Looking for information

riddell · Post by **riddell** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 5:37 pm

I am trying to find out who my grandmothers dad was. My grandmother Lily or Lillian was born Jan 18 or 8 1889 time 2:50 Wilson Land, Cross Gates or Cross Cates Bellshill. My grandmother came across from Scotland with the Quarrier's Party, she was eight years of age at the time, she arrived the year of 1896, ported from Glasglow and departed May 28,1896. Her sister Margaret was 13 at the time as well and came with her, there was another sister Lizzie from my understanding her dad kept her in Scotland. Their mother's name was Agnes Cunningham, not sure if she was married to their dad. If this sounds like someone you might know or have any information I would be glad to hear from you. Take care.

J

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 6:11 pm

Hi J
...and welcome to Talking Scot

Have you had a look on Scotlands People for your grandmother's birth? It is possible that even if you find her birth her father may not be mentioned on the birth entry but it is worth a try.
I'm seeing a Lil* (wildcard to cover lily, lillian, lilian, lillias, lilias variations) Cunningham born in 1889 in Lanarkshire, but not in Bellshill, in Bothwell, so not in the smae area whcih means it may not be her.

Was she known by her mother's surname?

Or what about the 1891 census where she may be with family, if she was not at Quarriers by that time?

Best wishes
Lesley

Post by **SarahND** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 7:28 pm

Hi Riddell and welcome

Did your grandmother marry in Canada? If so, what names did she give for her parents on the marriage cert? Guessing wildly from your username, is your Lillie Cunningham the one who married David Earnest Riddell in Frontenac, Ontaria in 1911?
Her parents are given as Richard Cunningham and Lizzie Craig in the marriage cert. Probably not, since in the 1911 census she says she was born in Feb 1889 and came to Canada in 1908...

Oh well, I tried.

But if you know who she married and can find the certificate, that and her death certificate should give the names of her parents.

All the best,
Sarah

Post by **SarahND** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 7:37 pm

Okay, here's another thought. This looks like it could be the children in 1891, living with their grandparents: Given the oddity of the transcription (the three being "Grand Doarers"

) I would bet that "Ally" is Lilly.

1891
Crossgates Wilsons Land, Bothwell, Lanark
John Cunningham, 60, Head, born Lanarkshire, Monkland, Fish Hawker
Elizabeth Cunningham, 56, Wife born Linlithgow, Livingston
Margaret Cunningham, 7, Grand Doarer

, born Lanark, Bothwell
Elizabeth Cunningham, 4, Grand Doarer, born Lanark, Hannllon
Ally Cunningham, 2, Grand Doarer, born Lanark, Bothwell

If you go backwards in the censuses with John and Elizabeth, you may be able to find out whether it was their son or their daughter who was the parent of the three girls.

All the best,
Sarah

riddell · Post by **riddell** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 7:48 pm

Hi Sarah, as far as I know my grandmother's mother was an Agnes Cunningham, unless she went by a different name at the time. You are right my grandmother did marry in Frontenac, I know all that information. When my grandmother came over from Scotland she never talked about it. Five years ago after my dad passed away I started to do some research myself, at the time I found out some information about my grandmother and her other two sisters. They were orphaned and lived at Quarriers Home before coming to Canada. As far as I know the one sister stayed in Scotland with her dad and her name was Lizzie. I don't know if this is of any help to you. Take care

J

riddell · Post by **riddell** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 7:55 pm

Hi Lesley, that is correct it is the district of Bothwell, County of Lanark

JustJean · Post by **JustJean** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 8:04 pm

Nice find Sarah!

This is the corresponding birth for Lilly...

1889 CUNNINGHAM LILLY CRAIG F BOTHWELL /LANARK 625/01 0070

Sadly there is no father stated on the certificate. The fact that she is given a middle name of CRAIG might be a clue though.....

Have you tried to track down records for the Lizzie that stayed behind?

Best wishes
Jean

Post by **SarahND** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 8:18 pm

Thanks for that birth info, Jean

If it is certain that the mother was an Agnes Cunningham (assume that's what it says on the birth?) then we have to go back to 1871 to find her with the family given above in 1891-- but they do, indeed, have a daughter Agnes:

1871
Wilson Land, Bothwell, Lanarkshire
John Cunningham, 40, Head, born Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Ag Lab
Elizabeth Cunningham, 36, Wife, born Livingston, Linlithgow
Marion Cunningham, 18, Daughter, born Shotts, Lanark, Cotton Weaver
Agnes Cunningham, 16, Daughter, born Whitstone, Linlithgow, Cotton Spinner
Elizabeth Cunningham, 14, Daughter, born Wishaw, Lanark, Cotton Spinner
Janet Cunningham, 10, Daughter, born Shotts, Lanark, Scholar
John Cunningham, 9, Son, born New Monkland, Lanark, Scholar
Mary Cunningham, 4, Daughter, born Livingston, Linlithgow
Peter Cunningham, 11 Mo, Son, born Bothwell, Lanark

They are all the children of John Whitelaw Cunningham and Elizabeth Wallace, according to the IGI.

Cheers,
Sarah

AnnieMack · Post by **AnnieMack** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 8:53 pm

Hi Riddell

Have you contacted Quarriers about any information they may have? I paid for a search a couple of years ago, it was £25 but in my case it was so worth it as I not only got a copy of the information kept in registers at the time (1886) but a photograph of both wee girls with the other children travelling to Canada from Quarriers. Incidentally, one of them was resident and married in Frontenac.

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... p?pos=-909

This is the link to the photo that was posted on this site previously - the one I got from Quarriers :O)

Annie

riddell · Post by **riddell** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 9:30 pm

Hi Sarah, I am not sure if this would be the Agnes, I was just talking to my mom and she did'nt think Agnes was married and each child may of had different dad's. This makes it just a little bit more complicated in finding who the dad may of been. What would be really neat is if someone has a relative by the name of Lizzie Cunningham. It could be a mother or grandmother to someone in Scotland.