Patrick Reynolds was born about 1826 in Ireland; in Antrim according to the 1871 Census supported by family tradition. According to his death certificate (1882), he was the son of William Reynolds, Labourer, and Catherine Hammil, both of whom predeceased him. Patrick was illiterate; making "his X mark" when registering the births of his children after 1855 (the start of civil registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Scotland).
Ellen Connelly was also born in Ireland, probably in Antrim in the same year since she is usually recorded with the same age as Patrick. According to her death certificate (1896), her parents were Richard Connelly, Farmer, and Sarah O'Neil, both of whom predeceased her.
Paddy and Ellen married in Ireland, according to the birth records of three children born in Scotland after this information was included in the registration. One certificate gives the date as 1845 but no more specific date or place is recorded. Family tradition has it that the family came from Randalstown which is in the Parish of Drummaul, Barony of Upper Toome in the poor Law Union of Antrim but a first check of Griffith's Valuation (compiled about 1861) failed to reveal any significant cluster of suitably named families in this area.
They were in Scotland by 1850.
Their known children are —
Richard born in Ireland about 1848, married Mary Lafferty in 1873 and died in 1917. William born near Tollcross in 1850, married (1) Catherine Hillon in 1881 (2) Ellen Connelly in 1890
and was still alive in 1901.Jane born near Tollcross in 1852, married Robert Kelly and may or may not have been alive in 1901. Sarah born in Eastmuir in 1854, married Cornelius Houston and died in 1891. Patrick born in Eastmuir in 1856, married Sarah Carroll and was still alive in 1901. Catherine born in Co. Antrim about 1858, married Patrick Smyth and was still alive in 1901. John born in Eastmuir in 1860, married Ellen McVey and was still alive in 1901. Francis born in Eastmuir in 1863, married Rosina McDermott and was still alive in 1901. Ellen born in Baillieston in 1865 and died just before her first birthday. Joseph born in Eastmuir in 1868, married Ellen McDermott and was still alive in 1901.
Family tradition has it that Ritchie was born in Ireland, brought to Scotland as a babe in arms and then sent back to Ireland to return to Scotland in his early teens. The latter part looks likely as I have not found him with the family in the Scottish records prior to his marriage in 1873 but the censuses of 1881 and 1891 give his birthplace as Airdrie and 1901 has Shotts!
His age is given as 23 in 1873, 32 in 1881, 43 in 1891 and 53 in 1901 (I'll ignore the 62 on his death certificate in 1917!) so he could have been born any time between 1847 and 1850. However, he is older than William at the censuses of 1881 and 1891 so probably born about 1848/49.
The National Archives of Scotland hold copies of some early Roman Catholic church registers (much easier to access than going to individual parishes) including the Register of Baptisms for the parish of St Margaret's, Airdrie but I failed to find any entry for Ritchie between 1846 and 1850. However, I did find -
Bridget, lawful child of Patrick Reynolds and Helen Conly,
born January 8, 1847, baptised January 9, 1848 by J Gray,
sponsors William Gaden? and Maria Brown.Is she ours? If so, what happened to her? And where does the name "Bridget" come from. Should it be Richard? Also, I have my doubts about the birth date. The three or four previous entries were for births in December 1847 and I am inclined to think that this one is an error, a year and a day between birth and baptism seems a bit unlikely.
Ritchie married Mary Lafferty in Newarthill on June 17, 1873 (q.v.) and died on April 12, 1917 in Stane, Shotts.
1850 From the Register of Baptisms for St Mary's, Abercromby Street, Glasgow :-
William, lawful child of Patrick Randles and Ellen Randles, was born on Sunday, March 31 and baptised on April 7 by William Lillis, sponsors Edward and Catherine McEwan.
OK, the surname's wrong but everything else fits, even the godparents as McEwans (or McKeons) turn up in years to come in Eastmuir.
According to the censuses of 1851, 1861 and 1891, William was born in Tollcross, Lanarkshire. The census of 1881 says Westmuir but I am inclined to doubt that. However, it is interesting that in the 1871 Census, his birthplace is given as Old Monkland rather than Barony Parish (which contained the original village of Tollcross). Taken at face value, this could mean that he was born in Easterhill, Fullarton or Clyde Iron Works (which had a substantial Catholic population), all on the south-east side of Tollcross but across the parish boundary.
