Jessie Armit was the first cousin of my maternal grandfather, Hugh Brawley. Her mother Elizabeth Keenan and Hugh’s mother Ellen were sisters. Jessie was born on 1 November 1887 at 10 Hope Street, Newmains. There were eight Keenan sisters all close in age but when Elizabeth married John Armit in 1887 it caused a falling … Continue reading Born On This Day – Jessie Armit 1887-1968
Newmains
Sarah Brawley 1896-1972
My maternal grandfather, Hugh Brawley was one of 12 children. Tragically two of those children died in infancy. Of the remaining ten siblings, half of them left Scotland during the depression of the 1920s. My last post was about his brother John Brawley and this week I’ve been looking more at the sister who emigrated. … Continue reading Sarah Brawley 1896-1972
A New Life In Canada- John Brawley 1897-1964
My maternal grandfather, Hugh Brawley was one of twelve siblings born between 1887 and 1908 to Daniel Brawley and Ellen Keenan. Of the ten children who reached adulthood five of them left Scotland for new opportunities in Canada. My great uncle John Brawley was born on 21 June 1897 at the family home at 8 … Continue reading A New Life In Canada- John Brawley 1897-1964
Some Scottish Hospitality
In 1926 my maternal grandfather's sister Sarah left Scotland for a new life in Canada. She set sail from Greenock in July 1926 on the White Star Line ship "Doric". She had married Matthew Sanford in Newmains in 1916. The couple had four children. Times were hard in Scotland after the Great War and there … Continue reading Some Scottish Hospitality
Hugh Keenan 1901-1928
As part of my lockdown routine I like to go for an early morning walk. My route often takes me through the local cemetery where this morning I spotted this headstone. The name Unity caught my eye as it’s quite unusual and I remembered having her somewhere on my family tree. Her maiden name is … Continue reading Hugh Keenan 1901-1928
Hannah Keenan 1860-1938
Hannah Keenan was the third child of my great great grandparents Patrick Keenan and Agnes Haughey. Her sister Helen, who was always known as Ellen, was my mother’s paternal grandmother. Hannah was born on 29 September 1860 in the town of Cleland in Shotts Parish, Lanarkshire. Her father was originally from Clonallon in County Down. … Continue reading Hannah Keenan 1860-1938
Shaking The Branches 