Genealogy Chat

Helen GOVAN placed a message within the folds of a kilt being made for military use, but it has only recently been discovered.

Staff at University of Southampton would like to find out more about this lady.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-28466800

There are Helen Govan's born 1889, 1891, 1896 and 1897, in trees on here.

Depends how old you think she was when she wrote the poem.

Govan could have been a married name

1911 census for the address might be the best hope, but that means paying for credits on SP

There are these four Helen Govan's in Glasgow in 1911.

1911 GOVAN HELEN F 96 CATHCART (LANARK) GLASGOW CITY/LANARK 560/00 016/0L 018

1911 GOVAN HELEN F 61 HILLHEAD GLASGOW CITY/LANARK 644/12 043/00 011

1911 GOVAN HELEN F 45 GOVANHILL GLASGOW CITY/LANARK 644/16 030/00 002

1911 GOVAN HELEN F 21 GOVAN GLASGOW CITY/LANARK 646/02 065/00 013


I would suggest the one in Govan - partly because of her age in 1911 (and the wording of the poem suggests she's young and single).

Peter Wilson, the kiltmaker, was in Bridge Street, which is in the Govan area. Within walking distance there used to be an Ardgowan Street, which was demolished to make way for the M8 - or maybe was demolished before that.

Having looked at the 1911 census, it's not conclusive, as the address is different, and it doesn't give her occupation.

IF (very big "if") this is the correct Helen Govan, in 1911 the family lived at 47 Reid Street, Govan (renamed Rathlin Street in the 1930's).

Her father was Edward Govan, 52, boilermaker, born Stonehouse, Lanarkshire.
Mother: Jane L S Govan, 52, born Pollokshaws, Renfrewshire.
Siblings:
Thomas, 25, boilermaker, b. Pollokshaws.
William, 17, caulker, b. Govan.
Fred, 14, machine boy, b. Govan
Edward, 11, schoolboy, b. Govan

I don't know how one would narrow the search down to anything more defiinite, unless one of her descendants happens to see the news article.

Unfortunately, SP doesn't allow a search by address.

Of course, she could have had another surname in 1911, and then been married to Mr Govan (and widowed?) by the time she wrote the poem, in which case all the above would be rubbish!


EDIT: there are no marriages in Glasgow 1911 - 1920, between a Mr Govan and a Helen, per SP.

I saw that on South Today. How sad that it is only now the stitches holding the pleats down are being un picked. Makes me wonder what happened to the soldier.

It would be nice to think the war ended and he was demobbed before he needed it.

The article says the kilt was passed down in Dr Paul's family - I wonder if she needs help in tracing her family tree, to find the soldier!


EDIT: Having researched a bit more (see next post), that can't be the right Helen, as she married in 1912.
As the poem talks about returning to Blighty, the kilt must have been made in 1914 at the earliest.

I couldn't resist the admittedly expensive urge to know how Helen's life worked out!
[EDIT; But it can't be her - see above post.]

Re Helen in Govan, this will be her birth:

1889 GOVAN HELEN DODDS F GOVAN GLASGOW CITY/LANARK 646/02 0820

and her marriage:

1912 HEDDERWICK ALEXANDER COCHRAN GOVAN HELEN DODDS GOVAN GLASGOW CITY/LANARK 646/02 0494


[EDIT: Oh, well, it was a nice theory while it lasted!]

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/genealogy_chat/thread/1346457