The Children of John Neil and Sarah Cassidy
John Neil born 9 April 1862
The first child of John Neil and Sarah Cassidy was John Neil who was born on 9 April 1862 at 11 Kirk Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. He is my great grandfather; his story is part of the main narrative of this site and the details of his life, as far as I know them, are outlined there. Here I concentrate on his siblings. He had six sisters and three brothers, although only three of the sisters and two of the brothers lived beyond infacy. The following is what I know of their lives.
Agnes Neil born 3 Jul 1863
Birth of Agnes Neil 3rd July 1863 at 135 Main Street, Glasgow
Birth of Agnes Neil 3 Jul 1863, Scotland’s People, (Statutory registers Births 644/10 1065)
I also found two baptismal entries on the same register page for Agnes’ birth. They are only 3 lines apart on the page and the first one gives the date of baptism as the 20th July 1863 and the second gives the date as the 21st and gives a different sponsor; Elizabeth Sheedy instead of Bridget Sharkey.
Baptism of Agnes Neil 20 Jul 1863
Baptism of Agnes Neil 20 Jul 1863, Find My Past, (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms (SCOT/RC/BAP2/0738643)
Baptism of Agnes Neil 21 Jul 1863, Find My Past, (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms (SCOT/RC/BAP2/0738643)
I am not sure what caused this double entry. Agnes did not live long; a couple of years later we find her death registration.
Death of Agnes Neil 15 March 1866 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals
Death of Agnes Neil 15 Mar 1866, Scotland’s People (Statutory registers Deaths 644/10 291)
Ann Neil born 3 Apr 1865
Birth of Ann Neil born 3 Apr 1865 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals
Birth of Ann Neil 3rd April 1865, Scotland’s People, (Statutory registers Births 644/10 639 Item 639)
I also found her baptism:
Baptism of Ann Neil 18 Apr 1865 at St. John the Evangelist
Baptism of Ann Neil 18 April 1865 at St. John the Evangelist, Portugal Street, Gorbals, Glasgow, Find My Past, Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms (SCOT/RC/BAP2/0740098)
Ann’s life was even shorter than Agnes’s; she died of “hooping cough” aged 11 months.
Death of Ann Arneil or Neil 17 March 1866 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals
Death Registration of Ann Arneil 17 Mar 1866, Scotand’s People (Statutory registers Deaths 644/ 10 302 Item 30)
These three record entries for Ann show the inconsistency in recording names. In both her civil registrations, for birth and death, she is recorded ar Arneil but in her baptismal registration she is O’Neill. However, in her baptismal registration her mother becomes Sally Cassidy not Sarah.
Elizabeth Neil born 8 Jan 1867
Birth of Elizabeth Neil born 8 Jan 1867 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals
Birth of Elizabeth Neil 18 Jan 1867 at 135 Main Street, Glasgow, Scotland’s People, (Statutory registers Births 644/10 178)
Baptism of Elizabeth Neil 18 January 1867 at St. John the Evangelist
Baptism of Elizabeth Neil 28 January 1867 at St. John the Evangelist, Portugal Street, Gorbals, Glasgow, Find My Past, Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms (SCOT/RC/BAP2/0741636)
It is interesting that the sponsor is Agnes Neil and I imagine this would be her aunt Agnes who would have been about 43 years old at this time. It seems that Agnes is still single since she goes by her maiden surname; unless, of course, she married another Neil.
Elizabeth Neil at the 1871 Census – 151 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
| Name | Rel | Status | Sex | Age | Occupation | Birth place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Neil | Head | Mar | M | 46 | Masons lab | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Sarah Neil | Wife | Mar | F | 30 | – | Ireland |
| John Neil | Son | – | M | 9 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Elizabeth Neil | Daughter | – | F | 4 | – | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Sarah Neil | Daughter | – | F | 2 | – | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| John McGuire | Boarder | Wid | M | 50 | Coal carter | Ireland |
1871 Census Return for 151 Main Street, Gorbals, Hutchesontown, Glasgow. (1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census , Schedule: 90 , Enumeration district: 105 , Record ID: GBC/1871/0024895790)
Four years after she was born, at the taking of the 1871 Census, Elizabeth is found with her parents and family at 151 Main Street, Gorbals. She was the second child in the family as listed at the census but this wasn’t the whole story. Two other daughters had been born before Elizabeth but had not lived long enough to be recorded at the 1871 Census. John and Sarah’s child, Agnes, had been born in 1863 but died in 1866 from bronchitis at 3 years of age. The child following that, Ann, had been born in 1865 and died in 1866 aged 11 months; she died from “hooping cough”. So, after two child deaths, John and Sarah had Elizabeth; by now 5 years younger than her older brother, John. There had been another child born to John and Sarah between their marriage and the 1871 Census and that was Sarah who was born in 1869 and she was 2 years old. So John and Sarah were living with their three children and a boarder – a fifty year old coal carter who had been born, like Sarah, in Ireland. The family were still living on Main Street in the Gorbals but had moved from number 135, where Elizabeth was born, to number 151. Her father is said to be a forty-six year old mason’s labourer. This is a mistake – he was actually 36. The next record we have of Elizabeth is at the following census in 1881
Elizabeth Neil at the 1881 Census – 4 Surrey Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
| Name | Rel | Status | Sex | Age | Occupation | Birth place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John O’Neil | Head | Mar | M | 43 | Foundry labourer | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Sarah O’Neil | Wife | Mar | F | 39 | – | Ireland |
| Lizzie O’Neil | Daughter | Unm | F | 13 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Sarah O’Neil | Daughter | Unm | F | 12 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Thomas O’Neil | Son | Unm | M | 7 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Charles O’Neil | Son | Unm | M | 4 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Mary O’Neil | Daughter | Unm | F | 2 | – | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| William Ferguson | Boarder | – | M | 50 | Cabinet maker | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
1881 Census Return for 4, Surrey Street, Govan, Gorbals, Lanarkshire, Scotland (1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census , Schedule: 49 , Record ID: GBC/1881/0028504377)
At the 1881 Census John and his family are now recorded as O’Neils but he has at least returned to a more sensible age of 43. He is now employed as a foundry labourer. Sarah is 39. Their son, John, is no longer present in the household; he married Mary Anne Chrystal 2 Oct 1880 and at this census they have their own household – also at 4 Surrey Street. Elizabeth is now the oldest child in the household, and she is recorded as Lizzie, a 13 year-old scholar. Sarah, is now a 12 year-old scholar. More children were born between the censuses – five in total but only three of those survived to be recorded at the 1881 Census; There were two more sons, Thomas (born 1871), aged 7 and Charles (born 1876) aged 4, both scholars and a girl, Mary, who was aged 2. The two who did not survive were (1) Mary, born 5 May 1871 – just after the 1871 census was taken; She died of pneumonia (2 weeks) at 137 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow, aged 5 months. This census, however, shows a re-use of the name as the Mary listed at this census was born 1879 and is a 2 year old. (2) There had been another child, James, born 1874 but he was premature and only lived for 5 minutes.
So John and Sarah were now living with five of their surviving ten children; with John married and living in the same tenement but with his own household. The household, as usual, is rounded off with a boarder.
Marriage of Elizabeth Neil 8 Apr 1885
Marriage of Elizabeth Neil and John Carruthers 8 Apr 1885 at St John’s Chapel, Portugal Street, Glasgow
Marriage of Lizzie Neil 8 April 1885, Scotland’s People, Statutory registers Marraiges 644/12 168
Here we find Lizzie almost exactly four years after the 1881 census but now reverted to the Neil surname. She is 18 years old and is a calender worker. (A calendar is a machine consisting of two or more cylinders revolving so that cloth passed between them is smoothed and glazed by their pressure.) Her usual address is 4 Surrey Street, where she had lived at least since the 1881 Census was taken. She was married at St John’s Roman Catholic Chapel in Portugal Street. Portugal Street was what Surrey Street became when it continued past the end of Bedford Street and the chapel was frequently used by the Neil family.
John Carruthers is 20 years old and is an Iron Moulder living at 3 Cavendish Place, Glasgow. He signed with his (x) mark but Lizzie appears to have signed her name. John is the son of John Carruthers who was a seaman and his mother is Jane Boyd; they are both deceased.
Lizzie’s sister, Sarah, had married William Stalker on 25 Jan 1889 and at the 1891 Census was living with her husband and therir 11 month old daughter, Isabella, at 100 Florence Street, Gorbals.
John and Lizzie Carruthers at the 1891 Census
1891 Census 194 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
| Name | Rel | Mar | Age | Occupation | Birth place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Carruthers | Head | Married | 26 | Green sand moulder | England |
| Lizzie Carruthers | Wife | Married | 24 | Hair worker | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
Census Return for 194 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. ( Find My Past 1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census , Schedule: 39 , Enumeration district: 46 , Record ID: GBC/1891/0033925971)
John and Lizzie are living on Main Street, Glasgow but there are no children. John is a 26-year-old “Green sand moulder” who was born in England. Lizzie is a 24-year-old “Hair Worker” born Glasgow. Green sand moulding was a special technique used in moulding metals; a hair worker was someone involved in the manufacture of objects containing animal hair such as brushes, furniture etc.
Since they had been married for six years by the time of this census, I expected them to have children but it is not so. If Lizzie’s parents were unfortunate to have lost four of their ten children in infancy, at least they had six that lived. This was not the case with Lizzie and John. I have found four births to this couple and the longest lived was 3 years; the others died after 8 months, 5 weeks and 2 days.
The Children of Elizabeth Neil and John Carruthers
Mary Carruthers born 22 Nov 1893
Birth of Mary Carruthers on 22 Nov 1893 at 194 Main Street, Glasgow
Birth of Mary Carruthers on 22 Nov 1893, Scotland’s People, Statutory registers Births 644/12 1433
Baptism of Mary Carruthers on 27 Nov 1893 at St John the Evangelist, Portugal Street, Glasgow,
Baptism of Mary Carruthers on 27 Nov 1893 , Find My Past, Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms (SCOT/RC/BAP2/0504831)
Death of Mary Carruthers on 2 Jan 1894 at 194 Main Street, Glasgow
Death of Mary Carruthers on 2 Jan 1894, Scotland’s People, Statutory registers Deaths 644/12 6
It is worth noting that Mary’s mother is called Lizzie Neil at her birth and death which are statutory records but O’Neil in the Roman Catholic church record of her baptism.