William married Catherine Hillon in Rutherglen on July 18, 1881 (q.v.). After her death on February 7, 1889, he married a widow (and family friend) Ellen Connelly in Eastmuir on July 18, 1890.
Now, it appears that Ritchie was named after his maternal grandfather and William after his paternal grandfather. If I am right that Ritchie was older than William, this would seem to go against the usual practice of naming the first-born son after his father's father. I don't know if I'll ever find out the truth of the matter but if I go looking for Ritchie in Antrim, I think I'll start looking for him with the Connellys rather than with his Reynolds grandparents. (I have already established that neither the Reynolds nor Connelly families occur in the surviving fragments of the 1851 Census for Antrim.)
1851 March 30 In a house in the village of Eastmuir (that part of the present day Shettleston stretching east along Shettleston Road from about the top of Killin Street) there dwelt —
Rel. Mar. Age Occupation Birthplace Patrick Reynolds Head Mar. 24 Lab., Coalhill Ireland Eleanor do. Wife Mar. 24 do. William do. Son U. 1 Lanark, Tollcross Henry McCone Cousin U. 23 Lab. on Coalhill Ireland Patrick do. do. U. 18 do. do. do. James Carvery Lodger U. 22 do. do. do. William Carrigan do. U. 21 do. do. do. There were a dozen or more coal mines stretched along through Shettleston at various times in the 19th Century. I have no information on when they were operating but there were the Palace and Gartocher No.7 pits in Eastmuir with Sandyhills (near the junction of Shettleston Road and Sandyhills Road) nearby.
On the same date, a few hundred yards away in Back Row, Shettleston, dwelt James and Sarah McGee who had amongst their children, a four year old Thomas, of whom more anon.
1851 Peter Reynolds and Helen Reynolds were sponsors at the baptism of John, lawful child of John Travers and Mary Doyle, who was born on June 8 and baptised on June 19 by Fr. John Shaws in the parish of St Mary's, Abercromby Street, Glasgow.
1852 From the Register of Baptisms for St Paul's, Eastmuir (established in 1852) —
Jane, lawful child of Patrick Reynolds and Helen Connelly, Catholics, was born on Saturday, February 28 and baptised on March 14 by Eugene Small, sponsors Patrick McEwan and Jane Kerr.
Now, Jane's birthplace is given as Tollcross in the 1861 Census, as Old Monkland Parish in the 1871 Census and just Lanarkshire in the 1891 Census. My comment's on William's birthplace apply here also, with some additional thoughts about why William and Jane were born in Tollcross either side of the family residing in Eastmuir. The straightforward explanation would be that the family moved back and forth according to where Patrick was employed. However, it might be the case that Ellen had female kin or kith in Tollcross and went there for her confinements (it's only a mile away).
Jane married Robert Kelly in Wishaw, on July 14, 1873.
1853 Patrick Reynolds and Ellen Connelly were sponsors at the baptism of Mary, lawful child of John Travers and Mary Doyle (Catholics), who was born on November 18 and baptised on November 30 by Fr Patrick McLaughlin in the parish of St Paul's Eastmuir.
1854 From the Register of Baptisms for St Paul's, Eastmuir —
Sarah, lawful child of Patrick Reynolds and Ellen Connelly (Catholics) was born on March 8 and baptised on March 12 by Fr Patrick McLaughlin, sponsors John Travers and Mary Doyle.
Various censuses give her birthplace as Eastmuir.
Sarah married Cornelius Houston in Eastmuir on July 4, 1871 and died on July 19, 1891 at Omoa Square, Cleland.
1856 Patrick Renolds was born at 2h15m a.m. on Saturday, February 2 at Eastmuir, Shettleston to Patrick Renolds, Redsman and Helen Renolds m.s. Connelly. His birth was registered No.23 at Shettleston on February 8 by Patrick Renolds, "his X mark", Father, Present.
