175th. Anniversary Project - Hugh McGREGOR

The Introduction to this story can be found at:

INTRODUCTION

Hugh McGREGOR was born on 1 May 1803 in Kirk Street, Calton, Glasgow and baptised on 15 May in the parish of Barony - the first child of John McGREGOR, grocer and his wife Christina KIRK.  The following year his father secured the position of butler and house steward with Lady STUART of Castlemilk.

Hugh's mother died in 1810 when he was 7 years of age.  His father remarried, later moving to Bothwell Bridge and then to Edinburgh.

Hugh received his schooling in Ruthergten and Hamilton and then had to decide on a career.  The first attempt was a year's trial in the book printing trade which did not go too well.  The second attempt was shoemaking of which he said "I detested but managed to keep at it until 1821".  On 26 March 1821, having reached the age of 18, Hugh enlisted as a soldier with the 26th. Scotch Cameronian Regiment of Infantry.

 

His own words tell the sad tale of his enlistment:

"I was led to this foolish step by getting into bad company.  I neither reflected on the misery I was bringing on myself or the heartbreak I caused to an indulgent and kind father who had seen to all my wants being supplied and watched over me from childhood.  Little do youths think of the misery they cause their parents by their thoughtless conduct.  At the time I enlisted my father was in York, England.

I embarked in the "Fifeshire", Leith smack for London at which place we arrived after a very disagreeable passage of eight days.  There being eighty of us recruits for different regiments on board we had not room to lay down and scarcely to stand if we were all below at the same time.  It was then I began to repent of my folly and wish myself at home again - and there was not a person on board that I knew to whom I could unburden my mind, which I thought would have relieved me."

After an overnight stay at the Bricklayers Arms in Kensington they set out on the eight day march to Southampton, crossed to Cowes and continued marching to Albany barracks.

Arrival brought no relief as they were packed into a room which again lacked the space to even sit down.  The following day they washed, shaved and had their hair cropped.

There followed spells of duty in Portsmouth (as servant to the Paymaster), Gibraltar and Ireland.  In April 1828 the regiment received orders for Madras and on 9 May they embarked aboard the Rose for the four month voyage. During the next eight years Hugh marched back and forth across India.  From Madras to Calcutta.  To Meerut and Jodpur then back to Meerut and on to Gazipur.   Thousands of miles of travelling had taken its toll on Hugh.  He applied for his discharge on 1 April 1836 but had to wait a whole year before it came through.  In April 1837 he was fortunate in securing the position of batman to a brigadier who was returning to England for health reasons.  They embarked on 9 October 1837 but the brigadier was unwell and died on 17 November.  Having been left without work the captain offered Hugh seaman's pay if he would join the ship's books as a sailor.  He agreed.

The much longed for discharge came through a few weeks after arrival in England.  Hugh's military service totalled 17 years and 3 days.

On 26 April 1838 Hugh married Miss Sarah FEASEY at St. Mary's Church in Marylebone.

Nine days later he joined the Metropolitan Police Force, warrant number 13786, having been recommended by J. FISHER Esq. of Argyle Street.  (John William FISHER was the Surgeon in Chief to the Metropolitan Police).

Four children were born to Hugh and Sarah between 1838 and 1843:  John, Harriet, Hugh and Sarah.

Which brings the story to 1844 when the Hong Kong Government were looking for three experienced police officers to establish the new police force.  Sergeants McGREGOR and SMITHERS must have viewed this as an interesting opportunity and volunteered (or were volunteered!) for the roles of inspectors at a salary of £250 pa.  They decided that in the first instance it would be sensible for their wives and children to stay in England.

Two months later the officers resigned from the Metropolitan Police and boarded the ss Oriental for their voyage East.

