Daoine Pharaig
Peter's People
Family Group Sheet
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Husband James WANLESS [AN22] or WANLISS |
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Born |
About 1840-1842, Abernethy, Perthshire [check birth date] |
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Chr. |
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Married |
24 Jun 1864, Muirhead, Findo Gask parish, Perthshire [aka Gask or Trinity Gask
parish] |
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Died |
22 Sep 1902, Perth Infirmary, aged 62 yrs; usual res. The Cottar, Aberdalgie
parish, Perthshire; c.o.d. Strangulation; inguinal hernia; paresis of the bowel [D/387/1902/441 Perth] |
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Buried |
25 Sep 1902, Jeanfield cemetery, Perth, Area Parochial 2A. No. 103. (Section A in
Blue Section, Parochial 2.) No headstone. |
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Husband’s Father James WINLESS, hand loom weaver, Abernethy
[AN44]
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Husband’s Mother Isabella MERCER or MESSER [AN43] |
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Other wives |
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Notes: Ploughman, farm servant; shepherd (death cert.).
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Wife Mary Ann CAMPBELL [AN23] |
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Born |
About 1842-1844, Errol,
Perthshire |
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Chr. |
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Died |
21 Sep 1920, New Mains farm cottages, Inchture, Perthshire, aged 78 yrs; c.o.d.
intestinal obstruction [D/359/1920/2 Inchture] |
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Buried |
24 Sep 1920, Jeanfield cemetery, Perth, Area Parochial 2A. No. 103. (Section A in Blue Section, Parochial
2.) No headstone. |
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Wife’s Father Alexander CAMPBELL, ploughman [AN46] |
Wife’s Mother Amelia (or Emily) FERGUSON [AN47] |
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Other husbands |
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Notes: married aged 20 years, had 14 children over a 22 year period, at at least 11 different
addresses, first child born 9 weeks after marriage! Searched OPRs 1840 to 1846 for birth, not found.
Deaths, Perthshire Advertiser, Saturday 25 September 1920, p.1, col. 1: "WANLESS - At New Mains, Inchture, on the 21st inst, May Ann Cambell, widow of the late James Wanless, late of The Cotton, Perth, in her 78th year."
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Children |
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Sex Name |
Born |
Married |
Died |
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1 F Amelia WANLISS
(domestic servant, single, Lochend, Forgandenny, Perthshire, 1881 & 1884) |
22 Aug 1864, Muirhead, parish of Findo Gask [B/352-00/1864/3 Findo
Gask] |
28 Nov 1884, at South Lodge, Springhills, Dundee (parish of St Andrew), after Banns acc. to forms of Estab'd Ch. of Scot.: John CRICHTON, ploughman, bachelor, 29 yrs, West Mains Inchture, son of Alexander Crichton, linen weaver, dec'd, and Agnes Crichton, m.s. Heggie, m. Amelia WANLESS, domestic servant, spinster, 20 yrs, Mill of Gask, Trinity Gask (M/282-04/1884/340 St Andrew).
Children: (1) John Crichton b. 16 Jan 1884, Lochend, Forgandenny, (2) Annie Crichton, b. abt. 1886 Inchture, (3) James (Jim) Crichton b. abt. 1888 Inchture, (4) Mary (May) Crichton b. abt. June 1890 Inchture, (5?) Amelia Crichton (one daur m. MILNE?); (6?) Agnes Heggie Crichton, b. 1 July 1894, at West Mains, Inchture, F: John Crichton, farm servant, M: Amelia Crichton, m.s. Wanless (B/359-/1894/4 Inchture).
