Tuesday, 5 July 2022

Helen McLellan

1833 to 1879

Biography

Helen McLellan, the daughter of Alexander McLellan and Agnes Gall, was born in 1833 in Douglas. Helen was the sister of:
Mary McLellan 1826 to 1897
John McLellan 1827 to 1903
James Gold McLellan 1830 to 1898
Jane McLellan 1836 to 1842
Unnamed Infant McLellan 1838 to 1838
Unnamed Infant McLellan 1840 to 1840
Jane McLellan 1843 to 1884
Unnamed Infant McLellan 1844 to 1844
Helen married twice and had two relationships resulting in children.
In 1854, Helen married James Short (1833 to 1856), and they had two children:
Agnes Short (1855 to 1923)
Janet Short (1856 to 1926)
About 1859, Helen had an affair with an unknown male, and they had one child:
Alexander McLellan (born 1860)
About 1866, Helen had an affair with John Inglis (1844 to 1912), and they had one child:
Jane McLellan (1866 to 1938)
On Tuesday, December 31st 1872, Helen married John Whitefield (1848 to 1924), and they had two children:
Anne Whitefield (1871 to 1904)
Mary Whitefield (1873 to 1949)
In her lifetime, Helen worked as a house servant and a pernwinder.
Helen died in Main Street, Muirkirk, Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1879.

Timeline

1833: Helen's Birth - Lanarkshire, Scotland
Helen McLellan, the fourth child and second daughter of Alexander McLellan and Agnes Gall, was born in 1833 in Douglas. [1]
We have used Helen's census records to obtain her date and place of birth.
1836: Birth Of Sister - Lanarkshire, Scotland
Helen's sister Jane McLellan was born in 1836 in Lanarkshire. [2]
1838: Stillborn Sibling - Lanarkshire, Scotland
Helen's mother, Agnes Gall, gave birth to a stillborn child on Tuesday, September 4th 1838, in Douglas. [3]
Scotland's People have indexed the record as an OPR Birth, although it is a death record for a stillborn child. The record does not give details of the child's gender.
1840: Stillborn Sibling - Lanarkshire, Scotland
Helen's mother, Agnes Gall, gave birth to a stillborn child on Thursday, April 23rd 1840, in Douglas. [4]
Scotland's People have indexed the record as an OPR Birth, although it is a death record for a stillborn child. The record does not give details of the child's gender.
1841: Living At Home - Lanarkshire, Scotland
Eight-year-old-year-old Helen lived with her parents in Well Street, Douglas, on Sunday, June 6th 1841, the night of the 1841 Census. As well as Helen, the family household consists of[2]
father, forty-year-old cotton handloom weaver Alexander McLellan
mother, forty-year-old Agnes McLellan
sister, fifteen-year-old Mary McLellan
brother, thirteen-year-old cotton handloom weaver John McLellan
sister, five-year-old Jane McLellan
grandmother, eighty-three-year-old parish pauper Jenet Muir
1842: Sister's Death -
Helen's sister Jane McLellan died about 1842. [5]
Jane's parents, Alexander and Agnes, have another child named Jane in 1843; therefore, we have assumed that Jane died sometime before 1843.
1843: Birth Of Sister - Lanarkshire, Scotland
Helen's sister Jane McLellan was born in 1843 in Douglas. [5][6]
We have used Jane's death record and 1881 Census record to obtain her date and place of birth.
1844: Stillborn Sibling - Lanarkshire, Scotland
Helen's mother, Agnes Gall, gave birth to a stillborn child on Friday, August 16th 1844, in Douglas. [7]
Scotland's People have indexed the record as an OPR Birth, although it is a death record for a stillborn child. The record does not give details of the child's gender.
1851: Live In Servant - Lanarkshire, Scotland
In 1851, twenty-five-year-old-year-old Helen worked as a live-in house servant at North Cumberhead, Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, in the household of Gavin Sandilands. On Sunday, March 30th 1851, the night of the 1851 Census, the Sandilands household comprised of [8]
head, forty-three-year-old-year-old farmer Gavin Sandilands
wife, thirty-six-year-old-year-old Elliason Sandilands
Gavin Sandilands farms 500 acres of arable and a 1000 acres of pasture.
