Your input

Input

1. Many thanks Rosana -

   No quick answer, I'm afraid , but I'll enquire next time I'm up. Wondering if the location is now the car park entrance....

   Any info I get will be entered on this page,

   Kind regards,

   Brian

   (my own Dad was born in the town that same year !)

   (Posted on 2009-08-19 11:57:00 by Brian Lawrence - editor)

2. I think this website is fantastic. It must have taken lots of time and effort.

   I found out on my father's birth certificate that he was born in Arbroath in 1912 at 49 High Street. It was an italian cafe with accomodation above so I've been told. They moved away a few years later. I recently visited Arbroath while on holiday in Scotland only to find that it doesn't seem to exist any more. Would you be able to tell me if any houses were demolished or where I could get that information.

   Thank you

   R N

   (Posted on 2009-08-18 11:18:00 by Rosana Nichols)

3. Hi Laura, and many thanks for your kind words & interest. This website is hungry for dates which make the chronology of the town's evolution clearer and I'm certain that many dates relating to the family / families' role as major employer, mill constructor, harbour builder, etc, etc would enhance these pages. The website strives to be a timeline, plain & simple, and new specific dates would make the immense Arbroath 'jigsaw' more complete to the visitor's eye. Information is most welcome and can be emailed to the above address,

   Enjoy your homecoming,

   Kind regards,

   Brian Lawrence.

   (Posted on 2009-07-29 19:59:00 by Brian - Ed.)

4. Hi there

   I am extremely impressed by your website, Arbroath thouroughly deserves it! I´m the great-grand daughter of Sir William Chapel and grand-daughter of Provost David Chapel and I lived at Caenlochan with him and my mum (who was Lady provost when my grandmother died). My other ancestors include the Corsars who owned the mills in Millgate and my the great Annie Gilruth who had the harbour at Auchmithie built to stop the women from getting their feet wet while carrying the men out to their boats! Anyway, I´m writing because I´m living at Spain and the moment and mums coming for a 2 week holiday at the end of the August, our plan is to go through the family history properly and record it as I am the only one left who is interested, my mum knows all the dates and has lots of documents so it should be interesting. Would this be of any use to you?

   Kind regards

   Laura

   (Posted on 2009-07-29 16:50:00 by Laura Doig)

5. Hi Christine - I don't know, but I wll ask. I've a couple of map clips of the Jamieson St area before & after your family lived there which I'll email - might be of some interest & I'll post here if the 'French connection' rings bells - Anyone out there with a bell ringing ?

   Kind regards,

   Brian.

   (Posted on 2009-07-22 20:24:00 by Brian - Ed.)

6. Hi Kath - and thanks for the post. Genealogy I'm afraid I have to step back from, but welcome any input from any Angus Patersons / Cargills / Spinks / Smarts who feel they can assist with possible connections. The subject of a recent post was of course Patterson / Paterson & I can only refer you also to the 'Scotland's People' website to try to provide information on your family's unfolding generations.

   May you have a happy & fruitful visit to Angus come September,

   Kind regards,

   Brian.

   (Posted on 2009-07-22 19:45:00 by Brian -Ed.)

7. My great-grandfather, Robert Milne Petrie and his wife, Agnes Dempster Petrie (née Hogg) lived in Jamieson Street in Arbroath in the late 1870's and were sent to Landerneau in Brittany to set up a linen factory, with several others in the early 1880's. My grandmother was born in Arbroath in 1789 and grew up in France, before returning with the family to Arbroath, marrying there and settling in Dundee.

   Can anyone shed any light on why Arbroath people were sent to Brittany at this time? I believe the factory was destroyed by fire in the 1890's, but the Scots are still remembered there, but not in Arbroath!

   (Posted on 2009-07-22 14:59:00 by Christine Darroch)

8. I have recently discovered my Scottish ancestry and would like some info on the Pattersons, one or two Ts from the Angus area, my GGGGGrandmother was Janet Paterson b. 1804 Kirriemuir daughter of Jean Smart b1778 Kirrie and Thomas Patterson b.1774.

   Her grandparents were Agness Spink and David Cargill. We are visiting Scotland 6th September and would love to meet some relatives or learn a bit more about the others as well.

   Regards

   Kath Perth Western Australia

   (Posted on 2009-07-21 02:56:00 by Kath Tarabini)

9. Hi Mike -

   1795 (William Patterson's year of birth) appears to be too early for any census record, but I'm informed that one individual ( i.e. a 'Patterson' spelt with a double 't' ) is recorded around that period on 'Scotland's People' website. It may, or may not, be the gentleman in question - perhaps you could investigate personally.

   Good luck with the search - I'd be interested to learn any early details for inclusion here,

   Brian.