Annie Carruthers born 9 Dec 1894
Birth of Annie Carruthers on 9 Dec 1894 at 31 Salisbury Street, Glasgow
Birth of Annie Carruthers on 9 December 1894, Scotland’s People, Statutory registers Births 644/ 12 1513
Death of Annie Carruthers on 7 Jan 1898 at 4 Surrey Street, Glasgow
Death of Mary Carruthers on 2 Jan 1894, Scotland’s People, Statutory registers Deaths 644/12 7
Burial of Annie Carruthers on 7 Jan 1898 at St Peter’s Dalbeth Cemetery
Burial of Annie Carruthers on 7 Jan 1899, Find My Past – Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Burials (SCOT/RC/BUR/0218507)
John Carruthers born 5 Nov 1897
John Carruthers born 5 Nov 1897 at 4 Surrey Street, Glasgow
Birth of John Carruthers on 5 Nov 1897 , Scotland’s People, Statutory registers Births 644/ 12 1261
Death of John Carruthers on 7 Nov 1897 at 4 Surrey Street, Glasgow
Death of John Carruthers on 7 Nov 1897, Scotland’s People, Statutory registers Deaths 644/12 7
Thomas Carruthers born 18 Mar 1899
Birth of Thomas Carruthers born 18 Mar 1899 at 4 Surrey Street, Glasgow
Birth of Thomas Carruthers on 28 Mar 1899, Scotland’s People, Statutory registers Births 644/ 12 353
Baptism of Thomas Carruthers 21 Mar 1899 at St John the Evangelist, Portugal Street, Glasgow
Baptism of Thomas Carruthers on 21 Mar 1899 , Find My Past Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms (SCOT/RC/BAP2/0506900)
Death of Thomas Carruthers 4 Dec 1899 at Belvidere Hospital(, Glasgow
Death of Thomas Carruthers on5 Dec 1899, Scotland’s People, Statutory registers Deaths 644/11336
Burial of Thomas Carruthers on 6 Dec 1899 at St Peter’s Dalbeth Cemetery
Burial of Thomas Carruthers on 6 Dec 1899, Find My Past – Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Burials (SCOT/RC/BUR/0222887)
A striking feature of these unfortunate children is the range of illnesses they died from. It is also odd that I have been unable to find any other children born between 1885 and 1893.
A Note on the ages and causes of death of the Children of John Carruthers and Lizzie Neil
| Mary Carruthers d. 2 Jan 1894 at 194 Main Street, Glasgow (aged) 5 weeks [Debility from Birth ] |
| Annie Carruthers d 4 Jan 1898 at 4 Surrey Street, Glasgow (age) 3 [Pneumonia ] |
| John Carruthers d 7 Nov 1897 at 4 Surrey Street, Glasgow (aged) 2 days [Spina Bifida with Meningocele ] |
| Thomas Carruthers d 5 Dec usual Residence 4 Surrey Street, Glasgow (aged) 5 months [Diptheria] |
At the 1891 Census John and Lizzie were living at 194 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. Their daughter, Annie, was born on 9 Dec 1894 at 31 Salisbury Street according to her birth registration and their son, John was born on 5 Nov 1897 at 4 Surrey Street according to his. The Surrey Street address seems to have been their home for some time after that and that is where we find them at the 1901 Census. Between the two censuses, Lizzie’s sister, Sarah, had remarried. Her first husband, William Stalker, had died on 1894 and she married Thomas Mullen in 1897. So by the time of the next census she already had two surviving children from the four from her first marriage and three from her second marriage. Not so for John and Lizzie.
John and Lizzie Carruthers at the 1901 Census
1901 Census 4 Surrey Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
1901 Census 4 Surrey Street, Gorbals, Glasgow, Scotland’s People, 1901 CARRUTHERS, LIZZIE (Census 644/12/45/ 30) Page 30 of 33)
| Name | Rel | Mar | Age | Occupation | Birth place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Carruthers | Head | Married | 36 | Iron Moulder | England |
| Lizzie Carruthers | Wife | Married | 34 | Hair Dresser | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
Census Return for 4 Surrey Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. (Scotland’s People 1901 Scotland Census , CARRUTHERS. LIZZIE (Census 644/12 45/ 30) Page 30 of 33)
The next record we have of the couple is at the 1911 Census and that shows some interesting developments.
John and Lizzie Carruthers at the 1911 Census
1911 Census 4 Surrey Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
1911 Census 4 Surrey Street, Gorbals, Glasgow, Scotland’s People, 1901 CARUTHERS, JOHN (Census 644/17 9/ 13) Page 13 of 28)
| Name | Rel | Sex | Age | Cond | Years | CB | CL | Occupation | Industry | Employ Status | Where Born |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Carruthers | Head | M | 46 | M | Iron Moulder | Loco Works | Worker | England | |||
| Lizzie Carruthers | Wife | F | 44 | M | 22 | 0 | 0 | Hair Worker | Factory | Worker | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Chas O'Neil | Brother-in-law | M | 33 | S | Carter | General Carrier | Worker | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
1911 Census 4 Surrey Street, Gorbals, Glasgow, Scotland’s People, 1901 CARUTHERS, JOHN (Census 644/17 9/ 13) Page 13of 28)
This shows that John is now 46 years old and is still an iron moulder, though we find out the additional information that he works at a Loco works. Lizzie is 44 and is still a hair worker at a factory. With them is her brother, Charles (who is now an O’Neil) who is single, aged 33 and is a carter for a general carrier.
But the rest of the page has more information. In the next household is Thomas O’Neil, also a brother to Lizzie and Charles. He is aged 35 and is a carter at a coal merchants. And in the household next to him is William Leonard. I am not sure who this is but there is circumstantial evidence to suggest that he is related in some way to the Neils (or O’Neils in this case) and his family. Lizzie’s sister, Sarah, had a child, Isabella, who married a Leonard and it is probable that one of the witnesses at that marraige in 1910 was the Charles O’Neil mentioned on this census page.
The next reference we have for Lizzie is from the death registration of her mother, Sarah Neil or Cassidy, on 24 Aug 1916 where she was the informant and that records that she was still living at 4 Surrey Street. – . My next record of her is at her death in 1930
Lizzie Carruthers at the 1921 Census
1921 Census 4 Surrey Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
1921 Census 4 Surrey Street, Gorbals, Glasgow, Scotland’s People, 1921 CARUTHERS, ELIZ (Census 644/17 9/ 20) Page 20 of 31)13of 28)
| Name | Rel | Age | Sex | Mar/Orph | Birthplace | Occupation | Status | Employment | Health Ins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eliz Carruthers | Head | 54y 5m | F | M | Glasgow, Lanarkshire | Charwoman | W | Casually Employed | F |
1921 Census 4 Surrey Street, Gorbals, Glasgow, Scotland’s People, 1921 CARUTHERS, ELIZ (Census 644/17 9/ 20) Page 20 of 31)
Here we find Lizzie as the head of household aged 54 years and 4 months; she is a casually emplyed charwoman. She is said to be married rather than widowed but she is the only person in the household and because she is recorded as the head of household, one wonders where her husband is. I searched for John in the 1921 Census and I also looked for a death for him but could not find a probable candidate.
The next, and last, record we have for Lizzie was at her death.
Death of Lizzie Neil or Carruthers 15 Oct 1930
Lizzie Neil or Carruthers died on 15 Oct 1930 at 1301 Govan Road, Glasgow.
Death of Elizabeth Neil or Carruthers 15 Oct 1930, Scotland’s People, Statutory registers Deaths 644/21 894
We find out from this that John Carruthers had died sometime before Lizzie but, as mentioned above, I have not found a likely candidate. Lizzie died at 1301 Govan Road, Glasgow which was the address of the Southern General Hospital (it’s current address is actually 1345 Govan Road). It would seem that she had continued to live at 4 Surrey Street where our first record of her living was at the birth of her child, Annie, in 1894. So that house, so familiar from other records of the various branches of the Neil family, was her home for at least thirty-six years.
Sarah Neil born 5 Aug 1869
Birth of Sarah Neil born 5 Aug 1869 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals
Birth of Sarah Neil 5th August 1869 at 135 Main Street, Glasgow, Scotland’s People, (Statutory registers Births 644/10 1486)
I also found Sarah’s baptism where the parents are incorrectly given as John and Sarah Cassidy rather than John and Sarah O’Neill; the name column clearly records her as Sara O’Neill.
Baptism of Sarah Neil 8 August 1869 at St Francis, Gorbals
![1869-08-08 BAP Sara Neil or O'Neill child of John Neil + Sara Cassidy [[N433-clip]]](https://family.billneil.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/N433-clip.jpg)
Baptism of Sara O’Neill 8 August 1869 at St. Francis, Gorbals, Glasgow, Find My Past, Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms (SCOT/RC/BAP2/0628374 Archive Ref MP/440/1/2/1)
This records that the father, John, was a Protestant.
Sarah was the fifth child of John Neil and Sarah Cassidy but two of her sisters had died before she was born so the house she was born into was made up of her mother and father and brother, John (about 7 years old at this time) and her sister, Elizabeth (about 2 years old at this time). Other siblings were to follow but this is how we find the family at the next census in 1871 when Sarah is two years old.
Sarah Neil at the 1871 Census – 151 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
| Name | Rel | Status | Sex | Age | Occupation | Birth place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Neil | Head | Mar | M | 46 | Masons lab | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Sarah Neil | Wife | Mar | F | 30 | – | Ireland |
| John Neil | Son | – | M | 9 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Elizabeth Neil | Daughter | – | F | 4 | – | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Sarah Neil | Daughter | – | F | 2 | – | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| John McGuire | Boarder | Wid | M | 50 | Coal carter | Ireland |
1871 Census Return for 151 Main Street, Gorbals, Hutchesontown, Glasgow. (1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census , Schedule: 90 , Enumeration district: 105 , Record ID: GBC/1871/0024895790)
Two years after she was born, at the taking of the 1871 Census, Sarah is found with her parents and family at 151 Main Street, Gorbals. She was the third child in the family as listed at the census but this wasn’t the whole story. As mentioned above, two other daughters had been born before Sarah that had not lived long enough to be recorded at the 1871 Census. John and Sarah’s child, Agnes, had been born in 1863 but died in 1866 from bronchitis at 3 years of age. The child following that, Ann, had been born in 1865 and died in 1866 aged 11 months; she died from “hooping cough”.
The children alive at the census were John, Elizabeth and Sarah, herself, aged 2. So John and Sarah were living with their three children and a boarder – a fifty year old coal carter who had been born, like Sarah, in Ireland. The family were still living on Main Street in the Gorbals but had moved from number 135, where Elizabeth was born, to number 151. Her father is said to be a forty-six year old mason’s labourer. This is a mistake – he was actually 36. The next record we have of Elizabeth is at the following census in 1881.
Our next record of ELizabeth is at the next census in 1881 where the family are now found to be living at 4 Surrey Street.
Sarah Neil at the 1881 Census – 4 Surrey Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
| Name | Rel | Status | Sex | Age | Occupation | Birth place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John O’Neil | Head | Mar | M | 43 | Foundry labourer | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Sarah O’Neil | Wife | Mar | F | 39 | – | Ireland |
| Lizzie O’Neil | Daughter | Unm | F | 13 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Sarah O’Neil | Daughter | Unm | F | 12 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Thomas O’Neil | Son | Unm | M | 7 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Charles O’Neil | Son | Unm | M | 4 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Mary O’Neil | Daughter | Unm | F | 2 | – | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| William Ferguson | Boarder | – | M | 50 | Cabinet maker | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
1881 Census Return for 4, Surrey Street, Govan, Gorbals, Lanarkshire, Scotland (1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census , Schedule: 49 , Record ID: GBC/1881/0028504377)
So John and Sarah were now living with five of their surviving ten children; with John married and living in the same tenement but with his own household. The household, as usual, is rounded off with a boarder.
