I was born in Sussex at the start of WW2, and within months was taken by my mother and left with elderly (to me!) relative, who was called Granny Gray, in Blantyre, Lanarkshire. At no time did I ever learn what her christian name was, (but she had a daughter, Isabella whom I called Aunty). In reality I realise she too must have been an aunt, possibly married to a brother of my grandmother's sister's husband. This was Great Aunt Agnes (Campbell) who had married John Gray in 1918. His dob is 1896, son of Thomas and Isabella (nee Thomson).
My mother spoke little of her family, apparently there had been some sort of religious feud
Some of the family were Catholic and some Protestant, my mother being the latter, and there the conversation would close.''Granny'' Gray was a leading light in the Salvation Army, but I have tried without success to access any detail about her. I think she would probably have been in her fifties/sixties in 1940, difficult to tell as she wore black all the time as she had no husband around (dead?).
Likewise, I have so little knowledge of Thomas and Isabella to go on, but think he may have been born c1865 probably somewhere like Motherwell or Cambuslang as from what I can see from other information, together with Blantyre, these 3 areas are favourite in the family!
With so little hard fact about these people I am going round in circles, can anyone suggest a way to break through?
I'd appreciate any help.
)
). There never was a ''husband'' figure; however the really great find you've made is that Isabella and Thomas also had a son, Fred. I recollect an Uncle Fred who lived in Cambuslang and had a corner shop selling sweeties! It is entirely possible that 'Granny' Gray may have been the daughter Isabella, and her daughter was named after herself.
Hello David
so could be either....