When did Government Pensions start in Scotland?

sheilajim · Post by **sheilajim** » Sat May 05, 2007 10:52 pm

Hi All

Can anyone tell me when Old Age Pensions were introduced in Scotland?

I have a multi-great Aunt called Catherine Kay, listed on the 1881 Census in Denny, as an Annuitant. Her age is listed as 78 years old so she would certainly be old enough for an old age pension. Her family was not rich, and she never married, so I would assume that it was some kind of government pension. She is listed as a seamstress on the 1871 census and her occupation on the 1861 census is "Mustin Flowers",

whatever that is.

She is a visitor at Dryburgh Cottage in Denny, on the 1881 Census, and I was wondering if that was some kind of Inn. There were five other seemingly unrelated people also staying at Dryburgh Cottage the night of
the census.

Regards

Sheila

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sun May 06, 2007 12:10 am

Hi Sheila
An annuitant in my tree has usually been someone living on an allowance given by a family member or living on money left by a relative.
e.g an estranged wife still sent money by her husband or a person (usually female in my tree...) living on an allowance which has been stated in the will of a relative, often paid twice yearly. In your case, perhaps her parent(s) (or an uncle, or a brother etc) left her an annuity.

"Mustin Flowers",

I think that may be muslin flowerer (but not having seen it , that is a guess!)
Best wishes
Lesley

p.s. also see
http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Old-Age_Pensions

In 1908 accordingly there was passed the Old-Age Pensions Act, which carried into effect a scheme for state pensions, payable as from the 1st of January 1909 to persons of the age of 70 years and over.

sheilajim · Post by **sheilajim** » Sun May 06, 2007 2:02 am

Hi Leslie

Thank you for that information. I was surprised that it took so long to get some kind of Old Age Pension going. Life must have been hard for people who could no longer work in those days.

I got the term "Mustin Flowers" from Ancestry.UK's census.

I haven't as yet looked at the original copies from SP.

It really puzzles me where Catherine Kay received her annuity from. There is no mention of it until the 1881 Census, and she died before the 1891 Census. Another one of those mysteries for me to ponder.

Regards

Sheila

momat · Post by **momat** » Sun May 06, 2007 9:20 am

Hello Sheila.
I don't know if this is her on the http://freecen.rootsweb.com 1851 Census
If so it could be that she had independant means maybe from the Farm as the Mother is stated as Annuitant ?

10 Records found

Piece: SCT1851/804 Place: St Boswells -Roxburghshire Enumeration District: 2
Civil Parish: St Boswells Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: St Boswells
Folio: 806 Page: 7 Schedule: 18
Address: Mainhill

Surname First name(s) Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
KAY Alexander Head U M 53 Prop 148ac & Farmer 300ac Perth - Monivaird employing 10 labourers
KAY Mary Mcl Mother W F 75 Annuitant Midlothian - Edinburgh Fname: Mcl deleted. Age: orig recorded as NK
KAY Catherine Sister W F 42 Sister Perth - Monzievaird POB: Strowan crossed out
KAY Margaret Sister U F 38 Sister Perth - Monzievaird
OSWALD Alexander K Nephew U M 11 Scholar Stirlingshire - Logie
BORTHWICK Elizabeth Servnt U F 22 House Servant Dumfries-shire - Annan
LEARMONTH Grace Servnt U F 17 Farm Servant Roxburghshire - Bedrule
THOMSON George Servnt U M 21 Farm Servant Roxburghshire - Jedburgh
DICKSON Peter Servnt U M 23 Farm Servant Berwickshire - Coldstream
MCMILLAN John Servnt U M 17 Farm Servant Roxburghshire - Jedburgh

There may be a Will on SP for Mary or Alexander Kay and that may give you some answers .

sheilajim · Post by **sheilajim** » Sun May 06, 2007 7:59 pm

Hi Maureen

Thanks for your interest, but that isn't her. Catherine Kay's parents were William Kay, (Farm Laborer) and Margaret Watson. They were from Stirlingshire. The whole family are on the 1841 Census. Strange thing is that I can't find my Catherine Kay on the 1851 Census.

She, and her sister Elizabeth (who never married either) along with their parents are missing from the 1851 Census. I assume that the parents died between 1841 and 1851, they were born in the 1770's. The two sisters show up again, living together in Denny in the 1861 Census, and 1871 Census. Elizabeth died in 1875.

Regards,

Sheila

pricech2 · Post by **pricech2** » Sat May 19, 2007 7:59 pm

Hi Sheila,

I've asked my mother, who still lives in Denny, about Dryburgh Cottage. Nobody she's spoken to can remember a Dryburgh Cottage. However, there is a house called Dryburgh Villa on Glasgow Road, near to the present-day Dryburgh Avenue. On the 1896 map of Denny, there is no Dryburgh Avenue, Dryburgh Villa or Dryburgh Cottage. Here's a link to part of the 1896 map and the present day map:

http://www.dennyanddunipace.pwp.blueyon ... -dunipace/

Regards............Christine

sheilajim · Post by **sheilajim** » Sun May 20, 2007 1:11 am

Hi Christine,

Thank you for that link. What wonderful pictures of Denny. I have never seen these before.

I suppose that what was Dryburgh Cottage, has been torn down.

Cheers

gzmcwherter · Post by **gzmcwherter** » Tue May 22, 2007 1:39 am

Hi Sheila,
I think I found the family on Ancestry indexed as Hay, in Denny, Stirlingshire. Catherine & Elizabeth are Muslen[sic] Sewer & William (aged 81) is Formerly Farmer.
Regards,
Gina

sheilajim · Post by **sheilajim** » Tue May 22, 2007 2:29 am

Hi Gina

It is them

They are at the same address, although as usual, the women lying l about their age.

I never dreamed that that my multigreat Grandfather William lived till 1851. This could be a big breakthrough.

I knew that my ancestor William was not born in Stirlingshire, as the 1841 census has him born out of the county. Now I know that he was born in Perth.

Thank you so much Gina.

It is amazing, all I really asked for was to find out when pensions were introduced. What a welcome surprise this is.

Thank you Again