Cornelius Houston was born in Kilbirnie, Ayrshire about 1851 to Mary Hanny (c1820 - 1881) and Cornelius Houston, a Coal Miner (c1813 - 1870). [See Section HN-5-1 for family background.]
Sarah Reynolds was born on March 8, 1854 in Eastmuir, Shettleston to Ellen Connelly (c1826 - 1896) and Patrick Reynolds, Coal Miner (c1826 - 1882). [See Section RS-5-1 for family background.]
They had the following children (that I know of) —
Sarah born in 1872 at Windyedge, Cleland, married John McCafferty in 1890. Cornelius born in 1874 at Omoa Square, Cleland, last sighting 1891. Patrick born in 1876 at Newarthill, last sighting 1891. Thomas born in 1878 at Omoa Square, Cleland, last sighting 1891. Joseph born in 1880 at Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, last sighting 1891. John born in 1882 at Omoa Square, Cleland, last sighting 1891. Francis born in 1884 at Omoa Square, Cleland, last sighting 1891. Mary (1) born in 1886 at Omoa Square, Cleland, died in 1890. Ellen born in 1889 at Omoa Square, Cleland, last sighting 1891. Mary (2) born in 1891 at Omoa Square, Cleland, died six weeks later.
1871 On Tuesday, July 4, Sarah and Cornelius were married by Fr. G. McBrearty in Eastmuir, Shettleston [St. Paul's], after Banns According to the forms of the Roman Catholic Church. The marriage was registered No.20 at Shettleston on July 5.
Cornelius was a Bachelor, gave his age as 19, occupation Coal Miner and usual residence as Middlequarter [the part of Shettleston roughly between McNair Street and Killin Street], Shettleston Parish. His parents are recorded as Cornelius Houston, Coal Miner, Deceased, and Mary Houston, m.s. Hanny.
Sarah was a Spinster, age 17, occupation Outdoor Worker and usual residence as Eastmuir, Shettleston Parish.. Her parents are recorded as Patrick Reynolds, Coal Miner, and Helen Reynolds, m.s. Connelly
The witnesses were Michael Roger and Ann McGee. This Ann might be the Annie McGhee who was living next door to the Reynolds at the 1871 Census with her mother Agness, a hatmaker aged 50 who appears to have been born in Dumfries, Traquin as near as I can read it. This might be meant to be Troqueer, a parish in Kirkcudbrightshire. Ann herself was aged 15, born in Glasgow and a cotton mill worker as was Sarah at the time of the census. I have no reason to connect these McG(h)ees with the Lightburn McGees but am keeping an open mind.
The bride, groom and both witnesses made their marks rather than signing the register.
The event is also recorded in the Register of Marriages at St Paul's —
"Cornelius Houston & Sarah Reynolds were married by me in the presence of Michael Roger and Ann McGee on the 4 July 1871. G McBrearty."
1872 Sarah was born at 1h0m p.m. on Monday, February 26 at Windyedge to Cornelius Houston, Coal Miner and Sarah Houston m.s. Reynolds who were married on July 4, 1871 at Eastmuir, Shettleston. Her birth was registered No.45 at Shotts on March 2 by Cornelius Houston, Father, Present. Cornelius signed the register on this occasion, and on a couple of later occasions, but usually made "his X mark".
Sarah married John McCafferty on November 18, 1890.
1874 Cornelius was born at 0h5m a.m. on Sunday, January 18 at Omoa Square to Cornelius Houston, Coal Miner and Sarah Houston m.s. Reynolds who married on July 4, 1871 at Shettleston, Barony Parish, Glasgow. . His birth was registered No.33 at Shotts on February 2 by Cornelius Houston, "his X mark", Father.
1876 Patrick was born at 1h30m a.m. on Wednesday, September 13 at Watson's Square, Newarthill, Parish of Bothwell to Cornelius Houston, Coalminer and Sarah Houston m.s. Reynolds who married on July 4, 1871 at Eastmuir, Shettleston. His birth was registered No.385 at Holytown on the same day by Cornelius Houston, "his X mark", Father.
1878 Thomas was born at 10h30m p.m. on Monday, April 15 at Omoa Square, Shotts Parish to Cornelius Houston, Coal Miner and Sarah Houston m.s. Reynolds who married on July 4, 1870 (sic) at Eastmuir, Shettleston. His birth was registered No.29 at Cleland (West District of Shotts) on the following day by Cornelius Houston, "his X mark", Father, Present.
1880 Joseph was born at 10h p.m. on Thursday, February 5 at Loading Bank, Kilbirnie, Ayrshire to Cornelius Houston, Iron Miner and Sarah Houston m.s. Renolds [sic] who married on July 4, 1870 (sic) at Shettleston. His birth was registered No.17 at Kilbirnie on February 12 by Cornelius Houston [who signed his name again], Father.
1881 April 3 The family were living at 10 Kersland Row in the hamlet of Kersland in the District of Dalry, in a house in which one room had a window.
