Mr Philips' yard & George Whitsunday, hero - Leith 1827

jennyblain · Post by **jennyblain** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:55 am

I just came across an entry in the Edinburgh Advertiser of 20 July 1827 - headed 'Juvenile Courage and Philanthropy'. Here's a shortened transcription:

..while two fine children, eight or nine years of age, were sporting on the quay near Mr Philips' yard, Leith, they fell into the water... George Whitsunday, an apprentice carpenter, who was at work at the time, hearing of the circumstance, ran to the quay, leapt into the water without the least hesitation, and soon brought the children to the surface. Although they twice bore him fairly under the water, he resolutely kept his hold... A boat was brought to the spot as soon as possible, and the whole three were brought safe ashore. The crowd expressed their warmest admiration of the spirited conduct of young Whitsunday.

My interest in this is in 'Mr Philips' yard' as I'm chasing Leith carpenter/shipwright James Philip. Is anybody here looking for George Whitsunday?

Jenny

Post by **joette** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 9:06 pm

I have a theory that George Whitsunday was a foundling found on Whit Sunday. It's such an unsual name.

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 8:39 am

It sounds as if George Whitsunday was working in Mr. Philips’ yard? Young George had a family but his father or grandfather seems to have arrived out of nowhere.

Here’s the Whitsunday count from SP.
Census 1841 - 9
Census 1851 - 7
Census 1861 - 3
Census 1871 - 1
Census 1881 - 6
Census 1891 - 2
Census 1901 - 3
Old Parish Records Births & Christenings 1538/1854 - 1
Old Parish Records Banns & Marriages 1538/1854 - 1
Statutory Register Marriages 1855/2006 - 1
Statutory Register Deaths 1855/2006 - 3
Wills & Testaments 1513/1901 – 1

Also http://www.ancestry.com/community/resea ... &fms=&&dc=

Alan

Post by **joette** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:52 pm

A so perhaps the Grandfather a foundling!

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 9:19 am

If he was a Leith foundling, he will be in with a good chance of a mention in the Kirk Session records at some point, I'd think, either when he was initially found and named or when he leaves the care of the parish when he was found work as a youngster.

Best wishes
Lesley

Post by **joette** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 12:54 pm

It has to be something like that I have been trying to think of any name which could have evolved into Whitsunday & can think of none.
I have tried French accent(oh lala) & a Gaelic dictionary-nothing springs to mind.Maybe Sarah may have some insight to the root of the word.
Maybe as I am rereading Oliver Twist my mind is focused on foundlings.

Post by **SarahND** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 1:57 pm

joette wrote:Maybe Sarah may have some insight to the root of the word.

I actually liked your idea of a foundling. Makes sense and would explain why there are so few people with that name! The only other Whitsunday on Ancestry is a slave in Barbados, who was probably given that name in association with the day also.

It could be derived from a name in some other language that sounded something like Whitsunday to Scottish ears, but nothing obvious springs to mind.

All the best,
Sarah