Cornelius Houston was born in Kilbirnie, Ayrshire about 1851 to Mary Hanny (c1820 - 1881) and Cornelius Houston, Coal Miner (c1813 - 1870). [See Section HN-5-1 for family background.]
Sarah Reynolds was born on March 8, 1854 in Eastmuir, Shettleston to Ellen Connelly (c1826 - 1896) and Patrick Reynolds, Coal Miner (c1826 - 1882) and died in 1891. [See Section RS-5-1 for family background.]
1871 On Tuesday, July 4 Cornelius Houston and Sarah Reynolds were married at Eastmuir, Shettleston [St. Paul's], after Banns According to the forms of the Roman Catholic Church. The marriage was registered No.20 at Shettleston on July 5.
Cornelius was a Bachelor, gave his age as 19, occupation Coal Miner and usual residence Middlequarter [the part of Shettleston roughly between McNair Street and Killin Street], Shettleston Parish. His parents are recorded as Cornelius Houston, Coal Miner (deceased) and Mary Houston, m.s. Hanny.
Sarah was a Spinster, age 17, occupation Outdoor Worker and usual residence Eastmuir, Shettleston Parish.. Her parents are recorded as Patrick Reynolds, Coal Miner, and Helen Reynolds, m.s. Connelly
The celebrant was Fr. G. McBrearty and the witnesses were Michael Roger and Ann McGee.
This Ann might be the Annie McGhee who was living next door to the Reynolds at the 1871 Census with her mother Agness, a hatmaker aged 50 who appears to have been born in Dumfries, Traquin as near as I can read it. This might be meant to be Troqueer, a parish in Kirkcudbrightshire. Ann herself was aged 15, born in Glasgow and a cotton mill worker as was Sarah at the time of the census. I have no reason to connect these McG(h)ees with the Lightburn McGees but am keeping an open mind (as always).
The bride, groom and both witnesses made their marks rather than signing the register.
The event is also recorded in the Register of Marriages at St Paul's —
"Cornelius Houston & Sarah Reynolds were married by me in the presence of Michael Roger and Ann McGee on the 4 July 1871. G McBrearty."
Cornelius and Sarah had the following children (that I know of) —
Sarah born in 1872 at Windyedge, Cleland, married John McCafferty in 1890 and died in 1929. Cornelius born in 1874 at Omoa Square, Cleland, married Emily Welsh in 1895 and died in 1911. Patrick born in 1876 at Newarthill, married Rose Ann Duffy in 1896, last sighting 1901. Thomas born in 1878 at Omoa Square, Cleland, married Helen Logue in 1897, last sighting 1901. Joseph born in 1880 at Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, married Catherine Ferrie in 1900, last sighting 1911. John born in 1882 at Omoa Square, married Agnes McComb in 1903, last sighting 1911. Francis born in 1884 at Omoa Square, last sighting 1901. Mary (1) born in 1886 at Omoa Square and died in 1890 aged 3. Ellen born in 1889 at Omoa Square, last sighting 1911. Mary (2) born in 1891 at Omoa Square and died six weeks later.
1872 Sarah Houston was born at 1h0m p.m. on Monday, February 26 at Windyedge to Sarah Houston m.s. Reynolds and Cornelius Houston, Coal Miner who married on July 4, 1871 at Eastmuir, Shettleston. Her birth was registered No.45 at Shotts on March 2 by Cornelius Houston, Father, Present. Cornelius signed the register on this occasion, and on a couple of later occasions, but usually made "his X mark".
Sarah married John McCafferty in 1890 in Cleland.
1874 Cornelius Houston was born at 0h5m a.m. on Sunday, January 18 at Omoa Square to Sarah Houston m.s. Reynolds and Cornelius Houston, Coal Miner who married on July 4, 1871 at Shettleston, Barony Parish, Glasgow. His birth was registered No.33 at Shotts on February 2 by Cornelius Houston, "his X mark", Father.
Cornelius married Emily Welsh in 1895 in Blantyre.
1876 Patrick Houston was born at 1h30m a.m. on Wednesday, September 13 at Watson's Square, Newarthill, Parish of Bothwell to Sarah Houston m.s. Reynolds and Cornelius Houston, Coalminer who married on July 4, 1871 at Eastmuir, Shettleston. His birth was registered No.385 at Holytown on the same day by Cornelius Houston, "his X mark", Father.
