The History of the Neil Family

John Neil at the 1841 and 1851 Censuses

We have seen above that John Neil was born in Glasgow in 1836. At the 1841 Census he is living at Muirhead Street, Gorbals, with his mother, Agnes, and his brother, Charles. He was aged 4 and Charles was 14. I do not know if their father, Thomas Neil, was still alive then, but he was not listed in the members of the household. Nor do I know where John’s sister, Agnes, was nor his brother, Patrick. At that time Agnes would have been aged seventeen and Patrick eight. We do know from here that John’s older sister, Elizabeth, had married Daniel Wilkie a year before. He was a dyer by occupation and at the taking of the same census was living, in what was probably a lodging house, in St Ninian’s Street with her new husband. The map above shows that Muirhead Street is the next street along from St Ninian’s Street.

It is possible that by 1851 John’s mother and father are both dead because at the census of that year John’s sister, Elizabeth, is found with her husband, Daniel Wilkie and their three children. With them are John McNeil, brother-in-law, and Agnes McNeil, sister-in-law.

John Neil at the 1851 Census – 85 Main Street, Gorbals, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Name	Rel	Status	Sex	Age	EYOB	Occupation	Birth place
Daniel Wilkie	Head	Mar	M	31	1820	Journeyman Dyer	Glasgow, Lanarkshire
Elizabeth Wilkie	Wife	Mar	F	30	1821	–	Glasgow, Lanarkshire
William Wilkie	Son	–	M	10	1841	Scholar	Glasgow, Lanarkshire
James Wilkie	Son	–	M	4	1847	–	Glasgow, Lanarkshire
Elizabeth Wilkie	Daughter	–	F	2	1849	–	Glasgow, Lanarkshire
John McNeil	Brother-in-law	Unm	M	15	1836	Apprentice Tobacco Spinner	Glasgow, Lanarkshire
Agnes McNeil	Sister-in-law	Unm	F	26	1825	Steam Loom Weaver	Glasgow, Lanarkshire
James McNeil	Lodger	Unm	M	37	1814	Boot & Shoemaker	Glasgow, Lanarkshire
William Brawley	Lodger	Unm	M	35	1816	Boot & Shoemaker	Glasgow, Lanarkshire
Patrick Brawley	Lodger	Unm	M	24	1827	Boot & Shoemaker	Glasgow, Lanarkshire

1851 Census Return for 85 Main Street, Gorbals, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Scotland’s People 1851 WELKIE, DANIEL (Census 644/2 47/ 25) Page 25 of 28

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This census return shows that Daniel Wilkie is aged 31 and he is a Journeyman Dyer. He lives at 85 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow with his wife, Elizabeth (nee McNeil) who is now aged 30. They have three children living with them; William aged 10 who is a scholar, James, aged 4, and Elizabeth, aged 2. In the household are John McNeil, brother-in-law, aged 15 and an apprentice tobacco spinner. Also living there is Agnes McNeil, sister-in-law, who is aged 26 and unmarried. She is a steam loom weaver. There is another McNeil, James McNeil, who is not recorded as a relation but probably is and he is a lodger, unmarried and aged 37 (which would make him born in 1814) He is a boot and shoemaker like the other two lodgers – William and Patrick Brawley. All the residents are said to have been born in Glasgow which contradicts the entry for Daniel and Elizabeth at the 1841 Census where all the lodgers in the lodging house are said to be from Ireland.

So where was Charles McNeil at the 1851 Census? There is an answer in the very same tenement – 85 Main Street where we find this family.

Name	Rel	Status	Sex	Age	EYOB	Occupation	Birth place
Charles McNeil	Head	Mar	M	24	1827	Labourer at the quay	Glasgow, Lanarkshire
Elizabeth McNeil	Wife	Mar	F	23	1828	–	Ireland
Elizabeth McNeil	Daughter	–	F	1	1850	–	Glasgow, Lanarkshire
David Earl	Lodger	Unm	M	35	1816	Labourer on the river	Glasgow, Lanarkshire
James McAra	Lodger	Unm	M	22	1829	Miller	Perth, Perthshire
Elizabeth McKeown	Visitor	Unm	F	25	1826	Farm servant	Ireland

1851 Census Return for 84 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. Scotland’s People – 1851 MCNEIL, CHARLES (Census 644/2 47/ 22) Page 22 of 28

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I find this a rather compelling document because if this is our Charles then it means that of Thomas and Agnes’s know children, Elizabeth, Agnes, John and Charles all live at 85 Main Street, Gorbals in 1851. That leaves only Patrick unaccounted for.

I do not have any information about John between 1851 and 1860 when he married Sarah Cassidy. So where did Sarah and her family come from? We find out from the 1851 Census.

