Govan Poor House Records Circa 1869

[JackB015725]

My 2nd great grandfather George Scott Blenkinsop was born in Gateshead, Northumberland in 1827, and until the 1850s, was living in Sunderland, Durham, with his wife, Mary Pigg. In 1861, he moved to Govan, Lanarkshire (presumably in search of work) with his family, and died in 1869.

On various trees on My Heritage, and on one on the IGI he is stated as dying in the Govan Poor House, but non of these have any reputable sources which would prove this to be true. The same year he died (1869), he had a son, Henry Jackson Blenkinsop, and his address is just lasted as "Govan, Scotland".

I have looked on various records of the Govan Poor House, and his name does not crop up on any of them, which I found to be interesting.

I would like to know if anyone can find anything or any records that state George Scott Blenkinsop as being a resident of the Govan Poor House.

Thank you

P.S--George Scott Blenkinsop is sometimes listed as "George Blankinsop".

[AlanBoyd]

Yes there is a death for George Scott Blenkinsop June 23rd 1869 in Govan Poor House “casual residence”. Since this is a Scottish certificate there is more information.

PM sent.

[JackB015725]

Thank Alan,

I have replied to your PM and sent an email.

[AlanBoyd]

On the death certificate the address for G S Blenkinsop and for his wife (the informant) is 12 Marlow Street, Kinning Park. I imagine that this means he was admitted to the infirmary, as suggested by the term ‘casual resident’.

According to the information here:

https://www.workhouses.org.uk/Govan/

there was a new Poor House built for Govan in 1867-1872. I'll start by assuming that's where the death was (although I suspect it was at the earlier site, see below).

This map will land you at the new establishment, the Govan Combination Parochial Buildings.

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15.2&lat=55.86885&lon=-4.32722&layers=6&b=ESRIWorld&o=89

To find Marlow Street from here scroll slightly north to find the Clyde then follow thr river east until you reach the Queen's Dock/Cessnock Dock area. Just go a little further east looking at the south bank of the river for General Terminus Quay. You will see a fan-like pattern of railway lines that merge to form a railway running south with a street called James Street running alongside on the west side. Follow James Street all the way down and across Scotland Street. Turn west on to Vermont Street and Marlow Street is first on the left, a short street running south to the main railway.

The previous Poor House, which may have still been operating at the date of death was on the west side of Eglinton Street, but isn't on this later map. To get to where it was go back up James Street a little way to Scotland Street then head east along it until you run up against a railway station.. If you 'jump across' the railways you will reach Eglinton Street running NS. Go slightly south and you will see Crawford Street running west off Eglinton Street. The area just south of Crawford Street was where the Poor House was, as you can see on this earlier map.

https://maps.nls.uk/view/228779017#zoom=6.0&lat=2221&lon=7018&layers=BT

[AlanBoyd]

I’ve sent another PM with a corrected email address.

[JackB015725]

Thank you very much for this information Alan, it's very helpful.

I've sent you an email.

Thank you