A couple of years before the following census of 1891, Sarah married.
Marriage of Sarah Neil and William Stalker 25 Jan 1889
Marriage of Sarah Neil 25 Jan 1889, Scotland’s People, Statutory registers Marraiges 644/12 39
I don’t know much about William Stalker’s family but the registration suggests that William’s mother, Isabella Ruth, was probably originally Isabella Smith before marrying a Ruth then James Stalker. William Stalker and Sarah both sign their names. Sarah is said to be a confectionary worker and the marriage took place at 236 Thistle Street. The entry on the page next to their marriage is the marriage of another confectionary worker who’s usual residence is 223 Thistle Street South.
At first I thought that the mention of 236 Thistle Street, Glasgow as the place of marriage referred to a church but I could only find the Hutchesontown United Presbyterian Church. See the Canmore web page here. However, when I looked at the births of their children, the last one, William David Stalker was born 9 Jun 1894 at 236 Thistle Street, Glasgow. So it seems that they married at home, which was common at the time, and that the Thistle Street address was their home address. On the other hand, they actually give their usual addresses as 126 Florence Street and 28 Hallside Street so that confuses matters.
Sarah gives her usial residence as 28 Hallside Street not 4 Surrey Street. Hallside Street is actually quite a long way from Surrey Street but Florence Street, the usual residence of WIlliam Stalker, is just a couple of streets away from Hallside Street. It is safe to conclude that 28 Hallside Street was the home of Sarah’s parents at this time as this was where her father died one month later. It is worth noting that William and Sarah are married according to the forms of the Church of Scotland not the Roman Catholic Church.
Two years later we find Sarah and William living in Florence Street -but at number 100 rather than 107 which is perhaps where William lived with his mother before he married; at his marriage his father is said to be deceased but his mother is still alive.
Sarah Stalker or Neil at the 1891 Census – 100 Florence Street, Glasgow
| Name | Rel | Status | Sex | Age | Occupation | Birth place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Stalker | Head | Mar | M | 23 | Contractor’s Carter | England |
| Sarah Stalker | Wife | Mar | F | 21 | – | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Isabella Stalker | Daughter | Unm | F | 11 mo | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
1891 Census Return for 100 Florence Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland – Scotland’s People (1891 Scotland Census 644/11 31/ 22) Page 22 of 31
At this census we find the family living at 100 Florence Street, Glasgow. William Stalker is aged 23 and is a carter born in England (as was the husband of Sarah’s sister, Elizabeth who married John Carruthers). Sarah is aged 21 and is said to be born Glasgow as is their 11 month old child Isabella. Sarah and John had four children in total.
The Children of William Stalker and Sarah Neil
Isabella Smith Stalker born 26 May 1890
Birth of Isabella Smith Stalker born 26 May 1890 at 100 Florence Street, Glasgow
Birth of Isabella Smith Stalker 26 May 1890, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Births 644/11 1127)
Note that the registrar has called the mother Isabella here whereas in the next column he calls her Sarah. He has confused the child’s name with the mother’s name.
We have seen above, that Isabella is with the family at the 1891 Census when she is just 11 months old. I actually know quite a bit more about Isabella but these details are dealt with in a section at the end of Sarah’s story in order to keep this narrative uncomplicated.
Sarah Stalker b 23 Sep 1891
Birth of Sarah Stalker born 23 Sep 1891 at 122 Sandyfaulds Street, Glasgow
Birth of Sarah Stalker 23 Sep 1891, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Births 644/11 2008)
By the time of the birth of William and Sarah’s second child, the family appear to have moved from 100 Florence Street, where they were living at the 1891 census which was taken on 5 Apr 1891, to 122 Sandyfaulds Street. This is the address that the next child was born at.
Death of Sarah Stalker 1891
I have not looked at the death registraion of Sarah Stalker yet but Scotland’s People has an entry for a death for her in the death registers at 644 / 11 / 1026 saying that she died aged 0.
John Neil Stalker b 11 Jul 1892
Birth of John Neil Stalker b 11 Jul 1892 at 122 Sandyfaulds Street, Glasgow
Birth of John Neil Stalker 11 Jul 1892, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Births 644/11 1579)
Death of John Neil Stalker 1893
I have not looked at the death registraion of John Neil Stalker yet but Scotland’s People has an entry for a death for him in the death registers at 644 / 12 / 415 saying that he died aged 0.
William David Stalker b 9 Jun 1894
Birth of William David Stalker b 9 Jun 1894 at 236 Thistle Street, Glasgow,
Birth of William David Stalker 9 June 1894, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Births 6644/12 777)
William was born at 236 Thistle Street, Glasgow so the family have moved from 122 Sandyfaulds Street. We also learn from this birth registration that William’s father has died; in fact he died 8 days before William was born and at the saem address. As we saw earlier 236 Thistle Street was the address given as the place of marriage for William and Sarah. I know a little more about William but only as he appears with the family at later census returns so I cover him then.
Death of William Stalker 1 Jun 1894
Death of William Stalker 1 Jun 1894 at 236 Thistle Street, Glasgow.
Death of William Stalker 21 Jun 1894, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Deaths 644/12 363)
Here we see that Wiliam Stalker was only 27 years old when he died of phthisis (pulmonary tuberculosis) Sarah is the informand and signs her name. This left Sarah a 25 year old widow with a 4 year old girl and a new baby to provide for. No doubt the wider family helped her at this time but being just 25 and with two children to provide for, it is perhaps not surprising that she remarried, albeit three years later
Marriage of Sarah Neil and Thomas Mullen 23 Apr 1897
Marriage of Sarah Neil 23 Apr 1897, Scotland’s People, Statutory registers Marraiges 644/ 12/ 220
Unlike her first marriage, this one is according to the Forms of the Roman Catholic Church and the marriage takes place at St. John’s Vestry, Portugal Street. Thomas Mullen is a mason’s labourer and is a 36 year old widower. Sarah is a 28 year old widow. They both give 194 Main Street as thei usual addresses. The witness was Charles Neill, in all likelihood her younger brother
I do not know a great deal about Thomas Mullen. His parents are given as Thomas Mullen a deceased labourer and Margaret Mullen MS Kenny but I could not find them in a census return; it is possible that they were recent arrivals in Glasgow.
Sarah gives her usual residence as 28 Hallside Street not 4 Surrey Street. Hallside Street is actually quite a long way from Surrey Street but Florence Street, the usual residence of WIlliam Stalker, is just a couple of streets away from Hallside Street. It is safe to conclude that 28 Hallside Street was the home of Sarah’s parents at this time as this was where her father died one month later. It is worth noting that William and Sarah are married according to the forms of the Church of Scotland not the Roman Catholic Church.
Sarah’s marraige may have been advanced by the fact that the first of her children with Thomas Mullen was born four months after their marriage. I know of six children born to the Sarah and Thomas
The Children of Thomas Mullen and Sarah Neil
The information about the children of Thomas and Sarah comes from the records of their baptisms at the church of St John the Evangelist in Portugal Street, Glasgow.
Thomas Mullen born 31 Aug 1897
Birth and Baptism Thomas Mullen b. 31 Aug 1897 (res) 124 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
Baptism of Thomas Mullen 31 August 1897, Find My Past, (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms – SCOT/RC/BAP2/0506335)
We find from this record that the family have moved from their usual addresses on their marriage registration which was 194 Main Street and now they are living 124 Main Street. One of the godparents is Elizabeth Chrystal. Sarah’s brother, John, had married Mary Anne Chrystal in 1880 and she had a sister, EIlizabeth Caul Chrystal. She was born in 1863 so would have been aged about 34 in 1897 so perhaps this is Sarah’s cousin. It is notable that at the births of all Sarah’s children her maiden surname is recorded as Neil but for the baptisms of all her children with Thomas Mullen she is recorded as being O’Neil.
Birth of Charles Mullen b. 13 Mar 1899
Birth and Baptism of Charles Mullen b. 13 Mar 1899 (res) 179 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
Baptism of Charles Mullen 27 March 1899, Find My Past, (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms – SCOT/RC/BAP2/0506910)
Here we see a further move along Main Street, Gorbals. They have moved from 124 Main Street to 179 Main Street, Gorbals.
John Mullen b. 26 Aug 1900
Birth and Baptism of John Mullen b. 26 Aug 1900 (res) 179 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
Baptism of John Mullen 2 Sep 1900, Find My Past, (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms – SCOT/RC/BAP2/0507539)
The family are still living at 179 Main Street. The godparents are Charles O’Neil and Sarah O’Neil. I’m not too sure who Charles and Sarah O’Neil are but, again, they could be Sarah’s cousins from her brother John’s marriage to Mary Anne Chrystal.
Death of John Mullen 1902 in Glasgow
I found an index entry on the Scotland’s People web site that shows the death of a John Mullen in 1902. This John is aged 2 at his death so this seems like it is him. It is under the reference Deaths (644 / 12/ 215 Gorbals)
James Neil Mullen b. 22 Apr 1902
Birth and Baptism of James Neil Mullen b. 22 Apr 1902 (res) 54 Portugal Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
Baptism of John Mullen 2 Sep 1900, Find My Past, (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms – SCOT/RC/BAP2/0508237)
The Mullens have been on the move again and are now living at 54 Portugal Street, Gorbals. The Godmother is Mrs Sarah Cassidy. I had thought that this was possibly Sarah’s grandmother who would be aged about 63 at this point but she still calls herself Sarah Neil at the 1901 Census when she is living with Sarah’s brother, Charles, and his wife at 220c Main Street. I’m not sure about this one.
Sarah Mullen b. 29 Oct 1904
Birth and baptism of Sarah Mullen b. 29 Oct 1904 (res) 54 Portugal Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
Baptism of Sarah Mullen 5 Nov 1904, Find My Past, (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms – SCOT/RC/BAP2/0509362)
Joseph Mullen b. 12 May 1906
Birth of Joseph Mullen b. 12 May 1906 (res) 54 Portugal Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
Birth of Joseph Mullen 12 May 1906, Scotland’s People (Scotland Statutory registers of Births (644/12 545)
Death of Joseph Mullen 1906 Gorbals, Glasgow
Her son Joseph who was born in 1906 is also absent on the census return and I found a death for a Joseph Mullen, aded 0 under the reference Deaths (644 / 12/ 435 Gorbals).
Margaret Mullen b 10 Jul 1907
Birth and Baptism of Margaret Mullen b 10 Jul 1907 (res) 57 Surrey Street, Gorbals, Glasgow,
Baptism of Sarah Mullen 5 Nov 1904, Find My Past, (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms – SCOT/RC/BAP2/0510499)
At the birth of their last child the family are now living at 57 Surrey Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. I did actually find a birth of a Joseph Mullen with a mother with a maiden surname of O’Neil born in 1906 (ref 644 / 12 / 545 Gorbals) but I have found no baptism or other reference to this so I have not pursued it.