The Cassidy Family at the 1851 Census

From John Neil’s marriage registration we know that he married Sarah Cassidy. She was recorded as being aged 20 in October 1860 so at the 1851 Census would have been around 10 years old. We also knew that her father was John Cassidy, a labourer, and her mother was Bridget Cassidy. Here again, Mrs. Elizabeth D. Smith had done more work for me and found this family in the census returns for Eaglesham. She gave the address as 27 (?) Polnoon Street, Eaglesham, Renfrewshire and she gave the details for John and Bridget Cassidy and also John and Ann Cassidy, lodgers.

Transcript by Elizabeth D Smith of 1851 Census for Eaglesham Book 6 Page 30

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Strangely, when I accessed the ”Find My Past“ web site, the family had actually been indexed as living at ” Back Land, Pit Street, Eaglesham, Renfrewshire“ This contradiction plus the ”lodger“ issue made me want to view the original document. I searched on the the Scotland’s People web site but their image was quite poor.

1851 Census for Scotland, Eaglesham, Renfrewshire (Census 561/ 6/ 30) Page 30 of 46

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A later request for a rescan of the document proved little better. It looked very much like the address was probably on the previous census page so I looked at that page but it was still difficult to read; on balance, I think that it read “Pit Street Back Land” which agreed with a Find My Past and their transcription.

Forename	Surname	Rel	Married	Sex	Age	est YOB	Occupation	Born
John	Muirhead	Head	Mar	M	33	1818	Shoe maker & labourer	Ireland
Katrine	Muirhead	Wife	Mar	F	33	1818	House keeper	Ireland
Robert	Muirhead	Son	Unm	M	7	1844	Scholar	Eaglesham, Renfrewshire
Margaret	Muirhead	Daughter	Unm	F	3	1848	–	Eaglesham, Renfrewshire
Edward	Muirhead	Son	Unm	M	1	1850	–	Eaglesham, Renfrewshire
John	Cassidy	Lodger	Mar	M	36	1815	Labourer	Ireland
Bridget	Cassidy	Lodger	Mar	F	36	1815	–	Ireland
Sarah	Cassidy	Lodger	Unm	F	10	1841	–	Ireland
Ann	Cassidy	Lodger	Unm	F	8	1843	–	Ireland
John	Cassidy	Lodger	Unm	M	6	1845	–	Ireland

1851 Census for Scotland, Transcript from Find My Past or Back Land, Pit Street, Upper Ward, Eaglesham, Renfrewshire.

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Comparing these images I concluded that John and Bridget Cassidy were recorded as “lodgers” because John was not the head of the household – the family lived in the household of John and Katrine Muirhead. It is reasonable, of course, to think that they were husband and wife since both are said to be married and they are the same age. It is also clear that they have three children, Sarah aged 10, Ann aged 8 and John aged 6. All are said to have been born in Ireland.

We know from a later census that John and Bridget Cassidy had another child born before Sarah and named Patrick. He was born circa 1838 in Ireland. Perhaps we can assume, then, that John and Bridget may have married circa 1838 or before in Ireland. By 1851 they were living in Eaglesham, Renfrewshire and, since their youngest listed child at the 1851 census was born in Ireland in 1845, they most likely made the move from Ireland to Scotland between 1845 – 1851. This was, of course, exactly the years of the Great Famine in Ireland. The National Library of Scotland has a Map of Eaglesham ca 1856. Eaglesham is 8 miles south of Glasgow.

Marriage of John O’Neill and Sarah Cassidy

On 15 October 1860 at 148 Hospital Street, Glasgow, Marriage (after Banns) was solemnized between us according to the Forms of the United Presbyterian Church. John Neil (x his mark), aged 23, iron turner, journeyman, bachelor, of 54 Main Street, Glasgow. The son of Thomas Neil, handloom weaver and Agnes Fern (both deceased) AND Sarah Cassidy (x her mark), aged 20, cotton factory worker, single, of 54 Main Street. The daughter of John Cassidy, labourer and Bridget Brannan. Signed Jno Thomson Minister UP Church Signed Marght Lech,Witness, John Pettigrew,Witness

Marriage of John Neil and Sarah Cassidy, Scottish Statutory Marriage Registers District of Hutchesontown, Burgh of Glasgow 644/10 0200

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A number of interesting facts emerge from this document. Firstly, John’s parents, Thomas Neil and Agnes Fern (sic), are both dead by 15 Oct 1860. We also get confirmation that his father was a handloom weaver. Interestingly, their marriage takes place “according to the forms of the United Presbyterian Church”. This had me confused for some time as John was baptised in the Catholic Cathedral. As we will see later, at the baptisms of two of their children (Mary and Thomas), John is said to be a Protestant. Mixed marriages between husband and wife where one is Catholic and the other Protestant, although not the norm by any means, are not that uncommon in the Catholic marriage registers of Glasgow at this time. As far as the Protestant Church goes, the Church of Scotland “does not regard marriage as a sacrament and ministers are free to marry people who are not members of the Church of Scotland” and presumably this was the case for some, at least, of the dissenting churches. This leads us to the interesting idea that although John was baptised in the Catholic Cathedral, his father, Thomas, may also have been of the Protestant faith. In this context it seems wise to bear in mind Michael Moss’s comments, quoted above, about the early 18th century influx of Protestant weavers into Scotland when considering the origins of the Neil family.