Once Hugh had assured himself that Hong Kong offered a reasonable lifestyle his greatest wish was that his family could join him.  In April 1846, a year after arrival, Sarah submitted a request to the Colonial Department requesting free passage to Hong Kong for herself and her children so that the family could be reunited.  Gladstone acknowledged the memorial but informed Sarah that no funds were available for the passage.  Hugh soldiered on without his family for another few months but at the end of 1846 submitted his resignation.  Having received approval, and with very good references from The Governor, Colonial Secretary and Chief Magistrate he returned to Britain on the Sandersons.  He arrived in London on 27 April 1847 having been away for 2 years 7 months and 21 days.  Some historians state that Hugh "fell out" with the Hong Kong Government, however, I feel it was more a case of him having to make a difficult decision.  He chose family over colonial career purely because of the cost of passages.

Hugh managed to secure a position in the household of Earl Fitzhardinge before moving to Yorkshire where he was able to resume his police career.  In October 1850 he was appointed Superintendent Constable for Northallerton Division, an appointment which he held until the establishment of the County Police Force on 6 January 1857.  As Hugh was then nearly fifty four years of age the highest position he was offered was that of 1st. Class Inspector and he was transferred to Guisborough.  The night before leaving Northallerton many of the residents had a meeting and presented him with a purse of thirty sovereigns as a mark of appreciation for his service.  He said:

"I was very fortunate in catching thieves and I had many a hard tussle with some of them, but I was strong then and when after a thief I could stand any amount of fatigue until I got him."

Hugh spent three months at Guisborough before being appointed Superintendent of Whitby Division.  In 1863 he suffered a stroke which affected the left side of his body and work became difficult.  In 1865 he applied for retirement and left on 30 September being "done up".  At the Quarter Sessions the following month the magistrates awarded him a gratuity of £150 and wished him long life, health and happiness.  The superintendents of the force invited him to a dinner at Northallerton where he was presented with a silver snuff box.  After leaving the police he acted as Inspector of Nuisances as well as being appointed an Inspector of the Poor Law Union.  His memory stayed as good as ever and he would entertain friends by relating the various adventures and escapades he had experienced throughout his life.

His wife, Sarah, died on 1 October 1869 at the age of 59 in York Terrace, Whitby.  After Hugh had returned from Hong Kong she bore him four more children:  Robert, William, Elizabeth and Charles - all born in Northallerton.  Hugh continued living in Whitby until Christmas 1878 at which time he moved to York to live with his eldest son.  He died on Friday 14 February 1879 at the age of 76.

Hugh's body was returned to Whitby by the noon train on Tuesday and was taken to Ash Tree House, the home of his daughter, Mrs. Sarah COOPER.  At 2.30pm the funeral procession commenced along the crowded streets to the cemetery.  Hugh was buried with military honours with the band of the 2nd. North Yorkshire Volunteer Artillery Corps playing the Dead March.  Supt. RYDER and members of the Force officiated as bearers from the hearse to the graveside.  Several tradesmen joined the procession to show the esteem in which he had been held.

In Affectionate Remembrance

Sarah

wife of Hugh McGregor

died October 1st. 1869

aged 59 years

Also the above

Hugh McGregor

who died February 14th. 1879

aged 76 years

And William their son

Commander of the ship

Shakespeare of Sunderland

who died at Bombay June 1st. 1878

aged 28 years

Also of John Kilvington

Master Mariner

son in law of the above who died

November 15th. 1880 aged 40 years

also John McGregor

eldest son of the above

born January 27th. 1839

died January 26th. 1904

Research note:  In April 2019 I was overjoyed to find Hugh's headstone high on the hill overlooking Whitby.  Thomas SMITHERS, his colleague on that mission to Hong Kong back in 1844, died at sea in 1848 and has no headstone to honour of his life.  Before leaving I laid my hand on this headstone and told Hugh that he had not been forgotten.

For the story of Thomas Smithers please follow this link:
Thomas Harris SMITHERS

If any reader should be a descendant of Hugh & Sarah McGREGOR

please contact me - I would love to hear from you

Christine M. Thomas 

© Christine M. Thomas 2019

 

George GANE - another of those Bristol Bobbies

George Christopher was born in East Pennard, Somerset and baptised at All Saints on 24 November 1856 under the name of George Christopher COOK, the son of 19 year old Henrietta Jemima Rebecca COOK.  Five months previously banns of marriage between George GANE and Henrietta COOK had been published in East Pennard but for some reason the marriage had not taken place - perhaps her parents were not willing to give permission.  Two years later on 5 May 1858 George was granted a licence and the couple married in East Pennard the following day.  It appears that after the marriage George Christopher took on the surname of GANE. 

