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I'm trying to establish the name of my paternal great grandfather. I believe that his surname was Masson and that he lived in the Dundee area of Scotland in the mid 19th and possibly into early 20th centuries. My grandmother was Jane (known as Jeannie) Masson Christie. She had taken her surname from her mother Margaret Whitton Christie (1858 - 1939) who appears to have spent much of her life in a mental asylum (Maryfield Hospital) - perhaps as a result of having had an illegitimate child. The identity of Jeannie's father is not known though her middle name suggests he was a Masson. Family legend has it that Jeannie's father may have worked as a roadman and that he and Margaret Whitton Christie had planned to marry before Jeannie was born. It is believed that he was killed in an accident of some kind before the marriage could take place. One story has it that he cut himself sharpening his scythe and that he contracted tetanus through the wound but no corroborative evidence for that has been found to date. The family kept a death notice from the local Dundee paper, possibly The Courier, for a number of years but this was lost about twenty-five years ago and consequently it has proved impossible to identify and trace Jeanie's paternal lineage without a first name or a date of death for him. Jeannie's birth certificate has no father's name on it so the only clue to his identity is her Masson middle name. There is no other instance of a Masson in the family tree so it seems likely that the name was given in recognition of her father. Jeannie was born on 2 November 1886 at Murroes, Angus, Scotland, close to the City of Dundee. She married David John Craik in 1914 and died in December 1968. She and Davie lived at number 3 The Hilltown, Dundee for most of their married lives. Any information on the identity of Jeannie's father is eagerly sought. Malcolm Craik

Hi Malcolm,
I don't know if this is of any use to you. I don't really have a Masson connection in my tree which would effect what you are looking for, although I do have a Margaret Masson c1835 in my tree.

The thing that interests me is that you mention a John Craik. My great grandfather was John Craik, born 1884, possibly in Forfar, Angus. Although my grandmother took his name, he never married her mother who was Mary Milne McGregor. My grandmother was born in 1906, but alas, never spoke about him. All that I have heard is that there was a connection with the police force which I find impossible to substantiate.

It would be great to hear from you. Please take a look at my family tree and you will see what I am talking about. I just find it too coincidental that there were two John Craiks in the Dundee area at the same time.

Kind Regards,
Tony Keus (formerly Dundee, now living in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire)