GreatgreatAunt Elizabeth Little ?

[littlealison]

My great-grandfather John Little had a sister Elizabeth, who appears in Dumbarton in the 1841 census aged 3, born 'out of county'.
I thought she had died young, but she appears in two certificates later:
1) On John Little’s marriage cert, 1860. to Margaret May. In Glasgow. (Typed out.)
2) On Elizabeth Little b 1874 birth cert, her niece – present at birth, informant. In Dublin.
Signed with a cross, not literate.

It wasn't until I found her at 13 living with her aunt Agnes MacPherson in Ayrshire , that I knew she was born in Alloa.(1851 census, does fit with other records)
I have yesterday found in the Edinburgh newspaper Caledonian Mercury a record of the beginning of a court case in Glasgow, in which an Elizabeth Little, servant to a doctor, is on a charge of child-murder. (Jan 5th and 6th 1866). He (Dr John Wilson Graham) is let off. She is committed - and I can't find anything else.
I don't know when she went to Ireland or why - but it was after this....
Could this be her? Is it likely to be about an abortion? Any ideas or info gratefully accepted!

[garibaldired]

I found one of mine accused of child murder too. I was able to read the details (which were very sad) at NAS.
It seemed she was unmarried and gave birth in a shed alone. No one had known she was pregnant, though some had suspected, and there was a dispute about whether the baby was alive when born. I was surprised just how much detail there was - statements from doctor, police, family, employer and busybodies! She served some time in prison.

Not sure this helps you though!

Best wishes, Meg

[littlealison]

Hi Meg.
I suspect this was something similar. Where did you find details - I can't place NAS?
Is there any source of Scottish records?
It might explain why she went to Dublin. It has taken me a long while to even get this much about her - she's been very elusive! She's the only one of my family I have found who was illiterate, and there is something puzzling about why she isn't with her parents.
- thanks - Alison

[garibaldired]

Hi Alison,

NAS - National Archives of Scotland. You can search the online catalogue. I did have a look for your Elizabeth but I couldn't find her. You might have better luck of course!

Meg

[littlealison]

Hello again Meg.
Duh - I must have been half asleep last night.
I only found one ref just now and that was far too early to be her. Perhaps she was acquitted?
I will go on looking - Alison

[Currie]

Hello Alison,

There's a lengthy article describing the circumstances in The Dundee Courier & Argus, Saturday, January 06, 1866. No conclusion other than that she had been committed.
Age given as something between 27 and 30.

Let me know if you can't access it. Dundee Courier is in part 2 of 19C BL Newspapers.

Alan

[littlealison]

Hi again Alan!
Yes I have it. Thanks! The best thing - apart from all the gory details, which the newspapers of the time revel in - is that it gives her age, which makes it more likely that this is my relative. (28 at the time)

And if it was in many of the Scottish newspapers, maybe she did want to get away to Ireland! Her brother left probably in 1870, she was there by 1874....time in prison???
A quick search of ScotlandsPeople - without registering - gives some references but no criminal ones....
regards, Alison

[littlealison]

Back again with new questions.
If committed, to what court, what would a charge of child murder be likely to lead to in 1866?
If imprisoned, where, what prison in Glasgow for women then?

Or where can I find out?
(Have been trying to look up both, and getting nowhere!)
She's in Dublin in 1874.

[cathy52]

hi, the prison your gt gt aunt would probably be duke street prison, my gt grandads second wife was in there . hope this helps

[littlealison]

Hi there - thanks Cathy. I have found a few pictures - what a place! - but no records.....