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Agnes McGregor STEWART (b 1834)

Agnes's birth was recorded in the register of Old Kilpatrick parish in Dunbartonshire in 1834. The entry reads, "Agnes McGregor, daughter lawful of William Stewart, Cotton Spinner, Duntocher & Janet Craig his wife, born 7th July & Bap'd 1st Aug 1834 by Revd M Barclay." She appeared in the 1841 Census, still in Duntocher, with her family on New Street. The census reported that she was 8 years old (on 06 Jun 1841). In fact, she was 6 and would only turn 7 in one month's time. In 1851, she appeared again in the census, still with her parents, now at 29 New Sneddon Street in Paisley (Renfrewshire). On 30 Mar 1851 she was said to be 17 years of age (which would be accurate later in the year) and unmarried. She was employed as a cotton worker.

Four years later, on 31 Dec 1855, Agnes married (after banns) to Thomas Murdoch, a journeyman boilermaker and widower. Thomas was 28, born in Belfast. His father was George Murdoch, a spirit dealer; his mother Susannah Vance (deceased). Agnes's brother-in-law John Paterson was a witness to the ceremony conducted at ?56 Canal Street? by Alexander Rennison, minister of St George's [Church, Paisley]. The record described Agnes as age 22, a spinster and millworker, born on 08 May 1833 in the parish of Kilpatrick. It is curious that the date of birth given in this registry was not even close to her actual birthday. Month, day and year were each wrong, though the day of the month was off by one day only. Her father and mother were named, and her father's occupation was given as cotton spinner. Her father was deceased. At the time of their marriage, both Agnes and Thomas lived on Cotton Street in Paisley, she at number 4, he at number 9. Neither of the two were able to sign their name and instead made a mark on the registry attested by the minister.

I have not been able to find Agnes and Thomas in the 1861 Census, but a couple with these names appeared in 1871 in Partick, Lanarkshire at 20 Orchard Street. The head of household, Thomas, was 44 and born in Ireland, both facts that agree with what was recorded on the marriage registration. Agnes was age 36 and born in Dunbartonshire. Those facts, too, are consistent with what we know of Agnes. Only Thomas's occupation, "ship plater", is a surprise since he was a journeyman boilermaker when married. There was one son in the household named Thomas, age 20, a ship joiner. That age would put his date of birth at 1851, four years before Thomas and Agnes were married, so this son was likely a child of Thomas by his earlier marriage. The absence of other children in the household would suggest that Agnes had no children.

My inability to find Thomas and Agnes in the 1881 or 1891 Scotland Census leads me to believe the couple moved back to Thomas's home, Belfast, possibly soon after the 1871 Census. Thomas died in Belfast on 31 Jul 1894 at 2 Haywood Ave, Castlereagh. The informant for Thomas's death was his brother-in-law John Paterson whose address was given as 76 Sandy Row, Belfast. John Paterson was the husband of Agnes's elder sister, Susan. Agnes died on 04 Mar 1909 at 44 Bedeque St in Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The informant for her death was her step-son, Thomas Murdoch. The cause of death was acute bronchitis and cardiac failure. The death registration reports that she was age 70 when, in fact, she was age 74. I believe Agnes had no issue.

The 1901 and 1911 Ireland Census show that Agnes's stepson Thomas was a publican or spirit merchant on Agnes St in Belfast. He married Margaret Wallace about 1885 and The couple had one daughter, Evelyn, born in Belfast in 1897. Thomas (b 1851) died

Sources:

1834 Birth Registration for Agnes McGregor Stewart: Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1834/Births/501/40/202. Content: An Old Parish Register from the county of Dumbarton, parish of Old Kilpatrick, [Scotland] records the name Agnes McGregor with the entry Agnes McGregor, daughter lawful of William Stewart, Cotton Spinner, Duntocher, and Janet Craig, his wife, Born 7th July Bapt 1st Aug 1834 by Revd M Barclay..

1841 Scotland Census, Household of William Stuart (b c1806): Citation: National Records of Scotland. Census 1841/501/00 008/00 031. Content: The 1841 Scotland Census of the Parish of Old Kilpatrick [Dunbartonshire], Duntocher, New Street on 06 Jun 1841 shows a household composed of (1) William Stewart, male, age 35, cotton spinner, born I[reland] (sic), (2) Janet Stewart, female, age 35, [no occupation], born in Scotland but not in Dunbartonshire, (3) William Stewart, male, age 17, cotton piecer, born in Scotland but not in Dunbartonshire, (4) Janet Stewart, female, age 14, cotton framer, born in Scotland but not in Dunbartonshire, (5) Susan Stewart, age 12, cotton framer, born in Dumbartonshire, (6) Agnes Stewart, age 8, born in Dumbartonshire, (7) Matthew Stewart, male, age 5, born in Dumbartonshire, (8) Alexander Stewart, male, age 4 months, born in Dumbartonshire. [Note: The place of birth for William Stuart, head of household, is almost certainly a simple enumerator error. It follows a household in which all members were born in Ireland.]

1851 Scotland Census, Household of William Stewart (b c1806): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1851/Census/573/59/7. Content: The 1851 Scotland Census of Middle Church Parish, Burgh of Paisley [Renfrewshire], 29 New Sneddon Street on 30 Mar 1851, shows a household (34) composed of (1) William Stewart, head, married, male age 43, cotton spinner, born Renfrewshire, Neilston Parish, (2) Janet Stewart, wife, married, female, age 42, housekeeper, bornRenfrewshire, Neilston Parish, (3) Susan Stewart, daughter, unmarried, female, age 19, cotton worker, born Dunbartonshire, Kilpatrick Parish, (4) Agnes Stewart, daughter, unmarrie, female, age 17, cotton worker, born Dunbartonshire, Kilpatrick Parish, (5) Matthew Stewart, son, unmarried, male, age 15, cotton worker, born Dunbartonshire, Kilpatrick Parish.