These various births and some of the changes of address are noted in the census returns. I now turn to these to show how the family evolved after the death of Sarah’s first husband, her remarriage to Thomas Mullen and therirsubsequent children
Sarah Mullen or Stalker or Neil at the 1901 Census – 120 Thistle Street, Glasgow
| Name | Rel | Cond | Sex | Age | Occupation | Where Born |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Mullen | Head | M | M | 38 | Mason's Labourer | Ireland |
| Sarah Mullen | Wife | W | F | 31 | Glasgow, Lanarkshire | |
| Isabella Stalker | Stepdaughter | S | F | 10 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| William Stalker | Stepson | S | M | 6 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Thomas Mullen | Son | S | M | 3 | Glasgow, Lanarkshire | |
| Charles Mullen | Son | S | M | 2 | Glasgow, Lanarkshire | |
| John Mullen | Son | S | M | 6m | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
1901 Census Return for 120 Thistle Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland – Scotland’s People (1901 Scotland Census 644/12 40/ 19) Page 19 of 34 and (1901 Scotland Census 644/12 40/ 19) Page 20 of 34
At this census we find that Thomas Mullen is aged 38 and is a mason’s labourer born Ireland. Sarah is now 32 years old and in the household are the two surviving children from her frst marriage to William Stalker; Isabella Stalker, aged 10, and William Stalker, aged 6 – both scholars. There are three children from her second marriage to Thomas Mullen; Thomas Mullen , aged 3, Charles Mullen , aged 2, and John Mullen just 6 months old.
There is another Mullen Family at the same address – John Mullen. In fact the household is made up of 4 siblings and a lodger. The siblings are John 26 born Co Sligo, Ireland, Katie (?) 24 born Co Sligo, Ireland, Patrick 28 born Co Sligo, Ireland, James 22 born Co Sligo, Ireland and a lodger. It is, of course, logical that these people would be related in some way to our John. Unfortunately no county of birth is given for our John Mullen
When we next find the Mullens it is not where I expected.
Sarah Mullen or Stalker or Neil at the 1911 Census – 10 Court Street, Dundee
| Name | pih | Rel | Sex | Age | Cond | Years | Chd Born |
Chd Living |
Occupation | Industry | Employ Status | Where Born |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Stalker Mullen | 10 | Head | F | 41 | M | 22 | 12 | 7 | Mill Worker | Jute | Worker | Glasgow |
| Bella S Leonard | Daughter | F | 20 | M | 1 | 1 | 1 | Jute Millworker | Glasgow | |||
| William Stalker | Son | M | 16 | S | Mill worker | Jute | Worker | Glasgow | ||||
| Thomas Mullen | Son | M | 13 | S | School (part time Millworker) | Jute | Glasgow | |||||
| Charles Mullen | Son | M | 12 | S | School | Glasgow | ||||||
| James Mullen | Son | M | 8 | S | School | Glasgow | ||||||
| Sarah Mullen | Daughter | F | 6 | S | School | Glasgow | ||||||
| Maggie Mullen | Daughter | F | 3 | S | Glasgow | |||||||
| Francis P Leonard | Grandson | M | <1m | S | Dundee | |||||||
| John A Neish | Visitor | M | 20 | Coal Carrier | Worker | Glasgow |
1911 Census Return for 10 Court Street, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland – Scotland’s People (1911 Scotland Census 282/ 4 43 19) Page 19 of 47
As we have already seen Sarah and John had three more children between the 1901 and 1911 censuses; James Neil Mullen, born 1902, Sarah Mullen born 1904 and Margaret Mullen born 1907. However, there are big changes after that. The last child was born in Glasgow in 1907 but by 1911 Sarah had moved to Dundee and the reason for that was probably work-related. With cotton work dying off in Glasgow, the Jute trade in Dundee was a major source of alternate employment and a lot of people made the move to get new employment. This is reflected in the family at this census where all the adults in the household are mill workers; even 13 year old Thomas, whilst still at school, is a part-time millworker. An additional feature is that Thomas Mullen is no longer in the household and Sarah is said to be the head of household but is not a widow.
There is quite a lot to unpack in this census return; especially about her children. She declares that she has been married for 22 years (this must include both marriages) and has had 12 children, 7 of whom are still living. This must mean that there is one child we have not yet found. It also means that of the eleven childen I have found, four children must have died. We already know of the two children from her first marriage that died but there must have been another two who died. Her son, John Mullen, who was born in 1900, is not with the family at this census; I found an index entry on Scotland’s People that shows the death of a John Mullen in 1902. This John is aged 2 at his death so this seems like it is him. It is under the reference Deaths (644 / 12/ 215 Gorbals). Her son Joseph who was born in 1906 is also absent on the census return and I found a death for a Joseph Mullen, aged 0 under the reference Deaths (644 / 12/ 435 Gorbals). This means that all her still-living children are living with her now.
In the household is her oldest daughter from her first marriage Isabella (formerly Smith Stalker) who had married Patrick Joseph Leonard in 1910 and they had their child Francis Patrick Leonard on 20 March 1911. Here she is recorded as Bella S Leonard; she is not working and has been married for 1 year and has 1 child. The other child from her first marriage, WIlliam Stalker, is now 16 and is a mill worker in a jute factory. Of the Mullen children, Thomas is 13 and is at school but works part-time in the jute factory. Charles (12), James (8), and Sarah (6) are all at school and Maggie (3) is still too young for school. Bella’s son, Francis P Leonard, is under 1 month and the household is rounded off with a visitor John A Neish a 20 year old Coal Carrier. I tried looking for Thomas Mullen in the census returns but I could not find a likely candidate
Sarah Mullen or Stalker or Neil at the 1921 Census – 5 Stanley Street Old Kilpatrick, Clydebank
| Name | Relation | Age | Sex | Mar | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Mullen | Head | 60 | M | M | Sligo, Co Sligo, Ireland |
| Sarah Mullen | Wife | 51y 10m | F | W | Lanarkshire, Scotland |
| Charles Mullen | Son | 22y 2m | M | S | Lanarkshire, Scotland |
| James Mullen | Son | 19y 2m | M | S | Lanarkshire, Scotland |
| Sarah Mullen | Dau | 16y 6m | F | S | Lanarkshire, Scotland |
| Maggie Mullen | Dau | 13y 11m | F | S | Lanarkshire, Scotland |
| Sarah Leonard | Granddau | 9y 3m | S | Lanarkshire, Scotland | |
| James Thomson | Boarder | 49y 2m | M | W | Lanarkshire, Scotland |
| John Milne | Boarder | 21 | M | S | Keith, Banffshire, Scotland |
| bella’s so | Boarder | 21y 6m | M | S | Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland |
Continued
| Name | Occupation | Status | Employment | H Ins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Mullen | Boiler Fireman | OW | British Chemical Co | M |
| Sarah Mullen | Home Duties | |||
| Charles Mullen | Rivet Heater | OW | Caledon Shipyard Co | M |
| James Mullen | Waiter | W | Stark Publicans | |
| Sarah Mullen | Machinist | OW | Singer Mfng, Sewing Machine Mnfg | M |
| Maggie Mullen | Scholar | |||
| Sarah Leonard | Scholar | |||
| James Thomson | Machineman | OW | Singer Mfng, Sewing Machine Mnfg | |
| John Milne | Porter | W | Caley Railway Co. | |
| Geo Cobban | Porter | Caley Railway Co. |
1921 Census Return for 5 Stanley Street Old Kilpatrick, Clydebank, Scotland – Scotland’s People (1921 Census Scotland (501/26/24 Page 24 of 29)
Thomas Mullen reappears in this census; he is head of the household, aged 60, born Sligo, Co Sligo, Ireland. He is a Boiler Fireman at the British Chemical Company. Sarah runs the household which consists of two rooms for the 10 people living in the household. Sarah is now 51 years and ten months. Neither of the children from her marriage to WIlliam Stalker are present in the household but this isn’t surprising considering William Stalker would be 26 by now and probably married and Isabella had married Patrick Joseph Leonard in 1910 so they would have had their own household. I reasoned that Isabella was in Sarah’s household at the previous census because she had a brand new baby, under 1 month old, and it may have been her mother’s first chance to see it. However the continued presence of one of Isabella’s children in Thomas and Sarah’s household. Sarah Leonard is aged 9 years 3 months and is a scholar; she is recorded as a granddaughter. I thought to look into this and discovered that Isabella had died.
I look at Isabella Smith Stalker’s life in more detail in a section at the end of Sarah’s story but, in short, I looked at the death registrations and found that she had died on 29 Apr 1917 at Barnhill Poor House, Glasgow (usual residence 21 Surrey Street) aged just 26. She died of Pulmonary Tuberculosis
As regards the Mullen children, it would seem likely that Sarah’s son, Thomas Mullen, is married as he would be around 23, so he is not present in the household but all the other Mullen children (except John and Joseph who both died in infancy) are here. Charles is 22 and an unmarried Rivet Heater at the Caledon Shipyard Company. James is a 19 year-old Waiter at Stark Publicans. Sarah is aged 16 and is a Machinist at the Singer Sewing Machine Company. Maggie is now aged 13 and is a scholar. There are also 3 boarders.
This census return is the last record I have of Thomas and Sarah together. My next record is of Sarah’s death in 1941.
Death of Sarah Mullen, Stalker or Neil 15 Jan 1941
Death of Sarah Mullen or Stalker or Neil 15 Jan 1941 at 5 Stanley Street, Old Kilpatrick, Clydebank
Death of Sarah Mullen 15 Jan 1941, Scotland’s People, Scottish Statutory registers Deaths 501/ 36
This is where I ended with Sarah. There are variousof avenues I could have taken to follow her husband and children but that is for another time; I will just add an addendum about Sarah’s daughter, Isabella Smith Stalker
Addendum on Isabella Smith Stalker
There is no particular reason to single out Isabella (Bella) for extra treatment compared to her other children; it is just that I ended up knowing much more about her than the others and I may as well detail that here.
Isabella Smith Stalker born 26 May 1890
Birth of Isabella Smith Stalker born 26 May 1890 at 100 Florence Street, Glasgow
Birth of Isabella Smith Stalker 26 May 1890, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Births 644/11 1127)
Note that the registrar has called the mother Isabella here whereas in the next column he calls her Sarah. He has confused the child’s name with the mother’s name.
We have seen above, that Isabella is with the Sarah and her first husband William Stalker at the 1891 Census when the family are living at 100 Florence Street, Gorbals; she is just 11 months old and is their first child.
