James McHale was born in Ireland about 1838 to Bridget Henichen and Michael McAle, Farm Labourer. Bridget was dead by the time of James's marriage in 1864.Margaret Colvin (twin of Catherine) was born in Lightburn, Shettleston, on March 11, 1832 to Cecilia Murray (c1809 - c1848) and James Colvin (c1809 - 1856). [See Section CL-5-1 for family background.]
Their known children are —
James born about 1865 in Glasgow. Ellen born in 1867 in Shettleston. Cecilia born in 1869 in Shettleston.
1864 On Friday, May 27, James and Margaret were married at Eastmuir by Fr. P. McLaughlin, Pastor of St. Paul's Rom. Cath. Church. The marriage was registered No.19 at Shettleston on May 30.
James was a Bachelor and gave his age as 26, occupation Farm Labourer and usual residence as Lightburn, Shettleston Parish. his parents are recorded as Michael McAle [sic], Farm Labourer and Bridget McAle m.s. Henichen, deceased.
Margaret was a Spinster and gave her age as 25 (she was 32), occupation Steam Loom Weaver and usual residence also Lightburn, Shettleston Parish. Her parents are recorded as James Colvin, Cotton Weaver and Cecelia Colvin m.s. Murray, both deceased.
The witnesses were Thomas Kelly and Elizabeth Colvin [who?].
The marriage is also recorded in the register of St Paul's, Eastmuir —
"John McHale & Margaret Colvin, after due proclamation of Banns, were married by me in the presence of Thomas Kelly and Elizabeth Colvin. Patrick McLaughlin."
1865 James was born, somewhere in Glasgow.
1867 Helen (Ellen) was born at 1h0m p.m. on February 22 at Lightburn, Shettleston to James McHale, Casual Labourer and Margaret McHale m.s. Colvin who were married on 186? May 27 at Eastmuir. Her birth was registered No.45 at Shettleston on February 28 by James McHale, "his X mark", Father.
She was baptised by Fr Patrick McLaughlin in the parish of St Paul's, Eastmuir on March 3 with sponsors James Colvin and Cecilia Colvin.
1869 Cecelia was born at 4h0m a.m. on October 10 at Lightburn, Shettleston to James McHale, Canal Bank Labourer and Margaret McHale m.s. Colvin who were married on 1864 May 27 at Eastmuir. Her birth was registered No.180 at Shettleston by James McHale, "his X mark", Father.
She was baptised by Fr Patrick McLaughlin in the parish of St Paul's, Eastmuir on October 24 with sponsors Hugh Tonner and Agnes McCreanor.
1871 April 3 Mary Colvin was living with the McHales on Lightburn Road in a house in which one room had one or more windows. The household is listed as:
Rel. Mar. Age Occupation Birthplace James McHale Head Mar 33 Labourer Ireland Margaret Wife do. 38 Lanarkshire, Lightburn James Son Unm. 6 do, Glasgow Ellen Daur. do. 4 do., Lightburn Cecilia do. do. 1½ do., do. Mary Colvin Lodger do. 41 do.
1874 Margaret McHail, married to James McHail, Labourer, died at 0h25m p.m. on Thursday, March 12 at Gartnavel Royal Lunatic Asylum, Partick, aged 41, of Disease of the Brain of indefinite duration as certified by John Hay, MD. Her death was registered No.120 at Patrick on March 14 by Alexr. Angus, Attendant.
Her parents are recorded as James Colvin, Weaver and Mary [rather than Cecilia] Colvin m.s. Murray, both deceased.
There is an entry in the records of St Peter's Cemetery, Dalbeth - Internments in Common Ground on March 14 for Margaret McHale, age 41, cause of death Decline and a fee of 10/-.
Following the death of his first wife, Margaret Colvin in 1874, James remarried.
1876 On Thursday, June 29, James and Bridget Tinna were married at Eastmuir by Fr. G McBrearty, Cath. Clergyman [presumeably at St. Paul's]. The marriage was registered No.31 at Shettleston on the same day.
James was a Widower aged 36, he gave his occupation as Quarry Labourer and usual residence as Lightburn. His parents are recorded as Michael McHale, Farm Labourer and Bridget McHale m.s. Henichen, both deceased. [His father has died since James's first marriage but not in Shettleston.]
Bridget Condry or Tinna was a Widow, she gave her age as 37, no occupation recorded and usual residence Lightburn. Her parents are recorded as Michael Tinna [or possibly Finna], Farm Labourer and Bridget Tinna, m.s. Graham, both deceased. Since Bridget is named as Bridget Condry or Tinna, I infer that her previous husband was Mr. Condry. [I have not attempted to find that marriage or his death.]
The witnesses were Thomas Condry and Mary McBride. The bride, groom and witnesses all made their marks.
The marriage is recorded in the Register of Marriages in St Paul's with Bridget's surname as Tunny
1881 April 3 James and Bridget were still living on Lightburn Road in a house with one windowed room.
Rel. Mar. Age Occupation Birthplace James McHale Head Mar 40 Lab. in Chemical Work Ireland Bridget do. Wife Mar 40 Farm Worker do. James do. Son Unmar 16 Moulder Lanarkshire, Glasgow Thomas Connery Stepson Unmar 16 do., Lightburn Cecilia McHale Daughter 11 Scholar do., do. Judging by the entry for Thomas, Bridget's previous married name has changed to Connery. Just for interest I checked the 1881 Census for Lowland Scotland and found no matches for Condry.
James and Margaret's daughter Ellen is missing, she too may have died (I haven't checked all McHale events yet) or, since she would now be about 14 and old enough to work, may have been living elsewhere, though I haven't found her in the 1881 Census for Lowland Scotland.
Mary Colvin has also vanished, with no record of her death in Shettleston.
1901 March 31 I don't know if this is our James but he was living in Lightburn Cottages two doors from Daniel and Margaret Colvin, in a house with one windowed room.
Rel. Mar. Age Occupation Birthplace James McHale Head Widower 53 Surfaceman Ireland He claimed to be a Gaelic speaker.
Three doors in the other direction, in a house with one windowed room, was —
Rel. Mar. Age Occupation Birthplace Margaret McHale Head Mar 30 Reservist's Wife Paisley, Renfrewshire James do. Son 6 Shettleston, Lanarkshire Charles do. Son 4 do., do. Cissy do. Daur 2 do., do. who look to be worth further investigation.