We also find out a bit about Sarah Cassidy; she is described as a Cotton Factory Worker, Single, aged 20, usual residence 54 Main Street, Glasgow.  It is possible that Sarah at one time worked at one of the two cotton mills in Eaglesham some time after the 1851 Census. She is the daughter of John Cassidy, Labourer and Bridget Cassidy ms Brannan. Sarah signed with her mark as John did.

John Neil and Sarah Cassidy at the 1861 Census – 54 Main Street, Gorbals

A search for John and Sarah Neil at the 1861 Census did not produce a result. However, a search for Sarah’s parents produced the following return for 54 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow.

Name	Rel	Condition	Sex	Age	Est YOB	Occupation	Where Born
CASSIDY, John	Head	Mar	M	47	1814	Laborer	Ireland
CASSIDY, Bridget	Wife	Mar	F	47	1814		Ireland
CASSIDY, Patrick	Son	Unm	M	22	1839	Laborer	Ireland
CASSIDY, Ann	Dau	Unmarried	F	18	1843	Cotton Factory Worker	Ireland
CASSIDY, John	Son	Unm	M	16	1845	Laborer Iron Works	Ireland
CASSIDY, James	Son		M	9	1852		Eaglesham, Renfrewshire
WILKIE, James	Lodger		M	13	1848	Carters Boy	Glasgow, Lanarkshire
MCNEIL, John	Lodger	Mar	M	24	1837	Iron Moulder	Glasgow, Lanarkshire
MCNEIL, Sarah	Lodger	Mar	F	20	1841		Ireland
CLARK, John	Lodger	Unmar	M	50	1811	Laborer	Ireland
LOVE, Susan	Lodger	Unmar	F	53	1808	Wood Dealer	Ireland
MIX, John	Lodger	Unmar	M	45	1816	Laborer	Ireland
MIRN, Margeret	Lodger	Widow	F	62	1799		Glasgow, Lanarkshire
MIRN, Ellen	Lodger	Unmar	F	17	1844		Glasgow, Lanarkshire
MIRN, Margaret	Lodger		F	5	1856		Glasgow, Lanarkshire

1861 Census Return for 54 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. (Census 644/10 96 13) Page 13 of 20

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(There are some Thomas Annan photographs of Main Street in “Photographs of the Old Closes and Streets of Glasgow 1868/1877 with a supplement of 15 related views” published by Dover Publications Inc 1977. ISBN 0-486-23442-8″ Plates 39,40, 43.) and Glasgow University has an interesting web page about the photographs in this book and Thomas Annan in general.

Despite (the recurrance of) the McNeil name, this is clearly the same family – living with Sarah’s mother and father, four other Cassidy children and six other lodgers. John and Bridget are the ages we would expect as are their children, Ann and John. They also have two additional children listed, Patrick aged 22 an unmarried labourer born in Ireland and James, born just after the previous Census in 1851. James is the first Cassidy to be born in Scotland which, as noted above, gives us a likely migration date for the family of between 1845 and 1852.

To summarise, we have located the father and mother of our John Neil (Neill, McNeil), his birth and baptism in 1836 and his marriage to Sarah Cassidy in 1860 where he is recorded as being an Iron Turner Journeyman. (An iron turner used a lathe to turn items from iron and a journeyman had completed his apprenticeship but is employed by another such as a master craftsman). We also know that Sarah was Irish and we have found her and her family living in Eaglesham in 1851. They seem to have migrated from Ireland to Scotland between 1845 and 1851. At the 1861 census John and Sarah were living with her parents after they had moved from Eaglesham, Renfrewshire to Gorbals, Glasgow. Fourteen people shared the household and John and Sarah were recorded as two of the nine lodgers that lived with John and Bridget Cassidy and their three sons and one other daughter. John and Sarah are recorded as McNeils and John is now an Iron Moulder – a worker who fabricates moulds.

You can read more about the background of the Cassidy family and what became of Sarah’s siblings here.

The 1861 census was taken barely six months after John and Sarah married so our next question would be, what children followed ? I firstly look at the development of the family through the lens of the census returns which show how the family grows and then concentrate on the individual children.

John Neil and Sarah Cassidy at the 1871 Census – 151 Main Street, Gorbals

At the 1861 Censes John and Sarah were living with Sarah’s parents at 54 Main Street, Gorbals where they were recorded as John and Sarah McNeil. John was a 24 year-old iron moulder and Sarah was recorded as aged 20. By the time of the next census they have their own household at 151 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. (At the 1871 Census the Cassidy’s were living at 11 Kirk Street, 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)

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Here we see that John and Sarah have a 9 year-old son, John, a 4 year-old daughter, Elisabeth and a 2 year old daughter, Sarah. They also have a boarder, a 50 year old widower and carter, John McGuire. John Neil is recorded as being a 46 year-old mason’s labourer and his wife, Sarah, is 30 years old. John’s age is a bit off because we know he was born in 1836 so here he is recorded as being ten years older than he actually was. At this census he would have been 35. I will turn to the children shortly but it is worth noting that John and Sarah had another two children before this census; Agnes, born 2 July 1863. She died from bronchitis, aged 3 when the family were actually living at 135 Main Street and Ann born 3 April 1865 at the same address. Ann dies of “hooping cough” aged 11 months.

