoted to Corporal and Sergeant. He took his discharge on 19th May 1944 after being granted a Commission in the A & S D Branch, School of Administration.

William MacKay ManyweathersThe Australian Military Forces, Air Liaison Section, 1942 to 1945

William MacKay Manyweathers was the second son of Harriet McKay and William Manyweathers in Australia. He enlisted for service during World War 2 in the Australian Military Forces on 22nd January 1942 and was assigned to the Australian Army Air Liaison Group.

The Records do not include his description on enlistment other than showing his age as 29 years and 4 months and that his religious denomination was Methodist. However, his description on discharge is included as follows:Age: 33 years, Height: 5ft 10ins Eyes: Brown, Complexion: Dark, Hair: Dark, Scars: 2 nd

Finger, left hand.

He served for a period of 1,384 days of which 550 were in Australia and 798 overseas. His overseas postings were in New Guinea and Dutch New Guinea. He was promoted firstly to Corporal in 1943 and then Sergeant in 1944. He was discharged in 1946 and awarded the 1939/45 Star, the Pacific Star and the War Medal.

Major Donald John Stott D.S.O.New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, Field Artillery Regiment, 1939 to 1941

British Special Operations Executive, 1942 to 1944Australian Services Reconnaissance Department, 1944 to 1945

Donald John Stott was the youngest son of Annie McKay and Robert Edward Stott in New Zealand. Initially, I was unable to obtain a copy of his Service Records, so the following information was collected from a variety of other sources.

At the outbreak of World War 2 he enlisted in the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force and was posted to the 5th Field Regiment, New Zealand Artillery. He embarked from New Zealand as a Sergeant in May 1940 and served with his unit in Greece and Crete, where in May 1941 he was wounded and captured by the Germans. In August, he and a close friend, Bob Morton, made an escape from the prison camp near Athens by pole-vaulting over the fence and evaded capture for seven months before escaping from Greece.

He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in May 1942 and volunteered to serve with the British Special Operation Executive (SOE). He operated behind enemy lines in North Africa during 1942 and was involved in an abortive action in October of that year. In March 1943 he parachuted into Greece to join an SOE mission co-ordinating

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resistance. In June of 1943 he was involved in an operation which successfully destroyed the Asopós railway viaduct. For this, he was recommended for the Victoria Cross, but as the operation was not ‘under fire’, he was awarded the DSO instead. In July 1943 he was promoted to temporary Captain and made Liaison Officer with the communist-dominated ELAS guerrillas in Greece. He was awarded a bar to the DSO for his work there.

He returned to New Zealand in May 1944 and on 10th June, in Auckland, married his childhood sweetheart, Mary Kathleen Snow. In July he began training in Australia for special operations behind Japanese lines with the Services Reconnaissance Department and in December, was promoted to temporary Major. Just a few days after the birth of his son in March 1945, he embarked as leader of a 12-man team to operate in Japanese-occupied Borneo. On the night of 20/21 March, Don Stott and his second in command, disappeared as they paddled ashore from a submarine near Balikpapan. No trace was ever found of Don, and in 1946 it was officially concluded that he had drowned.

I have now obtained his Service Records and a wealth of supplementary information from the New Zealand Defence Force Archives which is stored on computer.

Norman Charles Fearnley-StottThe Royal Australian Air Force, 1942 to 1945

Norman Charles Fearnley-Stott was the son of Charles Joseph Stott, the brother of Robert Edward Stott. He enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1942. Having trained as a pilot, he was posted to the UK in 1943 and flew in Lancaster Bombers on raids over Germany.

Records that I have managed to obtain, record that he was promoted to Flying Officer and that between October 1944 and February 1945, he flew 21 missions over Germany as Pilot with a mixed crew of Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force airmen. On his final mission over Dresden on the night of 13th February 1945, his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and exploded, the Rear-Gunner was blown out of the aircraft, deployed his parachute and landed safely. He was taken prisoner until his release by American Forces later in the year.

Flying Officer Norman Charles Fearnley-Stott is commemorated in the Berlin War Cemetery.

Richard Gadsby RichThe 39th Infantry Regiment, 1856 to 1876

Richard Gadsby Rich was the Uncle of Fanny McKay nee Rich who served with the 39 th

Infantry Regiment for a period of 21 years and 206 days. Mystery surrounds his enlistment as it took place in Galway, Co. Galway on 25 th January 1856. He was born in Souldrop, Bedfordshire and the Census Returns for 1841 and 1851 record him living there with his parents. At some point after the 1851 Census he travelled to Ireland and enlisted. We know that he married Catherine Donohoe in Dublin, Ireland on 5 th

November 1867 and that their first born, Joseph, was born in Fermoy, Co. Cork on 4 th

July 1870.

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His Service Records show that his initial engagement was from 25 th January 1856 until 17th August 1865 during which time he was a Private on Militia Service in Canada and Bermuda. He re-engaged at Dover on 18 th August 1865 for a further 11 years and presumably spent some time on ‘Home Service’ as there is no reference of Overseas Service until he was posted to the East Indies in 1869. The East Indies is what we now refer to as India, and we know that he was stationed at a Garrison in Dagshai where his daughter Mary Katherine was born in 1875. His son, Joseph had been born in Ireland in 1870, the year after Richard’s posting to Dagshai, so his wife, Katherine, must have remained in Ireland initially for Joseph’s birth and then travelled out to Dagshai later.

It appears that he generally behaved himself whilst in Service as he was in receipt of 4 Good Conduct Payments although he never advanced beyond Private. His Records in regard to his character and conduct states:‘His conduct has been good and he is in possession of 4 Good Conduct Badges’.‘His name appears eleven times in the Regimental Defaulters Book’.‘He has never been tried by Court Martial’.‘Is not in possession of a School Certificate of Education’.

His took his discharge in Dagshai on 25th October 1876 following a review by the Regimental Discharge Board, chaired by the General Commanding the Regiment, General Sir Charles Thomas van Straubenzee G.C.B. He, and presumably his Family, returned to England, disembarking at Netley, a coastal town in Southampton Water.

His personal details recorded at the time of his discharge were:Enlisted at: Galway, Co. GalwayDate of enlistment: 25th January 1856Age on enlistment: 19 years and 11 monthsAge on discharge: 40 years and 11 monthsHeight: 5ft 5¼ins, Complexion: Fair, Eyes: Blue, Trade: Labourer, Marks/Scars: NoneIntended place of residence: Souldrop, Bedfordshire.As we can see, he went full circle, returning to his birthplace in Souldrop. Why he went to Ireland to enlist will probably remain a mystery.

Albert George Gadsby21st Battalion, Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force, 1915 to 1918

Albert George Gadsby was related to Sarah Rich nee Gadsby. He emigrated to Ontario, Canada in 1914, just before the outbreak of World War 1. He enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Forces on the 26th February 1915 and was posted back to fight in Europe.

Only 2 pages of his Attestation Papers have been found which record his personal details but do not include any information on his service. We do know however that he survived the War, returned to Canada and married Jeanie Paterson Russell in 1926.

Joseph RichThe Bedfordshire Regiment, 1890 to 1902 and 1914 to 1918

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Joseph Rich was the eldest son of Richard Gadsby Rich and Catherine Donohoe. He was born in Fermoy, Co. Cork on 4th July 1870. He initially enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment on 14 th October 1890 and signed on for 7 years with the Colours and 5 years in the Reserves. He was stationed for nearly 5 years in India where he took part in the Relief of Chitral in 1895. After just over a year’s posting at Home, he was sent to South Africa where he served for almost 3 years.

He was awarded the India Medal with the Relief of Chitral Clasp, the Queen’s South Africa Medal with the Cape Colony and Wittebergen Clasps and the King’s South Africa Medal with the 1901 and 1902 Clasps.

At the outbreak of World War 1, he re-enlisted with the Northamptonshire Regiment and was then transferred to the 436th Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps. He served with the Labour Corps from 1914 to 1917 when he was discharged on medical grounds.

In 1906 he was arrested by the Civil Authorities, charged with vagrancy and sentenced to 7 days imprisonment. In 1935 he became a Chelsea Pensioner and was resident in the Care Home at Nazareth House, Barrack Road, Northampton. The Home was, and still is, run by the Catholic Sisters of Nazareth. He died in the Home on 1 st January 1948, the cause of death is not recorded.

Horace RichThe Tank Corps, 1915 to 1919

Horace Rich was a younger brother of Fanny McKay nee Rich who enlisted in November 1915 and served in the Tank Corps during World War 1.

His description on enlistment was:Age: 23 years and 4 months, Height: 5ft 8ins, Chest Girth: 35ins, Chest Expansion: 3insNext of kin: George Rich, Souldrop, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, Father

The Records provide very little information in regard to his service during the War other than that he was a Private in the Tank Corps in the ‘Southern’ Theatre of War.

Following his demobilisation after the end of the war, he was transferred to the Army Reserve on 14th October 1919, examined at Bedford Barracks and declared to be Medical Grade A1.

Harold RichThe Royal Fusiliers, Killed in Action, 28th September 1915

Harold Rich was the 2nd Cousin of Fanny McKay nee Rich.He served with the 12th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers during World War 1. He was killed in action in Flanders on 26th September 1915 at the age of 21. He is buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Loos, France.

Herbert RichThe Bedfordshire Regiment, Killed in Action, 23rd April 1917

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Herbert Rich was the younger brother of Fanny McKay nee Rich.He served with the 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment during World War 1. He was killed in action in Flanders on 23rd April 1917 at the age of 20. He is buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Arras, France. He is also honoured on the Souldrop War Memorial.

Horace Sydney FarndonThe Rifle Brigade, 1914 to 1918

Horace Sidney Farndon was the Husband of Violet Annie Bailey.He served with the Rifle Brigade during World War 1. He survived the War and was in receipt of the WW1 Campaign Medal which is in the possession of Neil McKay.

Sidney Francis Bailey20th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment, 1914 to 1917

Sidney Francis Bailey enlisted on the 31st August 1914 in the London Regiment and served with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France. He suffered a Gun Shot Wound to his neck on 10th June 1915 and as a consequence, was returned to England. After his recovery, he was attached to the Provost Battalion until his discharge on 20 th

April 1917.He was awarded 3 medals: Victory Medal, British War Medal and 1914 – 15 Star.

