Witnesses : Herbert Heaton, Eleanor A Ramage

One golden rule in researching your family history is "never assume." When I started tracing this branch of my family history, taking my starting point from my grandparents marriage certificate, I initially searched, without success, for James MacCormack and family. When the search switched to McCormick, it all began to fall into place. Jeannie McCormick can be seen with her family in the 1901 Census extract below, at the County Asylum, Prestwich, RG13 3779 Folio 127 page 7.

Stepping back a further 10 years to the 1891 Census James McCormack ! can be found at the County Asylum in Prestwich, RG12 3270 Folio 95 Page 13.

And the rest of the family can be found at 3 Greenhill, Prestwich, RG12 3271 Folio 82 Page 38.

Before moving to James McCormick's ancestry, there are a few further details of my Great Uncle's and Aunt's post the 1901 Census.
Charles, Jeannie's elder brother, married at St.Andrews Parish Church Eccles in 1913.

Charles Gemmell McCormack's son Kenneth married in 1946, and lived in Bolton, Lancashire.

Witnesses : John Berry, Jean Berry

And below is a picture of the War Memorial at St.Mary's, Prestwich (Thomas and James Blane Mc Cormick appear half way down the left hand side).

Her younger sister Elenora Leighton McCormick, also married at St.Marys, Prestwich in 1924.

Witnesses : Clifford Barlow, James McCormick

Below is believed to be a Wedding Photograph of Ella McCormick (Eleanora above) and Sydney Barlow, at Prestwich in 1924.

On the right hand side (sitting second row) is James Cundie McCormick and on his right Agnes McCormick nee Gemmell.

Below is a picture of Ella McCormick (Eleanora above).

And also a picture of Sydney Barlow (Ella's husband) who was employed by the Co-op.

Ella sadly spent several years in a mental hospital in Dumfries, and after her death, Sydney, her husband is believed to have emigrated to the USA, to be with their daughters (names unknown).

James Curdie McCormick, my Great Grandfather, was born 22nd July 1859, at 10am, at Elderslie, Kilmaurs, Ayrshire, the son of Edward McCormick and Jane or Jean Curdie. He married in Glasgow, at Laurieston Parish, Gorbals on 2nd September 1887 to Agnes Gemmell, and died on the 7th of December 1931, at 81 Ostrich Land, Prestwich, Lancashire.

Below a further photograph of James McCormick standing by a graveside at St.Mary's Prestwich, either dating from 1906 or 1916. The grave is of the Fraser family. In Loving Memory of - Finlay Fraser - Died April 14 1916 - aged 49 years - Also Elizabeth his wife died Nov 28 1938 aged 70 years also Finley their son died July 19 1906 aged 8 years also Ethel their daughter died March 17 1952 aged 58 years.
In 1911 the Fraser family lived at 8 Clifton Road (apparently very close to James) and is described as a Fruiterer born in c.1868 at Kirk Hill, Inverness, Scotland, his wife Elizabeth (same age in 1911 of 43) was born in Wishaw Lanarkshire , his sister Hellen was living with him (aged 46 a domestic cook) with daughter Ethel (born Prestwich c.1894) and son Alexander (born c.1908).

And finally a photograph of the McCormick Headstone, at St.Mary's Prestwich.

IN
LOVING MEMORY OF
AGNES
THE BELOVED WIFE OF
JAMES McCORMICK
WHO DIED 31ST JULY 1924
AGED 64 YEARS
"Lifes work nobly done"
ALSO JAMES, HUSBAND OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED 7TH DECR 1931
AGED 72 YEARS
ALSO LILLIE LYNN, DAUGHTER OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED 30TH MAY 1927
AGED 36 YEARS
ALSO THOMAS & JAMES BLANE
McCORMICK
AGED 21 & 19 YEAR RESPECTIVELY
REPORTED MISSING PRESUMED KILLED IN FRANCE

Moving back a further generation, James McCormick and his family can be found on the 1861 Census for Kilmaurs, Ayrshire (village of Elderslie)

Edward McCormick in Cambus Keith, and Jean Curdie in Grange Street, Kilmarnock,married after being proclaimed 22nd Septemeber, 1854

Their Children taken from Birth Entries from the Statutory Records were
Sarah McCormick born 10 October 1855 in Kilmarnock Parish
Thomas McCormick born 25 April 1857 at Third Part Row, Kilmarnock
James McCormick born 22 July 1859 in Elderslie, Kilmaurs
(all listed in the 1861 Census above)
Leah McCormick born 1 December 1861 in Elderslie, Kilmaurs
Robert Curdie McCormick born 23 April 1864 in Elderslie, Kilmaurs
Agnes Howie McCormick (twin) born 13 September 1866 in Elderslie, Kilmaurs
William Paterson McCormick (twin) born 13 September 1866 in Elderslie, Kilmaurs

Edward McCormick died aged only 44, in 1867.
Death Cert Ref No.598/20 Parish of Kilmaurs in the County of Ayr
Name : Edward McCormick, Occupation Coal Miner, Date of Death 27 March 1867 at 4.40 am , Married to Jean Curdie, Address: Elderslie Kilmaurs, Age 44, Father Thomas McCormick a Labourer Mother Leah McCormick M/S Anderson.
Cause of death: Enlargement of Heart 9 Months, Reported by Peter Curdie, brother in law, not present date 28 March 1867 at Kilmaurs Doctor James Rankin.

