Torrances in the Poorhouse.....

Post by **joette** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 5:53 pm

I have just started re-researching this line & have did not to badly.
Not sure where to place this as i have more than one question.
Andrew Torrance is my GGGGreat-Grandfather.He was born in Leswalt,Wigton 1817 if the IGI entry is correct.His parents are named as Elizabeth Lynn(Linn) & Thomas Torrance.
He is in Dalry Ayr for the 1851 Census
Andrew Torrance-Head-M-30-Blacksmith-Wigton-Stranraer.
Margeret Torrance(Barnes) Wife-F-29-Ayr-Ballantrae
James Torrance-Son-M-1-Ayr-Ballantrae.
By 1861/71 they are living in Partick,Govan Parish(Orchard St.)
There is no sign of Margeret & Andrew is described as Widower.Also in the 61/71 Censuses is Elizabeth Linn -Mother-67/77-Wigton,Stranraer.
This is definetly the right family as James is living there when he marries in 1873.By 1871 Andrew is described as Blind.
Found him again in 1881,1891 with Elizabeth but this time she is his wife-he remarried in 1871 to Elizabeth McColl.No sign of Mother Elizabeth Linn.
His Death is in 1898 & he is recorded as Widower of 1Margeret Barnes
2Elizabeth McColl.
The Death is recorded as in Govan Poorhouse.Are there records for such still avaiable? Would he have been having Poor Relief before admission?
I could only find a Death for an Elizabeth Linn -no results when cross-referencing with Torrance.It is 1878 & her age is given as ninety!If the Census is accurate she should have been 84.She is also described as single rather than Widow.I can find no marriage for her on the IGI or OPR so it may be that she was not married to Thomas Torrance.Her Death took place in the Govan Poorhouse too.
I would love to find any records for this pair as I would like to know if possible if Elizabeth Linn was married to Thomas Torrance & his parentage also.
I would like to know if James had any siblings & when his Mother died as I am assuming between 1851/1854 as there is no Death for her on Stat.Reg.
This is sounding like War& Peace but it also looks like James's Mother-in-law died in the Poorhouse too in 1894.
I am really upset that he would not at be responsible for his Father at least.I know he was doing well financially at the time with his job & the buisness he also ran with his wife/sons.They had a large house with servants & seeing as his Father was blind you would have thought he would have cared for him& his Mother-in-law too.Shame on them-different if they had been struggling & living in crowded conditions but I know my Great-Granny was brought up in relative comfort.
Is it a Mitchell Library job & can I at least reference them online?This is my first Poorhouse Rellie(apart from one in Aberdeen) & although cross with James not looking after his Father am excited at the prospect of what might be the info I can find about them.

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 6:15 pm

Hello Joette,

I can have a look at the index and get a reference number for you next time I'm at The Mitchell. You can then apply to them for a photocopy.

If you want and I get permission I could take a photograph of the application if it's there.

Annette M

Post by **joette** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 6:41 pm

That would be brilliant I dont think I could wait until April!!!Next time iam in Scotland.
What does it cost?Thanks.I hope you find it!!!!!
Would you see if they have an application for a Mary Ann Brown nee Gault.She died in Stonehouse Lanark in 1894. Her place of Death is listed as 12 Ligarie(?)St.She is the widow of James Brown & was aged 70?(my nephew transcribed this one & has her listed as 20 but as she died of old age!!)She is described as a Pauper.She is James Torrances Mother-in-law.
Her son James Brown reported the Death he was living 14 King St. at the time.
Thanks so much for anything you can do.

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 6:45 pm

Hello Joette,

I'm sure Andrew's application doesn't tell you anything you don't already know except he seems to have been a really nice man.

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... p?pos=-411

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... p?pos=-410

I couldn't find one for Elizabeth but will look again.

Kind regards,
Annette M

Sorry Joette I've just noticed your request re Mary Ann Brown so I didn't even look for her.

jintyb · Post by **jintyb** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 7:41 pm

joette
I hope you don't mind me butting in,you haven't by any chance come across a James Torrance who married Margaret Fleming Findlay b.21/02/1892.Margaret was from Strathaven,and according to my mum,James was from this area as well, and Stonehouse is just down the road.I've searched every which way for their MC on Sp but I CANNOT find it.They emigrated to Canada and the only time they were home was about 1929/30.Just thought I'd ask in case there is a connection.
Thanks
Janet

Post by **joette** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 11:59 am

Thanks soooo much I am so overwhelmed to read about him.
My Mother is named Elizabeth Torrance in honour of these ancestors.
So Margeret Barnes died in Greenock & it was after 1851 as she is still alive in the Census & they are living in Dalry.
Has settled my mind re James my Granny Peggy's Grandpa.I knew there were a number of children but hadn't appreciated how many.Still I know they went on to have their own buisness & their own home so??
Nice to know he was a hard working,pleasant man.The Hemiplegia is a worry as it has dogged down that line & in fact was what killed my Gran at fifty.So as their is Heart problems on the other side too!!.
Elizabeth Linn died there in 1874 so I don't know if she was recieving Parish Relief but she is described as a Pauper.
Thanks so much & so prompt you are a star!!!! My Mum will be so happy to hear this.
If you could have a wee look for Mary Ann Brown nee Gault I would be so grateful.I think this poor soul had a hard life right until the end.

Post by **joette** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 12:02 pm

Jinty I will have a wee chat to my Mum & ask about the possibility of this being James's son/grandson.
I know that several of my G-Granny's sibs emigrated but I think to NZ/Australia but you never know.

jintyb · Post by **jintyb** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 2:25 pm

Thanks Joette
I will wait with bated breath.
Janet

Post by **joette** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 11:27 am

Hi Jinty had a chat to my Mum but she wasn't much help as she never knew her Granny Ross nee Torrance but there was one branch that went to the USA where the daughter became a well known Concert Pianist but she couldn't remember the name!
However as James Torrance had seven children & Mum could remember
their names bar one & there wasn't a James amongst the list of three boys/three girls with the Father's name James & his wife's Father's name James looks likely that the missing name is James.
I am trying to find all the children but my SP credits are out so will have to wait for payday!
One of the boys& one of the girls went to NZ & was part of the reason why my Mother's Aunt went to NZ too.

rdem · Post by **rdem** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 12:32 pm

This may be a coincidence. There was family headed by a William Dempsey on the 1861 census in Dalry, Ayrshire. His wife's name was Elizabeth Torrance and I found their marriage on the IGI in Londonderry, Irleand. You mentioned that Andrew was born in Stranraer, nearby Portpatrick was the landing place for many migrant Irish that came to work and eventually stay in Scotland. Is it possibble and that Thomas, Andrew's father has an Irish connection?
By the way, I have seen Torrance spelled Torrens also.

TalkingScot.com

Torrances in the Poorhouse.....

Torrances in the Poorhouse.....

Poorhouse Applications

Andrew Torrance