Deciphering 1921 Census – Scotland

[MisterM2402]

Hi Amelia, I'm not sure if you'll receive this notification since the thread is quite old but the great-great grandparents you were looking for are my great-grandparents. Their names are listed on my gran's birth certificate so I was doing my own searching and came across your post.

Were you able to find much else of interest about them or further back? I believe Maggie's maiden name is Szmiciute and I have a picture of her. They were married in Holytown in 1904 and had quite a few children including my gran.

[amelialen]

Hi,

I’m sorry I didn’t see your comment sooner, but how exciting! I’d love to see that photograph sometime as I have a few photographs of Magdalena’s children and grandkids but none of her unfortunately. And of course I’ll share what I can!

The biggest challenge for me has getting my hands on Lithuanian-Polish records that go further back, which you have probably already experienced yourself. However, the
1921 Census points to the Governorate of Suwałki, Congress (Russian) Poland, as the place where Magdalena Smitiute was born. I believe this was in 1887–1888 to Ewa Slankowskiute and Karolis Smitas, a farm labourer. Jonas Vysniauskas was also seemingly born there in 1875–1876 to Ona Kalavichiute and Vincas Vysniauskas, another farm labourer. Saying that, I haven’t found any records of their parents in Scotland. If they resided here at all, they will most likely be registered under aliases; for example, Charles and Eva Smith/Schmidt are the closest translations I can find. One important thing to remember though is that whilst historically Suwałki was once part of Lithuania, when Magdalena and Jonas were born, Lithuania had been annexed by Russia, Prussia, and Germany—thus why their nationality is written as Res. (Resident) or Rus. (Russian) Polish. Regardless of their Nationality though, their Lithuanian names, customs, and stories passed down throughout the family do confirm that they did, indeed, have Lithuanian roots!

If I’m correct, Magdalena emigrated and settled in Lanarkshire, though I’m not sure if her and Jonas’ families travelled together or if they came separately and met through the Polish/Lithuanian mining communities here. Despite this, I did find 2 close relatives of Magdalena—siblings!

Her older brother, Jurgis Smitas, was born in 1885 in Suwałki. He then resided at 70 Goburg Street, Gorbals according to the 1921 Census and married at St. John’s Church, Portugal Street, Glasgow in 1924 to Agnieska Lepsiute or Maknickas, who also originated from Suwałki; interestingly, Magdalena’s husband (Jonas Vusniauskas) was a witness at their wedding. Jurgis and Agnieska had a daughter, Ona, in 1921, but I’m unsure if they had any other children—probably plenty though! He was a coal miner employed by the Summerlee Colliery Company in Coatbridge (est. 1921–1924). He later lived at 122 Craigpark Drive, Glasgow before dying in 1962 at Stobhill Hospital due to Carcinoma of Hepatic Flexure (Liver Cancer) and Arteriosclerosis.

Her sister, Ona Smitiute, was also born in Suwałki, though didn’t emigrate to Scotland until after marrying and having a child in Congress Poland. She and Jourgis Matulaviejus (a coal miner and hewer) had a baby in 1899–1900 before marrying in 1901. They went on to have 6 more confirmed children (7 in total) once settling in Lanarkshire. In 1911, they resided at 6 Bellgowan Terrace, Glebe Street, Bellshill before residing at 62 New Orbiston Rows, Bellshill in 1918. That same year, Ona died at Glasgow Royal Infirmary due to a ruptured gastric ulcer.

As you know, Magdalena and Jonas married in 1904 in Carfin, district of Holytown, and resided at Kilmartin’s Land in Carfin. Alksanda Vysniauskas was also listed as a witness—likely a sibling of Jonas. After marrying, they relocated to 45 Watsonville, Motherwell for a short period of time before then residing at 38 Russel Place, Park Street, Motherwell. Jonas was a coal miner employed by William Dixon Ltd. (est. 1904–1921) and a hewer (est. 1922–1933).

Magdalena and Jonas had 14 recorded and confirmed children between 1905 and 1932, with 1 set of girl twins! Sadly, 3 of their babies passed away in infancy with Mare (1916) suffering from Septicaemia and Amelia and Anele (1920) from Maramus (malnutrition caused by premature birth). Their children were: Jonas (1905), Vincas (1909), Ona (1911), Magdalena (1913), Antanas (1915), Mare (1916), Branusi (1918), Amelia and Anele (1920), Juilus (1921), Juazas (1922), Mare (1924), Anele (1926) & Frances (1932).

