John Conway minister Church of SCotland

7 June 1911 Golden Wedding of James Conway and Agnes McKenzie Fisher

8 June 1921 Diamond Wedding of James Conway and Agnes McKenzie Fisher

8 June 1921 Diamond Wedding of James Conway and Agnes McKenzie Fisher [16 Sept 48]

Parents:

• Birth*: John Conway minister Church of SCotland was born on 10 December 1863 at Dundonald, Troon, Ayrshire, Scotland, ; 1863 births in the parish of Dundonald in the county of Ayr; ref 145; John Conway; 1863 December tenth 4h 45m pm Troon; m; James Conway carter, Agnes Conway ms Fisher, 1861 June 7th Troon; James Conway father; 1863 December 15th at Dundonald David Herbert registrar.¹
• He was the son of James Conway van driver and Agnes McKenzie Fisher kitchen maid.
• (Groom) Marriage*: John Conway minister Church of SCotland married Mary McCulloch Alexander, daughter of John Alexander and Isabella McCulloch, on 16 April 1889 at 25 Gillespie Crescent, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, ; 1889 marriages in the district of Newington in the City of Edinburgh; ref 151; 1889 on the sixteenth day of April at 25 Gillespie Crscent Edinburgh after publication of banns according to the forms of the Free Church; John Conway minister Presbyterian Church in England bachelor, 25, 25 Gillespie Crescent Edinburgh, James Conway baker, Agnes Conway ms Fisher; Mary McCulloch Alexander spinster, 27, 25 Gillespie Crescent Edinburgh, John Alexander accountant (dec), Isabella Alexander ms McCulluoch; signed James H Wilson minister, A S A Bishop, J M Alexander witnesses; registered 1889 April 17 at Edinburgh R W Charlton assit registrar.²
• (Deceased) Death*: John Conway minister Church of SCotland died on 17 November 1949 at Dundee, Scotland, , at age 85.³
• Obituary: The obituary of John Conway minister Church of SCotland was was published on 18 November 1949 at 4 Cardross Street, Dundee, Angus, Scotland, . Obituary in Dundee "Courier" Friday Nov 18th 1949 reads : Minister Came From Family of Eleven; Rev. John Conway died suddenly at his home yesterday. He had lived in Dundee since retiring 20 years ago. Mr Conway, in his 86th year, had been out as usual the day before.
  He was the oldest of a family of eleven. Born in Kilwinning, he came to Dundee as a child. He ministered in Presbyterian churches in Wooler, Hammersmith, and latterly in St James' and Trinity Church, Bristol. For the past year he lived at 4 Cardross Street with his cousin, Mrs Dargie. Mr Conway was to have preached in Ward Road Baptist Church on Sunday. He was predeceased by his wife and daughter.³

• Occupation*: John was Minister Church of Scotland, Bristol.
• (Officiating Clergy) Marriage: He officiated at the marriage of James Conway commercial traveller and Margaret Tees on Friday, 1 June 1900 at 41 Keir Street, Pollocksheilds, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, ; Marraiges
  Conway - Tess - At 41 Keir Street, Pollocksheilds, on the 1st inst, by the Rev John Conway, London (brother of the bridgegroom), James Conway, jun, Dunedee, to Maggie, youngest daughter of Joseph Tees.^4,5
• (Officiating Clergy) Marriage: John Conway minister Church of SCotland officiated at the marriage of Robert Fisher McKenzie Conway dentist & baptist minister and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Miller Morrison on Wednesday, 29 August 1906 at Mather's Hotel, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, ; 1906 marriages in the district of St Mary in the Burgh of Dundee, ref 251; 1906 on the twenty-ninth day of August at Mather's Hotel Dundee after publication according to the forms of the English Presbyterian Church; signed Robert Fisher McKenzie Conway dental operator bachelor, aged 23 residing 5 Rustic Place Dundee; parents James Conway jute mill night watchman and Agnes McKenzie Conway ms Fisher; signed Elizabeth Miller Morrison antique dealer's assistant spinster, aged 23 residing 11 Reform Street Dundee; parents Richard Russell Morrison antiquarian and Elizabeth Morrison ms Miller; signed Rev John Conway Hammersmith Presbyterian Church of England assisted by T W Lister minister of Frederick Baptist Church Glasgow, signed James Conway, Jessie Miller, Janet Conway witnesses; registered 1906 August 31st at Dundee John K Stirten assit regsitrar initialled TM (Thos Meek registrar.)⁶
• (Officiating Clergy) Marriage: John Conway minister Church of SCotland officiated at the marriage of Robert Neill and Agnes Fisher Miller on Wednesday, 17 July 1907 at 132d Nethergate, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, ; 1907 marriages in the district of St Mary in the burgh of Dundee, ref 208; 1907 on the seventeenth day of July at 132d Nethergate Dundee after publicatoin according to the forms of the English Presyterian Church; signed Robert Neil watchmaker master bachelor, aged 24, residing 24 Thomson Street Dundee, parents John Neill watchmaker foreman and Catherine Carstairs Neill mss Corsar; signed Agnes Fisher Miller baker's saleswoman spinster, aged 22, residing 13 Rosefield Street Dundee; parents William Miller powerloom tenter and Marion McKenzie Miller ms Conway; signed John Conway St Andrews Presbyterian Church Hammersmith London, signed George Whitton witness, Wm Miller witness, Marion Miller witness; registered 1907 July 18th at Dundee Thos Meek regsitrar.⁷
• (Witness) Event-Misc: John Conway minister Church of SCotland was present when James Conway van driver and Agnes McKenzie Fisher kitchen maid were celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary on 7 June 1911 at Mathers Hotel, Dundee, Angus, Scotland, .⁸
  

