Gemmell Family History

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My Gemmell or Gemmill Links




My Gemmell or Gemmill links start with Agnes Gemmell my Great Grandmother, who was born in Ireland c1860 and married my Great Grandfather James Curdie McCormick on the 2nd of September 1887, at Laurieston Parish, Gorbals, Lanark, Glasgow (More details on my McCormick links are available here.

The details from the marriage certificate provide the names of Agnes Gemmell's father, Charles Gemmell, who was described as a Ship's Steward, and mother, Elizabeth Leighton

Agnes with her parents and family appears aged 10, in the 1871 Census for Largs, Ayrshire Vol.602 Address - Main Street

NameRelation toAge OccupationPlace of Birth in
Head of House
Charles GemmellHead married35DealerIreland
Elizabeth GemmellWife - married36Dealers WifeIreland
William GemmellSon12UnemployedWest Kilbride, Ayrshire
Agnes GemmellDaughter10ScholarIreland
Margaret A GemmellDaughter8ScholarIreland
Elizabeth GemmellDaughter3Largs



The Statutory Records confirm :
William Gemmell born 10 August 1857 at Main Street, West Kilbride
and Elizabeth Gemmell born 17 November at Gillespie's Land, Main Street, Largs.

Also James Gemmell died 17 September 1857 at Main Street, West Kilbride, aged 2, Buried in Churchyard, West Kilbride
Parents: Charles Gemmell and Elizabeth Leighton

Agnes McCormick nee Gemmell died 31st July 1924, at 2 Derby Street, Prestwich, Lancashire, and was buried at St.Mary's Church, Prestwich, August 4th 1924

Charles Gemmell or Gemmill and Elizabeth Leighton were married in the Parish of Largs and 1853

"Charles Gemmill of this parish and Elisabeth Leighton of the Parish of Largs gave in their names on Saturday 31st December 1853 and after proclamation on two days were married."
"7th January 1854, Charles Gemmill of West Kilbride and Elizabeth Leighton in this parish, one day."

(More details on my Leighton links are available here





Charles Gemmill appears in the 1851 Census for West Kilbride, Ayrshire Vol.620/4/11 Address - Main Street

NameRelation toAge OccupationPlace of Birth in
Head of House
Robert GemmillHead married56Farm LabourerIreland
Lilias GemmillWife - married53Ireland
Charles GemmillSon - unmarried18Farm LabourerIreland
Margaret Jane GemmillDaughter - unmarried15ScholarIreland
Sarah GemmillDaughter - unmarried11ScholarIreland
Margaret ArmstrongGrand Daughter?West Kilbride, Ayrshire



Charles Gemmell didn't die as might have been expected in Scotland, but his last occupation, of Ship's Steward brought him to Mexico, where he died 8am 24th January 1901, of Stomach Cancer aged 44 years.


Returning to Scotland for further details of Charles parents.

Parish of West Kilbride in the County of Ayr
Death Cert Ref No 620/8

Name: Lilias Gemmell, Date of death 4 March 1872, Condition Widow, Spouse Robert Gemmell, Address West Kilbride Age 74 years and 9 months. Father Charles Linn Occupation Farmer (deceased) Mother Margaret Linn M/S Cloy (deceased) Cause of death: Old age and Frailty, Reported by Charles Gemmell, son, present, Date 8 March 1872 at West Kilbride Doctor: No Medical Attendant

Parish of West Kilbride in the County of Ayr
Death Cert Ref No 620/1

Name: Robert Gemmill, Occupation Labourer, Date of death 31 December 1860, Condition Married, Spouse Lilias Lynn, Address Orchard Row, West Kilbride Age 65. Father James Gemmill Occupation Labourer (deceased) Mother Agnes Gemmill M/S Steel Cause of death: Haemorrhage Internal, Reported by Mary Ann Gemmill, daughter, present, Date 7 January 1861 Doctor: Francis Ritchie MD.

So far I've been unable to pinpoint a location for the Gemmell's or Gemmill's in Ireland. As a test I searched between 1851 and 1880 finding only 11 marriages under Gemmell, Gammell, and Gammel listed, in the districts of Newtownards, Dublin, Rathdrum, Belfast, Cork, Kilmallock and Belmullet. To little information to draw any conclusions -- And this then is currently all the information I have for my Gemmell ancestry.