   (Posted on 2009-07-05 21:54:00 by Brian -Ed.)

10. Hi Mike -

    You come from good stock - William Patterson was indeed a great man ! I don't have immediate information on his specific place of birth, but on my next visit to the town (this w/e)I will certainly enquire.

    I'll reply here should I strike lucky !

    Regards, B.L.

    ps - Perhaps visitors to this page can assist ?

    (Posted on 2009-06-26 18:58:00 by Brian - Ed.)

11. Hello,

    In researching my family tree I discovered I am a descendent of William Patterson, shipbuilder of Arbroath. There is a photo of him which is held in the Bristol Records Office - you may be able to obtain a copy of it from them. I visited there recently from Australia and saw the SS Great Britain - a worthy monument!!

    By any chance would you know where in Arbroath he was born and was raised??

    Regards ... Mike Powter

    (Posted on 2009-06-23 08:19:00 by Mike Powter)

12. Hi Brian - thanks for your help - Tamara & I are now in contact. Sorry to learn of your Dad's passing, thank heavens at least you managed to capture some of those precious moments with him. As a teenager I gave no thought to what my own Dad had done prior to me arriving on the scene. The fact that during WW2 he had to leave his young wife and baby to go fight across Africa and through Italy for 5 years, never entered my head .... oh for hindsight! My own kids have the same attitude and so I'm going to leave the clues in my memoirs as to where I've buried their inheritance ...... that'll teach the wee scunners ..... BW Peter

    (Posted on 2009-06-08 13:15:00 by Peter Hughes)

13. Peter - great advice. I recorded both of my parents in their later years and am so glad I did. Six months or so before my Dad passed away, I learned things from a one hour taped session that I hadn't known all my life. Within a short time his health deteriorated & a similar 'history lesson' would have been impossible. Of course we're all so dashed busy these days living for the now, but an hour or so asking 'leading questions' & recording the recollections of a senior family member is of more value than sadly most of us realise. What price, for example, can you put on a g.g. grandson or g.g. grandaughter listening to the voices & times of their g.g. grandparents ?

    May your 'recipe' become common practise,

    All the best, Brian.

    (Posted on 2009-06-07 15:31:00 by Brian -Ed.)

14. Thanks Brian, much appreciated. Sorry the item was long-winded but local verbal history is so, so important and a true treasure trove of information for future generations. With such a vast arrange of modern technology at our fingertips, I'd urge everyone to sit their elderly relatives, loosen them up with a few wee drams and get them to reminisce of the past, recording these for posterity. Hands up just how many of us regret not doing this with our parents? Also keep a journal yourself, recall your life's experiences - what may seem tivial to you now, will fascinate those to come and form a link with you, spanning Time. Get out your boxes of photos, write on the back the date taken and as much info as you can, and put them into Albums, and if you are able, scan them, commit them to DVDs and share these with your family. There endth the lesson! Best wishes Peter

    (Posted on 2009-06-07 12:53:00 by Peter Hughes)

15. Many thanks Peter for the posted information - it's quite a saga !

    I am indeed passing your email address to Tamara who no doubt will be fascinated & wish to correspond directly with you.

    Meanwhile I'll continue to digest the info supplied & (with your permission) extract Arbroath related facts relevant to this timeline.

    Kind regards,

    Brian - Ed.

    (Posted on 2009-06-06 20:36:00 by Brian - editor)

16. A bit of additional info for Tamara & Arbroath history buffs ......

    When G.S.Melvin (21) married Ruby Lewina Stewart (18) at Perth on 17th October 1907, he listed his address as "Theatre Arbroath" and styled himself as a professional comedian. George Joss Melvin was described as a "Music Hall Manager.

    (Posted on 2009-06-06 15:57:00 by Peter Hughes)

17. In response to Tamara's comments on G.S. Melvin, George Joss Melvin & Ruby Melvin, here's a transcript drawn from a tape recording made of elderly Melvin relatives discussing them. My Great Grandmother was Mary Melvin sister to David Melvin c1840-1876 father of George Joss Melvin c1865-1911 father to George Spence Melvin (G.S.) 1886 - 1946 father to Ruby Melvin aka Little Rube (born in Arbroath 17/1/09)

    "The whole of the Melvin family were highland dancers. George Joss Melvin, the senior member of the family after his father died, was a guy who sold newspapers on the corner of the street with Harry Lauder (later Sir Harry). His mother Margaret Cameron Melvin owned a store, that her son G. J. and Harry Lauder took the mirrors out of the windows and down to the cellar where they taught each other highland dancing on the dirt floor. G. J became a highland dance champion of the World.

