Thread: Scotland to Australia

James Burns Gillan was born in Scotland c1870's. He came to Australia and lived with his parents, Thomas Gillan and Margaret Buchanan (maiden surname Burns) in Weston, NSW. I believe he later married Alice Forshaw, but haven't found this for sure. I have found out when and how his father came, but not when he and his mother and sister did.
Any help with either of these puzzles would be much appreciated.

James Burns Gillan married Alice Forshaw in 1906 in Wickham Reg. No. 2735/1906

Alice arrived in Australia in July 1884 on the Abergeldie aged 3 along with parents William and Ann and sister Sarah who was an infant. William was 24 and Ann 27.

James and Alice had at least 2 children
Jessie B b 1908 in Wickham Reg. No. 10052/1908 and Violet H b 1909 Wickham Reg. No. 20673/1909 Violet H died in 1909 in Wickham Reg. No. 7591/1909

Jessie B married Jesse Dawson Reay in 1928 in Balmain South Reg. No. 7675/1928.
Jesse Dawson Reay died in 1960 in Liverpool Reg. No. 16296/1960 parents William John and Maud Emma. Could not find a death for Jessie B.
Also could not find a birth for Jesse Dawson so he may have immigrated or been born after 1909 when our records cut off.

Alice divorced James Burns Gillan in 1918. Divorce No. 0494.

Alice re-married to a George Cornelius Sullivan in 1921 in New Lambton. Reg. No. 10764/1921.

George Cornelius was born in 1875 in Newcastle Reg. No. 15944/1875 parents George and Sarah Ann. George Cornelius died in 1956 in Newcastle Reg. No. 35005/1956.

Alice died in 1964 in Hamilton Reg. No. 11966/1964

James Burns Gillan does not appear to have remarried

I could not find when James, Margaret or his sister came to Australia.

Thank you so much Kate for answering so swiftly, and with all that wonderful information.
I think the 'B' in Jessie's name would have been either Burns or Buchanan, which were both family names from his mother's side.
I know Thomas came out as crew (marine engineer I think )on the 'Afton'.
I have been looking far and wide for their (Margaret and the children, James and Elizabeth) trip out, but maybe I am on the wrong track all together in looking for 'Gillans', they may have come under his mother's maiden name of Burns. It seems that their marriage was bigamous as Thomas Gillan was still married to his first wife at the time.
I know that his first wife was already living with someone else, and I cannot imagine that there would have been a divorce.
I often wonder if they were ever able to marry legally, or did they just tell people that they were man and wife. I'm sure no-one in Australia would have known the difference.
thank you again for what you have already found out and told me, I really do appreciate it
Dandy 99

I did look also under the names of Burns and Buchanan and could not find anything that matched the time frame for Margaret and children arriving in Australia. I also could not find a marriage for Thomas and Margaret. Without parents christian names I can not find their deaths either.

I have looked for a marriage for Margaret under all three surnames and did not find one as there are too many Margaret Burns and Buchanan and there is only one for a Margaret Gillan but she is Margaret K J G or Margaret K J Glen Gillan or Glen-Gillan, so I doubt that would be her.

Hi Kate,
Thanks again!
The bigamous marriage had Thomas down as Thomas Glen, but I cannot place the other initials. (Maybe they came out as Mrs Glen and children???)
Thomas' parents were Hugh Gillan and Jane Smith, and Margaret's were James Burns and Elizabeth (I think Buchanan). I did think I had the Buchanan down for sure, but on checking, I haven't put it on my tree, so it must be still to be confirmed.
Thomas is actually the brother of my great grandmother, and I was just so fascinated that a member of the family had come to Australia before we did, I just had to follow it up.
Thanks again
Dandy

That helps. Thomas died in 1914 in Sydney. Reg. No. 9700/1914 Parents Hugh and Jane.

Wooppee found Margaret's death. It is registered as Margaret Buchanan GILLAM in 1938 in Kurri Kurri Reg. No. 3912/1938 Parents James and Elizabeth.

Also found a marriage and death for Elizabeth. Elizabeth married William S Galloway in 1893 in Merewether. Reg. No. 4765/1893. Elizabeth is registered as Elizabeth R.

She died in 1958 in Newcastle. Elizabeth Buchanan Galloway Parents Thomas and Margaret Buchanan. Reg. No. 13214/1958

William S Galloway died 1930 in Hamilton Parents John and Katherine Reg. No. 20348/1930

I have found 3 children to them.

Elizabeth B born 1898 Merewether Reg. No. 4846/1898
Margaret B B born 1894 Merewether Reg. No. 20807/1894
William A born 1906 Wickham Reg. No. 30345/1906

WOW!!!
Brilliant!
Thank you so much for that!
Someone has suggested that they may all have ended up buried in Sandgate Cemetary. We lived in Wootton, just north of Bulahdelah for a number of years, and watched with interest the upgrading of Sandgate, never thinking for a moment that there would be anyone of interest to us buried there.
Thank you so much for all your hard work.
I really do appreciate it
Best regards
Dandy 99

Further to the Galloway family. William S was William Summerville Galloway.

Margaret Buchanan B Galloway married Cyril M Elliss in 1920 in Kurri Kurri Reg. No. 2683/1920 she died in 1970 in Sydney Reg. No. 1867/1970.

Could not find or be sure of the other two children.

Thank you so much Kate!
You have been so helpful. you are a star!