(First five children living with parents at West Mains cottar house, Inchture, in 1891) (see: http://www.wanlessweb.org/TNG/getperson.php?personID=I20&tree=30, accessed 31 Jan 2015)
Residing Inchture village, Perthshire, 1911 Census (RD 359-, ED 002-, p4): John Crichton, HoH, 55, married; Amelia Crichton, wife, 45, married for 26 yrs, 5 children born during marriage, of whom 5 children living; Agnes, daur, 16, single. |
18 December 1955, 91 yrs, widow of John Crichton, cattleman, at The Village, Inchture, Perthshire; c.o.d. (a) senility (b) pyrexia, 10 days (c) cardiac failure, cert. by Robert S. Edington M.B. Ch.B. Northbank Villa, Errol, informant John Crichton, son (D/359-/1955/4 Inchture). | |
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2 F Isabella WANLISS (Isobel) (or
Bella)
(Outworker)
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17 Jun 1866, Ardgaith, Errol [B/351/1866/44 Errol] |
10 July 1899, at 14 Tay Street, Perth, warrant of Sheriff Substitute of Perthshire, by declaration in presence of George McVicar Wylie, postman, 224 High St, Perth and Martha Wanliss, Windyedge, Aberdalgie (witnesses): D. [David] CRAIG, 34 yrs, bachelor, postman, 1 Atholl Street, Perth, son of Alexander Craig, Tailor (dec'd) and Maggie Craig m.s. Gorrin, m. I.B. [Isabella] WANLISS, domestic servant, spinster, 30 [actual age 33 yrs], Ruthven Park, Tibbermore parish, Perthshire. (M/387/1899/168 Perth).
2 daurs (1) Mary; (2) Ina.
Before Isabella married she was a farm servant and had a daur, unnamed WANLISS, b. 14 Sep 1889, at Abbots Grange Cottages, Polmont, Stirlingshire [B/487/1889/130 Polmont], father not named, child unnamed; child died 1 October 1889, at Abbots Grange Cottages, Polmont [now in Grangemouth], female, aged 17 days, c.o.d. gastritis, 7 days (D/487-/1889/43 Polmont). |
12 Aug 1929, Isabella CRAIG, widow of David Craig, Postman, 63 yrs, Strathearn House, Auchterarder,
Perthshire, c.o.d. taxaemia due to extensive bedsore; informant: Mary Craig, daur, Netherwood, Hawick. (D/329-/1929/39 Auchterarder).
(See also: http://www.wanlessweb.org/TNG/getperson.php?personID=I21&tree=30, accessed 31 Jan 2015) |
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3 M James WANLISS (Jim)
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30 May 1868, Grange, Errol [B/351/1868/48 Errol] |
(unverified): m. 1 Sept 1895, Cape Town, South Africa: Jane Catherine LUND (b. 12
Nov 1880, d. 24 Feb 1946, South Africa, aged 65 yrs; had had a fall about a year earlier, was concussed and fractured skull). 10 children: Willie (?daur Cicy b 1939?), Arthur,
Hector, Alex, Jimmy (m. with 2 girls 1945), Mary, (Mary m. ?Bert DALTON, in South Africa, had 3 children: Larry, b. 9 June 1922; Ken, b. 1925, killed in WWII, 1945, 20 yrs; Audrey
b 1936; Dalton visited aunt, uncle and cousins Stewart family in Perth).
1887-1899, 12 years military service, 1st Battalion, (Black Watch?) Royal Highlander Regiment; discharged Cape Town, 25 Aug 1899; reserve & regular army, including 6 and a half years overseas.
(see : http://www.wanlessweb.org/TNG/getperson.php?personID=I22&tree=30, accessed 31 July 2015)
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(unverified) 26 June 1930, aged 62 yrs, Cape Town, South Africa. |
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4 F Jane WANLISS (Jean) |
11 Mar 1870, West Mains of Huntly, Longforgan [B/377/1870/16
Longforgan] |
22 Jun 1894, Forgandenny, Perthshire: Archibald MELVIN, 25 yrs, bachelor,
shepherd, Dollerie, Madderty, Perthshire m. Jane WANLISS. (M/353-/1894/1 Forgandenny).
3 children: Polly (3 children Veda, George & Bill), Gus, Jack.
Before marriage, Jane was a farm servant, and had a daur. named Sarah WANLISS b. 24 Nov 1889, at Abbotts Grange Cottages, Polmont, Stirlingshire, father not named [B/487/1889/166 Polmont].
(Abbotsgrange farm shown on O.S 25 inch 2nd edition, 1897, Stirlingshire sheet
25.13, here, farm has disappeared, site is now on present Abbotsgrange
Road, Grangemouth.)
