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Isabella McCarter LITTLE (b 1826)

Isabella McCarter Little is my paternal great-great-grandmother.

Isabella McCarter Little was born on 21 October 1826 in Barrhead (Renfrewshire) Scotland. According to the registry, she was the 14th child and 9th daughter of her parents, William Little, [black]smith, and Janet Liddell. She was baptized in Neilston Parish Church on 05 Nov 1826. The oldest sibling for which I can find a record in the Neilston Parish register is Jannet who was born in 1800. This would suggest her parents were born at the very end of the 18th century. I have been unable to find a record of their marriage. Her father died in Barrhead on 20 Sep 1834. I can also find no record of her mother's death in Scotland.

By 1841, Isabella's father had died. Isabella appeared at two locations in the 1841 census. She was at once in the household of her brother John in Barrhead Village and among the residents of Dovecotehall in Barrhead along with her mother and several siblings. The Barrhead Village household consisted of (1) John, age 35, a blacksmith, (2) William, age 30, a blacksmith, (3) Maryand [sic], age 25, a cotton spinner, (4) Isabella, age 15, a cotton spinner. The ages provided in this record are all round numbers. I suspect the enumerator got his information about the residents of this household from some source other than a member of the household.

The 1841 census record recorded at Dovecotehall in Barrhead is not much different. The ages are round numbers divisible by 5 or 10. Mrs Little was reported to be 50. She was more likely 60. The children recorded with her were (1) ?Jenny? Little (age 30, cotton spinner), (2) Mary Little (age 20, cotton spinner), (3) Helen Little (age 15, cotton spinner), (4) Isabel Little (age 15, cotton spinner), (5) George Little (age 20, blacksmith), (6) Ann Law [m.s. Little] (age 25, cotton spinner), (7) Robert Law (age 4), (8) Willm Law (age 2), and (9) Janet Law (age 6 months). With the exception of Mrs Little, all were reported to be born in Renfrewshire.

Isabella married before the end of that decade. In fact, she married William Stuart. The Neilston Parish register entry reads William Stewart, Cotton Spinner Barrhead and Isabella Little there in this parish were booked for proclamation of banns 14th December and being regularly proclaimed and no objection offered were married at Barrhead the 31st Day of Dec 1849 by Rev Andrew McEwan, minister of Levern Church. Isabella would have been 23; her husband was roughly the same age.

The Neilston Parish register shows that Isabella's first child, Janet, was born on 18 Nov 1850 and baptized on 15 Dec 1850. She bore eight children in all: three girls and five boys. The last child, James, was born in 1866. Isabella's husband William left his work as a cotton spinner and became a member of the Glasgow police force in the summer 1855. The couple lived in quarters provided by the police force for the balance of his career. The first three children, Janet, William, and Isabella were all born in Barrhead. The balance were born in Glasgow.

The couple moved from Glasgow to Rothesay in Buteshire after William's retirement from the police force in 1889. They appeared in the 1891 census living at 26 Russell Street in Rothesay. Two children were still with them; Mary, age 28, unmarried and a dressmaker, and Alfred, age 26, unmarried and a seaman.

Isabella did not live long after the move to Rothesay. She died at home on 18 Jul 1893. She was 66 years old. The cause of death was carcinoma of the uterus (two years).

William purchased the second of two lairs at the High Kirk cemetery on 19 Jul 1893. (He had purchased the first on 05 Feb 1891 for the interment of their daughter Isabella who died in 1865 but was reinterred in the High Kirk cemetery on 20 Feb 1892.) Isabella was buried on 20 Jul 1893.

My impression is that Isabella McCarter Little was a much beloved mother and grandmother. All of the children who had children, with the exception of son William, named their first daughter after their mother. William's second daughter was named Isabella Little. I have long wondered the source of her middle name McCarter but have yet to find any useful clue.

