Genealogy in Helensburgh/Cardross area

[David Taylor]

Anyone with genealogical knowledge in that part of Scotland. I have a grandson who has great connections specially with Cardross and Greenock. I would appreciate contacts with any fellow members of "Our Scotland who have an interest! Thanks

[dafthermit]

Hi my friend

great to see my wee village of Cardross get a mention

i was born in Mill Rd

peace and light

[Margaret MacGillivray]

Hi - although we're incomers to Cardross, that's our home town. Not sure if I can be much help, but you never know!

M

[David Taylor]

Hello Margaret,

Many thanks for responding to my query on the Cardross families. It's an unknown part of the country for me, although I have very early memories of Helensburgh, Balloch and Loch Lomond! Last year my wife and I explored the area and spent a lovely couple of hours wandering through the old kirkyard. There are many stones there of these families (Donald, Geils and McAlister) which interest us. Our grandson is directly descended from the Donalds of Lyleston; and his distant collaterals (Geils and McAlister) also had Ardmore and Geilston estates! He is "weel nekkit" as they say - but all connections with these places has gone lang syne - and the money as well, needless to say!!!! As I know a bit about genealogy, it is doubtful if there is all that much more to be found out at a local level, although Helenburgh or Dumbarton libraries might have something, or perhaps the Glasgow & West of Scotland Family History Society. I really need to find out who has the estate papers of these 3 houses - maybe even still locally held!. Anyway, if you care to look up the references below, it will give you a better idea of what was going on in Cardross parish a couple of hundred years ago - or at least who the heritors were at that time. Thanks for your interest. and by all means keep in touch. - David

www.electricscotland.com/history/garelochside/chapter11.htm

http://lu.softxs.ch/mackay/Couples5/C33975.html