Before her marriage, Jane Wanliss also had a son, James WANLESS, b. 2/2/1892 at Inchture [or Forgandenny?], Perthshire, d.14/4/1982. James Wanless married Davina Brown (sister of Chay Brown, see below); 4 children: James, David,
Helen married name Cargill, living in Ayr 2015; and Alexander. (see below) |
2 Sept 1941, Jane MELVIN, 71 yrs, married to Archibald Melvin, estate worker, at
Smithy Cottage, Auchentiber, Kilwinning; daur of James Wanliss, farm labourer (dec'd) and Mary Ann Wanliss, m.s. Campbell (deceased); c.o.d. mitral stenosis, heart failure;
informant, John Melvin, son (D/599-/1941/98 Kilwinning).
(see also: here) |
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5 F Mary Ann WANLISS |
11 Jan 1872, Dron, Longforgan [B/377/1872/3 Longforgan] |
1 Dec 1893, Falkirk, Stirllingshire: William Tarbet ROBERTSON, 22 yrs, bachelor,
slater journeyman, of Howgate, Falkirk. Mary Ann was domestic servant, Howgate, Falkirk, 21 yrs, spinster. (M/479/1893/197 Falkirk).
Several children born to Mary Ann and William Robertson. Emigrated with
husband and children in 1921 to St . Johnsbury, Vermont, USA. |
(unverified): 1932, St Johnsbury, Vermont, USA. Buried in Center cemetery
there.
(source for marriage, family and death: http://www.wanlessweb.org/TNG/getperson.php?personID=I24&tree=30, accessed 31 Jan 2015. Includes a photo of Mary Ann and William Robertson, about 1915, taken in Falkirk)
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6 F Elisabeth WANLESS (Liz or
Lizzie) |
20 Sep 1873, Balgay, Inchture [B/359/1873/26 Inchture] |
1 Dec 1893, at Woodend, Forgandenny, Perthshire, after Free Church of Scotland
Banns: to Alexander STEWART, 23 yrs, bachelor, ploughman (may have been born in Killin parish, Perthshire abt 1870), Linlea, Forgandenny, son of Alexander Stewart, ploughman,
deceased, and Catherine Campbell, previously Stewart, m.s. Morrison, m. Elizabeth WANLISS, domestic servant, spinster, 20 yrs, Lochend, Forgandenny, Perthshire,
daur of James Wanliss, ploughman, and Marianne [sic] Wanliss, m.s. Campbell; wtnesses James Campbell, Minnie Wanliss (M/353-/1893/2 Forgandenny).
7 or 8 children (3 or 4 daurs, 4 sons): Mary Ann; Catherine (Kate); Julia; Ted; Jim; Donald; Willie; Lizzie. Julia had 2 children: Ian; and Betty (Betty had 2 sons, and 2 grandsons).
Before she married, Lizzie Wanliss was a domestic servant, and had a daur named Mary Ann Stewart WANLISS, b. 20 May 1893 Woodend,
Forgandenny, father not named [B/353/1893/8 Forgandenny]. |
5 Feb 1956, Elisabeth [sic] STEWART, 82 yrs, widow of Alexander Stewart,
blacksmith, at 13 St Magdalenes Road, Perth; c.o.d. cerebral thrombosis, hypostatic pneumonia; informant James Stewart, son, 237 Rannoch Road, Perth (D/387-/1956/72
Perth).
Living at Lethendy cottages, Scone (Scones of Lethendy farm?), Perthshire, 1901.
(See also here)
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7 F Wilhelmina WANLISS
("Minnie")
(Minnie Wanless witnessed sister Elizabeth's marriage, see here) |
12 Jul 1875, Bowbridge, Collace [B/340/1875/4 Collace] |
12 June 1896, Argargie Mains, parish of Forgandenny, Perthshire, after Banns according to the Forms of the Free Church of Scotland: Finlay BRUCE, ploughman, single, 25 yrs, Clathymore, Gask, son of Thomas Bruce, shepherd, and Jane Bruce m.s. McMartin, m. Wilhelmina WANLISS, domestic servant, single, 21 yrs, Ardargie Mains, Forgandenny, daur of James Wanliss, cattleman, and Mary Ann Wanliss, m.s. Campbell. (M/353-/1896/1 Forgandenny).
Daur: Mary Ann BRUCE, b. 1 July 1898,Clachan, parish of Blair Atholl, daur of
Finlay Bruce, gardener, and Williamina Bruce m.s. Wanless. (B/334-/1898/20 Blair Atholl).