Isabella Stalker at the 1891 Census – 100 Florence Street, Glasgow
| Name | Rel | Status | Sex | Age | Occupation | Birth place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Stalker | Head | Mar | M | 23 | Contractor’s Carter | England |
| Sarah Stalker | Wife | Mar | F | 21 | – | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Isabella Stalker | Daughter | Unm | F | 11 mo | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
1891 Census Return for 100 Florence Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland – Scotland’s People (1891 Scotland Census 644/11 31/ 22) Page 22 of 31
At this census we find the family living at 100 Florence Street, Glasgow. William Stalker is aged 23 and is a carter born in England (as was the husband of Sarah’s sister, ELizabeth who married John Carruthers). Sarah is aged 21 and is said to be born Glasgow as is their 11 month old child Isabella. Sarah and John had four children in total.
Isabella Smith Stalker between the 1891 and 1901 Censuses
At the following census in 1901 the family have moved to 120 Thistle Street, Gorbals. In the intervening period Isabella acquired sibling; two of them, Sarah (b 1891) and John (b 1892) had died as infants but a fourth child, William David Stalker (b 1894) survived and we see him again at the 1901 Census along with Isabella but they are recorded as stepchildren of the head of house, Thomas Mullen. Isabella’s father, William Stalker had died on 1894 of Tuberculosis (Pthisis) leaving her mother as a young widow with two children. As we have seen, above, Sarah married Thomas Mullen 23 Apr 1897. Between the censuses Sarh had several children with Thomas Mullen; Thomas (b 1897), Charles (b 1899) and John (b 1900). So when we see the family in 1901 it is a mixture of children:
Isabella Stalker at the 1901 Census – 120 Thistle Street, Glasgow
| Name | Rel | Cond | Sex | Age | Occupation | Where Born |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Mullen | Head | M | M | 38 | Mason's Labourer | Ireland |
| Sarah Mullen | Wife | W | F | 31 | Glasgow, Lanarkshire | |
| Isabella Stalker | Stepdaughter | S | F | 10 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| William Stalker | Stepson | S | M | 6 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Thomas Mullen | Son | S | M | 3 | Glasgow, Lanarkshire | |
| Charles Mullen | Son | S | M | 2 | Glasgow, Lanarkshire | |
| John Mullen | Son | S | M | 6m | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
1901 Census Return for 120 Thistle Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland – Scotland’s People (1901 Scotland Census 644/12 40/ 19) Page 19 of 34 and (1901 Scotland Census 644/12 40/ 19) Page 20 of 34
At this census we find that Thomas Mullen is aged 38 and is a mason’s labourer born Ireland. Sarah is now 32 years old and in the household are the two surviving children from her frst marriage to William Stalker; Isabella Stalker, aged 10, and William Stalker, aged 6 – both scholars. There are three children from her second marriage to Thomas Mullen; Thomas Mullen , aged 3, Charles Mullen , aged 2, and John Mullen just 6 months old. By the time of the next census Isabella has married.
Marriage of Isabella Smith Stalker to Patrick Joseph Leonard 20 May 1910
Marriage of Isabella Smith Stalker 20 May 1910 Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Marraiges 644/11 167)
Isabella is living at 15 Carrick Street, Glasgow. If this is the address of her parents then it is an address we have not seen them at before; the last time we saw the family was at the birth of her short-lived brother, Joseph, in 1906 when Isabella’s family lived at 54 Portugal Street. Perhaps it was the address of Patrick’s parents since the same address is given for both bride and groom. Isabell is a spinster, aged 19 (quite a bit younger than the 32 year old bachelor, Patrick) She is a jute millworker and the witness is Charles O’Neil – perhaps her uncle who was often the informant at family events. As for Patrick, I know nothing of his family except that there is a Leonard connection
As we have seen above, Isabella is to be found with her mother, Sarah, at the 1911 Census but but this it is not where I expected.
Isabella Leonard or Stalker at the 1911 Census – 10 Court Street, Dundee
| Name | pih | Rel | Sex | Age | Cond | Years | Chd Born |
Chd Living |
Occupation | Industry | Employ Status | Where Born |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Stalker Mullen | 10 | Head | F | 41 | M | 22 | 12 | 7 | Mill Worker | Jute | Worker | Glasgow |
| Bella S Leonard | Daughter | F | 20 | M | 1 | 1 | 1 | Jute Millworker | Glasgow | |||
| William Stalker | Son | M | 16 | S | Mill worker | Jute | Worker | Glasgow | ||||
| Thomas Mullen | Son | M | 13 | S | School (part time Millworker) | Jute | Glasgow | |||||
| Charles Mullen | Son | M | 12 | S | School | Glasgow | ||||||
| James Mullen | Son | M | 8 | S | School | Glasgow | ||||||
| Sarah Mullen | Daughter | F | 6 | S | School | Glasgow | ||||||
| Maggie Mullen | Daughter | F | 3 | S | Glasgow | |||||||
| Francis P Leonard | Grandson | M | <1m | S | Dundee | |||||||
| John A Neish | Visitor | M | 20 | Coal Carrier | Worker | Glasgow |
1911 Census Return for 10 Court Street, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland – Scotland’s People (1911 Scotland Census 282/ 4 43 19) Page 19 of 47
I have already looked a this census return in some detail above from the point of view of Isabella’s mother but here I am only concerned with Isabella or Bella as she is recorded here.
Bella (formerly Smith Stalker) had married Patrick Joseph Leonard in 1910 and they had their child Francis Patrick Leonard on 20 March 1911. She is not working and has been married for 1 year and has 1 child. It is not clear why she is not with her husband. She is not listed as a visitor but I do not think that that is decisive; she was, of course a jute mill worker in Glasgow at the time of her marriage). Her brother, WIlliam Stalker, is now 16 and is a mill worker in a jute factory. Of the Mullen children, Thomas is 13 and is at school but works part-time in the jute factory. Charles (12), James (8), and Sarah (6) are all at school and Maggie (3) is still too young for school. Bella’s son, Francis P Leonard, is under 1 month and the household is rounded off with a visitor John A Neish a 20 year old Coal Carrier.
Children of Isabella Smith Stalker and Patrick Joseph Leonard
Birth and Baptism of Francis P Leonard b 20 Mar 1911 (res) 10 Court Street, Dundee
Birth and Baptism of Francis P Leonard b 20 Mar 1911, Find My Past, Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms (SCOT/RC/BAP2/0333703)
Birth and Baptism of Susan Leonard b 20 Mar 1912, Old Kilpatrick, Clydebank, Dumbartonshire
Birth and Baptism of Susan Leonard b 20 Mar 1912, Find My Past, Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms (SCOT/RC/BAP2/0439820)
This record shows that the Leonards had now moved back down from Dundee and, although no address is given for the, the church is on Glasgow Road in Clydebank to the west of the city. This is the last record we have of Isabella Smith Leonard or Stalker before her death five years later.
Death of Isabella Smith Leonard 29 Apr 1917
Death of Isabella Smith Leonard or Stalker 29 Apr 1917 at Barnhill Poor House, 322 Parliamentary Road, Glasgow
Death of Isabella Smith Leonard or Stalker 29 Apr 1917, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Deaths 644/ 5 539)
We find from this death registration that Patrick and Isabella and their children were back living in Glasgow at 21 Surrey Street, Gorbals. Isabella died of Pulmonary Tuberculosis at Barnhill Poor House, Glasgow I do not know exactly what that was but I assume it was an infection hospital. These links are informative on the subject
https://www.scottishindexes.com/institutions/6.aspx
https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/libraries/family-history/stories-and-blogs-from-the-mitchell/times-past-blogs/barnhill-poorhouse-times-past
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=581228.18
This is where I left Isabella’s family; as even I could have gone on further
Mary Neil b 5 May 1871
Birth of Mary Neil b 5 May 1871 at 137 Main Street, Gorbals
Birth of Mary Neil th May 1871 at 137 Main Street, Glasgow, Scotland’s People, (Statutory registers Births 644/10 975)
Mary was baptised 14 May 1871 at St Francis Roman Catholic Church, Gorbals, Glasgow.
Baptism of Mary Neil b 14 May 1871 at St Francis Roman Catholic Church, Gorbals
Baptism of Mary Neil 14 May 1871, St Francis Roman Catholic Church, Gorbals. Find My Past, (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms SCOT/RC/BAP2/0629142)
John Neil is recorded as being a Protestant while the mother, Sarah, is a Roman Catholic. As with Agnes, Mary died young but she only survived for five months.
Death of Mary Neil 14 Oct 1871 at 137 Main Street, Gorbals
Death of Mary Neil 14 Oct 1871 at 137 Main Street, Glasgow, Scotland’s People, (Statutory registers Deaths 644 10 975)
Thomas Neil b 28 Dec 1872
Thomas Neil b 28 Dec 1872 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals
Birth of Thomas Neil 28 Dec 1872 at 135 Main Street, Glasgow, Scotland’s People, (Statutory registers Births 644/10 87)
Baptism of Thomas Neil 2 Jan 1873
Thomas was baptised 2 Jan 1873 at St Francis Roman Catholic Church, Gorbals, Glasgow
Baptism of Thomas Neil 2 Jan 1873 at St Francis Roman Catholic Church, Gorbals, Glasgow, Find My Past, (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms SCOT/RC/BAP2/0630017)
It is again recorded that one parent is Catholic and the other Protestant.
Thomas Neil at the 1881 Census – 4 Surrey Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
| Name | Rel | Status | Sex | Age | Occupation | Birth place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John O’Neil | Head | Mar | M | 43 | Foundry labourer | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Sarah O’Neil | Wife | Mar | F | 39 | – | Ireland |
| Lizzie O’Neil | Daughter | Unm | F | 13 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Sarah O’Neil | Daughter | Unm | F | 12 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Thomas O’Neil | Son | Unm | M | 7 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Charles O’Neil | Son | Unm | M | 4 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Mary O’Neil | Daughter | Unm | F | 2 | – | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| William Ferguson | Boarder | – | M | 50 | Cabinet maker | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
1881 Census Return for 4, Surrey Street, Govan, Gorbals, Lanarkshire, Scotland (1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census , Schedule: 49 , Record ID: GBC/1881/0028504377)
At the 1881 Census John and Sarah were now living with five of their surviving ten children; with John married and living in the same tenement but with his own household. The household, as usual, is rounded off with a boarder. Of the children, Lizzie is 13, Sarah is 12. Mary, the next child, died in infancy and Thomas (7), Charles (4) and Mary (2) were all born between the 1871 and 1881 censuses. As I have noted befoe the children are all suddenly O’Neils. All of the children except Mary, who is to young, are scholars. We find Thomas again at the next census in 1891.
