Hamiltons and Lawsons c1940


[Pamela Doherty writes (27/07/2020]
….the Lawson/Hamilton definitely have strong New Zealand connections. Catherine Brooks (MS Lawson) moved to New Zealand sometime in the 1950s and spent the rest of her life there. Her sister Christina and her family moved there in the 1960’s. Their parents Thomas and Catherine lived there for around four years with Thomas Lawson serving in the army. Catherine’s brother Alexander was also out there and died serving in the New Zealand Army. I’d be interested in finding out more about the family’s connection with New Zealand and why so many of them went out there. Any pointers would be gratefully appreciated.

Catherine Lawson (MS Hamilton) was my Great Gran and the owner of the properties in Cross Wynd that me previous email referred to. I believe she may also have owned a shop on South Street West and possibly another property on Sharps close but I am still looking into that. She lived in New Zealand with her husband Thomas Lawson for a few years where she had 2 children, Christina Lawson and George Lawson, before returning to Falkland in 1916. She had 2 further children, Johan Robina Lawson and Catherine Lawson, and remained there until just before she passed in 1959. Johan Robina Lawson married John Hill (not from Falkland) and had two children, Catherine and John. Catherine attended Falkland Primary school for a year or two before the family moved to Strathmiglo in the early 50’s.

Christina Lawson was married William Wylie and moved to New Zealand around 1960, however, their graves are in Falkland New Cemetery so may have come back. Together they had four children, three sons and one daughter (also called Christina). I mention this as a Christina Wylie was registered as the owner of the listed building Cross Wynd Cottage in 2010. It was her family that took inheritance of all the properties owned by Catherine Lawson (MS Hamilton) when she passed in 1959. If this person can be traced they may be able to offer further information as to the history of some of these properties.

[Pamela Doherty writes (09/08/2020]…. My Great Grandad Thomas Lawson and his wife Catherine went to New Zealand sometime after 1911. They had two children there Christina (1912) and George (1914). Thomas was discharged from the New Zealand to return to Falkland in 1916, both children are listed on his discharge papers. I can’t find and record of their travel to or from New Zealand, but more importantly I can’t find any mention of George after this date. My gran never mentioned to either of her children that they had an uncle so I am guessing he was either left in New Zealand or died during or soon after their return. 

Would [anyone] be familiar with ships that made the journey to or from New Zealand around these dates?

Click to view the photographs Lawson / Wylie / Hamilton 1940 on .

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *