William was born on March 31, 1850, probably in Tollcross, Lanarkshire to Ellen Connelly (c1826 - 1896) and Patrick Reynolds (c1826 - 1882). [See Section RS-5-1 for family background.]
Catherine was born about 1862 in Ireland to Ann Icols (Catherine's marriage registration, or it could be Jeols) or Eccles (Catherine's death registration) and Henry Hillon. The only information I have on the Hillons is the following Census entry.
1881 April 3 There dwelt at 123 King Street, Rutherglen the following —
Rel. Mar. Age Occupation Birthplace Henry Hillon Head Mar. 46 Coal Miner Ireland Ann Wife Mar. 44 Miners Wife do. Catherine Daur. Unm. 18 Finisher in Starch Work do. Thomas Son 15 Rivet Boy Lanarkshire, Rutherglen Daniel Son 11 Scholar do., do. William Reynolds Lodger Unm. 24 Coal Miner do., Westmuir The census entry seems to show the house had two rooms with one or more windows but the 2 is crossed out and replaced with 1. However, there is also a 1 against William's name, plus he has a separate schedule number, a rare occurrence in my limited experience in an entry for a lodger. This might be taken to imply that there was some sort of arrangement whereby William had a room to himself with the Hillons occupying the other room. I'd be surprised if that were the case, much more likely is William sharing with the two sons with Maw, Paw and Catherine in the other room. (At least 'til I find a date of birth for their first child.)
Now, it is possible that I have confused two Williams with the same parents, but I doubt it. I think our William just had a very bad memory for birthdays.
1881 On Monday, July 18, William and Catherine were married by Fr. John Shaw at the Catholic Chapel, Rutherglen after Publication according to the Forms of the Roman Catholic Church. The marriage was registered No.80 at Rutherglen on July 22.
William was a Bachelor, gave his age as 25- I think he should have admitted to 31 - occupation Steel Work Labourer and residence 127 King Street, Rutherglen. (At the census three months earlier, this address was occupied by Letitia Lynch, a widow aged 56, and her son John, aged 28, a Pithead Labourer. I don't know whether this is relevant or not.) William's parents are recorded as Patrick Reynolds, Coalminer and Ellen Reynolds, m.s. Connely.
Catherine was a Spinster, gave her age as 19, occupation Worker in a Starch Work and residence 123 King Street, Rutherglen. Her parents are recorded as Henry Hillon, Colliery Redsman and Ann Hillon m.s. Icols. Catherine made "her X mark" on the official documents.
The witnesses were Patrick Smyth and Catherine Reynolds, who themselves married on September 5 in Cleland.
1884 Mary Ann was born at 4h10m p.m. on Monday, June 16 at Scotston Place, Silverbanks, Cambuslang. The birth was registered No.244 at Cambuslang on June 20 by William who gave his occupation as Coal Miner. The record shows William and Catherine married at Rutherglen on July 11, 1881, a week before the date given in the Register of Marriages.
Today, Silverbank (without the 's') is the area at the west end of Cambuslang just before Dukes Road and south of Glasgow Road (the continuation of Main Street).
1886 Catherine was born at 8h0m a.m. on Thursday, July 29 at Scotston Place, Silverbanks, Cambuslang to Catherine Reynolds, m.s. Hillon and William Reynolds, Coal Miner whose marriage date is again wrongly recorded as 1881 July 11 at Rutherglen. [I begin to wonder if the Registrar in Rutherglen got it wrong!] Her birth was registered No.288 at Cambuslang on the same day by William Reynolds, Father.
1888 Catherine died at 3h50m a.m. on Monday, October 8, at 11 Back Row, Silverbanks, aged 2 2/12 years, as a result of severe burns over her back and shoulders and convulsions, as certified by Hugh Mackay, MB+CM. Her parents are recorded as William Reynolds, Coal Miner and Catherine Reynolds m.s. Hillon. Her death was registered No.173 at Cambuslang on the same day by her father William Reynolds, Present.
There is further information in the Register of Corrected Entries for the Parish of Cambuslang in the County of Lanark, Vol. II, Page 37.
"The following Report of result of a Precognition [Scots Law - preliminary examination of witnesses as to whether there is ground for prosecution] has been received touching the death of Catherine Reynolds registered under No.173 in the Registration Book of Deaths for the year 1888:-
Catherine Reynolds
single
2 years
Female8 October 1888
In the house of William
Reynolds at Silverbanks,
Cambuslang. Usual
residence in same house.
Injuries accidentally
received on 6th October
current by Scalding.As Certified by
J.A.Dykes, Procurator FiscalProcurator Fiscal's Office
Hamilton 17th October 1888John Arbuckle, Registrar
26 October 1888
1889 At 3h0m a.m. on Thursday, February 7, at 8 Old Rows, Silverbanks, Cambuslang, Catherine Reynolds, married to William Reynolds, Coal Miner, died aged 25 [should have been about 27] of Phthisis Pulmonalis [which usually means tuberculosis] after 6 months as certified by Hugh Mackay, MB+CM. Her death was registered No.30 at Cambuslang the same day by William Reynolds, Widower, Present.
Catherine's parents are recorded as Henry Hillon, Colliery Brusher and Ann Hillon, M.S. Eccles.
Following the deaths of Catherine and Catherine, it looks as if William moved to Cleland where most (if not all) of his brothers and sisters had come to live in Omoa Square.
