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Tag Archives: Richard Steel ORMSBY (1853-1922)

ORMSBY, Henry (1859-1924)

19 Wednesday Dec 2012

Posted by theirownstories in Ormsby Family

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Helen McNab Steel ORMSBY (1895-1976), Helen STEEL (abt. 1821-1913), Henry Ormsby (1859-1924), James Henry ORMSBY (1890-abt. 1956), James ORMSBY (1850-aft.1871), James Ormsby (Abt. 1807-1871), Mary Jane LAMONT (1863-1892), Richard Steel ORMSBY (1853-1922), Robert Lamont ORMSBY (1892-1937), Thomas WATSON (1887-1951)

Henry ORMSBY, born on 19 February 1859 at Brickrow Farm St. Quivox & Newton, Ayrshire, Scotland, was the youngest of James ORMSBY and his wife Helen STEEL’s seven children. His father, James, was not home at the time of his birth, although there is no indication where he was; perhaps in Ireland, or at a cattle sale elsewhere in Scotland. The decision about a career or job was important and Henry watched the choices made by his four older brothers. Like his older brother Richard [Richard Steele ORMSBY] (and maybe James [James ORMSBY]), Henry decided that farming was not for him. He chose a life at sea and had ample opportunity for apprenticeships and training in the seaport town of Ayr. By 1881 Henry, 22, lived in Tynemouth, Northumberland, England as an unemployed marine engineer, perhaps still an apprentice. By 1887 at the time of his marriage Henry had attained his Master’s Engineering ticket.

On 02 September 1887 in Kirkbean, Kirkcudbright, Scotland, Henry married  Mary Jane LAMONT.  Mary Jane was born May 26, 1863 in Bankhead, Dalry, Ayrshire, Scotland to Robert LAMONT and Isabella HOWIE.  Henry and Mary Jane had two sons, James Henry ORSMBY (born in Dumfries 18 January 1890) and Robert Lamont ORMSBY (born in Glasgow 5 March 1892). On 10 March 1892, five days after Robert’s birth, Mary Jane died at 19 Regent Place, Shawlands, Glasgow. She is buried in St. Quivox, Ayrshire churchyard in one of the Ormsby family graves.

After Mary Jane’s death Henry moved home with his sons where he had family to help raise them. His work as a marine engineer likely required him to be away for extended periods. In the 1911 census he lived at Gibbsyard with his mother (89), his brother Andrew (63) and his two sons. This census identified that at age 52 Henry had retired.

WATSON1911-ORMSBY family

Photo left, standing, left to right is Henry and Thomas WATSON. Sitting left to right is Henry’s niece Helen (Nellie) McNab Steel ORMSBY and an unknown woman, possibly another niece, a MUIR cousin. This is the only known photo of Henry. The photograph was likely taken in Ayr, Ayrshire as there is no record of Nelly having travelled. The date is prior to 1912 as Thomas Watson, a chauffeur, immigrated to Canada in 1912. Photo is from the collection of Donald Slater, (for Donald’s other family photos see www.flickr.com/photos/palaeoecogeek).

On 4 June 1913, at 121 High Street in Ayr, widower Henry married Katherine MUIR, the daughter of Thomas MUIR and his wife Jeanie CRAWFORD.

Henry died at Bingham House in Richmond, Surrey, England on September 24th 1924. The reason he died in England is not known. Perhaps he and Katherine were visiting?

Hopefully someone who sees this story will have more information on Henry and is family.

ORMSBY, Margaret (Peggy) Wilson (1904-1992)

24 Saturday Nov 2012

Posted by theirownstories in Brickrow Farm, Ayr, Scotland, Ormsby Family

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Annie Young SPROAT (1907-1993), Helen McNab WATSON (1890-1967), Helen Ramsay MUIR (1874-1951), Henry ORMSBY (1911-1983), James Crawford McGUIRE (1894-1969), James Henry ORMSBY (1890-abt. 1956), James Muir WATSON (1888-1965), Jane MUIR (1865-1933), Jane Muir ORMSBY (1897-1983), John ORMSBY (1856-1927), Margaret Wilson ORMSBY (1904-1992), Richard Steel ORMSBY (1853-1922), Thomas WATSON (1854-1932)

