Information from Falkirk

[Morney]

I am looking for information about my grandfather.   I have traced a Hugh Livitt born 1872 who lived in Bathgate in 1901 and Falkirk before and after that time.  Any information would be greatly appreciated. 

[Fergie38]

No one of that name on the LDS 1881 Census discs.
There are variations on the name eg. Levett, but no one called Hugh.

Cheers

[MonicaL]

Hi Morney

Welcome to RootsChat 

From Hugh's 1891 entry:

Hugh Levitt 53, labourer retired, b. Glasgow
Marion Levitt 56, Dunfermline, Fifeshire
Hugh Levitt 19 Labourer Chemical , b. Pindee, East India Ranid
Donald Levitt 16, iron dresser, b. Island, Jersey Channel

Address:Loch No 16, Falkirk Landward

This looks a possibility for parents' marriage:

HUGH LIVITT     Spouse: MARION MCKIVER    
Marriage: 07 FEB 1865 Stirling

Monica 

 

[MonicaL]

No sign of Hugh Snr and Marion's births on IGI. From the censuses, this look a possible entry for Marion in 1851:

George McIver 26, labourer, b. Pettiesmuir, Fife
Marion McIver    16, sister, b. Pettiesmuir, Fife
Robert Caddel    2, nephew, b. Pettiesmuir, Fife

Address: Village Of Pettiesmuir, Dunfermline

And in 1841:

Margt Philp 40
Margt McEver 20
Geo McEver 15
Christian McEver 12
Janet McEver 10
Elizabeth McEver 8
Marion McEver 5
Margt McWed 20

Address: Pettie Sinard Village 257, Dunfermline

No relationships show on the 1841 census, so not clear if Margaret Philip is mother.

Hugh is elusive - can't easily see him in the early censuses.

Monica

[Morney]

Thank you very much for the information you have given me.

I do not know if this is the right Hugh Livitt.

On my grandfathers death and marriage certificates he is called Hugh Lovat.  His father was also called Hugh Lovat.  His father is down as a war pensioner.  In the family stories my grandfather was born in India and he lived in Scotland.  He is a widower on his marriage certificate.  The other story is that he was a manager at a steelworks.  The names Marion and Donald are also in our family.

This Hugh Livitt, Levett or Lovat(the name seems to change through time) fits much  of this description above including the age. 

We thought our grandfather left scotland because his wife and child had died  after he was in a fight and sent to prison.  I do not have any detailed information about this.

From research I find that Hugh Livitt was a forman at a chemical works, he was born in India and his father was called Hugh.  In 1901 he lived in Bathgate.  However in 1905 he is in Falkirk recording the births of his daughter Barbara Gordon and at the same time a Rachel who was born in 1903.  A later entry shows Barbara died in 1906 and the death recorded from the Poorhouse by the House governer.   Hugh Livitt's wife died in 1918 in Falkirk and was registered by her daughter Mary McColgan.  The wifes name was recorded as Annie Lovat and her husband as Hugh Lovat foreman at the chemical works.

This may well be my grandfather however he married in Newcastle in 1909.  It is all very complicated so I hope you will bear with me!  So if this is the right Hugh Lovat there may have been a divorce or it may be a bigamous marriage. 

If anyone could advise me how to prove this is the right Hugh Lovat or leave him in peace if it is not.  Through my research there are very few people with this name even using soundex in Scotland.

 

[MonicaL]

Hi Morney

It does sound confusing 

You say you have a marriage cert for him in Newcastle in 1909? However, wife Annie didn't die until 1918  What showed for Hugh on his wife's death cert: employment, etc. What marital status showed for Annie?

This is Hugh and Annie in 1901:

Hugh Levitt 29, Foreman (steam Boiler), b. British Subject, Rawal Bridee India
Annie Levitt 28, b. Ireland
Mary Levitt 8, b. Falkirk
Rosina Levitt 4, b. Falkirk
John Levitt 2, b. Falkirk

Address: 88 Cochrane St,  Bathgate

I would say Hugh above is certainly v. likely to be the same Hugh we have in 1891 with his parents Hugh and Marion (McIver). I wouldn't worry about the spellings of his surname. I would imagine you will see a number of spelling variations on this name.

I would imagine his father Hugh was probably in the Army given the varied birth places for the two sons in the 1891 entry. He would probably have retired from the Army by 1891 where he shows as Labourer, retired.

Where and when did Hugh die (you said the Poorhouse)? Have you tried checking to see whether you could trace any Poor Relief applications?

We like a good mystery here on RootsChat 

Monica

[MonicaL]

Have you also looked at the marriage cert for Hugh and Annie?

[Morney]

Thank you for the interest you have shown in this mystery.

It was Hugh Livitt's daughter who died in the poor house.  It was a good idea to look at the application for poor relief, do you know where I can find this information?

I have found Hugh and Annie's marriage certificate for 18th April 1892 he was a laborer and lived at Lock no 16 in Falkirk.

On Annie's death certificate her husband is Hugh 'Lovat' and a foreman in the chemical works.  However her daughter Mary McColgan has registered the death.

Hugh Livitt's father was in the army from his marriage certificate in 1865.

Any further info or ideas for searches would be very much appreciated.

[MonicaL]

I found an entry for Hugh Snr I think in 1901:

Hugh Livitt, 64, Way (?spl...army?) Pensioner, b. Ireland
Address: Stirling District Lunatic Asylum, Larbert, Stirlingshire

The change of birth place, from 1891, from Glasgow to Ireland is worth noting. May explain why he is so difficult to find in the early censuses.

There is a death in Falkirk in 1892 for a Marion McIver/Livitt.

What were the names showing for Hugh Snr. and Margaret McIvor on their 1865 MC?

Monica