Darvel - the Water lip, River Irvine - Ayrshire, Scotland

Park bench beside the Water Lip near Darvel Dam - the River Irvine, Ayrshire.
 

 
This is where we scattered my mum's ashes today at the water lip in Darvel, Ayrshire in the River Irvine.

This is the spot where we scattered mum's ashes today in Darvel (water lip, River Irvine), Ayrshire

Margaret McCurdie Brown Batton born 1940 died 2012

I can't believe I haven't posted anything on my blog page since May 2012.

A lot has happened since then..... Sadly, my mother Margaret passed away on Wednesday 10th October 2012.

Titanic connections

I'm sure the 100 year anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic did not pass very many people by.  It was in the news on both sides of the Atlantic and I noticed an article on an American website which made reference to the Ryerson family who were travelling on the Titanic, on what was already a very sad journey home. I thought I would share the video with you. (note - it may only be available for a short time.)

http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Cooperstown-resident-perished-on-Titanic-100-years-ago-147482205.html?skipthumb=Y

Arthur Ryerson and his family are connected to us through sisters Barbara, Susan and Patricia Paton.
Their father Kenneth Paton was the grandson of Samuel Batton (Paton) & Isabella Anderson.
Samuel was the brother of  George Paton (formerly Batton), John Batton and my great great grandfather Andrew Batton.
Kenneth and his wife Mary Hyde Clarke.  It was Mary's mother Emily Maria Borie Ryerson and grandparents (Arthur and his wife Emily who were travelling on the Titanic.

My daughter is in Belfast and I asked her stop at the Titanic Memorial Gardens to look for Arthur's name on the newly unveiled monument. She also stopped at the Titanic Museum to take a photo.

New connections

Apologies for the lack of updates recently. Been scouring the universe for new relatives and as usual I came up trumps.

I recently made contact (via social network site) with twins Debbie & Carol - they are the daughters of my Mum's cousin, Margaret Mair & her husband George Garven.
Margaret Mair was the daughter of Helen (Nellie) Batton and her husband John Mair. Nellie moved to Canada/USA in the 1950's following the death of her husband. Nellie was the sister of my Papa George Batton.

I'll point Debbie & Carol to the blog so that they can read up on the Batton/Paton families.

I also recently made contact via ancestry website with a cousin of Debbie & Carol's.  Mike Mair, the son of Jacky Mair, made contact through his fiance's family.  Looking for information on the family.

More names and facts to add to the ever growing branches of the family tree.

I will ask them for any family photos so that I can share them with everyone.

A new Batton connection

Another new connection with the Batton family.  I received a message from a lady named Jacqueline Glass (ms Kerr).  She had came across my blogger on the Batton family which happens to include a member of her family. So here goes.......

Jacqueline's mother was Elizabeth Batton Connell, daughter of Elizabeth Batton and Henry Connell. 
Elizabeth Batton Connell was born circa 1914 and died in 2010 aged 96 years.  She married Peter Kerr in 1937 in Galston, Ayrshire.

So here's the connection with most of you Batton kin.......

Jacqueline's grandmother, Elizabeth Connell (ms Batton), was the sister of my great grandfather George Batton (b1879) and Robert McGregor Batton (b1901) (Doreen's Dad).  Elizabeth Connell died very young in 1919, aged 42 years.

Jacqueline's mum Elizabeth Kerr (ms Connell) was the 1st cousin of:
My Papa George
Maggie Strachan (Bill's Mum)
May Gladwell (Richard's Mum)
Cissy Toner (John Davey's Gran, Betty Davey's Mum)
Andrew Batton Jnr (Andy's Dad)

Brian Long - I was trying to figure out the Batton/Connell connection with your Mum/Gran.
Jacqueline's gran Elizabeth Batton Connell and your great grandmother Lilias Batton Connell were sisters. Jacqueline and your Gran, Elizabeth Batton Young would have been 1st cousins.

Welcome Jacqueline to the ever growing family tree that is the Batton family.
It goes to prove to me (yet again) that it's a small, small, small, small world!

Old photos - don't laugh

My Aunt Jean Adamson ms Batton taken in 1963 - the baby on her knee is me!!! Taken at my Gran and Papa's house at 3 Paterson Terrace, Darvel, Ayshire. Aunt Jean was born in March 1949 so she was around 14 years old here.

Oh my goodness - look at my Mum (Margaret McCurdie Brown Murray ms Batton) - this photo was taken at our house in Clarkwell Road, Hamilton. I am on the left, my brothers Raymond in the middle and Stephen on the right. Raymond was born in March 1969 and is a baby in the pic so I guess it was takne later in 1969 - my Mum was 29 at that time.

Me, my Aunt Jean Adamson ms Batton and my Mum - Margaret McCurdie Brown Murray ms Batton. This photo was taken about 10 years ago.

My Dad (Duncan McMillan Murray) on the left. The photo has "Motherwell April 20th" written on the back and looks to be taken late 1950's. My Dad was born in January 1936 and this looks like his National Service.

Sarah Cameron Batton photograph

 

I found the Declaration of Intention, Petition for Citizenship and Oath of Allegiance for both John Batton and his wife Sarah Cameron Batton ms McCandlish from May 1935.

 

Previously I had only came across the Petitions for both persons but tonight I checked to see what was on the pages before and after and couldn't believe my luck when I found that the other 2 documents for each of them were there, complete with photographs. Unfortunately John's photo is too blurry but Sarah's is visible. How neat is that.