Mary Ann Bruce m. James Robertson SYMON, farm grieve; resided Gloagburn farm
cottages, Tibbermore, Perth; d. 8 Oct 1983, aged 85 yrs, 11 Muirhall Rd, Perth, usual res. 35 Lynedoch Rd, Methven, c.o.d: bronchopreumonia, gen. debility, senile dementia; left
hemiparesis D/390/1983/765 Perth) |
19 Feb 1930, Williamina [sic] BRUCE, 55 yrs, married to Finlay Bruce, cattleman, at Hole O'Clean, Glencarse, Perthshire, usual res. Lawhill, Trinity Gask, Perthshire; c.o.d. hypostatic pneumonia, gastric carcinoma, as crt. by F.G. Melvin M.B. Ch.B., 6 Atholl Place, Perth; informant Finlay Bruce, widower, Lawhill, Trinity Gask (D/366/1930/2 Kinfauns).
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8 F Julia WANLISS (Julie)
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25 Jun 1877, Kirkton, Collace [B/340/1877/5 Collace] |
2 June 1899, 14 Tay Street, Perth, by declaration in presence of Alexandeer
Stewart, ploughman, Windyedge Farm, Perth, parish of Aberdalgie, and Martha Wanliss, The Cotton, parish of Aberdalgie: Alexander McBAIN, quarryman, 20, bachelor,135 High Street,
Rothesay, son of Alexander McBain, quarry manager, and Annabella McBain, m.s. Conachie, m. Julia WANLISS, domestic servant, spinster, 20 yrs, The Cotton, parish
of Aberdalgie, daur of James Wanliss, shepherd, and Mary Ann Wanliss, m.s. Campbell; warrant of Cheriff Substitute of Perthshire, dated 2 June 1899, Perth.
Several children; emigrated to Australia 1927 (see here). |
Unverified: 14 May 1948, Essendon, Victoria, Australia (wanlessweb.org source opposite) |
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9 M Alexander WANLISS (Alec) |
26 Feb 1879, Rashyhall, St Martins [393-A/1879/4 St
Martins] |
19 Dec 1908, Perth, at St John's East Parish Church, Perth, after Banns acc. to
forms of Estab. Ch. of Scot.: Alexander WANLISS, Sergeant, The Black Watch, bachelor, 29 yrs, usual res. Inchture, m. Mary C. GREIG, dressmaker, spinster, 25 yrs,
32 West Mill Street, Perth, F: James Storrar Greig, railway stationmaster, dec'd; M: Amelia Sprunt Greig, m.s. McLean, dec'd. Witnesses J. Campbell & Mary J. Bayne
(M/387-/1908/279 Perth).
Residing at Queen's Barracks, Perth, at father's death, 1902 (he was informant).
According to Elizabeth Stirling (email received 27 August 2024), "Mary Anne never remarried, and died on 12/7/1970 in what was the marital home, 25 Gilmore Place, Edinburgh." |
Alexander WANLISS, Lieutenant, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), 1st
Battalion. Killed in Action, 9 May 1915, age 36 yrs (D/137-AF/1915/130 Service Returns).
Honours: "mentioned in despatches".
Buried in Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, France. Grave reference XVI. E. 4. Record on Commonwealth War Graves Commission casualty details website here, providing further details: "Son of James and Mary Wanliss; husband of Mary C. Greig Wanliss, of 25, Gilmore Place, Edinburgh. Born at St. Martins." Commemorated on Inchture war memorial.
After working as a gardener Alec enlisted with the Black Watch Regiment in
Inverness on 1 March 1900 and received his commission in 1914. He was wounded and discharegd for several months but rejoined his battalion on 12 March 1915 and fought at the
Battle of Neuve Chapelle. He was promoted from 2nd Lieutenant to Lieutenant on 3 May 1915 but a few days later was killed in the Battle of Aubers Ridge on 9 May 1915, during which
more than 11,000 casualties were sustained by British forces, in support of the French army's assault on Vimy Ridge. A painting of the Black Watch in part of the battle is
here.