He was baptised [as Patrick Reynolds] by Fr Patrick McLaughlin in St Paul's, Eastmuir on February 10 with sponsors Patrick Donnelly and Cath McKeown.
Patrick married Sarah Carroll at Carfin on August 17, 1876.
1856 August 17 The marriage of Andrew Conechy and Catherine Feeney was conducted by Fr. Patrick McLaughlin in the parish of St Paul's Eastmuir, with witnesses Patrick Reynolds and Catherine McKeon.
1857 Patrick Reynolds and Ellen Connelly were sponsors at the baptism of John, lawful child of John Connelly and Ellen Benston (Catholics), who was born on May 21 and baptised on June 14 by Fr Patrick McLaughlin in the parish of St Paul's, Eastmuir. John was the younger brother of Ellen Connelly who married William in 1890.
A new stone church was opened in Eastmuir this year to replace the wooden building which had been in use previously. The new church remained in service until 1957.
1858 Catherine was born, in Eastmuir according to the 1861 Census but in Antrim according to the 1871 Census and in Ireland according to the 1881 and 1891 censuses. I much prefer the Irish origin as there is no record of her birth in Shettleston about that time, nor any entry in the register of Baptisms for St Paul's, Eastmuir.
The year of her birth is a best guess as she seems to have got younger as she got older, being 3 at the time of the census in 1861, 12 in 1871 and 21 in 1881. She gave her age as 22 when she married in September 1881.
Catherine married Patrick Smyth at Cleland on September 5, 1881.
1860 John Ronalds was born at 11h30m p.m. on Wednesday, October 17 at Eastmuir, Shettleston to Patrick Ronalds, Coalminer and Helen Ronalds m.s. Connelly. His birth was registered No.211 at Shettleston on October 22 by Patrick Ronalds, "his X mark", Father, Present.
He was baptised [as John Reynolds] by Fr Patrick McLaughlin in the parish of St Paul's, Eastmuir on October 28 with sponsors Hugh Kelly and Margaret Brown.
John married Ellen McVey at Cleland on May 11, 1888.
1861 April 8 The family (still without Ritchie) were living in Houston's Land on the south side of Airdrie Road (now Shettleston Road) in the village of Eastmuir in a house in which 2 rooms had one or more windows. The household is listed as —
Rel. Mar. Age Occupation Birthplace Patrick Reynolds Head Mar. 35 Coal Miner Ireland Ellen do. Wife Mar. 35 do. William do. Son 11 Scholar Lanark, Tollcross Jane do. Daur. 9 do. do., do. Sarah do. Daur. 7 do. do., Eastmuir Patrick do. Son 5 do. do., do. Catherine do. Daur. 3 do., do. John do. Son 1 do., do. The continuing absence of Ritchie, who would be about 13, supports the family tradition that he spent his childhood back in Ireland.
Houston's Land was adjacent to St. Paul's Chapel House wherein dwelt
Rel. Mar. Age Occupation Birthplace Patrick McLaughlin Head Unm. 40 RCath Pastor of
St. Paul's RC ChurchIreland Bridget Gillon Ser. Unm. 36 Housekeeper do. Mary Trainer Ser. Unm. 17 Domestic Ser. Ayrshire, Kilbirnie This is the Fr. McLaughlin who gained considerable fame far beyond the local area when he did 15 days in jail for refusing to divulge the identity of a penitent thief who asked him to address an envelope for the return of stolen money, holding that the transaction was covered by professional confidentiality.
By this time, the McGees had moved to Lightburn and Thomas, aged 15, was an engraver.
1861 Now, here's a thing. On April 23, Fr. Patrick McLaughlin conducted the marriage of Thomas McNulty and Catherine McGee in St. Paul's. One of the witnesses was Patrick Reynolds who made "his X mark". It seems a little odd that 19 year old Thomas would have our 35 year old Patrick as best man (and a married man at that) but our Patricks are the only ones in Shettleston at this time.
I know nothing of Thomas beyond his parents' names, but I came across this marriage while investigating two households of Dunigans in Shettleston the members of which frequently crop up as baptismal sponsors and marriage witnesses for members of the family of James and Sarah (nee Dunigan) McGee in Lightburn, and less frequently, vice versa. Catherine's mother was Catherine Dunigan, daughter of John Dunigan and Catherine Cairney whereas Sarah's parents were John Dunigan and Ann Campbell.
