The McGowan Family

Marriage of Elizabeth Chrystal Neil and John McGowan 24 Apr 1914 at St John the Evangelist, Portugal Street, Glasgow

“1914 Marriages in the District of Gorbals in the Burgh of Glasgow Page 73 Item 145
On the 24  day of April 1914 at St John Church, Portugal Street, Glasgow  after Publication according to the forms of the Roman Catholic Church [were married] Signed: John McGowan, Iron Plater’s Helper, Bachelor [aged] 17 [usual residence] 1 South Stirling Street, Glasgow [son of] John McGowan, Seaman and Grace McGowan, previously Baird M.S. Aird [and]
Signed: Elizabeth Chrystal Neil, Domestic Servant, Spinster [aged] 18 [usual residence] 10 Eglinton Lane, Glasgow [daughter of] John Neil, Carter  (deceased) and Mary Anne Neil, M.S. Chrystal. Signed John B. Macluskey. Signed  Witnesses  Wm. Baird, Dorothy McGowan [Registered] 24 April 1914 Glasgow. Jno Brown Registrar

Marriage of John Neil and Mary McKenna 24 Mar 1913 . Scotland’s People 1913 NEIL, JOHN (Statutory registers Marriages 644/ 17 143) Page 72 Item 143.

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Grace Aird – Some Background

Grace Aird was a daughter of Alexander Aird, a Smith’s hammerman, and Margaret Richmond who probably married 14 November 1828 in Glasgow. An index entry on Find My Past refers to her as Marion Richmond rather than Margaret.

Marriage of George Baird and Grace Aird 22 Jan 1879 at 1 Waterbrae, Burgh of Paisley.

“1879 Marriages in the District of Paisley in the County of Renfrewshire Page 30 Item 60
On the 22 day of January 1879 at 1 Waterbrae, Burgh of Paisley. After Banns according to the forms of the Church of Scotland [were married] Signed: George Baird, Cabinet Maker, Bachelor [aged] 27 [usual residence] 1 Waterbrae, Paisley [son of] William Baird, Cabinet Maker (Master) and Marion Baird, M.S. Forsyth (Deceased) and Signed: Grace Aird, her x mark, (Witnesses A Montgomery Lang & Wm Baird) Housekeeper, Spinster [aged] 21 [usual residence] 1 Waterbrae, Paisley [daughter of] Alexander Aird, Smith’s Hammerman and Margaret Aird, M.S. Richmond. Signed A Montgomery Lang. [Signed] Wm Baird Witness, Grace Boyd Witness. [Registered] 27th January 1879 at Paisley. Hugh Allison Registrar”

Marriage of Grace Aird and George Baird 27 Jan 1879, Paisley. Scotland’s People – 1879 AIRD, GRACE (Statutory registers Marriages 573/ 60) Page 30 Item 60

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George Baird and Grace Aird at the 1881 Census 11 Greenhill Road, Middle Church, Paisley.

1881 Census Return for 11, Greenhill Road, Middle Church, Paisley Find My Past. (1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census , Schedule: 62 , Record ID: GBC/1881/0029617759

We do find some of the children at the next census.

George Baird and Grace Aird at the 1891 Census 18 Grace Street, Barony, Anderston.

1891 Census Return for 18 Grace Street, Barony, Anderston Find My Past. (1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census , Schedule: 28 , Enumeration district: 34 , Record ID: GBC/1891/0033385624

So we see George here as a 40-year-old cabinet maker; Grace is 32 years old and their Children are William (9) – a scholar, George (4) and Charlotte (2). We would have expected to see Agnes as well but again the answer was in the registers. Agnes was born in 1883.

However, there is an entry in the death indexes that says she died in 1885.

Oddly it says she died aged 0. There is obviously some mistake here but I am convinced it is the same child and this explains why she is not present in the household at the 1891 Census.

