Thomson Ancestry Queries Solved

More ancestry requests. This may not be tremendously interesting for many people, but in the interests of openly replying and attempting to answer every single query I get, I hope this answers the enquiry. Ian Sanders contacted me saying, “I’m trying to find the birth date of Robert Thomson. His father was John Fraser Thomson born 1888 died 1954 his wife was Margaret Nicholas born 1890 died 1962. Can any one help me please?”

I’ve retrieved the birth certificate at my own cost to help. Robert Nicholas Thomson was born on 13th May 1914 at Aitkenhead’s Building on Sydes Brae (at Hamilton Road). John Thomson, his father signed the birth certificate.

Ina also asked, “I’m looking for the deaths of John Thomson born 1865,  Hannah Thomson born 1869,  Jessie born 26th March 1890 at Larkhall and Mary Gardiner 4th June 1892 Blantyre.”

I am unable to find Jessie and Mary’s death dates as I don’t know their married names.  However, i had more luck with John and Hannah. Hannah Thomson (nee Fraser) passed away at 48 Broompark Road on 29th January 1919. She was only 49 years old. For 6 months prior to her death, she had been suffering from Endocarditis, an inflammation of the heart. Signs and symptoms would have included fever, chills, sweating, malaise, weakness, anorexia by rapid weight loss. This so soon, after the trauma of having at least one son fighting in WW1.

Hannah’s illness in 1918 and into 1919 would have put a strain also on her family, of that there’s no doubt. Her family would have rallied around her. The eldest child John, by then in his 30s and youngest, David being 17. Her son was present and signed the death certificate, something I found strange considering her husband John Thomson Snr was still alive.

Upon investigating further, I discovered that all may not have been well with her husband at that time. Perhaps caring for his wife had taken its toll on John Thomson too. He may not have worked as a coal pit stoker in the mines for some time.

He had been ill also for some time with Atherosclerosis, a hardening of the arteries, at the time thought to have been caused by smoking. This can restrict blood flow and ultimately, it was a bleed to his brain which killed him, likely in the form of stroke. However, it was the place of his death that should also be noted. He passed away in Bothwell on 22nd March 1919 at the Kirklands Asylum, indicating that he may have suffered some sort of breakdown, depression or anxiety following the death of his wife. He was only 53 and died of a brain haemorrhage. He may have been finding life more difficult than usual for his wife had died 52 days earlier.

Hannah Thomson was the daughter of Jock Fraser, the High Blantyre blacksmith I posted about the other day.