Stanley Gilbert BaileyRoyal Australian Air Force 1942 to 1945

Stanley Gilbert Bailey was the Son of Harry Edward Bailey and Winifred Ada Darke.

He enlisted in the R.A.A.F. on 6th October 1942 for the duration of the War plus 12 months, as an Airman. Following Technical Training, he served as a Fight Mechanic and Fitter for the duration of the War apparently in various locations in Australia. Generally his conduct was very good, however there are 2 instances where he was Confined to Barracks for 4 days and 7 days plus on one occasion he forfeited 7 days pay. It is not clear from the records why he merited these punishments.

He attended various training courses for which his Character is recorded as ‘Very Good’ and his Trade Proficiency as ‘Satisfactory’. At the time of his enlistment a Police Reference was apparently required which stated he was ‘sober, honest and respectable, and that he was highly regarded locally’.

He was discharged on 30th October 1945 following his application to return to his Civilian Employment at the Glenreagh Timber Mill. He was in receipt of the Australian Defence Medal, War Medal 1939 – 45, Service Medal 1939 – 45 and the Returned from Active Service Badge.

James RoscoeThe 98th Regiment of Foot, 1869 to 1898

[Later renamed The 98th (Prince of Wales’s) Regiment of Foot]

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James Roscoe was a relative of Mary Roscoe, the wife of Edward Hector MacKay 2nd.

He enlisted in the 98th Regiment of Foot on 21st July 1869 in Newcastle, Northumberland at the age of 19 years and served until the 3 rd February 1898. On enlistment he received a Bounty of £1 and a Free Kit. He was posted overseas on 3 occasions; West Indies, Malta and the East Indies (India).

During his posting to Malta he married Mary Elitia Northdorft in the Collegiate Church of St. Paul’s, Valetta on 7th October 1878. By the time of his discharge, he had reached the rank of Colour Sergeant, at which time he was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and returned to his trade as a Watch-maker.

Isaac William Clift Snr.The 9th Regiment of Foot, later part of the Royal Anglian Regiment, 1809 to 1827

Isaac William Clift Snr. was the Father of Lois Dyer Clift, the Wife of William Bailey and enlisted in the 9th Regiment of Foot on the 1st April 1809 at the age of 18 years.

I have obtained a copy of his Discharge Papers that record he served for a period of 18 years and 41 days and took his discharge on the 14 th April 1827. Although very little detail is shown in the papers, it does suggest that he served in either the West Indies or East Indies for just over 7 years. He was discharged with the rank of Colour Sergeant and a report that his conduct was ‘very good’.

A note on his papers reads, “I certify that Colour Sergeant William Clift has received Twenty Days Pay. Amount £2 6s 8d to enable him to return to Gloucester, the place of his Enlistment, also 19s 4½d Family Allowance and has not been provided with a Passage by Sea at the Public Expense”. Assuming that his period of service ended in either the West Indies or East Indies, this last statement does seem rather mean and implies that the discharged soldier should pay for his own repatriation.

Robert ForsdykeThe Suffolk Regiment and later The Buffs – East Kent Regiment, 1916 to 1919

Robert Forsdyke was the son of Mark Forsdyke and Elizabeth Bear. He enlisted at the age of 26 years on 24th June 1916 in Ipswich, Suffolk and served until 12 th December 1919. He served in the Trenches in France and suffered a Gun Shot Wound to his Left arm on 27th March 1918. He was repatriated to the UK and treated for his wound in the University College Hospital in London. Following his discharge from hospital he was declared unfit for further service on the front line and was posted to the 576 th

Employment Company and later the 583rd Company of the Labour Corps.

Prior to receiving the Gun Shot Wound, he had been hospitalised in the Southern General Hospital in Birmingham suffering from Pleurisy. His discharge in 1919 on Medical grounds was as a result of the Pleurisy and Gun Shot Wound.

Harry SnowdinThe Army Service Corps, 1914 to 1919

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Harry Snowdin was the son of Harriet Forsdyke and John William Snowdin. He enlisted at Aldershot on 12th November 1914 and served in France from 5 th July 1918 to 19th

December 1918. The remainder of his service was at Home from 9th November 1914 to 4th July 1918 and 20th December 1918 until his discharge, medically unfit for War Service, on 18th February 1919.

He was a Butcher in Civilian life so it may be assumed that this was his duty in The Army Service Corps. He was in receipt of the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Albert Stevens4th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment, 1913 to 1914

Albert Stevens was the future Husband of Charlotte Daisy Bailey. He Attested for service with the Territorial Force for 4 years on 12 th July 1913 and was discharged as Medically unfit on 4th September 1914. No reason was given for his Medical Discharge.

His period of Service lasted for 1 year and 55 days all of which was spent at home. As he did not serve during the War, he was not in receipt of any medals etc.

Herbert RobinsThe Royal Engineers, 1915 to 1919

Herbert Robins was the Husband of Emily Anne Perry and Son-in-Law of Caroline Bailey. He enlisted in the Royal Engineers on 25 th November 1915 in Newport, Monmouthshire and served with them as a Blacksmith mainly in France, until his discharge in 1919.

He appears to have been in trouble on a number of occasions: Absent from Work, Disobeying Company Orders, Over-staying Leave, Breaking into Camp etc. for which he received various punishments.

Jonathan AdlingtonThe Derbyshire Regiment, 1885 to 1897

Jonathan Adlington enlisted in the 2nd Battalion, the Derbyshire Regiment (The Sherwood Foresters), in Derby on 2nd October 1885 at the age of 19 years and 10 months. He served in India from 12th March 1886 to 23rd January 1894 spending time in Dum Dum, Sikkim, Jubbulpore, Sangli and Umballa (now named Ambala in the Punjab area). His initial Home Postings were in Derby and a few weeks later in Kilkenny, Ireland presumably for his initial training. Follow his return from India he served at Home for over 3 years but his records do not state where.

Whilst in India he took part in the Sikkim Expedition 1888 and was in receipt of the India Medal 1854 with the 1888 Sikkim Clasp. He took his discharge on 1st October 1897.

Ina RushtonThe Royal Welsh Fusiliers and The West Riding Regiment, 1916 to 1919

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Ina Rushton was the Husband of Annie Roscoe. His Service Records are in a very poor condition so it was rather difficult to read much of the information they contained.

He initially Attested for the Royal Welsh Fusiliers on 6 th June 1916 and appears to have been transferred to other Regiments, including the West Riding Regiment during the course of his service. Although he Attested in 1916 he was placed on the Army Reserve until his Mobilisation on 26th July 1917.

For part of his service, he was attached to the Labour Corps and served with the 565 th, 542nd and 540th Employment Companies. The majority of his service was spent in England (20 months), the remaining 6 months were spent in France. He was twice hospitalised, firstly in the 8th Canadian Hospital in Dunkirk suffering with Bronchitis and later in the Military Hospital in Oswestry with Gastro-Enteritis.

The final part of his service was with the 13th Battalion, the West Riding Regiment from 19th October 1918 until his discharge in 1919. He was in receipt of the British War Medal.

Thomas Henry Miller1st Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment, 1889 to 1910 and the

41st Battalion, 11th Infantry Brigade of the Australian Imperial Force, 1916 to 1918

Thomas Henry Miller was the Husband of Mary Catherine Rich. Having completed his service with the Bedfordshire Regiment, he and his Family emigrated to Australia. With the outbreak of the 1st World War, he was called up to serve with the Australian Imperial Force in 1916.

He enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment on 15th October 1889 and served with them at Home, in Malta and India. Whilst in India he was part of the Chittral Relief Force of 1895 for which he was in receipt of the India Medal with Relief of Chittral Clasp. In 1897 his service was extended in order to complete 12 years ‘With the Colours’. He passed Instruction Courses in Transport and Musketry and passed Regimental Exams for Corporal and Sergeant.

On 21st September 1898 he was placed in confinement awaiting trial for embezzling money belonging to a regimental institution and was sentenced to be reduced to the Ranks, imprisoned for 6 months with hard labour and put under stoppages of pay until he had repaid the sum of Rupees 346.60. He was returned to duty on 28 th April 1899 and posted back to England on 20th April 1902 with the rank of Corporal. Subsequently, he was promoted to Lance Sergeant, Sergeant and finally, Colour Sergeant. He took his Discharge on 14th October 1910 at Aldershot Barracks.

By the outbreak of World War 1, he and his Family had emigrated to Australia. He enlisted in 41st Battalion, 11th Infantry Brigade of the Australian Imperial Force on 20 th

January 1916 in Brisbane, Queensland. During 1917 to 1918 he served with the 11 th

Training Battalion in France with the rank of Lieutenant and later was returned for

Regimental Duties. During his time in France he was admitted to the Red Cross Hospital in Boulogne suffering with Anaemia and then transferred to the London General Hospital in Wandsworth suffering with Cerebral Thrombosis. He was returned

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to Australia on 24th May 1918 suffering from ‘Tumour Cerebri Vascular Lesion’ and struck off the Battalion strength. He was in receipt of the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Ernest Othniel GadsbyCanadian Over-seas Expeditionary Force during World War 1.

Ernest Othniel Gadsby was the son of Zimran Gadsby and Mary Ann Langley living in Canada. Only 2 pages of his Attestation Papers exist so information is rather limited. It does show however that he enlisted on 10 th February 1916 for service in the 54th

Battery of the Canadian Over-seas Expeditionary Force. Other than that, only his personal description is recorded.

Thomas Edward RoscoeThe Manchester Regiment, 1915 to 1919

He enlisted in the Manchester Regiment on 11 th December 1915 having previously served with the King’s Royal Rifles for an unspecified period. He served with the Regiment as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF) from 11 th October 1916 to 9th April 1918 and in Egypt from 23rd April 1918 to 8th April 1919. Following this, he returned to England and was placed on the Army Reserve.

