Sunday 10 November 2013

A life in letters:Anderson, Alexander (c1868-1946) and Anderson, Mary (née Marshall) (c1869-1927)



My mother’s maternal grandparents and my great-grandparents. Alexander Anderson’s parents were Thomas Anderson (‘Iron Moulder’) and Anne Anderson (née Livingston). Mary Marshall’s parents were William Marshall (‘Watchman at iron works’) who had died by the time of Alexander and Mary’s wedding, and Jane Marshall (née Pettigrew)

Alexander (‘Steel Smelter’) and Mary (‘Domestic Servant’) were married in 7th July 1892 at the Y.M.C.A. Hall, Graham, Street Airdrie. The address of both was given as 9 Mason’s Land, Lock Street, Coatbridge. They must have been co-habiting at least since the birth of my grandmother Jane (Jean or Jeanie) Marshall Anderson in December the previous year as she was born at this address.

The wedding took place ‘according to the forms of the Free Church of Scotland’ and was conducted by the Revd William Reid of the Airdrie Free Church. Witnesses were Thomas Anderson and Kate McCutcheon.

By the time of the 1901 Census, Alexander and Mary were living at 26, Post Office Row, Calderbank, Airdrie, where (according to their answer to the question appended to the Census) they had two rooms with one or more windows. Jeanie was 9: she had been joined by Thomas (7), William (5), Annie (3) and Alexander (1).  A decade later, the 1911 Census records that the family were living at the house which Alexander Anderson had built, Annieslea, South Carlisle Road, Airdrie.  Jeanie (19). Thomas (‘Steelworker’, 17), William (‘Plumber’, 15) and Alexander (11) were still living, but Annie must have died in the intervening years – which gives a poignancy to the choice of name for the new house. Since 1901 Mary (9), Susan (8), Nellie (4), John (4), Matthew (3) and David (1) had joined the family.

Mary Anderson died at the age of 58 on 6th October 1927 at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Cause of death was given as ‘Pernicious Anaemia and Asthma.’

Three years later, Alexander Anderson remarried. His wedding to a maternity nurse, Agnes Campbell Neilson was declared at 21 Hope Street, Glasgow on 17th July 1930, in the presence of John Scobie of Hilden, Carlisle Road, Airdrie, and John Raeside, 11 (or 13 – the second digit is hard to read) Victoria Place, Airdrie.  Agnes was the daughter of David Neilson (“Coalmaster”) who was dead by 1927 and Janet Neilson (née Hattrick) who were married in Old Monkland in 1875.  Agnes Neilson’s address was given as Hilden, Carlisle Road, Airdrie, the address of one of the witnesses, John Scobie.

(Up until 1939 in Scotland, it was possible to contract what was known as an ‘irregular’ marriage by declaration in the presence of witnesses – a precursor of civil registration of marriage. The 21 Hope Street address appears in many ‘marriages by declaration’ of the period – it may have been a solicitor’s office.)

Alexander Anderson died at Annieslea of bowel cancer on 23nd April 1946 at 5.35pm. His death was registered by his son Alexander L. Anderson, who was living at Maryville, Bridge of Weir Road, Kilbarchan.  His second wife Agnes died less than a year later at 6pm on 15th February 1947 in Stirling Street, Airdrie from Cardiac Failure – the implication is that she collapsed in the street.

Alexander seems to have been a man of enterprise, building not only both Annieslea and an adjacent house, but also the row of flats in Clark Street which bear his initials, and in which my mother and her sister were brought up. There’s a reference on the internet to him subscribing to Airdrie: a historical sketch by James Knox (1921)

5 comments:

Unknown said...

I believe I have found a family connection between us...I think my grandmother [Margaret Spiers Anderson Welsh] and your great grandfather [Alexander Anderson] were sister and brother...the oldest and the youngest children of Thomas Dunsmuire Anderson and Annie Livingston Anderson...I have pictures of the Anderson family and would be very happy to share them with you..perhaps you might have any additional information regarding the family...Yours, Margaret Whitney [daughter of Ann Livingston Welsh]

J T said...

My name is Jean Thomson nee Anderson I believe your grandmother Jeanie may have been my father John's sister who I was named after. Did you parents ever live in Coatbridge?

John Dempster said...

Hi Jean,Thanks for your comment. Would John have been my mother's 'Uncle John', who ultimately loved in Bridlington, with his second wife, whom I believe was called Blanche? I recall one of his daughters being married to a Red Arrows pilot called Frank. My parents only lived very briefly in Coatbridge, in Townhead Road in 1951-53ish. Hope this helps! Blessings, John

J T said...

No my Dad was your Grandmother's brother John married to Chrissie Findlay I remember visiting her in Clark St. when I was very young. I know she had two daughters one Helen and I think one called Jean,one would be your mother I think that would be Helen if my memory is correct.

Wendy Stoneham said...

Hello Aunt Jean,
Mum told me to read this. Very interesting! Wendy x