Death of George Baird 29 Jun 1891 at Lenzie

George Baird died shorty after the taking of the 1891 Census. We know something of the death of George Baird from the birth registration in 1896 of John Aird or Baird (Illegitimate) (later to be McGowan) where it says his mother is “a Power Loom Weaver, Widow of George Baird Cabinet Maker who died in Lenzie on 29 Jun 1891” There is an index entry for this is the death registers.

At the next census we see the new situation that Grace finds herself in with a new partner in John McGowan, though it is not obvious that she ever married him as their only two natural children were born illegitimate and when she died she was registered as Grace Aird not McGowan.

John McGowan and Grace Aird or Baird at the 1901 Census for 24 Nicholson Street, Glasgow

1901 Census Return for 24 Nicholson Street, Glasgow Find My Past. (1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census , Schedule: 168 , Record ID: GBC/1901/0037434926

Here we find John McGowan as a 33 year old Stoker on a steamship, born Ireland. Grace, his wife is aged 40 and was born in Kilwinning, Ayrshire. Also present is the son Grace had with George Baird, William Baird and he is a nineteen year old Tube Worker born in Paisley, Renfrewshire. John is aged 5 and Dorett(a) is aged 1; both were born in Glasgow. In my genealogy software, I have recorded these people properly but as it was written in the census it is misleading. Grace is called McGowan though it appears she did not marry John so she remained either an Aird (her MS) or Baird. So William Baird is correctly recorded as a Baird because George was his father but the other children are John’s so should properly be called McGowans or Airds. I assume the recorder of the family put ditto marks where he should not have done but I decided I had to look at an image of the census return and this produced the following which confirms my belief.

1901 Census Return for 24 Nicholson Street, Glasgow. Scotland’s People 1901 Census England, Wales & Scotland Census: MCGOWAN, JOHN (Census 644/12 1/ 30) Page 30 of 34

An examination of this original record shows that the recorder of the family put ditto marks for the surname all the way down after John McGowan before later correcting William’s record from William McGowan, son to William, Baird, stepson. However he did not the write McGowan again afterwards and just left the original dittos which meant that, at least on Find My Past, these have been described as John Baird, son and Doreth Baird, daughter instead of the correct John McGowan and Doreth McGowan. Interestingly, when you search Scotland’s People for a 1901 Census for John McGowan and Grace or John as an additional forename in the household, it brings up the correct entry but if you put William or Doreth as an addition name it turns up blank! A true transcription, bearing in mind other facts, would have this return recorded as seen immediately above:

John McGowan and Grace Aird or Baird at the 1911 Census for 1 South Stirling Street, Glasgow

1911 Census Return for 31 South Stirling Street, Gorbals (Scotland’s People 1911 Census England, Wales & Scotland Census: 1MCGOWAN, GRACE (Census 1911 644/17/ 021/00 026) Page 26 of 30

This census return informs us that John McGowan is a Fireman on a Marine Ship aged 25 and born in Ireland. His wife, Grace, is 50 years old. She says that she was born in Kilwinning and has been married for fifteen years and has had three children, two of which are alive. Firstly, her marriage to John McGowan should have taken place in 1896 and this fits well with the birth of their first child at that time. However, I still have not found this marriage and at John’s birth in 1896 it is said that he is “illegitimate” so perhaps she has just been living with John McGowan that long.

Anyway I think when she says that she has had three children and that only two of them are alive that she is referring to her offspring with John McGown. The 1911 Census return shows us that she still has children from her previous marriage living with her and John. The children are
John, son, aged 11 and a Machine Boy at a Tube Work born Glasgow, Lanarkshire. This is John McGowan’s son
Doretta, daughter, aged 11 and at school, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire. This is John McGowan’s daughter.
Daniel Houston, adopted son, aged 2 born Glasgow, Lanarkshire. He was actually the son of Christopher Houston and Margaret Horn; more on this topic below.
William Baird, Boarder, aged 30, Labourer at Tube Works born Paisley Renfrewshire. William is the son of Grace’s first partner, George Baird.He is a widower; more on this below.
Mary Baird, Boarder, aged 9, Scholar born Ireland. I am not certain who this is
Grace Baird, Boarder, aged 7, Scholar born Glasgow, Lanarkshire. This is the daughter of William Baird.