Patrick married Rose Ann Duffy in 1896 in Rutherglen.
1878 Thomas Houston was born at 10h30m p.m. on Monday, April 15 at Omoa Square, Shotts Parish to Sarah Houston m.s. Reynolds and Cornelius Houston, Coal Miner who married on July 4, 1870 [sic] at Eastmuir, Shettleston. His birth was registered No.29 at Cleland (West District of Shotts) on the following day by Cornelius Houston, "his X mark", Father, Present.
Thomas married Helen Logue in 1897 in Cambuslang.
1880 Joseph Houston was born at 10h p.m. on Thursday, February 5 at Loading Bank, [now a street name on the southern edge of] Kilbirnie, Ayrshire to Sarah Houston m.s. Renolds [sic] and Cornelius Houston, Iron Miner who married on July 4, 1870 [sic] at Shettleston. His birth was registered No.17 at Kilbirnie on February 12 by Cornelius Houston [who signed his name again], Father.
Joseph also appears in 1891 aged 11. Again, there are no obvious death entries but possible marriages: in 1900 in Bothwell to Catherine Ferrie (625/1-106) when he would have been about 20, in 1906 in Bothwell to Elizabeth McLaughlin when he would have been about 26. I prefer the latter as one of his cousins, as yet unidentified, appears to have married a man called McLaughlin.
Joseph married Catherine Ferrie in 1900 in Uddingston.
1881 April 3 The family were living at 10 Kersland Row in the hamlet of [West] Kersland in the District of Dalry, in a house in which one room had a window.
Rel. Mar. Age Occupation Birthplace Cornelius Houston Head Mar 27 Ironstone Miner Ayrshire, Dalry Sarah do. Wife Mar 27 Lanarkshire, Barony Sarah do. Daur 9 Scholar do., Shotts Cornelius do. Son 7 Scholar do., do. Patrick do. do. 4 do., Bothwell Thomas do. do. 3 do., Shotts Joseph do. do. 1 Ayrshire, Kilbirnie West Kersland was just south of the [East] Kersland shown on my 1980s Landranger map (Sheet 63), about a mile NW of Dalry.
1882 John Houston was born at 3h10m a.m. on Wednesday, March 8 at 76 Omoa Square, Shotts Parish to Sarah Houston m.s. Reynolds and Cornelius Houston, Coal Miner who married on July 4, 1871 at Eastmuir, Shettleston. His birth was registered No.15 at Cleland (West District of Shotts) on March 29 by Cornelius Houston, "his X mark", Father.
John married Agnes McComb in 1903 in Edinburgh.
1884 Francis Houston was born at 9h45m a.m. on Thursday, May 29 at 68 Omoa Square, Shotts Parish to Sarah Houston m.s. Reynolds and Cornelius Houston, Coalminer who married on July 4, 1870 [sic] at Eastmuir, Shettleston. His birth was registered No.48 at Cleland on June 16 by Cornelius Houston, Father.
1886 Mary Houston was born at 1h45m p.m. on Thursday, July 1 at Omoa Square, Shotts Parish to Sarah Houston m.s. Reynolds and Cornelius Houston, Coalminer who married who married on July 4, 1871 at Eastmuir, Shettleston. Her birth was registered No.51 at Cleland (West District of Shotts) on July 16 by Cornelius Houston, "his X mark", Father.
Mary was registered No.51, No.56 was her cousin John Kelly, born on July 14.
Mary died on March 18, 1890.
1889 Ellen Houston was born at 11h30m a.m. on Tuesday, January 22 at 76 Omoa Square, Shotts Parish to Sarah Houston m.s. Reynolds and Cornelius Houston, Coalminer who married on July 4, 1871 at Eastmuir. Her birth was registered No.16 at Cleland, West District of Shotts, on February 8 by Cornelius Houston, "his X mark", Father.
1890 Mary Houston, Single, died aged 3 years and 8 months at 7h40m a.m. on Tuesday, March 18 at 67 Omoa Square, Shotts Parish, of Bronchitis after 21 days as certified by James Duncan, M.B.C.M. Her parents are recorded as Cornelius Houston, Coalminer and Sarah Houston m.s. Reynolds. Her death was registered No.17 at Cleland (West District of Shotts) on the same day by Cornelius Houston, Father, Present.