The Black Watch Regimental Museum, Perth, Scotland, holds items of his in the Alexander Wanliss Collection (Fonds BW55). |
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10 F Margaret McEwan WANLISS |
(unverified) 11 Nov 1880 Rashyhill, St Martins |
Single. (See also: http://www.wanlessweb.org/TNG/getperson.php?personID=I29&tree=30, accessed 31 Jan 2015) |
5 Dec 1880, aged 3 weeks, Rashyhall, St Martins, Perthshire; F: James Manliss, farm servant; M: Mary Ann Wanliss, m.s. Campbell; c.o.d. Debility (D/393-A0/1880/12 St Martins). |
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11 F Cecilia Deans McLaren WANLISS [AN11] |
3 Mar 1882, Oudenarde, Dunbarney [B/347/1882/5 Dunbarney] |
8 Dec 1905, Inchture, Andrew SMART [AN10].
(See also: http://www.wanlessweb.org/TNG/getperson.php?personID=I29&tree=30, accessed 31 Jan 2015)
2 children: Mary Ann Campbell Smart [AN5]; Andrew. |
1 Feb 1930, Infirmary, Dundee; usual res. New Mains farm cottages, Inchture,
Perthshire. |
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12 F Martha Rollo WANLISS
married and emigrated to Canada |
17 Jun 1883, Oudenard, Dunbarney [B/347/1883/13 Dunbarney] |
1 August 1902 at The Cotton, Aberdalgie, after Banns acc. to forms of the Church of Scotland: Martha Rollo WANLISS, domestic servant, spinster, 19 yrs, Cotton, Aberdalgie, daur of James Wanliss, cattleman and Mary Ann Wanliss, m.s.Campbell, m. John Douglas CRAIG, ploughman, bachelor, 24 yrs, Merriness, Tibbermore, son of Peter Craig, road supervisor, and Jane Craig, m.s. Douglas; witnesses Angus Smith & Bessie Wanless (M/323-/1902/3 Aberdalgie).
Emigrated to Canada sometime around the 1910s (?).
3 children: (1) Mary Ann CRAIG, b. 28 Sept 1902, Abbey Road, Scone (B/394-A0/1902/43 Scone); (2) Peter CRAIG, b. 2 Oct 1904, The Peel, Tibbermore (B/395-/1904/50); (3) Lottie (Charlotte) CRAIG.
Lottie m. 1939 Murray VINNELL, 8 children; Lottie VINNELL d. 26 Dec 2005 Brandon, usually residing Neepawa, both Manitoba, Canada; Murray VINNELL died mid 2004. Daur Joyce lives at Neepawa, Manitoba. |
Martha still alive in summer 1957, widowed, living in Neepawa, Manitoba. |
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13 F Betsy WANLISS ("Bess") |
8 Sep 1884, Woodend, parish of Forgandenny [B/353/1884/14
Dunbarney] |
14 Dec 1906, Inchture: Charles ("Chay") BROWN (b. Aug 1884, Murroes, Angus, son
of David Brown, farm labourer, and Helen Lamond, domestic servant, his wife), 22, bachelor, of Maggotland, Inchture; ploughman (d. abt. 1965); res. Linlathen Farm, Angus;
Chay injured in farm accident; retired to Monifieth. 3 children:
(1) Mary Ann Campbell BROWN,
born 6 Mar 1909 Mill of Murroes [B/313-/1909/7 Murroes], shop assistant, marr. 21 Mar 1934 [M/282-05/1934/7 Broughty Ferry] James Kerr GOURLAY, Grocer's vanman;
d. about 2000, aged 91 yrs (son Robert Ramsay (Bob) GOURLAY born 30 Oct 1935, Lochee [B/282-04/1935/560 Lochee], emig. to
N.Z. 1960, living Hawera 1998; see photo; d. 7 May 2012; m. Anne, who already had two sons from previous marriage, Craig & Bruce; Anne and Bob Gourlay had a daughter Marina b.
31 Jan 1975, who had two children, Kaylee b abt 1999 and Cullen b abt 2001; Anne Gourlay resided N.Z. Jan. 2015.) (2) David BROWN; d. before 2000? (3) Elizabeth BROWN b. Dec 1921 (m. COBB, daur Elizabeth (Liz) COBB, b. 1947, m. SIMPSON, who died July 2014, aged 69 yrs; Liz residing Monifieth 2015); |
At Whitehills hospital, Forfar, 14 June 1986, age 101 yrs, widowed, spouse
Charles Brown, cattleman; c.o.d. (1a) left ventricular failure, (1b) ischaemic heart disease, (2) dementia, cerebral arteriosclerosis; informant, David Brown, son, 17 Kenmore
Terrace, Dundee (D/364/1986/129 Forfar). |
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14 M Irvine WANLESS |
25 May 1886, Torhill, Forgandenny, Perthshire; F: James Wanliss, cattleman; M:
Mary Ann Wanliss, m.s. Campbell (B/353-/1886/10 Forgandenny) |
Single.