This is all a bit complicated but may become clearer by looking at two situations; William Baird and Daniel Houston, before continuing with John and Grace’s other children.

More on Daniel Houston, adopted son of John McGowan and Grace Aird.

I have found two children born to John McGowan and Grace Aird; John (who married Elizabeth Chrystal Neil) who was born 3 June 1896 and Doretta who was born 12 Nov 1899. I have found no other children born to this couple but at the 1911 Census, as we have seen above, he is recorded as living with the family at 1 South Stirling Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. He is just 2 years old and was born in Glasgow.

Daniel was actually the son of Christoper Houston and Margareet Horn who married in 1904.

I found three children born to this couple:

I have been unable to find a deaths for Christopher Houston nor Margaret Houston or Horn so that remains a bit of a mystery. I found a baptism for Daniel’s sister, Mary Ann in 1905 but did not find baptisms for wither Elizabeth nor Daniel.

Death of Daniel Houston 27 Nov 1917

Daniel Houston didn’t live long after the 1911 Census; he was knocked down by a motor car and died from a fracture to the base of his skull.

“Daniel Houston, single, [died] 27 November 1917 [at] 6h PM Victoria Infirmary usual address 1 South Stirling Street, Glasgow [aged] 9 [son of] Christopher Houston, General Labourer  [and] Margaret Houston MS Horn  (Deceased) [cause of death] Fractured Base of Skull [as cert by] M Devers M.B.  [informant] Grace McGowan,  her (x) mark Grandmother, 1 South Stirling Street, Glasgow (Witness) • Henry Hunter Registrar [Registered] 28 Nov 1917 at Glasgow. Henry Hunter Registrar”
[Margin Note] 719  See RCE  Vol 8 No 43

Death of Daniel Houston 27 Nov 1917. Scotland’s People 1917 HOUSTON, DANIEL(Statutory registers Deaths 633/ B 719) Page 240 Item 719.

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1917 HOUSTON, DANIEL (Statutory registers Corrected Entries 633/ BO 008 43)
(RCE)

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More About William Baird

At the taking of the 1911 Census of 1 South Stirling Street, where John and Grace McGowan lived there was a boarder named WIlliam Baird,a 30 year old widower and a labourer in a tube factory. This was Gracr’s son by her first husband George Baird. There is also Mary baird, aged 9 and born in Ireland and Grace Baird, aged 7 born in Glasgow. I have been unable to find out anything about Mary but Grace is William’s daughter (as Mary probably is too) William had married Kate McGowan in 1903.

Marriage of William Baird and Kate McGowan

I know from the birth registration of William and Kate’s child, Grace, that the couple were married on 2 May 1903 in the Gorbals Registration District. There is an index entry in the marriage registers for this but I have not paid to see it.

Grace is the only child that I have found to this couple.

Birth of Grace Baird 28 Feb 1904 at 78 Greenside Lane, Glasgow

“1904 Births in the District of Gorbals in the Burgh of Glasgow
Grace Baird [born at] 78 Greenside Lane, Glasgow [on] 28 February 1904 [daughter of] William Baird, Iron Tube Work Labourer & Kate Baird MS McGowan [were married] 2 May 1903 at Gorbals, Glasgow. [informant] Wm Baird, Father. [Registered] 4 Mar 1904 at Glasgow. Jno Brown Registrar

Birth of Grace Baird 28 Feb 1904. Scotland’s People – 1904 BAIRD, GRACE (Statutory Registers Births 644/12 251 Page 84 Item 251

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I looked for a death for Kate as William is said to be a widower at the 1911 Census; the best fit I could find was:

Surname	Forename	Age at death	Mother's MS	Gender	Year	Ref	RD Name
BAIRD	KATIE	27	MCWHIRTER	F	1911	608 / 13	New Cumnock

But this is quite speculative. This is pretty much all I have researched in this interesting but remote branch of the family so now I return to the children of John McGowan and Grace Aird.

