Conference tallis::celt

96.0. "1st Generation Scottish-American" by PROSE::WALKER () Fri Oct 31 1986 13:15

    I have spent the last few days (on & off) reading through the CELT
    notes. Quite a varity of comments and I enjoyed most of them. 
    In particular I enjoyed the notes about peoples backgrounds/lineage. 
    Sooooo, I've mustered up the courage to tell you some of mine. I may 
    ramble on so I hope I don't bore anyone.
    
    Names Bob Walker (Robert Patrick). I am first generation Scottish
    American. My father (James) was a ship fitter from Glasgow. My 
    mother (Jean - maiden name Toner) was a Spinner(?) from the Paisley
    mills. Both came to America in 1922-23. My mother was probably among
    the last of the groups that came through Ellis Island. My father
    came in through New York too but missed Ellis Island. I don't know
    how. They met here and married (a Catholic and a Protestant).     
    
    My father, unable to find work at his trade went to work for "the
    Vanderbilts" in Hampton L.I.,New York as a boatman. My mother swore
    she would never go back to the mills. She worked in them full time
    (after completing a 6th grade education) until she came to the states
    about 15 years later.  She took a job as a domestic and eventually 
    ended up at "the Vanderbilts". That's where my parents met.
    
    After marrying, they went back to the city (Brooklyn) to try their
    luck. After the birth of 4 children, little work, then no work they
    left Brokklyn in the middle of the night on a borrowed horse drawn
    junk wagon. With their children and their belongings (they jumped
    the rent) they headed for Queens (Woodside) where I was born. I
    was raised here in sight of the the 59th street bridge and Manhattan.
    My father died at 81 and my mother a year and 1/2 ago at 91.
    
    Woodside, until I left for DEC in '68, was predominately Irish,
    a fair representation of Scottish, some German, after that you name
    it. Many of my friends' fathers were former IRA. I grew up listening
    to all the Irish songs, mostly rebel songs. The neighborhood was
    loaded with saloons (what else?). All the juke box listings showed
    at lest half the records as being Irish. Some Scottish records even
    made it in from time to time. The teenagers of the neighborhood
    generally introduced themselfs to the bars at about 17 - 18 years
    of age. Drinking was the only motive for going into the bars. After
    I did a hitch in the Navy and came back to the neighborhood, I really
    started to enjoy the social culture, the music, the characters and
    the stories. I even tried my hand at playing the pipes with the
    Armagh County Band but I guess I am a drummer at heart.
    
    Good God! I think I started a book. Enough for now. However, there are some
    topics I would appreciate hearing about from "over there".
    
    For starters:
    
    1. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
    
    My mother's father was killed while serving with the regiment in
    the Argonne Forest during WW I. He was killed at age 40, a private,
    with a wife and four daughters. He was a drummer with the regimental
    band and he was killed under the name Patrick Connelly (real name
    Patrick Toner). Some intrigue here. This is a story in its self
    that finds it's way back to Irland.
    
    2. The Glasgow Celtics and the Glasgow Rangers.
    
    My father use to tell me some hair raising (I could use some now)
    stories about the 2 teams when they would meet ie; 600 cops on the
    field to seperate the fans. Catholics on one side Protestants on
    the other. Riots afterwards (how do you tell one from the other?).
    Any changes since then. 
    
    
    Bob
    
    here
    This is
    a story in itself that finds it's way back to Irland.
    then half the records
    raised.

    I'm also first generation, in fact, the first one in the family
    born outside of Scotland.   
    
    Both my father and grandfather worked at John Brown's Shipyard in
    Clydebank.
    
    Also.... Both my grandfathers AND my father were in the A&SH. My
    father then went into OCS and served as Works Officer (rank of Capt)
    in the RASC under Monty in North Africa during WW2.
    
    If you have a chance to get to the games this summer at Grandfater
    Mountain N.C. or Stone Mountain Ga. look me up at my uncles food
    concession Camerons Market (established Paisley, 1928).  We ship
    foodstuffs (pies, brides, sausages, bangers, staek pies.....)
    in quantites all over the U.S. if you can get an order together.
    
    
    John Tough
    Allentown Pa.

    Do you do Plain Loafs?
    
    Drew
    

    Hi John - how do you pronounce the "Tough" in Allentown?   I used to
    work with a Richard Tough in Glasgow, (really sharp programmer).
    
    His Aberdeenshire pronunciation was "Tookh", where kh is the sound at
    the end of "loch", etc - I'm English myself so obviously can't
    pronounce it properly...   Think one of my grandfathers was in the
    Argylls, though. 

    Hi John,
    
    I have heard of the games at Grandfathers Mt. in NC but have never
    been. I understand that this is one of the biggest. True ?
    As a kid my folks would take us to the games at New Paltz, NY and
    some place on Staten Island. I've been to a couple here in New
    Hampshire at Loon Mt.
    
    Interesting your father and grandfather were in the A&SH. Do you
    know much about researching regimental records, more then just a
    confirmation that someone served and their time in service.
    
    I've made a note of your Scotish foodstuffs business and will keep 
    it in mind for family gatherings. Do you have a business address ?
    What are minimum orders ? Quantities...dollars?
    
    Bob
    Merrimack,NH
    

    RE .4
    
     AYE, THAT'S THE RIGHT WAY TO SAY IT, BUT TRY TO GET THE YANKS TO
    SAY IT THAT WAY.   AS FOR ABERDEEN....MY GREAT-GREAT?? GRANDFATHER'S
    GRAVE IS THERE. MAYBE RICHARD IS A RELATION????? IT WOULD BE GREAT
    TO FIND OUT.
    
    RE .5
    
       I DON'T KNOW MUTCH ABOUT RESEARCHING THE RECORDS BUT I'LL ASK
    AROUND AND SEE IF MY FATHER OR UNCLE (STILLIN THE UK) CAN TELL ME
    ANYTHING.   
       I'LL FIND OUT COST'S AND QUANTITES AND POST THEM HERE FOR ALL
    TO SEE WITH ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBERS FOR ORDERS.
    
       GRANDFATHER MT. GAMES ARE THE LARGEST IN THE EAST.  THIS YEAR
    THEY WILL BE HELD JULY 11 AND 12.  IN FACT, I THINK THERE IS ONLY
    ONE OTHER GAMES IN THE US THAT ARE LARGER.     STONE MT. GA IS
    SCHEDUALED FOR OCTOBER 17 AND 18.  STONE MTN. IS SOMETHING TO SEE
    WITH THE  CARVING AND SUMMER LASER SHOW ON THE MOUNTAIN.   I HIGHLY
    RECOMMEND THESE GAMES BECAUSE THE PEOPLE AND AREA ARE SO NICE.