Died 23 Sep 1887, aged 16 months, at Abbots Grange Cottages, Polmont parish, Stirlingshire; F: James Wanliss, farm servant; M: Mary Ann Wanliss, m.s. Campbell; c.o.d. Gastro-enteritis, 7 days (D/487-/1887/43 Polmont).
(See also: http://www.wanlessweb.org/TNG/getperson.php?personID=I33&tree=30, accessed 31 Jan 2015)
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Created 23 Nov 2010 and revised 20, 21 & 31 Jan & 7, 8 & 15 Feb & 27 May 2015, & 28 August & 05, 06 & 14 October 2024 & 19 November 2024 by Peter Symon.
References: various entries on www.wanlessweb.org ; GRO(S) data; letters to J. Scot Symon, Errol, from cousins descended from Wanless family; family trees drawn by J Scot Symon, Errol, in 1970s
or 1980s; personal knowledge of J Scot Symon; photos from VINNELL descendants of Martha Rollo WANLISS, living in Canada and United States; emails from Ann Gourlay and Liz Simpson, Jan 2015;
photographs and pedigree sheets from Anne Gourlay, Feb 2015; catalogue for Lieutenant Alexander Wanliss collection (Fonds BW55) attached to email from Fiona Connah, Curator, Black Watch
Regimental Museum, Perth, 10 Oct 2024.
1881 Census, Dunbarney parish (reg. dist. 347), Perthshire, ED 2, p.1, James (39) & Mary Ann Wanless (37), farm servant & wife, 1 son and 4 daurs at school, infant daur "Juliha" (3) & son Alexander (2), (9 persons), residing "Oudnard Servants House".
1891 Census, Polmont district (487/00), ED 001 p.15, sch. 61, James (49) & Mary Ann Wanless (47), farm servant & wife, 4 daurs & 1 son at school, and 1 yr old granddaur Sarah (8 persons), living in house with 2 windowed rooms at Abbotts Grange Cottages.
James and Mary are buried in an unmarked grave in Jeanfield cemetery in Perth. Their burial place is immediately to the right of a stone for Turner, which is the second stone up on the second row facing east in the area of the cemetery named "Parochial 2, Section A".
It's quite a noisy location, close to Feus Road. Over the other side of the road is a bowling green. It's a short walk from McCash country shop.
The lair plan issued by the Council is wrongly numbered.
Children of James and Mary Ann Wanless
James Wanless and Mary Ann Campbell left a large number of descendants. Of their 14 children born, all of the 12 children that survived into adulthood married, of whom two sons and ten daughters. Eleven of the children are known to have had children; only for Alexander, the younger of the two sons, and who was killed in 1915 after having been married for six-and-a-half years, have no children so far been discovered. Jim, the elder son, married in South Africa, where his own children were born and raised.
Jim Wanless (third child) and his descendants
In the 1960s and possibly later my mother and father used to receive a calendar every Christmas as a present from one of the Dalton family in South Africa. I remember the yearly calendar quite vividly and looked forward to receiving it as it had lots of full colour photographs of the beautiful scenery and exotic widlife of the South African National Parks, possibly as many as one photo per week-to-view, quite thick, like a spiral bound book.
Jane Wanliss ("Jean") (fourth child) and her descendants
Before her marriage in Forgandenny on 22 June 1894 with Archibald Melvin, Jane ("Jean") Wanliss (b. 11 March 1870 Longforgan; d 2 September 1941 Kilwinning) had two children: 1. a girl she named Sarah, b 24 Sept 1889 Polmont, about which nothing is known at present; and 2. a boy she named James. According to an email received from Elizabeth Stirling, 27 August 2024, granddaughter of this James Wanless, he was born 2 February 1892 at Inchture and died 14 April 1982; he was raised by his grandparents [my comments: presumably maternal grandparents, James and Mary Ann Wanless, the former would have died when young James was 10 years old]; on 12 February 1919, at 72 Bell Street, Dundee, James Wanless married Davina Brown (b. 4/2/1895 at Murroes, d.1990).
