Should I give up on this one?.....

[Cathy]

Trying to ascertain parentage of James Cushney (Robertson).

1895 Births in the District of Dennistoun in the County of Lanark No. 312
James Cushney; Illegitimate
1895 January Twenty Eighth; 1h 0m P.M.; Barnhill Poorhouse, Glasgow.
Mary Cushney, Domestic Servant; Domicil 2 Royal Terrace, Springburn, Glasgow.
Informant Wm. Munro; Governor's Clerk.

He married:
Marriage Certificate SRO 644/18 0287
1923 Marriages in the District of Pollokshields in the Burgh of Glasgow.
1923 on the tenth day of August, at 27 Queen Square, Glasgow.
After Banns, according to the forms of the Established Church of Scotland.
James Cushney Robertson; Lamplighter; Bachelor; age 28; Glasgow.
Parents James Robertson, Tailor, deceased and Mary Ann Robertson M.S. CLAY deceased.

He died:
1969 Deaths Registered in the District of Glasgow (6452) in the Burgh of Glasgow No. 988
James Cushney Robertson; Lamplighter (Retired). Widower; Born 28 January 1894; age 74 years. 1969 December Eighth; 4h 20m A.M.; Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow.
Parents James Robertson, Tailor, deceased; Mary Ann Robertson M.S. CLAY, deceased.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next part of the saga is the mother.
1871 census: 644/06 053/06 012 - 21 Ferguson St/Ct. Blythswood, Glasgow.
Mary Ann Clay, Lodger, unm., age 29?, Machinist, b. England.

1911 Deaths in the District of Springburn in the County of Lanark No. 334
Mary Ann Clay; Domestic Servant; Single
1911 April Fourteenth; 9h P.M.; Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow; Residing. 60 Franklin Street; 67 years.
Henry Clay, Dyer, deceased; Elizabeth Clay M.S. Manlove, deceased.
Informant J. F. Moreland; House Steward. John G. Lamond, Asst. Reg.

[sporran]

Hello Cathy,


was there an application to Barnhill Poorhouse in late 1894 or early 1895? That would seem to be your best chance of progress.


Regards,

John

[Cathy]

Hi John,
I looked for P/H record last time I was at the Mitchell, and only found the 1875 person which was not her.
Now you mention it, I don't think I had the name Clay at the time.
I will look into this. Many thanks.

[Cathy]

Hi John,
got Poor Record today for Mary Ann Clay.

Here are some details:

Adopted child: James Rickie or Cushney born 28.1.1895 in Barnhill P/H.
Child of Christina Rickie or Cushley (sic), Domestic Servant, not seen for 3 years.

Mary Ann cohabited for 8 years with Hugh Robertson. They had no children. She was born in Nottingham.

The record confirms her parents as those named on her d.cert.
Time for some more digging.

[isobelc]

Hi Cathy,

A Mary Cushney was born on 12th March 1875 in the City Poorhouse in Glasgow. She was illegitimate, the daughter of Mary Cushney, a Pauper formerly Domestic Servant whose usual address was 335 Gallowgate Street, Glasgow. By the time the birth was registered (by the Governor's Clerk) Mary the mother had died in the Poorhouse(cause of death- puerperal state and peritonitis). She died on 19th March 1875 aged 21. Her parents were given as John Cushney deceased and Margaret Cushney nee Moffat deceased. She was described as a Pauper formerly Domestic Servant and usual address was 335 Gallowgate Street. The 1875 Poorhouse record you saw will be hers

It seems likely that Mary born 1875 gave birth to your James Cushney in 1895 and that he was subsequently adopted by Mary Ann Clay. The Poor Law record has a different mother's name - Christina instead of Mary- but the other details match exactly the 1895 birth in Barnhill Poorhouse of James, son of Mary and it is such an unusual surname that it has to be him.

I had a look in the 1891 census for Mary Cushney born 1875 and drew a blank, however there is a Christina Cushney( one of only four Cushneys in the census) who is the right age, working as a servant in Pollock Street, Govan. Place of birth is given as Glasgow, but I checked and there is not a corresponding birth record. Could Christina and Mary be one and the same person? Could Rickie be the name of James' father?

