Wee Mary, John and Jane Pitt

[Clannessie]

Since I have gotten back into looking for info on my Thomas and Elisabeth Campbell Galloway family....I once again wonder what happened to the above children!

It's such a sad story. Seems on probably a cold evening at 4:30 on December 9, 1874, Helen Galloway P:itt gave birth to once again a stillborn child. Her husband, Alexander Pitt - 51, had died 4 months earlier. Helen dies three days later at 47. Over the course of her childbearing years she lost at least six children..maybe more either at childbirth or at a young age. Her surviving children in 1874 were: Mary - 1862, John - 1864, and Jane or Janie - 1868. A son she had before marrying Alexander, Thomas Galloway Pitt (he at a young age took the Pitt name) married in 1870 and died in 1822 leaving a young wife and 2 small children.

So my question is what happened to Mary, John and Jane after their Mother's death?

I can't seem to find them on the 1881 or more census.

I have found marriage recorde for all three names...but have not seen the records.

There is a Mary Pitt who married a James Mitcell in 1889 in Bridgeton.

For John there were five different records. The one's that caught my eye was to an Elizabeth Lyon's in 1890 in Bridgeton and to a Jane Hamilton in 1904 also in Bridgeton.

For Jane to a Robert Cowan in 1895 in Gorbals.

Anyone else have any more info on my poor orphans?

Thanks,
Karen
Glendora, CA

[LesleyB]

Hi Karen

Mary - 1862, John - 1864, and Jane or Janie - 1868

Where were the children born?

So my question is what happened to Mary, John and Jane after their Mother's death?

Have you searched for deaths for them?

Best wishes
Lesley

[Clannessie]

Sorry forgot that info!

They were born at 7 Graeme St. One census says St John census, 7 Graeme St, and then Backland?

Other records say they were born in High Church, Glasgow.

[WilmaM]

They may have been absorbed into an aunt or uncle's family, if grandparents weren't around.

Do you know of any siblings of Helen or Alexander's?
In census returns they could have been put down under the family's surname but retained the Pitt name when marrying.

[AndrewP]

One census says St John census, 7 Graeme St, and then Backland?

Other records say they were born in High Church, Glasgow.

High Church was a registration district from 1855 to 1873. St John's was a parish, which fell partly in High Church RD, and partly in Bridgeton RD. After the registration districts were re-organised in 1874, High Church was split and looks like it became part of Blackfriars, Camlachie and Dennistoun RDs. On looking at various maps, it looks like St John's parish fell mostly into Blackfriars RD. Some of it may have fallen into Dennistoun.

All the best,

AndrewP

[SarahND]

Hi Karen,

There is a John Pitt in Millbrook, Durham East, Ontario, Canada who says in 1901 that he was born 1 Oct 1866 in Scotland. I know that is two years off, but it is exactly two years off... to the day. Which makes me wonder...

He marries Minnie Piercey in 1893 and says his parents were Alexander and Ellen. He also claims to be 25 in that year, so I think he was a bit hazy about his age-- natural in the circumstances if this is your John.

He is not the only one unsure of his age:

Jennie Pitt, age 36, born Glasgow, parents Alexander Pitt and Helen Galloway, married Wm Andrew Mills, age 52 on 12 Sep 1906 in Lanark, Ontario

They are living in Toronto in 1911, this time she says she was born in December 1866.

No sign of Mary that I can find. Unless she is the Mary G Pitt, a cook in Toronto in 1901, claiming to have been born 15 April 1870... Right month, I think? But again, the year is off. This one at least has a clear entry so I can see that the year of immigration is 1881.

None of them appear to die in Ontario, but the index only goes up through 1934, so maybe they all lived long lives, unlike their poor parents.

All the best,
Sarah

[Clannessie]

I am so glad to know now that they did live on! Everytime I have gotten back into this line of family...it really brings me to tears reading the situation of Helen and her kids. Helen and her Mom, Elizabeth Campbell Galloway, had lived with one of her brothers during the 1841 and 51 census that I know for sure...but he had died in 1857. My GGGGgrandmother had died by the 1861 census. Not sure where Hele's other sibblings were to help out...am figuring she was pretty much on her own.

Interesting too that they settled in Ontario, Canada. Helen Galloway Pitt was the youngest sister of my GGGGrandmother...Jean Galloway Young. In the 1920's six of Jean's Great Grandchildren settled in Detroit, Michigan..as did my Mom in the 1940's after the war had destroyed Clydebank. There was 18 years difference in age between Helen and Jean.

Thanks again for the info...never thought about looking into Canada. Makes me wonder who else ended up in Canada!

Karen

[SarahND]

Hi Karen,
So pleased they turned up! Such a sad story.

Found Mary's marriage. She is Mary Louise Pitt, parents Alex Pitt and Ellen Galloway. She married Robert Walter Seath or Scott in 1907 in Toronto. His name is indexed as Robert Walter Seath Scott, but his father's surname is Seath... so I'm not sure. Scott is written in above the other names on the certificate.

Cheers,
Sarah

[Clannessie]

God...I love this site so much...any question I have put to it..I have gotten back more then I ever hoped for!!!

Thanks again Sarah

Love,
karen

[Currie]

That was a very nice round-up Sarah.

Does this page add anything extra or is it the same as what you found? (near the bottom left side) As far as I can see the other two marriages don’t appear to be in this database yet. http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ ... ndur93.htm

8667-93 John PITT, 25, clerk in store, Scotland, Millbrook, s/o Alexander & Ellen, married Minnie PIERCEY, 23, Canada, Millbrook, d/o William & Mary, witn: George COOMBE & Margaret CHEVALIER, both of Millbrook, 1 Feb 1893 at Millbrook

All the best,
Alan