Torphichen Churchyard

[Ted]

Hi Everyone

I originally posted this on another site - but hopefully someone here on TS may have access to the MI's in question:-

Here's hoping that someone can help me demolish a brick wall. My GG Grandmother Jane McGowan (nee McAllister) died 10 Jan 1860 - her place of death was Entryfoot, Parish of Torphichen. The death certificate states that she was buried in Torphichen Churchyard. Her husband Dennis McGowan (Irish) was still alive living in Blackridge on the 1881 Census. I cannot find any trace of his death anywhere - the 1818 census is the last mention of him - living alone aged 74.

Could I ask if anyone has access to MI's for Trophichen Churchyard to let me know if there is a headstone with an inscription relating to Jane and anyone else interred in the same lair - or alternatively if there is a separate MI for Dennis McGowan.

I appreciate that Torphichen Churchyard is a fair distance away from their home at Entryfoot (near Blackridge) - but Jane's death cert certainly states that she was buried there.

Thanks lots in advance.

Ted

[carlineric]

I have had a look at Mitchell which mainly records pre 1855 inscriptions but does include post 1855 if there was an earlier one on the monument and there is no trace. I have also checked the West Lothian Family History Society CD and there is no trace of Dennis in Woodbank cemetery which would have been the most likey one. The only reference which comes close to McGowan is a stillborn child with the surname of McGown in 1908. The nearest burial places to Blackridge would be either Woodbank cemetery or Torphichen churchyard as Blackridge was in the Parish of Torphichen. Burials could take place a fair distance from where the person was last staying and could indicate if the person came from the area or had lived in the area.


Eric

[WilmaM]

I had a look at WEST LOTHIAN FAMILY HISTORY Society website : http://www.wlfhs.org.uk/

They have a Burial Search facility, I didn't find anything for either Jane or Dennis McGowan. They say they cover Woodbank in Torphican, but I think that's probably more modern than you are looking at.
Their publications list only shows a CD for the same spread of graveyards, so it's looking unlikely that there are MI's for Torphican Churchyard.
But it could be worth contacting them.

However I've also found this page:
http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/tourism/L ... stGenInfo/#
They say they have;

'Monumental Inscriptions pre-1855 for West Lothian and many other parts of Scotland'
The Local History Library cannot undertake general family history research on your behalf, but is happy to respond to specific enquiries

Sounds like a better option to try.

[Ted]

Eric & Wonka2

Thanks for your input - I would have thought it likely that Dennis is buried in the same grave as his wife Jane - several of their grown up children were still in the area around the time when he would have died (1880's sometime) - but then again who knows! I'll try WLC.

Thanks for clarifying that there is no MI listed for him in Woodbank.

Ted

[nelmit]

A search at SP deaths doesn't bring up any Dennis McGowan (and varients) between 1881 - 1891. However it does bring up a David McGowan (I notice he was transcribed as David in 1851) born 1809. I don't have any credits to check but it's not at East or West Lothian so I don't know if it's worth a check or not.

Regards,
Annette

[Ted]

Hi Annette

This David is not my guy - I have checked him out earlier. I have followed up all possible entries on SP - with every wild card combination I can think of - just no trace so far.

Thanks for trying

Ted

[carlineric]

Hi Ted

I thought there was something familiar with the names you are looking for. Dennis is probably my 3rd great grandfather, his daughter Mary married my 2nd great grandfather Thomas Alexander in Kilsyth in 1868. I have not looked at this line yet as I was unable to find anything about Dennis thinking he was from around Kilsyth. Interestingly on Mary' death entry her father is shown as Duncan although it is shown as as Dennis on her marriage. One of the sons has a middle name of Duncan and this was used in the next generation as well (not on the direct line though).


Eric

[WilmaM]

I'm just wondering what Dennis's occupation was when they were in Blackridge?

I've some Irish folks who worked around there in the Shale & Coal mining industry
but they then moved to Monklands then Govan by 1891.

Worth casting the net a little wider, as Eric has indicated the family turn up in Kilsyth.

[nelmit]

Hi Ted

I thought there was something familiar with the names you are looking for. Dennis is probably my 3rd great grandfather, his daughter Mary married my 2nd great grandfather Thomas Alexander in Kilsyth in 1868. I have not looked at this line yet as I was unable to find anything about Dennis thinking he was from around Kilsyth. Interestingly on Mary' death entry her father is shown as Duncan although it is shown as as Dennis on her marriage. One of the sons has a middle name of Duncan and this was used in the next generation as well (not on the direct line though).


Eric

Now strangely enough there are 2 deaths indexed at SP between 1881 and 1891 of a D* Mcgowan born 1808 +/- 1 year. One is the David that has been discounted. The other is a Duncan (who I didn't even consider till I saw Eric's post) who died at Lanarkshire.

Regards,
Annette

[Ted]

Hi Eric

Just shows you the value of genealogy sites like TS - we are related - Mary Anne McGowan & Thomas Alexander are my G Grandparents - I have mountains of info on the family - have been researching them for years - with Dennis being really the only brick wall I have in that line.

I'll PM you with my contact details - I'll be delighted to share what I have with you - including photos of Mary & Thomas.

Regards

Ted