Life as Gardening Staff in 19th Century Lanarkshire

[marypryde]

My impression that Lanarkshire would now be a paved-over suburb has been thoroughly corrected. I hope I didn't offend anyone who knows the area with that remark. Just an ignorant American cousin who is now better informed, thanks to Talking Scot members.

Thanks to Lizzie (and husband), Alan, Lesley, and Wilma, my Lanarkshire "Library" now includes (or will) books, photos, maps, first-hand reports, and MI pamphlets.

A clue about the portrait has surfaced: The 1891 census (Bothwell) shows that the John Thomson family included a boarder, James Donald (I think), occupation "painter." Maybe he painted houses, but I'd like to believe he was a struggling artist.

[caljam371]

Hi,
Sorry Mary Ellen but this is a response to Caljam371 and his mention of his relatives in Dalserf.
According to the MI booklet I have William Thomson and Mary Murray are buried there.
If they are the same William died 29th March 1914 age 72, his wife Mary Murray died 9th Dec 1875 age 38 years.
There is also mention of their sons - Alexander who died at Clermont Australia 15th Aug 1898 age 29 and Alan James died Rosebank 11th Nov 1904 age 42. Hope they are the ones. Unfortunately the MI booklet doesn't give locations.
Lizzie

Thanks for this. Poor Mary died following the birth of their ninth child.

[marypryde]

Caljam - I checked my William Thomson's in Dalserf, but they would have been ages 88 and 50 if they'd died in 1914. (As soon as I received the ordered Dalserf MI, I'll hopefully find out when mine died.)
Mary Ellen

[deano]

Hello Mary Ellen,

Just as a point was your John Burnside Thomson, born 18/Sep/1831. Dalserf, Lanark, the son of George Thomson, and Margaret Sandiland.

Regards
Jonn.

[marypryde]

Hello, Jonn -

Yes. My line comes down through his son, also John, b.5/7/1855. I haven't found anything further back than father George, but I did just find mother Margaret's parents.

Mary Ellen

[deano]

Hello Mary Ellen,

There is a will on Scotlandspeople, for George Thomson, 02/05/1862. Farmer at Townhead, Dalserf, spouse of 1st. Margaret Sandilands, and 2nd. Agnes Craig. Last will and testament, Glasgow, Sherrif Court.

I think George Thomson, actually died 1861. Dalserf, Lanark, age 67 years.

It also looks like Margaret Sandilands Thomson, died sometime 1841, and 1851.

Regards,
Jonn.

[marypryde]

Wow, thanks Jonn. Another giant leap backward thanks to TS. I had long since decided my people did not do wills and hadn't bothered to look there.

I had recently come across the 1851 census with George and Agnes but couldn't get Margaret dead. Still don't have her dead but my George it is!

Your information also confirmed for me that Euphemia Graham was George's mother (I had a clue from Rootsweb that I couldn't confirm.) If she's the correct Euphemia, b. 1780 in Carmichael, then I think I see her, age 60, tambourer in Glasgow, household of Charles Slaven/Slaver. Then there's what looks to be a pauper's death October 1846. Do you have any ideas on this situation or why George wouldn't have taken care of his mother? (Edit: just found out that George's wife, Margaret Sandilands died February 22, 1844. Makes me wonder even more why he didn't bring his mother in to help.)

Best regards, Mary Ellen

[LizzieS]

Hi,
There are lots of Thomsons in Daserf Churchyard and several Williams but perhaps once you get the booklet you will be able to tell which one is yours

Margaret Sandilands and George Thomson are there. Margaret died 22nd Feb 1844 age 50 and George 29th Dec 1861 age 66. The inscription is quite long and includes:
their son Walter d 21/04/1864 age 36 and their son William d 13/09/1900 age 76.
Also Williams wife Marion Gardiner d 21/11/1887 age 62 and their daughter Isabella Hutcheson d 21/02/1947 age 89 as well as Isabella's husband John Kennedy d 20/07/1933 age 73 plus several of their children. If you are interested in them just let me know and I'll give you their names and dates of death.

So lots more names for you
Lizzie

[marypryde]

Dear Lizzie, This morning I said I would clean the house and leave the genealogy alone (sigh!) Here you come with more help, so I've compromised with "wash the floor and get on the computer until it dries."

Thanks for Margaret Sandilands' death information. I think I can wait for her children until I receive my own MI books.

Just one question: Do you see the name Barclay anywhere? My starting point was John Thomson b.1855 m. Margaret Steele Barclay (b.1851/d. 23 January 1904). I expect to find the Barclay's in Hamilton and have ordered that MI book also. But I don't know where Dalserf's John Thomson buried Margaret Barclay Thomson before he married a 20-year-old and went off to America.

Best regards, Mary Ellen

[LizzieS]

Sorry Mary Ellen, no Barclays at all in Dalserf MI's and I haven't got Hamilton!
Lizzie