1854: Helen's Marriage - Lanarkshire, Scotland
Helen married James Short in 1854 in Carluke. James was the son of William Short and Janet Simpson. [9]
James and Helen's daughter Agnes' birth record contains her parent's marriage place and year.
1855: Birth Of Daughter - Lanarkshire, Scotland
Agnes Short, Helen Short and husband coal miner James Short's first child and first daughter, was born Saturday, June 2nd 1855, at Forbush, Morningside, Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire. Father James Short registered the birth on June 22nd at Cambusnethan. [9]
The birth registers for 1855 contain more detail than later registers: mother Helen is 21 years of age and was born in Douglas; father James is aged 22 and was born in Auchterahall; Agnes is Helen's first child.
1856: Death Of Husband - Lanarkshire, Scotland
On Saturday, May 17th 1856, Helen's spouse, coal miner James Short died at Muirhouses from pulmonary disease at twenty-three years. The death record documents James' marital status as married. His father, William Short, reported the death to the Cambusnethan registrar on May 17th. [10]
They buried James in Cambusnethan New Churchyard.
1856: Birth Of Daughter - Lanarkshire, Scotland
Janet Short, Helen Short and husband coal miner James Short (deceased)'s second child and second daughter, was born Thursday, December 11th 1856, in Douglas. Uncle John McLellan registered the birth on December 22nd at Douglas. [11]
Father James Short died seven months before Janet's birth.
1859: Helen Has An Affair -
Helen Must have had an illicit relationship with an unknown male at least nine months before the birth of child Alexander McLellan in 1860. [12]
1860: Birth Of Son - Lanarkshire, Scotland
Helen gave birth to Alexander McLellan, the illegitimate son of an unnamed father, on Saturday, April 21st 1860, in Douglas. Alexander's mother, Helen McLellan, reported the birth to the Douglas registrar on May 4th. [12]
The record gives Helen Short's status as a coal miner's widow.
1861: Living With Parent - Lanarkshire, Scotland
Twenty-six-year-old-year-old widowed pernwinder Helen lived with her parents at Bells Wynd, Douglas, on Sunday, April 7th 1861, the night of the 1861 Census. As well as Helen, the family household consists of[13]
mother, sixty-one-year-old pernwinder Agnes McLellan
niece, eleven-year-old Agnes Brown
daughter, five-year-old scholar Agnes Short
daughter, four-year-old Janet Short
son, eleven-month-old Alexander McLellan
The record annotates Helen McLellan as also known as Short. As yet, we have been unable to ascertain Agnes Brown's parents.
1864: Mother's Death - Lanarkshire, Scotland
On Monday, November 7th 1864, Helen's mother, Agnes McLellan, died in Douglas from a rupture of the heart at sixty-four years. Her son, John McLellan, reported the death to the Douglas registrar on November 20th. The death record documents Agnes' marital status as married to cotton weaver Alexander McLellan. [14]
Archibald Gall is noted by the record as Agnes' reputed father. The death record has an associated entry in the Register of Corrected Entries.
Agnes' death was subject to precognition and autopsy. She was found dead on the 7th November 1864 on the public footpath in the Parish of Douglas, commonly called The Puddock Row. The autopsy gave Agnes' cause of death as 'rupture of the heart on the dome of the large blood vessel connected therewith'. The RCE states that Agnes was buried in Douglas Churchyard.
1866: Helen' Affair - Lanarkshire, Scotland
In early 1866 Helen McLellan and John Inglis had an affair, resulting in the birth of their illegitimate child, Jane (McLellan) Inglis. [15]
1866: Birth Of Illegitimate Daughter - Lanarkshire, Scotland
Washerwoman Helen gave birth to Jane McLellan, the illegitimate daughter of an unnamed father, on Thursday, December 27th 1866, in Douglas. Jane's mother, Helen McLellan, reported the birth to the Douglas registrar on January 25th, 1867. [16]
A note in the margin of the birth entry states that a court decree had determined the child's paternity and refers to the Lanark Court Judgement naming the father.
