I have a page apparently cut from a family Bible giving details of this couple, their children and grandchildren. Much of the writing is in the same hand, probably that of William Rankin Bow (b.1859), the eldest of seven children of Robert & Marion. As the 'Family Register' shows, all seven were dead by 1899: FAMILY REGISTER Robert Bow, born at Auchenrivoch, near Banton, 17th July 1820. Died at Bogside, 16th November 1878. Aged 58 years. and Marion Rankin, born at Bogside, 18th Septr. 1834. Died there, 24th March 1881 aged 46 years. [written down left-hand and right-hand sides] Married 3rd December 1857 1. William Rankin Bow. Born at Queenzie Cottage, Queenzieburn, near Kilsyth, 18th October 1859. [in another hand] Died The Hollies Larbert 25th Jan. 1896 aged 36 years. 2. John Bow. Born at Queenzie Cottage, Queenzieburn, near Kilsyth, 4th June 1862. Died at the house of his Aunt, Mrs. Hay, 383 St. George's Road, Glasgow, on Tuesday 29th March 1892 at 11.45 a.m. 3. Agnes Cleland Bow. Born at Queenzie Cottage, Queenzieburn, near Kilsyth, 26th April 1864. Died Bogside, 18th Septr. 1869. Aged 5 years. (Scarlet fever) 4. Robert Bow. Born Bogside, 13th August 1866. Died there, 12th Septr. 1869. Aged 3 years. (Scarlet fever) 5. Peter Bow. Born Bogside, 6th January 1869. [in another hand] Died New Zealand, 16th August 1898, aged 29 years. 6. James Ebenezer Bow. Born Bogside, 21st July 1871. [in another hand] Died Hastings, 20th September 1899. Aged 28 years. 7. Roberta Helen Agnes Bow. Born Bogside, 18th December 1874. Died there, 23rd October 1880, aged 5 years and 10 months. (Scarlet fever) William Rankin Bow and Jane Hamilton Park - married 25th Decbr 1884 Jane Hamilton Park born at Doune Perthshire, 30th July 1862.- 1. Robert Rankin Bow, born Bogside, 4th March 1886 2. Marion Bow, born South Broomage, Larbert, 13th June 1888 3. George Clark Bow, born The Hollies, Larbert, 28th June 1890. [in another hand] William Rankin Bow died The Hollies, Larbert 25th Jan. 1896. ---------------------------------------------------------------- There are no known living descendants of William Rankin Bow and Jane Hamilton Park. Their youngest son George was killed in the First World War. Their eldest son Robert suffered some sort of breakdown while a medical student and is believed to have spent the rest of his life in an asylum. Marion ('May') did not marry. After her death, her papers passed to her first cousin, my grandmother, and thence to me. Three of William Rankin Bow's siblings did survive to adulthood (John, Peter and James Ebenezer), so it is possible that they had children, even though nothing is mentioned in the 'Family Register' about marriages or children. I am putting this information online in case there are descendants of Robert Bow and Marion Rankin, for I would very much like to be able to give this 'Family Register' back to a member of the family.
Huncamunca Ancestry have the Probate for James Ebenezer Bow of London M.D., confirmed by "Robert Rankin Bow Marion Bow George Clark Bow and Jane Park or Bow widow" so it doesn't look as though he married, though I wouldn't say this is conclusive ... I've tried looking for a death notice on Papers Past for Peter's death in NZ but have found nothing. Apologies if you know this already
Ooh, that's interesting, thank you! Was this in 1899, or later? (I ask because Robert Rankin Bow, Marion Bow and George Clark Bow would only have been children when their uncle James Ebenezer Bow died; I wonder why they are mentioned.) Does the entry give any clue as to whether James had left a will? I had assumed not, since a probate search on Scotland's People comes up with an inventory for 'James Ebenezer Bow M.D., sometime residing at Glasgow, thereafter at Bristol, and thereafter at London, d.20/09/1899 at Hastings, Sussex, intestate'. (I ought to get a copy in any case, as there are five pages and perhaps there will be some useful snippet of family history there.) Thank you for looking anyway! His death registration is in the NZ deaths index. I will have to send off for a death certificate.
