Thomas Gillan

[Wee Ann]

We came to Australia in 1970, and had no reason to think that any of our family had come out here before us, but on sighting a Poor Relief Application for my g. g. grandfather, Hugh Gillan, part of the information on family members reads 'Thomas Gillan son - 34 yrs. now in Australia'

Thomas was listed on a previous application as living in Paisley with a wife and two children, (non of whom were named).

The first application was in 1871, the second in 1884, shortly before Hugh's death so sometime between these two dates, Thomas must have come to Gods Own country, either with or without his wife and children.

My question is, How would I go about finding out any information on Thomas and family in Australia?

Hopng that someone can help me in my quest,

And Thanking you in advance

Ann

[Currie]

Hello Ann,

NSW BDM http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/familyHistory/search.htm has a 1914 death.

Registration, Last Name, Given Name, Father, Mother, District
9700/1914, GILLAN, THOMAS, HUGH, JANE, SYDNEY

Does the mother’s name match up?

It may be a lot easier tracking his family in Australia if you knew the wife’s and children’s names. It would probably be best to find his marriage and children’s births and 1871 census info on SP first.

All the best from God's own State,
Alan

[Wee Ann]

Hi Alan,
Thank you for your swift reply. Yes! Thomas's mother was Jane nee Smith.

Wow! Fancy you finding that so quickly.

I have searched for them on the 1871 census for Scotland with no luck. I have Thomas on the 1861 census aged 14 with his parents and grandmother.

In the 1871, the closest I can get is Thomas Gillon with wife Elizabeth and two sons, (John and Thomas) but they are not in the same area as the Poor Law Application places them. They said they were in Paisley and this couple is in Partick. Not the same place. Wrong side of the Clyde! It is still a possibility I suppose, and it is the only thing I can find that would give me any names to work on.

Thank you so much for what you have accomplished so far. I really don't know where to go from here.

Best regards
Ann

[Anne H]

Hi Ann,

Can't help with your Thomas in Australia but hope Alan has set you on track.

I noticed you are also researching the name Roe! I don't suppose any of your Roe family went from Ireland to the Coatbridge area?

Regards,
Anne H

[Wee Ann]

Hi Anne,

As far as I know, the only one of my Roe family to come to Scotland was my grandfather Patrick Joseph came to Inverness and married my Grandmother and changed the spelling of his name to Rowe.

He had several brothers and one sister, but I have only found their names. I really know nothing about them other than that. The parents were Thomas Roe and Julia Commons and they came from County Meath.

If any of that is of interest to you, that would be wonderful, and I hope you will get in touch again.

Best regards

Ann

[AndrewP]

Hi Ann,

THOMAS GILLEN married MARY McVAY in 1868 in Paisley. On looking at the certificate, my feeling is that it says GILLAN, rather than GILLEN as it is indexed on both SP and the IGI. His parents are HUGH GILLAN and MARY SMITH so it matches your information.

The online IGI shows three children to this couple before its cut-off date of 31-Dec-1874 for births.

THOMAS GILLEN - Birth: 07 FEB 1869 Abbey (Paisley), Renfrewshire
JOHN GILLAN - Birth: 27 MAR 1871 Abbey (Paisley), Renfrewshire
DAVID GILLEN - Birth: 03 DEC 1873 Abbey (Paisley), Renfrewshire

All the best,

AndrewP

[Wee Ann]

Hi Alan,
Was it a slip of the finger, or was Thomas' mother on the certificate really Mary?

I hope it was Jane! Otherwise it is back to the drawing board!

I had a look on Scotland's People, but I am at the moment out of credits to view it properly, but only one came upfor that year.

Best regards

Ann

[Currie]

Hello Ann,

That’s the only NSW Gillan death ever with father Hugh. Mother is definitely Jane. There are some deaths Gillen with Father Hugh but Mothers are Elizabeth and Edith. All those Index searches are free and easy to use so give them a go.

9700/1914 GILLAN THOMAS HUGH JANE SYDNEY

There are no NSW Gillan/Gillen deaths to 1977 with Father Thomas, Mother Mary. There are no obvious marriages for the kids in NSW that I can see. There aren’t any NSW Gillan/Gillen births that fit this couple. There are some Mary Gillan/Gillen deaths.

Cannot see an Assisted Immigration for them at NSW State Records http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/ ... e_3357.asp

I checked the other Eastern States but didn’t get anywhere. If the 1914 death is yours he looks pretty lonely. A NSW certificate usually contains as much info as a 1855 Scottish one but is somewhat more expensive, that’s if you wanted to go down that track.

The cheapest way to purchase a New South Wales Death Certificate for family history purposes is by using a Transcription Agent. See http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/familyHistory/howToSearch.htm

Alan

[Anne H]

Hi Ann,

Looks like we're both stuck with the Roe's. I know nothing about mine either...not even which part of Ireland. I also have a Thomas Roe who was my great grandfather born c 1850 who surfaced for his marriage in Coatbridge in 1879...parents, Thomas Roe and Bridget Mangin, but nothing before marriage!

Good luck with your search!

Regards,
Anne H

[Wee Ann]

Hi Alan,

Thank you for all that hard work! I don't know if I want to go to too much expense at this time. Thomas was my great grandmother's brother. I was just fascinated to think that there might be some genuine Australian cousins out there, but it looks like another brick wall.

Thanks again anyway.

Anne

Sorry I wasn't able to help. They are not easy to trace, these pesky Irish rellies!

Good luck with your searches

Best regards to all

Ann