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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Lanarkshire => Topic started by: mimimartin on Monday 16 April 12 12:52 BST (UK)

Title: Drowning Isabella Smith Coatbridge1875
Post by: mimimartin on Monday 16 April 12 12:52 BST (UK)
Hi

Looking for help on the Smith Family of Coatbridge I would be grateful for any help.

Robert Smith b 1828 and Isabella McGuire Smith b abt 1831 in Ireland.  They married in County Down Ireland 1848 and both their sons William b 1850 and Christopher b 1853 were born in County Down. I have tried to check records in Ireland but have come up with nothing.  (Isabella Parents were Christopher McGuire and Mary Kennedy.  By 1855 they had moved to Old Monkland, Coatbridge,Lanarkshire where Mary was born in 1855.  They had another 4 children all born in Old Monkland Coatbridge Susan b 1857 (my gg grandmother) Edward b 1860, Margaret b 1864, Robert b 1867.

According to Isabella's death certificate she was found dead in Luggie Burn near Langloan Mill, Coatbridge on 23 Nov 1875.  I have searched for further information about her death but found nothing.  Apparently Fatal Accident Inquiries did not start until 1890's.

Robert died before 1882 (deceased on Susan Marriage certificate) but can not find a death certificate for him.  Any information about the family would be appreciated as I have hit a brick wall.

Title: Re: Drowning Isabella Smith Coatbridge1875
Post by: sancti on Monday 16 April 12 18:55 BST (UK)
Christopher married 15 July 1881 and his father was listed as deceased
Title: Re: Drowning Isabella Smith Coatbridge1875
Post by: sancti on Monday 16 April 12 18:59 BST (UK)
The 1881 census shows the Smith children living with sister Mary and husband William Hughes
Title: Re: Drowning Isabella Smith Coatbridge1875
Post by: sancti on Monday 16 April 12 19:03 BST (UK)
The age is high but have you checked this death for Robert

1877

SMITH

ROBERT

Male aged 65

OLD MONKLAND (MIDDLE DISTRICT)/LANARK
Title: Re: Drowning Isabella Smith Coatbridge1875
Post by: JSHC on Monday 16 April 12 19:46 BST (UK)
There is a tiny sentence in the Dundee Courier 26 November 1875 - not sure it helps but here it is:

Two Women Drowned - At Woodhall Quay, near Calderbank, the dead body of a woman has been found in the Canal, and was identified as that of a widow named Helen Gilchrist or Queen, who was 70 years of age, and resided at Greenend. On Tuesday the dead body of Isabella M'Guire or Smith, wife of a collier residing at Braehead, was found drowned in the mill-dam at Langloan. The deceased was about 50 years of age.

Joyce
Title: Re: Drowning Isabella Smith Coatbridge1875
Post by: mimimartin on Tuesday 17 April 12 10:11 BST (UK)
The age is high but have you checked this death for Robert

1877

SMITH

ROBERT

Male aged 65

OLD MONKLAND (MIDDLE DISTRICT)/LANARK
Christopher married 15 July 1881 and his father was listed as deceased
Thanks Sancti
I will check out the 1881 cenus and the death certificate for Robert in 1877.
Regards Carol
Title: Re: Drowning Isabella Smith Coatbridge1875
Post by: mimimartin on Tuesday 17 April 12 10:16 BST (UK)
There is a tiny sentence in the Dundee Courier 26 November 1875 - not sure it helps but here it is:

Two Women Drowned - At Woodhall Quay, near Calderbank, the dead body of a woman has been found in the Canal, and was identified as that of a widow named Helen Gilchrist or Queen, who was 70 years of age, and resided at Greenend. On Tuesday the dead body of Isabella M'Guire or Smith, wife of a collier residing at Braehead, was found drowned in the mill-dam at Langloan. The deceased was about 50 years of age.

Joyce

Hi Joyce
Yes it's her, Isabella McGuire or Smith matches what I have on her death certificate including the address and husbands occupation.  Many thanks for your help I will now check out our local newspaper archieves so see if there is anything there, never thought about this before.  Regrads Carol
Title: Re: Drowning Isabella Smith Coatbridge1875
Post by: sancti on Tuesday 17 April 12 16:46 BST (UK)
There was a foot bridge over the Luggie Burn at the dam which might be where she fell from.
Title: Re: Drowning Isabella Smith Coatbridge1875
Post by: mimimartin on Wednesday 18 April 12 10:40 BST (UK)
There was a foot bridge over the Luggie Burn at the dam which might be where she fell from.
Thanks Sancti
What a terrible shame!!!
Carol
Title: Re: Drowning Isabella Smith Coatbridge1875
Post by: Toptotty on Saturday 19 May 12 15:38 BST (UK)
Hi, Susan Mallon (Smith) is my ggg grandmother on my mum's dad's side. I have recently started doing my family tree so any information would be great.  Does the surname Welsh come into your family tree? Welsh is my mum's maiden name and my  grandparents name, Mary Mallon married my great grandfather Thomas and my grandfather is also Thomas Welsh. 
Title: Re: Drowning Isabella Smith Coatbridge1875
Post by: mimimartin on Wednesday 23 May 12 11:33 BST (UK)
Hi, Thanks for your message, Susan Mallon (Smith) was my gg grandmother.  She Married James Mallon in Sept 1882 at St Patrick's Chuch Coatbridge.  Yes, the name Welsh does come into my family on my grandmother's side.
Susan Smith Mallon's daughter, Mary Mallon married Thomas Welsh. Mary & thomas are my great grandparents. They had 6 children, Thomas, William, James, Susan, Margaret & Mary.  Mary Welsh (1914-1995) was my grandmother (who is Thomas Welsh's sister.) So I think we are related!  Would be happy to share info with you. 
Title: Re: Drowning Isabella Smith Coatbridge1875
Post by: Rockford on Wednesday 23 May 12 21:16 BST (UK)
Hi Carol,

To add to what Joyce found in the Dundee paper, there's also a short snippet in the Glasgow Herald of 24 Nov 1875.  It repeats much of the Dundee report, but includes a bit of additional information:

Glasgow Herald
Wed 24 Nov 1875

Two Women Drowned at Coatbridge –
Yesterday, the body of a woman named Isabella M’Guire or Smith, wife of a collier residing at Braehead, was found in the mill-dam at Langloan.  She had been in Coatbridge on Monday night, and it is supposed that in walking home in the dark she accidentally fell into the water.  – On Sunday morning, a dead body, which was identified as that of an old woman named Helen Gilchrist or Queen, was found in the Monkland Canal at Woodhall Quay.  Death in this case is also believed to have been accidental.  Post mortem examinations have been ordered in both cases

Strangely enough, I'm actually sitting less than 5 minutes walk from the Luggie Burn at Langloan.

Best wishes

Rockford
Title: Re: Drowning Isabella Smith Coatbridge1875
Post by: mimimartin on Thursday 24 May 12 10:48 BST (UK)
Hi Rockford

Thank you so much for the info re Glasgow Herald, incidentally I am today sitting 5 mins walk from the Luggie Burn too!

Kind regards
Title: Re: Drowning Isabella Smith Coatbridge1875
Post by: Seoras on Thursday 24 May 12 11:58 BST (UK)
It does in mine Toptotty,my great grandmother was Agnes Welsh,one of 10 siblings.She had 5 brothers,James,Edward,Thomas,William and Patrick.Mine originated in Ireland but I don't know where yet.