I've had a look at the newspapers to see if I could find anything of use, but not had much luck. However there are several mentions of a Mrs Rankin Bow who appears to have been the widow of a Dr Rankin Bow and was a Martin before she married. Her mother's obit in the Dundee Courier for the 8th January 1924 reads - WILL BE MISSED IN ELIE. Last Tributes to Mrs Martin. The interment took place in Elie Churchyard yesterday of Mrs Martin, Breakwater House, Elie, and was attended by a large and representative concourse of mourners. A funeral service was held in the Parish Church, and. was conducted by Rev. D. M. Bell, Elie, when a large congregation met to pay their last tribute. The pall-bearers were—Mr Hardie D. Martin (son), Mr P. W. Martin (grandson), Mr J. D. R. Bow (grandson), Mr P. Handyside (cousin). Sir Robert Greig, Mr lan Maclntyre, Mr J. C. Munro Kerr; Mr N. Munro Kerr. Mrs Martin died in Edinburgh at the house her daughter, Mrs Rankin Bow, with whom she had been staying for the past few months. News of her sudden demise came as a great shock to her many friends Elie. Closely Identified with Elie, Mrs Martin, who was a descendant the Bennets of Broomlees, was closely identified with Elie and its interests. Her early days were spent Liverpool, where she married Mr John D. Martin, shipping agent, who predeceased her by about 30 years. Local love was so strong a characteristic of Mrs Martin's personality that she returned to the scene of her childhood days, and had since made Elie her home. Benevolent and large-hearted, Mrs Martin will be missed far and near. Her unassuming generosity was a household word. She had a large circle of friends, who delighted in the ready wit and repartee which she inherited from her Irish mother. She was a keen lover of animals, particularly of dogs, and strongly denounced vivisection. Mrs Martin is survived by her son, Mr Hardie Martin, stockbroker Liverpool, and by her daughter, Mrs Rankin Bow, widow of Dr Rankin Bow, Edinburgh. Do you think there is any connection? Or is this a totally unrelated Rankin Bow? Best wishes Ann
Sorry, should have said that it is dated 13 February 1900; so yes, they were still very young, but presumably considered old enough to swear an oath or be witnesses. Since it doesn't have the same format as the English Probates I am used to I cannot tell if there is a will. It merely says "Confirmed by" and then their names. Then "Sealed 13 February". There is no indication of the value of his Estate.
Thank you for checking that again. Perhaps if I get a copy of the Scottish inventory then everything will become clear. I haven't done any research on the Bow family outside the immediate family of the William Rankin Bow who married into my Park family, so I don't know if there is any connection with the Dr Rankin Bow who you've found mentioned in the newspapers. I think I had better get myself some more Scotland's People credits to do some digging.
There is a John Donald Rankin Bow in the New York Passenger Lists 1820-1957 collection on Ancestry (sorry, can't check detail of this )
In 1891 John Bow (unmarried, 28, cashier in shipping office) and Peter Bow (unmarried, 22, clerk in drysalter's office) were at the Hollies, Stirling Road, Larbert, with William R. Bow, his wife and their three small children (piece 485, f.2, p.7). Meanwhile, their youngest brother, Jas E. Bow, a 20 year old medical student, was a vistor in the household of George Park, physician and surgeon, in Kilsyth (my great-great-grandfather, and William Rankin Bow's father-in-law) (piece 483, f.2, p.3). Peter Bow must have emigrated between 1891 (when he was still in Larbert) and 1898 (when he died in New Zealand). He could well be the 24 year old Mr P. Bow, traveller, British, on board the 'Elingamite' in 1894, according to an NZ passenger list on FamilySearch: https:// familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12142-118452-29?cc=1609792&wc=M9SS-B3Q:n1103849828 He had contracted to land at Dunedin.
I have been trying to find out more about this family, Ann, in case there is any connection. Hardie D. Martin, with what appear to be his sister, her husband, and their son John D.R. Bow were in the Liverpool area in 1901. Interpretation is made a little harder as the head of the household is not there: 279 Edge Lane, ecclesiastical parish of Fairfield St John the Divine, civil parish of West Derby (RG 13/3487, f.12, p.15) Hardie B. Martin, son, s, 22, stock & share broker, employer, b. Lancs Liverpool Maxwell R. Bow, s-in-law, m, 32, medical practioner, b. India Mary A. H. do, dau, m, 21(??), b. Lancs Liverpool John D.R. do, grandson, 1, b. do plus three servants. This Maxwell R. Bow seems likely to be Maxwell Ranken Bow, M.B., C.M., of 7 South Gray Street, Edinburgh, who died 5 March 1922 at Dumfries, according to the probate index on Scotland's People (Edinburgh Sheriff Court will + inventory).