Over the next ten years George and Henrietta had another five children.  George was 33 years older than Henrietta and when he died on 17 July 1871 she was left to raise the children on her own.  She moved to Bristol where in 1874 she married the widower John BERRIDGE.  Henrietta died two years later a few months after the birth of a son.  By 1881 most of her elder children were in employment but Selina, her youngest daughter by George GANE, was a “Blue Maid Orphan” in the Asylum for Poor Orphan Girls at Ashley Hill in Bristol.  No doubt one or more of Selina’s elder sisters had also spent time in the orphanage prior to finding employment in domestic service.

  

George Christopher GANE joined the Bristol Constabulary on 17 July 1878 becoming Constable 108A.  On recruitment his previous employment was shown as “Labourer” and he was recorded as being 5ft. 9¼ inches in height.  The 1881 census shows George serving at Bridewell Police Station in the city centre.  He resigned a few days after the census on 20 April 1881 and married within a year.  His bride was Pamela Alma BROMFIELD.

Example of Bristol Police Uniform

A couple of months after George's marriage, Mr. HOGGE, the Recruiting Officer of the Hong Kong and Straits Settlement Police visited Bristol on a recruiting campaign.  The Hong Kong Police had been established some 38 years earlier when an Inspector and 2 Sergeants from London’s Metropolitan Police volunteered for duty in the very new Colony.  Every few years recruiting campaigns were held in the UK in order to build up a core of experienced officers and these came from London’s Metropolitan Police; Scottish Constabularies; the Royal Irish Constabulary; as well as from Borough Forces throughout England.  This was the first time that the south-west of England had been targetted and it proved a rich picking ground.  The Crown Agents had instructed Mr. Hogge to contact various Chief Constables prior to visiting but he failed to do this and the press reported that he had privately solicited officers with tempting offers and that as a result their Force was to be decimated. 

The Deputy Captain Superintendent of the Hong Kong Police was on leave in the UK at this time and would have had the final say on which recruits were acceptable.  He required them to have at least 12 months service and be of good physique.  They were to receive a bounty of £20 for volunteering; the pay in Hong Kong would be 30 - 35 shillings a week and after 10 years service the recruits would be eligible for a pension.

Word spread quickly around the Bristol Constabulary and even reached former colleagues.  This was too good an opportunity to be missed.  As a result 10 serving officers were recruited together with 3 former officers – one of whom was George GANE.  George signed the Hong Kong Articles of Agreement on 27 May 1882 in the presence of Revd. George P. Grantham, Mission Priest of Holy Cross, Bedminster.

The Bristol recruits travelled to London in July where they met up with other recruits from Plymouth, Gloucestershire and Liverpool.  They sailed on the ss Pembrokeshire on 22 July arriving in Hong Kong 6 ½ weeks later.  The voyage was anything but pleasant as the ship encountered strong monsoon winds across the Indian Ocean.  Added to that it was reported that during the voyage one of their number had fallen 25ft. down a hold and had been lucky to escape with his life.  To make matters even worse the food onboard was described as having been disgusting.  It was with some relief that they set foot ashore. 

The Press reported :

Upon arrival at the Central Station their comrades feted the new comers right royally, and the sounds of jollification and harmony – in the quiet police style as becomes men who devote their lives to the preservation of order – could be heard emanating from the police quarters.  There seems to be a considerable amount of esprit de corps amongst our gallant peace and property preservers.

  

Central Police Station 1880s/1890s

Thereafter their lives took very different paths.  A couple were to die and others lost family members to fevers and plague.  A few became entangled in a corruption scandal which rocked the Colony in the 1890s; and a handful had long and very successful careers before returning to the UK.