  

  

  Mathers Hotel Dundee
• (Witness) Newspaper Article: John Conway minister Church of SCotland and Samuel Meney Conway dentist & baptist minister, Rev A H Charlton minister of Martyrs Church and James Conway van driver were mentioned in a newspaper article about Janet Meney Conway grocer's shop girl and James Gibson insurance representative on 7 June 1911. Marriages - Gibson-Conway. - At Mathers' Hotel, Dundee on the 7th inst., by the Rev J Conway, London (brother of the bride), assisted by the Rev S.M. Conway, Bowhill, and the Rev. A. H. Charlton, Dundee, James Gibson, Kilwinning, to Janet Meney, fitth daughter of James Conway, Dundee.⁹
• (Officiating Clergy) Marriage: John Conway minister Church of SCotland officiated at the marriage of James Gibson insurance representative and Janet Meney Conway grocer's shop girl on Wednesday, 7 June 1911 at Mathers Hotel, Dundee, Angus, Scotland, ; 1911 on the 7th day of June at Mathers Hotel Dundee after banns and publication according to the forms of the Presbyterian Church of England James Gibson slater master bachelor, 30, 76 Main Street Kilwinning, fath James Gibson insurance agent, moth Agnes Gibson ms McPhail (dec), and Janet Meney Conway housekeeper spinster, 34, 20 Bank Aveue Downfield, fath James Conway jute mill night watchman, moth Agnes Conway ms Fisher, signed John Conway, S M Conway, A H Charlton ministers Dundee, wit Janie Conway, Mary F Conway, James F Conway, reg 1911 June 9th at Dundee Thos Meek registrar.¹⁰
  
• (Witness) Event-Misc: John Conway minister Church of SCotland was present when James Conway van driver and Agnes McKenzie Fisher kitchen maid were celebrating their Diamond Wedding Anniversary on 8 June 1921 at Masonic Hall, Cupar, Fife, Scotland, .⁸
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  
• (Witness) Photograph: John Conway minister Church of SCotland is in this photograph taken in 1929 at Blebo Craigs, Cupar, Fife, Scotland, , along with Agnes McKenzie Fisher kitchen maid, William Fisher Conway, James Conway commercial traveller, Samuel Meney Conway dentist & baptist minister and Robert Fisher McKenzie Conway dentist & baptist minister.¹¹
  

  Agnes McKenzie Fisher Conway with all her sons; sitting left John Conway, sitting right William Fisher Conway, standing left-right Robert Fisher McKenzie Conway, James Conway, Samuel Meney Conway; 1929, Blebo Craigs
• Photograph*: John Conway minister Church of SCotland and James Conway commercial traveller are in this photograph taken in 1929 at Wonacy, Blebo Craigs, Cupar, Fife, Scotland, , along with Robert Fisher McKenzie Conway dentist & baptist minister, Samuel Meney Conway dentist & baptist minister, William Fisher Conway, Jane Hutchison Wilkie jute weaver, Johnann Ford jute weaver, fever nurse, Jane Lamberton, Florence Annie Fisher Conway, Samuel Lamberton Conway, Mary McCulloch Alexander, Janie Stewart Conway doctor, Esther Agnes Ford Conway and James Eric Arbuckle Binnie book seller.¹¹
  

  "Wonacy" (anagram of Conway), Blebo Craigs

  

