Knight and Reisch family history: January 2023

This blog written by Eddie Reisch, Agnes and Jan Reisch's son, approximately started in 2010. Version One May 2023

AGNES MARTIN REISCH ne Knight 1915-2009

Mum Born at 3 Edward Street in the District of Anderston Glasgow. 1st Nov 1915 and Died on the 5th May 2005 at the age of 93. Mum and Dad are buried together at Whenu Tapu cemetery New Zealand.

Agnes's Original Birth Certificate

Extract of entry of birth Agnes Martin Reisch ne Knight

Born Agnes Martin Knight on 1st November 1915 Mum was born at 3 Edward Street in the District of Anderston Glasgow Scotland. Note: Edward Street no longer exists.

Mums Family

Mums Great Grandparents through her fathers line

Alexander Knight b.1830 to d.1895 married 16/01/1856 to Elizabeth Norrie Kidd 1830 to 1833 or Elizabeth R Kidd?

Mums Grandparents through her fathers line

Robert Kidd Knight b. 15/07/1862 Angus d. 27/07/1940 Broughty Ferry

(Yarn Bleacher): Meaning: Bleacher of cloth. Bleacher. Mill worker who whitened textiles, or paper. Block cutter).

Elizabeth Knight ne R McPherson

Married 04/10/1883 at Prestonpans Scotland

Children:

Robert C 1887
John A 1885
George b. 02/04/1890 d. 10/03/1972 (Mums dad)
William 1893
James 1896
Frederick 1898

Mums Grandparents through her mothers line

Peter McCormack b. 1853 (Ireland) d. 9 Apr 1897 Place 34 North Lindsay Street, Dundee, Angus. Buried 12 Apr 1897. Buried: Old Mains Cemetery, near Mains Castle, Dundee

Mary Jane Wheatley b. 23 Mar 1858 Born in Montrose, Scotland: . Died on 16th June 1916 Buried: Old Mains Cemetery, near Mains Castle, Dundee

Marriage: Peter married Mary Jane Wheatley, daughter of George Wheatley and Jane Findlay, on the 1st June 1875 at St Mary’s Chapel Glasgow.

Census Event:

Head of household 3 April 1881. He was listed as head of household along with spouse Mary Jane Wheatley in the 1881 census at 96 Hilltown, Dundee, Forthshire, Scotland. Peter McCormack, Head Glass Stainer, Dundee; Jane McCormack, wife, mar, 23, Montrose; Margaret Dall b. 1868, servant, age 13, Inverarity, Perthshire;

Some of Peter McCormack's work at Saint Margaret Parish Church of Scotland Guthrie Terrace Barnhill

Children:

Peter McCormack b. 16 Sept 1877 d. 11 Feb 1917
Jane McCormack (not sure if she is a daughter or a sister of Peter?
Mary McCormack b. 24 May 1876, d. 9 Mar 1933
Peter McCormack
George McCormack b. 11 Nov 1879 d. 13 Mar 1948
Beatrice McCormack b. 11 July 1881 d. 25 April 1942
Jennie McCormack b. 1 Oct 1882 d. 3 Jul 1969
Frederick McCormack b. 15 Jul 1884 d. 2 Feb 1886 2 years old
Lavina McCormack b. 24 Oct 1885 d. 19 Aug 1891 6 years old
Frank McCormack b. 6 Jan 1887 d. 23 Sep 1953
John McCormack b. 9 Oct 1888 d. 21 Nov 1918
Agnes Martin McCormack b. 6 Jul 1890 d. 17 Apr 1974 Mums Mother
Seed David McCormack b. 9 Sep 1891 d. 6 Oct 1891 1 month old
Charlotte McCormack b. 22 Mar 1893 d. 6 Jul 1921

Mums Parents

George Knight b. 02 April 1890, 5.45am Parkhead Parish of Mains. d. 10 Mar 1972, 11am Maryfield Hospital, Dundee (Lung Cancer). (Brass finisher, Journeyman)

Agnes Martin Knight/McFarlane ne MS A.M. McCormack b. 06 July 1890 65 Nethergate Dundee. d. 17 Apr 1974 (cremated). Agnes died at 13C Gruinard Terrace (Domestic Servant)

Marriage: 22/07/1910 Marriages in the District of St. Clement in the Burgh of Dundee

George Knight (Brass finisher, Journeyman) Batchelor.