George and Pamela experienced the sadness of losing a child less than a year after arrival in Hong Kong.  Jessie had been born in November/December 1882 but died at the age of 9 months and 14 days.  She was buried in the Colonial Cemetery on 23 August 1883 in grave 4660 – her address was given as 18 Old Bailey Street, just around the corner from Central Police Station.   Records showing the location of her grave do not survive but it could well have been in the Children's Section:

Children's Section

Pamela’s second child arrived in 1885 – Frederick George was born on 24 May and baptised at St. John’s Cathedral on 15 July 1885.  A second daughter, again named Jessie, was born on 29 May 1887 and baptised at St. Johns on 23 June.

George’s first tour of duty lasted 5 years during which time he took on the additional duties of Assistant Engine Driver with the Fire Brigade.  As a constable he earned $480 per annum whilst the brigade duties brought in an additional $96 per annum.

The Police held their annual sports day in the spring and the 1886 event saw many of the “Bristol Bobbies” participating.  The press reported

“After their Sports being deferred by the weather on Saturday the Police were exceedingly fortunate yesterday in the state of that most important element.  The day could not have been improved upon for the purpose, the rain having cleared off and there being just enough cloud to temper the heat of the sun with the occasional gleams of sunshine.  The ground was a trifle heavy which was against the making of fast times.  A more interesting and enjoyable athletic meeting has seldom been held in Hong Kong, a number of novel sports being introduced”

From the looks of things George was no sportsman, however, he was not about to let his fellow Bristolians down so entered for two events – those referred to above as “novel sports”!

The Egg and Spoon Race was run over 100 yards with 15 competitors:  Inspectors Quincey and Cradock, PCs McGarry, Hannah, Niven, Dickinson, McDonald, Ford, Hadden, Ehlers, Ross, McIver, McDougall, Gane and APS McDonald.  The event caused a great deal of laughter with most of the men losing their eggs within a few feet of setting off. 

“Inspector Cradock held out for some time but an unfortunate lurch sent his frail cargo overboard.  The first to reach the goal without accident was A. Niven, after him coming J. McGarry and then McDougall.  Hadden came in among the first but unfortunately dropped his egg just before reaching the goal.  The second man, McGarry, it is said managed to keep his egg steady by keeping his thumb on it.”

The last event of the day was advertised as being the “Fully Equipped Race over 100 yards”.  This involved the participants wearing full winter uniform plus cap, belt and truncheon in case, lamp and regulation boots. 

“A good deal of curiosity was evinced as to this race and it is a great pity that not more of the Force in full uniform exhibited their capabilities of making chase after a prisoner.  As it was only four fully equipped defenders of the peace competed:  John McDougall, H.G.Baker, G. Gane and Moran.  McDougall was the best runner of the quartette and although his heavy boots nearly brought him down at one time he managed to steady himself and came in two or three yards in front of Baker who was second and who was closely followed by Gane.  Time 14 seconds”

Later in the year our lads were on display again this time for the Hongkong Fire Brigades Annual Inspection and Drill Competitions.

“Yesterday was quite a gala day for the members of the Government and Volunteer Fire Brigades in this colony.  It has been usual for the Governor of the colony to hold an annual inspection of the brigades but this year the inspection has been made something of a great deal more importance than it has hitherto been.  Mr. J.S. Brewer (Government Marine Surveyor) who has held charge of the Government Brigade since the departure of the Superintendent Mr. H.E. Wodehouse CMG for England has worked in a manner in this line of work which shows that his heart is thoroughly in it.  During the whole time he has held charge of the brigade he has been introducing improvements in the machinery and appliances, the modes of using them, and the organisation of the men, and the step he took in turning the annual inspection into something more than a mere parade is not one of the least of the good things he has done in this direction.  Competitions of the kind to be found below tend above all other things to perfect the men in the handling of their fire extinguishing appliances and the smartness they will thus acquire will doubtless be turned to good account whenever the men are called out for active service.  We are now at the beginning of the fire season and anything likely to tend to the quicker and more effective grappling with the devouring element is a decided public benefit.  The work done yesterday shows that the men are well up to their work and that when the occasion demands there is a large body of men ready to turn out at a moment’s notice to arrest the havoc to property by the flames that may have broken from control.”