Jane, my Great, Great Grandmother, remained in Ayrshire
Death Cert Ref No.597/54 Parish of Kilmarnock in the County of Ayr Name : Jane McCormick, Date of Death 4 February 1909 at 0.50 pm , Widow, Spouse Edward McCormick
Address: 11 Old Mill Road, Kilmarnock, Age 75. Father James Curdie a Thatcher (deceased) Mother Sarah Curdie M/S Templeton (deceased)
Cause of death: Weak Action of the Heart Aggrevated by Chronic Bronchitis 3 years, Reported by son Thomas McCormick date 5 February 1909 Doctor William Baxter MD

The following details relate to James's brothers and sisters.
Marriage Entries from the Statutory Records
Ref. 597/78, Parish of Kilmarnock in the County of Ayr 7 June 1878
Thomas Baker, Locomotive Stoker, Bachelor aged 27 of Barleith, Hurlford. Parents: Joseph Baker, Coal Miner and Mary Ann Baker M/S Murchie and Sarah McCormick, Domestic Servant aged 24 of Neaphill, Kilmarnock. Parents: Edward McCormick, Coal Miner, deceased and Jane McCormick M/S Curdie.
Married at Neaphill Parish, Kilmarnock, After Banns according to the Forms of the Church of Scotland. Signed: Robert Stewart, Minister of St. Marnock. Witnesses: Thomas Templeton and Leah McCormick

Ref. 597/149, Parish of Kilmarnock in the County of Ayr 28 July 1893
William Brown, Carriage Fitter, Journeyman, Bachelor aged 35 of 1 Neiphill, Kilmarnock. Parents: James Brown, Coal Miner and Agnes Brown, M/S Easton and Leah McCormick, Green Grocer, Spinster aged 31 of 21 Backs Road, Kilmarnock. Parents: Edward McCormick, Pit Roadsman, deceased and Jean McCormick M/S Curdie.
Married at The Oddfellows Hall, Kilmarnock, After Banns according to the Forms of the Church of Scotland. Signed: J N Armstrong, Minister of St. Marnocks. Witnesses: Sarah Curdie and David Brown

Ref. 589/11, Parish of Dreghorn in the County of Ayr 28 June 1889
Robert McCormick, Grocer, Bachelor aged 25 of Crossmichael. Parents: Edward McCormick, Coal Miner deceased and Jane McCormick M/S Curdie and Mary Henderson, Shopkeeper, Spinster aged 24 of Corsehill Rows, Dreghorn. Parents: Thomas Henderson, Coal Miner deceased and Agnes Henderson M/S Waddell. Married at Corsehill Rows, After Banns according to the Forms of the Free Church of Scotland. Signed: John Connell, Minister of the Free Church of Dreghorn. Witnesses: William McCormick and Agnes Gallocher

Ref. 597/38, Parish of Kilmarnock in the County of Ayr 24 February 1888
Robert Wilson, Railway Pointsman, Bachelor aged 25 of Townhead, Kilwinning. Parents: James Wilson, Farm Labourer deceased and Mary Anderson formerly Wilson M/S Beattie and Agnes Howie McCormick, Dressmaker, Spinster aged 21 of 64 Hill Street, Kilmarnock. Parents: Edward McCormick, Underground Manager deceased and Jane McCormick M/S Curdie.
Married at 43 Hill Street, Kilmarnock, After Banns according to the Forms of the Church of Scotland. Signed: J N Armstrong, Minister of St. Marnocks. Witnesses: Leah McCormick and Jos. Brown



Finally one further Death Entry from the Statutory Records
Ref. 597/98, Parish of Kilmarnock in the County of Ayr 13th May 1921
Thomas McCormick aged 65, Railway Passenger Guard of 11 Old Mill Road, Kilmarnock.
Parents: Edward McCormick, Colliery Underground Fireman deceased and Jane McCormick M/S Curdie deceased. Reported by Will. P McCormick brother of 1 Bearsburn.

This is currently all the information I have for my McCormack MacCormack McCormick ancestry.