From Northern Ireland to Old Cumnock
By Roberta McGee
Over the years a great many Cumnockians emigrated world-wide in search of a better life. However, on the other hand, some families saw Cumnock as a thriving, bustling town, the perfect place to work and raise a family. By the early 1900s Cumnock had grown in population and attracted many Irish immigrants who found work in the coal mining industry.
Elizabeth Clawson was my husband's grandmother. Known as Betty, she was born in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland in 1872. Betty was the sixth child of James Clawson and Margaret Dempsey who were married in 1858 in Rocavan, Co. Antrim. James, a labourer, and Margaret lived in Glenarm, Tickmacrevan, Co. Antrim.
Glenarm is a picturesque village and dates back to before the 17th century. It lies on the North Channel coast about twelve miles north of the town of Larne which is just a short distance from Stranraer in Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland.
When and why Betty moved to Scotland is uncertain but in 1893 we find her in Stevenston, Ayrshire, where she married Thomas McGee, a foundry worker aged 22 years. They married in the Free Church Manse in Stevenston on 27th October 1893. Betty's occupation is given as 'field worker'. Her mother, Margaret Dempsey, is recorded as deceased.
Tom McGee was born in Dimity Street, Johnstone, Renfrewshire. His father was James Campbell McGee and his mother was Elizabeth Menzies, both of Irish extraction. Tom and his seven siblings led an unsettled life. His father was a pedlar and they travelled around from area to area.
The 1901 census shows Tom, now a bricklayer's labourer, and Betty living in 18 Windmill Street, Saltcoats, with their two children James Campbell McGee who was born in 1894 in Stevenston and Thomas McGee who was born in 1896 at 15 McDowall Street, Johnstone. Betty's sister Maggie and her husband were also living in Windmill Street.
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| Tommy, Jimmy, Sam & Alex McGee |
In 1901/1902 Tom found employment as an insurance agent and they moved firstly to Tower Street, Cumnock where they had four children, Sam, Alex, Maggie and Neil, then to 98 Townhead Street, Cumnock where they had their youngest child William.
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| Tom McGee with sons Sam & Neil at Michie Street |
Although Tom's job as an insurance agent brought the family to Cumnock, he soon realised that a mining town would always need a chimney sweep. His main work throughout his life in Cumnock was sweeping chimneys and he supplemented his income at times through the years by being a greenkeeper, lamplighter, town crier, bill poster and J.P. Court Officer.
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| Cumnock Chronicle 1914 |
Tom and Betty's religion was very important to them. They were attracted to Gospel work and Tom would go out into the community to preach the Gospel with his sons Tom and Jimmy who were his Gospel singers. Later they were staunch members of Cumnock Baptist Church, then the Apostolic Church, before moving back to the Baptist Church. Tom was a strong Orangeman and held the rank of Grand Master. He was also a Knight, in the Red Cross Degree, of the Grand Royal Black Chapter of Ireland and his services as a speaker in that connection were much in demand. Betty was also very much involved in the Ladies Orange Lodge in Cumnock.
Anne Griffiths recalls Irish soldiers visiting her house in Michie Street:
We were neighbours of the McGees and gave hospitality to the many soldiers stationed locally. Whilst visiting us they spotted Mrs McGee's orange lillies growing in her garden and, as the 12th of July celebrations were approaching, they asked her if they might pick some. They arrived back at Pennylands Camp to be stopped and told 'Only one bloom each - we don't want another war here'.
Tom came through the South African Campaign with the King's Own Scottish Borderers in 1900. He enlisted with the Royal Scots Fusiliers when he was nearly 42 years old in 1914 and spent some time in the trenches in France.
Children of Betty Clawson & Tom McGee
James Campbell McGee (Jimmy) was born in 1894 at Stevenston, Ayrshire and died in 1978 at Ballochmyle Hospital his usual address being 23 Herdston Place, Cumnock. He married Annie (Nan) Harper Armstrong in 1917 at the Baptist Church, Barrhill Road, Cumnock. Jimmy was 22 years old when he got married and had been a coalminer at Whitehill Pit but, at the time of his marriage, he was a Sergeant in the Royal Scots Fusiliers and was based at Randalstown in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. During WW1 Randalstown was an army training camp housing more than 5,000 British and Irish soldiers in preparation for the trenches of France where Jimmy was sent after his training. After WW1 ended Jimmy became a Sergeant Major in the Territorials and later, during WW2, he was in the Home Guard.
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| Jimmy & Nan McGee - family photograph |
Jimmy's faith was an important part of his life. He was 13 years old when he joined the Baptist Church which he attended and took an active part in for 21 years before becoming a lay preacher with the Apostolic Church in Cumnock. He also accompanied his father Tom preaching the Gospel in the community and, with his brother Tom, was one of his Gospel singers. He later rejoined the Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon for many years. Jimmy and Nan had no children but they fostered three girls who were sisters. Nan died in 1970 at Cumnock. They had been married for 53 years. Jimmy married a second time in 1971 to widow Mirren McMurray Kerr but sadly she died that same year of acute leukaemia. He married a third time to Mary Brown Jarvis in 1973.
