Gale Stuart contacted me asking, “I would love for you to help with my family tree. Grandfather on my mums side was William Gardner Black dob 16/4/14 died 17/3/76. Grandmother Mary ( McInally maiden name) Black dob 14/6/18 died 21/01/2009. My grandmothers siblings were James, Margaret, Teresa, Elizabeth, Catherine, Georgina and Annie. Her dad was called Sheriff and his wife was Margaret McGuigan. Mum Margaret Black dob 30/7/38. Dad John Neilson dob 11/5/39. Grandfather John Neilson dob 5/5/12 died 4/3/91. Grandmother Sarah (Pollock maiden name) Neilson 8/2/14 died 1/10/2001. Look forward to hearing from you. Thanks in advance.”

Well , what can I say! What a helpful start to this request.

I decided to start with William Gardner Black and see what I could find. William was indeed born on 16th April 1914 at 5 o’clock in the morning at McAlpines Buildings on Glasgow Road. He was the son of Henry Black, a coal miner and Margaret Stewart.

William’s parents married on 5th July 1895 in Gladsmuir, a Parish in East Midlothian and came to Blantyre after 1911. (not in Blantyre censuses before that date). This is a bit of a dead end for Blantyre Project for going further back would take things out of Blantyre.

Unfortunately, Mary’s Birth certificate is still under 100 years old and therefore not available unless ordered. I think coming back to this next year when its available for significantly less cost will be appropriate in this instance.

Featuring Blantyre Project Social Media with permission. Strictly not for use by others on or offline, our visitors said,

Marianne Stark Aitken A lot of those names are in my family ….mcguigan, mcnally, Mary, Teresa, James Annie x