b 25 April 1854
“Matthew Thomson grain merchant and Mary Merry had a lawful son their 6th child named Andrew McFarlane born 25th April 1854 at 9 Minerva Partick Rd. Peter and Robert Thomson witnesses. Bapt 4th June 1854”
Again Peter and Robert Thomson witnesses but no clue as to who Robert Thomson is.
Andrew married Anne Mair Findlay, the daughter of Archibald Lawrie Findlay, a farmer, and his wife Janet McGaan, on 13 Oct 1899, at Bennels Farm House, Tarbolton. Ayr.
First child, Mary Merry Thomson, was born at 5 Cromwell Place, Ayr, on 23 July 1900.
In the 1901 census, Andrew, Annie and Mary Merry Thomson were living at 5 Cromwell Place, Ayr. Andrew is listed as a licensed grocer.
Matthew Thomson b 17 November 1904 at 5 Cromwell Place, and then Archibald Lawrie Findlay Thomson b 29 November, 1907 at 4 Montgomerie Tce, Ayr. Father Andrew Macfarlane Thomson listed as a Master Grocer.
In the 1911 census they are listed as residing at 4 Montgomerie Terrace, Ayr, along with 20 year old Maggie Gemmel, General Servant. The house is listed as having nine rooms with one or more windows!
Ten year old Mary Merry Thomson and six year old Matthew Thomson, are listed, but not Archibald, who should have been two or three. Mother Annie M Thomson is listed as having had 3 children, all alive on that date – so where was young Archie?
Andrew is listed in the 1930 and 1935 valuation rolls as being owner/occupier at 4 Montgomerie Terrace, Ayr. In 1940, after Andrew’s death, Annie Mair Findlay or Thomson is listed as occupier of the property, until her death in 1954.
Above is the house at 4 Montgomerie Terrace, Ayr.
Below is Clarice Thomson, taken by my mother, Gwen, in about 1992. Clarice and I corresponded for several years in the 1990s.
When Michael and I visited Scotland in 2014 we went to the house and the owners invited us in for a look. We had a lovely afternoon there – they took us down to the cellars and showed us how whiskey used to be smuggled in under the walls that surround the area.
Thomson Family History 