John Neil and Sarah Cassidy at the 1881 Census – 4 Surrey Street, Gorbals

At the next census the family are living at 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)

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John and his family are now 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. John is no longer present in the household; as we will see, 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 recorded as Lizzie and she is a 13 year-old scholar. Sarah is a 12 year-old scholar. They also have two more sons, Thomas, aged 7 and Charles aged 4, both scholars. Once again, this does not tell the whole story of their children as they also had two other children that died before they could appear in this census. A daughter, Mary, was born 5 May 1871 – just after the census was taken. She died of pneumonia (2 weeks) at 137 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow, aged 5 months. (The Mary we see at the 1881 Census was an example of re-using the name of a previously deceased child. James was born prematurely on 3 Dec 1874 and died the same day, at 135 Main Street.) The other child was James born 3 Dec 1874 at the same address; he was a premature baby and only lived for four minutes.

By the time of the 1881 Census we see the last of John and Sarah’s children. Before continuing to the next Census in 1891, I take a look at the records of the births and, sometimes, baptisms of these children.

The Children of John Neil and Sarah Cassidy

John Neil born 9 Apr 1862 at Kirk Street, Gorbals

John’s birth registration reads :

John O’Neill born 9pm on 9th April 1862 at 11 Kirk Street, Glasgow. (son of) John O’Neill, Iron Turner (Journeyman) and Sarah O’Neill ms Cassidy (who were married) 15 October 1860 in Glasgow. Informant John Neill. Signed his (x) mark. Registered on 10th April 1862 in the District of Hutchesontown in the Burgh of Glasgow.

Birth of John O’Neill 9 Apr 1862, Scotland’s People (Statutory registers Births 644/10 557)

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I also found his baptism.

John Lawful (son of) John O’Neil & Sarah Cassidy birth day 9 April 1862, date of baptism 20 April 1862. Sponsor Bridget Cassidy. Baptismal register of St. John the Evangelist, Portugal Street, Gorbals, Glasgow

Baptism of John O’Neil 20 Apr 1862 at St John the Evangelist, Portugal Street, Glasgow: Find My Past Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms (SCOT/RC/BAP2/0737697)

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This John O’Neill is our direct ancestor so we will return to him again. In the meantime I turn to the other children.

Agnes Neil born 3 Jul 1863 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals

“Agnes Neil born at 4.40pm on 3rd July 1863 at 135 Main Street, Glasgow. (daughter of) John Neil, Iron Turner (Journeyman) and Sarah Neil ms Cassidy (who were married) 15 October 1860 in Glasgow. Informant: Sarah Neil signed her (x) mark. Registered on 8th July 1863 in the District of Hutchesontown in the Burgh of Glasgow.

Birth of Agnes Neil 3 Jul 1863, Scotland’s People, (Statutory registers Births 644/10 1065)

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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.

Agnes Lawful (daughter of) John Neil & Sarah Cassidy birth day 3 July, date of baptism 20 July 1863. Sponsor Bridget Sharkey. Baptismal register of St. John the Evangelist, Portugal Street, Gorbals, Glasgow

Baptism of Agnes Neil 20 Jul 1863, Find My Past, (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms (SCOT/RC/BAP2/0738643)

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“Agnes Lawful (daughter of) John Neil & Sarah Cassidy birth day 3 July, date of baptism 21 July 1863. Sponsor Elizabeth Sheedy. Baptismal register of St. John the Evangelist, Portugal Street, Gorbals, Glasgow

Baptism of Agnes Neil 21 Jul 1863, Find My Past, (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms (SCOT/RC/BAP2/0738643)

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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

“Agnes Neil (single) died 15 March at 11am at 135 Main Street, Glasgow. Female Aged 3 (child of) John Neil, Iron Turner Journeyman and Sarah Neil ms Cassidy. (cause of death) Bronchitis as cert by James Mullen, Surgeon. Informant John Neil, father his x mark present. Registered 16 March 1866 at Glasgow

Death of Agnes Neil 15 Mar 1866, Scotland’s People (Statutory registers Deaths 644/10 291)

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Ann Neil born 3 Apr 1865 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals

“Ann Arneil (born) 3rd April 1865 at 135 Main Street, Glasgow. (daughter of) John Arneil, Foundry Labourer and Sarah Arneil ms Cassidy (who were married) 15 October 1860 in Glasgow. Informant Sarah Arneil signed her (x) with mark, Mother. Garm Thomson, (Assistant Registrar) Registered 11 April 1865 at Glasgow.