[for Margaret’s parents and siblings see page ‘ORMSBY’ at top of screen]

[this post last edited, new information and / or images added 01 June 2013]

Margaret (Peggy) Wilson ORMSBY was born on 14 September 1904 in Brickrow Farm, St. Quivox, Ayrshire, Scotland, the sixth child and fifth daughter born to John ORMSBY and his wife Helen Ramsay MUIR. Two children had already died by the time Margaret arrived. I have not been able to determine the source of her middle name ‘Wilson’, although James WILSON was the parish minister at St. Quivox for at least thirty years and had married Margaret’s parents John and Helen Ormsby in 1894. It is possible that James Wilson was a close family friend as well since on October 24, 1924, he officiated at the marriage of Margaret’s sister Jane (Jean) Muir ORMSBY to James Crawford MCGUIRE. [see post 16 November 2012]. Margaret, 20, (photo below) was witness at the marriage.

The photo right [Margaret, October 24, 1924] was sent by Margaret’s mother Helen to her sister Jane (Jean) (MUIR) WATSON who lived in Saskatchewan, Canada. The photograph is now in the collection of an Ormsby family descendant who still lives in Ayrshire, Scotland.

Margaret never married. She worked as a live-in housekeeper / cook for many years, primarily for a well-to-do elderly bachelor. Apparently it was a position that financially allowed her to indulge in her enjoyment of fashion as family stories indicate that she “had a sense of style and always wore lovely clothes”. When the elderly bachelor died he left Margaret a bequest sufficiently large that she was able to buy or build a small home for her retirement.

About 1947 when her brother Henry (Harry) ORMSBY married, Margaret decided that it would be best if Harry and his bride Annie Young SPROAT had Brickrow Farm to themselves without the presence of their mother Helen who had become domineering and overbearing woman. Margaret took a housekeeping job in East Kilbride and took her mother with her. After her mother’s death in 1951, Margaret continued to work as a housekeeper.

On her retirement Margaret lived at her home at 3 Allenfield Road in Ayr. Family ties were important to her and Margaret was a letter writer. From family photos and letters I know that, although she never travelled to Canada, she maintained contact with her Saskatchewan cousins [children of Jane MUIR and Thomas WATSON] and they visited her whenever possible. She may also have been in touch with her cousins in New Zealand (children of Richard Steele ORMSBY), and Australia (children of James Henry ORMSBY), unfortunately no records or letters have been found to indicate this was the case.

Family members from Canada did stay in touch and visited whenever they were in Scotland.

WATSON1977-000-Don-Slater

Photo left: Annie, Harry and Margaret Ormsby, taken Alloway, Ayrshire Scotland in 1977 by Elsie (Watson) Slater from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Brig’O’Doon in the background. See Donald Slater’s Flickr site http://www.flickr.com/photos/palaeoecogeek for this an other family photographs.

Photo left: Margaret (left) and her sister Jean Muir (ORMSBY) McGUIRE (right) at 3 Allenfield Road, Ayr, with Canadian cousin Samuel Acton WATSON, from Victoria, British Columbia. Sam’s father, James Muir WATSON, was a 1st cousin of Margaret and Jean. This visit occurred about 1982. Photo above and below are from the author’s collection.

Photo left: Thomas (‘Tom’) Watson ACTON, from Saskatchewan, visited Margaret in 1984, the visit referred to in the letter below. Tom’s mother Helen (Nell) McNab (WATSON) ACTON and Margaret were 1st cousins.

3, Allenfield Rd., Ayr, 17.1.85

Dear Jean & Tom,

I am sure you must think I have departed this world! I am so late in saying ‘thank you’ for your lovely Christmas card and a previous letter.

I am only now starting to write. I had a week in hospital in early December, and had the cataract removed from my right eye. The op. has been a success, but on returning home I took a very lazy fit. They say “Some people sit and think”, but I just sat. I am told that I had left it too late having my first experience of an anesthetic at eighty!

I feel more active now but am plagued with a bad cold.

We are having our first snow of the winter and it is bitterly cold, though nothing like in the south of England.