  "Wonacy" (anagram of Conway), Blebo Craigs
  People standing at back : John Conway, Samuel Meney Conway, [Florence Conway?], [Johnann Ford Conway or Jane Lamberton Conway?]
  Sitting in the middle row : Robert Fisher Conway, James Conway, [?], [Samuel Lamberton Conway "Young Sam"?] [Jane Hutchison Wilkie Conway?], [Esther Agnes Ford Conway?], [James Eric Arbuckle Binnie?], [Janie Stewart Conway?], hiding behind the trellis [?]
  Front : [?], William Fisher Conway
• (Officiating Clergy) Marriage: John Conway minister Church of SCotland officiated at the marriage of Joseph Stanley Andrews Baptist Church minister and Hope Myra Morrison Conway chiropodist on Monday, 21 June 1937 at Baptist Church, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland, ; 1937 marriages in the district of Hamilton in the county of Lanark, ref 162, 1937 on the Twenty-First day of June at Baptist Church Hamilton after banns according to the forms of the Baptist Church, signed Joseph Stanley Andrews Baptist Church Minister bachelor aged 25, 18 Mount Stewart Street Carluke, parents James Smith Andrews Baptist Church minister and Janet Andrews ms Lees; signed Hope Myra Morrison Conway chiropodist spinster aged 22, 13 Bent Road Hamilton, parents Robert Fisher Conway Baptist Church minister and Elizabeth Miller Conway ms Morrison; signed John Conway minister emetrius Free Church of England Bristol, signed Ruth Fisher Conway Chrystal Bank Hamilton, Douglas Cameron Smith 5 Manse Crescent Stirling witnesses; registered 1937 Jane 22nd at Hamilton James Frame registrar
  [and from photograph provided by their grand-daughter].^13,14
  

  Hamilton Baptist Church June 1937
• (Officiating Clergy) Marriage: John Conway minister Church of SCotland officiated at the marriage of Henry Oscar Lamoureux foundry engineer and Olive Miller on Friday, 19 December 1941 at Tay Square Church, St Mary & St Peter, Dundee, Angus, Scotland, ; Dundee Girl Weds Canadian
  Groom's Brother as Best Man
  
  Miss Olive Miller, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Alexander Miller. 25 Perth Road, Dundee, was married in Tay Square Church, Dundee, to-day to a Canadian soldier, who had as his best man his brother, also a soldier from Canada.
  The bridegroom was Cpl. Henry 0. Lamoureux, R.C.E., second son of Mr H. Lamoureux, Fort Saskatchewan. Alberta, Canada, and of the late Mrs Lamoureux.
  The bride, whose father gave her away, favoured a lovely dress of ivory moire silk attractively adorned with lace. Her veil, lent by Mrs Hackney, was held in place by an orange blossom headdress. and she carried a bouquet of chrysanthemums and pink carnations.
  Miss Kay N. Miller, sister of the bride, was bridesmaid. She worn a graceful frock of powder blue lace over crepe-de-chine and wore a becoming silver Juliet cap. Deep lilac chrysanthemums composed her bouquet.
  Spr. J. A. Lamoureux, R.C.E. was best man, and Rev. John Conway, grand-uncle of the bride, conducted the service in the absence through illness of Rev. A. M. Moodie.
  Mr Robert Bayne was organist. Ushers were Messrs James Arklay and Arthur Brown.
  A reception was held in Kidd's Rooms.^15,16
  
• Newspaper Article*: John Conway minister Church of SCotland and James Conway commercial traveller were mentioned in a newspaper article Martyrs' Church of Scotland
  11 am - Rev John Conway
  7 pm - Mr James Conway
  Wed 3 pm - West End Prayer Meeting on 11 December 1943 at Dundee, Angus, Scotland, .¹⁷

