Category: Historic Hamilton

SAMMY SQUIRREL.

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Staying with 1990, these names were printed in the Hamilton Advertiser on Friday the 14th of September.
 
As it was my birthday two days before, my mum had put my name in the Hammy Ad, which is shown below.
 
Do you remember Sammy Squirrel which appeared in the Hamilton Advertiser? Or, do you recognise any names printed below? Let us know.

Hamilton & district primary school football squad.

Danny McBrideWM

 

Danny McBride sent us this picture which was possibly taken in the 70’s or 80’s. In the picture we have the Hamilton & district primary school football squad.

The team brought home the consolidation cup after beating Glasgow west Boys club 1-0 in the final. The all important winning goal came from Scott Dunsmuir of David Livingston Primary.

The winning team members were: Michael Campbell, Craig Logan, Henry Brown, John McGrain, Grant Callander, Jason Hughes, Ross Kerr, Stephen McCormack, Daniel McBride, Johnathan Hassan, Martin Donnelly, Scott Dunsmuir, Brian Johnstone, James Campbell, Stuart Allan & Robert Wildman.

Were you one of the boys in the picture? Tell us about that winning day.

Seaforth Highlanders 1914.

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Christopher Ford sent us a picture of his grandfather taken in 1914. Christopher wrote:

“My Grandfather Peter Kane (on the right) from the auld town with the Seaforth Highlanders in September 1914.”

Do you have an old picture that you would like to share with us? Send them in and we will share with the group.

Baillies Causeway Gospel Hall Church 1872 – 1963.

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Pictures of Baillies Causeway are rare and a couple of weeks ago I was contacted by a lady called Gillian who was able to send us this fantastic picture of the old Hamilton Street, Gillian told us:
 
“Some time ago, I remember seeing a post on your Facebook page mentioning Baillies Causeway. I can’t quite remember but I think someone was wondering if a photo was of the pub there.
 
Perhaps not, I’m not sure, but the pub was mentioned, as was speculation about where Baillies Causeway was and what happened to it and when. I would have replied to the post, but I couldn’t spot it. Not sure if it’s of interest now, but it was definitely towards the bottom end of where the present Regent shopping centre is now. Attached is a photo, which I came across tonight.
 
It’s not of the pub mind you, It’s Baillies Causeway Gospel Hall church that’s in the foreground. But I think that may be the pub in the background, looking at this old map seems to suggest the PH public house was just along from the hall.
baillies causeway.2
 
My parents were members of this church, as were some well known local bakers in their time: Mssr Lightbody, Gilchrist & Gibson. It was built in 1872 and was there until the 1960s. It was in 1963 the official confirmation came from the town council that the street was being vacated to make way for the shopping centre.
 
The terms of compulsory purchase orders were negotiated with those in Baillies Causeway over the next year or so. The church moved out in April 1966 and over the next year or so built its new home in Selkirk Street, where it still is today”.
 
Gillian also told us that the original picture was taken by a man named Jim Hislop, who was an elder at the Church.
We would like to thank Gillian for sending this picture. Pictures of Baillies Causeway are really rare. If you have an old picture of Baillies Causeway, then please feel free to send it to us and we will share with everyone on the page.

RICHARDSON FAMILY TREE.

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RICHARDSON FAMILY TREE.
 
I was contacted by Kevin Cunning at the start of the month and Kevin asked if any of the readers on Historic Hamilton knew any of his family. Kevin asked us: “Hi there, I was hoping that maybe, some of my family will be members of this page? John Richardson was on my Gran’s side and he was known for walking about with his sheepdogs’ Whiston cap”.
 
I put out a post and unfortunately, we couldn’t confirm if any of Kevin’s family were on the page. We did find that there were Richardson’s who lived around the Eddlewood area, so I then asked Kevin what he knew about his family so that I could dig a little deeper and Kevin could only tell me a few small details about who his grandparents were and that he wasn’t too sure about who his great-grandparents were.
 
Kevin also asked a family member who told him that there was a John & Susan Richardson (Nee Lawson) and that there was also the name Frew, so wanting to help Kevin, I decided to have a look at Kevin’s Ancestry. Kevin, here’s what I found.
 
Like many families in Hamilton, yours came from a strong coal mining community and I found that your most of your great grandfathers came to the town for employment and all from different areas in Scotland.
 
I started with the Cunning side of your family and in this family line, unfortunately, I could only trace your Grandfather, who as you know was called Andrew Cunning. He was born in Glasgow in 1925 at Garnagadhill (An old name, but now known as Royston or Roystonhill). I believe that your Great Grandfather on the Cunning side was also called Andrew, but now I can’t confirm this.
 
In 1945 Andrew married your Grandmother at Provan and your Grandmother was called Isabella Davies Richardson.
Isabella Davies Richardson was born in Hamilton in 1926 and on this side of the family, your Great Grandparents were called John Richardson & Susan Lawson.
 