Sources:

1826 Birth Registration for Isabella Little (b 1826): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1826/Births/572/40/177. Content: An 1826 Old Parish Register birth registration in Neilston (Renfrewshire) Scotland reads William Little & Janet Liddell spouses at Barrhead, Smith & of the established church had their 14th child and 9th dau born Oct 21st & baptised Nov 5th named Isabella.

1841 Scotland Census, Household of John Little (b c1806): Citation: The National Records of Scotland. 1841/Census/572/15/37) Content: The 1841 Scotland Census of Neilston Parish, Barrhead Village (Renfrewshire) shows a household composed of (1) John Little, age 35, male, Blacksmith, [Born in Renfrewshire], (2) William Little, age 30, male, Blacksmith, [Born in Renfrewshire], (3) Margaret Little, age 25, female, Cotton Spinner, [Born in Renfrewshire], (4) Isabella Little, age 15, female, Cotton Spinner, [Born in Renfrewshire]. Note: It is curious that Isabella appears both here with her brother John and at Dovecotehall with her mother.

1841 Scotland Census, Littles and Laws in Dovcotehall, Barrhead: Citation: The National Records of Scotland. 1841/Census/572/17/3. Content: The 1841 Scotland Census of Barrhead (Renfrewshire) on 06 Jun 1841 shows residents of Dovecote Hall including (1) Mrs Little, female, age 50, no occupation, born other than in Renfrewshire, (2) Ann Little, female, age 30, a cotton spinner, born in Renfrewshire, (3) Mary Little, female, age 20, a cotton spinner, born in Renfrewshire, (4) Helen Little, female, age 15, a cotton spinner, born in Renfrewshire, (5) Isabel Little, female, age 15, a cotton piecer, born in Renfrewshire, (6) George Little, male, age 20, a blacksmith, born in Renfrewshire, (7) Ann Law, female, age 25, a cotton spinner, born in Renfrewshire, (8) Robert Law, male, age 11, born in Renfrewshire, (9) Willm Law, male, age 2, born in Renfrewshire, (10) Janet Law, female, age 6 months, born in Renfrewshire.

1849 Marriage Registration for William Stewart (b 1826) and Isabelle Little: Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1849/Marriages/572/50/322. Content: The Old Parish Register for Neilston Parish, Renfrewshire, Scotland for 1849 (p 336) reads Stewart and Little, William Stewart, Cotton Spinner, Barrhead, and Isabella Little, there in this parish were booked for proclamation of Banns 14th December and being regularly proclaimed and no objection offered were married aat Barrhead the 31st Day of Dec 1849 by the Rev Andrew McEwan, Minster of Levern Churh.

1850 Birth Registration for Janet Stewart (b 1850): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1850/Births/572/40/476. Content: The Old Parish Register of Birth for Neilston Parish, Renfrewshire under years 1850/51 shows the following entry: Stewart, William Stewart & Isabella Little, spouses, Barrhead had first child being a daughter born on the 18th November and baptized on the 15th December named Janet.

1852 Birth Registration for William Stewart (b 1852): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1852/Births/572/40/499. Content: The Old Parish Register for Neilston Parish (Renfrewshire) Scotland (p 107) reads: William Stewart and Isablla Little, spouses Barrhead, had their 2nd [child] amd first son born on the 16th Nov and baptized on the 12th December, named William.

1855 Birth Registration for Isabella Stewart (b 1855): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1855/Births/572/57. Content: The registry entry reads: Stewart, Isabella, Female, [born:]1855 Feb 19, 1h 0m am; Barrhead; Father: William Stewart, Cottonspinner, 30 yrs, birthplace: Grahamston, Neilston Parish; when and where married: 1837 Barrhead; issue living and deceased: 1 boy and 2 girls alive; Mother: Isabella Stewart, maiden name Little, 28 years, her 3rd child, [Isabella born:] Barrhead. Informant: Robert Law, cousan (sic); when and where registered: 1855 Mar 12 at Neilston.

