Although our Scottish and German ancestry has been traced way back to the 1600’s (apparently someone traced us all the way back to the Vikings, but I haven’t seen that yet), I’m just focussing here at my family’s generations in Peru.
1865 – My first ancestor to arrive in Perú was my great grandfather James Henderson BREMNER (II), aged 23 years, from Kirkcaldy, Scotland.
To see a photo of James and Jane click on tis link (I can’t copy these like the other photos.)
1870 – James returned to Scotland to marry Jane WILLIAMSON, aged 24 years, and they came back to Perú together that same year, to live in Chorillos, where he worked as a gas engineer at the Gas Works. They then had children, James, George, Alex, Margaret, Mary, and John – all born in Chorillos. Later Jane and Annie were born in Lima, followed by William and Charles; 10 babies having been born by 1889. Two babies died – Margaret, and Jane. The 2nd son, George Williamson BREMNER, was my grandfather.
Great grandfather James H. Bremner and 5 sons – L to R standing – Alex, Jim, George W., Charlie; L to R seated James H. and Johnnie.
Great grandmother – Jane Bremner. Lima.
Bremners – L to R – Annie, James H., George W., Jane, Jim and ? – Lima, cerca 1910?
Bremners – L to R – Jim, James H., Johnnie, and George W. Lima, cerca 1912?
1875 – My other great grandfather Robert REID arrived in Perú from Spain. He was from Newton-upon-Ayr, Scotland, had been working for some years as a railway engineer in Tharsis, Spain, and was married to an Irish woman named Kate. They had 3 daughters, aged 5, 4 and 1. Robert became the Assistant Manager of the Gas Works in Lima, and later became the Manager of the Gas Works in Chorillos.
1876 – Adolphina WINTERHOFF (Ada), my great grandmother, arrived in Perú, alone, aged 16 years old, from Hamburg, Germany. She had been accompanying her sick sister, Cäcelie, on a sea voyage which was intended to help Cäcelie’s TB, but tragically Cäcelie died during the trip. Ada disembarked in Callao, and disappeared into the life of Lima, working as a school teacher for a French speaking school.
1878 – James H Bremner became the Chief Engineer of the Lima Gas Works. He later founded the Fábrica de Tejidos El Progreso – a cotton textile mill, as well as the Fábrica de Tejidos La Union – both huge players in the Peruvian Textile industry.
1881 – Kate Reid, Robert’s wife, died at the age of 34, after losing their home and all their belongings in the terrifying Battle of Chorillos, when the Chileans invaded Peru during the War of the Pacific.
1881 – Robert Reid became the Superintendent of the Lima Railway Company
1882 – Robert REID, aged 44 years, married Adolphina WINTERHOFF, aged 22 years.
Robert Reid and Adolphina Winterhoff – Lima, 1882.
1883 – Christina REID, my grandmother was born to Adolphina and Robert Reid, in Callao. She was the oldest of their children, Robert (Bobby), Ernesto, Olga, Harriet (Henny) – all born in Lima. The older half-sisters from Robert’s first marriage were Katie, Mary (Polly), and Janet (Nettie).
Christina (Teenie) Reid – Peru, cerca 1895?
The Reid Family – L to R standing, Bobby, Teenie, Ada, Hennie, Ernesto; seated, Olga and Robert. Callao, circa 1895?
1895 – The Reids moved to Trujillo, in the north of Perú.
Robert became Manager of the Trujillo Railway for the Peruvian Corporation.
1898 – Robert Reid was appointed as British Vice Consul in Trujillo and Salavery.
Robert, Christina, and Ada Reid. Trujillo, cerca 1898?
1907 – Robert Reid bought the Piedra Liza Foundry (Fundación de la Piedra Liza) in Lima, with his son Ernesto as Assistant Manager
1908 – George Williamson BREMNER, aged 35 years, and Christina (Teenie) REID, aged 25 years, married in Lima. They had known each other since childhood. They then had 8 children – James (Jim), Dorothy, Robert(Bob), Jean, twins Edith and Frances, and George Ernesto (Dod) (my father), were all born in Callao. Later their 8th child, Jack, was born in New Zealand. George W. Bremner was the the managing director of El Progreso. George and his brother Johnnie founded La Union in 1914 after James senior died.
George W. and Teenie with Dorothy, Jim, Bob. Lima – circa 1912.
1920 – George and Teenie emigrated with their 7 children to New Zealand, to live on a farm in Port Albert.
Ready to board the ship to New Zealand – L to R – Bob, George E.(Dod), Jim, Dorothy, twins Edith and Francis, Jean. Lima 1920.
Standing L to R – Bob, Dorothy, Jim, Jean. Sitting L to R – Frances ?, Jack (on the table), George E.(Dod) (on the floor) and Edith ? – New Zealand, 1922.
1921 – 1926 – George W. returned to work in Lima, taking 5 years to settle all the business affairs of La Union. The family were left behind to learn to survive in New Zealand, before he could return to live on the farm with them. Sadly, he then only had another 4 years to live.
George W. ploughing his land in Port Albert, New Zealand. Cerca 1926?
The Bremners of Peru 