Until late May 2008 nothing was known of the first-born of John McCreath and Elizabeth Walker. As part of a ‘file sorting’ exercise undertaken at that time, I stumbled across earlier correspondence with Jackie Medicks of Dumfries and Mike McCreath of Potters Bar. Both had provided information about their respective families, though, at that earlier time, we were unable to establish a direct connection.
Close perusal of one particular letter from Jackie allowed the connection to be made.
James, this son of John McCreath and Elizabeth Walker, is the great-grandfather of both Jackie and Mike – making Jackie and Mike second cousins. Both were delighted that I was instrumental in their having made contact. Both were keen to engage in further research.
Information provided by Mike allowed Jackie to ‘flesh out’ family details known by her.
Jackie knew that her grandfather, James (Jim) McCreath, was born in Everton on 16th December 1873 – one six off-spring of James McCreath and Margaret McCreath (maiden single name unknown).
Jackie then enlisted the help of a friend of her mother who worked in a Liverpool library.
The librarian friend located her great-grandparent’s marriage certificate. Her great-grandmother’s maiden name was revealed as Margaret McIntyre. The couple tied the knot in North Leith, Edinburgh in 1871. Her great-grandparents names are given as John McCreath (Wine & Spirit Merchant) and Elizabeth Walker.
On the marriage certificate, James is identified as a Merchant Seaman – and his residence given as 4 Pluto Street, Liverpool. He appears again at Kirkdale, Liverpool in 1878 – where he died on 16th November 1880 – aged 39. The date fits perfectly with James, son of John McCreath and Elizabeth Walker. James is buried at Anfield Cemetery, Liverpool in a family grave).
By this means a particularly vigorous branch has been connected.