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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Lanarkshire => Topic started by: my-irish-family on Thursday 25 August 11 21:44 BST (UK)
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Hi there, I am looking for information on sugar house refineries within glasgow during the 1850s. An ancestor of mine was recorded as being a sugar house labourer/refiner on his children's birth certificates and on the 1861 glasgow census.
I have tried searching online for info regarding these factories but i am not really getting much at all. Would anyone know (or advise where to look) where there were sugar house refineries in glasgow at this time, what the job entailed/was like etc? I would love to have some knowledge on the occupation and what the working life must have been like.
Any information greatly appreciated.
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I know there were a lot in Greenock, you might find this site useful
http://home.clara.net/mawer/intro.html
this is what I got adding Glasgow to the search
http://home.clara.net/mawer/sugarmmac.html
http://archiveshub.ac.uk/features/06042401.html
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/glasgow/glasgow3_18.htm
http://www.theglasgowstory.com/image.php?inum=TGSA01127&t=1&urltp=story.php?id=TGSBE (this one has a picture)
Hope this is of some help
Sybil
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There was John Phillipes &Co Sugar Work at Rottenrow
http://maps.nls.uk/joins/view/?rsid=74400939&sid=74400940&mid=788&pdesc=North Centre section
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dont know if this is any help glasgow syrup works and sugar grinding chocrane street glasgow found it in advert 1892
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What was his address on the census and birth certificates
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Is this them in 1861
Robert Ross 40 Born Ireland Occupation: Sugar House Worker
Elizabeth Ross 42 Born Ireland
Eliza Ross 14 Born: Port Glasgow Renfrewshire
John Ross 12 Port Glasgow Renfrewshire
Address: Flemings Port Glasgow Renfrewshire
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Hi Sancti
No, that is another family (many a Ross family in glasgow in that time!! :) )
They are on the 1861 census at 163 Craighall Road
James Ross 40 general labourer
Mary ann Ross 24
James Ross 2
Thomas Ross 5 months
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Hi, i wonder if you found much information on the Sugar house workers as i think perhaps jy ancestor may have been one. And if it is him he lived not far from yours in Maitland Street in 1861 census.
Regards
Karen :)
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Karen check on my database to see if your folks are there, if not I'll be happy to add them if you send me the info or the census ref and any other sugar-related info you may have.
Sugar Refiners & Sugarbakers - www.mawer.clara.net/intro.html
(Similar request to my-irish-family)
I am currently working on the Glasgow directories and in the process of adding info to the maps and directories on the website. Up to 1850, with sugarhouses in Virginia St, Washington St, Alston St, and Oswald St, however all appear to be a decent walk from Maitland St, so a strong possibilty may be the refinery of Murdoch & Doddrell at Port Dundas, just to the north.
Unfortunately, no employee lists appear to have survived for an of the sugar refineries.
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Awesome! thankyou Sugarbakers. Yes he is there - Charles McKenna aged 21 born Ireland. Of course I am not 100% sure it is him. but other Charles McKenna's in 1861 census do not fit. He is not far from his sister who is married. And then in 1865 he emigrates with his sister and her husband and child to Australia. When he marries in 1870 his occupation is a baker. I'm not sure if he had that trade before he came to Australia or learned it once he got here.
Thank-you again,
Karen.
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Thank you, Karen. Very few skilled workers in a refinery at that time. Charles is listed as a labourer ... just hard physical work.
If you want to read about the nature of Charles's work go to www.mawer.clara.net/greenwood.html for a description of life in a London sugarhouse a few years later.
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Images of the Port Dundas Refinery on the Canmore website at https://canmore.org.uk/site/172534/glasgow-port-dundas-40-50-speirs-wharf-port-dundas-sugar-refinery?display=image
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thank-you so much for that interesting information. I wonder if I will ever know if it was my Charles McKenna that worked there.....