Hi i am looking for information on a harry or henry bird could be spelled byrd.he was in st.louis missouri in the year 1944-45.he joined the service in 1944-45 in st.louis missouri..he is my mothers father and she has never met him.her mother died when she was one so she has no other info to go on..thank you for any info you might give.
I just read your message from Pat. Did she ever get back to you again re the mother of John Martin McKay? His mother was apparently burnt in a house fire when he was a baby.
I am a granddaughter of Gordon Robert McKay, brother of your grandfather. I live in Queensland. My father, aged 89 is also living in Qld with my Mum aged 88. I have photos of both John & Betsey.
Thank you for your response. Wow, I am really interested in our connection, Patricia hasn't been in touch as far as I know.
Deb, I am in Townsville, can email me on slammckay@gmail.com if interested and I can send copies of BDM certificates if you don't have. The family is a little confusing but I have done Heavy research into it, (still lots to do) as a result finally met my brother! after some 60 odd years. Would love to see photos of family.
As for John Martin McKay, I have him as the son of John McKay & Emma Kelly. That line finished there for me at the moment. Would love more info if you have it and details of Fire?
John went on to marry Betsey Bird (5/11/1890) Children were;
William, James Edward (my Father), George Leslie, Gordon Robert (1895 - 1971, M Ethel May Dixon), Bessie Emiline, Emma E, Annie Alice I, Frederick Walter, Herbert, Lily M, Harold Herbert, & Eric McKay.
I have very few photos of my father and some Police photos of George, Some newspaper stories of Insurance fraud in NZ and various bits and pieces about different charges laid by police for possessing possum skins and stealing etc;
Would your Father be Dudley? If so, then Gordon is son of my Grandfather John McKay born 1867. My father being James Edward McKay B 1892 D 1985, Cowra NSW.
Happy to have you contact me and explore options, also would be very interested to do DNA tests with any Male descendents of the above (males are the only ones that can carry on the genes for DNA testing)
Anyway, would love to confirm or otherwise the connection.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Kind Regards
David Dunk.
Hello David
I just read your message from Pat. Did she ever get back to you again re the mother of John Martin McKay? His mother was apparently burnt in a house fire when he was a baby.
I am a granddaughter of Gordon Robert McKay, brother of your grandfather. I live in Queensland. My father, aged 89 is also living in Qld with my Mum aged 88. I have photos of both John & Betsey.
my grandfather was john martin mckay and his father was john mckay who married Betsy Bird Orange Nsw I am trying to get more info on Betsy Bird family. John martin mckay was not Betsys child John sen and Betsy had a large family
Sorry for the delay in responding but bhad typed out a very lengthy response but lost it in comp melt down. I will do it again but much more briefly>
John Mckay B Abt 1867 7 Betsy Bird B 15/11/1866 M 05/11/1890 had 11 Children my father James Edward Mckay was one of them. There were in fact 12 Children if you count William B Abt 1891. On birth certificate for Harold Herbert Betsey has note in col 6 (Previous Issue) Ommit (Sic) the name of "William 16 Yrs"
I note that you said that John Martin was not Bestey's child? was John Mckay previously married or what?/ Love details if you have them and issue etc.
I have a fair bit on Betsey and family:
In brief ... Betsey's parents were George Bird & Georgianna Elsey, george & (Hanna) Georgianna arrived from England on the "Herald" on the 22/08/1856. They were paid passengers (they paid One Pound) and sponsored by George's brother.
Georges Parents:
Samuel Bird B 25/11/1835 M 27/04/1856 Sarah Tricker B 11/10/1835
Georgina's
Edward Elsey (spelling varies as does the McKay) & Margaret Wick
Have much more if interested, what have you in details re the relationship with John Martin and John Snr?
Deb has been in touch with me. Welcome to another member of the family, Pop Mckay ( John Martin Mckay) Married Aice louise Bennett of guyong nsw they had 11 children 4 girls 7 boys all gone to heaven now . With the help of Deb and a nother member of Nans family I have been able to peice together a large part of the family history good and bad, it been a great journey But my big stumbling block is finding our G G grandfather JohnMckay who you was born in co kildare Ireland 1826 Also on our Pops birth certificate is mother is Emily Jane shelley ,pops marriage cert also Emily j shelley Her death cert Caroline Shelley John married emmily jane in 1888 and she died 1888 Deb has helped me out there so Her father was James Shelley mother Catherine Rhyan, but when I found their family tree she is not mentioned puzzling But this is what makes you keep buzy chaseing up more info David my email address is pjjeffery@waterfront .net.au love to hear from you Pat
