James Colvin was born about 1801 in Barony Parish, Lanarkshire to Margaret McNish and Peter Colvin, Cotton Weaver, both of whom pre-deceased him. He died in 1856.
Celilia Murray was born about 1801 in County Down, Ireland and died between 1843 and 1851.
1828 There is an entry in the Register of Marriages for Barony Parish, under the heading “Proclaimed and Married in July 1828” —
“27th James Colvin weaver Calton & Cecilia Murray residing in Lightburn.”
In those days, the nearest Catholic church to Shettleston was St. Andrew's in Glasgow where the Register of Marriages has the following entry —
“James Colvin born in Glasgow & Cecilia Murray born in the parish of ?Toale? County Down, Ireland having produced from the Session Clerk a certificate bearing that they have been regularly proclaimed in the Established Church & no objection offered & having been likewise proclaimed in this chapel were married by me according to the rite of the Catholic Church on [Thursday,] the 4th day of September 1828 in the presence of Patrick Murray & Sarah McLuskie.
Jas Kyle”[Note :– The nearest I could find to a Catholic parish of Toale was Saul, where the registers available on-line start in 1868.]
James and Cecilia had the following children (that I know of), all born in Lightburn, Shettleston —
Mary born in 1829, last sighting 1871. Margaret born in 1832, married James McHale in 1864 and died in 1874. Catherine born in 1832 and died in 1856. Peter born in 1834, last sighting 1856. Daniel born in 1837, married Margaret McGee in 1860 and died in 1917. Cecilia born about 1839, married Francis Havlin in 1872 and died in 1912. James born in 1843, last sighting 1861.
1829 From the Baptismal Register of St. Andrew's, Glasgow —
“Mary lawful Daughter of James Colvin and Cecilia Murray, born on [Sunday,] the 1 November, 1829, was baptised by me on the 29 of the same month the same year. Patrick Murray and Sally MacClusky were sponsors.
Charles Grant.”
1832 From the Baptismal Register of St. Andrew's, Glasgow, amongst the entries for March 18 —
“Margaret & Catherine, lawful daughters (twins) of James Colovin & Cecily Murray, born on [Sunday,] the 11 March, 1832, were baptised by me on the 14 [sic] March 1832. Sponsors were Dan Colovin & Mary Sharkie for Margaret, & Nicholas Haggirty & Nan McLuskie for Catherine.
William Gordon.”Margaret married James McHale in 1864 while Catherine died in 1856.
1834 From the Baptismal Register of St. Andrew's, Glasgow —
“Peter lawful son of James Colvin and Cicily Murray, born [Sunday,] the June 8th, 1834, was baptised by me on the 22 of June 1834. Sponsors were Nicolas Haggerty & Rachel Trenon.
William Stewart.”
The Baptismal Register of St. Andrew's, Glasgow, gives us —
[Note :– The register had changed to a tabular form by this date.]
1837 Daniel, lawful son of James Colvin & Cicily Murray born on [Tuesday,] January 17 and baptised by Fr. Charles Grant on April 11 with sponsors Dan Murray & Cath. McPherson.
Daniel married Margaret McGee in 1860.
c1839 Cecilia was born. I have failed to find any record of her baptism.
Cecilia married Francis Havlin in 1872.
1841 June 6 James Colvin and Cecilia Murray were living in the village of Lightburn in the Parish of Shettleston (a subdivision of Barony Parish) in the County of Lanark. Note that in the 1841 Census only, the age of adults was rounded down to a multiple of five.
Age Occupation Birthplace James Colvin 35 Cotton H.L.W. County of Lanark Cecilia do. 35 Ireland Mary do. 10 County of Lanark Margaret do. 8 County of Lanark Catherine do. 8 County of Lanark Peter do. 6 County of Lanark Daniel do. 4 County of Lanark Cecilia do. 1 County of Lanark
Before continuing with our Colvins, let us indulge in a little idle speculation.
There was one other Colvin household in Lightburn at that time:
Age Occupation Birthplace Peter Colvin 70 Cotton H.L.W. Ireland Daniel do. 25 Cotton H.L.W. County of Lanark There may well be a connection - according to James's death certificate, his parents were Peter Colvin, Cotton Weaver and Margaret McNish. I have found no later references to Peter but, for what it is worth, in the 1881 Census, there is a Daniel Colvin living in the Parish of Cambusnethan in the following household at 79 Caledonian Road, probably in Wishaw.