Georges parents: Robert Kidd/Knight alive at time of marriage and Elizabeth Knight ne McPherson (deceased).

Agnes Martin Knight (Domestic Servant) ne MS A.M. McCormack. Spinster

Agnes's parents: Peter McCormack glass Stainer deceased and Mary Jane McCormack ne Wheatley

Usual Residence for both George and Agnes was 19 Barrack Street Dundee

Mums Siblings

Beatrice b. 06/02/1911. stillborn born Broughty Ferry Dundee County Angus. Beatrice was buried Barnhill Cemetery
Elizabeth Donald b. 22/03/1912 Elizabeth was born at 167 Fisher Street Broughty Ferry Dundee.. died registered on 11/07/1973 She died at Mayfield Hospice Dundee while living at 14F Young Court Tayport Dundee.
Cause of death one of them was Carcinomatosis' simply means that there was no definite single cause of death; carcinomatosis is carcinoma that has spread widely throughout the body via the lymphatic system, bloodstream or across the peritoneal cavity.
Elizabeth was married to
Clifford Marsh (Sales representative deceased) and
Andrew Money (Carpenter's Labourer Deceased).
Elizabeth had three children to her first husband: Thelma, Bunty and Bebe

Beatrice Martin b. 20/03/1914 born at 4 Ambrose Street Broughty Ferry Dundee d. 1989.

Married James Scott Shand b. 1911 d. 1986.
Emigrated to America (sent to America at the age of 14). Two children Joanne b. 1935. Married to Moisa. Claire A Shand b. 1946 Married to Hurtado

Agnes Martin b. 1/11/1915 born at 3 Edward Street Anderston Glasgow .. d. 05 May 2009. Buried Whenua Tapu Cemetery, Airlie Road, Pukerua Bay, Porirua, New Zealand with dad.

Georgina Whyte/Bisset ne Knight b.30/07/1917 born in Anderston Glasgow. d. 20/03/1982 2040 hours at 3B Hebrides Drive, Dundee.

Cause of death: Coronary Occlusion, Atheroma (An atheroma (plaque) is a fatty material that builds up inside your arteries. It's made of cholesterol, proteins and other substances that circulate in your blood. Atheromas grow over time and may lead to coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, heart attack or stroke).
Married to David Whyte (Plasterer) and then John Bisset (Welder).

Phyllis b. 1/03/1920 born in Milton Glasgow d. ???? Husband was Sean??? Sean and Phyllis spent their twilight years in a caravan in Clacton on Sea My Niece Pipi Reisch stayed with them and had a great time in 1991. Phyllis and mum were really close
Mary Purves Hughes ne Knight b. 17/01/1922 born in Milton Glasgow. d. 18/09/2005 at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Jedburgh Road, Dundee, UK. Husband Andrew Hughes (Local Government Officer) . Usual residence: 329 Strathmartine Road, Dundee, UK. cause of Death Congestive Cardiac Failure

George b. 4/02/1923 born in Milton Glasgow. d. 2002 (in Queensland Australia).
Richard McFarlane b. 6/12/1926 born in Milton Glasgow . d. November 2014. Richard is a half brother

They must have moved to Glasgow between March 1914 and November 1915.

George and Agnes taken on the 31st March 1961

Agnes in 1972

Mums Marriages and Children

Background to mums first marriage
First marriage details. (Richard Andrew Lyons)
Mums first child Richard Andrew Lyons my half brother birth and death
Mums first husbands and his death Richard Andrew Lyons
Mums Second Marriage, David James and his death
Birth of my brother Ian
Mums third marriage, Jan Piotr Reisch
About mums early life
Mum and dads family.