Census & Directory Entries

Member of Household	2 April 1871	They was listed as a member of the household of James Conway van driver and Agnes McKenzie Fisher kitchen maid in the 1871 census at Rail Gate House, Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland, . John Conway, son, aged 7, scholar, born Ayrshire, Troon; James Conway, head, married, aged 35, Rail Porter, born Ireland; Agnes Conway, wife, married, aged 29, born Ayrshire, Prestwick.18 Kilwinning Station [c2002]
Member of Household	3 April 1881	They was listed as a member of the household of John Conway and Mary Carson in the 1881 census at 30 Northburn Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, . John Conway, nephew, unmarried, aged 17, Student of Arts, born Troon, Ayr, Scotland; John Conway, head, married, 29, Coal Master's Clerk, born Monktown, Ayr, Scotland; Mary Conway, wife, married, 35, born Ireland.19
Member of Household	5 April 1891	They was listed as a member of the household of Robert C Hutton congregational minister and Margaret Isabella Alexander in the 1891 census at The Manse, Congregational Church, High Street West, Rothbury, Northumberland, England, . John Conway, visitor, mar, 27, Presbyterian minister, Scotland; Robert C Hutton, head, mar, 29, Congregational minister, Scotland; Margaret Isa, wife, mar, 34, Scotland.20
Head of Household	31 March 1901	He was listed as head of household along with spouse Mary McCulloch Alexander in the 1901 census at 1 Ravenscourt Square, Hammersmith, London, Middlesex, England, . John Conway, head, mar, 37, Presbyterian minister, Scotland; Mary M, wife, mar, 39, Scotland; also in the household were Monica I M Conway and Esther May Cook.21
Head of Household	31 March 1911	He was listed as head of household along with spouse Mary McCulloch Alexander in the 1911 census at The Manse, 1 Ravescourt Square, Hammersmith, London W, England, . John Conway Head Married Male Minister Presbyterian 47 1864 Troon Ayrshire Mary Conway Wife Married 22 years 1 child born, 1 child living, Female aged 49 1862 Comburgh Midlothian; residence of 7 rooms; also in the household were Monica I M Conway and Isabella Anderson.22

Notes

• (Witness) Residence: John Conway minister Church of SCotland lived at Troon, Ayrshire, Scotland, ; Today, Troon is most famous for its golfing associations and as a holiday resort, but owes its origins to coal and the railways.
  In the Second Statistical Account written in 1841 by The Rev. Alexander Willison, The Rev. James Fleming, Troon, and The Rev. David Wilson, Fullarton, the village of Troon in the parish of Dundonald is described as having a population of 1,409 souls that appears to have been a significant rise over the previous count in 1831. The reason is to be ascribed to general causes; but particularly of late years to the erection of the harbour … and the consequent increase of its trade; and also to its becoming a favourite place of resort for sea-bathing quarters.
  The Account describes the turnpike roads from Irvine to Ayr and Irvine to Dalmellington, along with the Kilmarnock to Troon road as the roads in every direction are good. Indeed there are few parishes of equal extent so well accommodated in this respect. … In addition to these, there are parish roads in every direction kept in tolerably good repair, and affording every requisite means of communication. The only thing that the mounted traveller has reason to complain of is the abundance of tolls; but as the toll seems to be indigenous to the county, let us pay and pass on; for in this case we fear there is very little hope of writing them down. The harbour for depth of water and readiness of entrance, is one of the best in the neighbourhood. … A wet dock is in the course of excavation from the solid rock. There are two dry docks. … The trade is chiefly in coal and timber. Timber was imported; coal exported via the Kilmarnock railway.
  The Account also notes the harbour has a good lighthouse supported from its own funds. A Church (of Scotland) was built in Troon in 1837 – previously the parishioners had to travel four or more miles which would have rendered anything like a regular attendance upon ordinances altogether impracticable. Elementary schooling was available at a cost of from 2s to 4s 6d per quarter.
  Commenting on the arrangements for poor relief, the writers say that the good old spirit of Scottish independence, which once spurned the kirk-box, as almost worse than starvation, is fast dying away, and that few indeed now think it any degradation to have their wants so supplied. This is surely a symptom of change not for the better, and as it is, from accounts, very generally manifested, we trust it will meet with due consideration from those whose special business it is to provide and legislate for the poor. So, are things much different today, one wonders?
  All in all, these gentlemen seem fairly pleased with the progress made since the First Statistical Account some 60 or so years previously. Referring to the parish as a whole they say the condition of all classes, even the poorest, has very much improved. … An entire new town and harbour have risen up at Troon; two railroads have been constructed; common roads have been formed, and all much repaired; what were little better than mud-walls have given place to substantial stone and lime, and in many places to elegant architecture. The comfortable, but unstable, thatch has been supplanted by slate; the fertility of the soil, by a better system of culture, has been inconceivably improved. Money with all ranks is much more abundant; and all these things tell upon the comfort, as we would hope upon the gratitude, of those who enjoy them.²³
  
• (Witness) Note for Web: He and Agnes McKenzie Fisher kitchen maid, Marion McKenzie Conway jute weaver, William Fisher Conway, Jeannie Conway, Elizabeth Conway, Agnes Fisher Conway, James Conway commercial traveller, Janet Meney Conway grocer's shop girl, Samuel Meney Conway dentist & baptist minister and Robert Fisher McKenzie Conway dentist & baptist minister was mentioned with Mary Fisher Conway howdie wife in 1983. From the pen of Marion C Miller (1983) :
  
