William Reid - Ireland/Greenock

[JakeMcGhee]

Good Evening everyone,

I was hoping someone would be able to assist me in finding out information on my Great x3 Grandfather William Reid, the information that I have at the moment is the following;

Death Record in 1905 Greenock
Marriage record to Johanna Specht (My Great x3 Grandmother) in 1885 Greenock
Marriage record to previous wife Ellen Allan in 1884 Greenock

On the Marriage record to Ellen, William is listed as a "widower" which would indicate that he was married at least 3 times in his life, and from all the information I have been able to gather, I can see that William was born in Ireland to William Reid and Margaret Cochrane (listed as Margaret Jane Reid/Cochrane on marriage certificate to Ellen) his year of birth varies depending on what document you read, his birth year would be around 1843 on both his marriage certificates, but would be 1848 on his death certificate. my main interest would be to locate the marriage record for his previous marriage before Ellen, and also the possibility of finding out where and when in Ireland he was born.

If anyone has any questions feel free to ask me

Kind regards,
Jake

[Neale1961]

1891 census shows a daughter Lina (17) born in Germany abt 1874. Do we assume this is the child of the first wife?

Lena Reid married James William Roberts in 1897 in Greenock East.
 Death for Lena Reid / Lena Roberts  (age 89) in Greenock in 1963.

Her marriage certificate should give you the name of her mother (and  William’s first wife).

[JakeMcGhee]

1891 census shows a daughter Lina (17) born in Germany abt 1874. Do we assume this is the child of the first wife?

Lena Reid married James William Roberts in 1897 in Greenock East.
 Death for Lena Reid / Lena Roberts  (age 89) in Greenock in 1963.

Her marriage certificate should give you the name of her mother (and  William’s first wife).

Thank you for the reply Neale, Lina was born to Johanna and her previous husband William Moyer, Lina in Germany, They also had another child (also named William) who was born in the USA. William Moyer passed away which led Johanna and the two kids relocating to the UK, where she then Married William Reid

[Neale1961]

Do you have William's death certificate? Quite often they list names of former wives.

[Neale1961]

On William's marriage certificate, his father is named as William. What is his father's occupation, and is he still living? Who were the witnesses at the marriage - have you identified them?

[JakeMcGhee]

Do you have William's death certificate? Quite often they list names of former wives.

Yes, He died March 26th 1905 in Greenock, Wives listed as 1st. Ellen Allan and 2nd Johanna Specht

He married Johanna in 1885 where he is listed as a widower, which would make sense, but he married Ellen Allan the year previous in 1884, where he is also listed as a widower. So I was thinking that maybe he was married previously before Ellen, perhaps in Ireland

[JakeMcGhee]

On William's marriage certificate, his father is named as William. What is his father's occupation, and is he still living? Who were the witnesses at the marriage - have you identified them?

Both of Williams' parents were deceased by the time he married Ellen, His father was listed as a Labourer, I have the certificate via Scotland's People for the marriage to Johanna where it looks like the Witness looks to say "A Ross" & "Elizabeth Lyle"

Apologies if I am not too helpful, this is only the second time I have required help finding information such as this out

[Neale1961]

Apologies if I am not too helpful, this is only the second time I have required help finding information such as this out

Not to worry, Jake. I'm just trying to look at all possible avenues, which is why I was asking for more detail. 

[sugarbakers]

1901 census for Greenock shows a William Reid of Ireland aged 55 sugarhouse labourer living at 22 Sugarhouse Lane Greenock with his wife Johanna of Germany aged 46, and 4 children William 19, James 14, Johanna 10, Francis 9, and 5 lodgers.

"Intimations" shows a William Reid died at 41 Hamilton St Greenock on 26 March 1905 (Greenock Telegraph 27.3.1905)

1911 census shows Johanna widow aged 56 at 21 Nicolson St Greenock with son Francis 19, daughter Johanna 20, and son-in-law John Mitchell 21.