Chalmers/Chambers orphans.....

[maggie]

Hello Jack
yes it was young John born 1865 that i was having a look for in the 1881 on sp
i really will have to learn how to use the discs myself i rely on my better half finding me what i'm after on them
you know seperate systems&resources
i take on board what you say about using the discs for the 1881 Jack to find who i'm looking for.
I will have another look for John's DC &MC tomorrow
thanks once again Jack
kind regards maggie
Ps thankyou too Andrew

[maggie]

hello Jack
i have found the DC for young John
and it looks like he didn't get to have a good life that i hoped to find traces of
i have found his death in june 1902 in Barnhill poor house aged 37 and single so he died in much the same conditions as in which he'd spent his early years his occupation is given as an iron riviters assistant so it looks like that is the trade the industrial school taught him.
All very sad.....
kind regards maggie

[Jack]

Hi Maggie,
Sad to say, but it does seem that John didn't exactly have a happy life. Two words say it all.
---------------------
Glasgow Poor Relief Record. D-HEW. 16/1/7. Page 2068. N°631.
--
John CHALMERS, Hydepark Model. Applied 10.40. 31 May 1902.
Born Stobcross St.*
Age 37, single. Occupation - holder on. Religion - Prot.
Debility - Bronchitis.
No Earnings.
Parents - John CHALMERS, bottle blower & Margt. LINDSAY. Both dead.
* Anderston. Reg N° 174/65 for John CHAMBERS.
Born 161 Stobcross St, 16/10/65.
No friends.
How previously supported - Self.
1st application.
How disposed of - 31/5/02. Barnhill Po. Ho.
--
Settlement.
present address - Glasgow, 3 mos.
p(rior) - Martin, 9 Errol St. 1yr 6mos.
p(rior) - 21 Catherine St, Anderston. McNaught. Lodged here for about 9yrs.
Applies for admission to Po. Ho.
Has been ill for 2 weeks.
Last wrought with McEchan & Son, Scotstoun.
Order granted to Barnhill. In.
7 Jun 1902. Died in Barnhill.
-------------------------------------
Jack

[maggie]

Hello Jack
thankyou very much for the info on the poor relief for John
i take it the two words where "no friends"? how very
he must have felt very alone in the world.
my thanks once again
kind regards
maggie

[DavidWW]

Maggie

It doesn't quite mean no friends in the sense that we might mean today.

The comment has to be taken in the context that the Inspectors were required to establish if the applicant had or there was the chance of support from family or others. In the latter case, for example, it wouldn't be unusual to find a couple of men or women, unrelated, sharing lodgings, and thereby supporting each other in that sense.

So it doesn't mean that he didn't have a few good mates down the pub.

Another slightly different use of "friend" in that era is that it's not uncommon to find the informant on a death register entry as "intimate friend" which in no way means intimate in the sense that we would take it, - it just means close friend, which is the qualification of informant that a registrar would look for if there were no family members available.

David

[maggie]

Hello David
thankyou for your message
and i take your point about the inspectors questions i suppose
he would have been trying to save the board some money if there was at all the likelyhood that someone else could help him out .
i haven't come accross "an intimate friend" as the informant on any of my death certs but if i do i will bear in mind your explanation it will save me from
kind regards maggie

[LesleyB]

...it's not uncommon to find the informant on a death register entry as "intimate friend" which in no way means intimate in the sense that we would take it

I have several examples of "intimate friends" on deaths entries - certianly made me look twice, - but as you say, not to be taken as we would probably interpret it today!

Best wishes
Lesley