Lilias Munro d. 5 March 1877, City Poorhouse, Glasgow.....

[LesleyB]

Could some kind person please look up a Poorhouse record for me? I know you are innundated, but of the several that I have who died in Poorhouses I've always felt very sorry for Lily and would love to know if there was any other background information.

Born 9 October 1950 Hill of Fearn, Easter Ross, daughter of John Crout and Rebecca Smith.

Don't know where she is the 1861 as have not looked up this family in this year yet - suspect still at home aged around 10.

She is in Glasgow by the time of the birth of her illegitimate child John Crout (father not mentioned) on 18 March 1871 at Glasgow Maternity Hospital. She is not showing in a search for surname Crout/Croot in the 1871 census, nor have I found her infant son, but John Crout her brother aged 22 is living at Tradeston Lanark (644/09 079/000 003.) with his aunt Ket/Ketty/Catherine Smith, Mrs. Robert Skinner - Lily is not with them.

In 1874 she was a domestic Servant, a spinster, living at 74 North St.Mungo Street, Glasgow at the time of her marriage to Thomas Munro, horse shoer, Journeyman on 5th June at Blythswood. (Thomas was living at the same address and was from Tarbat, Easter Ross )

Lily died 5 March 1877, City Poorhouse, Glasgow of Phithisis Pulmonalis.
I don't think she and Thomas had had any children, at least I've not found any so far.

Following her death:
In the 1881 her husband Thomas Munro, widower, is a lodger, blacksmith, living at 289 Parliamentry Rd, Barony.

Also in the 1881 Lily's son John Crout, aged 10, is living with his grandmother Rebecca Crout at Hill of Fearn, Easter Ross, but after this I have lost him.

My hopes rose when I found she'd got married when I was following her through after the birth of her son John, but I was devastated when I found out that her life was cut short. It seemed to be the fate of several of my extended family who made the long trek south to the central belt. You can't help feeling they were caught between the devil and the deep blue sea - not enough work in the Highlands so a life of poverty, hard physical labour and hunger vs. work in the cities but insanitary and crowded conditions leading to ill health and in many cases death. I digress here, but I do sometimes wonder if coming from remote agricultural areas they may even just not have had the antibodies that the average city dweller had at that time and and were subsequently far more vulnerable to disease, but maybe this is utter nonsense!

Anyway, I'd be most grateful for any look-up to find out if there is anything further I can find out about her through her being admitted to the poorhouse.

Best wishes
Lesley

[Jack]

Hi Lesley,
I near forgot to get this short Poor Law record. You could contact The Mitchell if you need a photocopy.
But not too sure how well it would come out - many Barony Parish pages aren't always the clearest.
Those Poor Relief applications can have some very interesting info....
====
Barony Poor Relief Record. D-HEW 14 / 44: page 31814: No 6981.
Applied 10am 25 Feb 1871.
Lily CROUT.
38 Catherine St, Anderston. with Mrs Graham.
Born - Hill of Fern [sic], 5 mls from the Parish of Tain.
Cause of application - near her confinement.
Single; age 22; domestic servant.
Parents - John CROUT & Rebecca SMITH, both alive.
Earnings - none meantime.
Remarks - asks to be sent to the Maternity Hospital.
--
Asst. Inspector's report; 12¾ noon 26 Feb 1871.
Lily CROUT, with Graham 38 Catherine St.
Applicant aged 22 born Hill of Fern, 5 miles from Tain, Rosshire
is a domestic servant, now 8 months advanced in pregnancy is single.
The father of the child is John HILL a joiner, he resides? with John McLEAN? in Helensburgh.
Pauper is a Baptist?
--
[it then lists her residences - here's a summary]
7mos in Barony, Glasgow [4 addresses incl. present]
previous near 1yr 10mos in Helensburgh [3 addresses - some difficult to read]
previous 3mos at Elliot St, Barony with an aunt.
previous 8mos in Portobello.
--
She left Hill of Fern Nov 1867?
She refers to Mr Ross Inspector of Poor, Tain? the father of the pauper is well known, a drain contractor at Hill of Fern.
2/- interim; she applies to be admitted to the Maternity Hospital.
====
This might be the father in 1881? Maybe worth checking the 1871 census for him?
--
1881 Census Place: Row, Dumbarton, Scotland
Dwelling: 52 West Princes St (Lorne Place)
Source: FHL Film 0203553 GRO Ref Volume 503 EnumDist 8 Page 45
John MC COLL M 45 M Lismore, Argyll, Scotland Rel: Head Occ: Carpenter
Jane MC COLL M 43 F Ireland Rel: Wife
Mary Jane MC COLL 16 F Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland Rel: Daur Occ: Dressmaker
Margaret MC COLL 12 F Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland Rel: Daur Occ: Scholar
John Thomas MC COLL 10 M Helensburgh, Dunbarton, Scotland Rel: Son
Kate MC COLL 6 F Helensburgh, Dunbarton, Scotland Rel: Daur
John HILL U 36 M Old Monkland, Lanark, Scotland Rel: Boarder Occ: House Carpenter
==
Jack
ps, sorry i didn't have time to get 28yr old Thomas MUNRO's in 1877 (D-HEW 10/6/55. p207). He was b Tarbat.

[LesleyB]

Bloomin' Heck Jack!
Thats way more info than I'd expected! Thank you so much. The poor law records are amazing.

As usual, more info = lots more questions!!
The previous addresses are fascinating - who the heck was that aunt? Suspect it may have been Ket/Catherine who was living in Tradestown by the time of the 1871?

Played a game of "lucky dip" this evening on SP and caught up with Lily's husband Thomas Munro - he lived to the age of 86, dying in 1935 in Burnhouse Street, Maryhill, having married for a second time to a Jacobina Scott and it seems he had a son, Alexander Munro who was the death informant.

I've just found Mr McColl in the 1871 (at Helensburgh) - seems to be the same one. There are John Hills of the right age in the 1871 and there are quite a few to choose from but another game of "lucky dip" has me out of credits now, and I've not found him yet.

Thanks again for all your hard work. It is much appreciated.

best wishes
Lesley

[LesleyB]

Hi Jack

ps, sorry i didn't have time to get 28yr old Thomas MUNRO's in 1877 (D-HEW 10/6/55. p207). He was b Tarbat.

Just to let you know I phoned the Mitchell and arranged photocopies of both the records you'd so helpfully given the refs. for. They arrived this morning - Thomas's was particularly interesting as it revealed the existence of two very young boys he and Lily had who I didn't know about. After Lily's death I've tracked the boys up to Tarbat for the 1881 with their Munro grandparents and they are still there in 1891... I very much doubt I'd have ever found out about them otherwise.

The oddest thing is, by following the Munros back, I've now tied up with another fragment of tree which I was given by a McCulloch contact, so a big piece of the jigsaw has just dropped into place with a very satisfactory thud!\:D/

Best wishes
Lesley

[Jack]

Hi Lesley,

Thanks for updating us all on your success - i like the sound of that satisfactory thud into the jigsaw.
I live in hope that one day i'll also hear it - others too!

Jack