[page 2 of the letter, not shown here, continued…]

It has been quite a year. This miners’ strike has caused such an upheaval. Luckily, I had decided to finish with my coal fire and will not use it again though I do miss it.

Ann [Annie ORMSBY, Harry ORMSBY’s widow] has had another spell of backache and confined to the house. I have not been able to visit her for two days but we have long chats on the phone. In late summer she had treatment from a specialist near Edinburgh and was happy to think she had been cured but alas! I think she will return for more treatment when the cold season ends. I do hope too that she can find a home in Ayr during the year.

I have nice kindly neighbours here and I would be tempted to go house hunting myself. I have no quarrel with my present house but the garden is just a bit too much nowadays. However will give it another summer and find out if I can manage.

I do hope you both keep well and you are coming to terms with retirement! Perhaps you will fancy another long holiday as you had last summer.

Sorry my writing is so poor – I have still to get new spectacles.

My thanks and good wishes to both.

Sincerely Margt

Letter above is now in the collection of an Ormsby family descendant who still lives in Ayrshire, Scotland.

Margaret, 88 years old, died on 11 June 1992 in Biggart Hospital, Prestwick, Ayrshire, Scotland.

ORMSBY, Rupert Seggie (1886-1959)

11 Sunday Nov 2012

Posted by theirownstories in Ormsby Family

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Alison SCOTT (abt. 1855-abt. 1920), Jessie Kathleen DIDCOTT (abt. 1882-1966), Richard Steel ORMSBY (1853-1922), Rupert Seggie ORMSBY (1886-1959)

[for Rupert’s parents and siblings see page ‘ORMSBY’ at top of screen]

[this post last edited, new information and/or images added 02 December 2014. All photos, and information about Jessie DIDCOTT, in this post have been provided by P. GORMLEY of New Zealand. Thank you Peter! for adding to the story of ‘Uncle Seg’ and ‘Aunt Jessie’. ]

Rupert Seggie ORMSBY was born 13 January 1886 in Otago, New Zealand to Richard Steele ORMSBY and his wife Alison SCOTT. Rupert’s early life with his family is described in the story of his father. [see post 9 November 2012]

During WWI Rupert was in the New Zealand Reserves and did not serve overseas. He continued to live in Avon with his mother and worked as shop assistant / indent clerk.  On 3 May 1917, at the Registry Office in Christchurch, Rupert married Jessie Kate DIDCOTT. On the marriage registration Jessie indicated that she was two years older then Rupert.Seg-Jess-1919

Photo right is of ‘Seg’ and Jessie. Unfortunately the photo is damaged, however it is one of the few photos of the couple from this era, about 1919.  Perhaps this is their wedding photo, they are both looking very formal, ‘Seg’ particularly in a suit more formal than a shop assistant would normally wear?

CCF19092014_00002

Jessie was born on 27 April 1882 at 2 Wrights Place Upper Easton, St. George, (near Bristol) Gloucestershire, England to Sidney (Sydney) DIDCOTT and his wife Emily.

The 1891 census shows Sidney (36, shoemaker, born in Cardiff, Wales), his wife Emily (35, box maker, born in Bristol), and their three children: Jessie (8), William (7) and Emily (4). The family lived at 4 Clayton Street, ______, Gloucestershire. The family appears to have lived in relatively stable financial situation: they could afford the above studio photograph in Bristol.

Photo above: Jessie and her mother about 1892, Bristol, England.

Jessie, her mother and siblings William and Emily, appear to have emigrated from England to New Zealand in May 1900. Father Sidney is not with them according to the ship’sJess-1898-Bristol manifest. Perhaps he traveled to New Zealand before his family and sent for them later?

Research has not yet shown where the Didcott family lived from their arrival in New Zealand in 1900 and Jessie’s marriage to Rupert in 1917.

Photo right: Jessie, before her marriage to Rupert?

After their marriage Rupert and Jessie lived with his mother Alison in Avon, near Christchurch until Alison’s death in 1920.

CCF19092014_00000

By 1928 Rupert and Jessie moved to Auckland and for the next ten years the couple lived at four addresses as Rupert worked variously as a buyer, manager and commercial traveler.