Magdalena passed in 1933 at 17a Paterson Street, Motherwell due to Cardiac Vascular Disease. In 1940, Jonas lived at 31 Paterson Street, Motherwel  and 27 Dalriada Crescent, Motherwell in 1955. He passed that same year due to Pneumonia and Circulatory Failure. Magdalena and Jonas, alongside their son Antanas, were buried at St Patrick’s Cemetery in New Stevenson, a few minutes away from Holytown.

I have tried my best to gain access to Lithuanian-Polish records from the mid/late 1800s but don’t know where to start. I know a lot of written records around that time period were either lost or destroyed, which is why I’m most interested in connecting with relatives who may have more clues!

Please let me know if there’s anything you have questions about or want to share! I can also link you to my photos and family tree!

 

[MisterM2402]

Thanks so much for replying. I'm impressed by how much information you've managed to gather! I would love to see any photos or family tree you've been able to create. Which branch of Jonas and Magdalena's family are you from? Do you have all their English names as well?

Sadly, my gran Ellen (Anele) passed away in October there at age 98. She had been in hospital for a few months and then was moved into a care home around the time I found your post. That's why I've been interested in looking up family history. Her younger sister Frances is the only remaining sibling, residing in Canada after emigrating many decades ago.

She'd told me bits and pieces in the past about her upbringing and her family but I'm regretting not asking more! However, since she was one of the youngest of such a large family, she probably didn't have the same knowledge of the family history that her much older brothers and sisters had. Unfortunately none of the Lithuanian culture/customs/cuisine were passed down which is a real shame, to lose that connection. My gran said her older sister Meg was able to speak to their father in Lithuanian but she never learned it herself; I'm assuming most of the older siblings would have known some too. Saying that, when she was in the care home, my gran had a Lithuanian carer at one point who was surprised that she could still remember a few basic greetings!

My gran actually ended up marrying a man whose family had emigrated to New York from Lithuania (or at least that part of the world, I have less information on that side). He was in the American Air Force and stationed at a few air bases in Scotland when they met. They didn't meet through any kind of Lithuanian community, their family histories were a complete coincidence.

My mum and I wrote a eulogy for my gran that I posted to Facebook but that's probably less interesting to you since it's specifically about her and less about her family as a whole. I think I took a few details from your original post so thanks again for that.

I've attached a few photos. One of Magdalena, one of my gran with 3 of her sisters in Tullibody (Mary, Annie, Frances, Ellen), one with her sister Mary, and one with her sister Frances when she was over visiting from Canada about 10 years ago.

Here's an article I found as well about Lithuanian miners in Scotland. You've probably come across this already in your extensive research but I'll link it anyway just in case: https://www.ourmigrationstory.org.uk/oms/lithuanian-miners-in-scotland-migration-and-misconceptions

[amelialen]

You’re welcome, though I wish I could have seen it much sooner. In all honesty, I’ve been eagerly waiting for your response!

To answer your questions, I’m related through my great-gran Branusi (Bella), who was the middle child of Magdalena and Jonas. Unfortunately, she passed away in 2000 at the age of 82, so you’re sadly right; it appears as though Frances is the last living ancestor from their generation. I was unfortunately unable to meet Bella and have only heard stories to know her from. She was married to James Thomson, an iron moulder from Wishaw, and lived in Motherwell up until her death. As one of the oldest surviving siblings, she said that she often took care of the younger ones, and remained close with them growing up; this was until eventually they all spread out to other corners of the country or moved abroad with their own families. From what I’ve been told, Bella and her siblings were able to speak a great deal of Lithuanian, but I don’t think fluently; her parents, however, both spoke Lithuanian and Russian. As we know, they came from Russian-occupied Poland (and Lithuania by proxy), where the language was imposed at the time, so it’s unsurprising that their families would have spoken more multiple languages.

I believe Ona (Annie) and her husband James (Jim) Barrie lived in Tullibody, probably where your photo of all 4 sisters was taken! I also have a photo of them all in Tullibody. You also mentioned that Ellen married an American serviceman; would his name be Barney by chance, did they have a daughter called Janice, and did they live in Largs or Troon at some point? Another interesting fact I discovered through extended family is that Antanas (Anthony) traveled back to Lithuania, presumably to visit family. Everything you’ve shared about Frances has also lined up with what I have been told, which was that she married a man named Anthony Garvin and moved to Canada.

As you know, the family adopted the surname Martin, most likely a diminutive form of the place Magdalena and Jonas first lived after emigrating here—Kilmartin’s Land in Carfin (owned by William Kilmartin). For the most part, their English names were pretty easily translated from their Lithuanian counterparts; for instance, Magdalena became Margaret (Maggie or Meg), Jonas became John, Juazas became Joseph (Joe), Ona became Annie, Antanas became Anthony (Tony), Mare became Mary, Juilus became James, and Anele became Ellen. The only one I’m unsure about is Vincas (maybe Vince or Vincent).

