Thanks for all the info - gives a clearer understanding on what occured over the years.
I'd been looking at a wrong Andrew Thomson in Glasgow - hadn't realised the main earlier stage of action was in Kilmarnock.
I don't know how you could prove beyond doubt John GOWRIE was using the name of Andrew THOMPSON.
Circumstantial evidence certainly suggests it...and for the moment anyway, a real possibilty.
I believe liars need good memories, and i dare say the same would hold for impersonators!
And does that also amount to writing in a different hand when needs arise?
An Andrew Thompson signature & and a John Gowrie one?
Suppose it would take a search of all Glasgow voters rolls to see if he was living at another address in the city from 1938 to 1944....
Maybe it was a wee lapse of concentration when he gave his address as 42 Hamiltonhill Rd on his mother Elizabeth's 1944 DC?
Or could he have slipped through the net somehow, and was there - as a lodger say? Seems unlikely though.
What happened to William Thompson from 1938? Did he marry later in life or what? (hoping for an address!)
IF John has used Andrew's name, then step-son William Thompson must've been aware of what was going on?
Saying that, he probably never knew his real father - John was his only "father".
And you'd think his own son George Gowrie would've known what was happening too.
What a complicated family!
Leaving that guesswork for the moment, and onto more of the same....
Are these censuses John's mother Elizabeth GOWRIE's family?
What was her parents' names?
Did she ever marry someone named SANDS?
I'm a wee bit unsure on these being the same family.
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1861 census 597 Ed 22 p 51 (Kilmarnock)
19 Bentinck St.
John GORRY, head, marr, 22, block printer, b Kilmarnock, AYR
Helen GORRY, wife, marr, 26, muslin sewer, b Ireland
Mary GORRY, 7, daur, scholar, b Kilmarnock, AYR
Agnes GORRY, 1, ---------------b Kilmarnock, AYR
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1871 - no details
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1881 Census Place: Kilmarnock, Ayr, Scotland
Dwelling: 76 Robertson Pl
Source: FHL Film 0203602 GRO Ref Volume 597 EnumDist 15 Page 26
Helen GASS M 46 F Ireland Rel: Head Occ: (Housekeeper?)
Agnes WATSON 21 F Kilmarnock, Ayr, Scotland Rel: Daur Occ: Printer
Elizabeth GOURIE 18 F Kilmarnock, Ayr, Rel: Daur Occ: Power Loom Weaver
Sarah WATSON 14 F Kilmarnock, Ayr, Scotland Rel: Daur Occ: Power Loom Weaver
Jeannie MC INTYRE 9 F Kilmarnock, Ayr, Scotland Rel: Grand Daur
Helen MC INTYRE 4 F Lesmahagow, Lanark, Scotland Rel: Grand Daur
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1891 census 597 Ed 8 p 19 (Kilmarnock)
53 Titchfield St.
Helen GOURIE, head, widow, 55, housekeeper, b Ireland
Eliza Jane SANDS, daur, Marr, 29, steam loom weaver, b Kilmarnock, AYR
Maria GOURIE, daur, u/m 26, steam loom weaver, b Kilmarnock, AYR
John Gourie SANDS, gr-son, 10, scholar, b Kilmarnock, AYR
Margaret SANDS, gr-daur, 6, scholar, b Glasgow, LKS
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1901 census 597 Ed 5 p 24 (Kilmarnock)
11 Glencairn St.
Ellen GOWRIE, head, widow, 74 [sic], -------------------b Kilmarnock, AYR [sic]
John GOWRIE, gr-son, u/m 20, engineer's labourer, b Kilmarnock, AYR
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That was the only John in Kilmarnock 1901 i can see that might be suitable.
So the bottom line is, i suppose, that the mystery of John continues....
Jack