1868: Father Named - Lanarkshire, Scotland
On 27th July 1868, the Lanark Sheriff Court heard the case brought by Helen, asserting that John Inglis, mason and resident of Douglas, is the father of daughter Janet McLellan. John fails to attend the court to defend the action, and the court deems him to have confessed to being the father. The court ordered John to pay Helen's expenses of £1 11s 6d and pay maintenance of £5 per annum until Janet McLellan is ten years old. The court further orders John to pay the court's costs of £3 3s 8d and a further 6s for the issue of the decree.[15].
1869: Death Of Father - Linlithgowshire, Scotland
On Saturday, May 22nd 1869, Helen's father, carrier Alexander McLellan died at Lauriston Land from many degenerations at seventy-two years. The death record documents Alexander's marital status as married to Agnes Gall. His son, James McLellan, reported the death to the Armadale registrar on May 22nd. [17]
1871: Head Of Household - Lanarkshire, Scotland
On Sunday, April 2nd 1871, the night of the 1871 Census, thirty-five-year-old-year-old widowed Helen lived in Douglas with her family [1]
son, ten-year-old weaver Alexander Short
daughter, four-year-old Jane Inglis
Visiting the household on the night of the census is twenty-three-year-old unmarried mason John Whitfield
Visitor John Whitfield married Helen Short in December 1872.
1871: Birth Of Illegitimate Daughter - Lanarkshire, Scotland
Anne Whitefield, laundress Helen Short and husband stonemason (journeyman) John Whitefield's illegitimate first child and first daughter, was born Thursday, May 18th 1871, in Douglas. Parents Helen McLellan and John Whitefield registered the birth on June 7th at Douglas. [18]
1872: Helen Marries A Second Time - Lanarkshire, Scotland
Thirty-six-year-old-year-old Helen married twenty-four-year-old-year-old bachelor stonemason (journeyman) John Whitefield on Tuesday, December 31st 1872, in Douglas, after banns according to the forms of the Established Church of Scotland. John was the son of woollen weaver James Whitefield and Anne Whitfield (nee Hamilton).
Both Helen and John lived in Douglas. William Smith, Minister of Douglas, officiated and subsequently registered the marriage on 31st December at Douglas. The witnesses were John McLellan, and James Whitefield. [19]
1873: Birth Of Daughter - Lanarkshire, Scotland
Mary Whitefield, Helen Whitefield and husband stonemason (journeyman) John Whitefield's second child and second daughter, was born Sunday, January 5th 1873, in Douglas. Father John Whitefield registered the birth on January 22nd at Douglas. [20]
1876: Daughter Marries - Lanarkshire, Scotland
Helen's twenty-year-old daughter, farm servant Janet Short married twenty-one-year-old bachelor farm servant Adam Brown, at 28 Portland Square, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, after banns according to the forms of the Congregational Church. Adam was the son of house keeper James Brown and Mary Brown (deceased) (nee Weir). Janet lived at 28 Portland Square and husband Adam lived at Hangingside Farm, Linlithgow, Stirlingshire, Scotland.
Daniel Jackson performed the ceremony and registered the marriage at Hamilton on 12th December. Witnesses were John Brown, and Agnes Short. [21]
Janet and Adam have nine children, Helen's grandchildren: [22]
Helen Brown (born 1878)
James Brown (born 1880)
Alexander Brown (born 1886)
Agnes Brown (born 1888)
Anne Somerville Brown (born 1891)
Janet Short Brown (born 1892)
Jane Alder Brown (1894 to 1975)
Isabella Scott Brown (1898 to 1950)
Adam Brown (born 1903)
1877: Daughter Marries - Lanarkshire, Scotland
Helen's twenty-two-year-old daughter, domestic servant Agnes Short married twenty-two-year-old bachelor coal miner Alexander Simpson, at 28 Portland Square, after banns according to the forms of the Church of Scotland. Alexander was the son of coal miner John Simpson and Mary Simpson (nee McLellan). Agnes lived at 28 Portland Square and husband Alexander lived at Woodend, Torphichen, Linlithgowshire.