1855 Marriage Registration for Agnes Stewart (b 1863) and Thomas Murdoch: Citation: The National Records of Scotland. 1855/Marriages/573/1 129. Content: The record reads December Thirtyfirst ?1855? at ?56 Canal? Street, Paisley, Marriage (after Banns) was solemized between us according to the Rites and Cermonies of the Established Church of Scotland. [Groom] Thomas Murdoch (his mark), Alexander Rennison, witness, [Current Residence:] 9 Cotton Street, Paisley, [Usual Residence:] 9 Cotton Street, Paisley, age 24, boilermaker (journeyman), widower, 2nd marriage, 1 living child, born July 11th 1827 at Belfast, Ireland, parents: George Mudoch (spirit dealer) and Susanna Murdoch, maiden name, Vance (deceased), [Bride] Agnes Stewart (her mark), Alexander Rennison, witness, [Current Residence:] 4 Cotton Street, Paisley, [Usual Residence:] 4 Cotton Street, Paisley, age 22, millworker, spinster, born May 8th 1833 in the parish of Kilpatrick, parents: William Stewart (cotton spinner, deceased) and Janet Stewart maiden name Craig. Signed Alexander Rennison, Minr of St George's. John Paterson, witness. Lewis W Ranison, witness.

1871 Scotland Census, Household of Thomas Murdoch (b 1827): Citation: National Records of Scotland. 1871 Census 646/3 8/ 31, page 31 of 48. Content: The 1871 Scotland Census of Partick, Govan, Lanarkshire, 20 Orchard Street, enumerated on 02 Apr 1871 shows household 142 composed of (1) Thomas Murdoch, head, married, male, age 44, ship plater, born Ireland, (2) Agnes Murdoch, wife, married, female, age 36, born Dumbartonshire, Duntocher, (3) Thomas Murdoch, son, unmarried, male, age 20, ship joiner, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire, and (4) John McArthur, lodger, unmarried, male, age 23, ship joiner, born Linlithgowshire, So Queensferry.

1894 Death Registration for Thomas Murdoch (b 1827): Citation: IrishGenealogy.ie Content: An 1894 registry of deaths in the District of Castlereagh No 7 in the Union of Belfast in the County of Down, entry 124, shows that Thomas Murdoch, male, married, age 74 years, boiler maker, died 1894 Thirty First July at 2 Haywood Avenue. Cause of death: Chronic Bronchitis. Informant: John Paterson, brother-in-law, present at death, 76 Sandy Row. Registered: Seventh August 1894.

1901 Ireland Census, Household of Thomas Murdoch (b c1851): Citation: The National Records of Ireland Content: The 1901 Ireland Census of Belfast, Court Ward (Antrim), 3 Agnes Street, on 12 Apr 1901, lists a household composed of (1) Thomas Murdoch, head, male, age 45, can read/write, spirit merchant, married, born Scotland, (2) Margaret Murdoch, wife, female, age 37, can read/write, born Scotland, (3) Evelyn Murdoch, daughter, female, age 4, born Co Antrim, (4) Katherine Fraser, servant, can read/write, female, age 25, domestic servant, not married, born Scotland, (5) Margaret Chambers, servant, can read/write, female, age 20, general servant, not married, born Co Managhan. House is 2nd class, 7 rooms, 4 windows in front, 5 members of family. All are Church of Ireland except Margaret Chambers who is Presbyterian.

1909 Death Registration for Agnes Murdoch (b 1834): Citation: IrishGenealogy.ie Content: A 1909 registry of deaths in the District of Belfast (Urban No 3) in the Union of Belfast in the County of Antrim, entry 10, shows that Agnes Murdoch, female, widow, age 70 years, widow of Thomas Murdoch, Gentleman, died 1909 Fourth March at 44 Bedeque St. Cause: Acute Bronchitis (10 days), Cardiac Failure, certified. Informant: Thomas Murdoch, step-son, in attendance, 130 Agnes St. Registered: Eight March 1909.

1911 Death Registration for Thomas Murdoch (b 1851): Citation: IrishGenealogy.ie Content: A 1911 registry of deaths in the District of Belfast (Urban No 3) in the Union of Belfast in the County of Antrim, entry 241, shows that Thomas Murdoch, male, married age 55 yrs, spirit merchant, died on 1911 Twelfth March at 130 Agnes St. Cause of death: Diabetes (6 months), Exhaustion, certified. Informant: Margaret W Murdoch, widow, present at death, 130 Agnes St. Registered Thirty-first March 1911.

1911 Ireland Census, Household of Maggie Wallace Murdoch (b c1865): Citation: The National Archives of Ireland. Content: The 1911 Census of Ireland, 31 Agnes Street, Court Ward, Co Antrim, [Belfast], 31 Agnes St on 03 Apr 1911 lists a household composed of (1) Maggie Wallace Murdoch, head of family, can read/write, female, age 46, spirit merchant, widow, married (26 years, 2 children born, 1 living) [struck through], born Scotland, (2) Evelyn Murdoch, daughter, can read/write, female, age 14, scholar, single, born Belfast, (3) Samuel Millar, barman, can read/write, male, age 20, barman, single, born Co Tyrone. Residence is a public house, 1st class, 9 rooms, 3 occupants. All members of household are Church of Ireland.