The only things I know about Catherine's father, William McGee are his name, he was a coal miner, born in Glasgow about 1820 and that he appears to have died before the commencement of civil registration.
1862 There is an entry in the register of Baptisms for the parish of St Paul's, Eastmuir which shows Jane Reynolds as sponsor to Ann, child of John Smith and Grace Gallaher (mixed religions) born March 17, 1861 and baptised on March 14, 1862 by Fr Patrick McLaughlin. Current Canon Law places a general minimum age of 16 on a sponsor but younger persons may act in exceptional circumstances. I don't know what special circumstances might have applied here to allow a ten year old to act but I have not come across any other Jane Reynolds in the district.
1863 May 7 The marriage of Hugh Hamilton and Marjory Coyle was conducted by Fr. Patrick McLaughlin in the parish of St Paul's Eastmuir, with witnesses Patrick Reynolds and Sarah McIlhutton.
1863 Francis Ronalds was born at 2h0m p.m. on Saturday, September 26 in Eastmuir, Shettleston to Patrick Ronalds, Coal Miner and Helen Ronalds, m.s. Connelly who married in Ireland. His birth was registered No.221 at Shettleston on October 1 by Patrick Ronalds, "his X mark", Father, Present.
He was baptised (with correct surname) by Fr Patrick McLaughlin in the parish of St Paul's Eastmuir on October 2 with sponsor Bridget Gillon.
Francis married Rosina McDermott at Cleland on August 30, 1889.
1864 The name Ellen Reynolds occurs as the sponsor at the baptism of Alexander, lawful child of Alexander Currans and Mary Baird (mixed religions), born on April 6 and baptised on May 18 by Fr Patrick McLaughlin in the parish of St Paul's, Eastmuir.
Patrick Reynolds and Ellen Connelly were sponsors at the baptism of Richard, lawful child of Patrick McLaughlin and Margaret Kilpatrick (Catholics), born on July 8 and baptised on July 17 by Fr Patrick McLaughlin in the parish of St Paul's Eastmuir.
1865 Ellen Ronalds was born at 9h0m p.m. on Tuesday, May 16 at Camp Row, Baillieston to Patrick Ronalds, Coal Miner and Ellen Ronalds m.s. Connelly who married in Co. Antrim (Ireland) in 1845. Her birth was registered No.136 at Faulds, Baillieston (District of Old Monkland West) on May 24 by Patrick Ronalds, "his X mark", Father.
She was baptised (with correct surname) on July 28 by Fr Patrick McLaughlin in the parish of St Paul's, Eastmuir with sponsors John Travers and Mary Doyle.
Sadly, Ellen lived less than a year and died on May 9, 1866.
1865 On June 7, 1924, the Glasgow Eastern Standard published an article by Kenneth M. McRae describing a walk from east to west through Shettleston as it was about 1865. This begins —
"From the Porter's Lodge on the left hand a wall extended to the small row of houses where lived, among others, such old Shettlestonians as Paddy Renolds and Tam Ewan, while at the end of this row stood St. Paul's Church, the clergyman of these days being Father McBrearty."
1865 Patrick Reynolds and Ellen Connelly were sponsors at the baptism of Catherine, lawful child of Patrick McGreehan and Margaret Bains [or Burns] (Catholics), born on August 14 and baptised on August 20 by Fr Patrick McLaughlin in the parish of St Paul's Eastmuir.
1865 William Reynolds and Margaret Convrey [might be Couvery] were sponsors at the baptism of John, lawful child of Thomas McEwan and Martha Williams (mixed religions), born on August 11 and baptised on September 3 by Fr Patrick McLaughlin in the parish of St Paul's Eastmuir.
1866 Ellen Ronald (Single) died at 11h0m p.m. on Wednesday, May 9 at Camp Row, Baillieston, aged 12 months, of Pneumonia after 8 days, as certified by George Willis, Surgeon. Her parents are recorded as Patrick Ronald, Coal Miner and Ellen Ronald m.s. Connolly. Her death was registered No.71 at Faulds, Baillieston on the following day by Patrick Ronald, "his X mark", Father, Present.
