Thomas Gillan

**Dandy99** · 13-06-2011 01:56 AM

On discovering that my great grandmother's brother was married in Scotland, then committed bigamy and went to Australia with his second "wife" and family, I'm afraid I followed the more interesting path and forgot all about his legal wife in Scotland.

His first marriage was to Mary McVey, in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. They had two sons. Thomas, b 7th Feb 1869 and John b 27th March 1871. There was a third son, David, but he was born in 1873, which was after Thomas senior had bigamously married Margaret Buchanan Burns, so although David was registered in Thomas' name, he might not have belonged to him.

If anyone could help I would be most appreciative.

Dandy99

**Annieb** · 13-06-2011 11:15 AM

Hi Dandy99

I'm not clear on what the "brickwall" nature of your post is? You know who the legal 'first' wife was, and the names of their children & when they were born.....if you could say more precisely what is is you're trying to establish, that might help us help you?

You say "although David was registered in Thomas' name...." was Thomas named as the father on the birth certificate?

Cheers
annieb

**milford_lass** · 13-06-2011 12:20 PM

dandy are you wanting davids birth cert details to confirm dad is it ??

**Dandy99** · 13-06-2011 11:53 PM

I have found the birth of all three boys on Family Search, with Thomas named as father. I know that by the time David was born, Thomas was already into his bigamous marriage, so I cannot imagine that he was still having his 'conjugals' with his wife, but as they were still legally married, there would be no barrier to having his name on the birth certificate.
I have tried to find the boys later on (as they as much my kin as the Aussie ones), but am having no luck.
They are probably the only "Gillans" I have to go on, as Thomas was the only son, and his son James, who came to Australia had two daughters.
Not so easy to trace!

**Annieb** · 14-06-2011 01:16 PM

Hi Dandy

Per IGI extracted record of birth: David GILLAN born 10 Dec 1873, Paisley
I think he ended up in the USA , but was originally sent to Canada in 1892 age 16 as a Quarrier's Home Child. If the one I've found is the right David, his brother Thomas was also supposedly in Canada in 1911 and may also have been a Quarrier's Home Child sent out in 1884 age 14

1923 : USA Naturalizations - issued Tuscon District Court, Arizona
Certificate No. 1644685
David McVay GILLAN, age 49 (born abt 1874)
Declaration of Intention No: 316 (had been previously) issued in Arizona on 20 July 1917
Petition Vol 4, No: 362
Order signed 1 Oct 1923
Name Age & Place of Residence of Wife (crossed out)
Names Ages & Places of Residence of Minor Children:
Robert Torrance age 19 years, Ca------?, Mexico
George Torrance age 17 years, Phoenix Arizona
Oscar T GILLAN age 20 years, Los Angeles, Cal.
Signed: David McVay GILLAN

US CENSUS 1900: 27 Ulysses Street - Pittsburgh Ward 32, Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Head: David GILLAN 25, b Dec 1874 Scotland, parents b Scotland, Clerk, imm 1893 & in US 7yrs.
Wife: Lenore GILLAN 30, b Feb 1870 Canada, parents b Canada, imm 1893 & in US 7yrs. No children born.
Mother-in-Law: Delia BARTELS 55, widow, b Canada,parents b Canada, imm 1893 & in US 7yrs
It says number of years married for David & Lenore = 0. This means they had been married less that 12 months prior.

US CENSUS 1910: So. Hope Street - Los Angeles Twp, Assembly District 75, Los Angeles Cty, California
One of 3 families lodging in a household
Lodger HH: David GILLAN 36, Solicitor - Duns Agency, b Scotland, parents b Scotland. Imm 1908 (alien).
Lodger wf: Lenore GILLAN 40, b Canada, parents b Canada, imm 1908 (alien), birthed 1 child, living
Lodger: Oscar T GILLAN 8, b Canada, father b Scotland, mother b Canada, imm 1908 (alien)
Lodger: Delia BARTELS 65, wid?, b Canada, parents b Canada, birthed 2 children, both living, imm 1908 (alien)
Married once (to each other), 11 years married,

US CENSUS 1920 and 1930: Lenore & her son Oscar, and her mother Delia are living together still, in LA. Lenore states herself to be Divorced. She died in 1954 in LA. In the Canada Census 1881/1891 she is under surname BERTELLO - father's name was Oscar.