His employment in the Army was as a Cook and his Character reference states that his ‘Sobriety’ was good and that he was reliable and intelligent. He was in receipt of the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Sidney James GadsbyCanadian Over-seas Expeditionary Force, 1917 to 1919

Sidney James Gadsby was the son of Zimran Gadsby and Mary Ann Langley living in Canada. Only 2 pages of his Attestation Papers exist so information is limited. He enlisted in the Signals Company of the Canadian Over-seas Expeditionary Force on 4 th

January 1917 at Toronto, Canada. Apart from his personal description, no information regarding his service is recorded.

Separately, the Nominal Roll of Soldiers returning to Canada after the War has been found on the Internet. This shows that Corporal Sidney James Gadsby departed Liverpool on-board the ‘Belgic’ and arrived Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on 1st July 1919.

Dennis Henry MarinerRoyal Artillery, 1885 to 1892

Dennis Henry Mariner was the Grand-son of James Mariner and Ann Bailey.

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He enlisted with the Royal Artillery at Fort Rowner, Gosport, Hampshire on 6 th October 1885 at the age of 23 years. His personal description on enlistment states that he was unable to distinguish colours correctly with one eye closed.

He served with the Regiment as a Gunner in Egypt, Malta and Hong Kong before being discharged on 31st May 1892 as Medically Unfit due to Palpitation. No mention is made of any medals he was awarded.

The Duke of York’s Royal Military School, Dover (Formerly: The Royal Military Asylum, Chelsea)

Two members of the McKay Family were pupils at the school. James McKay was a pupil whilst the school was located in Chelsea and Walter George McKay, his son, was a pupil in Dover. See the earlier part of this narrative for more detail on these records.

James McKay:

His Father, Edward Hector MacKay petitioned the school to accept James on the 18 th

June 1878 when he was 10 years old. The petition was approved and James entered the school on 13th July 1880 and left on 26th August 1882.

The Petition, of which a copy is stored on computer, provided much of the information we now have regarding Edward Hector MacKay’s Military Service, which is recorded elsewhere in this narrative.

It required that the certificates of Birth and Baptism be produced and records that James was a Protestant and that he attended the Church of England. However, the Petition included a letter from the Minister of the Congregational Church in East Retford confirming that James was baptised in that church. Later research through the University of Nottingham, produced copies of the relevant pages from that church’s records confirming James’ baptism there and that his Father, Edward Hector, was a member of their congregation. Clearly, the school did not pick up on this contradiction or chose to ignore it.

Unfortunately, the copy of the Petition does not include his Conduct Sheet nor any information relating to his time at the school. A letter is included, written by Edward Hector, in regard to James and his younger brother John. It indicates that James had expressed a desire to enter the 42nd Highlanders (Black Watch) as his Grand-father had served with them at Waterloo. Although it does not name his grand-father, we now know he was John MacKay (senior). The letter also asks if James’ brother John be considered for the school. There is no evidence that a formal petition was made and we also know that John did not follow a military career. As it turned out, James actually enlisted in the Royal Scots immediately after leaving the school.

Walter George McKay:

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A Petition was entered on his behalf by his Mother, Fanny McKay, on 21 st October 1913 as his father, James, had died earlier in the year. The Petition was approved and Walter George entered the school on 28th October 1914 and left on 10th July 1919. Just like the Petition relating to his Father, this was one of the first formal documents we obtained and also provided much useful information regarding James’ Military career.

Walter George’s Petition did include his Conduct Sheet which suggests that he may not have been very happy there. There are entries such as: ‘Disobedience of School Orders’, ‘Irregular Conduct’, ‘ Wetting his bed and not reporting it’, ‘Swearing in the Day Room’ etc. for which he was either caned or confined to barracks for 2 / 4 days.

However, the final entry on his Conduct Sheet states:‘Age 14 years, Passed Standard VI, He leaves as a Private (2 Good Conduct Badges) and his Conduct has been good’.

Walter George remained in Civilian life until he was 18 years old and then enlisted in the Regular Army.

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Appendix 2

See also the Certified Copy of the original ‘Last Will and Testament’ stored on Computer.

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Appendix 3

A list of the main sources of information used in the course of researching this Family History. Some of the web-sites listed are

subscription sites and some are free.

http://www.ancestry.co.ukThis web-site was the main source for copies of Census Returns for the years 1841 to 1901 for England and Wales. It was also the main source for Birth, Marriage and Death Registrations (BMD) in England and Wales from 1841 onwards. Other information obtained via this site included some of the Military Records, Parish Records, Australian BMD Registrations, New Zealand Electoral Rolls etc.

http://www.ancestry.auThis is the Australian sister web-site of ‘ancestry.co.uk’, above, and provided access to Australian Electoral Rolls. Subscription to the UK site also allowed access to the Australian site so long as you linked through from the UK site.

http://www.familysearch.orgThis site is operated by the ‘Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints’ (LDS), commonly known as the ‘Mormons’ and provides free access to their BMD records. I have also used their earlier site, the International Genealogy Index (I.G.I.). These sites are a very good source for BMD records prior to 1841 as it takes most of its information from Parish Records. It should be borne in mind however, that there are errors in the information provided, in relation particularly to dates and spelling of names. Where possible, I have sought verification of information from other sources.

http://findmypast.comThis site provides a variety of data including BMD Registrations, Census Records, Military Records etc. I did not find the site very good and only mainly used it for Military Records searches.

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~hughwallis/This is a site operated by ‘Ancestry’ and provides free access to the IGI Batch Numbering System developed by the LDS (see above – Familysearch.org). It provides access to many of the Parish Registers etc in the British Isles. I found this site useful when researching the early generations of the Baileys and Trimmers in Hampshire.

http://knightroots.co.uk/parishes.htmThis is an on-going project to transcribe all of the Hampshire Parish Registers and make then freely available on-line. I found it quite useful in relation to the Baileys and Trimmers but it must be remembered that it is by no means complete yet.

http://gravestonephotos.comA site devoted solely to recording gravestones mainly in the UK. I was able to locate a photograph of the grave and headstone of Mark Forsdyke and his wife, Elizabeth, in the graveyard of St. Mary and St. Martin’s Parish Church in Kirton, Suffolk.

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http://www.1911census.co.ukThis is the official site for the 1911 Census for England and Wales which I found very useful and easy to use.

http://www.1901censusonline.comAlthough this is the official site for the 1901 Census for England and Wales, I rarely used it as this Census is available on the ‘Ancestry’ site.

http://www.gro.gov.ukThe General Register Office for England and Wales. Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates may be ordered from them on-line.

http://www.gro-scotland.gov.ukThe General Register Office for Scotland. Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates may be ordered from them on-line.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.ukA useful source for various archived material. Includes a list of Independent Researchers available to carry out searches for a fee.

http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.ukA site providing access to BMD Records and Census Returns etc. in Scotland.

http://blars.adlibsoft.comOperated by Bedfordshire and Luton Records Service Archives. I was able to find reference to Richard Rich’s court appearance on this site.

http://www.bt.co.ukThis site enabled me to locate Henry Thompsett in Croydon.

http://www.naa.gov.auThe Homepage for the National Archives of Australia which provides access to a wide variety of Family History research material. (see below).

http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/explore/defence/service-records/From here, I was able to access and in some cases, down-load, Military Service records for family members in Australia.

http://www.nla.gov.auThe Homepage for the National Library of Australia. Another useful site for Family History research. (see below).

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/homeThis site is operated by the National Library of Australia but is solely devoted to providing access to newspaper articles on-line. I was able to find several articles relating to Arthur Edward Hector McKay etc. on this site.

http://www.ryersonindex.orgAn index to the Death Notices and Obituaries published in the Australian Newspapers.

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http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.auA site provided by the New South Wales Government Registry of Births, Deaths and marriages.

http://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/searchThe New Zealand Government’s Official site for Birth, Death and Marriage Records.

http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/bdmA site provided by the Queensland Government Registry of Births, Deaths and marriages.

http://www.whitepages.com.auAustralian Telephone Directory on-line

Additionally, I have obtained the following items:

A transcript of the Parish Records for Salford and Cranfield in Bedfordshire from the Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service which provided quite a lot of information on the Rich Family.

A CD set containing the ‘Hackman Bishop’s Transcripts of the Hampshire Parish Records’. From this I have been able to obtain information on the Bailey and Trimmer families.

CDs Containing the Parish Register Transcripts for various Parishes in Suffolk.

The Probate Office provided me with a copy of the Last Will and Testament of Edward Hector MacKay.

I have also found relevant information on other web-sites too numerous to mention. Due to the number of people involved and the number of sources used, in the main I have not attempted to attribute the source to every item of information recorded, to do so would be too time consuming.

Appendix 4Reference Documents

In addition to research carried out on a variety of web-site listed in Appendix 3, the accumulated information has been gathered from the documents listed in this Appendix.

All of the documents referred to are stored on computer in a variety of commonly used formats and many of them are also printed and displayed in ring-binders for easy of reference.

Census Returns for England and Wales:A large number of Census Returns for each Family covered in this research from the years 1841 to 1911 are available for viewing in .jpg format and have been charted for easy reference.

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Electoral Registers for London:These are now available on the ‘Ancestry’ web-site up to 1965 and cover the Greater London area. Hopefully, Electoral Registers for other parts of the country will be added in the future.

Electoral Registers for Australia:Generally, Australian Electoral Rolls are available for the years 1903 to 1980, although for some States, they are only available from 1930 to 1980. Relevant copies have been obtained for the McKay Family emigrants and their descendants and again saved on computer in .jpg format and in some cases, printed and displayed in a ring-binder. They have also been charted for easy reference.

Electoral Registers for New Zealand:The same applies as for the Australian Electoral Rolls, but in the case of New Zealand, they are generally available for the years 1908 to 1954.

English Birth, Marriage and Death (BMD) Certificates:I have obtained certified copies of the BMD Certificates of many of the principal family members from the General Register Office (GRO) and displayed them in a ring-binder. Scans have also been made of each Certificate and stored on computer in .jpg format.

Scottish Births and Marriages:A few McKay Births and Marriages were registered in Scotland. I have not obtained certified copies of these registrations. However, I have obtained copies of the Registrations from the ‘ScotlandsPeople’ web-site which are as detailed as an official certificate and therefore a very good substitute.

