REQUESTS FOR GENEALOGICAL ASSISTANCE

• Readers will recall that the year 2002 issue of the Skirmisher was dedicated in the acknowledgements at the end to Murray Scrimgeour as the original editor of the Skirmisher and for his faithful work on behalf of the clan association in many other ways. Appropriately also, the front cover featured a photograph of ruins at Kilneuair where Murray has been much involved in plans for restoration.

In a kind letter of appreciation Murray raises a question as to whether three entries in recent issues may be related and also to his search for members of his family tree. His first reference is to the Skirmisher 1991 p.6 where a letter from his cousin Elizabeth of 84 William St., Stratford, Ontario, Canada is reproduced. The letter enclosed a family tree for part of their mutual family. His second reference is to the Skirmisher 2002 p.17 where the names of lost members (returned mail) are shown. The list includes Elizabeth Scrimgeour of Stratford, Ont. His third reference is to the Skirmisher 2002 p.44 where James M. Scrimger (Scrimgeour) from the USA is seeking information about his ancestors who moved from Stratford Ont. to the USA. Coincidence, perhaps, but if anyone can shed light on any of this Murray would indeed be interested.

8 - Contributed by Murray Scrimgeour, Old Stables, Balfron, Glasgow,

G63 0RQ, Scotland.

Ed. Note: A quick check on www.Canada411.ca, the telephone number and address directory for Canada, shows a D. Scrimgeour living in Stratford, none in the nearby cities of Kitchener and Waterloo and two in Cambridge, Ontario. For information on the life of an early Scrimgeour family in Galt, Ont. c. 1820 (later called Cambridge) see Skirmisher 1996 p.23. For a book review on the life of a famous descendent, Dr. Francis Scrimger, see Skirmisher 1998 pp. 26 – 30.

• While not exactly a request for genealogical assistance, unless automobiles

are included, the following web site enquiry was forwarded by Graham for possible attention.

"My name is William Morrison and I run a service called MotorHistorica, in the UK. I research the history of Rolls-Royces and Bentleys. I am currently researching the past of a particular Derby Bentley, chassis B138 LS registration EUU 1, which has been in the USA for some considerable time. This is a famous car, having been bodied by Windovers with a striking two-door drophead body – rather Art Deco in its makeup. The chassis still ‘wears’ this body.

A past owner from Cambridge has told me that he bought the car (we think in approx. 1960) from Mrs. Scrimgeour of Plumpton Green, Sussex and that she owned large hounds who jumped all over him! That is as much as I know and would really appreciate if you were able to tell me more about her or point me in the direction of someone in the family who could.

The last entry on the Bentley Motors records shows that the car went through the hands of Station Garage Taplow (now SGT), near Marlow, in 1957.

I do not expect that you receive such requests every day but hope to hear back from you."

In a further note, W. Morrison adds: "In a written note, the first owner of the Bentley wrote: ‘I sold it in 1948, or very close to this to a dealer. By coincidence it became owned by an acquaintance, Mr. Scrimgeour (Christian name possibly Jim).’

There was a James (Jim) Scrimgeour CMG, OBE who was a stockbroker working in the family firm of J & A Scrimgeour. He died, aged 84, in 1987, his wife Winefred having pre-deceased him by three years. Was Winifred the lady with the large dogs and did they (she) live at Plumpton Green?

Best Wishes, William Morrison, Motor Historica – Tel: +44 (0) 1280 701 701.

e-mail Motorhistorica@aol.com. (End quote)

9 - Contributed by Graham Scrimgeour, Edinburgh, Scotland. and W. Morrison as noted.

Ed. Note: Plumpton Green is about 25 km north of Brighton. For an obituary and description of the life of the above James Scrimgeour see the Skirmisher 1990 p.18.