Margaret & Bob McGarvey

Yesterday I spent time talking to my cousin Margaret, oldest child of my Uncle John and Aunt Nancy.

Here is Margaret's family information:-

Margaret Kerr Conner Murray born 21.10.56
married
Robert Warwick Robinson McGarvey born 15.07.52
on
16 April 1977

Children:
Victoria Margaret McGarvey born 20.01.78
married Craig MCGaffin on 18 September 2006

Robert Warwick McGarvey 13.03.80
engaged to Emma McFarlane (getting married 5 June 2010)

Grandson:
Keller Shaun McGarvey 10.09.1999. son of Robert
Step-Grandaught: Aimee Deane (daughter of Craig McGaffin)

David Murray (2 May 1933 - 1 October 2009)

I attended the funeral of my Dad's brother David Brown McMillan Murray today.
David passed away on Thursday 1st October, aged 76 years.
David was the older brother of my Dad and the 4th child of Mary Locke Crawford and William Murray.

Above top - my Dad's oldest brother William Murray with his wife Maria and baby son David.

Above - Wedding photograph of David Murray and his new bride Sandra.

David divorced Sandra and spent the later years with his new wife in Stonehouse, Lanarkshire.

David died of cancer.

My Uncle Willie moved to Perth, Scotland and died there circa 2000

My Aunt Maria died in Hamilton in circa 2006 (she had alzhiemers).

Thomas McMillan

This is Thomas McMillan, oldest son of my grandmother Mary Locke Crawford Murray.
Thomas died in World War 1. He was raised by his grandparents David and Margaret McMillan hence he was known as Thomas McMillan. He was actually my Dad's oldest brother.

The wee Murrays

This is my Uncles William, James and David (at front) and my Auntie Margaret

Taken outside their home in Barrack Street, Hamilton.

Wedding photos of Uncles

Wedding photo of my Uncle Thomas Murray, the best man was my Uncle Neil Murray


Wedding photo of my Uncle Robert Murray and Aunt Isobel Blackwood - best man is my Uncle Thomas Murray (his own wedding pic above)



My Grandparents, Mary and William Murray with my Uncle Robert and Aunt Isobel.

Great grandfather David and great grandmother Margaret

This is my great grandmother Margaret Muir Crawford. She married David McMillan in Auchentibber in 1900.
She was the mother of my gran, Mary Locke Crawford.


The man on the right is my great grandfather David McMillan - David died in 1953, aged 77 years. This photograph was taken looking down Quarry Street, Hamilton.

Old photographs

my grandfather William Murray


my grandmother Mary with my great grandmother Margaret McHaffie Murray and my grandfather William Murray.
Margaret McHaffie lived to be 95 years old and died in 1962.



an early photo of my grandmother Mary Locke Crawford Murray.

It's a small world after all!

In April 2008, after a visit to Mississippi USA, our friends asked us to help trace their Kelly family in Ireland. This got me started in the genealogy trail and after helping them trace ancestors I decided to start tracing the following families :
Ward in Hamilton – my husand’s father
Murray in Hamilton – my Dad’s father
Batton in Ayrshire/Ireland – my Mum’s father

Tracing the Ward family was easy as they remained in and around the Castle Street area of Hamilton. Known to most as the ‘Auld Toon’. My husband’s father was Graham Ward, son of Hugh and Jane Ward. Jane Ward died in May 1951 aged 70 years and I knew she was buried in the West Cemetery, Wellhall Road, Hamilton.
Tracing the Murray family was a little more difficult as this is a very common surname. I was able to trace my great grandparents. They arrived in Hamilton from Ireland and remained in/around Hamilton area. My great grandfather was James Murray and my great grandmother was Margaret McHaffie. The McHaffie family also arrived in Hamilton from Ireland.
On Saturday 18th April I decided to take my camera and go to the West Cemetery to see if I could locate the grave of Jane Ward. I knew she was buried in H section of this cemetery thanks to some documents I received from Richard Conway (a relative of Colin’s). I drove around for a while then found a map showing the different sections. I parked the car and walked around section H until I found Jane’s grave. Buried alongside Jane is her son Hugh who died in August 1955 aged 46 years.
I looked to the right at a gravestone which was lying at an angle ..... I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read the names on the stone MURRAY and MCHAFFIE. I had just found the grave of my great grandparents. James Murray died in June 1942 aged 77 years and Margaret McHaffie died in December 1962 aged 95 years. How ironic that Colin’s grandmother and my great-grandmother are buried almost side by side.
Colin and I have lived in Hamilton for almost 49 and 46 years respectively. This is the first time I have visited West Cemetery and neither of us ever met any of these ancestors. They had all passed away before we were born.
It certainly goes to prove – it’s a small world!