Birth, Marriage and Death (BMD) Registrations:Evidence of the BMD Registrations of family members has been obtained from various web-sites but mainly from ‘ancestry.co.uk’, ‘ancestry.com.au’, ‘scotlandspeople.gov.uk’, ‘findmypast.com and ‘familysearch.org’. In many cases, an image of the original hand-written registers or the later typed registers has been obtained. In some cases only a transcript of the register entry was available. All images that I have obtained are stored on computer and copies of principal family members have been printed and displayed in a ring-binder. I have also created a chart listing all registrations found to date.

Baptismal Records:Two original Baptismal Certificates are included in the records, my own and that of my Father, Walter George McKay. In addition, there are images of the Baptism Records of other family members included which I have found in various Parish Records.

Any ‘Birth’ information found in early Parish Records will actually be a record of a child’s Baptism. In most cases, children were Baptised very soon after Birth.

Much of the early BMD records for the Bailey and Trimmer families in Hampshire were sourced from the ‘Hackman Bishop’s Transcripts for Hampshire’ and the ‘FamilySearch.org’ web-site. Some information regarding ‘McKay’ Baptisms in East Retford is included in copies of the Congregational Church Records that I obtained from the University of Nottingham’s Manuscript Department.

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Military Service Records and sundry information:As several family members served with various Military Units, I have managed to obtain Service Records for most of them from either the ‘ancestry.co.uk’ web-site, the National Archives in Kew and the National Archives of Australia. Information relating to Don Stott in New Zealand, has been collected from a variety of sources. I have also been able to obtain copies of his Service Records from the New Zealand Defence Force Archives which amount to over 100 pages. In the case of James and Walter George McKay, I also have copies of their School Records from the ‘Duke of York’s Royal Military School’.

Sundry information has also been obtained from the Black Watch Archives, The Royal Scots Museum and various related web-sites.

Newspaper Articles:The National Library of Australia has made access to many of the major Australian Newspapers available on-line. It is possible to search issues in the period 1803 to 1982 and view, print or download the original article. I have found several articles relating to members of the McKay Family which I have saved onto computer and printed and displayed in a ring-binder. Similarly, newspaper articles etc. relating to the Stott Family in New Zealand, have been found on the Auckland Council’s Local History web-site at ‘localhistoryonline.org.nz’. The Ryerson Index web-site also proved useful for searching newspapers, however it is not possible to view original articles, only basic transcripts.

Wills:Copies of 2 Wills have been obtained; Edward Hector 1st McKay’s and Andrew Sharp Liddle’s. In addition, as mentioned above, I have obtained transcripts from Bedfordshire Archives of the Wills of certain members of the Hawkins and Hannell Families.

In the case of Edward Hector McKay, initially a listing was found in the Probate Register on the ‘ancestry’ web-site, from this I was able to obtain a certified copy of the actual Will from the Probate Registry in York. I have also prepared a transcript of the Will and both are stored on computer and a printed copy is on display in a ring-binder.

Andrew Sharp Liddle’s Will is a transcript of a Newspaper article referring to the granting of Probate. Again, copies are stored on computer and a printed copy is displayed in a ring-binder.

Family Trees:Family Tree Charts have been created in Microsoft Excel format, stored on computer with printed copies displayed in a ring-binder.

Photographs:Numerous photographs of family members have been collected and are displayed in albums. In many cases, they have been scanned and stored on computer.

Sundry Documents:There are in addition, many sundry items which have been collected that relate directly or indirectly to this research.

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Appendix 5

An account of the Army exploits of Edward Hector MacKay 1st

(Generally referred to as his Diary)

This is a re-type of a transcript obtained from the Stott Family in New Zealand. The original transcript was in the possession of Barbara Lewis nee Stott, the Grand-Daughter of Annie Stott nee McKay, one of Edward Hector’s children. Apparently Barbara obtained it from one of the McKay emigrants descendants in Australia. How it arrived in Australia from England we may never know. According to Kevin Stott, either the original or the transcript was rescued from a fire, as a result of which several pages are missing.

I have reproduced this exactly as originally typed: Gaps in the text and illegible words are shown as: {----}. He was over enthusiastic with his use of initial capital letters. Spelling errors are indicated thus: [sic] His grammar leaves a lot to be desired Some of his phrases are archaic. Corrections have been added in the text where necessary for clarity and enclosed in

[ Square Brackets ].

On several occasions he indicates that it was written 50+ years after the events, which implies it was probably written circa 1910, long after he had left the Army and was living in Greenwich.

In the first paragraph he makes reference to page 8, that and the fact there is no clear beginning and end, suggests that this is only a portion of the original account. Hopefully, Barbara may have more.

Reference is made to his Father having sent him a watch ‘a few days before starting’. Assuming that he meant a few days before enlistment, we can deduce from this that his Father was still alive in 1855. He also refers to a Brother but unfortunately did not name him. I have done some research and have managed to find the Baptism in 1833 and the Death in 1866 of an Alexander John MacKay in Middlesex who parents were recorded as John and Harriet MacKay. Further research has proved beyond reasonable doubt that Alexander John MacKay was the brother of Edward Hector.

The reference to his Brother implies that there was a disagreement in the family and that he, his Brother, was responsible for Edward Hector being driven away from home and enlisting in the Army. He said that he regretted his actions and offered to buy Edward Hector out of the Army. Edward Hector apparently replied that he had made his bed and would lie upon it. I doubt that we will ever know what the upset was about. However, the fact that his Father had sent him a watch, does suggest that John MacKay was not involved.

He mentions two ships in this account, the S.S. Cleopatra and the Lord Raglan. I have found a drawing of the Cleopatra showing that it was built at the time that steam turbines were coming into use. It was a 3-masted sailing ship with 1 funnel as seen below. It was later reported that the Cleopatra was lost off the Irish coast whilst

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transporting more troops to the Crimea. I have been unable to find an illustration of the Lord Raglan, but Edward Hector described it as a fully-rigged sailing ship.

The Transcript:

Ancient diary of forebear.

At the close of page 8 I mention there were no married {----} in my early days of soldiering. If the {----} of a room was married he had one of the corners of the room with Rugs hung up as {----}. After we were all arrived we soon found our way to the canteen to get some extra food, for the walk of 22 Irish miles had done for us 2 things, make us very hungrey [sic] and tired and such as took the new boots on starting they were in a sorry plight with foot-sore. The next 3 months was taken up with hard drilling and getting us ready to go in a craft to the Crimea. In due course the word was passed that a draft for the Crimea was to be formed. All were on the tip-toe of expectation of hope that they would be included in the number suffice it to say in due course 150 lads were paraded to get our kits for ship, and the old Brown Bess Rifle was exchanged for the Enfield. I can well remember with what light hearts we all answered the Roll Call to march the 22 miles back to Cork, for to take ships at Queenstown [Cobh]. We were put on board S.S. Cleopatra, and in the Bow of the ship were 4 live Bullocks kept in {----} by poles lashed across the deck. The Captain came off to the ship in his Gig and the passing officer left the ship in his boat. Then the Anchor was weighed. How eager were we all even to lend our hand to get the ship away, little knowing and caring less, what was before us. We had not fairly lost sight of the Harbour when the Steamer began to pitch and roll so much that the 4 bullocks broke loose and all tumbled (poor things) down the fore-hold breaking some of their limbs and the gangway ladders in their fall.

The Gig which brought the Captains on board had been hauled up under the Storm but was not lashed so that the Sea soon claimed that as a small tribute. We had on the deck 2 Guns in the fore-part of the Ship and they not being made fast by rushing from one side of the deck to the other made holes in the Bulwarks and overboard they went, not to shoot the fishes but to sink to the bottom of the deep. The Troops one and all were terribly sea-sick, so much that we lay in our hammocks for 3 days as the weather was awfully rough in the Bay of Biscay.

The Ship rolled so heavily in the Bay that one of the Fire Bars was shifted out of place. The Engineer when he was told of it remarked we shall not want it for a purpose. Now sailors as a rule are nothing if they are not superstitious and bad swimmers. The Engineer’s remarks about requiring the bar for another purpose came true for the violence of the Gale caused the death of one of our Officers. And he was sewn up in a

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Blanket and the Fire Bar was placed with him when his body was committed to the Deep. It was my first experience of seeing a Body Buried at Sea. While the Captain was reading the Burial Service we all had to look out we were not washed off our feet. This we did by holding on to some rope on the sail. We arrived at Gibraltar in a sorry plight not anything like so gay as when we left Fermay [sic – should read Fermoy] to march to Cork for the Ship. After taking Some Coal we started for Malta. The weather during that journey was so fine and in the meantime we were busy in cleaning the Ship and ourselves. Truly part of the 106 Psalm was most applicable to us for we saw the wonders of the Deep and did stagger like Drunken men. But thanks be unto God he did deliver us out of the sea trouble. Steamboats 55 years past were not so well placed as they are in these days. Having arrived at Malta we were put ashore at a placed named Fort Manorl [sic – should read Fort Manoel]. There we had some very good times with plenty of drill and preparation for going forward to the Crimea. While at Malta I received a letter from my Brother telling me that it was reported that the S.S. Cleopatra with troops for the Crimea was lost as her Boat had been picked up on the Irish coast. This is the boat that the Captain of the Ship came on board with and had not been made secure was washed away, he also regretting {----} that as he {----} by his actions I had been driven away from home offered to buy me out. But having made up my mind to go to the Crimea and to travel I replied that I had made my Bed so I would lay upon it be it rough or smooth.

Shortly after a large Draft was put on board ship for Balaclava, passing on the way Constantinople, {----} and through the {----} in the Black Sea. As you may suppose we were all on the look-out for the Harbour of Balaclava as it is so situated that it cannot be seen till you find yourself entering. Our Captain had been in before so well knew the way. The weather was extremely cold so much so that Icicles hung about the Ship’s bottom. Having landed, everything looked cold and cheerless and coming as we did from Warmer climes we felt the cold very much.

