Sunday 23 March 2014

A Timeline for William Gow.

Over at Young & Savvy Genealogists, my blogging partner Heather, recently posted about a new timeline tool she discovered. I've just had my first go at making one and I love it! I chose to make it for my Great Grandfather, William Gow. I knew I had a lot of information I could add to it. It was slightly time consuming, but fun and I definitely want to create more. If you'd like to have a go at making one, check it out here. It's definitely worth it!


Sunday 9 March 2014

Irish Census Records

Tonight I found two Irish Census Records for my Great Great Uncle John Gow and his family. I've never had any luck with Irish records because I find them utterly confusing. That and the names I'm looking for are quite common, so I was very happy to stumble across these tonight.

1901 Census Record for John Gow, wife Annie & children Betsy, William & Alexander.
[Source: The National Archives of Ireland]

1911 Census Record for John Gow, wife Annie & children Betsy, William, Alexander & Anna.
[Source: The National Archives of Ireland]

The Gow Siblings: John Gow

John Gow, my Great Great Uncle, was born on December 9, 1855 in Cairn Farm, Muthill, Perthshire, Scotland. He was the eldest of five children born to William Gow & Jean Drummond. He lived on the farm until the mid 1880's. His father had died in 1874, so being the eldest, he remained on the farm to help his mother and younger siblings.

In 1891, he married Betsy Ireland Syme in Logie, Perthshire. Together, they moved to Ireland. Their daughter, Betsy Ireland Syme Gow was born on August 28, 1892 in Ireland. Sadly, Betsy (Senior), died as a result of complications from childbirth on August 31st. After the loss of his wife, John & his baby daughter Betsy returned to Scotland.

John Gow & daughter Betsy I. S. Gow
Date Unknown. Most likely 1896 - 1898. 
John re-married a woman named Annie Wilson in Blackford, Perthsire in 1896. Their first child, William Alexander John Gow was born in Scotland in 1898. Sometime between 1898 and 1901, John moved back to Ireland with his family. John and Annie had two more children - Alexander and Anna. Alexander Charles Gow was born in Limerick, Ireland in 1901 and Anna Jane Gow was born in 1904 in Glenstal, Ireland.

John passed away on the 14th of January, 1929 in Glenstal, five years after Annie died. John's daughter Betsy immigrated to New Zealand, while William, Alexander and Anna all remained in Ireland.

John Gow & Family, approx 1902/1903, before the
birth of daughter Anna in 1904.
An hour ago, I literally just found my first Irish Census Record for John Gow & his family! YAY!