Why did so many people have to be named William Hunter?

[Heather Lassell]

*sigh* I'm getting so frustrated trying to help my mother find information on her grandfather.  We don't know much.  He was a pan shifter (coal miner).  As far as I can tell he never married her grandmother Jane Sweeney.  We're pretty sure they had 2 children.  Elizabeth Hunter (my moms mother) who is deceased (was in Canada) and a sister Jean Hunter (also deceased - moved to the US).  These are the only things I know for sure.  In 1933 when Elizabeth was born they listed 4 Meadowbank, Uddingston as their address. I have her birth record.  I contacted the North Lanarkshire records about my great grandmothers hospital record (Bellshill Maternity Hospital) and she was listed as Mrs Hunter.  But maybe they did that just so no one would ask any questions?  I don't know.   I also have a valuation roll from 1935 that has William Hunter (miner) still listed at 4 Meadowbank.  From what my mom remembers her mother told her William died when she was 12 - so around 1945.   And she was always told he died of "black lung" from working in the mine.

I have paid for so many credits already and feel like I've viewed every William Hunter death record with no luck.  I'm just not sure where else to look.  So out of desperation, does anyone have any ideas for me?  I've tried ScotlandsPeople & Ancestry. 

I am going to Scotland in July and plan to visit the Mitchell Library and the National Library of Scotland but I'm just not sure what other record I can be looking for.  I will try newspapers for obits but I'm thinking they didn't have a lot of money and may not have done one?!

Thanks in advance!

[Heather Lassell]

The valuation roll

[MonicaL]

Hi Heather

Welcome to RootsChat 

These searches do get hard don't they. What about Jane Sweeney? Any clues on her such as her age or what she did after William died? Did they stay together until his death or live apart?

Monica

[Heather Lassell]

Hi Heather

Welcome to RootsChat 

These searches do get hard don't they. What about Jane Sweeney? Any clues on her such as her age or what she did after William died? Did they stay together until his death or live apart?

Monica

Yes I actually got lucky and found more info about her and have traced her relatives back to great great great great lol grandparents.  Heard a name of a relative and it just snowballed from there.  All I know is before she moved to America she was living at 106 Budhill Avenue.  I don't know if they lived together at all since the women/children aren't listed on anything.

[Forfarian]

All I know is before she moved to America she was living at 106 Budhill Avenue.  I don't know if they lived together at all since the women/children aren't listed on anything.

As this is in the 1930s and 1940s the adult women should be listed in the Registers of Electors. These are not available online but are available to consult in the Mitchell Library.

[MonicaL]

All I know is before she moved to America she was living at 106 Budhill Avenue

From the 1935 valuation roll, there is a Mrs Elizabeth Sweeney showing as a tenant at 106 Budhill Avenue. Would this be Jane's mother?

When was Jane born? It might (or might not!) give some clues on William Hunter's age.

Monica

[MonicaL]

When was Jane born? It might (or might not!) give some clues on William Hunter's age.

See from Jane's shipping manifest entry into the US in 1957 that she showed as born on 1.10.1898 and marital status is single (not a surprise from what you have mentioned).

She showed same address of 106 Budhill Avenue when she re-entered the UK in 1958.

Monica

[MonicaL]

Budhhill Avenue is in the Shettleston area of Glasgow.

Have you viewed and discounted this William Hunter death?

William Hunter, 48, died 1945, Shettleston.

Also, a further death in Shettleston around this time:

William Hunter, 52, died 1943.

Monica

[Heather Lassell]

Budhhill Avenue is in the Shettleston area of Glasgow.

Have you viewed and discounted this William Hunter death?

William Hunter, 48, died 1945, Shettleston.

Also, a further death in Shettleston around this time:

William Hunter, 52, died 1943.

Monica

Yes the info about Jane is correct.  We knew about 106 Budhill as being her address.  Yes her mother was Elizabeth Sweeney (nee Meehan) who was married to a Robert Sweeney.

I tried the William Hunter Shettleston but it wasn't correct.  He was at 4 Meadowbank in Uddingston on the 1935 valuation roll. (and on my grandmothers birth record) I took the address from the death document of the Shettleston guy and he was shown on the 1935 valuation roll as at that same address.  So I'm thinking it can't be the right person.  He was a miner so I don't think he could afford to have 2 properties.

I've wasted so many credits looking at William Hunter death documents on Scotlands People.  Many of them have him with a spouse which I'm assuming is incorrect since it isn't Jane Sweeney. I'm sure they had a daughter Jean a few years after Elizabeth so I've asked the archives if she can find another record of birth for me. They are closed this week so I have to wait.  I hope she finds something!  I wish they had gotten married cause this would be a lot easier.