TRAGIC DEATH - John McCreadie, 02 August 1879

q98 · Post by **q98** » Wed May 16, 2007 10:07 am

At 9PM on 2nd August 1879, John McCreadie of 8 Allison Street, Newton (on-Ayr) was killed less than one month after the birth of his son. The location and cause of death were recorded as “On board No. 1 tug boat Ayr Harbour” and “Crushed to death under the lever of an engine” respectively. As the Certifying Physician was “John Riddall, Surgeon”, it is improbable he was buried at sea. The 4th August 1879 edition of “The Scotsman” reported the death but identified him as “John Mackenzie”. However, in the following days edition, it was corrected to “Macreadie”.

To date, I have been unable to determine John's final resting place; if he was buried in Ayr or Ballantrae (as his father was living in Ballantrae and “Informant” on his Death Extract, I thought the remains may have been taken to Ballantrae for burial). After checking with North and South Ayrshire plus several subscribers to this and other websites, John's final resting place remains a mystery.

Is anyone able to assist locating this man's grave?

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Wed May 16, 2007 11:11 am

Hi Jim

I know this is a long shot but there is a site where many of the Ayrshire stones have been photographed and the names listed. The gentleman who has done all this just needs an e-mail giving name and graveyard to supply a photo of the stone you are interested in.

We trawled through almost all the various graveyards covered and found several relatives in surprising places. I think folks were taken back to their home village sometimes for burial.
See http://www.monaghan95.freeserve.co.uk/

Worth a look anyway.

Russell

q98 · Post by **q98** » Wed May 16, 2007 11:52 am

Thanks for that Russell. Originally from Saltcoats, I have been to Kenny's website in the past. Had another look at some of the smaller cemeteries but with no luck. I may e-mail him direct and ask if he could search his database for the deceased.

I concur that many folk were returned to their place of birth for burial but I had South Ayrshire check but again for no result. Ach weel, the hunt continues.

Thanks mate.

JustJean · Post by **JustJean** » Wed May 16, 2007 1:10 pm

Hi Jim

Ok...this is really really a longshot....but what if there has been an error in the transcription of an MI from Wallacetown Cemetery? I know I'm really really grasping at straws but there is this entry in the publication by Troon & District Family History Society

It's indexed under McCreadie. Number 279. It states: Erected by MARY MORRISON in memory of her bro JOHN d 3 Aug 1895; her dau ISABELLA d 24 Sep 1896 aged 6; her husband JAMES MCCREADIE d 3 Jul 1914; the above MARY MORRISON d 23 Nov 1937 aged 79.

Of course according to this then her brother should have been a MORRISON and the death date in Aug misses yours by a day and the year is all wrong.......unless there has been a typo or even an engravers booboo.............but Wallacetown is certainly nearby Newton on Ayr. My own folks were buried there and some of them lived in Newton on Ayr.
Ok.....now tell me now how crazy I am.........

Best wishes
Jean

q98 · Post by **q98** » Wed May 16, 2007 3:04 pm

Hiya Jean
Who's crazy? We've all been around this hobby long enough to know just what SNAFUs can occur! I doubt that the individual you have located is my subject ALTHOUGH the daughter Isabella! My subject's second daughter was named Isabella, not Isabel mind you but Isabella.
John's family of wife Margaret, daughters Jane and Isabella and son John emigrated to Australia. John joined 15th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force and was killed in 1917. While I was serving in Canberra, I saw his (son) name on the Australian War Memorial (AWM) Rolls of Honour and commenced my research. I have located the graves of (son) John in Belgium and daughter Jane, her husband and their daughter in Innisfail, Queensland. Sometime between their emigration and 1917, Margaret and Isabella passed away as (son) John nominated Jane as next of kin and Jane advised the Australian Army, upon notification of her brothers death, she was his sole next of kin.
The purpose of my research is to offer (son) John's personal life to the AWM to compliment their holdings of his Army service.

Kindest regards and many thanks for your efforts and communication.

Kathy · Post by **Kathy** » Wed May 16, 2007 11:17 pm

Hi Jim,

Are you aware that the service record of John McCreadie is available to view online at http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/ItemDet ... &B=1941287
48 pages of his service record.

Kathy

JustJean · Post by **JustJean** » Thu May 17, 2007 12:18 am

Hi Jim

Yup I now have to agree that my suggestion isn't your fella. Seems the parents of your John are spose to be John McCreadie and Isabella Welsh and the parents of the James McCreadie from my MI entry were George McCreadie and Helen Allan. I'm sure too that you must have exhausted all the tracking down of your John's siblings and where they died and are buried as well as his parents. It's very odd that he just seems to be missing. Back to the drawing board.........

Best wishes
Jean

q98 · Post by **q98** » Thu May 17, 2007 9:12 am

Thank you both ladies. I have a hard-copy of son John's Service record from AWM, Canberra. His father's final resting place in Scotland is proving extremely elusive despite known dates and being reported in "The Scotsman" newspaper.

Still, what would I be doing if I were not into genealogy - FISHING!