Ellen Connelly was born on August 7, 1854 in Shettleston, Lanarkshire to John Connelly, Coal Miner (c1822 - 1869) and Ellen Benson (c1822 - 1881). [See Section CN-5-1 for family background.]
In 1881 she married Thomas Dobbin in Shettleston and they had a son John born in Parkhead on October 4, 1882, followed by another son Thomas born on April 18, 1886. Sadly, he lived only four and a half hours and was buried in Dalbeth Cemetery (Common Ground) on the following day. Her husband died, probably of TB, on June 22, 1889
In 1851 (before Ellen was born) and 1861, the Connellys were living in Sandyhills, a couple of hundred yards from the Reynolds family in Eastmuir. In 1871, they were even closer, having moved to Houston's West Land while the Reynolds family were in Houston's East Land, the two buildings seem to have been separated by the width of St. Paul's RC Church and priest's house. William's parents, Patrick and Ellen were the sponsors at the baptism of Ellen's brother John in 1857 so it is likely that William and Ellen knew each other in childhood.
Oddly enough, I found these Connellys next door to Henry and Margaret (m.s. Burns) McGee who had a Margaret Connelly (possibly Ellen's sister) as a witness at their wedding.
1890 On Friday, July 18, William and Ellen were married by Fr. Joseph van Hecke at St. Paul's RC Church, Shettleston. The marriage was registered No.46 at Shettleston on the following day.
William was a Widower, he gave his age as 39 (close, he was 40), occupation Coal Miner and usual residence Cleland. His parents are recorded as Patrick Reynolds, Coal Miner (Deceased) and Ellen Reynolds, m.s. Connolly.
Ellen was a Widow with surname Connolly or Dobbin, age 35, occupation Power Loom Weaver and usual residence McNair Street, Shettleston. Her parents are recorded as John Connolly, Coal Miner and Ellen Connolly, m.s. Benson, both deceased.
The witnesses were Patrick Reynolds (probably William's brother) and Ellen Corrigan.
1891 Patrick was born at 9h30m a.m. on Sunday, April 5 at 49 Omoa Square, Shotts Parish to Helen Reynolds, m.s. Connelly and William Reynolds, Coalminer, who were married on 1890 July 18 at Shettleston, Barony Parish. His birth was registered No.31 at Cleland (West District of Shotts) on the 6th by William Reynolds, Father.
Birth No.30 registered in the West District of Shotts was Patrick's cousin Rose Kelly born to William's sister Jane on March 18; No.26 was another cousin Jane Reynolds born to Patrick and Sarah (nee Carroll) on March 23; and No.57 was Ellen Reynolds, daughter of Joseph and Ellen (nee McDermott) born on June 5 and registered on June 26.
1891 April 5 The family were living in a one-roomed house at 49 Omoa Square, Cleland.
Rel. Mar. Age Occupation Birthplace William Reynolds Head Mar 40 Coal Miner Lanarkshire, Toll Cross Ellen Wife Mar 35 do., Sunnyhill John D. Son 8 Scholar do., Parkhead Mary A. Daur 6 do do., Cambuslang Patrick Son 1 day do., Omoa I notice that William's arithmetic has improved considerably but he should have admitted to being 41 and 5 days while Ellen was 36 and 8 months (less 2 days) old.
John D. was the son of Ellen and Thomas Dobbin and should have been entered here as stepson, Mary Ann the daughter of William and Catherine Hillon.
This census record definitely shows Ellen born in Sunnyhill but it should be Sandyhills.
1892 Patrick Reynolds (Single) died at 3h20m a.m. on Wednesday, November 23 at 18 Graham's Buildings, Halfway, Cambuslang, aged 1 7/12 years, of Bronchitis 21 days, Pneumonia 7 days as certified by Charles F. Scott, MBCM. His parents are recorded as William Reynolds, Coal Miner and Ellen Reynolds, Previously Dobbin, m.s. Connelly. His death was registered No.288 Cambuslang on the same day by William Reynolds, Father, Present.
1894 Helen was born at 4h0m a.m. on Monday, June 25 at 18 Graham's Buildings, Halfway, Cambuslang to Helen Reynolds previously Dobbin m.s. Connolly and William Reynolds, Coal Miner, who were married on 1889 [sic] July 13 [sic] at Shettleston. Her birth was registered No.329 at Cambuslang on June 29 by William Reynolds, Father.
1901 March 31 William's 51st birthday. The family were living at 101 Omoa Square in a house with one windowed room.
Rel. Mar. Age Occupation Birthplace William Reynolds Head Mar 50 Coal Miner Lanarkshire, Tollcross Ellen [Connelly] Wife Mar 45 do., Sandyhills John do. Son S 18 Coal Miner do., Glasgow Mary Ann do. Daur S 16 do., Cambuslang Ellen do. Daur 6 Scholar do., do.
1901 Ellen Connelly Reynolds, Wife of William Reynolds, Coalminer, died at 10h45m a.m. on Saturday, June 1 at Omoa Square, West District of Shotts, aged 43 years, of Apoplexy, 3 months, Strangulated Femoral Hernia, 7 days as certified by John Lithgow, MD. Her death was registered No.29 at Cleland on the same day by William Reynolds, Husband, Present. Her parents are recorded as John Connelly, Coalminer and Ellen Connelly m.s. Benson, both deceased.
There is a death of William Reynolds aged 70 registered in Shotts (West) in 1920 (655/3-50).