James and Rose Crossan.....

[karrie bragg]

I would very much appreciate any information about my family, the Crossans. They lived in the Gorbals and Castlemilk.

My mother was Rosemary Crossan and my grandparents, Rose and James Crossan. My great-uncle, "Paddy", had a pub in Edinburgh.

Also, I am trying to locate Pansy Docherty, if possible. She was my Mom's best friend.

Any stories or information about the Crossans would be very welcome.
Thanks much.

Karrie

[SarahND]

Hi Karrie,
Welcome to Talking Scot! If you could give us some dates on these people it would help to narrow down the search. What do you already know about them and what are you hoping to find out? You'll find this a helpful site with all sorts of people with different areas of knowledge. So... ask away and be as specific as you can!
All the best,
Sarah

[marilyn morning]

Hello Karrie,

Welcome to TalkingScot! Sorry but we're unable to help you locate any living individuals. Please read

viewtopic.php?t=5576

However, if you need help with genealogy research, there are plenty of folk here who will be happy to share some advice.

Regards
Marilyn

[karrie bragg]

Thank you Sarah and Marilyn for your help.

Actually, I would like to find out more about my great-uncles (some were miners). One of my great-uncles, Paddy, is more documented since he had a pub on Rose Street in Edinburgh, and any information/stories about my grandparents especially James (who died when I was a child) would be great.

Many years ago when my mom was alive, she began researching our family; however the internet wasn't around then - little more complicated and time-consuming. With these great sites, like yours and Gorbals Live, etc.. it's a little easier.

My reasons for the information - I had a wonderful family (uncles, cousins, etc..) - all are deceased now - wanted to know more about them and their lives, and for the purpose of creating a story about them (a mixture of fact and fiction).

My mother, Rosemary Crossan, was born in the Gorbals 1930 and came to America in 1952.

Thanks again.

Karrie



Edward Crossan
Born 1869 - Ireland

Single Dad of 9 boys and 2 girls.
Widower of Bridget Crossan (born Ireland) &
Son of Michael Crossan, a flax mill worker/Mother-unknown.

Both my Grandfather, James,
and my Great-Grandfather, Edward
were Laborers.

James, a quay laborer (Born 1902-1960)
and Edward, an iron works laborer.

Many of the brothers were miners.

Ref. 644/11 0274
In the District of Anderston the burgh of Glasgow

On the 18th of August 1926

At St. Patrick's Church Glasgow

After the Publication of Banns according to the forms
of the Roman Catholic Church

James Crossan (Born 1902)
Quay Labourer, Bachelor, age 23 of 10 James Watt Street Glasgow,
(Parents - Deceased.)

Rose Devenney (Born 1902)
Domestic Servant, Spinster, age 23 of 25 Stobcross Street Glasgow,
(Parents - Deceased)

Witnessed Hector McNeill, Catholic Clergyman, St. Patrick’s Church
Hugh McGinty, 10 Newton Street Glasgow,
Sarah Ritchie, 12 Paterson Street Anderston Glasgow

Crossans-Scotland: Addiewell, West Calder, County of Midlothian - Glasgow, Gorbals & Castlemilk is where I have determined the family's origin in Scotland 1840s - still reseaching.

[SarahND]

Hi Karrie,
It's hard to get information this recent on the internet, but maybe some of our Glasgow members will have access to records in the Mitchell Library that will help you. In the meantime, I did find one tidbit...

Do you have your mother's ship manifest record? This looks like it:

Manifest of in-bound passengers (aliens)
Class: Tourist from Southampton, 1 Apr 1952, on "Queen Elizabeth" arriving at port of New York 6 Apr., 1952
Crossan, Rosemary, age 20
Destination: 675 Euclid Str, Long Beach, Cal.
Nationality: Britain

I assume this is right, since I see you are not far from Long Beach. Do you know who was living at that address at the time she came?

All the best,
Sarah

[karrie bragg]

Hi, Sarah

Thanks for the tidbit of the manifest. I haven't come across that in my family's letters, records, photos as of yet; however I have a greetings telegram to my mom from her friend, Pansy Docherty with the same info.