Below are photographs of James Wanless (1892-1982) as a young man during the 1920s and of Davina Brown his future spouse (1895-1990), the latter when in service, probably in Monifeith, aged around 14 or 15 (photos courtesy of Elizabeth Stirling).
Liz Wanless or Stewart (sixth child)
The subjects of the photograph on the left are "Great gran Mary Anne Wanliss, great aunt Liz (Stewart), Liz's daughter & grand child": (rightmost) Mary Ann Wanliss, née Campbell (b. about 1843, d.1920); (second from right) her daughter Elizabeth "Lizzie" Stewart (b.1873, d.1956); (leftmost) one of Elizabeth's daughters, not identified; and (second from left) the latter's child, the great-grandchild of Mary Ann and James Wanless.
The photograph is undated and the photographer is unknown. Digital reproduction of printed photocopy of card-mounted photograph.
The photograph was probably taken in Perth during the 1910s, shortly before the death of Mary Ann Campbell or Wanless, in 1920, aged 78 yrs, at New Mains farm cottages, Inchture, Perthshire, Scotland.
My father, Mr. J. Scot Symon, attended Perth Academy from 1949-1955, in the same year as one of the Stewart girls. The Stewarts lived in Craigie, Perth, on St. Magadalenes Road.
From the personal archives of Mrs. Anne Gourlay, Hawera, Taranaki, New Zealand, widow of the late Mr Bob Gourlay, the son of Mary Ann Campbell Brown, the daughter of Betsy "Bess" Wanless and Charles "Chay" Brown, Bess being the the daughter of James and Mary Ann Wanless and a younger sister of Elisabeth "Lizzie" Stewart or Wanless, pictured here.
Alexander Wanliss (ninth child)
Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Stirling
Newspaper article reporting the death of Lieutenant Alexander Wanliss, of Inchture, Perthshire. He was a professional soldier in the British Army, serving with the 1st Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) regiment.
According to the newpaper article, he joined the Army about 1900 just after the outbreak of the Boer War. Most of his early soldiering was at Perth; he also served at the Curragh base in Ireland. A skilled marksman, he won many shooting competitions and was an instructor in musketry in 1909. Appointed company sergeant-major in 1914. Received his Commission in October 1914; joined A Company, 1st Battalion, Black Watch Regiment; fought in the first Battle of Ypres, wounded in November 1914, several months of convalescence; rejoined his battalion 5 March 1915 and fought in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle; Promoted from Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant a few days before he was killed in action on 9 May 1915 in the battle of Aubers Ridge near the Belgian frontier in France. The advance of Black Watch infantry on German trenches on that day was a rout, with many losses on the British side due to machine gun fire. Victoria Schofield, in The Black Watch: Fighting in the Front Line 1899-2006, Head of Zeus, London, 2017, pp. 66-70), describes how, behind the pipers at the front, each officer walked six paces in front of their platoon. The Perthshire Advertiser initially reported that he had been killed; that his wife [Mary Greig] was meantime residing at Inchture; and that he had another sister in Perth (P.A., "Rose From the Ranks. Perthshire Lieutenant Killed at the Front", 19 May 1915, p.7). However, at the time of writing, the circumstances, including date, of his death are still to be confirmed. In June 1915, the same paper reported that "On the 22nd April [sic] the name of Second [sic] Lieutenant Alexander Wanless [sic], 1st Black Watch, appeared in the official casualty list of killed, but the latest information goes to show that he is wounded and mising. The possibility is thus always present that he is safe and sound, and the wish is certainly father to the thought." ("Fate of Perth Lieutenant. Officially Reported Killed Now Missing. Rose From the Ranks", Perthshire Advertiser, Saturday 12 June 1915, p.3, col. 1). But several years later, his remains were transferred from an unidentified grave and reinterred in Cabaret Rouge British cemetery at Souchez (Pas de Calais), France, a few kilometres south west of the city of Lens, near the Vimy Ridge and the French national war memorial and military cemetery, la Nécropole nationale de Notre-Dame-de-Lorette.
He was a talented Highland dancer. He was also an artist: a painting attributed to him is in the possession of Elizabeth Stirling. The Black Watch Regimental Museum, Perth, Scotland hold some items formerly belonging to him which are catalogued here.
