House of Refuge for Boys, Glasgow.....

Post by **SarahND** » Sun May 21, 2006 5:19 pm

In the 1841 census a lad named John Giles, age 10, born in Ireland, is listed in the House of Refuge for Boys. He is working as a winder. All others on the page also appear to be doing textile related work.

The census ref is:

BARONY
GLASGOW CITY/LANARK
622/00 239/00 005

I'm wondering whether this John is who I think he is (i.e. "the Boy" for those of you who followed the deciphering of the Ritchie/Petrie/Retrie letter), and wonder whether any of you have run across this institution before and whether there are records extant from that far back that would give me more information on him.

Thanks for any insights,
Sarah

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sun May 21, 2006 9:25 pm

Hi Sarah
I'm sure someone else may know better, but I would think the Mitchell Library might be a good starting point.
The Mitchell
North Street
Glasgow
G3 7DN
Phone: 0141 287 2870
E-mail: lil@cls.glasgow.gov.uk

It is mentioned on this page:
http://www.institutions.org.uk/reformat ... _staff.htm
Check out this Rootsweb post too:
http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/LA ... 1115183837

Best wishes
Lesley

TD

Post by **SarahND** » Sun May 21, 2006 9:52 pm

Hi Lesley,
Thanks for the suggestions. Looks like the Home was not certified until 13 years later...! And the Rootsweb post you mention confirmed my idea that this was where a boy might be placed who was made homeless by the death of a guardian, which fits with the situation I am researching.

Do you suggest that I email the Mitchell to find out if they have the records? I couldn't find out from their website if they did or did not. I already have plans to spend many hours there when I pass through next October or November.

Sarah

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sun May 21, 2006 10:08 pm

Hi Sarah
Certainly wouldn't do any harm to contact the Mitchell - if they don't have any records of the House of Refuge they may be able to shed some light on whether records exist or not, and if so, where they are....

Also someone else on the forum may already have had experience of this and know something of the Refuge or know about the records, so further info may be forthcoming!

Best wishes
Lesley

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Tue May 23, 2006 5:03 pm

Hello Sarah and Lesley,

Don't know anything about the House but there is a little snippet from The Glasgow Story site that has a reference to Glasgow University Special Collections.

Kind regards,
Annette M

Post by **SarahND** » Tue May 23, 2006 5:44 pm

Thanks, Annette!
That was an interesting little snippet. I wonder if all the boys were there because they had committed a crime, or if they took in homeless boys also.
I have emailed the Mitchell for information and so far have only heard that they have relayed my request to the correct department... so perhaps the folks who know will get back to me soon.
I'll post any information I get, in case anyone else finds a relative there at some future date!
Sarah

Post by **SarahND** » Wed May 24, 2006 1:22 pm

Here is what I got back from the Mitchell. Unfortunately for me, the records only go back to 1848, but it might be useful to others:

"I can confirm that we hold what records survive for the Reformatory (Archive Reference; D-ED7/146) but unfortunately it appears we do not have anything as early as 1841. If you follow the below link it should take you to the Scottish Archives Network catalogue for what we do have for the school;

http://tinyurl.com/z4zqk

As we act as the place of deposit for Council/Corporation school records, it is unlikely that such records as you are looking for survive anywhere else."

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Wed May 24, 2006 1:47 pm

Hi Sarah
Thanks for posting the details of what you were sent. Disappointing though that the records you were looking for are not there.

Best wishes
Lesley

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Wed May 24, 2006 7:18 pm

SarahND wrote:Here is what I got back from the Mitchell. Unfortunately for me, the records only go back to 1848, but it might be useful to others:

"I can confirm that we hold what records survive for the Reformatory (Archive Reference; D-ED7/146) but unfortunately it appears we do not have anything as early as 1841. If you follow the below link it should take you to the Scottish Archives Network catalogue for what we do have for the school;

http://tinyurl.com/z4zqk

As we act as the place of deposit for Council/Corporation school records, it is unlikely that such records as you are looking for survive anywhere else."

Hello Sarah,

I don't think Mossbank is the place you are looking for. It appears to have been an industrial school (still marked as such on the Glasgow streetfinder) in Millerston. As far as I can gather the place where John lived was in Duke Street.

I'm visiting the archives on Friday and will see what I can find out about The House of Refuge.

Kind regards,
Annette M

Post by **SarahND** » Wed May 24, 2006 10:04 pm

Thank you Annette!
I wondered about the difference in name, although I gave the librarian the correct information... I look forward to hearing if there are any records from the one that interests me.
Gratefully,
Sarah