    G. J. was a wizard at changing highland pennies into gold, he took an old church and turned it into a bar where he made enough money to buy a little theartre. With the money he made out of that he started 3 stock companies that toured the small cities and towns around that area in the summer (like summer stock), he named the stock companies Melvins Merry Mascots.

    G. J. had 4 sons, 3 in their own right were actors, song and dance men, each ran a stock company. In fact all the family were good actors and actresses.

    With the money he made from the stock companies he bought another high class bar in Aberdeen, then he went back to Arbroath where he bought some land off the city for a few pounds and later sold it back for a lot of money, he died at about age 48 and was practically a millionaire.

    G .J. sent 3 daughters to finishing school in London, and his youngest son through Eaton College, his other three sons were pretty well off as actors on the legitimate stage. He died within 10 days off his wife Eliza who succombed to a very bad cold in 1911, the doctor said that he died of a broken heart in, this year was a tragic one for the family as G. J. and Eliza's son David who was a vocalist had died earlier in the year.

    After G. J. died the family scattered. Two of his daughters Annie and Margaret, and also his son Alec stayed with Davidann, her husband and family for a while during the First World War. Ann died in 1918 and the last they heard of Alec, who was a good singer and tap dancer was that he had gone to Australia.

    G. S. Melvin was one of the stars in Britain, he came in second as most popular star for stage work. He was a leading man in big shows, especially in the pantomimes at Christmas, he was about to be knighted when he drowned. He played in America and took Broadway by storm. He lived on the outskirts of London, the area where he worked all round. At the back of his house in Kingswood Creek, Wraysbury was the River Thames, he was at the time due to rehearse a show, his car was all packed up and ready to go, he said to his wife he would go to the back door to see how the flood was, and he fell in and drowned, he was in his sixties."

    Footnote: G.S.Melvin's 2nd wife Flora (nee Holland) reported him missing on December 1st 1946 and his body was recovered on January 1st 1947 at Chertsy Ferry on the Thames, his cremation service being on January 7th at Golders Green in London. He was due to appear in Panto at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane at the time.

    Please feel free to pass on my email address to Tamara and I'll send her what photos & newspaper clipping images I have of G.S.

    (Posted on 2009-06-06 15:31:00 by Peter Hughes)

18. Yes, that all looks correct.

    Regards

    Tamara

    (Posted on 2009-04-20 10:43:00 by Tamara)

19. Thanks Tamara - just check that the entries on pages 1909, 1910,1911,1985 & ' The Palace ' have been interpreted correctly, Brian.

    (Posted on 2009-04-16 07:20:00 by Ed.)

20. Dear Brian, Have just trace a relative from the Melvin side, it seems my Grandmother Gertrude Melvin was born in Arbroath on the 8th December 1902 and was the daughter of George Joss Melvin and Eliza Spence both died in Abroath in 1911. The family had a troop called Melvins Merry Mascots. G S Melvin was my Grandmothers brother and Ruby was his only child 1909-1985.

    Regards

    Tam

    (Posted on 2009-04-14 14:34:00 by Tamara)

21. On my last post the last sentence should of course read: ' Melvin's Picture PALACE' - B.L.

    (Posted on 2009-02-26 08:51:00 by Brian Lawrence - editor)

22. 'MELVIN'S PICTURE PALACE'

    Tamara - Have a look at 'Musical Timeline' sub-page 'The Palace'. You'll see that the Inverbrothock Church had been in use as an entertainment venue since 1890, so Geo. Jess Melvin would have bought it in this converted state. It was named 'Melvin's Picture House' between 1910 & 1913.

    Regards, Brian.

    (Posted on 2009-02-19 10:21:00 by Brian Lawrence - editor)

23. Many thanks Tamara - yes, I've wondered for some time if Ruby Melvin was actually from Arbroath (you'll have seen the reference & heard the audio file on page '1965-1969' ? See 1967 - Ruby's just great on that '45'. ) but the link's clearer now. I'll add this if I may - but any specific dates would also help.

    If I ( or perhaps anyone else out there ?) uncovers any Melvin connections, we can report back to you.

    Thanks meanwhile,

    all the best, Brian.

    (Posted on 2009-02-19 09:57:00 by Brian Lawrence - editor)

24. Not sure if this is of any use to you but I have just found that I was related to G S Melvin famous Scottish pantomime dame and comedian who's daughter was Ruby Melvin known as Little Rube who became a singer then later worked for the Herald Press Abroath for 25yrs. G S Melvin's father George Jess Melvin purchased an old church I think in Abroath and turned it into a Bar which he made enough money from to buy the theatre which he renamed Melvin's Picture Palace. I would also be interested if anyone has any information on this family, many thanks.

    (Posted on 2009-02-18 15:52:00 by Tamara O'Connell)