William Dumbreck was born 18th March 1873
in Linlithgow and married Agnes McWilliams
in 1898.
William and Agnes with their two daughters
Helen and Mary Dumbreck
Photo about 1901
William was the 5th child of Alex and
Helen. A grocer to trade, he helped his mother in the pub in the evenings. His
future wife, Agnes (nee McWilliams) was employed there as a waitress. Daughter
of Wm McWilliams a mason’s labourer, and Mary Fagan, schoolteacher, who were
married in Dumbarton on 13 May 1869, she was a lively lass, and was known as a
wit and a raconteur. After their marriage, William worked in the building trade,
as the wages provided better for his family of three daughters and five sons. During World War One, he served as a driver (RASC)
in France from 1916 to 1918, after which he returned to the building trade in
which he worked, out in all weathers, until the age of 67, when he retired
because of arthritis in his knees.
The 9 children of William and Agnes are:-
1. Mary Dumbreck, born 1899 - no further details.
2. Helen (Ella) Dumbreck, born 1901 - no further details.
3. Elizabeth Dumbreck, born 1903 - no further
details.
4. Alexander Dumbreck, born 1905 married
Andriana Begley
5. William Dumbreck, born 1909 married Annie Shields Anderson
6. Thomas Dumbreck born 1911 died 12th January 1934
7. James Dumbreck born 28th November 1917
died 12th May 2004
8. John Dumbreck born 1919, died 26th January 1968
9. ? Dumbreck - died young. T.B.C.
Their Golden Wedding - 1948
Two of their sons (William c1909) and James
(1917) were
double honours graduates of Edinburgh University, in French and German.
James Dumbreck born 1917 was the last surviving Dumbreck still living in
Linlithgow.