58-Opawa-Rd-1950

By 1938 they had returned to the South Island and for the next 21 years they lived at 58 Opawa Road in the Christchurch suburb of Sydenham.
A family member, Peter G. from New Zealand remembers: “My fathers father married Ruperts wife’s sister (Emily DIDCOTT, my paternal grandmother ). I well remember Uncle Seg as i called him. We visited 58 Opawa Rd (photo right) often, and found him a very kindly man.”

P220_2398_3197  Rupert died in 1959 aged 73 years. He did not leave a will.

CCF19092014_00001After Rupert’s death Jessie continued to live in their home.

One thing that is immediately noticeable after Rupert’s death is that Jessie reported her name as ‘Jessie Kate’ not the more formal ‘Jessie Kathleen’. After her husband’s death, all Jessie’s records (Electoral Rolls, her death notice, and register at the Christchurch High Court Probate) are all listed as Jessie Kate. It’s as though she was saying “This is the name my parents gave me and it’s the name I want to be known as”.

Jessie died in 1966 at age 84. Her will is registered in the Christchurch High Court, Christchurch; it has not yet been checked. The couple had no children; however  it appears that the couple enjoyed frequent visits with extended family.

Gradually the story fragments come together allowing Uncle Seg and Jessie to tell theirownstories so that they will not be forgotten.

ORMSBY, Leslie James (1882-1942)

10 Saturday Nov 2012

Posted by theirownstories in Ormsby Family

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Alison SCOTT (abt. 1855-abt. 1920), Elsie Jane MANN (abt. 1891-1964), Leslie James ORMSBY (1882-1942), Richard Steel ORMSBY (1853-1922)

[for Leslie’s parents and siblings see page ‘ORMSBY’ at top of screen]

[this post last edited, new information and / or images added 18 March 2013]

Leslie James ORMSBY was born about 1882 in Otago, New Zealand to Richard Steele ORMSBY and his wife Alison SCOTT. Leslie’s early life with his family is decribed in the story of his father. [see post 9 November 2012]

Little is known about Leslie’s military career during WWI, however he may have been wounded overseas since in 1919 his address was King George V Hospital, Rotorua, in the Bay of Plenty area on the North Island. His occupation is listed as ‘soldier’ indicating he may have been a patient. His stay at the hospital may have evolved into a job as the 1928 Electoral Rolls listed him as a ‘porter’ who lived at the hospital. He married Elsie Jane MANN in 1931 when he was 49 and she was 40. Their address from that time forward was 31 Eruera Street in Rotorua.

Leslie lived in Rotorua and worked as a porter until his death in 1942 at age 60. From 1942 until 1957 Elsie lived in Rotorua. After1957 she moved to Auckland, where she died June 6, 1964. She was buried in a cemetery on Waiheke Island outside Auckland. Elsie left a will registered in the Hamilton High Court, Auckland which has not yet been checked. It is not known if the couple had any children, although perhaps Elsie moved to Auckland to be with family?

Hopefully someone with knowledge of the family will contact me so that Leslie and Elsie can tell TheirOwnStories.

ORMSBY, Richard Steele (1853-1922)

09 Friday Nov 2012

Posted by theirownstories in Brickrow Farm, Ayr, Scotland, Ormsby Family

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Alison SCOTT (abt. 1855-abt. 1920), Andrew ORMSBY (1848-1928), Helen STEEL (abt. 1821-1913), James Ormsby (Abt. 1807-1871), Leslie James ORMSBY (1882-1942), Richard Steel ORMSBY (1853-1922), Rupert Seggie ORMSBY (1886-1959), Sargood Son and Ewen, Scobie Brothers

[for Richard’s parents and siblings see page ‘ORMSBY’ at top of screen]

[this post last edited, new information and / or images added 18 March 2013]

Richard Steele ORMSBY was born on 19 March 1853 in St. Quivox, (probably at Brickrow Farm), Ayrshire, Scotland, to tenant farmers James ORMSBY and his wife Helen STEEL. As the 5th child and 4th son of James and Helen, Richard would be expected to find work other than at Brickrow Farm, as that tenancy would likely be handed to the eldest son Andrew [Andrew ORMSBY].

