A life in letters: Dempster, William Hodge (c1858-1924)

My paternal great grandfather, a Colliery Engine Keeper. He was born c1858, the son of James Dempster (whose occupation is given as ‘Coalminer’) and Margaret Dempster (whose maiden name was Hodge). By the age of 25 he was living in Bartonhall Row in Waterloo near Wishaw in Lanarkshire. On 15th July 1883, he married 18-year-old Margaret Cumming (‘Farm servant’) at her home, Park Cottage in Waterloo. The marriage was conducted by George Burnett, the minister of Overtown Church of Scotland.

Margaret had been born in Waterloo on 1st June 1865, the daughter of James Cumming (‘Ploughman’) and Margaret Cumming (whose maiden name was Thornton). They had been married in Cambusnethan in 1848, but were both deceased at the time of their daughter’s wedding to William.

The Census return for 1891 reveals the couple living at Prentice’s Land in Overtown with my grandfather, John Cumming Dempster who was 1 year old.

John and Margaret’s son Robert was born on 9th July 1893 at The Firs, Overtown. Ambrose Hislop Dempster (known as Bruce) followed on 27th April 1901 at Cornsilloch, Dalserf. David Hodge Dempster joined the family at Cornsilloch on 20th February 1909.

The 1901 Census shows the Dempsters staying at 7 Cornsilloch, Dalserf, where their house had two rooms with windows.  They were still at Cornsilloch at the time of the 1911 Census, which confirms that only four children had been born to the couple – none had been born and subsequently passed away in the 8 years between 1893 and 1901.

William Dempster died at the age of 66 at Lilybank, Ashgillhead, Dalserf on 10th October 1924. He had been suffering from Influenza for a couple of months, and had subsequently succumbed to ‘Melancholia’ leading to ‘Collapse’. His death was registered by my grandfather.

William’s wife Margaret survived for another 24 years dying on the morning of 26th December 1948 at Lilybank following a coronary thrombosis. Her death also was registered by John C. Dempster.