Our party been part of a Scotch [sic] regiment had to march up to a place called {----} where the Highland Brigade under Sir Colin Campbell were quartered in huts and tents. Then the roll was called and the Regiment standing looking at the newcomers. They the Regiment did not look like Soldiers as they were all clothed in Furs with long Jack Boots on and hairey caps on. When my name was called a fine tall Man by name John McKay came and claimed me as a comrade and took me to his Tent and soon warmed me with hot coffee and food. The Tent was on the ground but the ground inside was taken out a foot-deep and at the back was a passage for the smoke from the wood that was burning to keep the Tent warm. I was put into one of the Huts and the Fires(wood) had to be kept burning all night and day. 2 men been told off to keep the Fires going lest one should fall asleep and we who were sleeping in the Tent would be frozen. Our chief duties was to go to a place called Hamish Bay about 5 miles away and fetch wood for the Camp Fires. Every man had to bring as much as he could carry if the Non Com saw a man with what he thought a small lot he was made to get more so that when the Regiment started back to Camp they had a good lot which would last the Regiment for about 2 days. The Fires in the Huts had to be kept burning all night lest the severe frost and cold would have frozen the men in their blankets. 2 men were told off every night in every hut to keep the fires burning. During this time the Armistice was on so that our Sentries used to fraternize with the Russian Sentries. When peace was signed which it was during April 1856 there was a very great rejoicing all over the Crimea. Bon fires were lit and it would seem as if everyone had gone frantic with joy at the knowledge that the war (terrible thing) was over. Shortly after this the Whole Army on the Crimea was ordered to parade on the Plains of Balaclava to do Honour to a Lady, Miss

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Florence Nightingale. She was if ever there was an Angel in human form. her Angelic care for the Sick and wounded regardless of country or creed. All, all were her loving care. It is not too much to say that no Woman was ever more loved by the Whole Army (English, French, Turks and Sardinians) than she was, and it has pleased the Lord to spare her even up to the present time. Shortly after this the Army began to move off for home and right glad we all were. The destination was Malta. I having been there before, somewhat knew my way about the place and I thought and still think that it is the nicest place that ever I was in, but then I have not been everywhere.

At Malta we had a very disagreeable surprise for we all thought and expected that after our turn of rough life in the Crimea and the voyage to Malta that we should have gone into barracks somewhere on the Island, but no, we were put under Canvas and such a horrible place for fleas and vermin. It was thought by many that the Regiment would have mutinied for the hard living and hard lying made many men discontented. It was while we were under Canvas that I was for the first time made prisoner for late-falling in for Parade at 5am. I was only 2 yards from the place but I was not near enough for the Sergent [sic] so that I was much off. The 3 days confined-to-camp did not do me any harm for it rather did me good for never since that time (now over 50 years) have I ever been late for Duty.

While under Canvas we made the Best of it and amused ourselves as best we could of an evening some danced and some sang. Some held prayer meetings having entered myself as a Protestant when I joined. On Sundays I went with others to the Church or rather Drum-head Church what was done by the {----}. Troops After Church Service is scarce worth knowing. Some held prayer meetings and some gambled, anything to beguile the long hours away. We stayed about 11 months (this time) at Malta. I having been on the Island before knew my way around the Town. This is the place that Napoleon when on his way to Mosco [sic] with half a million of Troops sacked and devastated the place so much so that it will (I may say) never be effaced from the memories of the Maltese. As an instance of his diabolical act let me tell you of one that he committed but wither by the Order of Providence or no it mattered little to us. There is as you may have heard at Malta a Church R.C. as is nearly every place of worship on the Island. But St. Johns of Malta for Grandeur both inside and outside is only surpassed by St. Peters of Rome. In this Church there was prior to Napoleon’s visit Golden Altar Rails and railings all solid Gold. There is no question but that the builders of the place strove all they knew to emulate Solomon who built the Temple of Jerusalem. In both cases they were built and furnished on the grandest scale. Here I must skip a little aside and mention the vast difference there is in the Building and furnishings of the House of God in these latter days. Do not think by my remarks that I am praising one set of Buildings and disparaging another. My intention is that anything that is done for God should be of the Best. What do we find in these later days. Why poverty in all and every place of Worship. Any worldly or Godless man having money will lend it to any community to build a place of Worship for then knowing that by doing so his ill-gotten (perhaps) money is safely invested as he seldom if ever gets the principle back. But the interest it gets and that satisfies him, and the worshippers ever after saddled with a debt (small or great) whereas they are like what is mentioned in Scripture began to build before they had counted the cost. Alexander the Coppersmith is the greatest enemy to all the places of worship (may I say the World). They forget if they ever knew that the Silver and the Gold is mine with the Lord.

Here let me revert back to my account of St. John’s of Malta. Now Napoleon’s thirst for filthy lucre and his vast Army thirsting for lust devastated the Island and St. John’s in

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particular. For he stripped the Holy Palace of all its Gold and other things that were very dear to the worshippers and put them on board one of his ships intending to put them in some Church of France, but the Lord willed it otherwise for the Ship sank in the harbour of Malta and to this day they have never been able to recover them. His troops played havoc with the Island, so much so, that I (the Town) is in mourning to this day for his diabolical acts. The custom of the Women to this day is to wear no hats or bonnets. Only a black mantella [sic] over their heads, and you may distinguish Married from Single by the way they wear it (the mantella [sic]). The Golden Gates having been stolen, they are replaced by Silver ones which I have seen and touched to satisfy my may I say curiosity – Speaking from Memory I should say the Altar Rail is not much less than 100 feet from side to side if it is not more, but try and imagine what it must have cost , and put up (to use a phrase) a fence 100 feet about the height of a table. Why the Silver ones must have cost a vast sum. The Maltese are a people extremely religious. R.C. In fact Bells are sounding somewhere night and day. On one occasion I was out walking for my own pleasure when I got into a street, which was fairly full of people so I stayed to see what it all meant. The crowd became very large both behind me and in front, which compelled me to stand still close to the door of a church. The head of the procession was a representation of the {----} carrying or Our Saviour from the Cross. It was on the {----} scale. When it entered the Church the Crowd followed it in and wither I liked it or no, I was compelled to go with the crowd, being literally forced in, I need scarcely say {----}. The Church was most elaborate inside. There were on [no?] seats. All stood up and the marble floor was laid thick with olive leaves. The grand Organ boomed forth at a given part and all the crowd instinctively dropped on their knees. Now I was not a R.C. but I been clothed all in White Tunic trousers cap and shoes was most conspicuous, so my good sense told me that if I went to Rome I must do as the Romans do, so I knelt down, I must confess an ignorant worshipper amongst them. In due course we all left the Church and you will laugh when I tell you that I never could get the stain of the olive leaves out of my trousers. Wash them as often as I would, for the place being so hot I sweated all the same for having all light (white) clothes on me. The Regiment stayed in Malta about 11 months. Thence we went on to Gibraltar.

A most remarkable place, so strongly fortified and duty was so strict. A man was not allowed to swim out from the shore more than 100 yards else he was liable to be shot by the Sentries. To visit my ship in the Harbour meant geeting [sic] a pass signed and countersigned by more than one.

There was a Convict Barracks here, and every day (Sunday excepted) a troop of our men were told off to Guard them for the Day. They were marched by their warders to the Edge of the Rock and their workings were below. To get below there was a long rope ladder, and 25 of our men went down first, waiting at the Bottom. The 25 at the Top would as the Convicts were going down toss their rifles very slowly so that they one and all would see what we meant. If any tried to escape or any became troublesome. We all had passed by, the last 25 went down and stayed sauntering about all the day till 3 pm when they (The Convicts) returned to their quarters, and since we were not so hard-hearted or tried to treat the unfortunate creatures with unkindness or incivility we more or less of us used to lay bits of tobacco on the ground in their Way and they very many of them quite understood the meaning of it and looked thanks if not spoken.

In my last I was treating upon Convict Life in Gibraltar. There are other things of note there. All Sentries are loaded with Ball Cartridges (except the Barrack Guard) and they are empowered to do their duty under any and every circumstance. Even the Food that is supplied to the Troops (Salt) is 7 years old and water is kept in the Rock in case of

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any emergency and at one end of the Rock there is a slow match always kept burning so that the Sentry on Guard could and if ordered in the event of an invasion, to blow up the connections between the Rock and the outer country. The Gates at this part of the Rock are shut at sunset and will not open to anyone during the night till sunrise in the Morning. I myself have seen the Governor of the Rock coming towards the Gates with his Staff and galloping for all they were worth, but the Gun having fired they were forced to return and take up their quarters were they came from. No person is allowed to be out and about the streets after 12 pm without the Sentry stopping them and requiring to see their permit and if they cannot shew one they are made prisoners and sent into the Guard Room. On one occasion a I saw a man who tried to run away from the Sentry shot dead by the Sentry. Of course you will say that he should not have tried to run away. I merely mention the fact to show you how strict and stern was the duty in the Rock. Even the fresh meat that came (alive) for the Troops was not fed with anything so that we seldom had much fat meat only Salt Pork which was 7 years old. The Rock was peopled chiefly by Spaniards with a mixture of Moors from Morocco.

There came a rumour that the Regiment was going to China so that to make room for the Relieving Regiment we were ordered under Canvas on the Neutral Ground, that is just outside the Gates. There was a line of our Sentries and a line of Spanish Sentries with about 300 hundred yards space between. This space was the Happy Hunting Ground for Smugglers. Sometimes they were caught by us and sometimes by the Spaniards. If caught by us they were kept in the Guard Tent till the Gate was open then taken before the Magistrate and after paying the fine (and the confiscation of their goods if unable to pay) were released. On one occasion we had 10 of them under Guard, and several of the Guard, I among them, thought we might help ourselves to some of their Goods, which we did. But as in all cases ill-gotten gains are generally a loss, so it moved with us. Some of our Guard came off Guard with the stuff in their knapsacks. Others transferred what they had to Comrades who hid it up for them. What was our surprise when we paraded for dismissal off Guard to have to show our Kits, and 14 of our men who had the stuff in their Knapsacks (a Corporal amongst them) were made prisoners while the Tents and Barracks were searched for the remainder of the stuff. Some they found, some they never found, but the prisoners one and all of them (Corporal included) got 14 days Cells. Another little episode in my life is the following.

