RootsChat.Com

Here's a bit more info about Barnhill poorhouse. A distant relative of mine was assistant governor there in the 1870s.

https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/libraries/family-history/stories-and-blogs-from-the-mitchell/times-past-blogs/barnhill-poorhouse-times-past

Harry

There doesn't seem to have been much discussion about MyHeritage's new ethnicity estimates. Until a few days ago this was my breakdown -

N.&W. Europe                  84.4%

Irish, Scottish and Welsh                              60.2%                   
Scandinavian                   19.3%
Finnish                       4.9%

South Europe                    8.9%

Iberian                   6.8%
Italian                     2.1%

East Europe                  4.7%

Baltic                     4.7%

Africa                     2%

West Africa                  1%

Nigeria                     1%

North Africa                  1%
(not specified)

This has changed overnight to

Scottish and Welsh   43.5%

English   22.7%

Irish   13%

Breton   11.3%

Dutch   6.8%

French  2.7%

Yes, I know, we have to take all these things with a large pinch of salt, and MyHeritage aren't very well regarded, but they must be getting these results from somewhere. The only improvement on the previous estimate is that they are finally taking account of my Northumberland ancestors by giving me some English ancestry (I'm a Scot on both sides), but Breton? Dutch? French? And the only Irish ancestors I know of were what the Americans call "Scotch-Irish", Ulster Presbyterians originally from the west of Scotland I imagine. And where have my Vikings gone? I've had lots of matches and have corresponded with Scandinavians and Brits and Americans with Scandinavian ancestry who are a match for me.
Mind you, in the past I've allegedly had Siberian ancestry and Sephardic Jewish ancestry, both of which quietly disappeared. No doubt the present estimate will be revised again.
Harry            

I know large families at that time were a consequence of little contraception but 12 with one wife is just ridiculous.

Stuart

One of my great-grandmothers had 16 children between 1873 and 1900. At least the oldest ones would have been out of the house by the time the youngest ones were born.

Harry

Hello Isabelle. Your post is very interesting, but sometimes two words or two names from different languages can look the same, but they are not related. The Scottish place-name Balmain which is the origin of the surname comes from two Gaelic words, "baile" and "meadhon", meaning farm or settlement, and middle. It corresponds exactly in meaning to the English/Scots surname Middleton, i.e. the middle farm or settlement. As in Kate Middleton, our future Queen!

Harry