Which may have suited Richard fine as it appears he never wanted to be a farmer. By age 17 in 1871 he was a ‘banker accountant’ and lived as a boarder with a family at Waterside Place in Cumnock, Ayrshire. Not content with the life of a bank clerk in Scotland, Richard dreamt of adventure and wanted to join in the gold rush to New Zealand where gold had been discovered in the Otago region on the South Island in the 1860s.

The death of his father James on 12 October 1871 provided the means of accomplishing this plan. According to the inventory conducted at the time of his father’s death, Richard was the beneficiary of a £100 Endowment Policy with the St. Patricke Assurance Company of Ireland when he reached the age of 21 on 19 March 1874.

By 1875 Richard, 22, lived and worked in Clinton, Otago, as a shop assistant for Scobie Brothers, storekeepers. One of his first memorable experiences, in 1876 in his adopted country, occurred when he acted as witness for his employer against a man accused of stealing “one dozen Crimean shirts valued at £7 10s”. The stolen shirts were “a large check, and heavy twilled shirt, of which there were six ordered black and white pattern and six red and white Rob Roy pattern”.[1]

Sometime between 1875 and 1880 Richard, who sought advancement, moved to Milton, an important and bustling town in early Otago. The town, located on the route to the goldfields, was also home to several large factories and industries. Since Milton was a major staging post for prospectors on their way to the gold fields of Central Otago it grew rapidly during the gold rush years. As an example, the congregation of the Tokomairiro Presbyterian Church had reached 4000 by the late 1870s.

Richard’s employment in Milton is not known however he enjoyed a social life. On 25 August 1880 Richard married Alison SCOTT at the home of James SCOTT, likely Alison’s father.

Immigrants arrived every day from around the world to take part in the gold rush and Dunedin, on the Otago Harbour, served as the entrance point for this influx. To live in Dunedin, the largest city in the country, was Richard’s goal.

Richard and Alison had three children: Leslie James ORMSBY (born 1882), and twins Rupert Seggie ORMSBY and Lily ORMSBY (born 1886). Lily died at birth. At this point I don’t know whether the children were born in Milton, or after the family moved to Mornington, a suburb of Dunedin.

Electoral Roll records for New Zealand provide a picture of the family. In 1890 Richard and Alison lived in Mornington. Richard, trained as a “banker accountant” had advanced to “confidential clerk to Sargood, Son and Ewen”, a large importing and warehousing business in Dunedin. Alison is not mentioned in the Electoral Roll for that year since women did not get the vote in New Zealand until 1893.

Sargood, Son and Ewen was a large importing firm of a type common in New Zealand at the time. Due to the country’s distance from major supply centres importing merchants purchased or ‘indented’ a range of items from their agents and suppliers overseas, paid for and then sold locally with an increase in price to ensure a profit. Salesman or ‘travellers’ would visit local stores to sell the range of imported stock. The harbour city of Dunedin was the shipping and importing centre for this lucrative trade.

One of the oldest and most prominent Australasian firms of this type was Sargood, Son and Ewen was, with branches in most major cities on both sides of the Tasman Sea and a London purchasing house. The company’s Dunedin branch, established in 1862, served as the head office for New Zealand. Richard’s position as confidential clerk in this prestigious firm was one of responsibility and he was entrusted to speak on behalf of the company.

This he did in December 1890 when he gave evidence on behalf of his employer in the matter of a bankrupt customer who defaulted on payment. Tobacco, biscuits, glassware, boots, shoes, reels of cotton, saddles, straw hats, drapery stock, silks, satins and expensive dress pieces were some of the goods that had not been paid for. [2] The accused man, Bernard Ginsberg, protested that he had had the money to pay, but that it “had been stolen from him in a brothel in Dunedin” and he had been too ashamed to tell the company the reason for his non-payment.

By 1896 Richard achieved his ambition and lived in Dunedin, where he remained for the rest of his life. Between 1896 and 1906 the family moved three times in Dunedin. Was this to larger or smaller homes? While it’s not known whether Richard’s fortunes were going up or down something happened to the family.