Henry M Hamilton, minister performed the ceremony and registered the marriage at Hamilton on November 27th. Witnesses were John Dow, and Dorothy Simpson, the sister. [23]
Bride's mother Helen Whitefield, previously know as Short.
Alexander Simpson and Agnes Short are first cousins. Alexander's mother, Mary McLellan and Agnes's mother, Helen McLellan, are sisters, the daughters of Alexander McLellan and Agnes Gall.
1879: Helen's Death - Ayrshire, Scotland
On Wednesday, September 10th 1879, Helen died at Main Street, Muirkirk, Ayrshire, Scotland, from heart disease (mitral) at forty years. The death record documents Helen's marital status as married to mason (journeyman) John Whitefield. Her husband, John Whitefield, reported the death to the Muirkirk registrar on September 11th. [24]

Sources

  1. 1871 Scotland Census Helen Short Household. National Records of Scotland (scotlandspeople.gov.uk: 1871 Census: 641/00 005/00 (Douglas), Page: 17; Schedule: 33). Primary source, accessed 4 Aug 2014
  2. 1841 Scotland Census Alexander McLellan Household. National Records of Scotland (scotlandspeople.gov.uk: 1841 Census: 0 002/00 (Douglas), Page: 30; Schedule: 0). Primary source, accessed 30 Sep 2014
  3. Old Parish Birth Register Entry for McLellan, 4 Sep 1838. National Records of Scotland (scotlandspeople.gov.uk: Old Parish Registers Births: 1838 RD: 641/30 (Douglas), Page: 362 of 404, Entry: 11). Primary source, accessed 18 May 2021
  4. Old Parish Birth Register Entry for McClellan, 23 Apr 1840. National Records of Scotland (scotlandspeople.gov.uk: Old Parish Registers Births: 1840 RD: 641/30 (Douglas), Page: 365 of 404, Entry: 18). Primary source, accessed 23 Jan 2015
  5. 1881 Scotland Census James Swanston Household. National Records of Scotland (scotlandspeople.gov.uk: 1881 Census: 689/00 013/00 (Carnwath), Page: 5; Schedule: 18). Primary source, accessed 24 Jan 2015
  6. Statutory Death Register Entry for Jane Swanston, 29 Nov 1884. National Records of Scotland (scotlandspeople.gov.uk: Statutory Registers Deaths: 1884 RD: 486/00 (Muiravonside), Page: 15, Entry: 44). Primary source, accessed 24 Jan 2015
  7. Old Parish Birth Register Entry for McLellan, 16 Aug 1844. National Records of Scotland (scotlandspeople.gov.uk: Old Parish Registers Births: 1844 RD: 641/30 (Douglas), Page: 374 of 404, Entry: 15). Primary source, accessed 19 May 2021
  8. 1851 Scotland Census Gavin Sandilands Household. National Records of Scotland (scotlandspeople.gov.uk: 1851 Census: 0 014/00 (Lesmahagow), Page: 6; Schedule: 18). Primary source, accessed 12 Aug 2014
  9. Statutory Birth Register Entry for Agnes Short, 2 Jun 1855. National Records of Scotland (scotlandspeople.gov.uk: Statutory Registers Births: 1855 RD: 628/00 (Cambusnethan), Page: 39, Entry: 194). Primary source, accessed 26 Sep 2014
  10. Statutory Death Register Entry for James Short, 17 May 1856. National Records of Scotland (scotlandspeople.gov.uk: Statutory Registers Deaths: 1856 RD: 628/87 (Cambusnethan), Page: 29, Entry: 87). Primary source, accessed 2 Apr 2020
  11. Statutory Birth Register Entry for Janet Short, 11 Dec 1856. National Records of Scotland (scotlandspeople.gov.uk: Statutory Registers Births: 1856 RD: 641/00 (Douglas), Page: 27, Entry: 81). Primary source, accessed 6 Aug 2014