Birth of Ann Neil 3rd April 1865, Scotland’s People, (Statutory registers Births 644/10 639 Item 639)

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I also found her baptism:

Ann Lawful (dau of) John O’Niell & Sally Cassidy birth day 13 April 1865 date of baptism 18 April 1865. Sponsor Mary Brown. Baptismal register of St. John the Evangelist, Portugal Street, Gorbals, Glasgow

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)

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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

Ann Arneil died 17 March 1866 (at) 1h 50m PM (at)135 Main Street Glasgow. Single, aged 11 months (Daughter of) John Arneil, Foundry Labourer and Sarah Arneil ms Cassidy (casue od death) Hooping Cough 4 weeks. Not Certified. Informant John Arneil, Father.  Registered  19 Mar 1866 at Glasgow. H K Mohille (Assistant Registrar)

Death Registration of Ann Arneil 17 Mar 1866, Scotand’s People (Statutory registers Deaths 644/ 10 302 Item 30)

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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 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals

“Elisabeth Neil born at 12.15am on 18th January 1867 at 135 Main Street, Glasgow. (daughter of) John Neil, Iron Turner and Sarah Neil ms Cassidy (who were married )15 October 1860 in Glasgow. Informant Sarah Neil her x Mark, Mother. Registered on 29th January 1867 in the District of Hutchesontown in the Burgh of Glasgow.

Birth of Elizabeth Neil 18 Jan 1867 at 135 Main Street, Glasgow, Scotland’s People, (Statutory registers Births 644/10 178)

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I also found her baptism:

Elizabeth Lawful (dau of) John Niel & Sarah Cassidy birth day 18 January 1867, date of baptism 30 January 1867. Sponsor Agnes Neil. Baptismal register of St. John the Evangelist, Portugal Street, Gorbals, Glasgow

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)

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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.

Sarah Neil born 5 Aug 1869 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals

Sarah Neil was born at 6 am on 5th August 1869 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. (daughter of) John Neil an Iron Turner (Journeyman) and Sarah Neil ms Cassidy (who were married) 15 October 1860 in Glasgow. Sarah Neil, informant, signed (x) with her mark. Registered 16th August 1869 in the District of Hutchesontown in the Burgh of Glasgow

Birth of Sarah Neil 5th August 1869 at 135 Main Street, Glasgow, Scotland’s People, (Statutory registers Births 644/10 1486)

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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.

Sara O’Neill (leg) [child of] John & Sarah Cassidy (Religion) F Protestant (date of birth) 5 August 1869 (date of baptism) 8 August 1869 (Sponsors) Patrick Kelly & Mary Murray (Priest) Bertrand Schluck. Baptismal register of St Francis, Gorbals, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland

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)

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This records that the father, John, was a Protestant.

Mary Neil b 5 May 1871 at 137 Main Street, Gorbals

Mary Neil born at 10 pm on 5th May 1871 at 137 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. (daughter of) John Neil , Coal Carter and Sarah Neil ms Cassidy (married )15 October 1860 in Hutchesontown District of Glasgow. Informant Sarah Neil signed (x) with her mark. Registered on May 1871 in the District of Hutchesontown in the Burgh of Glasgow

Birth of Mary Neil th May 1871 at 137 Main Street, Glasgow, Scotland’s People, (Statutory registers Births 644/10 975)

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Mary was baptised 14 May 1871 at St Francis Roman Catholic Church, Gorbals, Glasgow.

Mary leg(itimate child of) John Sarah Neil Mother RC Father PR, 134 Main Street (born) 5 May, (baptised) 14 May 1871. Sponsors Charles Harkin & Mary Harkin. Priest F Herman

Baptism of Mary Neil 14 May 1871 at 134 Main Street, Glasgow, Find My Past, (Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms SCOT/RC/BAP2/0629142)

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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

Mary Neill died on 14 Oct 1871, aged 5 months, at 137 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. (daughter of) John Neill (Iron Turner Journeyman) and Sarah Neill (ms Cassidy). (cause of death) Pneumonia (2 weeks). There was no medical attendant. Informant, John Neill his x mark, father. Registered 16 Oct 1871 at Glasgow.

Death of Mary Neil 14 Oct 1871 at 137 Main Street, Glasgow, Scotland’s People, (Statutory registers Deaths 644 10 975)

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Thomas Neil b 28 Dec 1872 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals

Thomas Neil born 9 am on 28th December 1872 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. (son of) John Neil, Iron Turner (Journeyman) and Sarah Neil ms Cassidy (who were married) 15 October 1860 in Hutchesontown District, Glasgow. Informant Sarah Neil her (x) mark. Registered 13th January 1873 in the District of Hutchesontown in the Burgh of Glasgow.

Birth of Thomas Neil 28 Dec 1872 at 135 Main Street, Glasgow, Scotland’s People, (Statutory registers Births 644/10 87)

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Thomas was baptised 2 Jan 1873 at St Francis Roman Catholic Church, Gorbals, Glasgow

Thomas Neil leg (son of) John and Sarah Cassidy Rel. Cath/Prot. 175 Main Street. Date of birth 28 Dec 1872. Date of Baptism 2 Jan 1873. Name of Sponsors Ann Kelly and Edward Boyle. St. Francis 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)

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It is again recorded that one parent is Catholic and the other Protestant.

