Lookup please - disabled child died in Govan Poorhouse

[JulieAK]

This has to be the saddest story I've enountered in my family research.

Peter McIntyre born March 1871 Clyde, Glasgow died 25 November 1885 aged 13 in the Govan Poorhouse in Merry Flats.

His mother died in 1880, he was listed as a patient at the East Park Cottage Home for disabled and infirm children on the 1881 Census and then his father died in the early 1880s also. By the time poor Peter died, half of his 12 siblings had died also.

Disabled, orphaned, and died in the Poorhouse at 13. I wonder whether he ended up in the Poor house because he got tossed out of the children's home? Did they do that at a certain age?

If anyone has access to his Poor House records, I'd really appreciate it. I can't find his father, Alexander McIntyre's (1821-?) death certificate either. I know he died between April 1881 and April 1884. The father might have ended up in the Poorhouse too.

[joette]

Wow I remember East Park it was still around in the late 70's early eighties when I was a paediatric nurse.We would get referals to & from the place I can't remember if it was still residential I have a feeling it wasn't.
Such a sad tale I will be in the Mitchell week begining the 20th & very happy to have a look at any applications for you- I'll probably have a look anyway as it has touched my heart poor wee soul.

I am placing a bet on it being some illness relating to TB which took these family members & perhaps disabled Peter before his death.

[Rach]

There is always a family that tugs at your heart strings when you are doing research. This is one I would hate to be finding while sitting in a Search Room. Can you imagine tears streaming down your cheeks while those around you rummage in their bags for paper hankies.
I hope that someone can find what you are looking for.
Rae

[JulieAK]

Joette, thank you very much for your offer. Much appreciated if you have time. Funny you should mention TB as another sibling died of that, 2 others of croup. His mother Barbara died of typhus, not sure what his father Alexander died of.

Peter's death certificate lists "struma" as cause of death. I've seen this translated as a swelling of the thyroid gland or some other structure at the front of the neck. Not too sure what to make of that.

Rae, you're so right - it's a real tear jerker. I wonder what Peter thought of his world. Did his family visit him? He had a younger sister who was only 4 when the parents died and older siblings cared for her. At the time he died, all his older siblings were getting married and starting families. I hope they had still had time for him. They must have been hard times. These are my great grandfather's siblings - it makes me feel lucky to be here.

And then after all this I was reading about what happened to people who died in the poorhouse if the family couldn't afford a burial. I really hope the anatomists didn't take him.

[joette]

Hi Julie,
Mixed success on this found applications from three siblings nothing from Peter.

There was mention of both parents applications although it wasn't findable on the index.They were going to search to see if they had them anyway-maybe under a different name?
I ran out of time but I do have some info.Shall I post here or would you prefer a PM?

[JulieAK]

Hi Joette,

Thank you so much for your time and effort! I really appreciate it. You can PM me any info.

Thanks again
Julie