Harkness – MacGillivray Stories

I show the last exchanges I had with my cousin James in 2009. He sent me a Christmas greeting and I responded with a New Year message.

Email from James Christmas 2008 email

Hello, Ian

This is just to wish you and all your family a very happy Christmas and New Year.

Not much has happened on the family tree investigation in the past year. My daughter in law from Texas had promised to do some work when she was overvisiting in July. But she was so busy enjoying herself with old friends and family, she hardly ever sat down at the computer.

My sister Eleanor was over from Canada in November and she brought over some really great old photos, which were new to me, but they were mainly of our mother’s side of the family, including one of my mother as a 2 year old, with her brother and sister in 1910, outside their house in Fountainbridge (Rosemount Buildings ) which was just round the corner from where Sean Connery lived as a child. She also had a photo of our grandfather Joseph Crawford in his First World War army uniform (he died in 1919 in a military hospital ) and this was an emotional moment for me, because I had never seen a photo of him before.

On our side of the family she also produced a photo of our grandfather James Whitecross Harkness in his First World war army uniform (he was a machine gun operator – a very dangerous job in that war ) but he survived and I knew him well till he died in the 1950’s. My sister also produced a photo (very grainy unfortunately ) of his wedding in 1908 to Charlotte Riddell (this was the couple who lived at Comely Bank Road in Edinburgh ) so it is quite probable that your grandfather would have attended this wedding.

I attach a copy of this wedding photo (I have attempted to improve it with my very basic photo editing program, but with not much effect sadly)

All the best

James

Hello James, 3rd January 2009

Happy New Year!

Thank you for your interesting letter and photograph! It comes as a reminder that my proposed investigations regarding the Harkness family have not materialised; I blame this on the fact that I fell into the house repairs trap, which consumed both time and money. 

This is interesting news and photograph of James Whitecross Harkness, my great uncle, who was the elder brother of my grandfather, Alexander Whitecross (it’s interesting that these two names James Whitecross and Alexander Whitecross span over nearly 200 years); is your middle name Whitecross? 

The photos which your sister sound very interesting. I have a photograph of my grandfather and his wife Georgina Hume sitting/standing next to what looks like a ships gun; perhaps my grandfather was a sailor and operated such a gun during the war (I know very little about him). I can send the photograph as an attachment. 

The 100 year old photos which I sent you before pose a mystery; I seem to remember my mother saying my father had relations in Orkney; but I have to find out what side of the family they are on (Hume, Whitecross, Harkness, etc.). 

I hope during the first half of 2009 to at least make some preliminary investigations; I can start by using ScotlandsPeople on the Internet. Paul Harkness has done a lot of this work already – so I can perhaps add to what he’s already done. 

When I started on this about two years ago, I also found information regarding wills etc.; for example our great grandfather, William Harkness’ will. This material is interesting because it helps build a picture of where they lived, what they did, and how well off or poor they were. If and when I start on this would it be okay if I send you an email if any questions arise?

Best regards,

Ian Harkness