Thomas Neil at the 1891 Census – 4 Surrey Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
| Name | Relation | Condition | Sex | Age | Occupation | Employ Status | Where Born |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Neil | Head | W | F | 50 | Washerwoman | Ireland | |
| Tom Neil | Son | S | M | 18 | Labourer | Employed | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Charles Neil | Son | S | M | 15 | Coal Carrier | Employed | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Mary Neil | Daughter | S | F | 12 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire | |
| Biddie Cassidy | Mother | W | F | 70 | Ireland | ||
| Pat Cassidy | Brother | S | M | 52 | Carter | Employed | Ireland |
| Sarah Henderson | Granddaughter | S | F | 10 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
1891 Census Return for 4 Surrey Street, Gorbals, Glasgow – Scotlands People (Scotland Census 644/12 47/ 33) Page 33 of 35)
Ten years later and the family has changed quite a bit. New children had come along and Thomas’s father had died in 1889 at 28 Hallside Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. This leaves Charles’ mother, Sarah as the head of the household, a 50 year old washerwoman. Thomas, now the eldest son in the household, is an 18 year old labourer aged 18, Charles is now a 15 year old coal carrier and Mary is now 12 years old and is scholar. Since the last census, Thomas’s sisters, Sarah and Lizzie have left the family home. Sarah had married John Carruthers in 1885 and at this census she was living at (?) Main Street, Glasgow. She had no children and, in fact, had a desperately unlucky time with childbirth. His sister, Sarah had married William Stalker in 1889 and at this census she was living at 100 Florence Street, Glasgow and she had already had one child. He never knew his sisters Agnes and Mary because they died before he was born. This left The eldest child in the family, John, who had married Mary Anne Chrystal in 1880 and at this census was also living at 4 Surrey Street but in his own household.
Also living in the household is Biddie Cassidy, Sarah’s mother, now aged 70 and her brother, Patrick, an unmarried 52 year old carter who is unemployed. The last member of the household is Sarah Cassidy who is the illegitimate daughter of Sarah’s sister, Ann Cassidy who had married Hugh Henderson. He had died in 1880 so Sarah wasn’t his child.
I have not been able to find Thomas at the 1901 Census. He would have been around 25 years of age. I do know from later records that he never married.
We do find him at the following census after that in 1911 where he is still unmarried and is the solitary head of his own household.
Thomas Neil at the 1911 Census – 4 Surrey Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
| Name | Relation | Condition | Sex | Age | Occupation | Employ Status | Where Born |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas O’Neil | Head | S | M | 35 | Carter for Coal Merchant | Worker | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
1911 Census Return for 4 Surrey Street, Gorbals, Glasgow – Scotlands People (Scotland Census644/17 9/ 13) Page 13 of 28
Here we find Thomas O’Neil is a single 35 year old carter for a railway company. I have shown more of the census page above because we see a couple of other households at 4 Surrey Street. The entry before is for a Leonard family and I have discussed this above when considering Thomas’s sister, Sarah’s daughter, Isabella who married a Leonard. The entry after Thomas’s is for his sister Lizzie; she married John Carruthers in 1885 but their childbearing didn’t go well. They had four children that all died in iinfacy except one who managed to live for 3 year. By 1899 they had no living children. In their household is Thomas and Lizzie’s brother, Charles who is an unmarried 33 year old carter for a general carrier.
This is the last record I have for Thomas before his death in 1922
Thomas lived at 4 Surrey Street from 1881 at the latest when he was seven years old until ee died in 1922 – forty-one years.
Death of Thomas Neil or O’Neil on 31 Aug 1922
Death of Thomas Neil or O’Neil on 31 Aug 1922, Scotland’s People (Statutory registers Deaths 644/17 564)
As so often, his brother Charles is the informant. Both are recorded as being Neils not O’Neils
James Neil b 3 Dec 1874
Birth of James Neil b 3 Dec 1874 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals
Birth of James Neil 3rd December 1874 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow, Scotland’s People, (Statutory registers Births 644/10 87)
James fared worse than Agnes, Elizabeth and Mary, surviving for only four minutes.
Death of James Neil 3 December 1874 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals
Death of James Neil 13 December 1874 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals, Scotland’s People, (Statutory registers Deaths 644 10 1555)
Charles Neil b 21 Aug 1876
Birth of Charles Neil b 21 Aug 1876 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals
Birth of Charles Neil 21 Aug 1876 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow, Scotland’s People, (Statutory registers Births 644/12 1071)
Baptism of Charles Neil 28 Aug 1876
Charles was baptised 28 Aug 1876 at St. John the Evangelist, Portugal Street, Gorbals, Glasgow.
Baptism of Charles Neil 28 Aug 1876 at St. John the Evangelist, Portugal Street, Gorbals, Glasgow, Find My Past, (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms SCOT/RC/BAP2/0747221)
Charles Neil at the 1881 Census – 4 Surrey Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
| Name | Rel | Status | Sex | Age | Occupation | Birth place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John O’Neil | Head | Mar | M | 43 | Foundry labourer | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Sarah O’Neil | Wife | Mar | F | 39 | – | Ireland |
| Lizzie O’Neil | Daughter | Unm | F | 13 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Sarah O’Neil | Daughter | Unm | F | 12 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Thomas O’Neil | Son | Unm | M | 7 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Charles O’Neil | Son | Unm | M | 4 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Mary O’Neil | Daughter | Unm | F | 2 | – | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| William Ferguson | Boarder | – | M | 50 | Cabinet maker | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
1881 Census Return for 4, Surrey Street, Govan, Gorbals, Lanarkshire, Scotland (1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census , Schedule: 49 , Record ID: GBC/1881/0028504377)
At the 1881 Census John and Sarah were now living with five of their surviving ten children; with John married and living in the same tenement but with his own household. The household, as usual, is rounded off with a boarder. Of the children, Lizzie is 13, Sarah is 12. Mary, the next child, died in infancy and Thomas (7), Charles (4) and Mary (2) were all born between the 1871 and 1881 censuses. As I have noted befoe the children are all suddenly O’Neils. All of the children except Mary, who is to young, are scholars. We find Charles again at the next census in 1891.
Charles Neil at the 1891 Census – 4 Surrey Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
| Name | Relation | Condition | Sex | Age | Occupation | Employ Status | Where Born |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Neil | Head | W | F | 50 | Washerwoman | Ireland | |
| Tom Neil | Son | S | M | 18 | Labourer | Employed | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Charles Neil | Son | S | M | 15 | Coal Carrier | Employed | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Mary Neil | Daughter | S | F | 12 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire | |
| Biddie Cassidy | Mother | W | F | 70 | Ireland | ||
| Pat Cassidy | Brother | S | M | 52 | Carter | Employed | Ireland |
| Sarah Henderson | Granddaughter | S | F | 10 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
1891 Census Return for 4 Surrey Street, Gorbals, Glasgow – Scotlands People (Scotland Census 644/12 47/ 33) Page 33 of 35)
Ten years later and the family has changed quite a bit. New children had come along and Charles’s father had died in 1889 at 28 Hallside Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. This leaves Charles’ mother, Sarah as the head of the household, a 50 year old washerwoman. Charles is now a 15 year old coal carrier. His older brother, Thomas, is now a labourer aged 18, and Mary is now 12 years old and is scholar. Since the last census, Charles’ sisters, Sarah and Lizzie have left the family home. Sarah had married John Carruthers in 1885 and at this census she was living at (?) Main Street, Glasgow. She had no children and, in fact, had a desperately unlucky time with childbirth. His sister, Sarah had married William Stalker in 1889 and at this census she was living at 100 Florence Street, Glasgow and she had already had one child. He never knew his sisters Agnes and Mary because they died before he was born. This left The eldest child in the family, John, who had married Mary Anne Chrystal in 1880 and at this census was also living at 4 Surrey Street but in his own household.
Also living in the household is Biddie Cassidy, Sarah’s mother, now aged 70 and her brother, Patrick, an unmarried 52 year old carter who is unemployed. The last member of the household is Sarah Cassidy who is the illegitimate daughter of Sarah’s sister, Ann Cassidy who had married Hugh Henderson. He had died in 1880 so Sarah wasn’t his child.
In 1897 Charles was the witness at the re-marriage of his sister, Sarah after her first husband, William Stalker had died. She married Thomas Mullen 23 April 1897. He is recorded as Charles Neill.
Marriage of Charles Neil or O’Neil 25 August 1899
Marriage of Charles O’Neill and Annie Carlisle 25 August 1899 at St John’s Church, Portugal Street, Glasgow
Marriage of Charles O’Neill25 Aug 1899, Scotlands People, Scotland Statutory Registers Marriages 644/12 514
Here we see that Charles usual residence has changed from 4 Surrey Street, whre he was at the 1891 Census, to 179 Main Street, Gorbals; his bride, Annie Carlisle also lives on Main Street but at number 221. Charles is a 22 year old coal carter. Annie is a nineteen year old Ragstore worker and she is the daughter of David Carlisle, an engine fitter who is deceased) and Jessie Carlisle ms Reid. I know a bit more about Jessie and her parents from Jessie’s birth registration where she is given her full name of Anne Janet Carlisle.
Anne Janet Carlisle born 28 Feb 1880
Birth of Anne Janet Carlisle born 28 Feb 1880 at Stewart’s Land, Yoker, Old Kilpatrick, Dumbartonshire
Birth of Anne Janet Carlisle born 28 Feb 1880, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Births 501 / 64)
Charles Neil at the 1901 Census – at 220c Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
| Name | Relation | Condition | Sex | Age | Occupation | E Stat | Where Born |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Neil | Head | M | M | 24 | Coal Merchant | Worker | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Annie Neil | Wife | M | F | 21 | Dumbarton, Dumbartonshire | ||
| Sarah Neil | Mother | W | F | 61 | Washerwoman | Ireland |
1901 Census Return for 220c Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow (1901 Scotland Census Census 644/12 44/ 14) Page 14 of 31
A year and a half after their marriage, we find Charles (now back to being plain Neil) and Annie living at 220c Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. Charles is a 24-year-old coal merchant and his wife, Annie, is now aged 21. They do not have any children. Charles’s mother, Sarah Neil (MS Cassidy) is living with them and she is a 61-year-old washerwoman.
Charles O’Neil is a witness at the marriage of Isabella Smith Stalker to Patrick Joseph Leonard which took place on 20 May 1910. Isabella was the daughter, and first child, of Charles’s older sister Sarah, who had married William Stalker on25 Jan 1899; I believe it was this Charles who was the witness.
Charles Neil at the 1911 Census – at 4 Surrey Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
| Name | Rel | Sex | Age | Cond | Y | CB | CL | Occupation | Industry | Employ Status | Where Born |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Carruthers | Head | M | 46 | M | Iron Moulder | Iron Works | Worker | Glasgow, Lanarkshire | |||
| Lizzie Carruthers | Wife | F | 44 | M | 22 | 0 | 0 | Hair Worker | Factory | Worker | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Chas O'Neil | Brother in Law | M | 33 | S | Carter | General Carrier | Worker | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
1901 Census Return for 220c Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow (1901 Scotland Census Census 644/12 44/ 14) Page 14 of 31
Here we find that Charles in in the household of his sister, Lizzie, and her husband, John Carruthers. Lizzie and John had married in 1885 but their children did not live long, Mary being born in 1894 but dying five weeks later; Annie was born 1894 but died aged 3 in 1898; John was born 1897 and only lived for 2 Days; Thomas was born 1899 and died 9 months later.
In the household next door is Charles and Lizzie’s brother Thomas and on the other side are some Leonards who I have discussed above in relation to Charle’s sister, Sarah, who had a daughter, Isabella SMith Stalker, who married a Leonard. Oddly Charles is said to be single despite his marriage to Annie Carlisle. We do find him and Annie together at the 1821 Census.
