Seeking information/descendants BARR .... Anyone?.....

[Maud Jarvis]

Hi, Is there anyone else out there researching BARR I am looking for any descendants of my paternal grandfather
JAMES BARR (he was given the middle name of Gilmour, but does not appear to have used it on any records) born 1869, at Arthur Street, Greenock
son of Neil Barr & Janet(nee Cameron)

James married Sarah BOYD in 1896, daughter of William Boyd and Catherine CARMICHAEL.
He died in 1913 and Sarah later remarried William Southon in 1917
Sarah died in 1949 and the informant on her death certificate was her son C.Barr (first name Cameron?)

On the 1901 census Sarah is described as "a soldiers wife-reservist" he could have been involved therefore in the Boer War having previously been a regular soldier?

I would love to contact any descendants to share our family history, and hopefully see a photograph of James.
So if you are out there, please contact me, thank you.

[Liz Turner]

hi Maud

Are you making any progress with this one?

Liz

[Maud Jarvis]

Hi Liz,
Unfortunately no, I have not received any leads as yet to find any of the descendants, how I wish I could, before I fall of my perch ,time is flying past and I`m not getting any younger!

I`m sure there MUST be descendants somewhere, as far as I know this was a large family (the Barrs) but of course if none of them are interested in their family history it will not be possible, still, I will not give up hoping yet.

[Russell]

Hello Maud

We have two Barr families here in Kilbarchan which is just over the hill from Greenock. One family have traditionally been grocers, the other have been cartage/hauliers for many years but so far I have not found any links. Oddly the two families are not related.
I had wondered if a son who did not or could not manage the family business might have moved on but they were better at producing girls than boys (both families!).
So I don't think there is a link other than the shared name. Sorry!

Russell

[Maud Jarvis]

Thank you for having a look, I know that Barr is a very common name in Scotland, its like looking for a needle in a haystack trying to find any particular one!
I have been searching on the 1841 census to try and get a bit further back, have had some success, only because I have a fair guess that most of them were shipyard workers, and hailed from Greenock, the same first names also seem to run in the family, although again, James is a very common choice of first name!

Trouble is, going further back, interersting though it is, does not lead me any further to finding descendants. I have been lucky with my maternal side of the family, so I`ll keep on hoping that some of the paternal side will pop up somewhere.
I often wonder if it was because my father was illegitimat could have been the reason why my mother "cut us off" from the paternal side after he died, in 1941, she obviously did not want us to know about my father`s past

I suppose it would never have crossed her mind that one day all secrets would be uncovered by her nosey daughter! Unfortunately there are no relatives left who could answer any questions (that is, if they would have done so) anyway, I`ll just have to keep on digging and keep my fingers crossed.

Thanks for taking an interest, it is appreciated.
past

[DiDi]

Hi, don't know if this will be of any help but here goes:I have part of a family tree re Gilmour ancestors.
David Stewart b. 1808 d. 18.8.1859
married Catherine Muir Barr 30.9.1851. She was born 6.7.1832 died 20.2.1902
Children:
David born 27.4.1852
Margaret Barr born 19.4.1854 died 20.1.1921.
James Barr born 24.12.1853 died 16.6.1939
William born 18.9.1857
====
Margaret Barr Stewart married William Gilmour (1) ch 15.1.1809 died 2.12.1882 on 1.2.1877

William(1) bought "Finnybraes" about 1875.

In the 1881 census he is listed as retired farmer, aged 71, living at Finniebrae (spelling changed) with his wfie Margaret aged 26, and William (111) aged 3 yrs. & David 1. William (1) died at Finniebrae in 1882. His widow married Andrew Douglas 2 Nov. 1887 & had 5 more children.

The 1891 census list Margaret aged 40 William (11) aged 13, & David Stewart aged 11 all living at Finniebrae, in the Neilston District.
There's a wee bit more but not much use if they're the wrong ones altho' may help someone else.
Cheers,
DiDi

[Maud Jarvis]

Thank you DiDi
I do`nt know a great deal about the Barrs or their relations, so it is a help to find where perhaps the name of Gilmour stems from, so I will add this information to my notes, you never know when it will make a connection.

I am not having a great deal of success at present finding any descendants, perhaps the family as a whole are not interested in family history, still one day someone might be and I will strike lucky, I cn hope.

Any little tits bits of information are always useful, and names may lead to to someone outside the family who know of them.