CF-010
1. Father: David McMurtrie, b. 1824 d. 1901 OR John McMurtrie b 1806 d 1859
A gamekeeper
Mother (unmarried): Mary Gillespie b ca 1819 Kirkmaiden, Wigtonshire (daughter of Agnes
Gillespie, born Ireland ca 1789)
Children:
1 2. Annie McMurtrie, b. ca. 1845 Maybole, m. Robert Hence, 26 May 1906 Ayr, d. 29 May 1910 Ayr
2. Annie McMurtrie, b. ca. 1845
Children:
1 ?. Thomas McMurtrie, b 1 March 1871, d 14 April 1915 Girvan
2 3. John McMurtrie, b. 1876 at Girvan, Ayr, Sct, m. Alice Elizabeth Caton, ca. 1906, d. 7
December 1912 at 3 Greenside, Girvan, Ayr, Sct
3 4. Margaret McMurtrie, b. ca. 1877 Girvan, d. 2 Aisla Street West, Girvan 17 Jan 1955
3. John McMurtrie, b. 1876 at Girvan, Ayr, Sct, d. 7 December 1912 at 3 Greenside, Girvan, Ayr, Sct
Illegitimate
Spouse: Alice Elizabeth Caton
Married ca. 1906.
4. Margaret McMurtrie, b. ca. 1877 Girvan, d. 2 Aisla Street West, Girvan, Ayrshire, 17 Jan 1955
Narrative History
CF 10 consists solely of the two generations of Annie McMurtrie (1845-1910) and her children.
Annie was born illegitimate, her three children were illegitimate, but late in her life she had the good
fortune to marry. It is unfortunate we do not know more about her life because there would have
been much to learn in her personal struggle to find love and family in 19th century Ayrshire.
Annie was born in 1845 in Maybole, the illegitimate daughter of Mary Gillespie and either David
McMurtrie (1824-1901) or his uncle John McMurtrie (1806-1859). The name of her father is
somewhat uncertain, because there is contradictory evidence. Her daughter Margaret wrote in 1939
that her grandfather was David McMurtrie, a gamekeeper, and that this was based on a marriage
certificate of her mother. However, the marriage certificate (as well as her death certificate) say that
her father was John McMurtrie, a gamekeeper. The marriage certificate lies about her age (she
claimed 49 when she was 60); so we are not sure if she lied about the father also. The only
gamekeepers in the parish records of this era are the David and John McMurtrie mentioned above.
David McMurtrie of CF 1 was born in 1824, married Agnes Boyd in 1847, moved to Glasgow area,
returned to Girvan by 1851, and died in the Glasgow area in 1901. It is conceivable he could have
fathered Annie McMurtrie in the years before his marriage. John McMurtrie married Elizabeth Steele
in 1832, lived in Kirkmichael, and had 8 children between 1833 and 1850. He was living in the area
when Annie was born so it is also conceivable he was her father. The only reason we have to doubt
that John was the father was Margaret's letter stating the father as David. It is easier to want Annie to
have been fathered prior to a marriage (which would fit if David were the father), rather than during
the marriage (as would be the case if John were the father).
In 1851, Annie is listed in the census living with her grandmother, her mother, her 3 aunts, and 2
cousins. All three of the children appear to be illegitimate.
Agnes Glasby Widow age 62 Housekeeper born Ireland
Mary Glasby daughter aged 32 born Kirkmaiden,Wigton
Agnes Glasby daughter aged 27 born Ballantrae,Ayr
Jane Glasby daughter aged 25 born Ballantrae,Ayr
Margaret Glasby daughter aged 24 born Girvan, Ayr
James McHallam gr-son aged 12 born Dailly
Annie McMurtrie, gr-dau aged 6 born Maybole
Jannet Cunningham, gr-dau aged 4 born Lanark.,Glasgow
Annie's maternal grandmother was Agnes Gillespie, born in Ireland about 1789. Agnes seems to
have come to Scotland prior to 1819 when her eldest daughter Mary, (Annie's mother) was born in
Kirkmaiden, Wigtonshire, 30 miles south of Girvan. By 1824, the family had moved north to
Ballantrae in southern Ayrshire, where the second daughter Agnes was born in 1824 and sister Jane
was born in 1826. By 1827, the family was in Girvan where sister Margaret was born. In 1851, the
family was still in Girvan and at least one descendant was still there in the 1990s.
Annie had 3 illegitimate children and there is no evidence of who the father was:
Thomas McMurtrie, born 1871, John McMurtrie, born 1876 and Margaret McMurtrie born about 1877.
In 1871, Annie was living in Bridge Mile and working for a farmer and her baby Thomas was
boarding with Annie's cousin, James McCallum on Montgomerie Street in Girvan.
In 1906, at the age of 60, Annie married in the town of Ayr to Robert Hence, a plasterer as shown in
the following:
On 26 May 1906 at 29 Bellevue Road, Ayr, after banns according to the forms
of the Established Church of Scotland -
Robert Hence, plasterer, bachelor, aged 45, of 46 Mill Street, Ayr.
Son of James Hence, harness weaver deceased and Margaret Mills (maiden
surname) deceased
AND
Annie McMurtrie, laundry maid, spinster, aged 45 of 206 High Street, Ayr.
