Paisley Bakers - McGilvary

[eiggam]

Hi folks - looking for descendents of Alexander McGilvary, Baker in Paisley around 1830/1860. Had 2 sons who were also Bakers by trade. Any info much appreciated. Thank you. Eiggam.

[speleobat2]

Here they are:

1851 Scotland Census 1851 Scotland Census
Name: Alexander McGilvray
Age: 50
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1801
Relationship: Head
Spouse's Name: Isabella
Gender: Male
Where born: Paisley, Renfrewshire
Parish Number: 573
Civil parish: Paisley Low Church
County: Renfrewshire
Address: 24 Causeyside St
Occupation: Baker Master Employing 1 Man
ED: 6
Page: 4 (click to see others on page)
Household schedule number: 16
Line: 12
Roll: CSSCT1851_124
Household Members: Name Age
Alexander McGilvray 50
Isabella McGilvray 43
Mary McGilvray 22
Isabella McGilvray 20
Agnes McGilvray 17
Alexander McGilvray 15
Helen McGilvray 12
Janet McGilvray 10
Robert McGilvray 9


Looks like Alexander Jr. and Robert are the two sons who became bakers.

Are you looking for specific information on this family? They are on the 1851, 1861, and 1871 Census records.

Carol

[Currie]

Hello Eiggam,

Is this your fellow? This Rhyming Baker?

Here’s an absolutely fantastic Book of Poetry written in 1862 by a Paisley Baker by name of Alexander M’Gilvray. “Poems and songs: satirical and descriptive, bearing on the political, moral, and religious character of man, in this country, at the present day.”
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=5HA ... q=&f=false

Also available at the Internet archive http://www.archive.org/stream/poemsands ... g_djvu.txt

This book on Paisley Poets written in 1889 has a biography
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=s7I ... lASkvdjsDg

ALEXANDER M'GILVRAY was born in Paisley 5th June, 1800. Mr. M'Gilvray carried on the business of a baker in Paisley. He took an active part in local politics, both before and after the passing of the Parliamentary and Burgh Reform Bills. For several years he was a member of the Paisley Town Council. He removed before the middle of this century to Glasgow, and died there on 1st August, 1871. In early life, while serving his apprenticeship to the baking trade, he commenced to be a rhymster, and during the election periods sent out many of his squibs. In 1840, he published "The Town's House on the Market Day, a poem in two cantos," of 34 pages, the brochure being an attempt to describe the characters of some of the gentlemen who attended the public refreshment room in the Saracen's Head Inn; but much of it was very personal and indelicate. In 1850, he published a volume of 270 pages, under the title of "Poems and Songs, Satirical and Descriptive, Bearing on the Political, Moral, and Religious Character of Man in this country at the Present Day"; and in 1862 another edition, enlarged, was published, on the title page of which he describes himself as "Alex. M'Gilvray, Baker, late of Paisley, now residing in Glasgow." In some of his squibs he styled himself "the Rhyming Baker." Mr. M'Gilvray's early poems were composed in a good-humoured egotistic style, and were free from the scurrilous personalities which pervaded those of a later day. I give an extract from one of the earlier poems, under the heading of

SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR.
By the Author.

Upon the eighteen hundredth year,
When corn was scarce, and meal was dear,
About the middle of the dearth
Paisley was honoured by my birth.

This great event took place at noon,
In Prussia Street, the fifth of June;
Thus, on a question of great weight,
At once I put my readers right,
And likely some disputes may save
When I lie mould'ring in my grave.

As seven cities, famed for worth,
Contended for great Homer's birth,
So I'm resolved to leave no mystery,
Connected with my private history
Or hanging o'er my public life,
That may engender future strife.

Ere I was swaddled in a sark,
The midwife made this sage remark—
"Losh! feel these bumps upon his head—
He'll be a wondrous man indeed,—
He'll be a wit, these plainly shew it;
I'll lay my life he'll be a poet! "
This, deemed as nonsense, never drew
Attention, till it turned out true.

This poetical piece concludes thus—

That all my readers will peruse
The bright effusions of my muse,
And study them, recite and quote them,
With the same pleasure I have wrote them,
Is the fond hope, and aye will be,
Of their immortal author—me.

You’ve probably seen it all before. His book of poetry could be a genealogical gold mine.

Alan

[SarahND]

=D> =D> =D> What a great find, Alan!
How refreshing-- an ancestor determined to make future genealogical searches easy! (Or perhaps to mislead future generations in a controlled way... this is my cynical side coming out }

Regards,
Sarah

[eiggam]

Hi folks - thanks all for your replies. I know he was a character and was aware about his book of poems.
I am searching for the demise of his daughter Mary (born 1829), the oldest daughter, married in England a Leckie, then remarried in 1870 in Glasgow a Joseph Miller. After the 1871 census she disappears. Have searched for a death certificate everywhere but no luck. Have everything I need on the Mcgilvary's and Mary's children - only the demise of Mary herself - is a mystery which I am trying to solve to finish off a family tree. Thought there may be some descendents out there who could put the final touches on this one. Eiggam