Saturday, July 16, 2011

Childhood Paper

I found a paper I wrote about my father's heritage in 1988.
My dad was John Thomas Shanks and he had 2 brothers, Robert Shanks and William Shanks. They were all born in Buffalo, Ny. Their father, my grandfather was also named Robert Shanks. He was born in Kirkintilloch, Scotland. Robert (Grandfather)came to Canada from Scotland and became a Canadian Citizan before becoming a US Citizen in California. His wife, (My Grandmother)Wilhelmina Queen Shanks was born in Glasgow, Scotland. She immigrated by ship to Canada where she worked as a cook for a wealthy Canadian family for 3 yrs to become a Canadian Citizen and then became a US citizen in Buffalo, NY.

In Edinburg,Scotland my Grandmother, Wilhelmina Queen Shanks worked at the Internal Revenue Service for Scotland. She had a Brother James Queen who settled in Cleveland, Ohio. All my gradnmothers sisters were teachers by trade. 3 of them got married and moved to South Africa: Ann Queen, Elizabeth Queen and Ruby Queen. 2 other sisters Isabelle and Matilda were also teachers but stayed in Scotland.

My grandfather, Robert came to Buffalo, NY because is 2 brothers lived there. James Shanks, John Shanks, Tom Shanks. My Great Grandfather's name was John Shanks and he and his wife Amy Main Shanks also lived shortly in Buffalo, NY. John & Amy had a Bakery in Buffalo the sold it and moved to Minneapolis to open a larger Bakery with partner William Scott.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now onto try and find this bakery???

Monday, April 7, 2008

Queen side...

The Queen side of the Shanks family tree.

My grandmother was Wilhelmina (Queen) Shanks she had 5 sisters and 2 brothers.

Ann (married John Cameron Hughes) children- Jim, Bob, John - they lived in South Africa
James (married Belle Grahme) children - Bob, Nan, Margaret - they lived in Cleveland, Oh
Elizabeth (married WilliamSwain) children - N/A lived in South Africa (teacher?)
Isabelle (married Alex Caldwell) children - Elizabeth, Isabelle (lived in Scotland)
Matilda (married Andrew Carincross) children - Alex, Bob, Andew, Margaret (lived in Scotland)
Ruby (married Colin White) children - Colina, Heather, Linda they lived in South Africa

Shanks in the US.

I'm continuing my search of my Shanks relatives....

Robert Shanks was my grandfather who married Wilhelmina (Queen) and resided in Buffalo, NY.
I'm looking for info on his brothers.
James Shanks who was supposed to have also lived in Buffalo, NY as well as
John "Jack"? "Jock" Shanks who was married to Ann (Cook) they divorced but he has 3 boys -
Cole, Jack, Douglas also residing in Buffalo, NY.
Tom Shanks who married Euphamie "Mayme" (McLean) had a son named Robert King Shanks who had a daughter named Stacey Shanks. Tom resided in New Jersey.

if any info please feel free to contact me.
Tracey

Friday, April 4, 2008

A Shanks Family Tree..

(Shanks Bakery, Kirkintilloch, Scotland, 1880's?)

This blog is to find information about the SHANKS FAMILY and communicate with any relatives in or outside the USA. Just trying to fill in the missing pieces. My grandparents and great grandparents came to the US from Scotland.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Great Grandfather was John Shanks b:1872 - d:1936 born in Kirkintilloch, Scotland passed away in Minneapolis, MN. John was a baker by profession. My Great Grandmother was Amy (Main) Shanks b:1869- d:1930 also born in Glasgow, Scotland and passed away in Buffalo,NY, US. In 1926, John and Amy sailed together from Glasgow to NY., New York. John's parents were Robert Shanks and Margaret? (Brodie) Shanks. Amy's parents were James Main and Jane (Lonsdale)Main. I believe that John's father was Robert Shanks.




( From left to Right: top row: Amy & John Shanks 1920 Isle of man; Amy & John 1919; The Main Family circa 1900; James Main; Jean (Londsale)Main; John Shanks with Piper David Goodell; Athole Lodge 384, Freemasons, Kirkintilloch, Scotland ~1910. John Shanks, in kilt, front left. Robert Shanks, white hair and moustache, right of center. Bob Smith, center, behind podium. )

John & Amy had 5 children:
Jean Shanks
John Shanks
James Main Shanks
Thomas Walter Shanks
Robert Shanks (my grandfather)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Grandfather was Robert Shanks b:1895 d:1974 born in Cowgate, Kirkintilloch, Scotland passed away in Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States. Robert emigrated Apr 20, 1920, Sailed from Liverpool to Montreal on Victorian, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Became a naturalized citizen of the US Jul 7, 1932, Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States. Robert traveled across the US during the early 1920's? We believe he helped work on the railroad during his first few years in the US. He also traveled up to Alaska and Prince Rupert, Canada. Robert Married Wilhelmina (Queen) Shanks b: 1895- d:1976, Wilhelmina was born on Mordaunt Street, Glasgow, Scotland. She passed away in Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States. She became a naturalized citizen Jul 7, 1932, -, Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States. Wilhelmina worked at Frank Co around 1925 or 1927? Wilhelmina's parents were Robert Queen and Matilda (Watson) Queen. They had 7 children: Anne (Queen) Hughes; James Watson Queen, Elizabeth "Bessie" (Queen) Swain; Isabella "Isa" (Queen) Caldwell; Matilda "Tilly" Cross; Ruby (Queen) White; Wilhelmina (Queen) Shanks.


(Robert Shanks, Wilhelmina Shanks, Robert Shanks 1919 in Glasgow, Robert Shanks early 1920's in CA, Wilhelmina 1925?-1927?in Buffalo, NY)

Robert & Wilhelmina had 3 sons:
Robert Queen Shanks
John Thomas Shanks (father)
William Shanks


I'm hoping to make some connections to some living relatives. If you have any connection or know any more information about our family please feel free to reply or make comments.