Background:

Mum married Richard Andrew Lyons on the 4th July 1934 they were 18 years old. Richard sadly he died 18 days after their marriage on the 22nd July 1934 aged 19 and 6 months before here son was born.

Mum was two months pregnant at the time with his son who was to be named Richard Andrew Lyons and was born on the 11th January 1935 and again tragedy struct again with her son who sadly died 6 months later on the 27th July 1935.

Richard Andrew Lyons and mum

2. First marriage details

Date: 4th July 1934 at 11 Whitehall Street Dundee

Richard Andrew Lyons, Baker (Apprentice), Bachelor. 18 years old

Agnes Knight, Fruit Shop Assistant, Spinster living at 5 Marryat Street Dundee. 18 years old

Richard Andrew Lyons was living at 22 Walton Street, Dundee

Richards Parents:

Father: Luke Andrew Lyons, Cooperation Storekeeper

Mother: Margaret Lyons MS. McDonald

Declaration in the presence of John McKaig 37 Sterling street, Dundee and Georgina Knight

5 Marryat Street Dundee

Married on the 4th July 1934 at 11 Whitehall Street Dundee

Declaration in presence of John McKaig, 37 Sterling Street Dundee and Georgina Knight 5 Marryat Street Dundee.

Mums first child Richard Andrew Lyons my half brother birth and death:

Richard Andrew Lyons Son b. Jan 11th 1935. d. 27th July 1935 at 6 months old.
Richard was born at the Maternity Hospital in Dundee.

Mums sons death

Richard Andrew Lyons Son d. 27th July 1935 at 6 months old. Cause of death was listed as:
Marasmus is a form of severe malnutrition characterized by energy deficiency. A child with marasmus looks emaciated. Body weight is reduced to less than 60% of the normal (expected) body weight for the age.[1] Marasmus occurrence increases prior to age 1,

Marasmus is caused by a severe deficiency of nearly all nutrients, especially protein, carbohydrates, and lipids. Viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections can cause children to take in too few nutrients. [4]Marasmus can develop in children who suffer from weakening conditions such as chronic diarrhoea.

Mums first husbands death

Richard Andrew Lyons Baker Apprentice married to Agnes Martin Knight died 22nd July, 3.10am 1934 at Arbroath Infirmary from acute peritonitis, Fracture of the pelvis and rupture of the bladder

My assumption here is: Mum was 18 years old and got married when two months pregnant. Richard died 18 days after their marriage and she delivered her son 6 months later. I think the stress, sadness and the lack of support that she had was a factor in her sons death. Maybe I'm completely wrong but that time in her life must have been so tough it doesn't bear thinking about too much.

*Court Case held into the death of Richard Andrew Lyons mums first husband

A unanimous verdict of not guilty was recorded in the trial of two young motor truck drivers on a charge of culpable homicide at the High Court in Dundee.

There were two trucks involved and the accused Harry Sime, Lamond Road, Freuchie and David Stewart Clark, Bakers van man, 9 Malcolm Street, Dundee.

Richard Andrew Lyons death was caused by the army truck that hm and his mate Corporal Robert Gray, R.A.S.C were in crashed into a tree killing both young men.

Mums Second Marriage:

Background to mums second Marriage:

Mums married David James in December 1939 was five years after her marriage to Richard Andrew Lyons.

Date: 18th December 1939 at 10 Laurel Bank Dundee after banns according to the Forms of the church of Scotland.

David James, Sapper Royal Engineers (Bachelor) living at Folkestone Kent. 23 years old

Agnes Martin Knight or Lyons, (Widow) 5 Marryat Street Dundee. 24 years old

David's' Parents:

Father: John James Shipyard Counter Sinker (Deceased)

Mother: Rose James MS Flood

Signed J Boath Wood B.D. Minister of Old Saint Paul's (South Parish Church, Dundee)

Witness Andrew Hughes 6 Dalrymple Place, Dundee DD2 2DN

Witness: Cathie Doyle 287 Hilltown Dundee

Note: I think Andrew Hughes was mums brother in law married to her sister Mary Purves Knight known as Myra?

