Person:George McNair (4)

George Best MCNAIR was born 5may1835 (gravestone, information from M. Rahbek) (or 2 jun 1835) at Greenfield, Shettleston, Lanarkshire (IGI). He was christened 2jun1835 at Barony (scotlandspeople website). In 1851 George was at school at Stubbington House, Titchfield, Hampshire (census). He married Frances Dorothy DIXON, daughter of Rev. Isaac DIXON and Charlotte Helen Kirkland BAGSHAWE (information from L. Stewart), her father’s name was mentioned in marriage certificate (IGI). George Best MCNAIR was born 5may1835 (gravestone, M. Rahbek) (or 2 jun 1835) at Greenfield, Shettleston, Lanarkshire. He died at Birch Bank, Skelmorlie 28feb1910 and was 4th son of Lt. Col. James McNair K.H. 73rd regiment (George’s gravestone, M. Rahbek). Frances was born 19mar1834 and died 27feb1914 (gravestone, M. Rahbek) and was daughter of Rev. Isaac DIXON and Charlotte Helen Kirkland BAGSHAWE. In 1861 Geo. Best McNair (b. 1836 Barony), fund owner of coal pits, and Frances D. McNair (b.1834 England) lived in Milncroft Rd., Shettleston probably with Charlotte H. McNair (b. 1829 England) and her children (census). In 1881 George Best McNair (coalmaster, b. 1836 Shettleston), wife Frances Dorothy (b. 1834 England), children all born in Glasgow Frances Elianor, Emily Edith (1863), Mary Christian (1866), James Herbert (1869), Mildred Helen (1871), Philip Lionel Hope (1873), Caroline Gertrude (1876), brother James Stimcer McNair, and 7 servants were at Boquhan Mansion House, Gargunnock, Stirlingshire (census). In 1891 George Best McNair (b. 1836 Shettleston, Lanarkshire), living on private means, lived at Birchbank, Montgomery Terrace, Largs, Ayrshire, with wife Frances D. (b.1834, England) and children Frances E. (b. 1862 Glasgow), Emily E. (b.1863 Glasgow), Mary C. (b. 1866 Glasgow), Mildred H. (b. 1871 Glasgow), Philip L. H. (b.1873 Skelmorlie, Ayrshire), Caroline Gertrude (b. 1876 Skelmorlie) (census). Montgomery Terrace is in Skelmorlie. From McNair book 1923 supplement: George Best McNair was rather delicate as a boy, and when about 18 or 19 sailed for Bendigo, Australia, chiefly in the hope that the sea voyage might benefit his health. On the way he was shipwrecked and it was 9 days before he and a few other survivors were rescued; the greater portion of both passengers and crew perished. He gave up his share of drinking water to a young girl who, in spite of his efforts to save her, died from exhaustion. He chewed the lead off the cabin stairs of the wrecked vessel to stave off the feeling of great thirst. He lost one of his lungs but otherwise fully recovered and lived to be over 70.

1.   International Genealogical Index. ( The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, 1999-2008)
   Batch #: M148353, Sheet #: 00, Source Call #: 1067281, Printout Call #: NONE, Dates: 1837 -.
2.   International Genealogical Index. ( The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, 1999-2008)
   Batch #: C119666, Sheet #: 00, Source Call #: 1041478, Printout Call #: 6901464, Dates: 183.
3.   International Genealogical Index. ( The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, 1999-2008).
4.   England. 1841 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.).
5.   General Register Office for Scotland. 1861 Scotland Census. (Edinburgh).
6.   General Register Office for Scotland. 1881 Scotland Census. (Edinburgh).
7.   General Register Office for Scotland. 1891 Scotland Census. (Edinburgh).
8.   Family letters
   in possession of Michael Avery.