1866 Patrick Reynolds and Jane Reynolds were sponsors at the baptism of James, lawful child of James Trainor and Elizabeth Cunningham (Catholics), born on August 14 and baptised on August 20 by Fr. Patrick McLaughlin in the parish of St Paul's Eastmuir.
1867 Patrick Reynolds and Jane Reynolds were witnesses to the marriage of John Gillon and Ann McFadyn in St Paul's on June 15.
William Reynolds and Cath. McAleer were witnesses at the marriage of Peter King and Ann Gillespie in St Paul's on June 30.
From the Register of Marriages in St Paul's, Eastmuir —
"Die 1a Septembris – Casus Inexpressibilium Terentius Keegan et Margarita Drainan.
Terentius Keegan et Margarita Drainan qui per 16 annos in statu concubinatus vineru(i)nt,
hodie post tres successivas proclamatione eaquad hic casus non fuit ignatus,
a me nodo matrimoniali conjunti sunt, presentibus Patritio Reynold & Sara Reynold.
Patritius McLaughlin"
1868 Joseph Renolds was born at 10h0m a.m. on Saturday, August 8 at Eastmuir, Shettleston to Patrick Renolds, Coal Miner and Helen Renolds m.s. Connelly who married in Ireland. The birth was registered No.148 at Shettleston on August 11 by Patrick Renolds, "his X mark" , Father, Present.
[There are two entries for Joseph in the index, one for Renolds and one for Reynolds but both point to the same entry in the register with surname Renolds.]
He was baptised by Fr Patrick McLaughlin in the parish of St Paul's, Eastmuir on August 16 with sponsors Bernard Carville and Jane Couvney [might be Couvrey or Convery].
Joseph married Ellen McDermott at Cleland on July 18, 1890.
1869 Patrick Reynolds and Ellen Connelly were sponsors at the baptism of Margaret, lawful child of Patrick McGreehan and Margaret Burns [or Bains] (Catholics), born on July 15 and baptised on July 21 by Fr Patrick McLaughlin in the parish of St Paul's Eastmuir.
1871 April 3 The family were still in Eastmuir, in Houston's East Row on the Airdrie Road and still with 2 windowed rooms. (I don't know if the property had been redeveloped or just renamed but it seems to be in the same location as the Houston's Land of 1861.) The household is listed as —
Rel. Mar. Age Occupation Birthplace Patrick Reynolds Head Mar. 44 Coalminer Antrim, Ireland Helen C Reynolds Wife Mar. 44 Wife do., do. William Son Unm. 21 Coalminer Lanark, Old Monkland Jane Daur. do. 19 Mill Weaver do., do. Sarah Daur. do. 17 do. do. do., Barony Patrick Son do. 15 do., do. Catherine Daur. do. 12 Antrim, Ireland John Son do. 10 Lanark, Barony Francis do. do. 7 do., do. Joseph do. do. 2 do., do. Ritchie is still missing. He would have been in his early twenties at this time and should have returned to Scotland by now but I have failed to find him in Eastmuir, or in Newarthill or Omoa and have no idea where to look next. I have also failed to find Mary Lafferty in the 1871 Census though I did find the rest of her known family.
The chapel house (called St. Paul's Cottage this time) was occupied by —
Rel. Mar. Age Occupation Birthplace George McBrearty Head Unm. 32 Roman Catholic Priest Renfrew, Greenock Teresa Tynan
Servant do. 31 Housekeeper & Servant Parsontown, K. Co. Ireland [Parsonstown, K(ings).Co. is now Birr, Co. Offaly]
The McGees were still in Lightburn where Thomas, aged 25, still unmarried, was a Hand Engraver to Calico Printer. In 1875 he married Margaret Hyslop in Manchester, in 1879 they had a son James who, in the fulness of time, became the father of Rosa McGee.
1871 On Tuesday, July 4, Sarah married Cornelius Houston in Eastmuir, after Banns according to the Forms of the Roman Catholic Church. [See Section HN-6-4 for further information.]
