James Colvin was born on August 12, 1873 at Lightburn, Shettleston to Margaret McGee (c1839 - 1905) and Daniel Colvin (c1837 - 1917). [See Section CL-6-1 for family background.]
Jane MacNee was born in March, 1881 at Blantyre, Lanarkshire to Mary Woods (c1858 - ) and Patrick McNee (c1857 - ). [See Section ME-6-1 for family background.]
[Click here for family photographs (temporary link)]
1907 On Monday, April 1, James Colvin and Jane MacNee were married at St. Paul's RC Church, Shettleston. The marriage was registered No.56 at Shettleston on April 3.
James was a Bachelor, gave his age as 30 [he was 33], occupation Iron Moulder and usual residence as Lightburn, Shettleston. His parents are recorded as Daniel Colvin, Road Surfaceman and Margaret Colvin m.s. McGee (deceased).
Jane was a Spinster, gave her age as 25, occupation Dressmaker and usual residence as 366 Main Street, Shettleston. Her parents are recorded as Patrick MacNee, Coalminer and Mary MacNee, m.s. Woods.
The celebrant was Daniel Colvin [groom's brother] and the witnesses were Thomas Colvin and Catherine McNee [probably Jane's sister].
James and Jane had the following children (that I know of) —
| Mary | born in 1909 at 295 Main Street, Shettleston, married Joe Brodbin in 19xx, last sighting 1972. |
| Daniel Joseph | born about 1912 in the USA, married Elizabeth McGuiness in 1936 and died in 1957. |
1909 Mary Wood Colvin was born at 2h40m a.m. on Friday, March 5, 1909 at 295 Main Street, Shettleston to James Colvin, Iron Moulder and Jane Colvin m.s. Macnee who married on April 1, 1907 at Shettleston. The birth was registered No.190 at Shettleston on March 12 by James Colvin, Father.
Mary married Joe Brodbin, they were living in Culdaff, Co. Donegal in 1959.
1910 Records on the Ellis Island Foundation website show the arrival of James, Jane and Mary Colvin at New York on Sunday, May 29, 1910 by the Anchor Line steamer Caledonia which left Glasgow on May 21, calling at Moville the same day. (The Glasgow Herald reported the ship as arriving on May 28.) Their ages are given as 29 years, 26 years and 11 months respectively, our Colvins would have been 36, 29 and 13 months but then, the Colvins frequently understated their ages. This is definitely the right family as James's occupation is given as Moulder and nearest living relative is "Father, D. Colvin, Lightburn, Shettleston".
James is described as 5'7", fair complexion, fair hair and grey eyes. Jane was 5'4", fair complexion, dark hair and grey eyes. Mary had a fresh complexion, fair hair and brown eyes. All were in good health with no deformities or distinguishing marks.
James had paid for the passages and arrived with at least $50, Jane had $40 and poor Mary had nothing. They were going to join an aunt, C. McNee of 14 Valleyview Street, Oneonta, NY.
Oneonta is on the west side of the Catskill Mountains, the Chambers's Encyclopaedia gazetteer entry gives — "Education centre; railway works; textile, dairying industries. Population (1940) 11,731."
[View manifest — Left hand page — Right hand page — lines 20 - 22.]
SS Caledonia was launched by D. & W. Henderson & Company on the Clyde in 1904 for the Anchor Line. She was 9,223 gross tons (5066 net), 500 feet long, 58 feet wide and had triple expansion steam engines driving twin screws to deliver a service speed of 16 knots. She could carry 1,428 passengers with 383 in first class, 216 second, and 829 in third.
She was used on the Glasgow-New York service until becoming a troop ship in 1914, and sadly, was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine off Malta in 1916.
There are also entries in 1923 for a Scots-born James Colvin aged 45, a crewman on various ships – I don't know if this is relevant.
c1912 Daniel was born in the USA.
At some point, probably before 1920, Mary and Daniel returned to Scotland. Mary went to live with James' sister Sarah and her husband William Rogan and Daniel to live with another sister Annie and her husband Michael Mullen, both households in Causewayside Street, Tollcross.
1936 On Monday, July 13, Daniel Joseph Colvin and Elizabeth McGuiness were married at St. Bride's Chapel, Cambuslang after Publication according to the Forms of the Roman Catholic Church. The marriage was registered No.89 at Cambuslang on July 15.
Daniel was a Bachelor, gave his age as 24, occupation General Labourer and usual residence 958 Tollcross Road, Shettleston [sic]. His parents are recorded as James Colvin, Iron Moulder and Jane Colvin m.s. Machee [sic], both deceased.
Elizabeth was a Spinster, gave her age as 22, occupation Domestic servant and usual residence 17 Morriston Street, Cambuslang. Her parents are recorded as James McGuiness, Coal Miner (Brusher) and Elizabeth McGuiness m.s. Clark.
The celebrant was James Lillis, R.C. Clergyman and the witnesses were Vincent Coyle, Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire and Mary McGuiness, 17 Morriston Street, Cambuslang.
Daniel and Elizabeth had the following children (that I know of) —
| CHILD | born in YEAR in PLACE , last sighting 1911. |
1957 Daniel Joseph Colvin, Steel Erector, Married to Elizabeth McGuiness, died at 2h0m p.m. on Tuesday, April 30 at Ravenscraig Works, Craigneuk (Usual residence 173 Barrowfield Street, Glasgow, age 45 years, of Multiple Injuries, result of fall from height, as certified by Oliver Gray, MBChB (Seen after Death). His parents are recorded as James Colvin, Iron Moulder and Jane Colvin m.s. MacNee, both deceased. His death was registered No.171 at Motherwell on the following day by James McGuiness, Brother-in-law, 8 Hillview Crescent, Cambuslang.
There is further information in the Register of Corrected Entries for the District of Dalziel in the County of Lanark, Vol.16, Page 93.
"The following report of result of a Precognition [Scots Law - preliminary examination of witnesses as to whether there is ground for prosecution] has been received touching the death of Daniel Joseph Colvin registered under No.171 in the Register Book of Deaths for the year 1957:-
| Name, Age & Sex | When & Where Died | Cause of Death |
| Daniel Joseph Colvin 45 years Male |
At 2 p.m. on 30th April 1957 at Ravenscraig Works Craigneuk (usual residence: 173 Barrowfield Street Glasgow) |
Deceased received injuries in course of his employment through falling from a staging on a gasholder in course of erection, to the ground, a distance of approximately 150 feet. He died as a result of said injuries. The verdict of Jury. |
| Procurator Fiscal's Office Hamilton 24th June 1957 |
Certified by J.C. Patterson Procurator Fiscal |
1957, June 27th at Motherwell W. Cunningham, Interim Registrar |
From The Glasgow Herald of May 1 —
“ Daniel Colvin (45), steel erector, 153 [sic] Barrowfield Street, Glasgow, was killed yesterday when he fell 150ft from a scaffold at Ravenscraig Steel Works, Craigneuk, Wishaw. ”