Australian man needs your help to trace his family links

John appeals for information on Paisley shipbuilding firm

A man living Down Under is appealing for information about a potential family connection to a former Paisley shipbuilding firm.

John Scott, from Western Australia, is keen to learn more about Marion Love Scott, William Bow and John McLachlan, who had connections to Bow McLachlan & Co in Paisley.

He is also seeking information about a piece of power- generating equipment connected to the firm that could tie in with his own family.

Mr Scott said: “Western Australia is on the other side of the world from Paisley, but I have an item that I am trying to find out information on.

“How it arrived here and the people involved could be related.

“This is the reason I am asking for help.

“I have in my hobby shed, under restoration, a stationary engine, made by Bow McLachlan & Co.

“Cast lettering on the side says the company name plus patent Thistle Oil Engine Paisley.

“Information about the company’s shipbuilding is well documented, but information about t h e m p ro d u c i n g a stationary engine is very scarce.

“So far, I have only found an advertisement for the engine, an editorial written in 1895 about the company operations, and a cemetery headstone of the Bow family.

“Research and enquires to museums and libraries in Glasgow and London have still not been successful.”

The Bow family headstone in Australia says William Bow was born in 1850 and died in 1927, his wife Margaret Wilson was born in the same year and died in 1933.

Their son Joseph Hume Bow was born in 1884 and died in 1931, and his wife Marion Love Scott was born in 1892 and died in 1941.

There are also recorded names and dates of two other sisters of Joseph – Anne Hume Bow and Jean Wilson Bow.

Mr Scott said: “I would be very grateful to make contact with any members of the Bow or McLachlan family who may have any further information or photos in relation to this request.

“John and Helen Scott emigrated from Scotland in 1831, arriving in Perth, Western Australia, to start a new life.

“I am the sixth generation of the Scott family here and if Marion Love Scott appeared on the Bow family headstone, then what if she was related?

“Any information about the item and people mentioned would be very grateful.”

If you can help Mr Scott or have any information, please contact Kenneth Speirs at the Paisley Daily Express on 0141 309 3004.

I want to make contact with members of this family