I was always from a Child very fond of the water, that is to say if there was any water near I must either be padalling [sic] or swimming, for I could swim from an early age (but I will tell you of my swimming exploits later on). There was just outside the Gate an oyster-bed belonging to one of the Regiments of the Rock and the practice of the Guard at night-time was to have a feed of oysters, so it came my turn to be on Guard and it was known that I could swim, so I was expected to go oyster-fishing. In order to do so I had to strip off and dive down for them and put them in a wooden Coal Box which would float close to me. Having got sufficient I would come ashore with my cargo and we one and all used to have a good feast of Oysters (Officers as well) but in order to cover up our ill-gotten gains, the shells had to be disposed of, so they were taken in the Box into deep water and upset overboard. How long that practice had been carried on it is difficult for me to say. We did hear that the regular oyster fishers brought up more shells than oysters.

News came that we were to go to China (Hong Kong) therefore to make room for the Regiment that was coming from England. It was necessary for us to go into camp. So there were 40 men picked and who had been in the Crimea to go to the camping

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ground and pitch tents for the Whole of the Regiment. We went (I among them) and pitched all the tents for the men. I said to the Sergent [sic] Why the Major’s Tent is not pitched. Oh he said, you pitch it. His (the Mayor’s) Servant is a prisoner in the Guard Tent, he having got drunk. I had just finished the Tent when the Regiment marched in, and the Major came over to the Tent and seeing (me) a Stranger there inquired where his servant was. On being told he was in the Guard Tent he was furious but did not swear for he was a thorough Gentleman, a Frenchman by name Gere. He said Lyons (his servant) should not be his servant any longer, and he sent me for the Colour Sargent [sic] and told him to strike me off duty as he intended me to be his servant for the Future. So I set to work to get him something.

In due course we were all very busy preparing for to go on board ship. The Major having travelled a very great deal told me that I might bring anything I liked into his cabin except eatables so as my kit went along with his I said so. Finally we marched to take ship, the Lord Raglan. She was a full-rigged sailing ship. A few days before starting my Father sent me a silver watch. It was the first I ever had. When all were aboard, the Anchor was weighed and the tug took hold of her to tow her through the Gulf of Gibraltar and the wind was very fresh. We nearly upset the Tug in casting-off the Towline. One day I was below looking over my things and I took the watch which I had done up in a paper-parcel and laid it beside me. While doing so I heard someone calling me and saying that the Major wanted me at his Cabin. I scraped my things up, putting them in my bag. I omitted to put the parcel I and ran oo [sic] the Major. I went back to finish doing my bag, when lo and behold you, I could not find the watch. Someone in the meantime had seen the parcel on the Deck and took it and kept it, for I never more saw the Watch. I reported my loss to the Chief-Officer of the Ship. He said a ship was funny place to lose anything. As there was no possible chance of searching the Ship and there were over a 100 people so I gave it up for lost which it was. You may some idea of the life on Ship, but our life was much varied not by change of scenery, but by passing events on board, for in a ship that had over 100 Souls, not counting the crew which numbered from the Captain to the Cabin Boy 101, we had not been out 2 days when a stowaway was found. He was a fine jolly lad. There was no means of putting him ashore as we were not timed to stop anywhere till we got to the end of the voyage, Hong Kong, which took us 110 days. Oh, what days, full of interest, Joy and Sorrow. The Soldiers chiefly played cards except a chosen few who held a prayer-meeting every evening when the Weather on Deck would permit. If not on deck it was held below. There was no room on the upper deck for games, such as they now play on the Liners. The Officers did a good deal of shooting at Birds as they flew over the Ship and at Bottles swinging from the Yard Arms. Sunday we had Church Parade on deck if the Weather permitted. If not the service was held below. It was only a Church of England service, sometimes taken by the Captain of the Ship and sometimes by our Colonel.

You will understand me when I say there is very much more of a chequered life in a large Sailing Ship on a Long voyage than there is on a Liner. There are Calms and the Storms. The Crossing of the Line which we did twice on our way across this side of the Cape of Good Hope, and on the other Side of the Hope Crossing the Line on a Sailing Ship with passengers or Troops was a very different affair 50 years past to what it is now and I don’t suppose much notice taken of it on a Liner. Some of the Scenes on a Sailing Ship are if nothing else most laughable. Here is me, on the deck we had 4 tubs and each of these tubs 4 men or women could sit comfortably in while someone put the hose of clear salt-water over them. If men, by men. If women by a woman. On one occasion while crossing the Line these tubs were filled full of Water. While Neptune was

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supposed to come up over the Bows of the Ship, the Sailors were operating on our Stowaway, and I say it to their credit not one of them ever accused of hurting the lad in any way. The sight was most amazing, but our Sargent-Mayor [sic] was a fussy sort of a man and could not see through the joke. He was standing close to one of the tubs and telling the Sailors that if they hurt the lad he would go to the Captain and report them, so this one who was standing on the forecastle over the Tub jumped clean into the Tub causing the water to spray over, thoroughly soaking the Sargent-Major [sic], at the same time telling him to go and shew himself to the Captain, and if he did not laugh as they would. Us all who stood around laughed heartily.

While on the voyage, we sighted a large Whale in the distance and several Sharks. We had on board a Bullock, thin from long confinement and no nice meadow to feed upon, and not by any means fat. It was killed to furnish the Cabin Table. About the time he was killed several Sharks were hovering around the ship and one of the Men was washing his canteen when a lurch of the Ship caused him to let it fall overboard. He very naturally believed he would see it no more. At the same time the offal of the bullock was cast overboard, when a shark was seen following in the wake of the Ship. All on board were delighted to hear that it was intended to try and catch the Shark.

So our Chief-Officer went into the Chains of the Ship with harpoon and line and a large bit of Pork was thrown overboard with a line attached so as to coax the Shark alongside the Ship which it did all of a Sudden.

Mr. Williams struck him with the harpoon and away he went with harpoon and line, but he was slowly drawn back and finally brought alongside, he having lost so much blood was powerless to escape. So one of the seamen went down with a rope and snared him to the rail and he was lifted inboard. The Carpenter with his axx [sic] cut off the tail as that was troublesome to any and all who stood near. Then the Butcher came and opened and him and out of his belly was taken the Bullock’s tail and the canteen which out man had dropped overboard.

I may tell you that that canteen became a treasure of the Owner. Soon after, another Shark was seen, but as in the meantime we had buried a Child the Captain would not suffer it to be brought on board as it was feared that the Child might be seen again and no one wanted to see that, not even its parents. The sight would have been too painful.

On another occasion one of our seamen went down to the Mastingale and hooked a very large Fish called by the sailors a Bushey. I am not prepared to say whether the name is right or wrong, but this I do know, it was very nice when cooked, tasting like veal.

I at the time working as a sailor (although a soldier) lived as the sailors lived, either for good or bad.

Another pleasing little episode used to take place nearly every day. All the children in the Ship (and we had several of them) were formed up in line on the Quarter-Deck and the Chief-Officer (Mr. Williams) who was very fond of little children as all Sailors and Soldiers are, when he came from the Cabin after dinner put all the desert [sic] which was left on the table in his pocket and gave some each to each of the children. If he saw a child, boy or girl, who he thought was cantakrous [sic], that is to say would push another boy or girl out of the way, he Mr. Wms would take the quid of tobacco out of his

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mouth (for nearly all sailors chew tobacco) and put it in the mouth of the naughty boy or girl.

With what eagerness the Sailings of the Ship was scanned by one and all of us – the shortest distance travelled in one day was 14 miles and the longest was over 100, but after many, many weary days and sleepless nights arcing the Wind of Storms we were cheered by the news that we were in China Waters having been at sea for 110 days from Gibraltar to Hong Kong. The sight of strange-looking craft told us that we were in the vicinity of China land.

A Signal from our Ship was made to one of the Sailing Junks which answered by putting a Small Boat overboard and we saw a Man move away in the Junk paddling his way to our Ship. All eyes were turned on the Stranger as he came alongside and means were made for him to come aboard.

It was the first Chinaman that very many of us had ever seen. He walked on to the Quarter-Deck and made signs to our Captain for he could not say much in English and the Captain could say nothing in Chinese. He was the Pilot we all believed but he sat on his haunches and said nothing to anyone nor anyone to him. Our Captain who was a Scotchman [sic] and one that was not to be played with went up to the Chinaman and in a loud and angry voice said Are You The Pilot? He nodded Yes. Then Said the Captain Up & Do Your Duty or leave my ship at once.

Appendix 6

A Summary of the London Electoral Registers for members of the McKay and Bailey Families as found on the ‘Ancestry’ Web-site. Electoral Registers for other areas will be added as they become available. It should be borne in mind that prior to 1914, women did not have the right to vote, therefore wives are not included in these Registers until after that date.

Edward Hector McKay:Coverage: 1894 to 1923.

1894 and 1895 he is simply recorded as Edward McKay living at ‘The Lodge, Gas Works, Greenwich.1896 and 1897 he is incorrectly recorded as Ernest Hector McKay at the above address1898, 1899 and 1900 he is again incorrectly recorded but this time as Edmund Hector McKay at the above address.1901 to 1915 his name is correctly recorded as Edward Hector McKay at the above address.1918, 1919 and 1920 records Edward Hector McKay and his third wife Janet living at the Gas Works Lodge, Tunnel Avenue, Greenwich.There are 2 Electoral Registers for 1920, the 2nd recording Edward Hector and Janet McKay living at 2 Ceylon Place, Greenwich.In 1921 they are recorded living at 72 River Way, Greenwich.In 1922 and 1923 they are still living at 72 River Way but they now record a lodger living with them named Victor Grafham. Also included is the 1923 Electoral Register for

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Thomas John Russell, 106 Annandale Road, Greenwich who was responsible for the burial of Edward Hector and Janet McKay.

James and Fanny McKay and their children:Coverage: 1906 to 1961.