James Neil b 3 Dec 1874 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals

James Neil born at 6. 30 am on 3rd December 1874 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. (son of) John Neil, Coal Hill Labourer and Sarah Neil ms Cassidy (who were married) 15 October 1860 in Hutchesontown District, Glasgow. Informant John Neil (signed) his (x) mark. Registered 3rd December 1874 in the District of Hutchesontown in the Burgh of Glasgow.

Birth of James Neil 3rd December 1874 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow, Scotland’s People, (Statutory registers Births 644/10 87)

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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

James Neil (single) died on 3 December 1874 at 6h 34m AM (aged 4 minutes), at 135 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. (sonof) John Neill, Coal Hill Labourer and Sarah Neil (ms Cassidy). (cause of death) Premature Birth 7th month (or 4?). No medical attendant. Informant, John Neill his x mark, father. Registered 3 Dec 1874 at Glasgow.

Death of James Neil 13 December 1874 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals, Scotland’s People, (Statutory registers Deaths 644 10 1555)

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Charles Neil b 21 Aug 1876 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals

Charles Neil born at 2:15 am on 21st August 1876 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. (son of) John Neil, a Coal Pit Labourer and Sarah Neil ms Cassidy (who were married ) 15 October 1860 in Hutchesontown District, Glasgow. Informant: John Neil signed his (x) mark. Registered on 21st August 1876 in the District of Hutchesontown in the Burgh of Glasgow.

Birth of Charles Neil 21 Aug 1876 at 135 Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow, Scotland’s People, (Statutory registers Births 644/12 1071)

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Charles was baptised 28 Aug 1876 at St. John the Evangelist, Portugal Street, Gorbals, Glasgow.

Charles Lawful (son of) John Neill & Sarah Cassidy. birth day 20 Aug 1876. Date of baptsm 28 Aug 1876. Sponsor Margaret Lynch Baptismal register of 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)

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Mary Neil b 28 Mar 1879 at 4 Surrey Street, Glasgow

Mary Neil born at 8pm on 28 March 1879 at 4 Surrey Street, Glasgow, (daughter of ) John Neil Coal Hill Labourer and Sarah Neil ms Cassidy (married) October 15 Hutchesontown District, Glasgow. Informant: Sarah Neil, mother signed with her (x) mark.

Birth of Mary Neil 28 Mar 1879 at 4 Surrey Street, Glasgow, Scotland’s People, (Statutory registers Births 644/12 471)

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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 saw most of the surviving members of the family at the 1881 Census when Mary was two years old but the family were very different at the 1891 Census as John had died two years before that census was taken.

Death of John Neil 25 Feb 1889

John Neil, labourer, married to Sarah Cassidy (died ) 25 February 1889 at 1h AM (at) 28 Hall Side Street, Glasgow, aged 52 years. Son of) Thomas Neil, coal miner (deceased) and Agnes Neil MS Fearns (deceased). (Cause of Death) Nephritis / Chronic Bronchitis / Senile Decay. As cert by J. McNee Surgeon. Informant: John Neil, son, present. Registered 25 February 1889 at Glasgow

25 February 1889 Death of John Neil at 8 Hall Side Street, Glasgow. Scotland’s People 1889 NEIL, John (Statutory registers Deaths 644/11 152)

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John had several contributory causes for his death; nephritis, chronic bronchitis and senile decay. A useful list of old medical terms can be found at the this site and a quick look here gave the following meanings: Nephritis is inflammation of kidneys. Chronic bronchitis is not listed but presumably means the same as it does today. There are various interpretations for the meaning of the term “Senile Decay”; some of which regard it as a description of “Alzheimer’s Disease” and others which regard it as a common term used for the elderly and meaning “a general decline in health for an undiagnosed condition”.

John and family seem to have continued to live at 4 Surrey Street at least until 1885 but by 1889 they were living at Hallside Street which was south of Hutcheson Square; it ran from Naburn Street to Upper Camben Street in the Gorbals/Hutchesontown district (there is some discussion of it here). Unsurprisingly it no longer exists but the Hallside name was reused in the 1990’s for Hallside Place in the same area.

John’s death is reflected at the next Census where we see a much changed family.