George was part of PC J. Johnstone’s team which also included Constables J. MacDougall, W. Robertson and H. Wood.  The main event which they took part in was “Get Manual all ready for work with dam and one length of suction and two delivery with branch pipe”.  The teams received penalties of 2 seconds for a twist in the hose or slack joints or if any gear was not efficient.  There would be a prize of $25.  Five teams entered and PC Johnstone’s team was the winner coming in at 48.1. seconds with no penalties.

The last event of the afternoon saw individual steam engines being brought up to steam in the quickest possible time. 

“This was a very interesting event the competitors being Nos 2,3 and 4 Government Steamers and the Hongkong Fire Insurance Steamer.  The want of a wind prevented a good draught for the furnaces and water was not got into play so quickly as would otherwise have been the case.  No. 3 Government engine was the first to get up steam, take water and spout it, the latter being done in 9m 23sec from start.  This was under charge of PS Campbell.  It had steam enough to blow its whistle in eight minutes.  In nine minutes she drew water and in 9.23 was playing it.  The Volunteer engine worked by Mr. Ramsay, the Acting Engineer, and worked by volunteer firemen was soon after in full swing, very closely followed by No. 4 Government steamer worked by PC James, No 2 under PC Gane being only a second or two behind.”

At the close of the drill HE The Governor inspected and thanked the men.  Being the winner in the main event PC Johnstone’s team was lined up to the front of the Government Brigades.  Mr. Brewer explained to His Excellency that he had devised medals as the rewards of the winners of this event as he considered it the most important.  The men had completed the work in 48 seconds which was a most creditable performance and compared favourably with that done in England.  His Excellency presented the medals to the men.

In 1887, having completed 5 years service, George was entitled to Home Leave.  On 9 September 1887 the GANE family boarded P&O ss Peshawur for their homeward voyage to London.  

P&O Peshawur

 

The ship reached Singapore on 15 September, Penang on 17^th. , Colombo on 22^nd., Aden on 29^th, ,  Suez Oct 4^th. , Marseilles Oct 12^th., Plymouth at 4am on 19 October before leaving at 7.15am for the Royal Albert Docks in London.

George enjoyed 6 months Home Leave before returning on P&O ss Nepaul which left London on 3 May 1888 arriving in Hong Kong on 11 June.   

Joining George on his return journey were 4 of his colleagues:  Hadden, Paull, Miners and Ford.   There is every likelihood that Pamela remained in the UK for a while because a son, Victor Archibald was baptised on 12 December 1888 at St. Matthews in Moorfield, Bristol.

During George’s second tour of duty he again took on additional duties with the Fire Brigade being advanced to Engine Driver.  In his police role he became Acting Police Sergeant for a couple of years earning $510 per annum. 

By 1891 Pamela had returned to Hong Kong and she gave birth to a daughter named Florence on 24 February.  Florence was baptised at St. Johns Cathedral on 1^st. April 1891. 

George completed his 10 year period of service on 26 January 1893 and having earned his pension retired back to England. On the morning of their departure members of the Police Force assembled at Central Police Station to bid their comrades farewell.  Messrs. Gane, Paull and Miners were each presented with a gold watch chain and pendant bearing a suitable inscription.  

Mr & Mrs GANE and 4 children are shown as passengers on the Ancona leaving Hong Kong on 1 February 1893.  At Colombo they transferred to P&Os Australia arriving back in England on 10 March 1893.  Pamela had been pregnant throughout the voyage and gave birth to a son a few weeks after arrival.  Ernest was baptised on 9 July 1893 at St. Matthews, Moorfield in Bristol but he only survived a few months and was buried at Avonview Cemetery towards the end of the year.  Little Florence died a few weeks later and was also buried at Avonview.

