Isaac Gandy was not the only member of the Gandy family to seek his fortune on the other side of the Atlantic in the 19th century. His two nephews, brothers Isaac "Ike" and Charles Gandy, emigrated to British Columbia and niece Martha Gandy married and settled down in California. There is some evidence that they did have some contact with each other - and with family members left behind in England.
According to family lore, Isaac Gandy's older brother Peter Gandy often travelled to America on business - boots and shoes.On one occasion he took his daughter Martha (born 1870) with him. She stayed in California and married Edward Newland there in 1889. Martha was Isaac's niece and also the cousin of Ike and Charles Gandy in Canada.
Martha’s engagement to Mr. Edward A. Newland, born abt. 1863 in California was announced as follows in the Daily Alta California newspaper:
17 Mar 1889 “The Social World Announcement has been made of the engagement of E. A. Newland of Oakland and Miss Martha Gandy, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Gandy of Widnes, England. The marriage will take place on Thursday, the 11th prox.”
Martha and Edward had three sons: Guy, Atherton and Edward born in 1890, 1897 and 1900 respectively.
They lived in Lake Shore Avenue by Lake Merrill in Oakland California.
Martha's husband Edward worked as head brake man on the Southern Pacific Railroad and was interviewed at an inquest into a train accident in :
"Edward A. Newland, the head brake man on the train, was in the smoker when the accident occurred. He braced himself when he felt the car bumping, but when it pitched over on end he fell out through the door onto the platform. He made his way to Conductor Wells and then went to Sacramento, a distance of six miles in forty-seven minutes. A special train with physicians was immediately sent out."
There are two connections between Martha and Canada. Her husband Edward's mother was born there, the other that Ike Gandy in Victoria christened his third son Isaac Newland Gandy - a strange coincidence.
Martha's second son was christened Atherton A Newland - Atherton was the maiden name of Martha's mother, Peter Gandy's wife.