Rel. Mar. Age Occupation Birthplace Cornelius Houston Head Mar 27 Ironstone Miner Ayrshire, Dalry Sarah do. Wife Mar 27 Lanarkshire, Barony Sarah do. Daur 9 Scholar do., Shotts Cornelius do. Son 7 Scholar do., do. Patrick do. do. 4 do., Bothwell Thomas do. do. 3 do., Shotts Joseph do. do. 1 Ayrshire, Kilbirnie Nowadays, there is a Kersland House and a short Kersland Road close to Glengarnock railway station.
1882 John was born at 3h10m a.m. on Wednesday, March 8 at 76 Omoa Square, Shotts Parish to Cornelius Houston, Coal Miner and Sarah Houston m.s. Reynolds who married on July 4, 1871 at Eastmuir, Shettleston. His birth was registered No.15 at Cleland (West District of Shotts) on March 29 by Cornelius Houston, "his X mark", Father.
1884 Francis was born at 9h45m a.m. on Thursday, May 29 at 68 Omoa Square, Shotts Parish to Cornelius Houston, Coalminer and Sarah Houston m.s. Reynolds who married on July 4, 1870 (sic) at Eastmuir, Shettleston. His birth was registered No.48 at Cleland on June 16 by Cornelius Houston, Father.
1886 Mary was born at 1h45m p.m. on Thursday, July 1 at Omoa Square, Shotts Parish to Cornelius Houston, Coalminer and Sarah Houston m.s. Reynolds who married on July 4, 1871 at Eastmuir, Shettleston. Her birth was registered No.51 at Cleland (West District of Shotts) on July 16 by Cornelius Houston, "his X mark", Father.
Mary was registered No.51, No.56 was her cousin John Kelly, born on July 14.
Mary died on March 18, 1890.
1889 Ellen was born at 11h30m a.m. on Tuesday, January 22 at 76 Omoa Square, Shotts Parish to Cornelius Houston, Coalminer and Sara Houston m.s. Reynolds who married on July 4, 1871 at Eastmuir. Her birth was registered No.16 at Cleland, West District of Shotts, on February 8 by Cornelius Houston, "his X mark", Father.
1890 Mary Houston, Single, died aged 3 years and 8 months at 7h40m a.m. on Tuesday, March 18 at 67 Omoa Square, Shotts Parish of Bronchitis after 21 days as certified by James Duncan, M.B.C.M. Her parents are recorded as Cornelius Houston, Coalminer and Sarah Houston m.s. Reynolds. Her death was registered No.17 at Cleland (West District of Shotts) on the same day by Cornelius Houston, Father, Present.
1890 On Tuesday, November 18, Sarah married John McCafferty at the RC Chapel, Cleland after Banns etc. [See Section MC-7-1 for further information.]
1891 A second Mary was born at 6h0m p.m. on Friday, January 16, at 79 Omoa Square, Shotts Parish to Sarah Houston m.s. Reynolds and Cornelius Houston, Coalminer who were married 1870 (should be 1871) July 4 at Eastmuir, Shettleston. Her birth was registered No.13 at Cleland, West District of Shotts, on February 4 by Cornelius Houston, Father.
Sadly, Mary died aged 6 weeks at 7h30m a.m. on Saturday, February 28 at 79 Omoa Square, Shotts Parish of Pneumonia after 3 days as certified by James Duncan, M.B.C.M. Her parents are recorded as Cornelius Houston, Coalminer and Sarah Houston m.s. Reynolds Her death was registered No.12 at Cleland the same day by Cornelius Houston, "his X mark", Father, Present.
1891 April 5 The family were living at 79 Omoa Square in a house in which one room had one or more windows. The household is listed as:
Rel. Mar. Age Occupation Birthplace Cornelius Houston Head Mar 39 Coal Miner Ayrshire, Boston Sarah Wife Mar 38 Lanarkshire, Eastmuir Cornelius Son Unm 17 Coal Miner do., Shotts Patrick Son 15 do. do. do., do. Thomas Son 13 do. Worker do., do. Joseph Son 11 Scholar Ayrshire, Kilbirnie John Son 9 do. Lanarkshire, Shotts Francis Son 7 do. do., do. Ellen Daur 2 do., do. I have no idea how Cornelius's birthplace comes to be Ayrshire, Boston but there is no other way I could read the entry.
On the same date, Sarah and John McCafferty were living at 98 Omoa Square in a house with one windowed room. John's occupation is Brickworker, both were born in Shotts, Lanarkshire.
1891 Sarah Houston, married to Cornelius Houston, Coalminer died at 9h35m on Sunday, July 19, aged 36, at 79 Omoa Square, Shotts Parish of Chronic Nephritis Oedema [fluid retention in the kidney if I've read that correctly] after 12 months as certified by James Duncan, MBCM. Her parents are recorded as Patrick Reynolds, Coalminer and Ellen Reynolds m.s. Connelly. Her death was registered No.32 at Cleland on the following day by Cornelius Houston, Widower, Present.