Sarah Rowley in Barnhill Poorhouse

[ArchiveCookie]

I have a Sarah Rowley in my tree that was born 13 Mar 1867 in Glasgow and died 25 Jan 1868 in Barnhill Poorhouse. Her parents were living apart at the time, and later dissolved the marriage. There were 2 other children: Samuel born in 1863 and Mary born in 1861. The father's name was Aaron Rowley and the mother was Fanny, but on Sarah's death certificate it lists both parents' names as 'unknown'. Sarah died of measles.

Can anyone help me with the details? I'd like to know why Sarah was in the poorhouse, and whether or not they were all there (Fanny and the other children) at that time or just her? If just her, was it common for infants to be alone in the poorhouse? Was it like a sick children's hospital? Sorry for having so many questions about this, but I really know next to nothing about poorhouses and who they take and why...

[nelmit]

I have a Sarah Rowley in my tree that was born 13 Mar 1867 in Glasgow and died 25 Jan 1868 in Barnhill Poorhouse. Her parents were living apart at the time, and later dissolved the marriage. There were 2 other children: Samuel born in 1863 and Mary born in 1861. The father's name was Aaron Rowley and the mother was Fanny, but on Sarah's death certificate it lists both parents' names as 'unknown'. Sarah died of measles.

Can anyone help me with the details? I'd like to know why Sarah was in the poorhouse, and whether or not they were all there (Fanny and the other children) at that time or just her? If just her, was it common for infants to be alone in the poorhouse? Was it like a sick children's hospital? Sorry for having so many questions about this, but I really know next to nothing about poorhouses and who they take and why...

I am visiting The Mitchell library on Thursday and will have a look for the application.
It seems very strange that their are no parent details on her death certificate. Sounds harsh but the only reason I can think of is that her mother abandoned her.
Does it mention anything about a foundling on the death entry?

Kind regards,
Annette M

[ArchiveCookie]

Thank you, Annette, for looking for me! The death certificate just lists Sarah as 'pauper' under her name, as do the other 2 on the same page. All of the 3 names on the page list parents' names as unknown, and all were in the Barnhill Poorhouse. I wondered if it was just laziness or not caring enough to dig out the information on the part of the reporting individual. Although the abandonment would have been out of character for Fanny, it is a possibility that crossed my mind as well. Aaron was living in England and Fanny left him to raise 3 children alone in Glasgow - one of which was a sick infant, which she gave birth to after arriving in Glasgow (where several of her siblings lived) - so I suppose anything is possible...

[nelmit]

Thank you, Annette, for looking for me! The death certificate just lists Sarah as 'pauper' under her name, as do the other 2 on the same page. All of the 3 names on the page list parents' names as unknown, and all were in the Barnhill Poorhouse. I wondered if it was just laziness or not caring enough to dig out the information on the part of the reporting individual. Although the abandonment would have been out of character for Fanny, it is a possibility that crossed my mind as well. Aaron was living in England and Fanny left him to raise 3 children alone in Glasgow - one of which was a sick infant, which she gave birth to after arriving in Glasgow (where several of her siblings lived) - so I suppose anything is possible...

Hello again,

The inspectors were very thorough when recording applications which is why I don't understand why she had no parents' details.

Obviously Sarah couldn't speak for herself but whoever placed her there would have to give information about her birth and family if they knew.

Here's the inspector's report on one of mine.
http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-69

If you have a look at some of the transcribed applications under the 'Institutions' section of the forum you can see just how detailed some of them are.

Anyway hopefully I will find the application on Thursday.

Kind regards,
Annette M

[nelmit]

Hello again,

Sorry I couldn't find anything on Sarah in the poorhouse applications but there is one for Aaron Rowley made before Sarah was born. There is also a short one for Joseph Wellwood born 1813 at Belfast, son of Moses and Jean.

Since you are aware that Aaron and Fanny separated you may have these but if not let me know if you want them posted.

I met a very kind gentleman at The Mitchell today and he found and transcribed them.
He wishes to remain nameless but if I say he is a Paisley buddy who now lives in Clydebank I'm sure everybody will know who I'm talking about. It was lovely to meet him at last!

Kind regards,
Annette M

[ArchiveCookie]

Annette,

Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time and effort! I do not have either - rather than post them here, could you send them to me via private msg? I would REALLY appreciate it! Thank you again!

Debbie

[nelmit]

Annette,

Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time and effort! I do not have either - rather than post them here, could you send them to me via private msg? I would REALLY appreciate it! Thank you again!

Debbie

Hello Debbie,

Your thanks should really go to the never ending efforts of the guy who transcribed them but I'll type them up and PM them to you.

For those who have been watching this post I'm afraid there is no mention of wee Sarah as the application was made before her birth.
Also nothing about Moses junior, the missionary, for those who have taken an interest in the 'Ireland' topic.

Debbie, as a point of interest regarding the other two death entries with Sarah's - were they all children?

Regards,
Annette M

[Muriel]

Sorry to hijack this post but I've also what seems to be a stange one connected to Barnhill. One of my GGG grandparent's children was a son, Bryce Macadam/McAdam, born about 1836. I have him in the 1841, 1851 & 1861 censuses, living with his mother & being employed by her in her pawnbroking business.

In the 1871 census the only Bryce McAdam of the right age is in Barnhill - described on the census as the Barony Parish Poorshouse, Lunatic Asylum & Fever Hospital, Barnhill, Springburn. He is 33 and a lunatic. His occupation is given as medical student & his place of birth unknown. Then in 1873 there is the death of a Bryce McAdam in Barnhill, from nervous exhaustion. This time he is described as a clerk with no known kin. It seems to me that if Bryce went off his head & was put in the asylum by his family they would have given his particulars. The name is unusual but there are a few others around over the years, presumably some kind of relations, but the age makes it seem likely that that Bryce the pawnbroker & Bryce the lunatic might be one & the same.

Anyone any views about why the poorhouse does not seem to have any details?

Muriel

[ArchiveCookie]

Yes, they were children, but older than Sarah. Only her one son survived into adulthood.

Edit to add:

With regard to Moses: after tossing around the idea that Moses simply began using another name (Matthew - due to the biblical connection, but it was a stretch. It now appears Matthew was a sibling), I have come to the conclusion that Moses remained in Ireland, unlike the rest of his siblings who all ended up in the Glasgow area. Another sibling, John, had a son John who became a minister in Scotland, in the Drainie area.

[Muriel]

Hijack ended. SKS - guess who - who knows the records well has checked up on Bryce for me. The application for Poor Relief in 1862 is there, giving his place of birth (something I didn't have) & his parents names & then noting on his admission into the asylum in 1864 that his mother (by then a widow) will be paying £20 p.a. towards his keep. Why when he dies in 1873 his parents are recorded as unknown heaven knows. Perhaps if nobody visited they didn't bother to check the records, feeling that it didn't matter.

Muriel