Law Abiding Ancestors

[Pandabean]

I was thinking that all my ancestors surely cannot all be law abiding. They must have got up to some michief in their lives. Is the only way to check through the NA of Scotland?

Well actually one of my ancestors, Andrew Robb did get up to no good on New Years Eve 1883 and more than likely ended up drunk and as a result fell in the Forth and Clyde Canal at Falkirk. Well that really is only speculation as the RCE just states Accidental Drowning.

Also does anyone have any stories about their ancestors and any related wrong doings that they wish to share?

I know of a cousin whos ancestor was arrested either for stealing a chicken or hitting someone with a chicken.


Andy

[Morag]

Must be something about Falkirk !
I had a lovely morning in Edinburgh - at West Register House looking up court statements etc.

John Haston, who I thought was mine - but turned out to be a nephew of mine was charged with 'assault and attempt to ravish '! in Falkirk in 1860- found guilty and spent 9 months in Perth prison. The interesting parts were that all the witnesses , and even the victim were all either related or became so a couple of generations down the line !

Another one I found sounded like a real ramy in the street in Bainsford in 1821 - 2 husbands and wives ( mine ) were attacked by another 2 couples - the wives seemed to be the most vicious ! The statement cleared up a mystery however as she gave her name as Ann Howden ,maiden name Hosie , but sometimes referred to as Urquhart ( amazing spellings !) . So at least I knew it was the same person. The whole report was amusing - as the said Ann Howden was left with an indentation in her head - she must have been lovely !

I seem to be related to some colourful characters !

Morag

[Pandabean]

Hosie? I have a Hosie in my line married to an Andrew/William Ross. I currently do not have my laptop as its away for repair so I can't check for sure. But they lived in the Falkirk Area and Andrew/William was an Iron Moulder for Carron Iron Works (60% sure as he lived in the Carron Area).

Do you know much about the Hosie families at all?

[Bertha]

Hi
I did a NA search on my husbands gr gr grandfather and found him.
He was had up for Bigamy! Spent 15 months in Perth Prison for it.
The information led me to getting back another generation.
Bertha

[Morag]

Hi Andy

Unfortunately I know nothing about the Hosie family.
I have Ann Hosie or Urquhart ( Ochart) who was born in abt 1799 in Stirlingshire (according to the 1841& 1851 census). She married Thomas Howden in 1815 in Larbert , and managed to die between 1851 & 1855 - so I have no way of finding anything else. I have toured graveyards in the area and found nothing.
I don't know if this the same era as yours. Her husband worked at Carron Ironworks ( as did 90% of my family)
Her 1st daughter was Isabella, and 2nd son Alexander - if that helps you at all - I couldn't find any clues with that.

Morag

[jennyblain]

Two of mine - James Mushat and Helen Garrie, were up before a Glasgow court for stealing garments in 1822. I found a broadsheet online that mentioned it! James pled not guilty and was told to stand down.. Helen was 'taken unwell' and 'removed from the court'. Don't know what happened next, but I'm descended from their daughter born later so nothing too terribly dreadful occurred. Wish I could find out more though!

(I've asked the people doing the 'word on the street' project but they had nothing further on this incident.)

Jenny

[sheilajim]

Hi All

I also wonder whether my ancestors were all as law abiding as they seem on the surface. This includes the 20th century.

I remember an argument between my aunt and my mother back in the sixties. My aunt said that she thought that their mother, my grandmother had spent some time in jail.

It seems that my grandmother was very sympathetic to women's suffrage and my aunt thought that she spent some days in jail for this. My mother was horrified at the thought of their mother being in jail, and said that it could not be true. The argument got heated and raged back and forth between the two of them, for a few minutes, while I stared at them goggle eyed.
.
"Don't you remember that time, when she was gone from home, and Dad wouldn't say where she was?" My aunt persisted.
"No! Mother was never in jail!" My mother said vehemently, and refused to discuss the subject anymore.

I don't suppose that I will ever know whether there was any truth in my aunts story or not. She was a few years older than my mother and
usually her memory was the more reliable than my mother's.

Regards

Sheila

[Pandabean]

Morag - Sent you a PM.


Another story that I heard from my mother was about her father (my grandfather). Apparently he was at a wrestling match (the proper wrestling) and something happened to one of the contenders and my grandad got in the ring and continued the fight. I really need to find out more on this but my mother doesnt know much about it.

[mcblondie]

Hi everyone,

Here's a wee story for you. Don't know all the facts, but as a little girl I once remember my mother telling us a story of my grampa who was an ex policeman. Back in the 30's early 40's apparently they used to play the national anthem in the picture halls and everyone had to stand for the Queen (as you do). Allegedly my grandfather who had been on the night shift before had fallen asleep and awoke when he heard the loud music being played but before he had a chance to get his bearings about him the stewards grabbed him and brought in the police saying that my rellie refused to stand for the national anthem and the Queen? He then got thirty days.

Don't know if this is true or not, but can you imagine the shame of it.

[joette]

From a Poor Relief Record I was able to find out that my GGreat-Grandfather was doing time-40 days for assualt.My GGreat-Granny was in hospital at the time.The weans had to go into care.
I had a wee look at the local papers for any news on the matter.It looks to me that some "Close"justice had been meeted out to an abusive husband & father as myGG- Grandfather was not the only gentleman involved in the rammy.They were offered forty days or a fine & I guess those that could payed & those that could or chose not to went to jail.
There is a later article where the "victim" is jailed himself for assualt on his wife & sexual abuse of his children.
He received a broken limb & injuries to his groin!
From all accounts this Grandfather was a big,gentle character,stubborn & teetotal.Who enjoyed a song & a dance & loved to make toys for the weans in the family & in the neighbourhood.
There is no hint of this in family tales & so must have been deeply shaming thing.
His employers kept his job open for him & also paid for his wife medical care.