1890 On Tuesday, November 18, Sarah married John McCafferty at the RC Chapel, Cleland after Banns etc. [See Section MC-7-2 for further information.]
1891 A second Mary was born at 6h0m p.m. on Friday, January 16, at 79 Omoa Square, Shotts Parish to Sarah Houston m.s. Reynolds and Cornelius Houston, Coalminer who married on July 4, 1870 [sic] at Eastmuir, Shettleston. Her birth was registered No.13 at Cleland, West District of Shotts, on February 4 by Cornelius Houston, Father.
Sadly, Mary died aged 6 weeks at 7h30m a.m. on Saturday, February 28 at 79 Omoa Square, Shotts Parish of Pneumonia after 3 days as certified by James Duncan, M.B.C.M. Her parents are recorded as Cornelius Houston, Coalminer and Sarah Houston m.s. Reynolds Her death was registered No.12 at Cleland the same day by Cornelius Houston, "his X mark", Father, Present.
1891 April 5 The family were living at 79 Omoa Square in a house in which one room had one or more windows. The household is listed as:
Rel. Mar. Age Occupation Birthplace Cornelius Houston Head Mar 39 Coal Miner Ayrshire, Boston Sarah Wife Mar 38 Lanarkshire, Eastmuir Cornelius Son Unm 17 Coal Miner do., Shotts Patrick Son 15 do. do. do., do. Thomas Son 13 do. Worker do., do. Joseph Son 11 Scholar Ayrshire, Kilbirnie John Son 9 do. Lanarkshire, Shotts Francis Son 7 do. do., do. Ellen Daur 2 do., do. I have no idea how Cornelius's birthplace comes to be Ayrshire, Boston but there is no other way I could read the entry.
On the same date, Sarah and John McCafferty were living at 98 Omoa Square in a house with one windowed room. John's occupation is Brickworker, both were born in Shotts, Lanarkshire.
1891 Sarah Houston, married to Cornelius Houston, Coalminer died at 9h35m p.m. on Sunday, July 19, aged 36 [she was 37], at 79 Omoa Square, Shotts Parish of Chronic Nephritis Oedema [fluid retention in the kidneys if I've read that correctly] after 12 months as certified by James Duncan, MBCM. Her parents are recorded as Patrick Reynolds, Coalminer and Ellen Reynolds m.s. Connelly. Her death was registered No.32 at Cleland on the following day by Cornelius Houston, Widower, Present.
1891 A Cornelius Houston, miner at Cleland was sent to prison for 21 days for neglecting his three younger children - pleaded guilty at Hamilton Court. [Information supplied by C.M.Houston, with no more precise date, so I do not know whether it preceded or followed Sarah's death.]
1895 On Sunday, December 22, Cornelius married Emily Welsh at St. Joseph's, Blantyre. [See Section HN-74-1 for further information.]
1896 On Thursday, December 31, Patrick married Rose Ann Duffy at The Catholic Chapel, Rutherglen. [See Section HN-74-x for further information.]
1897 On , , Thomas married Helen Logue at Cambuslang. [See Section HN-74-x for further information.]
1898 Cornelius Houston, Coalminer, widower of Sarah Reynolds, died at 9h0m p.m. on Monday, June 6 at Motherwell Poorhouse, age 46 years, of Heart disease, 5 months, as certified by I. Forest, M.D. His parents are recorded as Cornelius Houston, Coalminer and Mary Houston m.s. Hanny, both deceased. His death was registered No.294 at Dalziel on the following day by Jas. Reid, Governor, Present.
1900 on Friday, November 9, Joseph married Catherine Ferrie at The Catholic Chapel, Uddingston. [See Section HN-74-x for further information.]
1901 March 31 The family have scattered.
Sarah and John (McCafferty) are still in Omoa Square,
Cornelius and Emily (Welsh) are in Blantyre,
Patrick and Rose Ann (Duffy) are in Rutherglen,
Thomas and Helen (Logue) are in Rutherglen,
Joseph and Catherine (Ferrie) are in Uddingston, Ellen is with them,
Francis is also in Uddingston.John (19) in not in Edinburgh (Newington 685/5 Book 25 Page 18).
1903 on Friday, April 17, John married Agnes McComb in Stockbridge, Edinburgh. [See Section HN-74-5 for further information.]