I do not know if it is relevant but there is a tree on the internet - Kilsyth connections. www. shaweb.net/connections/pafg60.htm#877 I can never quite figure these type of layouts but it does mention a Peter Bow married Susan Sim on 28 Dec 1883 in Kilsyth, Stirlingshire and underneath that are two spaces with 'Living' written in them.
I meant to say I'd put a photograph of Robert Rankin Bow, Marion ('May') Bow and George Clark Bow in an album here. One of my treasures is a wooden box given to me by 'Cousin May' when I was a child. I use it for jewellery; one of the things in it is the wedding ring of May's mother, my great-great-aunt Jane. The photo makes me sad, for I know that there will be no-one left to remember May and her brothers after I have gone.
Thank you for the link, Mutters. I can see some familiar names there, but it is all rather muddled (some people seem to be entered twice with different ID numbers, and then their wives are shown as being married to two separate people with the same name, eek ). I think that must be a different Peter Bow you found (mine was still single in 1891) but he may well be a relation. I will do more digging.
Peter Bow and a Susan are on the 1891 and 1901 Scotland Census with a string of children. There is a probate in London for a Peter Bow of 'the Hollies' Larbert. Confirms the date of death you have (16 August 1898) and as being at Seacliffe Asylum, Wellington. Confirmation of John Hay Shipping Agent and Allan Marshall, Farmer. Sealed London 17 Feb 1899. The one marrying Susan and on the census in 1901 was born 1863 Kilsyth. He cannot be the one that died in NZ but there must be a connection.
Thank you again Mutters. I have just been looking for probate stuff too, but in Scotland. There is an inventory for Peter Bow, 'resided at The Hollies, Larbert, son of the deceased Robert Bow, coalmaster, Kilsyth, d. 16/08/1898 at Seacliff Asylum, Wellington, New Zealand, testate', dealt with in the Stirling Sheriff Court in 1899 but the abstract also says 'extract registered settlement confirmation ad non executa granted 10/02/1933'. There is also a will and inventory for John Bow of 383 St George's Road, Glasgow, died 29/03/1892 at Glasgow, which corresponds with the address and date of death of 'my' John Bow given in the Family Register. I will get copies of these documents to see if Peter or John mention any children.
So now it looks as if Cousin May's uncle Peter died in an asylum, as well as her brother Robert. I am told that May chose not to have children, because she feared her brother's condition was hereditary. Perhaps her uncle was afflicted with the same thing?
I think I've sorted out the two Peters. Robert and Marion' Peter is 2 years old in the 1871 census. He must have been the Peter that went to NZ. In 1871 there is a John born 1835 and Agnes born 1833 with their children living at Bows Property, Kilsyth John Bow age 13, Jane Bow age 11 Agnes Bow age 9 Seather Bow age 6 Elisabeth Bow age 4 Mary Bow age 2 David Bow age 10 Mo It must have been Seather/Peter that went on to become a blacksmith and marry Susan.
Thank you yet again, Mutters, I am filling up bits of paper with Bow family trees as we speak. I have bought some credits for Scotland's People to try to find out more about these Bows. Sadly the 1911 census confirms the family story about Robert Rankin Bow. I found him in the Gartnavel Royal Lunatic Asylum, Glasgow, listed as 25 years old and a medical student. His infirmity is shown as 'lunatic'. (ref. 644/12 043/00 002). The statutory death register shows that Robert Rankin Bow died at 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow, at 5.10 p.m. on 21 April 1961, aged 75. He had been suffering from generalised arteriosclerosis for 20 years, and died of cerebral thrombosis. Google tells me that the address where he had died is the Gartnavel Royal Hospital, where he had been in 1911. So it looks like he spent at least half a century there.
That's so sad Huncamunca. There is a roots chat thread that has some of the John and Agnes Millar family mentioned. There is a gravestone of their young daughter Mary pictured in Kilsyth Old Churchyard. Quite a few descendants looking for their information. www. rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,248161.0.html?PHPSESSID=48kecv40sv8n741q03p1p95262
There is a wonderful civil history of Kilsyth. http://www.paperclip.org.uk/kilsythweb/history/archivesources/IICivilHistory.htm Quote: If you cannot find a family to give the register to perhaps the parish would be interested.
So very sad Huncamunca, & who knows? perhaps the 'lunatic' conditon was something familiar to us today like epilepsy or similar. Even cysts on the brain which may well have been hereditary.