Thomas McGee (Tom) was born in 1897 in Johnstone, Renfrewshire and died in 1968 in Stirling.He married Kate Scott Ritchie in 1918 at Stirling. Tom was a coalminer but at the time of his marriage he was a Corporal in the 5th Battalion RSF. They had a son Robert Ritchie McGee who died, aged 4 years old, in 1925. At the time of his son's death Tom was an asphalt worker. Kate died in July 1941 at Stirling and he married for a second time to widow Jessie Kennedy Smith. The marriage took place at 2 Urbana Terrace, Cumnock.
Samuel Menzies McGee (Sam) was born in 1903 in Tower Street, Cumnock and died in 1989 at 13 Michie Street, Cumnock. Sam served with RSF 15th Platoon. He married Marie Matilda Drummond Biggham in 1934 at Bridgeton, Glasgow. He and Marie met on a visit "Doon the Watter" to Girvan. Marie lived in Glasgow where her family had moved to from Perth. She was born in 1905 in Glasgow and lost her mother in 1913. She died in 1991 in Ayr County Hospital. Sam and Marie had four children two of whom are still living.
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| RSF 15 Platoon - Sam McGee top row 2nd from right |
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| Sam & Marie McGee’s Golden Wedding |
Alexander McGee (Alex) was born in 1905 in Tower Street and died in 1989 in Cumnock. He married Annie Murdoch Stewart in 1926 at Skares. Annie died in 1988.
'On leaving school Alex began an apprenticeship as a slater with Messrs. Baird at Lugar. After his marriage he became a miner at Whitehill Pit. In 1946 he went into partnership as McGee & Murdoch and their premises were in Barrhill Road, Cumnock. In retirement he became a Lollipop Man at the Tanyard. They were staunch members of the Baptist Church and had five children, Tommy, Betty, Ferries, John and Margaret."
Extracted from Golden Wedding Notice Cumnock Chronicle 2/4/1976
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| Annie & Alex McGee - family photograph |
Two of Alex and Annie's daughter emigrated. Betty who was born in 1931 in Cumnock met her future husband Tom Houston when he was 14 years old and she was 13 years old. They began seeing each other 3 years later. Betty had been baptised into the Baptist Church. Tom was baptised in 1951 and left for America to study the ministry in 1952. Betty followed 10 months later and they were married in Calvary Baptist Church, Niagara Falls where they stayed for 11 years. Tom became a Pastor and they eventually settled in Texas where Tom had his own church. Sadly Betty died there on 13th April 2024.
Their youngest daughter Margaret was born in 1941 in Cumnock. She married and emigrated to Zimbabwe but was forced to flee with no possessions and no money when the white landowners were evicted from their properties. She died in Ashford-in-Kemt, England in April 2019. Her sister Ferries died a month later at Ayr University Hospital.
Margaret Dempsey McGee (Maggie) was born in 1908 at Tower Street, Cumnock. She married Robert Watson ('Dishy'). After father Tom McGee died her mother Betty went to live with them in Townhead Street. Read more about Maggie in our 'Many a Lang Scots Mile' blog here.
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| Maggie McGee with brother Alex - family photograph |
Neil Martin McGee was born at Tower Street, Cumnock in 1910 and married Maggie McCartney Stewart Dunn in 1937 at the Wilson Hall, Catrine. Neil and Maggie lived in Catrine all of their married lives. Neil died there in 1983.
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| Neil and Maggie - family photograph |
William McGee (Willie) was born in 1913 at 98 Townhead Street, Cumnock. He was a Corporal with the 13th King's Regiment (Liverpool) and volunteered to become a Chindit. The Chindits were special operations units of the British and Indian armies during WW2. Their primary mission was to operate behind enemy lines in Burma and disrupt Japanese communications. Willie took part in the first Chindit expedition, known as 'Operation Longcloth' which began in February 1943.
Willie was taken prisoner by the Japanese on 7th May 1943 and taken to Rangoon Jail. He was fortunate to survive and return home at the end of the war. Of the Longcloth Chindits who became prisoners of war and were held in Rangoon Jail, 62% did not return home. Willie was awarded the Military Medal for acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire. When he returned from Burma he settled in England and married widow Gladys Nuttal in 1946. He died in Lancashire in 2003.
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| William McGee MM - family photograph |
Tom and Betty led happy, successful lives in their adopted town of Old Cumnock. They were the first occupants of the newly built house at 15 Michie Street in the early 1930s. Tom sadly died in 1937 at the Western Infirmary, Glasgow. Some years after his death Betty moved in with her daughter Maggie Watson at 89 Townhead Street, which was across the road from where Tom and Betty lived when they first came to Cumnock. Betty died in 1965, the oldest lady in the Burgh, in her 93rd year.
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| 4 Generations - Betty Clawson, son Alex McGee, granddaughter Ferries and great grandson |
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| Betty Clawson McGee, son Sam & grand-daughters Rona & Christine |
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