The address in Long Beach would have been my Dad. My Dad was in the navy during WW2 and later became a doctor, chiopractor. He was born here in Los Angeles.

You might say I was raised both in California and Scotland, Glasgow - to be specific. Our family went to Glasgow, etc.. every year - many family members were there.

Through my website, I have met some great folk from the Gorbals, Glasgow, etc.. who have volunteered to search for any records and infomation about the Crossans.

It has been great fun meeting my new scottish friends, my mom would have loved it!

Thanks,

Karrie

[Russell]

Hi Karrie

I don't know if you have found http://www.theglasgowstory.co.uk/index.php.
It gives lots of information and pictures of Glasgow now -and -then.

Grandfather James, as a quay labourer saw some of the most profound changes in Glasgow's fortunes during his working life.
He must have started work around the end of the Great War which was a time of unemployment and strife for dockside workers, carters and general labourers due to the troops coming home after the war.
Ocean going ships could sail right into the heart of Glasgow and the Clyde was lined with warehouses for incoming goods and outgoing manufactured goods.
Glasgow and the surrounding area was a hive of heavy industry and exported all sorts of heavy machinery including huge steam locomotives for South America and Africa. He may have been involved in loading some of them onto the waiting ships.
These very ships may well have been built a bit further down the Clyde.
By the 1950's much of the heavy industry was gone and ships were much larger so they had to unload and load in deep-water ports so the warehouses were left as empty shells and dockers were paid off. the only boats coming right up into the city were the pleasure steamers taking Glaswegians for a trip 'doon the watter'. Now even they have gone
Although a busy time for James it was also precarious as dockers were paid for the work they did and laid off when there was less work to do.

He was one of Glasgow's unsung heroes.

Russell

[karrie bragg]

Thanks for the info, Russell. In my research of the times, it was definitely a volatile time. Although I don't have many details at the moment, I do know some of the Crossans were miners at that time as well.

Since my grandfather, James, died when I was a small child (In 1960, he was struck and killed by a lorry), I have gotten to know him from the many letters he wrote my mom.

The quality most prominent in those letters, despite a difficult life, was the incredible tenderness and affection of a father to his daughter.

The Crossans and cousins I knew as a child were definitely a "lively & rowdy" group, a bit on the "loud" side (that's a good thing), but definitely a very loving group. It was definitely "interesting" growing up in two different worlds, Los Angeles and Glasgow. For havin' a downright great ol' time no one does it better than the SCOTS!

They lived a tough life, but managed to survive with great humor, great love and great loyalty...

The BEST!

Sincerely,

Karrie

[djcrtoye]

Hello, I have Crossan relations in my family. Thye were also called James and Rose. These came over to Scotland some time before 1845 and lived in Coatbridge, James was a miner. They moved to the Bathgate area some time before 1861. I am related to his daughter Mary who maried my gggrandfather Neil Toy in 1866. I know they could be different peolpe who happen to have the same surname. But you never know. Good luck in finding more rellies.

[karrie bragg]

In response to: djcrtoye

Thanks for the info, here's a little more about my family:

I had an Auntie Mary Crossan (born late 1800s) - sister of my grandfather, James Crossan.. who lived Kilbowie Road Clydebank and worked as a cook in a restaurant on Sauchiehall Street. She had a sister, Margaret Crossan, who married a Kennedy and my cousin, Jim Kennedy, was one of the Bhoys - Celtic Football Club.

I also had cousins, Marion and Harry Liddell who lived in Faifley. Many times when we returned to Scotland we stayed with them. There were also great-uncles in Addiewell Midlothian who were Miners. Paddy Crossan is more well remembered for his service in WWI. He played for the Hearts and had a pub on Rose Street in Edinburgh.

There were nine brothers and two sisters in my grandfather's family.
Certainly have my work cut out seaching for more information about my rellies.

Again, many thanks.

Karrie