Peter Murray Mackay

Father	James Wishart Mackenzie Mackay
Mother	Ellen Purvis
Date of Birth	1862
Born at	Netherton, Northumberland
Married	Margaret Ann Gilfellon	31.12.1887
	Jesmond, Newcastle
Children	James Wishart Mackenzie Mackay	13.6.1887
	Margaret Ann
	William
	Gladys
	Peter
	Olive
Date of Death	about 1920
Documents

Occupation, travel ......
In Scotland there was a strong tradition to name the first son after his paternal Grandfather and the second son after his maternal Grandfather.Peter and Margaret Ann followed this tradition . Grandad, the oldest, was named after his paternal Grandfather. The second son was named Willliam after his maternal Grandfather, William Gilfellon. Peter was named after his dad. (My dad had his Grandad's name. Uncle Jim was named after his dad and also his maternal Grandfather James Hall, so the family seem to have kept the tradition for some while after leaving Scotland. ). I hope that doesn't sound too confusing!

On the 1871 Census Peter, aged 8 was living with his parents James and Ellen at Bedlington West End . Only an older brother, Thomas, aged 12 and two younger sisters, Hannah D. aged 7 and Jane A. aged 5 are listed but I expect there were older siblings who were elsewhere on that day.

On the 1881 Census the family were living at 10 Third Row, Choppington. Peter, brother Thomas and their father were all working in the mine. At 12 Third Row Margaret Ann Gilfellon was living with her family, so it seems clear how Granda's parents met.

Peter and Margaret Mackay lived at 15 Brandling Village for a short while after they married, where his parents had settled, then moved to the Earsdon/Backworth area where her family had moved to around 1890.(That was when Backworth was developing with new shafts being sunk.) I have to wait until next year to be able to look at the 1901 C ensus. They are done every ten years but are confidential for 100 years. I will probably find the family still living in roughly the same area but more children will be included on it.

Peter worked as a coalminer, becoming a Deputy Overman.

Go to Peter and Margaret's family page