In 1911 Richard (58), an accountant, lived by himself at a fourth address in Dunedin. Alison (56) lived in Avon, a suburb of Christchurch with her sons Leslie (29) a mechanic, and Rupert (25) a shop assistant. During the WWI period 1914 to 1918 both Leslie and Rupert enlisted in the army. Leslie may have served overseas. Rupert was in the Reserves and did not leave New Zealand.

From 1911 Alison lived in Avon, with both her sons until WWI, and then with Rupert after Leslie joined the army. She died, aged 65, in 1920 in Avon. Alison left a will registered in the Christchurch High Court, Christchurch which has not been checked at this time.

Richard remained in Dunedin where he died, aged 69, in February 1922. He was buried in Anderson’s Bay Cemetery in Dunedin on February 11, 1922. He did not leave a will and is not mentioned in the family cemetery inscription in St. Quivox, Ayrshire, Scotland, even as an ‘in memoriam’ mention. Perhaps Richard had lost touch with his Scottish family?

Newspaper sources: The National Library of New Zealand has scanned copies of archived newspapers. The newspaper accounts with reference to Richard can be found at http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast, by searching the ‘exact phrase’ option’ using the phrase ‘Richard Steele Ormsby’.

[1] Newspaper: Clutha Leader, Rorahi II, Putanga 83, 10 Huitanguru (February) 1876, Resident Magistrate’s Court, page 5

[2] Newspaper: Otago Witness, 23 Hakihea (December) 1890, Page 29, ‘Alleged Breach of the Bankruptcy Act’



ORMSBY, John (about 1851 – 1854)

03 Saturday Nov 2012

Posted by theirownstories in Brickrow Farm, Ayr, Scotland, General, Ormsby Family

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Helen STEEL (abt. 1821-1913), James Ormsby (Abt. 1807-1871), John ORMSBY (1856-1927), John ORMSBY (abt. 1851-abt. 1854), Richard Steel ORMSBY (1853-1922)

[for John’s parents and siblings see page ‘ORMSBY’ at top of screen]

[this post last edited, new information and / or images added 18 March 2013]

John ORMSBY born about 1851 in Brickrow Farm, St. Quivox, Ayrshire, Scotland, died about 1854-1855 in Brickrow Farm, St. Quivox, Ayrshire, Scotland. He was the fourth child and third son of James ORMSBY and his wife Helen STEEL.

Very little is known about John aside from the St. Quivox cemetery inscription “Erected by Helen Steele in memory of … her son John who died in infancy”. His birth and death are not recorded in the St. Quivox Old Parochial Records. Childhood diseases such as cholera, diphtheria, whooping cough, typhus, smallpox and tuberculosis were prevalent and may have caused John’s death.

The baby John probably died about 1854-1855 as the next son born to James and Helen in 1853 was named Richard Steel ORMSBY so John was likely still alive. When the next son after Richard was born in 1856 he was named John [John ORMSBY] as a replacement for his deceased infant brother.

Another possible explanation is that John was stillborn, as stillborn children often went unregistered and had no burial ceremony, although in that situation the next son would have likely been named ‘John’ instead of ‘Richard’.

ORMSBY, James (1850 – after 1871)

02 Friday Nov 2012

Posted by theirownstories in Brickrow Farm, Ayr, Scotland, Ormsby Family

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Andrew ORMSBY (1848-1928), Helen STEEL (abt. 1821-1913), Henry Ormsby (1859-1924), James ORMSBY (1850-aft.1871), James Ormsby (Abt. 1807-1871), John ORMSBY (1856-1927), Richard Steel ORMSBY (1853-1922)

[for James’ parents and siblings see page ‘ORMSBY’ at top of screen]

[this post last edited, new information and / or images added 18 March 2013]

Not much is known about James ORMSBY, third child and second son to James ORMSBY ands his wife Helen STEEL. The St. Quivox Old Parochial Record (OPR) recorded his birth.

   Ormesby, James, lawful son of James Ormesby & Helen Steel born 16 November 1850, St. Quivox

James grew up with his family at Brickrow Farm for this first twenty years of his life. The 1871 census listed James, 20, ‘farmers’ son’ at Brickrow.