The divorce of Agnes from David James. It is from the Dundee Courier, Friday 13 November 1942, Pg 3, col. 4 -

Lord Russell in the Court of Session has granted decree of divorce in the following undefended actions:
David James. 42 King's Road, Dundee, present serving with H.M. Forces, against Agnes Martin Knight or Lyons or James, 5 Marryat Street, Dundee. (Adultery.)

In 1947 at the age of 31 David married in Jane Stewart Milne aged 33 who was also divorced. This was 9 years after David's marriage to mum.

David James b. August 25th 1916 d. 16th October 2003 at Redwood House Seafield Road Broughty Ferry aged 87. Retired as a Bookmaker.

Birth of my brother Ian

Background: Ian was born Ian James on the 7th of November 1941 at Maryfield Hospital Dundee.

The timeline is:

Mum married Richard Andrew Lyons 4th July 1934 and he died 22nd July 1934
Their son was born 35th January 1935 and died on the 27th July 1935
4 years later mum married David James 18th December 1939
It was 6 years between mum marrying David and marrying my dad.
The divorce of Agnes from David James. It is from the Dundee Courier, Friday 13 November 1942, Pg 3, col. 4 -
Lord Russell in the Court of Session has granted decree of divorce in the following undefended actions:
David James. 42 King's Road, Dundee, present serving with H.M. Forces, against Agnes Martin Knight or Lyons or James, 5 Marryat Street, Dundee. (Adultery.)
Dad arrived in Scotland on the 25th June 1940
Ian James was born 17th Nov 1941 Maryfield Hospital Dundee
Mum married my father Jan Poitr Reisch on the 31st January 1946

Ian James/Reisch:

Adopted (England) signed James Clark Assistant Registrar 1941and was born 17th Nov 1941 Maryfield Hospital Dundee Signed Agnes James

Mums Third Marriage:

Background to mums third Marriage:
After a difficult two marriages to say the least mum finally married my dad in 1946. They moved to Leeds (I'm not sure of that date). We lived at 4 Back Lane, Horsforth, Leeds. Ian was born in Dundee and Andrew and I were born in Leeds. We left England and sailed on a Dutch passenger ship Sibajak to New Zealand in 1957.

Proclamation of Banns

The proclamation of banns was made at the Presbytery of Dundee in the registration District of Lochee on the 29th Jan 1946. the document states that:

Jan Reisch (Widower), Merchantman now engaged in war services and Agnes Martin Knight or Lyons (Widow), 23 Wellgrove Street, Dundee, in the Registration of Lochee have been duly Proclaimed in Lochee West Church on the 27th January 1946 in Order to Marriage, and that no objections have been offered.

Marriage Certificate

Date: 31st Jan 1946 at Saint Marys Church Lochee.

Jan Piotr Reisch, General Merchant, Cadet Officer, Polish Forces, Widower.

Agnes Martin Knight of Lyons or James, Agnes James, Home Duties (Divorced) living at 23 Wellgrove Street, Lochee

Jan Piotr presently at Quakenbruck Germany. Now engaged in war services.

Jan Piotr Reisch Mother and Father:

Jozef Reisch (Carpenter),

Agnieszka Reisch M. S. Piskozub.

Agnes Martin Knight Mother and Father:

George Knight (Brass-Finisher),

Agnes Knight M.S. McCormack.

Signed: Wlaslyslaw Skwarek P/53 Polish Forces B.A.O.R. Witness. Mary Dunne, 3 Watt Street, Dundee.

Saint Mary's Church Lochee 2016

This the church Mum and Dad got married out was closed when I went not sure if it was for repairs or was being demolished at some time. The church is about a ten minute walk from where mum was living at the time, 23 Wellgrove Street, Lochee.