They were married on the 22nd of February 1923 at the Bent hall on Glebe Street in Hamilton and when your great-grandfather was married, he was working as a Colliery Lamp Lighter. Staying with this family, your great grandfather was born in 1898 at Shotts and his parents (Your 2x Great Grandparents) were called John Irving Richardson & Agnes Frew.
 
John & Agnes Married at 95 Bent Road in Hamilton on the 4th of June 1897. John was a coal miner and he married Agnes, who was a Hamilton girl and Your 2 x Great Grandparents settled in Hamilton. John Irving Richardson was born on the 20th of October 1872 at Johnsfield, Drysdale, Dumfriesshire and this is where your Richardson family originated from.
 
I managed to trace this side of your family back to your 3 x Great Grandparents who were called John Richardson & Marion Irving. I found that John had various jobs as I traced him through the years. He was a Ploughman, a Farm Servant and then a Road Surfaceman. He married Marion Irving on the 5th of December 1865 at Closeburn, Dumfriesshire.
Drysdale, Dumfriesshire.
As I traced this side of your family, again I discovered that your 4 X Great Grandparents were called Joseph Richardson & Margaret Rogerson. They lived around the Lochmaben area, however, as we were venturing too far out of Hamilton, I then decided to concentrate on other members of your family tree.
 
Going back to your 2 x Great Grandmother Agnes Frew, as I stated, she was a Hamilton Girl. She was born at Hamilton in 1879 and her parents (Your 3x Great Grandparents) were called Alexander Frew & Agnes McGregor. They all lived in a part of Hamilton which I have never heard of, It was Called ‘New Mill’ and I believe that this area was between Eddlewood & Meikle Earnock. Alexander was born in Kilsyth c1850 and Agnes was born c1855 at Hamilton.
 
If we stay with Agnes, we then move on to your 4x Great Grandparents, who were also Hamiltonians and their names were Alexander McGregor & Ann McAdam. Alexander & Ann had at least nine children. Alexander was a Corn Miller and his farm & home at New Mill were owned by the Duke of Hamilton.
 
Alexander was born at the tiny hamlet of Dalserf in c1801 and he married your 4 x Great Grandmother Ann McAdam at Killearn on the 26th of January 1833. Kevin, I did manage to go back another generation in this family line and that was your 5x Great Grandparents, who were called Robert McGregor & Agnes Flint. Robert born at Stirling c1769 & Agnes born at Uphall, West Lothian c1768. Your 5 x Great Grandfather seems to have moved around quite a lot as he had kids born in places like Glasgow, Bothwell, Hamilton, Dalserf and Denny. I would assume that this was because of his occupation.
 
Kevin, if we can go back to your Great Grandmother Susan Lawson, I can now tell you about this side of the family. So, Susan was born in Hamilton c1901 and her parents (your 2 x Great Grandparents) were called William Lawson & Isabella Davies.
 
William was born at Stevenson in Ayrshire and he worked as a Coal Miner. Your 2 x Great Grandmother Isabella Davies was born in 1875 at Kilbirnie and before she met William, she was previously married to a man named Alexander Kerr whom she had three sons.
 
Her first husband died of TB on the 5th of January 1900 at 1 Glebe Street and as I told you earlier, she remarried your 2 X Great Grandfather William in December 1901. I also have a picture of your 2 x Great Grandmother Isabella, please see below.
Isabella Kerr..JPG
In the picture are: (Isabella young widow of Alexander Kerr. Sitting on her knee Alexander Kerr. Hugh Kerr standing. William Kerr sitting.) None of the kids is your Great Grandfather, they are all Alexanders sons.
 
Your 3 x Great Grandparents were called Hugh Davies & Isabella McMenemie and again, they lived out with Hamilton at Kilbirnie. Hugh & Isabella married at Kilbirnie on the 30th of April 1872. Again, Hugh was a Coal Miner and moved from Kilbirnie to Hamilton between 1881 & 1891. Between them, they had at least ten children. Your 3 X Great Grandmother Isabella died in Hamilton in 1898, she was 45 years old.
 
Keeping with this side of your family, your 4 X great Grandparents were called James Davies & Mary Shields. James was a Tailor. Again, I also found that your 5 X Great grandparents were called William Davies (1792-186) & Susana Wylie (1794-1872). Again, this is as far as my research will stretch as the families are not connected with Hamilton.
 
Kevin, I started this by telling you that your ancestors came to Hamilton mainly because of the coal mines. This is what brought thousands of families to the town! I hope that what I have provided has given you a good insight into your roots and no doubt I have left you with more questions than answers!
 
The research that I have done on your family is just the basics and as I tell everyone, taking up genealogy is a fantastic hobby and if you do decide to take up this hobby, then you will uncover much more about your family.