As far as James' marriage certificate is concerned it is possible that he gave the names of his adoptive parents. If this is the case then either he made a mistake with his adoptive father's name or the poor Record has the wrong first name for Mary Ann's cohabitee.

Regards,
Isobel (Edinburgh)

,

[nelmit]

Hi Cathy,

A Mary Cushney was born on 12th March 1875 in the City Poorhouse in Glasgow. She was illegitimate, the daughter of Mary Cushney, a Pauper formerly Domestic Servant whose usual address was 335 Gallowgate Street, Glasgow. By the time the birth was registered (by the Governor's Clerk) Mary the mother had died in the Poorhouse(cause of death- puerperal state and peritonitis). She died on 19th March 1875 aged 21. Her parents were given as John Cushney deceased and Margaret Cushney nee Moffat deceased. She was described as a Pauper formerly Domestic Servant and usual address was 335 Gallowgate Street. The 1875 Poorhouse record you saw will be hers

It seems likely that Mary born 1875 gave birth to your James Cushney in 1895 and that he was subsequently adopted by Mary Ann Clay. The Poor Law record has a different mother's name - Christina instead of Mary- but the other details match exactly the 1895 birth in Barnhill Poorhouse of James, son of Mary and it is such an unusual surname that it has to be him.

I had a look in the 1891 census for Mary Cushney born 1875 and drew a blank, however there is a Christina Cushney( one of only four Cushneys in the census) who is the right age, working as a servant in Pollock Street, Govan. Place of birth is given as Glasgow, but I checked and there is not a corresponding birth record. Could Christina and Mary be one and the same person? Could Rickie be the name of James' father?

As far as James' marriage certificate is concerned it is possible that he gave the names of his adoptive parents. If this is the case then either he made a mistake with his adoptive father's name or the poor Record has the wrong first name for Mary Ann's cohabitee.

Regards,
Isobel (Edinburgh)

Isobel,

I was going to look for an application from a Christina/Mary Cushney or Rickie when I visit The Mitchell. Have you already done that?

Annette M

[Cathy]

Hi Isobel,
sorry for taking so long to reply. Many thanks for that. Got a bit of a backlog at the moment (due to visitors). I will get on to this as soon as I can.

Hi Annette,
did you get a chance to have a look? Hope I don't sound presumptuous.

[nelmit]

Hi Isobel,
sorry for taking so long to reply. Many thanks for that. Got a bit of a backlog at the moment (due to visitors). I will get on to this as soon as I can.

Hi Annette,
did you get a chance to have a look? Hope I don't sound presumptuous.

I did look Cathy, but did not come up with anything likely.

Regards,
Annette M

[Cathy]

Hi Annette,
many thanks for that.
I now have B.Cert. for Mary Cushney 1875 and D.Cert. of her mother Mary Cushney 1875. No trace of this ones parents John Cushney and Margaret Moffat.
Now............ any pointers anyone? Seeking death of Mary (Christina )
Cushney b. 1875. It isn't Mary Ritchie Cushnie d.1926.

[Cathy]

Lookup please for James Cushney b. 28/1/1895 Barnhill P/H.
His mother was Mary Cushney b. 1875 Barnhill P/H.
Mary was adopted by Mrs. & John Reekie and renamed Christina Reekie.
(I think the Mrs. was Mary Ann Clay, but they didn't marry).
Mary Ann Clay applied to P/H 1899. She had James with her. He was named as James Reekie or Cushley (sic).
I have a death cert. for John Reekie 1904 Blackfriars. The informant was Christina McLean, Adopted daughter.

1. Is there a P/H record for James 1899?

2. Help seeking death / marriage for Christina / Mary. Her natural parents were Mary Cushney and putative father Robert Bogle.

3. Pointers for finding James 1901 census.

Mary Ann Clay took up with a Hugh ROBERTSON at some point.