1906 to 1909, James McKay is recorded living at 15 Commerell Street, Greenwich.1910 to 1913, James is recorded living at 37 Whitworth Street, Greenwich.Following James’ death in 1913, his wife Fanny McKay is then registered to vote.1914 to 1928 (except 1916 and 1917), Fanny is registered living at 37 Whitworth Street.There did not appear to be a Register for the years 1929 and 1930.1931 to 1935, Fanny, Agnes Rebecca, Kate Victoria and Walter George McKay are registered as voters at 37 Whitworth Street, Greenwich.1936 to 1939 only Fanny, Agnes Rebecca and Kate Victoria are registered at 37 Whitworth Street as Walter George was married and had moved away.Due to World War 2, the next Register was not until 1945. The 1945, 1946 and 1947 Registers recorded Fanny, Agnes Rebecca McKay and Kate Victoria Grant living at 37 Whitworth Street. Kate Victoria McKay had married Henry George Grant in 1939. See separate Register for 1945 also recording Henry George Grant living at 37 Whitworth Street, Greenwich.1948 to 1960 record only Fanny and Agnes Rebecca McKay living at 37 Whitworth Street, Greenwich. The 1961 Register only records Fanny living at 37 Whitworth Street. Following Agnes Rebecca’s accident in the early 1950s, she was confined in St. Alfege’s Hospital until her death in 1968. Although she was in St. Alfege’s Hospital, she was on the Register for 37 Whitworth Street until 1960 and also appeared on the St. Alfege’s Patient’s Register for the years 1953, 1956, 1957 and 1958, recorded as Agnes MacKay. In addition, the 1960 Register for 37 Whitworth Street records her surname as MacKay.Henry George Grant appears on the 1934 to 1939 Register for 67 Vanburgh Hill, Greenwich, living with his parents. As mentioned above, for 1945 he is recorded on the Register for 37 Whitworth Street.

Bailey Family:Coverage: 1908 to 1939

1908, 1909 and 1910, William James Bailey was living at 20 Taunton Road, Lewisham.1911, 1912 and 1913, he was living at 27 Taunton Road, Lewisham.1914 and 1915, he was living at 133Riedhaven Road, Woolwich.Due to World War 1, there was no Registers taken for 1916 and 1917.1918 William James, Louisa Florence Bailey and her sister, Charlotte Trimmer were living at 2 King George Street, Greenwich.1919 and 1920 William James, Louisa Florence and Sydney Francis Bailey were living at 64 Hyde Vale, Greenwich.1921 William James, Louisa Florence, Sydney Francis Bailey and Albert Stevens (the husband of Charlotte Daisy Bailey) were living at 64 Hyde Vale, Greenwich.1922 and 1923 Only William James, Louisa Florence and Sydney Francis Bailey were recorded at 64 Hyde Vale, Greenwich.There was no Register for 1924.1925 William James, Louisa Florence, Sydney Francis Bailey and Frederick Charles Drawbridge (the husband of Lily Augusta Bailey) were recorded at 64 Hyde Vale.1926 They are again joined by Albert Stevens.

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1927 and 1928 William James, Louisa Florence and Sydney Francis Bailey plus 2 lodgers were recorded as living at 64 Hyde Vale, Greenwich.1929 William James, Louisa Florence, Florence May, Ivy Elizabeth, Sydney Francis and Violet Annie plus 4 lodgers were registered at 64 Hyde Vale, Greenwich.1930 William James, Louisa Florence, Florence May, Ivy Elizabeth and Sydney Francis Bailey plus 4 lodgers were registered at 64 Hyde Vale. 2 of the lodgers were named Frank and Margaret Bailey. I have not found any evidence that they are connected to the family so I can only assume that the fact they had the same surname was a coincidence.1931 William James, Louisa Florence, Florence May, Ivy Elizabeth and Sydney Francis Bailey plus 2 lodgers were registered at 64 Hyde Vale.1932 and 1933 William James Bailey had died so only Louisa Florence, Florence May, Ivy Elizabeth and Sydney Francis Bailey plus 2 lodgers were recorded living at 64 Hyde Vale, Greenwich.1934 The same 4 were registered at 64 Hyde Vale but without any lodgers.1935 Louisa Florence Bailey had died so only Sydney Francis, Florence May and Ivy Elizabeth Bailey were registered living at 5 Guildford Road, Greenwich.1936 Sydney Francis and Florence May Bailey were registered at 5 Guildford Road. Ivy Elizabeth had married Walter George McKay and moved away.No Register was found for 1937.1938 and 1939 only Sydney Francis and Florence May Bailey were registered at 5 Guildford Road, Greenwich. The 1939 Register records that the street name had been changed to Guildford Grove.

Horace Sydney Farndon and Violet Annie Farndon nee Bailey:Coverage: 1913 to 1961

1913, 1915 and 1918, Thomas Farndon, the Father of Horace Sydney Farndon was registered at 25 Tanner’s Road, Lewisham.1919 Thomas and his daughter Maud Elizabeth Farndon were registered at 25 Tanner’s Hill, Lewisham.1920 and 1921 Thomas and Horace Sydney Farndon were registered at 25 Tanner’s Hill, Lewisham.1922, 1923, 1925, 1926 and 1928 Thomas and Horace Sydney Farndon were registered at 80 Annandale Road, Greenwich.1930 to 1939 Horace Sydney Farndon, his wife Violet Annie Farndon nee Bailey and his sister Maud Elizabeth were registered at 80 Annandale Road, Greenwich.1945 to 1956 Horace Sydney and Violet Annie Farndon were registered at 80 Annandale Road, Greenwich.1957 to 1961 Violet Annie Farndon (widow) was registered at 80 Annandale Road.Some of the above Electoral Registers for Annandale Road also include Thomas John Russell and his family, living at 106 Annandale Road, who was the informant recorded on the Death Certificates of Edward Hector and Janet McKay in 1923.

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Appendix 7

Alexander John MacKayAlexander John MacKay was the only brother of Edward Hector MacKay 1 st, the sons of John MacKay and Harriet Adlington. He was born in Westminster, London in 1833 and Baptised on 20th January 1833 in the Parish of St. Martin in the Field, Westminster.

He married Margaret Hammick Anniss in Islington, London and they settled close by in South Hackney, London. Their Marriage Banns were read for 3 weeks commencing 7 th

August 1853 and the Marriage ceremony was on 4 th September 1853. Alexander John was recorded as a Clerk.

They had 4 children:

1) Alexander Samuel MacKay, born 20th March 1855 in Hackney, London, baptised 2nd

January 1856 in the Parish of St. James’, Enfield, London. Alexander John was recorded as an Office Clerk.

2) Margaret Archer MacKay, born 29th April 1857 in Hackney, but not baptised until 18th December 1859 in the Parish of St. John, Bethnal Green, London. Again, Alexander John is recorded as a Clerk.

3) Arthur John MacKay, born 25th October 1859 in Hackney, baptised at the same time as Margaret Archer MacKay on 18th December 1859 in Bethnal Green.

4) Emma Louisa Ruth MacKay, born April 1862 in Hackney, but baptised on the 17 th

August 1862 in the Parish of St. James, Shaftsbury, Dorset. There is no doubt that this is the same person as the Parish Record of the Baptism in Dorset does record her birthplace as Hackney. (See below).

Margaret Hammick Mackay nee Anniss:Margaret was born in Torquay in 1831 and was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Anniss. She had 1 known brother named Samuel Hammick Anniss (See below). I have only found her on the 1851 Census living in Enfield, Middlesex with her Parents John and Elizabeth Anniss, (see below). Her brother Samuel and his wife Eliza are on the same Census page. Her 2nd name of Hammick only appears on the Baptism Records of 2 of the children, Alexander Samuel and Emma Louisa Ruth. Her brother Samuel also had the 2nd name of Hammick as recorded on his Marriage Registration and the Probate record of his Will. Margaret died on 24 th May 1862 in Hackney and was buried in the Parish of St. John of Jerusalem, South Hackney on 28 th May 1862. She was just 32 years old, cause of death was Peritonitis. She was recorded as the wife of Alexander John MacKay, a Colonial Broker’s Clerk. The name Hammick may have been the maiden name of her Mother Elizabeth but I have been unable to prove this. The name does however appear frequently as a family name in Devon.

Following Margaret’s death, Alexander John quickly re-married on 1st November 1862, to Fanny Bolton. Their Marriage Certificate records Alexander John as a Mercantile Clerk and that his Father was John MacKay, a retired Sergeant Major.

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Fanny Bolton:Fanny was born in Hull, Yorkshire in 1833. There were no more children from this 2 nd

Marriage. Following Alexander John MacKay’s death in 1866, I believe she either remarried to Robert Kemp or lived with him as his wife and adopted his family name. I have not been able to find a marriage record for them. Robert was born in Patrington, Hull in 1833 and was the son of William Kemp an Agricultural Labourer, Mother unknown. He appears with his widowed Father on the 1841 Census in Patrington aged 8, then in 1851 as a Farm Servant in Owthorn, Hull aged 18. He does no appear on the 1861 Census. Fanny appears on the 1841 Census with her parents, Henry Bolton aged 40, a Merchant born in Hull and her Mother, Mary aged 35 also born in Hull. She next appears on the 1851 Census with her parents aged 18. Henry Bolton is described as a Gentleman. She is missing from the 1861 Census. The following year she married Alexander John MacKay.

I then found both Fanny and Robert Kemp in Wisconsin, USA on the 1870 and 1880 US Federal Census. They do not appear on the earlier 1860 US Census which reinforces my opinion that she is the correct Fanny. Both are described as being English, and Robert is recorded as a Farmer which ties in with the 1851 Census. Their ages in 1870 were Robert 38, Fanny 38 and in 1880 Robert 48 and Fanny 47 which also tie in nicely. No record has been found on the Passenger Lists for their outward travel or return travel to England. They next appear on the English Census for 1891 living in Newington, Hull and described as living on their own means. Robert is aged 57 and Fanny aged 59. Again in 1901 they are living on their own means in Newington aged 69 and 68 resp. Robert died in 1905 in Patrington. Fanny appears on the 1911 Census living alone in Hull aged 78 on her own means. She died in Hull on 31 st January 1915.

Alexander John MacKay died on the 26th February 1866 in South Hackney aged just 33 years. He was recorded as a Customs Clerk and his cause of death was recorded as Pneumonia. The 1861 Census reference to him being a ‘Plasterer’ (see above) is a puzzle as he was obviously a clerk involved with the shipping industry and probably employed in the London Docks.