  12. Statutory Birth Register Entry for Alexander McLellan, 21 Apr 1860. National Records of Scotland (scotlandspeople.gov.uk: Statutory Registers Births: 1860 RD: 641/00 (Douglas), Page: 8, Entry: 22). Primary source, accessed 4 Aug 2014
  13. 1861 Scotland Census Agnes McLellan Household. National Records of Scotland (scotlandspeople.gov.uk: 1861 Census: 641/00 005/00 (Douglas), Page: 11; Schedule: 71). Primary source, accessed 6 Aug 2014
  14. Statutory Death Register Entry for Agnes McLellan, 7 Nov 1864. National Records of Scotland (scotlandspeople.gov.uk: Statutory Registers Deaths: 1864 RD: 641/00 (Douglas), Page: 17, Entry: 51). Primary source, accessed 27 Sep 2014
  15. Lanark Sheriff Court, Register of Extracted Decrees, Poor Helen McLellan or Short against John Inglis. National Records of Scotland (www.scottishindexes.com: Scottish Paternity Index: SC38/7/33, National Records of Scotland reference: SC38/7/33 pp. 557-559). Primary source, accessed 18 Jan 2015
  16. Statutory Birth Register Entry for Jane McLellan, 27 Dec 1866. National Records of Scotland (scotlandspeople.gov.uk: Statutory Registers Births: 1867 RD: 641/00 (Douglas), Page: 2, Entry: 6). Primary source, accessed 3 Aug 2014
  17. Statutory Death Register Entry for Alexander McLellan, 22 May 1869. National Records of Scotland (scotlandspeople.gov.uk: Statutory Registers Deaths: 1869 RD: 662/02 (Armadale), Page: 13, Entry: 37). Primary source, accessed 13 Aug 2020
  18. Statutory Birth Register Entry for Anne Whitefield, 18 May 1871. National Records of Scotland (scotlandspeople.gov.uk: Statutory Registers Births: 1871 RD: 641/00 (Douglas), Page: 15, Entry: 45). Primary source, accessed 4 Apr 2016
  19. Statutory Marriage Register Entry for John Whitefield and Helen McLellan, 31 Dec 1871. National Records of Scotland (scotlandspeople.gov.uk: Statutory Registers Marriages: 1872 RD: 641/00 (Douglas), Page: 7, Entry: 14). Primary source, accessed 4 Aug 2014
  20. Statutory Birth Register Entry for Mary Whitefield, 5 Jan 1873. National Records of Scotland (scotlandspeople.gov.uk: Statutory Registers Births: 1873 RD: 641/00 (Douglas), Page: 2, Entry: 4). Primary source, accessed 4 Apr 2016
  21. Statutory Marriage Register Entry for Adam Brown and Janet Short, 8 Dec 1876. National Records of Scotland (scotlandspeople.gov.uk: Statutory Registers Marriages: 1876 RD: 647/00 (Hamilton), Page: 62, Entry: 124). Primary source, accessed 4 Oct 2014
  22. 1881 Scotland Census (Ancestry). National Records of Scotland (Ancestry.co.uk: Reels 1-338, Parish: Linlithgow; ED: 9; Page: 7; Line: 12; Roll: cssct1881_273). Derived primary source, accessed 4 Apr 2016
  23. Statutory Marriage Register Entry for Alexander Simpson and Agnes Short, 23 Nov 1877. National Records of Scotland (scotlandspeople.gov.uk: Statutory Registers Marriages: 1877 RD: 647/154 (Hamilton), Page: 77, Entry: 154). Primary source, accessed 2 Apr 2020
  24. Statutory Death Register Entry for Helen Whitefield, 10 Sep 1879. National Records of Scotland (scotlandspeople.gov.uk: Statutory Registers Deaths: 1879 RD: 607/00 (Muirkirk), Page: 28, Entry: 84). Primary source, accessed 5 Aug 2014