James’ life may have changed with the death of his father James on October 12, 1871. His father’s will identified a £100 Endowment Policy with the St. Patricke Assurance Company of Ireland to go to James on his 21st birthday, 16 November 1871.

Receipt of this windfall may have provided the chance to escape the farm that James had been looking for. His brother Richard [Richard Steele ORMSBY] had already left home and worked as a ‘banker accountant’ in Cumnock. His brother Andrew [Andrew ORMSBY] worked as a ‘clerk’, but as the eldest son he would be expected to help run the farm upon the death of his father. His brother John [John ORMSBY] was 15, but would stay and work the farm with Andrew. The youngest brother Henry [Henry ORMSBY] was 12 and still attended school.

Wherever James went after 1871 his trail goes cold. I have not found him in subsequent Scottish census, birth, marriage, or death records. Emigration records have not been thoroughly checked. He is not listed in the St. Quivox family cemetery inscriptions, even as an ‘in memoriam’ mention which might be done if he was buried elsewhere. Perhaps James emigrated and / or lost touch with his family?

Hopefully a descendant of James’ will see this blog and contact TheirOwnStories so that James story can be continued.

ORMSBY, Andrew (1848-1928)

01 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by theirownstories in Brickrow Farm, Ayr, Scotland, Ormsby Family

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Andrew ORMSBY (1848-1928), Helen Ramsay MUIR (1874-1951), Helen STEEL (abt. 1821-1913), Henry Ormsby (1859-1924), James Henry ORMSBY (1890-abt. 1956), James ORMSBY (1850-aft.1871), James Ormsby (Abt. 1807-1871), John ORMSBY (1856-1927), Richard Steel ORMSBY (1853-1922), Robert Lamont ORMSBY (1892-1937)

[for Andrew’s parents and siblings see page ‘ORMSBY’ at top of screen]

[this post last edited, new information and / or images added 18 March 2013]

Andrew ORMSBY was born on 19 August 1848 in St. Quivox, Ayrshire, Scotland, the first son and second child born to James ORMSBY and his wife Helen STEEL.

Left: Andrew Ormsby, at Brickrow Farm, Ayrshire, Scotland, on 30 October 1924 at the wedding of his niece Jane (Jean) Muir ORMSBY to James McGUIRE. This photograph is now in the collection of an Ormsby family descendant who still lives in Ayrshire, Scotland.

Andrew lived an uneventful life at Brickrow Farm and a short distance away at Gibbsyard. The census recorded Brickrow Farm as his residence and listed his occupation as ‘farmer’, ‘agricultural labourer’ or ‘farm labourer’. For a brief period he considered leaving farm work as the 1871 census listed his occupation as ‘clerk’. Perhaps it was the death of Andrew’s father on October 12, 1871 that altered Andrew’s career choice and he was required to help run Brickrow Farm with his widowed mother Helen and his younger brother John [John ORMSBY], 15.

Andrew likely had no option but to return to farming. His brother Richard Steele [Richard Steel ORMSBY] had already left home and his brother James [James ORMSBY], who reached the age of 21 on 16 November 1871, had received the £100 from his father’s will and had no intention of staying on the farm. Andrew was not mentioned in his father’s will, perhaps it was assumed he would take over the running of Brickrow Farm. Whatever the situation, by 1881 Andrew was listed as a ‘farmer’ and so was to remain for the rest of his life.

Andrew lived at Gibbsyard, Auchincruive from 1901 until at least 1913. The move to Gibbsyard likely occurred after Andrew’s brother John brought his new wife Helen Ramsay MUIR to Brickrow in 1894. The 1911 census listed Andrew (61) sharing a home at Giibsyard with his widowed mother Helen (89), widower brother Henry [Henry ORMSBY] (52) and Henry’s two sons James [James Henry ORMSBY]  (21) and Robert [Robert Lamont ORMSBY] (19). In 1913 Andrew, as eldest son, signed the death registration of his 92 year old mother Helen. Sometime after 1913 Andrew moved back to Brickrow Farm and continued to help his brother John and family with farming activities. He died there on 07 January 1928, 79 years old of ‘heart disease’’ only three months after his brother John.

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