Pamela’s childbearing days were far from over.  Herbert Walter was baptised on 5 April 1895; George was baptised on 9 May 1897 (and was buried at Avonview towards the end of 1898); Annie was baptised on 10 July 1898 and Christopher Kitchener baptised on 29 November 1901.  The youngest member of the family, Lily Rose was born in Chipping Sodbury district in 1905.

The 1901 census shows the family living in Church Road, Moorfields with George earning his living as a Grocer and Dairy Shop Keeper.  His Hong Kong pension was not as much as he had been expecting – in fact as soon as he arrived back in England in 1893 he and a colleague had been forced to employ a solicitor to enquire as to why their pensions had been reduced.  The reply from Hong Kong was to the effect that as neither’s constables service had been “uniformly good” the pensions had been reduced accordingly.  George’s pension came in at $50 pa and this amount remained unchanged for the rest of his life.

Milk cart from early 190ss

Life back in the UK was not without its problems.  In 1899 “The Milk Mystery” case hit the headlines and George found himself up in court on the charge of selling milk adulterated with 14% of added water. 

“The defendant gave evidence on his own behalf and said that he had a general shop and a small milk round amounting to about 14 gallons a day.  He had been in business about 6 years and for about 5 years had had his milk from Frank Didham.  He had a verbal arrangement with him and expected to get pure milk.  During the 5 years he had his milk taken several times by the Gloucestershire police and once by Mr. Simpson (the Inspector), but he heard nothing more of the matter. On Feb. 5^th he bought his milk from Didham having 6 gallons in his 2 cans.  He sold the milk just as he received it.  He was in the Bristol Police Force for 3 years and then went to Hong Kong and entered the police force there, remaining for 10 years.

Cross examined – He knew Didham had been summoned but he did not examine the milk and did not get a guarantee to protect himself.  Re-examined – There was nothing in the appearance of the milk to show it was good or bad.  He had been thinking about changing his dealer.

The defendant’s son having given evidence Mr. Taylor urged that it was a technical offence only.  No doubt water had been at one time or another added to the milk but he submitted he had shown that Gane had not been guilty of fraud or of adulterating the milk.”

The magistrates decided to convict but reserved sentencing until they had heard the case against Didham.

Having presented the case Didham’s solicitor also urged that the offence was a technical one. 

“There was no intention to defraud anyone and no cream was taken from the milk with the idea of rendering it inferior.  The mere fact of dipping to serve the first customers tended to take the cream which had risen to the top. They served customers till there was only a gallon and a half left when the inspector met them and the milk so left was not of course as good as that which had been on top.”

The magistrates felt that the public must be protected and pointed out that the sellers of milk must be very careful.  They fined Gage £2 and costs or one month’s imprisonment.  Didham was fined £3 and costs or one month’s imprisonment.

The electoral rolls for 1907 show George living at Hares Pit in Westerleigh, Gloucestershire. As the birth of Lily Rose had been registered in Chipping Sodbury District in 1905 it is likely that Westerleigh was their place of residence at the time.  Later in the year George and his eldest son, Frederick George, sailed for Canada – the rest of the family joined them in 1910.

To encourage settlement in Western Canada the Dominion Government offered a grant for a free homestead of 160 acres for a $10 registration fee to those families who were prepared to live and cultivate land during a qualifying period of time.  The Homestead process began with entry, which was a term used to describe the act of physically going to the Dominion Lands office and filing for a claim to a particular parcel of land.  By 1908 the applicant had to be a British Subject.

The following details relate to George’s application for Homestead land.  Full details are available from the Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan.

File Number	Name	Part	Section	Township	Range	Meridian
2396125	Gane, George	NE	19	51	26	W2
2287678	Gane, George	NE	25	51	27	W2
1743010	Gane, George	NE	31	49	3	W3

The 1911, 1916 and 1922 census returns list George and his family in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.  The Hong Kong Pension Register show that George died on 9 February 1932 at the age of 74.  The Saskatchewan Burial Index confirms that George C. GANE was buried in Prince Albert in 1932.

If anyone should have any additional information on George GANE I would love to hear from you

Contact Christine here