My goodness ... such helpful replies came in whilst I was asleep !!
Thankyou hahaya and Penny.
That Sidehead Farm was a ruin already by 1856 explains why the family was no longer there in the 1851 cs, I guess. So interesting to see where it was (and I then went looking and found some wonderful photos of areas nearby, posted by member Iain ).
My Gtx3 Grandfather Robert Spence stated his "native place" was Irvine, Scotland, when he arrived in Australia in 1848 and parents were John Spence and Agnes, both dead.
His wife was Janet Sellars, from Lochranza, Arran. The six children were all baptised at Saltcoats in the months before the family left. This Spence family are acknowledged as pioneers of the Bega area of NSW.
With the help of DNA testing, I have found a match to a descendant of James Spence (my original query), and James now seems more likely to be Robert's brother (per OPR, both born Kilwinning, 1803 and 1805, to parents John Spence and Nanny/Nancy Howie). I also have matches to descendants of Jean Spence (Mrs Muir) also born Kilwinning 1810?? to father John Spence (mothers name not known on death register entry).
Re Magnesia House : Penny you posted an article in "Saltcoats : On This Day in History" on 12 Jan 2017 which reported the deeds of a chap who lived at Magnesia House. In August, member MANBEAR wrote about his grandmother and Gt grandmother who had both lived there (the former's death there in 1909). It does seem that it was a residence of some sort ... I wonder where it was.
Thankyou both for your help and interest.
best wishes .. Liz
My goodness ... such helpful replies came in whilst I was asleep !! :D
Thankyou hahaya and Penny.
That Sidehead Farm was a ruin already by 1856 explains why the family was no longer there in the 1851 cs, I guess. So interesting to see where it was (and I then went looking and found some wonderful photos of areas nearby, posted by member Iain ).
My Gtx3 Grandfather Robert Spence stated his "native place" was Irvine, Scotland, when he arrived in Australia in 1848 and parents were John Spence and Agnes, both dead.
His wife was Janet Sellars, from Lochranza, Arran. The six children were all baptised at Saltcoats in the months before the family left. This Spence family are acknowledged as pioneers of the Bega area of NSW.
With the help of DNA testing, I have found a match to a descendant of James Spence (my original query), and James now seems more likely to be Robert's brother (per OPR, both born Kilwinning, 1803 and 1805, to parents John Spence and Nanny/Nancy Howie). I also have matches to descendants of Jean Spence (Mrs Muir) also born Kilwinning 1810?? to father John Spence (mothers name not known on death register entry).
Re Magnesia House : Penny you posted an article in "Saltcoats : On This Day in History" on 12 Jan 2017 which reported the deeds of a chap who lived at Magnesia House. In August, member MANBEAR wrote about his grandmother and Gt grandmother who had both lived there (the former's death there in 1909). It does seem that it was a residence of some sort ... I wonder where it was.
Thankyou both for your help and interest.
best wishes .. Liz