Charles Neil at the 1921 Census – at 130C Saltmarket, Tron, Glasgow
| Name | Rel | Age | Sex | Mar | Birthplace | Occupation | Status | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Neil | Head | 44y 10m | M | M | Glasgow, Lanarkshire | Carter | W | J W Sinclair, Contractor |
| Annie Neil | Wife | 41y 4m | F | M | Dalmuir, Dumbartonshire | home duties | ||
| Charles Neil | Adopted Son | 1y 5m | M | B A | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
1921 Census Return for 130C Saltmarket, Tron, Glasgow, Scotland’s People: 1921 Census Scotland (644/10 13/ 16) Page 16 of 23
Here we find Charles (Neil) with Annie (it may have been that at the previous census Charles was just staying the night with his sister’s family; perhaps it is worth looking at 130C Saltmarket for Annie and Charles, the adopted son, there at the 1911 Census. I have not yet discovered anything about Charles, the adopted son.
Charles is now coming up to his 45th birthday and is still a carter. Annie is just over 41.
Charles was still living at 130 Saltmarket when his brother, Thomas died on 31 August 1922. Thomas was single and was a coal carrier; he died aged 49 of Phthisis Pulmonalis (Tuberculosis) . Charles was the informant at the death registration.
He was again the informant at the death of his sister, Elizabeth Carruthers (MS Neil) on 15 Oct 1930 when he is said to be living at 17 Bridgegate, Glasgow.
I have not yet managed to find a death for him despite looking at many name variants and various locations.
Mary Neil b 28 Mar 1879
Birth of Mary Neil b 28 Mar 1879 at 4 Surrey Street, Glasgow
Birth of Mary Neil 28 Mar 1879 at 4 Surrey Street, Glasgow, Scotland’s People, (Statutory registers Births 644/12 471)
It is notable that this child was an example of a previously deceased child’s name. In this case of the Mary who had died in 1871. Mary was the last child born to John and Sarah. We find her as the latest, and last, addition to the family of John Neil and Sarah Casidy.
Mary Neil at the 1881 Census – 4 Surrey Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
| Name | Rel | Status | Sex | Age | Occupation | Birth place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John O’Neil | Head | Mar | M | 43 | Foundry labourer | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Sarah O’Neil | Wife | Mar | F | 39 | – | Ireland |
| Lizzie O’Neil | Daughter | Unm | F | 13 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Sarah O’Neil | Daughter | Unm | F | 12 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Thomas O’Neil | Son | Unm | M | 7 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Charles O’Neil | Son | Unm | M | 4 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Mary O’Neil | Daughter | Unm | F | 2 | – | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| William Ferguson | Boarder | – | M | 50 | Cabinet maker | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
1881 Census Return for 4, Surrey Street, Govan, Gorbals, Lanarkshire, Scotland (1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census , Schedule: 49 , Record ID: GBC/1881/0028504377)
At the first census after her birth, Mary is a two-year-old scholar. Her siblings are Lizzie (aged 13), Sarah (aged 12), Thomas (aged 7), Charles (aged 4) All are scholars except Mary. Her father is a 43-year old foundry labourer. Her mother is now aged 39. She did have an older brother, John, who had married the previous year and was living at 4 Surrey Street with his wife, Mary Anne. There was also a boarder so the household comprised her father and mother, and two brothers and two sisters. Oddly the family were all O’Neils not Neils!
When we get to the followinf census when Mary is 12 years old, the family have changed considerably.
Mary Neil at the 1891 Census – 4 Surrey Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
| Name | Relation | Condition | Sex | Age | Occupation | Employ Status | Where Born |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Neil | Head | W | F | 50 | Washerwoman | Ireland | |
| Tom Neil | Son | S | M | 18 | Labourer | Employed | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Charles Neil | Son | S | M | 15 | Coal Carrier | Employed | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Mary Neil | Daughter | S | F | 12 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire | |
| Biddie Cassidy | Mother | W | F | 70 | Ireland | ||
| Pat Cassidy | Brother | S | M | 52 | Carter | Employed | Ireland |
| Sarah Henderson | Granddaughter | S | F | 10 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
1891 Census Return for 4 Surrey Street, Gorbals, Glasgow – Scotlands People (Scotland Census 644/12 47/ 33) Page 33 of 35)
Ten years later and the family has changed quite a bit. New children had come along and Mary’s father had died in 1889 at 28 Hallside Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. This leaves Sarah as the head of the household, a 50 year old washerwoman. Her older brothers are Thomas, who is now a labourer aged 18, and Charles who is now a 15 year old coal carrier. Mary is now 12 years old and is scholar. Since the last census, Sarah and Lizzie have left the family home. Sarah had married John Carruthers in 1885 and at this census she was living at (?) Main Street, Glasgow. She had no children and, in fact, had a desperately unlucky time with childbirth. His sister, Sarah had married William Stalker in 1889 and at this census she was living at 100 Florence Street, Glasgow and she had already had one child. He never knew his sisters Agnes and Mary because they died before he was born. This left The eldest child in the family, John, who had married Mary Anne Chrystal in 1880 and at this census was also living at 4 Surrey Street but in his own household.
Also living in the household is Biddie Cassidy, Sarah’s mother, now aged 70 and her brother, Patrick, an unmarried 52 year old carter who is unemployed. The last member of the household is Sarah Cassidy who is the illegitimate daughter of Sarah’s sister, Ann Cassidy who had married Hugh Henderson. He had died in 1880 so Sarah wasn’t his child.
We next encounter Mary when she marries.
Marriage of Mary Neil (or O’Neil) to Patrick O’Hara 31 Dec 1899
Marriage of Mary Neil (or O’Neil) to Patrick O’Hara 31 Dec 1899 at St John’s Church, Portugal Street, Glasgow
Marriage of Mary O’Neil 31 Dec 1899, Scotlands People, Scotland Statutory Registers Marriages 644/12 49 Page 25 Item 49
Here we see that Mary is now 19 and is a hair worker; a hair worker was someone involved in the manufacture of objects containing animal hair such as brushes, furniture etc. Her usual residence is 221 Main Street, Gorbals. Her father is, of course, deceased; her mother may be living with Mary’s brother, Charles and his wife, Annie at 220c Main Street which is where we find her at the 1901 census about a year and a half after Mary’s marriage. She is called Mary O’Neil and she says that this is the surname of her father and mother. We know from other of her siblings that the stronger the link to the Catholic church, the greater the chance of O’Neil being their usual surname in the records and Mary is a very good example of this. She is consistently an O’Neil until her death registration when she is a plain Neil. They married, as many of the family did, at St John’s Church in Portugal Street, Gorbals.
Her husband, Patrick O’Hara is a 21 year old contractor’s carter living at 193 Main Street, Gorbals. His father, James, is a quay labourer and his mother’s maiden name was Hughes. I have been unable to find a marriage for the parents but I suspect that may have taken place in Ireland some time before 1877 when Patrick was born. I looked for a birth for Patrick to a James or Joseph O’ Hara (he is James O’Hara in Mary’s marriage registration but Joseph at the 1901 Census. To add to his forename confusion, the only candidate that seemed likely was for a Michael O’Hara who was father to a Patrick O’Hara born 21 Jan 1878 (correct age) and who was a dock labourer (agrees with marriage registration) and was married to a Catherine O’Hara ms Hughes (agrees with marriage registration). The parents were married in July 1875 at Crossmaglen, Armagh, Ireland (as I suspected and the date fits well). This Patrick was born at 30 Clyde Street in the district of Anderston, burgh of Glasgow and can be found under the indexes at Births 644/10 183.
I couldn’t go much deeper into this issue without looking at the birth registrations of the other children so I gave up there. AS regards Mary and Patrick, they are to be found at the 1901 Census living with Patrick’s parent at 146 Rutherglen Road.
Mary O’ Hara or O’Neil at the 1901 Census – 146 Rutherglen Road, Glasgow
| Name | Relationship | Stat | Sex | Age | Birth year | Occupation | Birth place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph O'Hara | Head | Mar | M | 43 | 1858 | General labourer | Ireland |
| Catherine O'Hara | Wife | Mar | F | 40 | 1861 | – | Ireland |
| Patrick O'Hara | Son | Mar | M | 25 | 1876 | Carter | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Mary O'Hara | Daughter-in-law | Mar | F | 22 | 1879 | – | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Michael O'Hara | Son | Unm | M | 22 | 1879 | Lather | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| James O'Hara | Son | Unm | M | 18 | 1883 | Boilermaker | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Joseph O'Hara | Son | Unm | M | 15 | 1886 | Lather | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Charles O'Hara | Son | Unm | M | 12 | 1889 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Mary O'Hara | Daughter | Unm | F | 10 | 1891 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| David O'Hara | Son | Unm | M | 8 | 1893 | Scholar | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
| Michael O'Hara | Grandson | – | M | 1 | 1900 | – | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
1901 Census Return for 146, Rutherglen Road, Hutchesontown, Govan, Glasgow – Find My Past (1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census , Schedule: 17 , Record ID: GBC/1901/0037365288)
Here we see Patrick’s parents and it is confirmed that they were born in Ireland (we suspected they were married there) and despite the issue of Patrick’s father being called James at Mary’s marriage, he is here called Patrick. It seems that it must be the right person because this is clearly the correct Patrick and Mary that married in 1899. They have seven other children living in the household; six children and a grandson. This is almost certainly the child of Patrick and Mary but not their first; that was Sarah born 27 Apr 1899 – four months after they married. I turn now to the children they had before returning to the later census returns in which they feature.
The Children of Patrick O’Hara and Mary O’Neil
Sarah O’Hara b 27 Apr 1899
Birth of Sarah O’Hara b 27 Apr 1899 at 113 Rose Street, Hutchesontown, Glasgow
Birth of Sarah O’Hara b 27 Apr 1899, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Births 644/11 909 Page 303 No 909)
Baptism of Sarah O’Hara 29 April 1899 at St Francis, Gorbals, Glasgow.
Baptism of Sarah O’Hara 29 April 1899, Find My Past, (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms SCOT/RC/BAP2/0650213
Sarah did not survice for long. She died of “infantile debility” at 3 days old on 30 Apr 1899.
Death of Sarah O’Hara 30 April 1899 at 113 Rose Street, Hutchesontown, Glasgow
Death of Sarah O’Hara 30 April 1899, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Deaths644/11 464 Page 155 No 464)
Michael O’Hara b 28 Mar 1900
Birth of Michael O’Hara b 28 Mar 1900 at 54 South Shamrock Street, Hutchesontown, Glasgow
Birth of Michael O’Hara b 28 Mar 1900, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Births 644/ 11 780 Page 260 Item 780)
Baptism of Michael O’Hara 4 Apr 1900 at St Francis, Gorbals, Glasgow.