1857 Birth Registration for John McCarter Stewart (b 1857): Citation: The National Records of Scotland. 1857/Births/644/7 497. Content: An 1857 District of Milton, Burgh of Glasgow birth registration (entry 497) shows that John McCarter Stewart, male, was born 1857 April Fourteenth at 9h 30m am, at 64 Maitland Street, Glasgow. Father: William Stewart, police officer. Mother: Isabella McCarter Stewart maiden name Little. Informant: William Stewart, father, not present. Registered 1857 May 2nd at Glasgow.

1859 Birth Registration for Albert Stewart (b 1859): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1859/Births/644/7/902. Content: An 1859 birth registration from the District of Milton, Burgh of Glasgow (entyr 902) shows that Albert Stewart , male, was born 1859 Aug 8 at 5h pm at 64 Maitland Street in Glasgow. Father: William Stewart, Day Constable. Mother: Isabella Stewart maiden name Little. Signed: William Stuart, father, present. Registered: 1859 Aug 17th at Glasgow.

1862 Birth Registration for Mary Little Stewart (b 1862): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1862/Births/644/7/645. Content: An 1862 District of Milton, Burgh of Glasgow birth registration (entry 645) shows that Mary Little Stewart, female, was born 1862 April 13 at 7h 45m am at 64 Maitland Street. Father: William Stewart, day police constable. Mother: Isabella Stewart m.s. Little. Married 1850 Dec 31, Barrhead. Signed: William Stuart, present. Registered: 1862 May 12th at Glasgow.

1864 Birth Registration for Alfred Stuart (b 1864): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1864/Births/644/7/590. Content: An 1864 District of Milton, Burgh of Glasgow birth registration (entry 590) shows Alfred Stuart, male, [born] 1864 Apr 17, 1h 30m pm, at 64 Maitland Street. Father: William Stuart, day constable police. Mother: Isabella Stuart m.s. Little. Married: 1849 Dec 31, Barrhead. Signed: William Stuart, father, present. Reigstered 1864 May 3rd at Glasgow.

1866 Birth Registration for James Stuart (b 1866): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1866/Births/644/7/815. Content: An 1866 birth registration in the District of Milton, Burgh of Glasgow shows that James Stuart, male, [was born] 1866, May 28th at 11h 0m pm at 62 Stewart St, Glasgow. Father: William Stuart, day police constable. Mother: Isabella Stuart m.s. Little. Married 1849 Dec 31 Barrhead. Informant: William Stuart, father, present (signed with very shaky hand). Registered: 1866 Jun 13 at Glasgow.

1851 Scotland Census, Household of William Stewart (b c1826): Citation: The National Records of Scotland. 1851/Census/572/ 11/ 68. Page 68 or 87. Content: The 1851 Scotland Census of Neilstron Parish, Barrhead (Renfrewshire) on 30 Mar 1851 schedule 240 shows a household composed of (1) William Stewart, head, married, male, age 26, cotton spinner, born Neilston, Renfrewshire, (2) Isabella Stewart, wife, married female, age 24, born Neilston, Renfrewshire, and (3) Janet Stewart, daughter, female, age 5 months, born Neilston, Renfrewshire.

1861 Scotland Census, Household of William Stewart (b c1826): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1861/Census/644/7/15/6. Content: The 1861 Scotland Census of Glasgow Barony Parish, Milton District, Glasgow (Lanarkshire), 64 Maitlan Street on 07 Apr 1861 shows a household composed of (1) Wm Stewart, head, male, age 37, police constable, born Barrhead, Renfrewshire, (2) Isabella Stewart, wife, female, age 35, born Barrhead, Renfrewshire, (3) Wm Stewart, son, male, age 10, scholar, born Barrhead, Renfrewshire, (4) Ino Stewart, son, male, age 8, scholar, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire, (5) Albert Stewart, son, male, age 6, scholar, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire, (6) Janet Stewart, daughter, female, age 4, born Barrhead, Renfrewshire, (7) Isabella Stewart, daughter, female, age 2, born Barrhead, Renfrewshire, (8) Robert Law, boarder, male, age 22, unmarried, railway porter, born Barrhead, Renfrewshire, (9) Ino McNab, boarder, male, age 35, unmarried, railway porter, born Pottafion, Argyleshire.

