My Ancestors Stories

I am very lucky to have in my collection several letters written by my maternal great grandfather, Alexander Murray McDougall. He died quite young when my mum was only 8 years old, but she has fond memories of him and visits to the family home in Glasgow. The letters my grandmother kept give us an insight into the kind and caring man that he was.  Alexander was born on 22 June 1885 at 369 Garscube Rd, Glasgow at 11 am in the morning, the first child of George Graeme McDougall, a slater and Martha Orr Campbell Murray.  The family were still living at the same address at the time of the 1891 census.  Alex had three brothers, George Graham born 1887, John Murray born 1894, James born 1896 and a sister, Helen Forrest born 1890.  His mother, Martha died in 1896 when Alex was 11 years old of pernicious anaemia, just three months after the birth of her youngest child, James. Young James also died 5 months later when he was just 8 months of age. They are buried together in L...

I called both my grandmothers Nan or Nanna.  My maternal grandmother was born Helen, but was known by everyone as Nell or Nelly. So I was amused to read in a letter she wrote aged 14 to her cousin Martha, in America, that "I am called Helen now, but I will still call you Bunty".  Unfortunately for Helen, Nelly had stuck, as I don't think I ever heard anyone call her Helen!  This blog is written in memory of my nan, Helen, who was born 106 years ago. This post traces Helen’s life from a childhood shaped by war and industry in Scotland to migration, hardship, and family life in Australia — illustrated through letters, photographs, and memories passed down through generations. Early Life in Stevenston (1915–1923) Helen Forrest McDougall was born at 8:20 on the morning of the 6 July 1915 in the Folly Building, High Rd, Stevenston. Stevenston is a seaside town and parish on the North Ayrshire coast. Along with Ardrossan and Saltcoats it is one of the "Three Towns" an...