My 2nd great aunt, Mary Keenan was born on 23 August 1857 at Old Monkland, Lanarkshire. Her sister, Ellen was my mother's paternal grandmother. Mary was the first of ten children of Patrick Keenan and Agnes Haughey. The next two siblings were born in Shotts but by 1862 the family had settled in Newmains. Mary … Continue reading Mary Keenan 1857-1885
A Narrow Escape – Hugh Brawley and Catherine Cosgrove
I found this newspaper article dated Monday 10 August 1953 while researching my maternal grandparents, Hugh Brawley and Catherine Cosgrove. The fact that they'd been involved in a train derailment was something I'd never heard before but it must have been pretty big news in the family at the time. Hugh and Catherine had been … Continue reading A Narrow Escape – Hugh Brawley and Catherine Cosgrove
A Young Soldier – Archibald Dickson 1898-1918
Archibald Dickson was my first cousin twice removed. His father and my father's maternal grandfather, Livingston Russell Dickson, were brothers. Archie, as he was known, was born in the family home at 216 Caledonian Road, Wishaw on 7 August 1898, the third son of coal miner, Robert Russell Dickson and Isabella Paterson. By 1901 the … Continue reading A Young Soldier – Archibald Dickson 1898-1918
Matthew Brawley 1904-1977
Matthew Brawley was my maternal grandfather's younger brother and is the only one of the 12 siblings I ever met. I don't remember anything about him really but I do recall visiting "uncle Matt" with my mum. Matt was the tenth child of Daniel Brawley and Ellen Keenan. He was born on 7 November 1904 … Continue reading Matthew Brawley 1904-1977
Bernard Mulvey 1928-1931
Bernard Mulvey was born in Newmains, Lanarkshire in 1928. His mother, Mary Cooper was my maternal grandmother's half sister. My mother told me a story about her aunt's son dying in a tragic accident. The story goes that the family lived in tenement accommodation with no running water. Mary was in the communal area doing … Continue reading Bernard Mulvey 1928-1931
David Russell Dickson 1864-1941
David Russell Dickson was my 2nd great uncle. His brother, Livingston was my paternal grandmother's father. I am writing about him today having stumbled over his obituary which gives me way more information about the man than I would find in the usual birth, death and marriage records. Starting from the beginning though, David was … Continue reading David Russell Dickson 1864-1941
Shaking The Branches 