Death in Hamilton Combination Poorhouse/Lookup, please

[Rodeo]

Janet Mack Paterson, died, aged 16, in Hamilton Combination Poorhouse on 23 March 1908 of scrofulous abscesses due to tuberculosis of bovine origin (contracted through drinking the milk of infected cows).

What makes her premature (and disfiguring) death all the more tragic is that it would seem her well-heeled relations didn't taken her in when she was orphaned at the age of 2, her parents having been similarly carried off by tuberculosis. I can't find her in the 1901 census. Ironically, her uncle was the architect responsible for the extensions to Hamilton Combination Poorhouse.

I'm trying to determine if Janet Mack Paterson was consigned there through neglect or because Hamilton Combination Poorhouse functioned as a quarantine hospital at that time. Was she a long-term inmate and did she contract tuberculosis during her residency there -- or was she tubercular before entering Hamilton Combination Poorhouse?

Do the poorhouse records in Mitchell Library extend to 1908? If so, I'd be extremely grateful if someone could kindly do a lookup of the application record for her there. She was born in 1892, in Govan, to William Paterson and Catherine McVicar.

Many thanks in advance.

Cheers,

Rodeo

[Anne H]

Hi Rodeo,

I can’t help with the Mitchell or the poorhouse records but Janet Paterson is an inmate in the Poor House on the 1901 Census…the following is from Ancestry:

Registration No. 647, Parish: Hamilton, County: Lanarkshire
Page 6, Line 40, Household Schedule 1
Hamilton Combination Poor House – Bothwell Road, Hamilton
Janet Paterson, age 11, born about 1890, Govan – Inmate



There is also a Janet with parents William and Catherine (although Catherine’s ms would likely have been Morrison…relatives perhaps?


Registration No. 644/10, Parish: Glasgow, Kelvinhaugh, County: Lanarkshire
Page 30, Line 24, Household Schedule 173; ED 50
9 Edward Street, Anderston
William Paterson 38, Duns, Roseburghshire
Catherine 27, Carnock, Inverness
Mary 11, Glasgow, daughter
Janet Paterson, age 9, born about 1892, Glasgow, daughter
Donald 7, Glasgow, son
Harriet 4, Glasgow, daughter
Murdoch Morrison 24, Carnock, Inverness, Boarder
Alexander Morrison 21, Carnock, Inverness, Boarder
Donald Morrison 17, Carnock, Inverness, Boarder

Regards,
Anne

[Rodeo]

Hi Anne

Many thanks for the Ancestry search. Yes, it appears to be my Janet Mack in the Hamilton Combination Poorhouse in 1901, although she would have been 9 rather than 11.

All the best,

Rodeo

[nelmit]

Janet Mack Paterson, died, aged 16, in Hamilton Combination Poorhouse on 23 March 1908 of scrofulous abscesses due to tuberculosis of bovine origin (contracted through drinking the milk of infected cows).

What makes her premature (and disfiguring) death all the more tragic is that it would seem her well-heeled relations didn't taken her in when she was orphaned at the age of 2, her parents having been similarly carried off by tuberculosis. I can't find her in the 1901 census. Ironically, her uncle was the architect responsible for the extensions to Hamilton Combination Poorhouse.

I'm trying to determine if Janet Mack Paterson was consigned there through neglect or because Hamilton Combination Poorhouse functioned as a quarantine hospital at that time. Was she a long-term inmate and did she contract tuberculosis during her residency there -- or was she tubercular before entering Hamilton Combination Poorhouse?

Do the poorhouse records in Mitchell Library extend to 1908? If so, I'd be extremely grateful if someone could kindly do a lookup of the application record for her there. She was born in 1892, in Govan, to William Paterson and Catherine McVicar.

Many thanks in advance.

Cheers,

Rodeo

The records do extend to 1908 but may not include Janet's application :
1 - because she is a child and these records have a longer closure period. I did find one recently however for a child who was born in 1902.
2 - because the application was made to Hamilton poorhouse and only some of these records still exist.

I'll have a look next time I'm there.

Regards,
Annette M

[Rodeo]

Hi Annette

Many thanks for your reply and for your offer of a lookup. Your help is most appreciated.

Cheers,

Rodeo

[nelmit]

Hello rodeo,

I have transcribed an application made on behalf of the children when their mother died. As you already know that their mother died when Janet was 2 perhaps you have this. Who was your ancestor?

There was nothing from Hamilton when Janet died.

Regards,
Annette M

[Rodeo]

Hi Annette

Thanks so much for your help with that transcription. I've sent you a private message but am not sure that it made its way through the ether to you. Please let me know.

Cheers,

Rodeo

[nelmit]

Hi Annette

Thanks so much for your help with that transcription. I've sent you a private message but am not sure that it made its way through the ether to you. Please let me know.

Cheers,

Rodeo

Hello Rodeo,

No - it didn't make it. You could try again now that I've had a clearout.

Regards,
Annette M

[Rodeo]

Hi Annette

I've just re-sent the PM, which has gone through this time.

Cheers,

Rodeo

[nelmit]

For those of you watching this post - I couldn't find anything for Hamilton but found this when Janet & siblings were orphaned.

The summary to Hamilton from Glasgow read like this:

Case of Catherine McVicar or Paterson’s children Thomas, Donald, Janet and Mary.
136 King Street, Govan. 15/10/1894
Orphans aged 13 y 1 m, 5y 1m, 2y 7m, 1 week.

This case will be well known to you as the mother was an admitted pauper of your parish. She gave birth to a female child Mary on 12/10/94.
I have removed the four children to our Poorhouse today and await your instructions.
17/10/94 – from Hamilton
Send them for admission to our Poorhouse. I enclose order.
Thomas, Donald, Janet 15th Oct to 20th Oct ‘94
15th Oct to 16th Oct Mary, died interim.
20th Oct 1894 discharged to Hamilton.
Each child had their own application :

Application by Mrs Ken??? Brewery Bldgs, Bishopbriggs and Mr Paterson quarryman, Springburn unwell.

Thomas Dawson McVicar, illegitimate child of Catherine McVicar who was subsequently married to Wm. Paterson both dead.
Born 22/5/81 at 60 Douglas Street.

Donald born 8/9/89, 11 Palm Street, Glasgow.
Father -William Paterson, Mason who died 29/9/93 age 39. Born Hamilton.
Son of John Paterson, Mason dead and Janet MacRat???, 80 Chapel Street Hamilton.
Mother –Catherine McVicar who died a pauper of Hamilton on 12/10/94 age 39, born Lochgilphead. Daughter of Donald McVicar, seaman and Agnes McIntyre.
Parents married 11/6/86 at Brewery Bldgs.

Janet Paterson born 15/3/92 at 136 King Street.
Father William Paterson, Mason and Catherine McVicar both dead.

So it looks as though Janet spent most of her short life in Hamilton Poorhouse.

Regards,
Annette M