Thank you so much for the photos! I have always struggled to put names to faces, but these help a lot. The photograph of Magdalena is also amazing; I never thought I’d ever be able to put a face to her. It makes me wonder what year it was taken and where! Mare (Mary) and Anele (Ellen) also appear to have a lot of similar facial characteristics as well—they could almost pass as identical twins.

I have attached some photos for you. The first is a photograph of Mary, her daughter Marie, Bella, and her daughter Helen at Ayr beach in 1961. The second is of Mary, Bella, Bella’s husband James, and their daughter Helen (I’m not sure who the other 3 children are). The last photo was taken at Annie’s in Tullibody in 1960; from left to right, you have John (unknown relation), Helen (Bella’s daughter), Janice (Ellen’s daughter), and Marie (Mary’s daughter) in the bottom row. In the second row you have Annie’s husband, James Barrie, 2 unidentified women, Mary, Ellen, and Annie who is holding a baby. In the last row you have an unidentified man, the brother Joseph, and 2 more unidentified men. I think the three younger boys in the back might be Annie and James’ sons. Let me know if you recognise anyone!

Here’s the link to my family tree if you’re interested in keeping updated on what else I find: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/176488529/family/familyview?cfpid=132293809699

[Rockford]

I was wrong about the employment details. Both Jonas and his son are recorded in the employment column as 'OW' = out of work. This means that Dixons Ltd, Coalmasters were their former employers.
In view of the date of the census it would be worth looking into industrial relations in the coal mining industry at that time.
Regards,
Bill

Just to note for general interest, that in March 1921 the coal mines that had been nationalised during the war were returned to the control of their private owners, and the miners' union refused to accept new terms of employment. There was then a mass lockout of workers that lasted until June/July.

As this would have covered the period of the census, it might explain why the two Jonas' were recorded as being out of work.

https://collections.swansea.ac.uk/s/black-friday-and-the-1921-lockout/page/blackfriday#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0

Best wishes

Rockford

[MisterM2402]

Great pictures and extra info, thanks again!

It may well be that my gran Ellen knew more Lithuanian as a child but she lived such a long life that it was bound to fade over time. I'm certain I asked her about this a few years back but I'm struggling to remember myself! I wish she was still here, her family story is fascinating.

Annie and Jim lived in Tullibody, my photo of the 4 sisters was outside Annie's house on Menstrie Road. This was a small sheltered housing-style bungalow so your photo from 1960 must be where they lived previously. My partner and her family are from Tullibody so I'm asking for their help locating. That was an interesting coincidence too - I'm not sure I'd even heard of Tullibody before I met my partner, but it turned out her and her mum were living 2 streets down from Annie's house! And the church at the end of their street St. Serf's is where my aunt Janis was christened.

Ellen was married to Bonipart Grikstas (who went by his middle name Barney). They eventually settled in Troon with their children Janis, Frances (my mum), and Raymond, but before that they were touring air force bases around Scotland, England and the US. She did have a lot of fond memories of bus trips to Largs though, one of her favourite places to visit.

Vincas must be her brother Bill, although I would have guessed Vince too if I hadn't known. Not as straightforward a translation but I suppose Vi(ncas) -> Wi(lliam) makes sense. Joe's other nickname was "Golly", which is definitely from a different era...

It's interesting that Tony travelled back to Lithuania, my gran had this postcard with a picture of an old school building in Lithuania on it (Sveksnos Saules gimnazija), but no writing on the back and no indication of the significance of it so it may have been brought back by Tony as a souvenir. No idea if it has a specific connection to the family but I've attached a photo anyway.

My gran did have a lot of photos in her belongings, many of which are now with my mum. I'll need to have a look through them all next time I'm over to see if there are any other interesting ones, or see if there are any clues as to the age/location of Maggie's photo. Very interested to see if there are any photos of Jonas too.

It's funny you should say Ellen and Mary look like they could be twins, your 2nd photo is actually Ellen, not Mary! The 3 younger children are Ellen's, left-to-right is Frances, Janis and Raymond. Also just noticed you swapped their names in your 3rd photo, definitely can't say they're not sisters.

My mum gave me some tips on the 3rd photo (she says hi, and that Bella was one of her favourite aunties). The boy in the front row is John Martin, son of Joe and Annie (woman in front of Joe). The rightmost man at the back is George, husband of Mary. She reckons the two other men in the back row are Annie and Jim's sons, as you said. She knows they had a son called Tom but isn't certain if he's one of the men in the photo. The baby Annie is holding is my mum, Frances.

Thanks again for sending through the photos and your family tree. If I find any other interesting photos or information, I'll let you know.