Sarah Neil or Cassidy at the 1891 Census 4 Surrey Street, Glasgow

Name	Rel	Condition	Sex	Age	Est YOB	Occupation	Where Born
NEIL, Sarah	Head	Widow	F	50	1841	Washerwoman	Ireland
NEIL, Tom	Son	Unm	M	18	1873	Labourer	Glasgow
NEIL, Charles	Son	Unm	M	15	1876	Coal Carrier	Glasgow
NEIL, Mary	Daughter		F	12	1879	Scholar	Glasgow
CASSIDY, Biddy	Mother	Widow	F	70	1821		Ireland
CASSIDY, Pat	Brother	Unm	M	52	1839	Carter	Ireland
HENDERSON, Sarah	Granddaughter		F	10	1881	Scholar	Glasgow

1891 Census Return for 4 Surrey Street, Glasgow. Scotland’s People: 1891 NEIL, Sarah (Census 644/12 47/ 33) Page 33 of 35

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Here we see a complete rearrangement of the family as a result of both the death of John and the maturing of the younger children. We see Sarah Neil listed as a widow aged 50 and a washerwoman, born Ireland. Three of her last four children are still present -Tom aged 18 an unmarried labourer and Charles, aged 15, a Coal Carrier. Also in the house is her daughter, Mary, aged 12 and a scholar. All the children are born in Glasgow. Missing from the sequence is James who died at birth.

Also in the household are Sarah’s mother, Biddy Cassidy (ms Bridget Brannan) who is a 70 year old widow and her brother, Patrick, who is an unmarried 52-year-old carter. The household is rounded off by Sarah Henderson who is recorded as Sarah’s grand-daughter and is, in fact, the child of Sarah’s sister, Anne, who had married Hugh Henderson but the grand-daughter was born a year after Hugh Henderson’s death in 1880.

Sarah Neil or Cassidy at the 1901 Census 220c Main Street, Gorbals, Glasgow

Name	Rel	Cond	Sex	Age	Occupation	Employ Status	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. Scotland’s People: 1901 NEIL, Charles (Census 644/12 44/ 14) Page 14 of 31 Item 72

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Here we find Sarah, aged 61 and a washerwoman, living with her son, Charles, who his a 24 year-old coal merchant, and his wife, Annie. They were married on 25 Aug 1899 but had no children as yet.

I could not find Sarah at the 1911 Census; the nearest I could find was a Sarah Neil of the correct age (72) linving on her own at 17 Langland Street, Kimarnock. She is said to be the head of household, a widow, and born in County Donegal Ireland. This doesn’t seem particularly likely but where was she in 1911? The last known address we have for her was at her death.

Death of Sarah Neil or Cassidy

Sarah Neil died at 167 Renfrew Road, Glasgow on 24 Aug 1916.

“Sarah Neil, Widow of John Neil, Iron Foundy Labourer, [died aged] 76 [on] 24 August 1916 [at] 167 Renfrew Road, Glasgow (Former Residence 21 Surrey Street, Glasgow) [daughter of] Patrick Cassidy, Farm Labourer (Deceased) [and] Bridget Cassidy MS Brannan (Deceased) [cause of death] Nephritis [as cert by] A. E. Porter MD [informant] Elizabeth Carruthers, her X mark Daughter [address] 4 Surrey Street, Glasgow [witness] F B Crawford [registrar] F B Crawford [registered] 6 August 1916 at Glasgow“

Death of Sarah Neil 24 August 1916 at 167 Renfrew Road, Glasgow, Scotland’s People, Statutory registers Deaths 644/21 973

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Sarah’s address at death is given as 167 Renfrew Street which was the address of the Govan Poorhouse, Hospital and Asylum – all of which were contained within the same grounds and were run by the Govan Parochial Board (later Parish Council). This was often the only source of hospital care for the chronically ill of the poorer classes until the formation of the National Health Service. When the NHS was founded the Govan Poorhouse, Hospital and Asylum was renamed Southern General Hospital. There is some discussion of this here , here and here. Sarah’s cause of death was the same as the principal cause of death of her husband, John, who died seventeen years before – nephritis or inflammation of the kidneys. The informant is her daughter, Lizzie Carruthers who also lived at Surrey Street but at number 21 where she had lived with her husband since at least 1897 (and continued to live there until her own death in 1930). I thought that Sarah might have been with her and her husband at the 1911 Census but it appears not to be the case. Lizzie’s brother, Charles, lives with them but not Sarah. Since I have not found Sarah anywhere at the 1911 Census, yet, it is possible that she was a long-term resident of the hospital.

The registration says that Sarah’s father was Patrick Cassidy – he was, in fact, John Cassidy.

The death of Sarah is the final part of the story of John Neil and Sarah Cassidy. When she died five of her children were still living. The only one of the other five children that survived infancy but died before Sarah did was her son John, my great-grandfather whose story I recount next but before moving on to that I outline some aspects of the lives of John and Sarah. Regarding their children, as a whole, what I know of the lives of the children of John and Sarah is recorded here.

The Life of John Neil and Sarah Cassidy

II do not intend to interrupt the purely genealogical flow of this section of the web site with a lot of historical background as I intend to do this in other parts of this site. However, a little background provides a bit of context and helps to locate the people in their environment and suggests other areas of social history that are worth exploring if they interest you.