Baptism of Michael O’Hara 4 April 1900, Find My Past, (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms SCOT/RC/BAP2/0651066 MP/440/1/2/2)
Michael appears in the 1901 Census for 146 Rutherglen Road, Glasgow as a 1 year old grandchild to the householder, Joseph O’Hara and his wife, Catherine. Michael’s parents, Patrick and Mary are resident with Patrick’s parents with theri new child and siz other of Patrick’s siblins (see above)
We do not find Michael with the family at either the 1911 or the 1921 censuses
William John O’Hara b 12 Jan 1902
Birth of William John O’Hara b 12 Jan 1902 at 146 Rutherglen Road, Hutchesontown, Glasgow,
Birth of William John O’Hara b 12 Jan 1902, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Births 644/11 103 Page 35 No 103)
Baptism of William John O’Hara b 20 Jan 1902 at St Francis, Gorbals, Glasgow.
Baptism of William John O’Hara b 20 Jan 1902 Find My Past, (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish BaptismsSCOT/RC/BAP2/0652548 MP/440/1/2/2)
William John O’Hara at the Censuses
At the 1911 Census for 15 Carrick Street, Blytheswood, Glasgow, William lives with his younger brother Charles (7) and his younger sisters, Mary (4) and Isabella (1) although their ages are all recorded wrongly. He and his brother CHarles are at school but the sisters are too young yet.
Charles O’Hara b 19 Jan 1904
Birth of Charles O’Hara b 19 Jan 1904 at 1902 at 9 Cavendish Place, Gorbals, Glasgow
Birth of Charles O’Hara b 19 Jan 1904, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Births 644/12 142 Page 48 No 142)
Baptism of Charles O’Hara b 26 Jan 1904 at St John the Evangelist, Portugal Street, Gorbals, Glasgow.
Baptism of Charles O’Hara b 26 Jan 1904 Find My Past, (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms SCOT/RC/BAP2/0509006 MP/92/1/2/5)
At first I thought that the Isabella Stalker (godparent here) was most probably the daughter of Mary’s sister
Sarah who married William Stalker in 1889, but Isabella was born 1890 making her only 14 at this point – perhaps it was a sister of William Stalker.
Charles O’Hara at the Census Returns
At the 1911 Census for 15 Carrick Street, Blytheswood, Glasgow, Charles lives with his older brother William (9) and his younger sisters, Mary (4) and Isabella (1) although their ages are all recorded wrongly. He and his brother William are at school but the sisters are too young yet.
At the 1921 Census, when the family are living at 17 Thistle Street, Charles is a seventeed and a half year olf dye worker.
Mary O’Hara b 7 Jul 1906
Birth of Mary O’Hara b 7 Jul 1906 at 14 McKechnie Street, Calton, Glasgow
Birth of Mary O’Hara b 7 Jul 1906, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Births 644/4 660 Page 220 No 660)
Baptism of Mary O’Hara 23 Jul 1906 at St Mary of the Assumption, Calton, Glasgow.
Baptism of Mary O’Hara 23 Jul 1906 Find My Past, (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms SCOT/RC/BAP2/0492789 MP/66/1/2/9)
Mary O’Hara at the Census Returns
At the 1911 Census for 15 Carrick Street, Blytheswood, Glasgow, Mary lives with her older brothers, William (9) and Charles (7) and her younger sister, Isabella (1) although their ages are all recorded wrongly. He and his brother William are at school but the sisters are too young yet. Mary is four. Both her brothers are at school but she and Isabella are too young for school.
At the 1921 Census, when the family are living at 17 Thistle Street, Mary is nearly fifteen years old and no occupation is given for her. She lives with her older brother, Charles and her younger sisters Isabella and ELizabeth
Annie Marie O’Hara b 8 Jun 1908
Birth of Annie Marie O’Hara b 8 Jun 1908 at 2 William Street, Anderton, Glasgow
Birth of Annie Marie O’Hara b 8 Jun 1908, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Births 644/11 712 Page 298 No 712)
I could not find a baptism for Annie
Isabella O’Hara b. 21 Aug 1909
Birth of Isabella O’Hara b. 21 Aug 1909 at 2 Shaftesbury Lane, Anderston, Glasgow
Birth of Isabella O’Hara b. 21 Aug 1909, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Births 644/11 1040 Page 347 No 1040)
I could not find a baptism for Isabella
Isabella O’Hara at the Census Returns
At the 1911 Census for 15 Carrick Street, Blytheswood, Glasgow, Isabella is the youngest child, aged 1. She lives with her older brothers, William (9) and Charles (7) and her older sister, Mary (4) although their ages are all recorded wrongly. Her brothers William are both at school but the sisters are too young yet.
At teh 1921 Census, when the family are living at 17 Thistle Street, Isabella is nearly 12 nd is a scholar like her younger sister, Elizabeth. Her older sister Mary and older brother, Charles are also still in the household
Elizabeth O’Hara b. 24 Jul 1911
Birth of Elizabeth O’Hara b. 24 Jul 1911 at 25 Garrick Street, Blythswood, Glasgow
Birth of Elizabeth O’Hara b. 24 Jul 1911, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Births 644/11 1040 Page 347 No 1040)
I could not find a baptism for Elizabeth
Elizabeth O’Hara at the Census Returns
At the 1921 Census, when the family are living at 17 Thistle Street, Elizabeth is the youngest in the family at nearly ten years old. She is a scholar as is her nearly 12 year old sister, Mary. Her other big sister, ia Mary nearly 15 and the oldest child is Charles, a seventeen and a half year old dye worker.
Sarah O’Hara b 24 Apr 1913
Birth of Sarah O’Hara b 24 Apr 1913 at 17 Thistle Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
Birth ofSarah O’Hara b 24 Apr 1913 Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Births 644/15 593 Page 198 No 593)
Baptism of Sarah O’Hara 9 May 1913 at St Luke’s, Glasgow, Gorbals, Lanarkshire.
Baptism of Sarah O’Hara 9 May 1913, Find My Past, (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms SCOT/RC/BAP2/0664506 MP/447/1/2/1)
Sarah did not survice for long. She died of “Rickets 1 year 1 month, Bronchio Pneumonia 10 days” 0n 8 Jun 1916, aged three.
Death of Sarah O’Hara 8 Jun 1916 at 38 Nelson Street, Gorbals, Glasgow
Death of Sarah O’Hara 8 Jun 1916, Scotland’s People, (Scottish Statutory registers Deaths644/17 301 Page 101 No 301)
Mary O’ Hara or O’Neil at the 1911 Census – 15 Carrick Street, Blytheswood, Glasgow
| Name | No | Rel | Sex | Age | Cond | Years | CB | CL | Occupation | Industry | Employ Status | Where Born |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick O'Hara | 6 | Head | M | 33 | M | Labourer | Dock | Worker | Glasgow, Lanarkshire | |||
| Mary O'Hara | Wife | F | 32 | M | 13 | 5 | 4 | Glasgow, Lanarkshire | ||||
| William O'Hara | Son | M | 7 | S | School | Glasgow, Lanarkshire | ||||||
| Charles O'Hara | Son | M | 7 | S | School | Glasgow, Lanarkshire | ||||||
| Isabella O'Hara | Dau | F | 4 | S | Glasgow, Lanarkshire | |||||||
| Mary O'Hara | Dau | F | 1 | S | Glasgow, Lanarkshire |
1911 Census Return for 15 Carrick Street, Blytheswood, Glasgow – Scotland’s People (1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census 644/10 15/ 25 Page 25 of 29)
There is a bit of confusion here as William and Charles were not the same age and Isabella and Mary have their ages transposed. At this census they actually would have been William (9), Charles (7), Mary (4), Isabella (1). Also it is stated that Mary had had 5 children born by the census and four were alive. I believe she actually had 6 and four were alive. I believe I have a burial record for Sarah, born 1899, and I also think that Annie Marie must have died between 8 June 1908 and the census on 2 April 1911.
Patrick is aged 33 and is a dock labourer. Mary is 32 and she says she has been married for 13 years. Their child, Sarah, who was born in 1899 died at just 3 days old. I would have expected the next six children they had to be with the family but only William (b 1902), Charles (b 1901), Isabella (b 1909) and Mary (b 1906) are present. This leaves Michael (b 1900), Mary (b 1906) and Annie Marie (b 1908) unaccounted for.
Mary O’ Hara or O’Neil at the 1921 Census – 17 Thistle Street, Hutchesontown, Glasgow
| Name | Rel | Age | Sex | Mar/Orph | Birthplace | Occupation | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick O'Hara | Head | 43y 6m | M | M | Glasgow, Lanarkshire | Dock Labourer | Donaldson Bros Ltd |
| Mary O'Hara | Wife | 42y 4m | F | M | Glasgow, Lanarkshire | Home Duties | |
| Charles O'Hara | Son | 17y 6m | M | S | Glasgow, Lanarkshire | Dye Worker | Higginbottom, Beashfield |
| Mary O'Hara | Daughter | 14y 11m | F | BA | Glasgow, Lanarkshire | None | |
| Isabella O'Hara | Daughter | 11y 10m | F | BA | Glasgow, Lanarkshire | Scholar | |
| Elizabeth O'Hara | Daughter | 9y 11m | F | BA | Glasgow, Lanarkshire | Scholar |
1921 Census Return for 17 Thistle Street, Hutchesontown, Glasgow – Scotland’s People (1921 England, Wales & Scotland Census 644/151/13 Page 13 of 32 No 98)
Patrick and Mary had two more child between the 1911 and 1921 censuses, Elizabeth, born 24 Jul 1911 and Sarah, born 24 Apr 1913. We only see one of these two children recorded in this household and that ia Elizabeth who is now 9 years old and a scholar. As we saw above, Sarah died 8 Jun 1916 aged just three. The oldest son from the 1911 Census, William is not present either – he would have been about 19 by the 1821 Census. It is possible that he married and I did find a marriage for a William James O’Hara in 1921 but I did not pusue this. Charles is still with the family and he is 17 years and six months and is a dye worker. His sister, MAry is now 14 years and 11 months and does not have an occupation listed. Isabella is 11 years and 10 months and is a scholar as is her younger sister, Elizabeth, aged 9 years and 11 months.
The children’s father, Patrick is still a dock labourer with Donaldson Bros Ltd and is now aged 43 years and 6 months. Mary is employed in home duties and is 42 years and 4 months.
There is quite a big gap between this census and the next time we hear of the family. There are a number of outstanding issues with the family; why does Michael (b 1900) not appear in the censuses and what happened to Annie Marie (b 1908), Where is WIlliam in 1921 etc. but this feels a reasonable place to stop; these details are more for additional color for the main characters of the story and so it seemed proper tot to spend too much time on all of these children.
Death of Mary O’Hara or Neil 10 Mar 1945 at 76 Warwick Street, Glasgow
Death of Mary O’Hara or Neil 10 Mar 1945, Scotland’s People, Statutory registers Deaths 644/15 115 Page 39 No 115
There is a reference in the margin to an entry in the Register of Corrected Entries. The precognition confirmed the cause of death given here.