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William MCCARDY (b c1820)

William McCardy is my paternal great-great-grandfather.

I know almost nothing about William McCardy. His marriage to Helen Malcom in Glasgow in 1848 was recorded in the Old Parish Registers. The spelling of his surname is a source of considerable confusion. I can find no trace of the couple in 1851. Further, the enumerator for the census in 1861 spelled his surname McCardel, making the record devilishly difficult to find. He was there in 1861, however, age 38, a mason's laborer, born in Ireland. He is living with his wife, Ellan, age 39, born in Balfron (Stirlingshire) and two daughters, Susan, age 6, and Mary, age 4, both born in Glasgow.

There is a seven-year gap between William's marriage and the birth of the elder daughter in the household in 1861. If there were other children before Susan and Mary, I can find no record of them. I cannot even find a record of Susan's birth. It may well have occurred before the introduction of statutory registration in 1855.

Sources and Notes:

1848 Marriage Registration for William McCardy and Helen Malcom: Citation: The National Records of Scotland. 1848/Marriages/644/43. Content: The Old Parish Register from Glasgow, County of Lanark, 1848-1850, p 470, under marriages reads "Glasgow, 24th December 1848. William McCardy, Mason in Glasgow, and Helen Malcom residing there."

1857 Birth Registration for Mary Jane McCardy (b 1857): Citation: The National Records of Scotland. 1857/Births/644/7/299. Content: The record shows that Mary Jane McCardy, female, was born on 19 Feb 1857 10h am at 52 Millar Lane, Cowcaddens, Glasgow. Father: William McCardy, laborer on the railway. Mother: Helen (struck out and replaced with Ellen) McCardy, maiden name Malcolm. Ellen McCardy, mother, was the informant. Registered 1857, March 11th at Glasgow.

Daughter Susan McCardy's Birth: I have been unable to find any record of Susan's birth in Scotland in 1855. 1855 was the first year of mandatory registration in Scotland and it's a little difficult to understand how her birth was missed if she was born in Glasgow (as the 1861 Scotland Census clearly states she was).

1861 Scotland Census, Household of William McCardel (b c1823): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1861/Census/07/020/07/003. Content: The 1861 Scotland Census of the Parish of Barony parish, Burgh of Glasgow, 56 Muse Lane on 07 Apr 1861 shows (schedule number 12) a flat of one room housing the household of William ?McCardel?, male, head, married, age 38, masons laborer, born in Ireland, (2) Ellan ?McCardel?, female, wife, married, age 39, born in Balfron, Stirlingshire, (3) Susan ?McCardel?, female, daughter, age 6, born in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, (4) Mary ?McCardel?, female, daughter, age 4, born in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, (5) Robert Hally, boarder, unmarried, male, age 18, baker, born Balfron, Stirlingshire.

1869 Electoral Register entry for William McHardie (b c1823): Citation: The Mitchell Library; Glasgow, Scotland; Series: Records of Municipal and Parliamentary Electors for Glasgow and Lanarkshire (1846-1942); Reference Number: 115778. Content: The record [Eleventh Ward, Glasgow, page 48] includes [No] 28263, William McHardie, [Place of Abode:] 56 Meuse Lane, [Occupation:] Laborer, [Nature of Qualification:] tenant and occupant, [Street, Lane, or other place where property is situate:] 56 Meuse Lane.

1874 Marriage Registration, William Stuart and Mary McHardie: Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1874/Marriages/644/7/248. Content: Statutory registers of Marriages. 1874. District of Milton, Burgh of Glasgow. [Marriage:] 1874, Twentyfifth June at 43 West Milton Street, Glasgow, After banns posted according to the rules of the Free Church of Scotland. [Groom:] William Stuart, [signed], Spirits Merchant's Salesman, age 21, Bachelor, usual residence 62 Stewart Street, Glasgow. Father: William Stewart, Day Police Constable. Mother: Isabella Stewart m.s. Little. [Bride:] Mary McHardie, [signed], Domestic Servant, Spinster, age 17, ususal residence: 35 Findlay Street, Glasgow, Father: William McHardie, Iron Founders Pattern Maker (deceased). Mother: Helen McHardie m.s. Malcolm. [Minister:] Gabriel Kerr, [signed], Minister of Cowcaddens Free Church. [Witnesses:] George Hall, Susan McHardie. Registered June 27, 1874 at Glasgow. Note: The record gives William's occupation as iron founders pattern maker which is almost certainly in error. The witnesses are Mary's sister Susan and her soon to be husband, George Hall.

1885 Death Registration for Helen Malcom McHardie (b 1821): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1885/Deaths/644/7/220. Content: 1885 Deaths, District of Blythswood, Burgh of Glasgow (page 74, entry 220) states that Helen McHardie, female, age 66 years, (widow of William McHardie, Mason, Journeyman) [died] 1885 Apr 24th 1h 0m pm at 7 Ferguson Street, Glasgow. Father: Thomas Malcolm, Cartwright Master deceased. [No entry for mother]. [Cause of death:] An outstanding case of bronchitis latterly complicated with heart disease which was the immediate cause of death. As cert by Freeland Fergus. [Imformant:] William Stuart, son-in-law, 43 Cameron Lane. Registered 1885 Apr 25th at Glasgow. Note: The record states that William was a journeyman mason.

William's death: I can find no record of William's death in Scotland. His appearance in the electoral roles in 1869 and the report that William was deceased in his daughter Mary's marriage registration in 1874 would put the date of his death in a narrow window from 1869 to 1874.