The Children of John McGowan and Grace Aird

We have seen the unfortunate life of their adopted son, Daniel Houston, who was knocked down and killed by a car driver. That leaves John McGowan and his sister, Doretta McGowan. at the

Birth of John McGowan 3 Jun 1896 at 26 Finnieston Street, Glasgow

1896 Births in the District of Anderston in the Burgh of Glasgow
John Aird or Baird (Illegitimate) [born] 3 Jun 1896 [at] 7h 30m am [at] 26 Finnieston Street, Glasgow, [the son of] Grace Aird, Power Loom Weaver Widow of George Baird, Cabinet Maker who died in Lenzie on 29 Jun 1891. Grace Baird Her [x] Mark, Mother. [witness] James Stirling Registrar. Registered 26 June at Glasgow [by] James Stirling Registrar

Birth of John Aird or Baird 3 Jun 1896. Scotland’s People (1896 AIRD, JOHN (Statutory registers Births 644/10 791) Page 264 Item 791)

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This birth registration does not name John McGowan as his father and the informant was his mother rather than John McGowan so we cannot say from this that John McGowan senior was his father. However, at the 1901 and 1911 censuses he is said to be the son of the head of household who is John McGowan and when he marries in 1914 he is said to be the son of John McGowan, seaman. The family are living at 26 Finnieston Street, Glasgow. Interestingly Grace is also described as “Power Loom Weaver Widow of George Baird, Cabinet Maker who died in Lenzie on 29 Jun 1891”

Birth of Doretta McGowan 12 Nov 1899 at 37 Clyde Street, Glasgow

1899 Births in the District of Anderston in the Burgh of Glasgow
Doretta McGowan (Illegitimate) [born] 12 Nov 1899 [at] 9h 30m pm [at] 37 Clyde Street, Glasgow, [the daughter of] John McGowan, Ship Yard Labourer and Grace Aird, Housekeeper, Widow of George Baird, Cabinet Maker who died in Lenzie on 29 Jun 1891. Grace Baird Her [x] Mark, Mother. [witness] James Stirling Registrar. John McGowan FatherRegistered 27 November 1899 at Glasgow [by] James Stirling Registrar

Birth of Doretta McGowan 12 Nov 1899. Scotland’s People (1899 MCGOWAN, DORETTA (Statutory registers Births 644/10 1344) Page 448 Item 1344)

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Doretta’s birth registration is much clearer. Although she is also “illegitimate”, she is named as Doretta McGowan and although Grace is the informant, John McGowan, ship yard labourer is said to be her father and aditionally he was present at the registration and signed the document as “father”. The family are now living at 37 Clyde Street, Glasgow. I do not know what happened to Doretta; I could not find a marriage for her but it is an unusual name and I did find the following entry in the indexes to deaths:

One curious thing about this entry, though, is that she is recorded as being Doretta Baird not McGowan. Furthermore when I looked just for the death of Dorettas but without specifying a surname i got the following:

This is almost certainly the same person and this suggests that perhaps she had married a McLean but I could not find a marriage that fitted at all. Doretta is a little confusing and it would be good clear this up one day.

Summary

We saw, above, the household of John McGowan and Grace Aird or Baird at both the 1901 Census when the family were living at 24 Nicholson Street, Glasgow and in 1911 when the family were living at 1 South Stirling Street, Glasgow. We have seen what fate befell John and Grace’s adopted son Daniel Houston and it seems like Doretta remained unmarried (unless she coincidentally married a Baird! or she married a McLean which we have failed to uncover) until she died aged 78 in 1978. As for John McGowan, as we saw at the very top of this page, three years after the 1911 Census, he married Elizabeth Chrystal Neil and it is at this point that we return to the main narrative of the children of John Neil and Mary Anne Chrystal.