I wondered if Cornelius had any connection with the property in which the Reynolds lived but my researches found that his Houstons were immigrant coal miners (like the Reynoldses) who came to Shettleston via Ayrshire and New Kilpatrick and there is nothing to suggest that they were moonlighting as property owners.
1871 December 1 The marriage of Constantine O'Neil and Margaret Drain was conducted by Fr. Patrick McLaughlin in the parish of St Paul's Eastmuir, with witnesses Pat. Reynolds and Mrs Rose Rodan.
1873 On Tuesday, June 17, Ritchie married Mary Lafferty at Newarthill, after Banns according to the Forms of the Roman Catholic Church. [See Section RS-6-1 for further information.]
Since all following events take place in the east of Lanarkshire, (with the exception of William's marriages,) I think that the whole family had moved from Eastmuir by this time.
1873 On Monday, July 14, Jane married Robert Kelly at the Roman Catholic Church, Wishaw. [See Section KY-6-1 for further information.]
1876 On Thursday, August 17, Patrick married Sarah Carroll at Carfin, after Banns according to the Forms of the Roman Catholic Church. [See Section RS-6-3 for further information.]
1881 April 3 By this date, the family were living in Omoa at No.71 Omoa Square (previously Omoa Iron Works which had closed in the 1860s) in a house with one windowed room.
Rel. Mar. Age Occupation Birthplace Patrick Reynolds Head Mar. 58 Coal Miner Ireland Ellen do. Wife Mar. 58 do. Catherine do. Daur. Unm. 21 Brickworker do. John do. Son Unm. 19 Coal Miner Lanarkshire, Barony Francis do. Son Unm. 16 do. do. Joseph do. Son 12 Scholar do. Ritchie and Mary Lafferty were living at No.35
with three children while Patrick and Sarah Carroll dwelt at No.95, also with three children.
William was living in Rutherglen, a lodger with a family named Hillon.
Jane and Robert Kelly with four children were living at Metal Row, Newarthill, two doors from Mary Lafferty's mother Ellen and her second husband John McNicol.
Sarah and Cornelius Houston with five children were down in Ayrshire in the village of Kersland in the Parish of Dalry.
1881 On Monday, July 18, William married Catherine Hillon at the Catholic Chapel, Rutherglen. [See Section RS-6-2 for further information.]
1881 On Monday, September 5, Catherine married Patrick Smyth at the RC Chapel, Cleland. [See Section SM-6-1 for further information.]
1882 At 1h30m a.m. on Thursday, November 30, Patrick, a coalminer married to Helen Connelly, died, aged 56, at Omoa Square of bronchitis (after 14 days) as certified by John Taylor, Physician Surgeon. His death was registered No.39 at Cleland in the West District of Shotts on the same day by his son John.
1888 On Friday, May 11, John married Ellen McVey at the RC Chapel, Cleland. [See Section RS-6-4 for further information.]
1889 On Friday, August 30, Francis married Rosina McDermott at the RC Chapel, Cleland. [See Section RS-6-5 for further information.]
1890 On Friday, July 18, Joseph married Ellen McDermott at the RC Chapel, Cleland. [See Section RS-6-6 for further information.]
1891 April 5 Ellen was living in at McAuley's Property, Cleland, in a house in which only one room had one or more windows. With her was her granddaughter Ellen Kelly (aged 15). All of her known children were living along the road in Omoa Square —
No.3 Ritchie & Mary Lafferty with 6 children No.4 Catherine & Patrick Smyth with 5 children No.34 Patrick & Sarah Carroll with 8 children No.49 William & Ellen (his second wife) with 3 children No.55 Jane & Robert Kelly with 9 children (not counting Ellen) No.69 Francis & Rosina McDermott with daughter Ellen No.71 John & Ellen McVey with 2 children No.79 Sarah & Cornelius Houston with 7 children (not counting Sarah) No.111 Joseph & Ellen McDermott with no children yet. Also in Omoa Square, at No.98, there was Sarah, oldest child of Sarah and Cornelius Houston with her husband of five months, John McCafferty.
All were in houses which had only one room with one or more windows except Jane and Robert who had two windowed rooms.