One of the family names of his widow's mother is Sprunt, a name found over many generations in Carse of Gowrie families.
Cecilia Wanless or Smart (eleventh child, Ancestor Number 11)
Married Andrew Smart (Ancestor Number 10). See separate entry.
Martha Wanless or Craig (twelfth child)
One of the granddaughters of James and Mary Ann Wanless, Mary Smart, married my grandfather, Peter Symon, whose son, Scot Symon, kept in touch with several of his (second) cousins over the years,
visiting the farm near Neepawa, Manitoba, in 1957, while over on a student summer working holiday, later we visited as a family in the 1970s. One of these second cousins was Lottie
Vinnell, daughter of Martha Craig, nee Wanless (or Wanliss), who lived near Neepawa, with the family of whom we are still in touch.
Murray and Lottie Vinnell or Craig, 35th wedding anniversary, July 1974.
Photographer unknown. Personal archives of Eleanor Symon.
Bess Wanless or Brown (13th child)
The subjects are believed to be Betsy "Bess" Brown or Wanless, and children of her sister Elisabeth "Lizzie" Stewart or Wanless, in Perth. Bess Brown was the mother of Mary Brown or Gourlay, pictured above with her cousin Mary Smart or Symon, in Errol, late 1930s. Bess and her sister Lizzie look very alike in these two pictures.
The picture is from the personal archives of Mrs. Anne Gourlay, Hawera, Taranaki, New Zealand, widow of the late Mr Bob Gourlay, the son of Mary Ann Campbell Brown, the daughter of Betsy "Bess" Wanless and Charles "Chay" Brown. Marked "Bob's granny & Stewart family from Perth", the photograph was probably taken in the early years of the 1900s.
Photographer: J. Chalmers Leslie, National Bank Buildings, S. Methven Street, Perth, Scotland. (Same photographer studio as the photo reproduced above, of James Wanless and Mary Ann Campbell
or Wanless.) Digital reproduction of printed photocopy of the original on card.
Mary Brown or Gourlay (granddaughter of James and Mary Ann Wanless)
Mary Brown or Gourlay (left), Mary Smart or Symon (right) and (probably) Robert (Bob) Gourlay, at Errol, late 1930s. Mary Symon's son, Scot, was born a year after his second cousin
Bob.
The two Marys were first cousins. Mary Brown was the daughter of Bess Wanless, who married Chay Brown. Both Bess and Chay died in 1997. Mary married and became Mary
Gourlay.
Mary Smart was the daughter of Cecilia Wanless, who married Andrew Smart. Cecilia Wanless and Bess Wanless were sisters, both daughters of James Wanless and Mary Ann Campbell.
The photograph is by an unknown photographer. It was originally a "snapshot" (or passport) size photograph and was in a family photo album sent to the late Bob Gourlay after the death of
his parents in 1997. The photo was enlarged to 3.5 x 5 inches (approx 9 x 12.5 cm) by Bob Gourlay, who kindly sent a copy of it to Scot Symon, in 1998. Bob Gourlay was living in
Hawera, New Zealand, where he had worked for New Zealand Post for 25 years, having emigrated from Scotland in 1960 with a couple of workmates from the Dundee Courier. He remained in New
Zealand until his death on 7 May 2012 after a long illness.
In his 1997 letter enclosing the photograph Bob wrote that he had very clear memories of staying with his second cousins Scot and Mary Symon, and their parents Peter and Mary Symon, at Linlathen
Farm, Angus, where his grandparents, Mary Symon's Uncle Chay and Auntie Bess, lived. Chay was injured in the cattle byre at the farm and thereafter had to wear a built-up shoe.
The photograph is taken in the garden of Cobble Brae, on Gas Brae, Errol, with a small orchard beyond. In the background is the gable of the former United Presbyterian Church (originally
the Secession Church), later a knitwear factory then joiner's workshop, and the flagpole of Errol bowling clubhouse. The rubble surrounding is probably from the building works carried
out on Cobble Brae by Mary Symon's husband's firm, James S. Symon & Son, builders and drainage contractors, in the late 1930s. The boy, who is thought to be Mary Brown or Gourlay's son
Bob, is probably aged about 2 years, suggesting the photo was taken around 1937 or 1938, on a visit by Mary with Jim and Bob Gourlay to her cousin Mary's family in Errol.