US CENSUS 1920: 624 North Fifth Street - Phoenix, Maricopa Cty, Arizona
Head: David GILLAN 36, Manager R.G Dun & Co, b Scotland (parents b Scotland) imm 1898, PA (meaning has appled for naturalization, but not yet granted).
Wife: Hattie GILLAN 37, b Ohio, parents b Ohio
StepSon: Robert TORRANCE 16, b Ohio, parents b Ohio
StepSon: George TORRANCE 13, b Utah, parents b Ohio

US CENSUS 1930: Can't find David or Hattie. I see the TORRANCE boys (now young men) I think, but not with parents.

TRAVEL: February 1911 - Canada to US Border Crossings - Arrived Port Huron, Michigan
David M GILLAN 33, married, Reporter, Scotch, last resident of Ottawa,
Contact in Canada: Brother, Thomas GILLAN of 8 Toronto St, Toronto
Destination: Los Angeles, California
Paid for his own ticket, had US$100, last in US in 1904, for 7 years in Pittsburgh, PA.
Going to join his wife, Elenore GILLAN in Herman, Los Angeles CA.
Description: 5'5" tall, Med/Fair complexion, Lt Brown Hair, Gray eyes.
States: Born Paisley Scotland
States: Originally landed in Halifax Canada in 1892 on the SS Buenos Ayrian

ORIGINAL TRAVEL:
David was one of the British "Home Children" sent to Canada, one of 130 on this ship:
Ship: SS Buenos Ayrean Departed Glasgow March 1892, arrived Halifax 5 Apr 1892
David GILLAN age 16, in Quarriers Party
Destination: Brockville Ontario

His brother Thomas may have gone ahead, under the same circumstances:
Ship: SS Hibernian departed Glasgow 27 March 1884, arrived Halifax 10 April 1884
Thomas GILLAN age 14, in Quarriers party
Destination: Brockville Ontario

Quarriers was the sending Agency:
Quarriers : Quarriers - Transforming Lives - Quarriers Genealogy and Records

SON - Oscar Thomas GILLAN
BIRTH: Oscar Thomas GILLAN born 3 Mar 1902, Kingston Twp, Frontenac Cty, Ontario
Father: David M GILLAN, Clerk, c/o R.G. Dun & Co, Pittsburgh. P.A.
Mother: Lenore Louise BARTEL
It appears Oscar's birth was not registered when he was born - and not until May 1933 in Los Angeles did his mother right the wrong, by making a legal Declaration to have the birth entered into Ontario's birth registers.
NATURALIZATION 1953 in LA - Oscar Thomas GILLAN, b 3 Mar 1902
DEATH: Oscar T GILLAN (b 3 mar 1902) died 8 July 1970 in Los Angeles.

A Grandchild of Oscar has a Tree on A**c*try. Has nothing on it about David though.

Am looking and looking for a Thomas GILLAN in Canada 1891, 1901, 1911 Census who could be the brother - said in 1911 to be in Toronto.

Re: Your Mary GILLAN nee McVEY - I think I see her in 1881 in Paisley, with sons Thomas 11 & David 6, plusd a 2 yr old named Hugh GILLAN? Do you know where she was in 1871 (son John would be 5 days old - did he survive though?) or in 1891?

Cheers
AnnieB

**Annieb** · 14-06-2011 02:02 PM

But his looks like Thomas, David's brother - and right age (born abt 1869, Paisley)

TRAVEL:
SS "Fort Victoria", departed Hamilton Bermuda 19th Jan 1924, arrived New York 21 Jan 1924
Transit Passenger
Thomas GILLAN 55, married, Insurance Agent, Scotch, last resident of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Of 66 Roxborough St, Toronto, last resident there 1924, returning to that address
Description: 5'4" tall, Fair complexion, Light Hair, Blue eyes, born Paisley Scotland

Cheers
Annieb

**Dandy99** · 14-06-2011 09:44 PM

Hi Annie,
Thank you so much for that! It was brilliant! I saw Mary on a census (it must have been 1881) with the three boys, (that was where I got David's name), and she was living with another bloke, but I cannot for the life of me remember his name. I haven't been able to find it again, so cannot confirm.
I have printed off all the information you sent me, and will have a good study of it.
Thanks again.
Much appreciated
Dandy

