THE McNAY FAMILY TREE
In Bo’ness, the name McNay is synonymous with pottery. So, who were the McNays?
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In 1834, John McNay married Margaret Walker (the daughter of William Walker and Mary Skelton) in the Glasgow parish of Barony.
From the Parish Register: John McNay, Cotton Spinner, Calton & Margaret Walker residing there.
Married at Glasgow 23rd September 1834 by the Revd. Alexander Gibson,
Minister of St. James’ Chapel of Ease.
The couple had three children: William McNay, born August 1835
Mary Skelton McNay, born May 1837
George McNay, born March 1839
Mary Skelton McNay died in infancy and around 1839, John McNay died.
In 1840, Margaret married Charles Wason, again in the parish of Barony.
From the Parish Register: 18th October 1840. Charles Wason, Potter, Finnieston & Margaret Walker residing there.
The couple had two children: Charles Wason, born 1846
Mary Wason, born 1849
This was also Charles Wason’s second marriage. His first marriage was
From the Parish Register: 11th January 1829. Charles Wason, Writer, Finnieston & Elizabeth Yuille residing there.
Charles & Elizabeth had a daughter, Janet, and a son, John.
At the time of his marriage to Margaret in 1840, Charles Wason lived in Finnieston and worked as a Potter. He may have worked at the local Verreville Pottery.
The Clyde at Finnieston circa 1836 with cone of the
Verreville Pottery on the right
At the 1841 Census, the new Wason family were living in Parliamentary Road.
| 1841 | Sex | Age | Occupation | Where born |
Charles Wason | M | 35 | Potter | Ireland |
Margaret Wason | F | 30 | | Outside census county |
Janet Wason | F | 9 | | Ireland |
John Wason | M | 7 | | Ireland |
William Wason | M | 6 | | Ireland |
George Wason | M | 2 | | Lanarkshire |
William Wason (William McNay) was not born in Ireland. Parish records confirm that he was born in the parish of Barony.
In 1851, the Census shows that the family were living at 36 Parliamentary Road, Glasgow. This was probably the same home as ten years previously. William and George had reverted to their correct surname, McNay.
| 1851 | Relation to Head of Family | Age | Occupation | Where born |
Charles Wason | Head | 48 | Packer in Pottery | Ireland |
Margaret Wason | Wife | 44 | | Aberdeen |
Jane Wason | Daughter | 13 | Scholar | Glasgow |
Charles Wason | Son | 4 | | Glasgow |
Mary Wason | Daughter | 1 | | Glasgow |
William McNay | Stepson | 15 | Pottery warehouse assistant | Glasgow |
George McNay | Stepson | 11 | Scholar | Glasgow |
This census record has been incorrectly read in
the past and it has been documented that the
surname of Charles was Mason. However, if
Charles’ surname is compared to the words Wife
and McNay it is clear that his name did not start
with an M but a W.
When Charles lived in Finnieston, he may have
worked at the local Verreville Pottery but now
that he was in Parliamentary Road both he and
William McNay probably worked in either the
Glasgow Pottery or the Port Dundas Pottery as
they lived within easy walking distance of both.
Around 1856, Charles and Margaret Wason separated. Charles remained in Glasgow and Margaret took the family east and gave the two young Wasons the McNay surname.
They settled in Bo’ness. Young Charles was educated at
Mr Dickson’s school in Grangepans whilst William and
George found work in the Bo’ness Pottery.
By 1861, the family home had started to break up. Margaret,
William and Mary lived in North Street, next door to the
pottery. George was married and lived further along North
Street with his wife and child.
Charles had not only left school but had also left home. He
was an Apprentice China Merchant and lived with his
employer, George Baxter, in Hume’s Close which was off
Edinburgh’s Cowgate.
Back in Glasgow, Charles Wason had moved around the
corner from his previous home in Parliamentary Road and
was living at 114 Glebe Street.
Hume’s Close was the home of the young Charles McNay.
Hume’s Close was later renamed Dyer’s Close and part of
it still exists today.
By April 1871, Margaret and her daughter, Mary, were living in Falkirk.
Margaret is recorded in the 1871 census as a Former China Merchant. She may have been in Falkirk for the previous 6-7 years and, presumably, worked in (and perhaps help establish) her sons’ China & Glass Establishment.
In November 1871, Charles McNay married. He was named on his marriage certificate as Charles W. McNay. His father was Charles Wason (residing in Glasgow), his mother was Margaret Walker.
In June 1873, Mary McNay married. She was named on her marriage certificate as Mary Wason McNay. Her father was Charles Wason (residing in Glasgow), her mother was Margaret McNay Wason, m.s. Walker.
In August 1873, Charles Wason died. A former Pottery Packer, he died a Pauper in the Govan Poorhouse. Prior to the Poorhouse, Charles had lived in Gorbals at 160 Rose Street.
By 1881, Margaret McNay had moved from Falkirk and was living in Bo'ness. She lived in Minton Cottage (below), next door to her son, Charles, and his family who lived in Elmbank Villa. It was in Minton Cottage that Margaret died on 1st January 1886.
More information on the McNays is available on the following links:
Charles Wason McNay
William George McNay
Josiah Cox McNay
Charles David McNay
Charles Harry McNay
Tantallon Ceramics
George McNay
John McNay
Magaret McNay
William McNay
Mary Wason McNay
McNay Family Graves