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Name: McCLURE, Thomas 'Tam'

image of individual

Nee: grandfather of Mrs Jean Tomes

Birth Date: 19 Mar 1864 Irvine, Ayrshire

Death Date: 28 June 1944 Nairobi

First Date: 1906 August - after vigorous and adventurous life in Australia and S Africa

Last Date: 1944

Profession: Saw-doctor, worked in the Equator Saw Mills. Messrs Rayne, Brink & Morson, BEA Sawmills, on his own

Area: Nairobi, 1919 Ruiru Timber Co.

Married: In Parramatta, NSW, Australia 1891 Mary Annabella McDonald b. 23 July 1865 Stornoway, d. 29 Mar 1942 Nairobi

Children: Catherine Mackenzie McClure (11.4.1905-1995 Hastings); Coila (12 Jan 1892 Surry Hills, NSW-1974); Janet; Minnie; 2 more dau

Book Reference: Gillett, EAWL, KAD, Red 25, Hut, Playne, Pioneers, Red 22, Advertiser, CO, Gazette, SKP, Leader14, Childhood, Red Book 1912

School: Scotland

General Information:

Pres Caledonian Society 1917, Freemason, Genial, popular. Said to be the first person to play the bagpipes in Nairobi.
Source: Mrs Janet Tomes
Playne - BEA Sawmills - The demand creates the supply, and the demand for sawmills in BEA has been met in a way that must make the native marvel at the activity of the white man. Among the first to enter the field were the mills which form the subject of these notes. The mills, formerly known as the Limoru Steam Mills, are at Govt. Rd. Nairobi, and Limoru. There are 4 partners, Messrs T. McClure and A. Brinck, who manage at Nairobi, and Messrs S. and T. Morson, who look after the forest at Limoru. The firm started work at the end of 1905, 1 mile from the railway line and within 5 miles of Limoru Station. The logs are broken down at Limoru and re-sawn, planed etc at Nairobi ........... Joinery, furniture (to order), mouldings of all descriptions and fencing materials are supplied, while a speciality is made of wood suitable for waggon work, viz red stinkwood for body work and felloes, and black ironwood for wheels and brakes ............ The railway is supplied with sleepers ..…..…
Advertiser - Friday April 2, 1909 - Government School Prizegiving - Standard I Form Prize 2 - Janet McClure
CO 533/585 - supporter of Simon Medicks application for Naturalization.
Gazette - 7/4/15 - Liable for Jury service, Nairobi District - Thomas McClure, Duke Street
SKP - 1938 - Society of Kenya Pioneers - over 30 years in Colony - arrived Aug 1906 - Nairobi
Childhood - Jean Tomes (née Mackinlay) - My grandparents, Thomas and Mary McClure, who were married in Parramatta, Sydney, Australia went to Kenya in 1907. He was a Saw Doctor and worked for the East African Timber Company, and Mr Grogan (later Colonel) was his boss. My grandfather was reported to be the first man to play the bagpipes in Nairobi and when he died in 1944 his pipes were buried with him at his request. In those early days he owned a large part of Nairobi but 'drank it all away' whilst he lived in Duke Street. He then moved to a wood and iron double storey house on Ngong Road.
Red Book 1912 - T. McClure - Nairobi
Considine - New European School Nairobi - Minnie McClure - b. 18/10/1896 - 12/9/1910 River Rd., Nairobi
Considine - New European School Nairobi - Janet McClure - b. 18/3/1899 - 12/9/1910 River Rd., Nairobi
Gazette - 12/11/1919 - Register of Voters - Nairobi, South Area - Thomas McClure - Timber Merchant - Ngong Road
Gazette - Voters List 1936 - Nairobi South - Thomas McClure, Timber Merchant, Hurlingham Rd., Box 104, Nbi

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