**Dandy99** · 16-06-2011 07:11 AM

Hi Annie,
I have just had a good search through some old information that had been lost for some time, (moved house and thought it was lost - now rediscovered). I still haven't found the 1871 census, but in 1881, Mary was still in Paisly with Thomas 11, David 6, and Hugh 2 years old. Now we know that Thomas Senior was in Australia well before Hugh was born, but they were all named as Gillan, but you were right about John not being around. I wonder why I never realised that before?
In 1891 Mary appears (named McVey) as "housekeeper" to James Caveney, none of the other boys are listed except Hugh Gillan, who is named as "nephew". In 1901, Mary has married Mr Caveney, and Hugh has taken his name, So I think the Quarrier's Homes story could be the right one. Maybe we will never know who David's father was. I should say it wasn't Mr Caveney, or he wouldn't have been put into the home, but at the same time, Mr Caveney had a son George, the same age as Hugh, so it is all a bit of a mystery.
Thank you so much for taking an interest in this. I really needed a dig in the ribs to get me going again on this one.
Best regards
Dandy

**Annieb** · 16-06-2011 12:20 PM

Hi Dandy

Well I couldn't see for looking last night - but here’s a bit more; looks like the right track is being walked!

MARRIAGE: 20 March 1918 at Toronto, York County, Ontario
Groom: Thomas Arthur GILLEN age 49, bachelor, Insurance Agent, of Toronto, b Paisley Scotland,
son of Thomas GILLEN & Mary McVEY
Bride: Jean HEMPSEED age 40, spinster, Bookeeper, of Toronto, b Glasgow Scotland
daughter of James H HEMPSEED & Jessie MILLER
Witness: Katie DUFF, Toronto
Witness: Helen ROSE, Toronto
Officiated by: Rev D n McLEAN, 534 Sherbourne St, Toronto (Presbyterian)

Thomas signed as Thomas A GILLEN.

Given their ages and the fact they were both previously unmarried - I'd suspect there was no issue of this marriage and that perhaps Thomas never had any children - could be wrong though!

It's highly likely John GILLAN, the baby born just before the 1871 Census didn't survive - though he could well be elsewhere on Census 1881 etc and eventually suffered the same fate as his brothers by being sent to Canada). Survive or not, I'm betting his birth (causing a bit odf preoccupation in the house) is the reason the family don't appear to be on the 1871 Census, unless they've been badly mistranscribed or mis-enumerated. One way to double check that, is to obtain John's birth certificate and search the 1871 under the address where he was recorded as born. Was Thomas Snr already with his 2nd 'wife' by 1871 (did the bigamous marriage occur in Scotland or NZ) and when did he immigrate, I wonder?

Have you found a marriage for Mary to Mr CAVENEY?

I'm thinking the only descendants of either David or Thomas , is through Oscar T GILLAN, David's (apparently) only child.

Cheers
Annieb

**Dandy99** · 17-06-2011 12:58 AM

Hi Annie,
I have the story of Thomas senior! He married Margaret Buchanan Burns on 23rd December 1872 in Shettleston using the name Thomas Glen. I had thought it was before that, but I am reading this from their Marriage Certificate, which has a notation on it which is very hard to read, but with the aid of a magnifying glass, I can make out the word Bigamy and the date 6th May, 1875. I am assured that this declared the marriage invalid. I believe he served a term of imprisonment (probably three months in Barlinnie) before getting a job on a ship, ( the Afton as Marine Engineer?) and came to Australia, where he spent the rest of his life, 'til he died in Sydney in 1914.
I am not sure when Margaret and the children came out to join him, but I think she might have come with other members of her family, (parent's and siblings) as quite a few of them ended up in Australia too... Wait a minute... maybe she didn't follow him, maybe he followed her. I never thought of that before. Have I been looking too late to find her?
Looking at the revised dates, it is quite possible that David is Thomas's son!
I have looked for a marriage for Mary to James Caveney, using his name, and McVey and Gillan for her, but have had no luck. Just that she is listed as his wife on the 1901 census. Unless there was a divorce, which I doubt, or they told 'porkies' to the census taker, then she committed bigamy too.
How would I go about finding details of the Quarrier Homes story? Although I have been doing this for several years now, I am still not very good at it!
Much obliged for all your help and suggestions
Best regards
Dandy

Member Login

Thread: Thomas Gillan

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Display

Thomas Gillan Tweet

Posting Permissions