Now for the 4 Children of Alexander John and Margaret Hammick MacKay:

Alexander Samuel MacKay: Born 20th March 1855 in Hackney and Baptised on the 2nd

January 1856 in the parish of St. James, Enfield. He married Elizabeth Jane Bacon ca 1900, but I have been unable to find exact date. They had 1 known son named Arthur John (named for his uncle presumably), born 13th May 1901 in Godstone, Surrey. He married Emily Kate Collins. 1932 in Edmonton. Arthur John died in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire on 24th October 1983 and Emily Kate in Margate, Kent on 24th

January 1966. I have found I child names Maureen V. MacKay born 1933 in Edmonton and married Robert R. Fleisher (born 1936 in Hackney), in 1961 in Hampstead.The 1871 Census records Alexander Samuel as a Boy, 2nd Class Sailor, aged 16 in Portland Harbour. 1881 Census records him as an AB sailor aged 26 on board HMS Rambler. 1891 Census records him as a Chief Petty Officer (Retired) and living with his wife Elizabeth Jane in Portsmouth. I have been unable to find him on the 1901 Census. He died in Godstone, Surrey in 1907. Elizabeth Jane died in Reigate, Surrey on 11 th

August 1912.

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Margaret Archer MacKay: Born 29th April 1857 in Hackney and Baptised 18 th

December 1859 in Bethnal Green. I have not found any record of a Marriage or Death for her.The only Census Record I have found for her is in 1871 where her name is mis-spelt as McKaye. She was living with her aunt Caroline Coles aged 13 and employed as an Apprentice Dressmaker to her Aunt. I have not yet found where Caroline Coles fits into the family.

Arthur John MacKay: (not to be confused with his nephew of the same name).Born in Hackney on 25th October 1859 and Baptised on 18th December 1859 in Bethnal Green. Again, I have been unable to find any record of a Marriage or Death for him. The 1871 Census records him living with his Uncle and Aunt, Samuel and Eliza Anniss (the brother of his Mother, Margaret Hammick Anniss), in Enfield, Middlesex, aged 11, Scholar. (His Mother had died in 1862 so they had presumably taken him in). In 1881 he was still living with his Uncle and Aunt in Enfield and employed as a Banker’s Clerk. There is a possible sighting for him on the 1891 Census lodging in Islington, London and still employed as a Clerk, but his birth place is recorded as Barnsbury, Islington, which is only a short distance from Hackney. I have been unable to find him on the 1901 or 1911 Census Returns. Alternatively, I have found an emigration to Australia for an Arthur John MacKay born ca 1860, departing London on-board the ‘John Elder’ and arriving in Melbourne on 14th January 1883. This would be just after his last confirmed sighting on the 1881 Census with his Uncle and Aunt. No further evidence has been found for him in Australia.

Emma Louisa Ruth MacKay: Born 1862 in Hackney but Baptised in the Parish of St. James, Shaftsbury, Dorset on 17th August 1862. As I mentioned above, this is definitely the same person, but why she was taken to Dorset for Baptism I do not know. She married the Reverend Ebenezer (Eben) Walter Collin in Andover, Hampshire in 1885. Ebenezer used the abbreviation Eben as an Adult and Emma Louisa Ruth dispensed with Emma and was recorded as Louisa Ruth or Louisa R. on the Census Returns. In 1891 they were in Cowley in Oxford, 1901 in Yeovil, Somerset and 1911 in Wansford, Cambridgeshire, Eben being variously described as a Church of England Clergyman or a Clergyman in the Established Church.Emma Louisa Ruth died in Southport, Hampshire in 1945 and Eben in Rugby, Warwickshire on 27th March 1930. The Probate of his Will records that his Effects amounted to £1,559, 11s. 2d, 3 people were named, his wife Louisa Ruth, another Reverend and a Solicitor, presumably they all had a share.

The Civil Record of her Marriage to Ebenezer Walter Collin records her name as Emma Louisa Ruth MacKay-Archer. You will see from above that her sister’s 2nd Christian name was Archer (Margaret Archer MacKay). Why she would have hyphenated Archer on to her correct family name of MacKay was initially a mystery; (see below). Clearly the name Archer must have had some significance to them.

The web-site that I use for much of my research, ‘Ancestry.co.uk’ also includes a family tree by someone descended from Alexander Samuel MacKay but he/she have withheld their identity. I have left a message on their Message Board requesting that they contact me but have not had a reply yet. Their last log-in was 3 months ago so I shall have to be patient.

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John and Elizabeth Anniss:John Anniss was born in Torquay ca. 1798 and his wife Elizabeth also in Torquay ca. 1797. I cannot prove it but I believe Elizabeth’s maiden name was Hammick. I have been unable to find them on the 1841 Census. The 1851 Census records them living in Enfield, Middlesex, John aged 53 employed as a Joiner and born Torquay, Devon and Elizabeth aged 54 also born in Torquay. As mentioned above, this Census also includes Margaret Hammick Anniss, her brother Samuel Hammick Anniss and his wife Eliza. The 1861 Census records John and Elizabeth living alone in Enfield with John employed as a Carpenter aged 62 and Elizabeth aged 70. John died in 1875 and was buried on 30th December 1875 in Enfield. No other records have been found for them yet.

Samuel Hammick Anniss:Samuel was born ca. 1823 in Torquay, the son of John and Elizabeth Anniss. He married Eliza Poyser (born ca. 1823 in Ipstones, Staffordshire), Edmonton in 1849. No record has been found of any children. They first appear together on the 1851 Census in Enfield where Samuel is described as a Joiner (following his Father’s trade). They also appear together on the 1871, 1881, 1891 but not the 1861 Census. The 1871 and 1881 Census also include their nephew, Arthur John MacKay. Samuel died on 19 th

February 1900 in Enfield and was buried on 24 th February in Enfield. The 1901 Census records Eliza as a widow aged 78 living on her own means. She died 1909 in Edmonton.

I subsequently carried out further research in an attempt to solve the following:

1. Why was Margaret Archer MacKay given the 2nd name of ‘Archer’?2. Why was Ruth MacKay given the 2 additional names Emma Louisa at her Baptism?3. Why did Emma Louisa Ruth MacKay marry using the surname of MacKay-Archer?4. Why was she taken to Shaftesbury in Dorset to be Baptised?

I have a copy of the Parish Register for the Baptism of Emma Louisa Ruth MacKay in Dorset and a further study of it revealed that the Minister who performed the Baptism was the Rev. John Bright Archer. This led me to wonder if this was the connection or was it just a coincidence.

Research into the Rev. John Bright Archer revealed several documents relating to him:

1) His baptism on 15th July 1827 in the Parish of St. Paul, Deptford, Kent (now part of London). His parents were recorded as John Bright (Sr) and Jane Archer.

2) I have only found him on 3 Census Returns for 1851, 1891 and 1901. In 1851 he was an Assistant to a Tailor in Westminster, and in the 1891 and 1901 Census Returns, he is recorded as a Church of England Cleryman and living in Desford, Leicestershire. His birth place is confirmed as Deptford and his wife’s name was Emma Louisa. After a good deal of searching I discovered that her maiden name was Smith and that she had been born in 1826 in Yattendon, Berkshire.

3) I was also able to find the Marriage of John Bright Archer Sr. in Stepney, London on 9th September 1826 to Jane Hammick. The Witnesses on the Parish Register are Samuel and Henry Hammick, presumably brothers of the Bride.

4) The death Registration of John Bright Archer Jr in Apr/Jun 1909 in Market Bosworth, Leicestershire.

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5) The Probate of his Will recorded his death as 25th June 1909 and that his Widow, Emma Louisa Archer was the sole beneficiary of his estate totalling £1,251 1s 8d.

6) The Probate of the Will of Emma Louisa Archer (nee Smith), recorded her Death on 12th May 1921 in Ramsgate, Kent and that the sole beneficiary of her estate totalling £242 11s 9d was Mary Jane Smith (Spinster), presumably a relative.

In addition, I have found the 1841 and 1851 Census Returns for Emma Louisa Smith aged 15 and 25 resp., living with her family in Portsea, Hampshire, her Father, Edward Alfred Smith, born in Middlesex, was a retired Surgeon in the Royal Navy.

I contacted the Parish Clerk in Desford, Leicestershire who was able to confirm that the Rev. John Bright Archer was the Rector there from 1885 ‘under the Patronage of Queen Victoria’, until his death in 1909.

A search of the ‘FamilySearch’ web-site revealed the Marriage of John Bright Archer and Emma Louisa Smith in Kidderpore, Bengal, India on 3 rd January 1861, whilst he was working there as a Missionary. Emma Louisa Smith’s Father is named as Edward Alfred Smith.

I now know where the name Archer and Emma Louisa Ruth’s additional 2 names came from. However, I am still no closer to finding out why she was baptised in Dorset, bearing in mind that her Father had to take her there from Hackney, in the mid-1800’s such a journey would have been easy. I have been unable to find any reference to the Rev. Archer on Passenger Lists from India, so I am unable to say if he travelled back specifically for the baptism or not, and neither have I been able to prove if he subsequently returned there.

This leads me to believe that there must have been a family connection with Shaftsbury, Dorset or else why would they have bothered to travel there for the Baptism?

I have previously come to the conclusion that Margaret Hammick Anniss’ Mother’s maiden name was Hammick but have not been able to prove it. Clearly, there was a family connection as the maiden name of the wife of John Bright Archer Sr. was Jane Hammick. If I am correct, then Jane Hammick and Elizabeth Hammick were almost certainly sisters.The 2 Witnesses named on the Marriage Register for John Bright Archer Sr. and Jane Hammick were Samuel and Henry Hammick who I can only guess were brothers of Jane and Elizabeth Hammick.

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Conclusion:

This research is ongoing and I will continue to update it as new information comes to light.

Due to the extent of this research, it is to be assumed that there may well be some inaccuracies in it which cannot be avoided. As new information is obtained, any errors have been rectified and for this reason, I will always appreciate any further contributions that members of the extended family can make.

Neil McKayApril 2014Updated 12th November 2014

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