Success Stories
Locating Long Lost Acquaintances to Date
Have you found relatives, friends or acquaintances through Leith Memories?
We would all love to know. Please tell us.
Tom Wallace, San Francisco, Ca. Date: Sep 29 2008
I have found a number of friends and relatives through the website.
Last year a woman mentioned in the guest book that she was planning to take a trip back to Scotland and then go on up to the Shetland Islands to research her family. I sent her an e-mail asker her if she had time would she look up my Gt. Grandfather Charles Winwick Smith.
Within minutes I received a response stating that that was the same individual that she was researching. Charles was in fact her greatgrandfather also. It seems that her grandfather and my grandmother were brother and sister. Also turns out that woman Ruth McClounnan lives around 400 miles from me in Los Angeles. I have recently found another relative Scott Porter. His grandmother is also sister to my grandmother and Ruth's grandfather.
In another instance I asked Steve Mitchell if he had any connection to one of my Mitchells.
Steve replied no that his paternal family name was Bogie. I responded that I had an uncle Steve Bogie. Well it turns out that Steve was also his uncle.
In addition I have made contact with a number of boyhood friends thru this site. Norman Tully, The Glancy brothers (no not the Irish band) Gibby Gilbertson
Thanks John.
Ruth Smith McClounnan, Los Angeles, Ca. Date:Sept. 30, 2008
As Tom Wallace has said before me, we found each other on Oldleither. This was two years ago this past June.
I had been researching my family for a couple of years so decided to take myself and my kids with me to Scotland, then up to Shetland to trace more of the Smith family in Unst. This is when Tom picked up the posting , I hadn't mentioned any names on the site.
Tom e-mailed me and said his great grandfather was Charles Winwick Smith. Well when I got it I could not believe what I was reading. I sat there and cried, and laughing, I thought oh no, we have the same great grandfather . I still get teary eyed just thinking about it, my mum had always said that her grandfather was from Unst, Shetland but that was really about the extent of it.
After I got over the shock of it all I e-mailed Tom to tell him the news. We met last year to go over some paper work. We stay in touch regulary doing family research and both of us have gained a wealth of information from each other.
About a month ago Tom phoned me and asked if I knew Jock and Mary Porter and mentioned Balloch. Bells went off in the head and I said yes, Jock Porter and Balloch sounds very familiar. My mum used to mention these names. Balloch they used to go there I guess to visit. So turns out that we are related to Scott Porter, his grandmother is my grandfather`s sister.
The Leith Academy photo I can't recall the year. Would have been my class. My pals signature is on the top right of the photo, Dorothy Shearer.
I have to say that I am very thankful for this great site. My cousin Tom lives not that far from me in San Francisco and is only an hour away from LA by plane. Alex I still have to meet, and looking forward to that day. All the Best . Ruth.
Ruth McClounnan, Los Angeles, Ca. Date:October 14, 2008
I received an e mail this morning from Eric Anderson, nephew of Jeannie Anderson, my pal from the stair at 19 Johnston Street. He told me she passed away around 1982. I would like to keep in contact with them. Me and Jeannie were friends from when we were five years old, ran the streets together, played all the street games that were going. It was a big surprise when I saw her name on the computer this morning, and sad that she is no longer with us. Thanks to Eric for contacting me. Thanks again to John. Now still looking for Moira and Margaret from the stair.