Life and Death

It is worth noting at this point that although John and Sarah had ten children that I know of, four of these died in infancy. Agnes died, aged 3, of Bronchitis; Ann died, aged 11 months, from Hooping Cough; Mary, aged 5 months, died of Pneumonia and James, a premature birth, only lasted 4 minutes. This is not unrepresentative of the perils of childhood at the time. William Knox, in his paper on Scottish social conditions in the hundred years spanning the mid 19th and 20th centuries writes:

Knox also points out that the most common causes of death in 19th century Scotland were, in order of importance, diseases of the brain and nervous system, diseases of the respiratory system, diseases of the heart, diseases of the digestive organs and epidemic and contagious diseases. Looking at John and Sarah and their children we find the following causes of death.

Six of the children survived childhood but there are clear differences in life expectancy of those that survived infancy between the men and the women. Elizabeth died aged 63 (Myocardial Degeneration, Gangrene of Feet), Mary died aged 65 (Natural causes, Cardiac Failure) and Sarah died aged 71 (Chronic Bronchitis). The men died younger; Thomas died aged 49 (Phthisis Pulmonalis – tuberculosis); John died aged 51 (Cerebral Haemorrhage); Charles is less certain because I do not have a death record for him yet. A useful chart from the Understanding Glasgow web site illustrated the difference in life expectancy between men and women in Scotland and in Glasgow specifically.

Occupations

John Neil’s father, Thomas Neil, was recorded as being a handloom weaver, a harness handloom weaver and a coal miner. The first record we have of John Neil having an occupation is at the 1851 Census when he is fifteen years old and lives in the household of his sister, Elizabeth (Lizzie) who is married to Daniel Wilkie, a journeyman dyer. He is said to be an apprentice tobacco spinner. Another sister also lives in the household – Agnes who is a 26 year old steam loom weaver. A tobacco spinner was actually quite a skilled job operating machinery to roll tobacco leaves into rolls or cakes. As an apprentice it would have been John’s job to feed the spinner with prepared tobacco leaves by cutting and bunching them. There is more about this trade here. John doesn’t stay at this trade long and when he married Sarah Cassidy in 1860 he is a journeyman iron turner that is to say he used a lathe to turn iron products or tools. By the following year he is recorded at the census as an iron moulder. Iron moulders worked in iron foundries where they made moulds for the casting of iron products. At the births of his children, he is recorded as being a journeyman iron turner (1862, 1863, 1866, 1869, 1871, 1872, 1873), foundry labourer (1865, 1881), iron turner (1867), mason’s labourer (1871), coal carter (1871), coal hill labourer (1874, 1879). coal pit labourer (1876), boiler maker’s labourer (1880, 1885, 1889), and a labourer (1889). This can be summarised by saying that apart from a short stint in the tobacco trade he is essentially an iron turner from at least 1860 (when he would be about 23 years old) until 1873 (when he would be 37 years old). The following year he is recorded as being a coal pit labourer. A Scottish Steelworks History web site says “The iron industry peaked by about 1871, at which time it employed nearly 40% of the Scottish workforce, and 25% of its’ steam power…By 1878 Scottish iron production had fallen to 14.5% of British output, partly owing to a prolonged strike of shipwrights, but also to competition” Whether a change in the conditions in the iron industry had any impact on John I cannot say but for the next five years he appears to have become a coal pit labourer; between about 1874 and 1879 (when he was aged between 37 and 43). Thereafter he seems to have returned to the iron foundry where he is foundry labourer or boiler maker’s labourer from 1880 to 1889 (when he was aged between 44 and 53. at his death later in 1889 he is recorded as just being a labourer.

As for John’s wife, Sarah, we know from her marriage to John in 1860 that she was a cotton factory worker aged 20. At the 1861 Census her and John are living with her parents and their family at 54 Main Street, Gorbals. She does not have a job and it remains that way as she has, from then, a fulltime job of child-bearing, rearing and serving the whole family as was normal at the time. After the death of her husband in 1889 she becomes the head of household at 4 Surrey Street and she is by then 40 years old. Her youngest child, Mary is 12 and still at school but her sons Charles and Tom are both working as coal carrier and labourer respectively. She lives with her 70-year-old mother and her brother, Pat who is a 52 year old carter and her grand-daughter Sarah Henderson. She is now described as a washerwoman though I daresay there is still plenty of domestic work to do even with a much reduced family. At the 1901 Census she is living with her son, Charles and his wife and she is now a 70-year-old mother and her brother, Pat who is a 52 year old carter and her grand-daughter Sarah Henderson. She is now described as a washerwoman though I daresay there is still plenty of domestic work to do even with a much reduced family. At the 1901 Census she is living with her son, Charles and his wife and she is now a 61 year old washerwoman. I have no other record of any employment she may have had until her death in 1916 aged 76.

Households

In the course of the births, marriages, deaths and censuses recorded above, it is obvious just how much the family moved around but the distances involved were usually quite small – often up and down the same street or a couple of streets away. I consider the various addresses the different branches of this generation of the family are to be found at here.

I now move on to look at the life of John and Sarah’s first child, John, born 14 April 1836. Earlier I placed a link where you can find out more about what happened to John and Sarah’s other children – John’s siblings – if you want to know more about them, click here.