Daughter of John McMurtrie, game keeper deceased and Mary Gillespie (maiden
surname) deceased. Witnesses - Henry McLean and Maggie Gibson.
Unfortunately, she was only to enjoy this companionship for 4 years as shown in her death certificate:
Ayr 578/1/236):
Annie Hence, married to Robert Hence, plasterer, journeyman, died 29 May 1910 at Ayr County
Hospital, usual residence 222 High Street, Ayr, aged 49.
Daughter of John McMurtrie, game keeper deceased and Mary Gillespie (maiden surname) deceased.
Informant: Robert Hence, widower, 222 High Street, Ayr.
The eldest of Annie's children was Thomas McMurtrie, born in Girvan, 1 March 1871. He was a
fisherman when he died single at the age of 44, on 14 April 1915, at 18 Ailsa Street East, Girvan.
The informant on his death certificate was his cousin, William Gillespie - who was also the informant
on the death of Margaret McMurtrie in 1955.
The second child of Annie was John McMurtrie, born about 1876, married Alice Caton and died on 7
December 1912, giving two addresses: 3 Greenside, Girvan and Coleridge Walk London. There is
no evidence of children to this marriage.
Margaret is the third child of Annie, born about 1877. She lived in Girvan all her life, dying there in
1955. She lived with her cousin William Gillespie, the town librarian, above the library.
In 1939, she was received a letter from Canada from Alexander David McMurtrie, a grandson of
David McMurtrie (1824-1901). She replied to him,
"Library House
Girvan
Dec 9, 38
A.D. McMurtrie
Ontario
Canada
Dear Sir,
I have studied your papers very carefully. I am sorry their dates are too far back for me to know
anything about. The only one family I did know are the ones who lived in Vicarton Street.
They are Mother & Father & family. Mrs John Mac. she was McGarva to her maiden name & her
daughter Margaret & Mary & all her sons. I think all the family died but this Mary. She is Mrs
Simpson & lives in Paisley.
I myself take my name from my mother, Annie McMurtrie as I was born before she married, but
according to the marriage papers her father was David McM, Game Keeper. I was young when All
my people died & I did not think of going into family history, but were it now I dare say I would be
asking after all my fore folks.
I am the only name in Girvan & stay with Mr Gillespie who is Librarian. I claim him as a second
cousin.
We were brought up together just like brother & sister. I was a Lady Chemist & after war was over,
Mr Gillespie did not get his job back as Journalist so this was vacant & he applied for it, and got it on
the grounds that I would go as assistant with him so I had to give up my job to allow him to get the
Librarian's place.
We Have quite a comfortable home & work to one another. I really dont know much more about the
McMurtrie's History to further enlighten you, but I hope through your search you will be able to find
out all you wish to know.
I am enclosing you a very prominent place in Girvan in a Calendar & perhaps someday you will be
able to see it in Reality. Girvan is a very nice place in Summer.
There are quite a number of Girvan people living in Canda, people we know very well.
I suppose from the Registrar you will have found when I was born, so that I need not go into further
details. Trusting someday you will have got all your families History.
So I will close & as we are nearing the end of another year, I wish you a very happy Xmas & new
year.
Yours truly
Margaret McMurtrie
Mrs Mary McMurtrie Simpson
Glasgow Road
Paisley"
In 1995, John McMeikan of Girvan wrote to Richard McMurtry: "I would like to apologize for the
delay in answering, I took a stroke in July, lost power in my right hand, glad to say I am imporving,
power is back, but it has shaken me up a bit. Doctor says it will take some 3 months to get back to
normal, but at 87 years, I have no cause to grumple.
I knew the Gillespie family well. they lived in Ailsa Place, only a grandson lef; I made contact with
him but due to old agea his memory has gone, I could get no help.
It was Willie Gillespie who was the local librarian, not Thomas, Willie was a very quiet and serious
man and also a very popular man and a a highly respected and helpful librarian.
I also was well acquainted with Maggie McMurtire, she was a school chum of my mother, I took my
mother to visit her for many years, Maggie was a well known shop assistant in the town for much of
her life, when Wilie became librarian, she became his housekeeper until his death, they lived in a flat
above the library."
The William Gillespie referred to here was the illegitimate son of Elizabeth Gillespie who was the
illegitimate daughter of Margaret Gillespie (the sister of Annie McMurtrie). Hence William and
Margaret were first cousins once removed and were referred to as second cousins.
Documents:
Girvan 594/5
Elizabeth Gillespie, formerly domestic servant, single, illegitimate, died
16 January 1912, found dead in bed in her house at 29 High Street, Girvan,
aged 58.Daughter of Margaret Gillespie, domestic servant.
Informant: William Gillespie, her son.
Girvan 594/50
William Gillespie, librarian, single, died 27 August 1960 at The Davidson Hospital, Girvan, usual residence McKechnie Institute, Dalrymple Street, Girvan, aged 75.
Son of Elizabeth Gillespie, housekeeper deceased.Informant: an acquaintance.
Girvan 594/4
Margaret McMurtrie, housekeeper, single, died 17 January 1955 at 2 Ailsa Street West, Girvan, aged 78. Daughter of Ann McMurtrie, general nurse, afterwards married to Robert Hinds, general labourer deceased.Informant: William Gillespie, cousin, present.