Rel. Mar. Age Occupation Birthplace Mary Jane McGaffy Head W 66 Housekeeper Ireland Ann Jane Gordon Daur M 25 Out Door Worker Airdrie Robert Gordon Grandson 3 Wishaw Daniel Colvin Boarder U 70 Labourer Glasgow Only three other Daniel Colvins are recorded amongst over 1200 Colvins in the whole of England, Scotland, Wales, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man in 1881, one was born in Sussex in 1870 and the others are the son and grandson of James so - if we assume that Daniel's age in 1841 was rounded down from, say, 29, then this might be the same man and he might be related to our Colvins. Probably worth further investigation at some point.
And further investigation reveals that a Daniel Colvin, Hawker (Single) died at the Poor House, Motherwell, aged 80 years, at 11h30m a.m. on November 13, 1884 of Bronchitis after 4 months as certified by J. Forrest, MD. His death was registered No.259 on December 1 by James Reid, Governor, Present. Daniel's parents are recorded as Peter Colvin, Weaver (deceased) and Margaret Colvin, m.s. McVerton (deceased). Given that the informant knew Daniel in a professional capacity, I still think it possible that this could be James's brother (or half-brother).
And that's it with the speculation for the time being.
The Baptismal Register of St. Mary's, Abercromby Street, Glasgow, the nearest Catholic church to Shettleston at that time, gives us —
1843 James, lawful child of James Colvin and Cicily Murray was born on Wednesday, April 26 and baptised by Fr. Peter Forbes on July 17 with sponsors Daniel Murray and Cath McFernan.
I have found only one Colvin family in the Parish of Shettleston in 1851.
1851 March 30 The family were still living in Lightburn Village. The household is listed as —
Rel. Mar. Age Occupation Birthplace James Colvin Head Widr. 50 Hand Loom Weaver Cotton Lanarkshire, Barony P. Mary Daur. U. 20 do. do. Margaret do. U. 18 do. do. Catherine do. U. 18 do. do. Cecilia do. 11 do. Peter Son 16 Stone Breaker do. Daniel do. 14 do. James do. 7 do. Since James Jnr. was born in 1843, I think we can safely assume that Cecilia, James's wife, died sometime between that year and this.
1855 Peter Colvin was born at 4h0m a.m. on Monday, October 22 at Lightburn, Shettleston. In the column for Father is entered – Peter Conrie, Coal Miner, Illegitimate. [I think the "Illegitimate" applies to the child rather than the father.] Under Mother – Catherine Colvin aged 20 born in Lightburn, Shettleston. The column for Marriage Details is blank. His birth was registered No.216 at Shettleston on November 7 by Mary Colvin, "her X mark", Aunt, who was present at the birth.
The record of his baptism by Fr. Alexander Reid in St. Paul's Eastmuir on October 25 names his father as Peter Conroy. James Colvin was sponsor.
I have found no later references to this Peter, I can find no death or burial registered for any Peter Colvin in Scotland prior to 1862, nor does any Peter Colvin appear in later censuses [so far as I can see]. I have not found Peter Conroy in Shettleston 1851 or 1861 (though there are other Conroys).
1856 Catherine Colvin, Single, Cotton Hand Loom Weaver died at Lightburn on Wednesday, January 30, aged 23, of bronchitis (after 12 weeks). Her parents are recorded as James Colvin and Cecilia Murray (deceased). The death was registered No.17 at Shettleston on January 31 by Daniel Colvin [presumably her brother].
Catherine was buried in Dalbeth (as certified by George Clarke, undertaker) where she appears in the records for St. Peter's Cemetery for January 31, cause of death Decline and a fee of 4 shillings. [Her age here has been recorded as 54!]
1856 James Colvin, Widower, Cotton Hand Loom Weaver died at Lightburn on Thursday, September 11, aged 51, of consumption (no medical attendant). His parents are recorded as Peter Colvin, Cotton Weaver, and Margaret Colvin, m.s. McNish, both deceased. The death was registered No.93 at Shettleston on September 12 by Peter Colvin, Son.
