Family History - Maggie "Weir" Gray

Family History is a journey in finding who you are and where you came from.  There is quite a lot we can't know about our ancestors, but thanks to records we can find out the facts, which helps us paint a picture of where and how they lived, and the era they lived in.


Recently I followed my Grandmothers Mothers (My Great-Grandmother) family line.  I'm very interested in the women in my family as we all seam to be hard working and stubborn.  I was able to locate my GG-Grandmothers Birth certificate, Marriage Certificate and census records from the Scotlandspeople.co.uk website. 

The facts about my GG-Grandmother Maggie "Weir" Gray

Maggie Weir or Margaret on her birth certificate, was born in Dunfermline, Scotland in 1881 to James Weir and Annie "Golding" Weir. 

Her father James was a hard working Scottish Coal Miner who married Annie in 1870 in Dunfermline, where they lived at Pittencrieff street with Annie's mother Elisabeth "Short" Golden, as recorded in the 1871 census. 

Maggie was the third child in the family, out of the four known or recorded.  The eldest being Andrew (born 1871), Jane (1877), then Maggie and the youngest James (1884).   

In the 1891 census it shows that the Weir family moved to New Monkland, Lanarkshire where Maggies father James was born and grew up.  I think some time within these 10 years after Maggies birth her Grandmother Elisabeth passed away, and may have been the reason for the move.  James continued in the same profession as a Coal Miner.  The record also shows that they lived in a house with only one room with a window.

Ten years later in the 1901 census Maggie was 19 and still living with her parents, James and Annie in New Monkland, Lanarkshire.  By this time she had found herself a job as an Out door Brick washer.  The record also shows that her oldest brother Andrew was now married and had a daughter and was living a few doors down from her at 17 Motherwell street.  Maggies family residence of 11 Motherwell street was an upgrade from her previous family home because they now had two rooms with windows. 

The next record is in 1902 when Maggie marries James Gray in New Monkland.  The next thirty years are unclear  but I do know they had many children, one of them being my Great Grandmother Jeanie Gray.

Maggies life ends in 1934 when she suffered from Oesophagus cancer and passed away.  By This time her Husband had already died, the details of his death are unknown at this time.

My thoughts

After researching Maggies life I feel as if I know her.  I have a vision of this tough young Out door Brick washer, in the streets, most likely smoking, knowing everyone and being outgoing and sociable.  No doubt this is how she met her husband, James Gray. 

Whether this vision of her is accurate or not I'm uncertain, but looking at the women in my family it would definitely be in character.

On a personal note I was able to answer a question that had long been in our family, What did Maggie die from? And how old was she?  There was speculation from my Great Grandmother Jeanie that Maggie died when Jeanie was 14, which she was left to raise her younger siblings.  More to the truth Jeanie (My G-Grandmother) was in her twenties.

My Grandmother was pleased to hear about her Grannie Maggie as she never had a chance to know her and always wondered.  This has provided an opportunity to know who we are and where we came from.  I can see that the women in our family are hard working and not afraid to take on the roles they need to.

While researching Maggies life I was able to follow her mothers, Annie "Golden" Weir's, life.  Which lead me to find out some very interesting facts about our family, but that's another story completely!    
  

Victorian era: Conditions of the poor

In 1837 young Victoria began her reign as the Queen of Britain.  At age 18 she inherited the position from her uncle, King William IV when he passed away.  In 1840 she married the love of her life Albert and went on to have a total of nine children.  They became the model family for Britain.

Queen Victoria

Being the Queen her position and dwellings were far more grand than that of the common people of London.  During the Victorian era the population increased dramatically from 1 million in 1800 to 6 million in 1900.  Part of the population increase was due to people moving into the city in search of employment from poorer country area's.  This era is also known as the "Industrial Revolution" that seen the opening of factories and manufacturers.

While the rich were getting richer, the poor suffered.  Slums developed all over London with the lack of housing and accommodation for the increase of people.  Families lived in horrid conditions, in some homes there were 30 people in one room.  Many men, woman and children were forced to work in the dangerous factories doing hard labour for low wages.  Struggling to afford decent food many lived of dry bread, pork or cheese (not on a daily basis)  and were under nourished which lead to the spread of illness and disease.

The conditions of the poor were awful, not only did they endure terrible living standards, the upper classes blamed them for being in such a dreadful state.  Crime rates were high from the poverty and homelessness, the prisons overcrowded with petty criminals.  Children had it the worst and were subject to cruel treatment from family or in workhouses and industrial schools.  It was tough times for the poor children who often ran away from home to fend for themselves at a young age, with parents unable to support and feed them.