About mums early life

School in Scotland:

Work in Scotland :

Fruit Shop Assistant and I believe it was with an Aunty
Valentine &Sons Ltd from 18/05/1936 to 06/12/1940.

Life in England:

The information below was given to me by my older brother Ian:

The first house that the family bought was 7 Ash Grove in Pudsey.

This was purchased by mum and dad, uncle Antoni Piskozub, his wife Katarzyna Reisch, uncle

Kazimierz Reisch, his wife Stefania Reisch.

Uncle Antoni's family was the first to arrived after escaping. Then Uncle Kazimierz's wife sister in law and mother in law arrived.

Mum and Ian were arrived from Scotland in late 1947 after they survived a Train crash :

"The Goswick rail crash occurred on 26 October 1947 near the village of Goswick, Northumberland, England. The Flying Scotsman express from Edinburgh Waverley to London King's Cross failed to slow down for a diversion and derailed. Twenty-eight people were killed, including the talented Scottish biochemist, John Masson Gulland.[1] It was the last major accident to occur on British railways before their nationalisation on 1 January 1948"

Dad arrived some time later as he was posted to Belgium as part of the occupation forces being a translator.

They family lived at 7 Ash Grove in Pudsey

In the early stages of living in Pudsey Ian was registered at St Joseph’s Pudsey school.

There were instances between Catholics and Protestants which ended in a few after school battles that needed police to break up.

At some stage there was a break down in relations particularly between us and the Piskozub’s and mum dad and Ian moved to 4 Back Lane Farsley.

It took several years before the family got back together, meanwhile Ian still went to St Joseph’s Pudsey school but discovered that he had Protestant friends in Farsley which was good as he was the only catholic boy in the whole area, altar boy and all.

During these years Andrew was home born in Farsley on the 28th May 1950 and Edward was born 4 years later on the 30th June 1954 at the maternity home on the other side of the valley.

Not sure of the name?

School in England:

Work in England :

Before we left England for New Zealand in 1957

1957 Mums full passport to come to New Zealand

New Zealand here we come
Mums Life after arriving in

To get to New Zealand we first went From Hawick UK to Rotterdam in Holland and left Rotterdam to New Zealand, mum, dad, Ian , Andrew and Eddie left on the 13th July 1957 and arrived in Wellington NZ on the 20th August 1957 on the Sibajak

Ian Reisch: - The Sibajak was not a freighter, it was a passenger liner that did a few more trips and was then scrapped in 1959.
We left Rotterdam in July 1957 and arrived in Wellington August 1957.

Mums work in New Zealand

Mum worked pretty much from the start in New Zealand and used to tow me along to the places she worked:

These are the places I remember. As a child I used to go with mum to Karitane Hospital, Calvary Hospital, Ascot picture Theatre.

Karitane Hospital (Truby King set up this maternity hospital, mum was a cleaner there). I used to go with mum to her work here.

Calvary Hospital, mum was a cleaner there). I used to go with mum to her work here. The Nuns used to feed me eskimo pie ice creams Yummy.

Ascot picture Theatre 179 Riddiford Street Newtown, mum was a cleaner there). I used to go with mum to her work here and I would find the lollies like Jaffa's that had been rolled or fell down the isles and eat them yummy.

Wellington City Council. Mum worked here as a tea lady and then got in as a Clerk.

I was only 3 when we got to New Zealand so mum and I were constant companions for awhile. As I got a bit older mum had me located at the child care centre run by Catholic nuns on the driveway to the old Saint Patricks College school by the Basin Reserve in Wellington

The Catholic precinct around Buckle and Tory streets, as seen from the Basin Reserve, in the 1930s. The Home of Compassion Crèche is the only remaining building.

Family in New Zealand.

In 2023 I started to build a family tree showing both Mums and dads ancestors and their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren in MyHeritage.com called Knight family tree