Musselburgh Historical Information

I have researched my maternal mother's family and came across one of those findings that you wished you hadn't started.
My mother Margaret Graham Lees was born 1920 above the Ship Inn Public House, Newbiggin, Musselburgh. Her father Robert Lees (1882-1950) was previously married to a Jemima Taylor (1883-1917) They had two sons my half uncle's Robert (Bert) Lees (1910-1989) a baker in Musselburgh and James Taylor Lees (1913-1917).
Here is the horrible bit. While my grandfather Robert Lees (snr) was serving in WW1 Private in 2/9th (The Dumbartonshire) Battalion Princess Louise's (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) T.F. his wife Jemima and son James were found drowned on 15th March 1917 in the sea near the bandstand at Musselburgh seafront. The verdict was suicide.
I have tried to find any newspaper reports of this incident without any success.
I am wondering if anybody has access to these records locally. I live in Kent hence my request on this forum.
Any costs involved in finding a report of this tragic incident would naturally be repaid in full.

Hi overwallop and welcome to the forum. I had a quick look on the Scotsman archive but could not find anything. However, I notice that you have asked the question elsewhere and someone suggested the John Gray centre. I see that there is a mention here in the Haddingtonshire Courier for a Mrs Robert Lees http://www.johngraycentre.org/collections/getrecord/ELLOH_Courier_23031917

Thank you Andy for getting back to me and showing me the index for Mrs Robert Lees in the Haddington Courier in 1917.
You are quite right in that I did once make an enquiry with the East Lothian Government website but it drew a blank.
I had never heard of the John Gray Centre so I had never received anything back from them. It probably fell into spam!
I have written to the JGC to see if they can help offering payment so I will have to wait and see what they say.
Thanks again
Bob Hewitt.

I have just had my original email bounce back as they don't accept emails from BTINTERNET due to spam issues.

I will try another of my email addresses.

************

I now have a reply and have been offered a FOC copy of the article within 2 weeks. Such excellent service and thank you again for putting me in touch with them.

What a helluva a thing.....

The National Library of Scotland keeps copies of just about everything ever published in Scotland, including newspapers.

Here's a link:-

http://www.nls.uk/

Although the National Library may have copies of the early newspapers, I'm not sure whether they will have been digitised and available online.

Possibly not........... won't find out without asking.

I just wanted to express my thanks advising you that I have now received the Haddington Courier article dated 1917 related to the sad death of my relatives. Although the item was quite short it confirmed that my grandfather's wife and son were found drowned opposite Musselburgh Racecourse. It stated that the wife was having mental health issues at the time. This must have contributed to the decision by the coroner that it was suicide.

My next quest is to see if I can find the bakery in Musselburgh that my uncle Robert (Bert) Lees worked at. I believe it wasn't far from his home address of Eskside, Musselburgh.

Glad to be of help. The main bakers in Musselburgh years ago was Ford's http://www.scotlandfoodanddrink.org/insights/buyers-guide/supplier-info/1508/fords-the-bakers-ltd.aspx
The only other recollection I have of a bakers was one that my grandfather took me to around the corner where Newbigging meets the High street but I have no idea of the name. However, I can still remember the smell of freshly baked rolls

I didn't get much joy with Ford's. All my email attempts were returned and I see that a year or so ago they were looking for a new buyer.
I am going back 60 years and I visited my uncle Bert (the baker) at I think 63 Eskside which was near a bridge over some water. The river/canal was full of rubbish and wasn't a pretty sight. I thought the bakers were located on a corner very close to this area. We walked there from 5 King Street which was where my grandfather lived.

loades a auld photoes an maps ye'll mebbe find somethin here

http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/

Tommy Ford's became quite a big enterprise. They had a factory at Macmerry but I understand that they are now in Administration.

Did you know that there is still Ship Inn in Musselburgh?