The Family of William Reynolds & Catherine Hillon, 1881

William Reynolds was born on March 31, 1850, probably in Tollcross, Lanarkshire to Ellen Connelly (c1826 - 1896) and Patrick Reynolds (c1826 - 1882). [See Section RS-5-1 for family background.] He died in 1920.

Catherine Hillon was born about 1862 in Ireland to Ann Icols (Catherine's marriage registration, or it could be Jeols) or Eccles (Catherine's death registration) and Henry Hillon. She died in 1889.

The only information I have on the Hillons is the following Census entry.

1881 April 3 There dwelt at 123 King Street, Rutherglen the following —

Rel.Mar.AgeOccupationBirthplace
Henry HillonHeadMar.46Coal MinerIreland1
AnnWifeMar.44Miners Wifedo.
CatherineDaur.Unm.18Finisher in Starch Workdo.
ThomasSon15Rivet BoyLanarkshire, Rutherglen
DanielSon11Scholardo., do.
William ReynoldsLodgerUnm.24Coal Minerdo., Westmuir1

The census entry shows the house had two rooms with one or more windows, but the 2 is crossed out and replaced with 1. However, there is also a 1 against William's name, plus he has a separate schedule number, a rare occurrence in my limited experience in an entry for a lodger. This might be taken to imply that there was some sort of arrangement whereby William had a room to himself with the Hillons occupying the other room. I'd be very surprised if that were the case, much more likely is William sharing with the two sons with Maw, Paw and Catherine in the other room.


Now, it is possible that I have confused two Williams with the same parents, but I doubt it. I think our William just had a very bad memory for birthdays so —

1881 On Monday, July 18 William Reynolds and Catherine Hillon were married at the Catholic Chapel, Rutherglen [St Columbkille's] after Publication according to the Forms of the Roman Catholic Church. The marriage was registered No.80 at Rutherglen on July 22.

William was a Bachelor, gave his age as 25 [I think he should have admitted to 31,] occupation Steel Work Labourer and residence 127 King Street, Rutherglen. His parents are recorded as Patrick Reynolds, Coalminer and Ellen Reynolds, m.s. Connely.

Catherine was a Spinster, gave her age as 19, occupation Worker in a Starch Work and residence 123 King Street, Rutherglen. Her parents are recorded as Henry Hillon, Colliery Redsman and Ann Hillon m.s. Icols. Catherine made "her X mark" on the official documents.

The celebrant was Fr. John Shaw and the witnesses were Patrick Smyth and Catherine Reynolds, who themselves married on September 5 in Cleland.

[Note :– At the census three months earlier, 127 King Street was occupied by Letitia Lynch, a widow aged 56, and her son John, aged 28, a Pithead Labourer. I don't know whether this is relevant or not.]

From the Register of Marriages in St. Columbkille's

William Reynolds + Catherine Hillon, after due proclanation of banns, were married by me in presence of Patrick Smith + Catherine Reynolds the 18th July. John Shaw.

William and Catherine had the following children (that I know of), both born in Silverbanks, Cambuslang —

Mary Annborn in 1884, married James Heyburn in 1905 and died in 1916
Catherineborn in 1886 and died in 1888.

[William had further children with his second wife Ellen Connelly.]


1884 Mary Ann Reynolds was born at 4h10m p.m. on Monday, June 16 at Scotston Place, Silverbanks, Cambuslang to Catherine Reynolds, m.s. Hillon and William Reynolds, Coal Miner. The birth was registered No.244 at Cambuslang on June 20 by William Reynolds, Father. The record shows William and Catherine married at Rutherglen on July 11, 1881, a week earlier than the fact.

Today, Silverbank (without the 's') is the area at the west end of Cambuslang just before Dukes Road and south of Glasgow Road (the continuation of Main Street).


1886 Catherine Reynolds was born at 8h0m a.m. on Thursday, July 29 at Scotston Place, Silverbanks, Cambuslang to Catherine Reynolds, m.s. Hillon and William Reynolds, Coal Miner whose marriage date is again recorded as July 11, 1881 at Rutherglen. [William is at least consistent, if wrong.] Her birth was registered No.288 at Cambuslang on the same day by William Reynolds, Father.

1888 Catherine died at 3h50m a.m. on Monday, October 8, at 11 Back Row, Silverbanks, aged 2 2/12 years, as a result of severe burns over her back and shoulders and convulsions, as certified by Hugh Mackay, MB+CM. Her parents are recorded as William Reynolds, Coal Miner and Catherine Reynolds m.s. Hillon. Her death was registered No.173 at Cambuslang on the same day by her father William Reynolds, Present.

There is further information in the Register of Corrected Entries for the Parish of Cambuslang in the County of Lanark, Vol. II, Page 37.

