NEILSON family, Glasgow

[nicola]

NEILSON Family (my paternal grandmother’s family: Glasgow)

Following the death of grandparents and father, I embarked upon my family tree but have met little success on this Scottish branch of the family and hence I am using this forum in the hope that you may have a connection, some information, advice, hints or photos or even be a relation yourself!

Here is the little I know:

My father was DONALD WETHERALL.

His mother was MARGARET SCRYMGEOUR NEILSON – hence it is her ancestors and family I am seeking. She was born 08/06/1924 in Govan, Glasgow and went on to marry a MARK (Jock) WETHERALL on 25/01/1944. After the war they moved south of the border to bring up their own family.

I know Margaret was daughter of MATTHEW NEILSON (08/05/1902) and MARTHA MACKIE (bn. 12/06/1903). I believe there were other children born to the couple, but I have not hit on definite information, names and dates, photos etc.

Matthew was the son of JOHN NEILSON and HARRIET DAVIS. John was born 1865 and Harriet in 1868. They were married 1889 in Glasgow. Again, besides Matthew their son, I believe the couple to have had more children.

John’s parents were PETER S NEILSON (Glasgow) and EMMA FITTOCH (Filtock or Philpot). Peter was born approx 1837 and Emma in approx 1842. They were married 1864 In Portsmouth.

Peter’s parents were JOHN NEILSON (b. 1797) and ISABELLA SALMON (1808) and they married 1822 –

That’s all I know…

I am stuck with tracing John Neilson’s family and expanding information of the above in terms of dates, further siblings, pictures, facts – anything…

Any help, information you might be able to provide would be fantastic. I may even find a long lost relative from all this!

With grateful thanks in advance!!! I hope to hear from you, Nicola

[nelmit]

Hello and welcome Nicola,

Sorry I can't help with relations.

Have you been using Scotlands People in your research?
There is a Harriet Neilson of the correct age on the 1901 census - if this is your family it should show any other children she and John had.

Regards,
Annette M

[AnneM]

Hi Nicola

That is definitely your Harriet in 1901 in Govan. If you look at the census entry you will find several other children and will note that Harriet was born in Ireland.

The marriage certificate for John and Harriet is quite difficult to read but it seems that she was a fancy box maker. He as you know was a boilerman. His parents as you say are Peter something illegible Neilson boilermaker and Mary Emma m.s. Fittock. Hers appear to be William Davis Shipbuilder Labourer and Harriet Davis m.s. ?McCurdy.

The International Genealogical Index offers you in Scotland the following siblings for John,

Archibald Campbell Neilson born 1871
Francis Fittock Neilson born 1869
Mary Johns Neilson born 1866
William Smith Neilson born 1867

Dad's middle name appears to be Salmond.

The 1871 Census gives them in Watt Street, Tradeston with the family Mary Emma seems to have been born in England and as you say Peter in Glasgow.

Peter, mother and siblings seem to be in Glasgow in 1851 without father who may be dead by then. There are lots of siblings for Peter on the IGI all born in Glasgow.

I guess that he was working in the shipyard in Portsmouth when he met Mary Emma. Though interestingly in 1851 he is a cloth lapper boy.

Hope that's enough to get you going.

Anne

[AnneM]

BTW Mary Emma Fittock was born in the September quarter of 1841 in Medway, Kent. Reference 5/328. Her BC would give you her parents.

Anne

Mary Emma seems to be the daughter of Francis Fittock born around 1812 in Devonport and his wife Mary born around 1814 in Hale, Cornwall. As well as Mary E they have Ann E born around 1838, Bromton, Kent; William H also born Brompton around 1840; Francis J born 1845, Morice Town, Devonshire and Louisa born around 1849, Devonshire.

[AnneM]

In 1861 the family is still in Stoke Damerel where father is working in the Devonport Naval Dockyard and they have acquired an Emma who later seems to surface in Scotland. The older daughter Ann is in 1861 a visitor with a widow of a Naval Officer, Elizabeth Blanker.

Anne

Indeed Ellen appears in 1881 in the household of Thomas Miller, Shipbuilder's Clerk and his wife Louisa. Louisa dies in 1923 in Rutherglen and is stated to be the daughter of Francis Fittock, engineer and Mary Fittock m.s. Johns which fits with the middle name of one of the children.

[AnneM]

In 1851 Mary and the older children are in Stoke Damerel apparently living with a couple called Tippett. Unfortunately the 1841 census does not give relationships so they may simply be lodging there.

Francis appears to be in Chatham in Gillingham in Kent and is said to be a Blacksmith. I would probably need Hugh to put me right on this but my memory is that there was or is a Royal Dockyard in Chatham as well as in Devonport so that would figure.

Anne

PS Have you seen Mary Emma's death in 1908 in Pollockshields? Or for that matter the death of Isabella Neilson nee Salmond in 1881??