Poor Law Application deciphering

[Calvin Wyatt]

I have a poor law application for Scotland in 1908 that I'm having trouble understanding. I can't quite make out most of the writing and I'm not sure which information applies to which family due to the layout of the document. My ancestors in this document are Helen and James McMenemy.

[philipsearching]

The upper snippet relates to three children placed in the care of Euphemia Greenshields or Scholes at 41 Glebe Street, Bellshill.  The second child is James.

Name: James McMenemy
Place of birth: 27 Ashgrave St, Glasgow
Date of birth: 11-5-14
Sex: M
Date when child received: 21 Feby 1916
Date of notification to parish council: 22 Feby 1916

Persons from whom infants received:
Name: (??) Helen McMenemy
Address: 27 Ashgrave St, Glasgow
Terms agreed upon: 5/- weekly



The second snippet is a record of visits and notes.  One visit soon after placement with follow-ups every three months.  The notes from Feb 1916 top Jan 1917 must refer to James ( (the first child was back with Mum before Sep 1915 according to the second snippet and the third did not arrive until Jun 1917):

1916
Feby 25.    Visited.  House clean and tidy.  Child seems well cared for.
May 31.     do.         Everything satisfactory
Augt 24.    do.         do
Nov 22.     do.         Child presently on a visit to his mother at 27
                               Ashgrave St, Glasgow
1917
Jany 15.    Mrs Scholes reports child permanently with mother.


The note for 11 Sep 1915 is interesting:
Sept 11      At ( ?? ) Sheriff Court Mrs Scholes was convicted and admonished

The nature of the offence is not mentioned, but an admonishment suggests that it could not have been too serious - and it did not prevent her having James McMenemy placed with her around four months later.


Philip

[Treetotal]

Nice work Philip, the only thing I would add is that it might be Asgrove Street.
Carol

[philipsearching]

Nice work Philip, the only thing I would add is that it might be Asgrove Street.
Carol

Thanks, Carol - it's always nice to get a compliment.

I think you are right about the street spelling - yay for you - teamwork! .  I hovered between o and a, but decided to go for a, because I thought it looked more likely.  I have just googled Ashgrave Street Glasgow - none found, but there is an Ashgrove Street.

[Bookbox]

I think it's Airdrie Sheriff Court (though probably not relevant to James McMenemy).

[Calvin Wyatt]

Thank you all very much this is so helpful!  Is there a particular reason that the child would be in this arrangement?

[philipsearching]

Thank you all very much this is so helpful!  Is there a particular reason that the child would be in this arrangement?

There are many possibilities.  Do you know if there were other McMenemy children and when they were born?

A FEW POSSIBLE REASONS:
Illness of mother
Difficult pregnancy/childbirth of subsequent child - mum unable to care for James
Father died, walked out, or unable to work - leading to poverty
Abuse
(Not homelessness as the family address is consistent throughout)

Philip

[Calvin Wyatt]

No other children at this time but did have a child in 1918 which I'm not sure i quite understand as father was in the army and according to his army record, unless I'm reading it wrong, there seems to be no gaps or leave. My great grandfather was born to them in 1921.

[Treetotal]

I wonder whether the Mother was trying to keep her child safe as these were the war years, or, maybe she was doing vital war work herself.
Maybe his wife visited him or met up with him if he was in the country at some point without leave entitlement.
Carol