1871 Scotland Census, Household of William Stuart (b c1826): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1871/Census/644/7/59/3. [Note: The surname on this record has been entered into the index as Stevert.] Content: The 1871 Scotland Census of Milton District, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, 62 Stewart Street on 02 Apr 1871 shows a household composed of (1) William Stuart, head, married, male, age 45, police constable, born Paisley, Renfrewshire (sic), (2) Isabella Stuart, wife, married, female, age 43, born Barrhead, Renfrewshire. (3) Janet Stuart, daughter, unmarried, female, age 21, machinest, born Barrhead, Renfrewshire, (4) William Stuart, son, unmarried, male, age 18, flesher, born Barrhead, Renfrewshire, (5) John Stuart, son, unmarried, male, age 14, brassfounder's apprentice, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire, (6) Albert Stuart, son, unmarried, male, age 12, scholar, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire, (7) Mary Stuart, daughter, unmarried, female, age 11, scholar, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire, (8) Alfred Stuart, son, male, age 7, scholar, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire, (9) James Stuart, son, male, age 5, scholar, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire.

1881 Scotland Census, Household of William Stuart (b c1826): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1881/Census/644/8/60/3.. Content: The 1881 Scotland Census of Milton, Glasgow (Lanarkshire) on 03 Apr 1881 shows a home at 62 Stewart Street with a household composed of (1) Wm Stuart, male, married, head of household, age 55, day constable, born in Renfrewshire, (2) Isabella Stuart, female, married, age 54, wife, [no occupation], born in Renfrewshire, (3) Wm Stuart, male, married, age 29, son, day constable, born in Renfrewshire, (4) Albert Stuart, son, male, age 22, unmarried, umbrella maker, born in Glasgow, (5) Mary Stuart, daughter, female, age 18, warehouse girl, born in Glasgow, (6) Alfred Stuart, son, male, age 16, umbrella maker, born in Glasgow, (7) James Stuart, son, male, age 14, telegraph messenger, born in Glasgow.

1891 Scotland Census, Household of William Stuart (b 1826): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1891/Census/558/13/9. Content: The 1891 Scotland Census of Rothesay, Bute, 26 Russell Street, on 05 Apr 1891 shows a household composed of (1) William Stuart, head, married, male, age 66, retired police officer, born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, (2) Isabella Stuart, wife, married, female, age 64, born in Barrhead, Renfrewshire, (3) Mary Stuart, daughter, unmarried, female age 28, a self-employed dressmaker, born in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, (4) Alfred Stuart, son, unmarried, male, age 26, seaman, born in Glasgow, Lanarkshire.

1893 Death Registration for Isabella Little (b 1826): Citation: The National Records of Scotland. 1893/Deaths/558/91. Content: An 1893 Death Registration in the Burgh of Rothesay, County of Bute states that Isabella Stuart, female, age 66 years, married to William Stuart, retired police constable, [died] 1893 July 18th 8h 15m am at 26 Russell Street, Rothesday. Father: William Little, blacksmith (deceased). Mother: [no given name] Little, m.s. Liddell (deceased). [Cause] Carcinoma of uterus, 2 yrs, uremia as cert by J Burnett Lawson, MD CM. Signed by William Stuart, widower. Registered: 1893 July 19th at Rothesay.

Isabella's burial: Records of the High Kirk in Rothesay. The records are held by the Property Office of Argyll and Bute on High Street in Rothesay. Isabella McCarter is buried in lair 605, Section B. Daughter Isabella is buried in lair 604.