  Under the Rose
  
  'Under the rose, Kate, under the rose', my great aunt Mary would frequently whisper to my mother. Many years were to elapse before I understood that information imparted subrosa (under the rose) was only intended for tried, tested and trustworthy ears. At the advance of avid young listeners, X-certificate conversation would come to an abrupt halt. My great aunt would suck her teeth back into their normal position with a sharp, resounding and final click. As age had withered her fuselage, the teeth no longer fitted snugly into the contours of her mouth. With the porcelain in position she was quite unable to chew. Always allocated prime position next to my father at the head of the table, she removed her teeth just after grace and before demolition commenced. She was not given to secreting her discarded treasures in the folds of her lavender-laced handkerchief. No ... she was a forthright sort of person. Her teeth, both sets, were planted on her side plate where they glared relentlessly at my father, assaulting his appetite and inducing temporary anorexia.
  There was no wine at table in my childhood, and glasses for water or lemonade were only in evidence on high occasions. There was always a glass of water for great aunt Mary. No ... she didn't drink it ... but she liked to rinse her teeth before returning them to the ill-fitting aperture, when the repast was over.
  At that time we thought she must be very old, but she was in fact still in her lively seventies and had many a tale to tell. She had been an upper crust 'howdie' before trained midwives were commonplace. Entering the homes of the renowned and rich prior to the event, she supervised the birthing process, hurrying the event along with her own secret concoction of raspberry leaf tea. She would remain in residence for at least a month after delivery and often for much longer. If her departure was at all delayed there was every chance that there would be another child on the way soon to guarantee her continued employment.
  Great aunt Mary liked to dress in black and indeed it showed off her pure white hair to greatest advantage. She also used her sombre dresses as a backcloth against which she could display her many swinging chains of beads, multi-coloured neckerchiefs, and large brooches set with precious or semi-precious stones, all donated by thankful parents.
  'When I was with Sir Andrew and Lady X', she would commence and you knew you were about to have a glimpse of life in a society in which you were never likely to mingle. She had been accustomed to a life of refinement, but she was willing to share her treasured memories with those in humbler circumstances. But she was not all prim and proper. She loved a party and she could jangle her beads in a neat-ankled Charleston which left mouth agape. Nowadays she would have been accorded the title of 'great old swinger'.
  If we thought she was old, what of the ancient monument? Her mother was still alive and maintained in a state of semi preservation by another spinster daughter in a rambling house in the country. My great grandmother was open for viewing between the hours of 3 and 4pm. The old lady was like a mechanical toy which had seen better days, there being residual movement in her head, one arm and those searching piercing eyes where ambition still flickered. She might be desiccated almost mummified, but when her hand beckoned from within the folds of her many shawls the recipient of the gesture approached with a degree of trepidation and a touch of reverence.
  The eyes below the lace-capped head would search for evidence of her genetic contribution. These eyes had seen a lot of life. The offshoot of an immigrant Irish family fleeing from the potato famine she had been fortunate to find work as a "tweenie" in an Ayrshire mansion. Crossed with my great grandfather of similar peasant origin she was to produce a brood of thirteen children of whom nine survived. The unashamed ambition which hovered behind her eyelids had seen three of her sons launched into the ordained ministry. In her lifetime she had seen the strength of her genetic contribution raise her descendants from menial tasks in the dusty mills to solid middle class. As she started to fade into insignificance, her off shoots embraced the church, the law, medicine and commerce. She missed her hundredth birthday and her royal telegram only by a short head. If she knew her great-great-grandson whilst still a schoolboy had been selected because of his innate talent in communication to sit next to a royal prince at a private dinner ... she would have been pleased, but not I think surprised. I doubt whether she would have subscribed to the theory that the stars govern your fate ... I think she knew that she handed something on ... and if it's the blarney ... it's genetically dominant.
  What was it that reminded me of great aunt Mary ... it was a word association! It's quite a popular party game but the technique is also used by psychiatrists to probe the mysteries of the mind. You may reveal too much by a straight swift answer, so I always allow the word to linger in my cerebral pathways until multiple cross connections have suitably disguised my tortuous mental process.
  I know ... I was in the kitchen waiting for the beans to heat. Lovely to think that the good old 57s are enjoying a comeback in the high fibre diet. The radio was muttering away in the background, but I heard only one word 'ROOTS'. My first thought was teeth, because that canine has been gnawing away for months, then followed swiftly the thought of origins and ancestors ... finally there was the closing snap reminiscent of gnashing dentures and my brain had solved the equation Roots + Teeth = Great Aunt Mary.
  Sometime I must sweep some more of the dust from my cerebral computer and write more of my forebears ... or is it all too confidential? Could I perhaps just whisper it to a few of my friends ... 'Under the rose' of course.²⁴