In the slum area's the stench was foul with sewerage which was dumped on the streets.  The lack of clean water lead to unsanitary personal hygiene and no healthy drinking water.  Its more than likely they resorted to drinking alcohol more than water.  The misery of the poor was often overlooked as Britain was at that time the wealthiest country.  In saying that there were some who endeavoured to help improve their situations.

My thoughts
I can only imagine living in such squalor, filth, poverty and disarray.  The unfairness of the treatment of poorer people was really in-human.  In this era although certain institutions were put in place to help they didn't have an accurate knowledge as to how they should be run so that people could benefit.  We can learn a lot from this era, especially from the conditions they endured and the from the mistakes that were made in trying to improve the situation. 

I find the Victorian era one that has many stories and I intend on finding out more.  I want to find a personalised story and wonder about my own ancestors who lived through the Victorian era.  I will be digging deeper into this subject at a later date!                      

Tudor era: The Boleyn Inheritance

Recently I finished reading a book by Philippa Gregory called "The Boleyn Inheritance".  Set in the court of King Henry VIII, it tells the story of three women who share one tragic fate, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Lady Jane Rochford.
I found the novel transported me right into the Tudor court with the ambitions, deceit, betrayals and frivolities of the era.  The way Philippa tells the story from a woman's point of view, really gave it life and emotion.

By Philippa Gregory

Henry VIII has recently been very popular, with a TV series "The Tudors" a few new documentaries and a load of books.  I myself am very smitten by this dangerous and powerful king who in my words victimised himself when it came to love and reasoned that he should get what he wants.  But the stories that most intrigue me are that of his 6 wives.  I constantly question the motives of these women (especially the later wives), as a romantic at heart I always try and look for the positive story, although to be honest I doubt the wives were thinking of love.

Anne of Cleves, in my eyes was very brave to give in to the Kings wishes, she took her life into her own hands and didn't allow the Kings bullying to damage her dignity.  To be honest who would want to marry a fat, angry, sick, and smelly (from his ulcerated leg) old man who just happened to be King.  Not my first choice, but in saying that during Tudor times thoughts and feelings were different.  Marriage was about ambition and gain to the family, rarely about love.  Don't get me wrong I'm sure there were plenty who married for love but within the court and the royal family I doubt it. 

What fascinates me about Anne of Cleves is after the marriage to Henry VIII was annulled she quite happily took the title of his sister and remained in England.  Why did she not want to return to her home?  Maybe she felt disgraced at letting her family down, or she didn't much like her family, I would be most interested in learning more about her story.

Another fascinating fact about Anne of Cleves is the picture by Hans Holbein, painted for King Henry.  On seeing the picture Henry was pleased, but their meeting was a different story.  One of the reasons for Henry wanting to end the marriage was his affection for Katherine Howard, but he described Anne as ugly and smelly.  Which was more true to himself than Anne I fear, but what can you do but agree with the King, anything else would have been considered Treason.

Anne of Cleves by Hans Holbein

In conclusion I recommend "The Boleyn Inheritance" as a must read book if you are as intrigued as me at Tudor life.

A Passion for History

History and events of the past have always had a place in my heart.  As much as I want to share my findings on historical subjects I also needed to keep track of all the knowledge I was acquiring.  So here we go, this is what i have come up with: blogging! 

The historical events and subjects I am most interested in vary so don't be confused if I don't blog in chronological order.  I will try my best to keep all posts organised by subject: Ancient, Biblical, Middle ages, modern and Family. 

My Family history is interesting and an ongoing journey of self discovery.  Like many who have delved into the past to find out more about their ancestors, I have found out some fascinating facts about my family.  My story alone is enough to want to know more.  So I will share with you a brief description of my history.

My Story:

Born in 1985 in Glasgow, Scotland, apparently disturbing my mothers attention from the "Live Aid" Concert that was on TV at the time.  My parents were married 5 years before my birth, like many in the UK, they were in close proximity of the whole family.  In 1987 my parents thought it would be a great idea to put in an immigration application for Australia.  Within 6 weeks they were approved and making plans for their new life.  11th November 1987 we landed in Sydney, Australia where I grew up and now raising my own children. 

So there is my beginning, and I am by no means near the end.  I will share more of my story and the stories of my other family members, as well as historical events and people, in my blog.

Enjoy!!