James was buried in Dalbeth (as certified by Peter Colvin, son) where he appears in the records for St. Peter's Cemetery for September 13, cause of death as Decline and a fee of 4 shillings. [His age here has been recorded as 50.]
Unfortunately, there are no title or lair references in the records at this time so we can do no more than assume that Catherine and James were buried in the same grave.
I have not found Peter in the 1861 or subsequent censuses for Shettleston District, nor have I found a record of his death so it looks as if he has moved out of the area.
1860 John Colvin was born at 2h0m p.m. on Sunday, July 8 at Lightburn, Shettleston to Margaret Colvin, Steam Loom Weaver. His birth was registered No.145 at Shettleston on July 16 by Margaret Colvin, "her X mark", Mother. His father is named as John Gaitness, Labourer with the annotation "Illegitimate" though I think that applies to the son rather than the father.
There is a margin note associated with this entry —
“In an action relating to the paternity of a male child named John Colvin born July 8 1860. At the instance of Margaret Colvin, Weaver against John Gaitness, Labourer, both residing in Shettleston. The Sheriff Court at Glasgow on the 2nd day of October 1860, found that the said child was the Illegitimate Child of the parties aforesaid. (6 October 1860)”John was baptised by Fr. Patrick McLaughlin in the parish of St. Paul's, Eastmuir on July 16 with sponsor Margaret Brown. In this record, his father is named as John Gatens.
John died in 1861, aged 8 months.
1860 On Thursday, November 29, Daniel married Margaret McGee at Eastmuir. [See Section CL-6-1 for further information.]
1861 John Colvin, Single, died at Middlequarter, Shettleston at 3h0m p.m. on Thursday, March 21, aged 8 months, of Bronchitis after 8 days as certified by Robert Steven, Surgeon. His father is not recorded, his mother is Margaret Colvin, Steam Loom Weaver. His death was registered No.40 at Shettleston on March 22 by Margaret Colvin, "her X mark", Mother.
There is no record of the burial of John Colvin in Old Dalbeth Cemetery, I have yet to check St. Peter's and the Common Ground.
1861 April 7 I have found only one Colvin household in Lightburn Village (Daniel and Margaret were in Hogganfield) in a house with one windowed room, comprising:
Rel. Mar. Age Occupation Birthplace Mary Colvin Head Unm. 24 H.L. Cotton Weaver Lanarkshire, Shettleston Cecilia do. Sister Unm. 18 Powerloom do. do., do. James do. Visitor Unm. 16 Joiner do., do. The names are the same but the girls are respectively 6 and 3 years younger than we would expect. There is also the matter of James's designation as visitor rather than brother. (I may have misread that though I doubt it - despite not being quite sure of his occupation.) However, on balance, I am inclined to think that these three are our family. I have not found Margaret in Scotland.
1864 On Friday, May 27, Margaret married James McHale at St. Paul's, Eastmuir. [See Section MH-6-1 for further information.]
1870 On August 18, James Gilmour and Cecilia Colvin were the witnesses at the marriage of Hugh Tonner and Agnes McCreanor.
1871 April 2 Mary Colvin (aged 41, no occupation given) was living with her sister Margaret and James McHale (and three children) on Lightburn Road. Daniel and Margaret McGee (with five children) were also living on Lightburn Road.
Cecilia was living with the McCreanors (whose names crop up occasionally alongside the McGees), also on Lightburn Road in a house with two windowed rooms.
Rel. Mar. Age Occupation Birthplace William McCraenor Head Widr 47 Labourer Ireland 2 Rose do. Daur Unm 20 Weaver do. Cecilia Colvin Lodger do. 22 do. Lanarkshire, Lightburn John McCreanor Son do. 13 Stonebreaker do., do. I have not found Peter or James in this census.
1871 On an unrecorded date between September 28 and 16 October, Francis Havlin and Cecilia Colvin were sponsors at the baptism of Ann, lawful child of Henry Devine and Sarah Havlin (Catholics) in the parish of St. Paul's, Eastmuir. Ann was born on September 28, 1871 at Clyde Iron Works.
1872 On Thursday, September 26, Cecilia married Francis Havlin at Eastmuir [St. Paul's]. [See Section HV-6-1 for further information.]
I have found no record of Mary Colvin after the 1871 Census.