26^th MARCH

DORIS AND ERNIE SOUTHGATE

Today we have a wedding anniversary to celebrate. Maternal Auntie Doris May GALE and Uncle Ernest Edward SOUTHGATE were married on this day in 1951

They were married in Market Rasen and lived all their married life in Lincolnshire. They had no children but played an active role in the lives of their nieces and nephews.

ANNIE WILSON HAMILTON

On this day in 1863 my maternal great grandmother was born to William Cunningham Bontine and Janet Cochrane (nee SMITH) HAMILTON.

Annie’s early years were spent around Port Glasgow and Greenock; areas of high poverty, overcrowding and unsanitary conditions. In fact Annie was one of only 4 of her 10 siblings fortunate enough to reach adulthood.

By the age of 18 Annie was working as a drapers assistant and three years later she married John Ronald MACKENZIE in East Greenock. When her first child was born 2 years later, Annie and John were living in Woolwich close to the Arsenal where John worked.

On the 1891 census Annie and John are living at Barking Road Plaistow and have 3 young children; Ronald 4, William Hamilton 2 and my 1 year old grandmother Jessie. Also living with them are Annie’s 2 younger brothers, William 18 and Stuart 15.

This was the last time Annie appeared on any census record. Four years later she succumbed to the tuberculosis she had carried within her from her life in Port Glasgow. Annie was buried in the Plumstead Cemetery on 17^th September 1895.