"The following Report of result of a Precognition [Scots Law - preliminary examination of witnesses as to whether there is ground for prosecution] has been received touching the death of Catherine Reynolds registered under No.173 in the Registration Book of Deaths for the year 1888:-

Catherine Reynolds
single
2 years
Female
8 October 1888
In the house of William
Reynolds at Silverbanks,
Cambuslang. Usual
residence in same house.
 
Injuries accidentally
received on 6th October
current by Scalding.
As Certified by
J.A.Dykes, Procurator Fiscal
Procurator Fiscal's Office
Hamilton 17th October 1888
John Arbuckle, Registrar
26 October 1888


1889 At 3h0m a.m. on Thursday, February 7, at 8 Old Rows, Silverbanks, Cambuslang, Catherine Reynolds, married to William Reynolds, Coal Miner, died aged 25 [should have been about 27] of Phthisis Pulmonalis [which usually means tuberculosis] after 6 months as certified by Hugh Mackay, MB+CM. Her death was registered No.30 at Cambuslang the same day by William Reynolds, Widower, Present.

Catherine's parents are recorded as Henry Hillon, Colliery Brusher and Ann Hillon, M.S. Eccles.

Following the deaths of Catherine and Catherine, it looks as if William moved to Cleland where most (if not all) of his brothers and sisters had come to live in Omoa Square.

 


The Family of William Reynolds & Ellen Connelly, 1890

Ellen Connelly was born on August 7, 1854 in Shettleston, Lanarkshire to Ellen Benson (c1822 - 1881) and John Connolly, Coal Miner (c1822 - 1869). [See Section CN-5-1 for family background.]

In 1881 Ellen married Thomas Dobbin in Shettleston and they had a son John born in Parkhead on October 4, 1882, followed by another son Thomas born on April 18, 1886. Sadly, he lived only four and a half hours and was buried in Dalbeth Cemetery (Common Ground) on the following day. Her husband died, probably of TB, on June 22, 1889.

In 1851 (before Ellen was born) and 1861, the Connellys were living in Sandyhills, a couple of hundred yards from the Reynolds family in Eastmuir. In 1871, they were even closer, having moved to Houston's West Land while the Reynolds family were in Houston's East Land, the two buildings seem to have been separated by the width of St. Paul's R.C. Church and presbytery. William's parents, Patrick and Ellen were the sponsors at the baptism of Ellen's brother John in 1857 so it is likely that William and Ellen knew each other in childhood.

Coincidently, I found these Connellys next door to Henry and Margaret (m.s. Burns) McGee who had a Margaret Connelly (probably Ellen's sister) as a witness at their marriage in 1860.


1890 On Friday, July 18, William Reynolds and Ellen Connelly were married by Fr. Joseph van Hecke at St. Paul's R.C. Church, Shettleston. The marriage was registered No.46 at Shettleston on the following day.

William was a Widower, he gave his age as 39 [close, he was 40], occupation Coal Miner and usual residence Cleland. His parents are recorded as Patrick Reynolds, Coal Miner (Deceased) and Ellen Reynolds, m.s. Connolly.

Ellen was a Widow with surname Connolly or Dobbin, age 35, occupation Power Loom Weaver and usual residence McNair Street, Shettleston. Her parents are recorded as John Connolly, Coal Miner and Ellen Connolly, m.s. Benson, both deceased.

The witnesses were Patrick Reynolds [probably William's brother] and Ellen Corrigan.

William and Ellen had the following children (that I know of) —

Patrickborn in 1891 at 49 Omoa Square, Cleland and died in 1892.
Ellenborn in 1894 at 18 Graham's Buildings, Halfway, Cambuslang,
married Patrick Nolan in 1912 and died in 1930.


1891 Patrick Reynolds was born at 9h30m a.m. on Sunday, April 5 at 49 Omoa Square, Shotts Parish to Helen Reynolds, m.s. Connelly and William Reynolds, Coalminer, who married on July 18, 1890 at Shettleston, Barony Parish. His birth was registered No.31 at Cleland (West District of Shotts) on the following day by William Reynolds, Father.

Birth No.30 registered in the West District of Shotts was Patrick's cousin Rose Kelly born to William's sister Jane on March 18, also registered on the 6th; No.26 was another cousin Jane Reynolds born to Patrick and Sarah (nee Carroll) on March 23 and registered on March 27; and No.57 was Ellen Reynolds, daughter of Joseph and Ellen (nee McDermott) born on June 5 and registered on June 26.


1891 April 5 The family were living in a one-roomed house at 49 Omoa Square, Cleland.

Rel.Mar.AgeOccupationBirthplace
William ReynoldsHeadMar40Coal MinerLanarkshire, Toll Cross
Ellen [Connelly]WifeMar35do., Sunnyhill
John D.Son8Scholardo., Parkhead
Mary A.Daur6dodo., Cambuslang
PatrickSon1 daydo., Omoa

I notice that William's arithmetic has improved considerably but he should have admitted to being 41 and 5 days while Ellen was 36 and 8 months (less 2 days) old.

