Old Man's Asylum, Blackfriars, Glasgow

[Clare Fowler]

Cheers Robert,

I am trying not to be swayed by a preconception of my ancestor's family however, I did not post all of the facts. 

The ancestor in question is my GGGGrandfather.  I only have sketchy information about him, but he lived with my GGGGrandmother for at least 14 years before marrying her, having various children along the way.  She already had 3 children by a previous husband, and a further child with no father given.  I have recently discovered that she was a bigamist (possibly unwittingly), as the first husband was alive and well with a second family at the same time.  This coupled with the fact that it seemed to be an, as yet, unknown relative that certified the death, I feel that it is a very strong possibility that he was thrown out.

I am left trying to work out if he was nothing but trouble, so she got rid of him or if she just threw him out for 'no reason'.  It is times like these you really wish you could ask people.  Or that you could find some 'written' evidence of what went on 

Cheers,
Clare

[RJ_Paton]

I am trying not to be swayed by a preconception of my ancestor's family however, I did not post all of the facts. 

Yes its all to easy to go blazing down the wrong path ..... there are various theories that spring to mind but as you say without that vital piece of evidence they remain purely conjecture.

[Clare Fowler]

Time to hit the GU Archives, methinks...

Thanks again for all the help.

Clare

[7 of 9]

Hi there,

Just wondering....have you tried the poorhouse records (held at the Mitchell)  for this man?  If he was in need of assistance and accomodation he  may have applied there and been rejected, since he ended up in the Old Man's 'asylum'.

It's a long shot I know, but if he DID apply, you might find out some additional information.  I have found out some amazing details from some poorhouse records.

7 of 9 (Ninatoo)

[Clare Fowler]

Hi there,

That's not a bad idea...  I have to go to the Mitchell for some other research anyway, so I will give it a try when I am there.

Cheers,
Clare

[Grey Seagull]

Hi,
My gg grandfather also died in the Old Man's Asylum which was an old people's home, ie they wern't expected to be able to work.  When I went looking for it a few years ago, it had been knocked down and the land had become part of the Strathclyde Uni Campus.  I was told that Strathclyde might have records rather than Glasgow.

As far as I can tell, my relative was there after he was 70, ie, 'retired'.  Certainly, he was a widower, but he had grown up famly in the area.  He had worked all his life but had to apply for poor relief on 2 occasions, but these were a few years before going into the home.  I think he worked at Templetons and I wondered if there was some connection between working there; was this an alms house for the retired workers of the trustees or was it open to anyone?

I was also told that the home had moved to Great Western Road and had been taken over by the Church of Scotland at some point.

I found a couple of references at the Mitchell which I think were minutes of annual metings which did not provide any personal info on the residents.  More info may have turned up there over the last few years.

I would be interested to know if you have found any more info since your last post.

         

[clawart]

Hi Clare

Im Intrested to know more about who you were refering to
I have a death certificate from 1896 Place of death Old Mans
Asylum Blackfriars  And The Usual Address For The Family
Was 82 George Street  He Died From Epileptiform Seizure
? Strange Very Similar The Family Name Was Prosser.
It's Possible 82 george Street Was A Working Class Block

Stewart

[RJ_Paton]

Hopefully Clare will be able to reply with more details regarding the family names but with regard to

It's Possible 82 george Street Was A Working Class Block

This was a tenement block or close (block of apartments) which could house a number of families each to their own home with normally a single common entrance (closemouth) to the street.

In many areas the majority of flats were single rooms with a small kitchen attached or had an additional bedroom. In some areas of Glasgow similar blocks had much fewer apartments each of which had their family accomodation and additional room for the servants.

In the poorer areas overcrowding was rife and Glasgow at one time tried a tag or ticketing system limiting the number of adults allowed in the flat (apartment) with heavy penalties if the Inspectors found more. The residents often found ways around these restrictions.- a block near this I checked out had over 80 adults listed in the 1881 census .

[clawart]

Thank You

Pretty much the same as Lanark around the same time.

Stu