New years eve, (awe naw)

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New years eve, (awe naw)
By Hugh Hainey.

A mind the night a missed bein wae ma family in ma wee hoose it “Hogmany”
A went tae the toon tae meet up wie ma pals, bit a wis oot awe night and day,,
A went tae the “Dolphin bar” wae the Gallaghers, the Watsons, n’ the Mc Lears,
A never laughed so much in awe ma life, the patter wis like music tae ma ears,,
😃
Hughie n’ Jolly Gallagher, playin the bones n’ singin, the drink gawn tae ma head,,
Winker, Eddie, Joe, Matt, n’ me, so pished, thit Winkers maw put is awe intae bed,,
We wur awe aboot fifteen ur sixteen it the time n’ next day we awe absolutely stunk,,
,Winkers wee brither James pished the bed, n’ guess who wis in the bottom bunk,,,
😡
Hame the next day tae the face the music, n ‘ma wee maw wis gawn aff hur heed,,,
Ye know whit maws ur like, ” awe son where ye been? we awe thought ye wur deed,,
A remember that time is clear is day,, bit a also remember whit ma Maw hid tae say,,,
Nae matter where ye ur, ur, where ye stay, always git hame fur the bells, it “Hogmany”
😤
Ye know a love tae spin these we tales fur ye ‘s awe n’ try ma best tae make thim true,,,
Bit ye see me a never done anythin like this afore n’ ma wee memories ur doon tae you,,
A try tae tell aboot ma time up in “Hamilton” wae humour, bit sometimes a just cannit,,,
Bit wan thing a dae know, “Hamiltonians” ur somae the best people oan this ” Planet”
😁

(Awrra Best whin it comes,,,)

Auld Hamilton

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Auld Hamilton,
By Kit Duddy.

Aye it’s chinged ye ken
fae in ma day, never be
the same. Streets huv
gone withoot a song an
naebuddies tae blame.

The hert o’ auld Hamilton
has chinget ower the years,
a remember ma ain wee
granny saen the same an
fu o’fears.

Yit still they hivnae kilt it,an
staunin up will be, a chinget
face o’Hamilton in the year
3333.

So here’s tae yir future an the
kids the world you’ll gie, yir
blessed an safe and hearty
an fur aw that chinge,
ye still ur Free!

Happy New Year
when it comes.

Kit.

James Thomson (Private) – Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) 9th Battalion.

James Thomson Bill Hunter.

James Thomson.

James Thomson (Private) – Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) 9th Battalion.
James was officially reported to have died of wounds on the 25th of September 1915 during the battle of Loos. It appears that a shell struck a dug out killing two men on the spot and wounding James, who succumbed two hours later.

He was born and lived in Hamilton and prior to enlisting he was a coal miner for ten years at Greenfield Colliery. He left a widow at 7 Ann Street, Burnbank. He is interred in Cambrin Churchyard Extension, Pas de Calais, France Special memorial in front of roe J, Grave 1.

Bill Hunter sent us this picture of his great uncle, Bill wrote:
“My Great Uncle Corp. James Thomson, Udston Square.10th Service Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry, Killed missing in action at Loos 1915. Was only 3 months in Theater. Seen with his wife Mary Rodgers and his 2 children.”

Bill went on to tell us:

“Mary moved to the USA in 1921 with her two children to stay with her brother. She did re-marry and I am in communication with her descendants.

James medals went missing during the passage of time but were found 75 years later when an older member of the family passed away and the medals were found in an old rusty tin.

The German War Graves Commission assisted me by searching their records to ascertain if they buried the war dead of this battle when they re-took the line. But the records showed that they had not buried any British soldiers. Documents later showed that the 10th Battalion had in fact carried out the burials.”

25579 Michael Tonner McNamee (MM) (Private) – Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) 17th Battalion.

Michael McNamee WM.

25579 Michael Tonner McNamee (MM) (Private) – Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) 17th Battalion.

My relative Michael McNamee died of wounds on the 19th of October 1918 at No 2 Canadian Casualty Clearance Station, while his division was engaged in the Battle of Ypres (28th September – 2nd October).

Michael was 22 years of age and was born and raised in Hamilton. He also enlisted in Hamilton and was part of the 106th Brigade 35th Division. Prior to enlisting he was employed as a Coal Miner at Ferniegair Colliery.

During his army service Michael had been awarded the Military Medal (MM). He was five feet four inches tall and weighed 98 pounds and was the son of Thomas McNamee and Jane Rankin Adams and their home address was 35 Church Street.

Michael is interred in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot XXX Row H, Grave 3.

The Cameronians 1915, Somewhere in France.

The Cameronians 1915. (Somewhere in France)

Edith Bulloch sent us this great picture of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). The picture was taken “Somewhere in France”. In the picture are men from Hamilton and the surrounding areas and it was taken in 1915. Edith told us that her father is the first one sitting in the second row.