John D. was the son of Ellen and Thomas Dobbin and should have been entered here as stepson, Mary Ann the daughter of William and Catherine Hillon.

This census record definitely shows Ellen born in Sunnyhill but it should be Sandyhills.


1892 Patrick Reynolds (Single) died at 3h20m a.m. on Wednesday, November 23 at 18 Graham's Buildings, Halfway, Cambuslang, aged 1 7/12 years, of Bronchitis 21 days, Pneumonia 7 days as certified by Charles F. Scott, MBCM. His parents are recorded as William Reynolds, Coal Miner and Ellen Reynolds, Previously Dobbin, m.s. Connelly. His death was registered No.288 Cambuslang on the same day by William Reynolds, Father, Present.


1894 Helen Reynolds (Ellen) was born at 4h0m a.m. on Monday, June 25 at 18 Graham's Buildings, Halfway, Cambuslang to Helen Reynolds previously Dobbin m.s. Connolly and William Reynolds, Coal Miner, who married on July 13 [sic], 1889 [sic] at Shettleston. Her birth was registered No.329 at Cambuslang on June 29 by William Reynolds, Father.

Ellen married Patrick Nolan in 1912 in Cleland.


1901 March 31 William's 51st birthday. The family were living at 101 Omoa Square in a house with one windowed room.

Rel.Mar.AgeOccupationBirthplace
William ReynoldsHeadMar50Coal MinerLanarkshire, Tollcross
Ellen [Connelly]WifeMar45do., Sandyhills
John do.SonS18Coal Minerdo., Glasgow
Mary Ann do.DaurS16do., Cambuslang
Ellen do.Daur6Scholardo., do.


1901 Ellen Connelly Reynolds, Wife of William Reynolds, Coalminer, died at 10h45m a.m. on Saturday, June 1 at Omoa Square, West District of Shotts, aged 43 years, of Apoplexy, 3 months, Strangulated Femoral Hernia, 7 days as certified by John Lithgow, MD. Her death was registered No.29 at Cleland on the same day by William Reynolds, Husband, Present. Her parents are recorded as John Connelly, Coalminer and Ellen Connelly m.s. Benson, both deceased.


1905 On Friday, June 30, Mary Ann (William's daughter with Catherine Hillon) married James Heyburn at the R.C. Chapel, Cleland [St Mary's]. [See Section HB-7-1 for further information.]


1906 On Monday, April 30, John Dobbin (William's stepson) married Julia McGhee at St. Francis Xavier's, Carfin. [See Section DB-6-1 for further information.]


1911 April 2 William and young Ellen were sharing a house with one windowed room at 7 Stable Row, Cleland, with Catherine and Patrick Smyth.

Rel.AgeMar.OccupationStatusBirthplace
Patrick SmythHead52MarCoal Miner (Hewer)WorkerIreland1
Cath [Reynolds]Wife52Mar29 - 11 - 9Ireland
Joseph do.Son22SCoal Miner (Hewer)WorkerLanark, Shotts
Thomas do.Son19Sdo. do.do.do., do.
William SmythSon17SCoal Miner (Hewer)WorkerLanark, Shotts
Michael do.Son15SAt Homedo., do.
Jane do.Daur13Schooldo., do.
John do.Son9Schooldo., do.
William ReynoldsBoarder61WidowerFireman (under)
Coal Mine
Workerdo., do.
Ellen do.Daur17SPottery WorkerWorkerdo., do.

Mary Ann and James Heyburn were not far away at 73 Omoa Road.

John Dobbin and Julia (McGhee) were visiting Julia's parents in Holytown.


1912 On Friday, July 12, Ellen married Patrick Nolan in St. Mary's, Cleland. [See Section NO-71-3 for further information.]


1920 William Reynolds, Coal Miner, Widower of Ellen Connelly died at 0h15m p.m. on Thursday, June 3 at Carrickvale Terrace, Cleland, age 70 years, of (a) Chronic Bronchitis (b) Gangrene of Foot and Toes after 6 weeks, as certified by Geo. Hugh Logan M.B.Ch.B. His parents are recorded as Patrick Reynolds, Coal Miner and Ellen Reynolds m.s. Connelly, both deceased. His death was registered No.50 at Cleland on the same day by Francis Reynolds, 64 Biggar Road, Cleland, Brother, Present.

Poor Catherine Hillon, William's first wife, doesn't get a mention here.


Compiled by John Reynolds — JRGene@btinternet.com
Last significant update — December 2016 (sundry BMD details)