Which district in Glasgow?

[tomwatson06]

Hi,
Trying to find a John Allen on the 1891 census. He lived in Glasgow. I have an address for him as 83 Elderslie Street but there are over 40 JoHn Allens living in Glasgow in 1891. Does anyone know which area of Glasgow Elderslie Street would come under.
Thanks
tom watson

[SarahND]

Hi Tom,
That would be in Kelvin. Is he 43 and does he have a son John age 12? I ask because there are two John Allens on that street... the other one at number 89

All the best,
Sarah

[tomwatson06]

Hi,
Many thanks for the quick reply. I'm afraid I know very little about the guy except he posted a meessage in the Belfast Weekly News in 1893 asking about info on his brother William last heard of 15 years previous in New York.
Thanks
tom watson

[SarahND]

Hi again,
The 43 yr old one was born in Ireland, so that sounds right. There are certainly a nice crop of William Allens, born in Ireland, living in New York in 1880 Take your pick!
Good luck,
Sarah

[tomwatson06]

Hi Sarah,
Thanks ever so muh for the reply. With the info you gave me I am able to complete another twig on the family tree. The message sent to Belfast weekly news on 11th Feb 1893 says "Allen - John Allen, 83 Elderslie Street, Glasgow, formerly Ballydrain, Comber, Co. Down wishes to hear of the wheresbouts of his brother William last heard of in New York, staying at 500.5 (don't have a half on the keyboard) Grand Street, New York.
Many thanks
tom watson

[SarahND]

Hi Tom,
Aren't you lucky to have the exact place in Ireland in that notice! Wow
None of the Williams in New York in 1880 live on Grand Street, as you probably know. But that doesn't mean anything because nearly everyone moved house yearly in those days in the big cities. Have you already found William and were just trying to fit John into the tree? If so, congratulations! And wonderful news about the place name in Ireland!
All the best,
Sarah

[tomwatson06]

Hi again Sarah,
I made a slight mistake on the previous message which makes a big difference to when William Allen was staying at Grand Street New York.
The message from brother John Allen said he last heard from William 15 years ago and it was then he was staying at 500.5 Grand Street, New York. As John posted the message in the Belfast Weekly News 11th Feb 1893 that would mean he would have been staying in Gramd Street some time 1878.
Also reading the message, the fact that John says staying rather than living I think implies that he was lodging at the address. What do you think?
thanks
tom

[SarahND]

Also reading the message, the fact that John says staying rather than living I think implies that he was lodging at the address. What do you think?

As far as I have been able to notice, Scots (and perhaps Irish as well) use the word "staying" where Americans would use "living" If you are from Scotland, of course, my theory falls flat

I suppose the next thing to try, if such exists, is a postal directory for New York City in 1878. Although, come to think of it, it wouldn't tell us much more than that he was there, which we know already!

Are you trying to track William, or John, or both? Do you know who their parents were?

Regards,
Sarah

[tomwatson06]

Hi again Sarah,
Thanks for all your patience with my problem. Going from the marriage details of son John (the one in Glasgow) his parents were John Allen and Mary Ann Jelly. I didn't even know that a brother William existed let alone moved to New York. I have other siblings who stayed in Northern Ireland, so I am assuming that mother and father also lived and died there.
Many thanks
tom watson

[SarahND]

Hi Tom,
I wonder if he went to America around the time that his brother went to Scotland? Unfortunately, at that time the ship passenger lists didn't give any family information, so there is no way of knowing which of the many William Allens could have been John's brother. And without a date of birth or an occupation, it would be difficult to know which is the correct William on the censuses I wonder if John ever heard from him again?

Regards,
Sarah