Author Topic: Gee family - English glass bottle blowers in Glasgow 1860s  (Read 6551 times)

Offline stuartroxy

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Gee family - English glass bottle blowers in Glasgow 1860s
« on: Saturday 15 August 09 11:29 BST (UK) »
When my gggf Hugh Roxburgh (or Rock or O'Rourk!) died in 1870, his wife Elizabeth remarried Peter Gee, taking with her my ggf James and his brother William to the Gee family.  I looked up the Gee family in the Census' of 1861 and was surprised to discover 3 Gee families in the same house.  All were born in England (with the exception of the 2 youngest sons) and all the males were glass bottle blowers.  There was also another English family of glass bottle blowers in the same street.

They were:

John Gee (30) with his wife Mary (30) and their Glaswegian son William (7).

Robert Gee (22) with his wife Rebecca (20) and their Glaswegian son William (2).

William Gee (57) with his wife Ellen (47) and their Engllish children Joseph (20), Elizabeth (18), Peter (17), Thomas (13) and James (10).

Also in the Street were Isaac and Alice Ashton.  There were no Scottish glass bottle blowers in the street.

If the Gees were all related (possibly a leap of faith?), why were a load of English glass bottle blowers living in Glasgow?

Stuartroxy
Roxburgh/Rock/O'Rouk - Edinburgh/Glasgow/Australia
Slora/Slorach - Edinburgh/Aberdeen/Moray
Roberts/Robert - Edinburgh/Torphichen
Cochrane - Edinburgh
Johnston - Shetland/Australia
Davison - Sunderland
Curtis - Sunderland/Norfolk
Shirran - Aberdeenshire/Edinburgh
Rettie - Aberdeenshire
Leng - Sunderland
Lay - Sunderland
Rogers/Rodgers - Sunderland

Offline stuartroxy

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Re: Gee family - English glass bottle blowers in Glasgow 1860s
« Reply #1 on: Monday 07 September 09 22:16 BST (UK) »
I guess that I have run out of luck.

Thanks for looking.

stuartroxy
Roxburgh/Rock/O'Rouk - Edinburgh/Glasgow/Australia
Slora/Slorach - Edinburgh/Aberdeen/Moray
Roberts/Robert - Edinburgh/Torphichen
Cochrane - Edinburgh
Johnston - Shetland/Australia
Davison - Sunderland
Curtis - Sunderland/Norfolk
Shirran - Aberdeenshire/Edinburgh
Rettie - Aberdeenshire
Leng - Sunderland
Lay - Sunderland
Rogers/Rodgers - Sunderland

Offline MonicaL

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Re: Gee family - English glass bottle blowers in Glasgow 1860s
« Reply #2 on: Monday 07 September 09 22:35 BST (UK) »
Hi Stuart  :)

From Ancestry trees:

Robert Gee, a glass blower, was originally from Manchester (b. 1839, 1 Mar). His parents are given as William Gee (b. 1809 ST Helens Lancashire) wife Ellen. He married Rebecca Barber (b. 1832 Warrington, Cheshire) in Jan 1858 in Blythswood Glasgow. One son showing to them is a William Gee (1858 - 1923). Ellen Gee is showing as a widow by 1871 living at 30 Canal Street,Glasgow

Robert is the main line that has been followed through to descendents...the glass blower is a BIG clue that we have the right family ;D

Monica  :)
Census information Crown Copyright, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline MonicaL

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Re: Gee family - English glass bottle blowers in Glasgow 1860s
« Reply #3 on: Monday 07 September 09 22:48 BST (UK) »
The Gees in 1851 - everyone born in Manchester apart from those shown:

William Gee 41, glass blower b. St Helens
Helen Gee 31 b. St Helens
John Gee 19, glass maker b. St Helens
Alice Gee 18 b. Prescott
William Gee 15, glass maker
Robert Gee 12, glass maker
Joseph Gee 9
Elizabeth Gee 7
Peter Gee 6
Thomas Gee 2
James Gee 6 Months

HO107; Piece: 2225; Folio: 190; Page: 39

A family of glass blowers and workers as you thought  :)

Monica
Census information Crown Copyright, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk


Offline MonicaL

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Re: Gee family - English glass bottle blowers in Glasgow 1860s
« Reply #4 on: Monday 07 September 09 22:55 BST (UK) »
Ellen mother does look like a widow by 1871 - everyone born in England:

Ellen Gee 56
Peter Gee 27, Glass Bottle Blomca (blower you would think  ::))
Thomas Gee 22 Glass Bottle Blower
James Gee 20, Apprentice Bottle Blower
John Horton 26, boarder, Glass Bottle Blower

Address: 30 Canal Street, Glasgow Barony

And a few more children for Robert and Rebecca by 1871:

Robt Gee 32, glass blower b. Manchester
Rebecca Gee 38 b. Wasermone (probably Warrington from what we have!)
Wm Gee 12
George Gee 10
Ellen Gee 4
Robt Gee 1

Address: 3 Broomhill St, Glasgow Barony

Monica
Census information Crown Copyright, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline MonicaL

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Re: Gee family - English glass bottle blowers in Glasgow 1860s
« Reply #5 on: Monday 07 September 09 23:40 BST (UK) »
Interesting Google book ref to Glassworks in Glasgow in the period you are looking at http://tiny123.com/1lr

This description fits well with the Gee glass blowing family and explains why all/most of the sons seem to have followed their father to this trade:

The simpler stages of production were carried out by the less skilled, younger members of the team, and the later, more sophisticated stages by the skilled craftsmen. Thus, by progressing from the simple to the complex the young apprentices gained the experience necessary for them to become skilled glass workers. Initially, the young apprentices were engaged in menial tasks such as wiping the blow-pipes before the metal was gathered from the pots, or holding a shield, probably a shovel, to protect the gatherer's face from the intense heat. Nevertheless, such youths considered themselves fortunate. To become a skilled glass maker one had generally to be born into the trade, since the skilled workmen, aware of their scarcity value, attempted to keep the secrets of their trade within their own family, and so prevent 'outsiders' from entering it. Thus, having first gained entry to the trade and then completed their apprenticeship, normally seven years, the youths emerged as skilled crown glass manufacturers, often specialising in blowing or in flashing the molten glass.

Taken from "The Operation of a Glassworks in the industrial revolution" www.dumbarton-online.com/glass.htm

...And www.scotlandsglass.co.uk/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=59&Itemid=56

Stuart, I've learnt a lot this evening about the history of glassworks in Scotland  ;D

Monica
Census information Crown Copyright, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline stuartroxy

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Re: Gee family - English glass bottle blowers in Glasgow 1860s
« Reply #6 on: Tuesday 08 September 09 19:47 BST (UK) »
Monica,

As I have said on a number of occasions, you are a star!  Thanks very much. 

The Gee's are not blood relations, but they did look after my great-great-grandad!

stuartroxy
Roxburgh/Rock/O'Rouk - Edinburgh/Glasgow/Australia
Slora/Slorach - Edinburgh/Aberdeen/Moray
Roberts/Robert - Edinburgh/Torphichen
Cochrane - Edinburgh
Johnston - Shetland/Australia
Davison - Sunderland
Curtis - Sunderland/Norfolk
Shirran - Aberdeenshire/Edinburgh
Rettie - Aberdeenshire
Leng - Sunderland
Lay - Sunderland
Rogers/Rodgers - Sunderland

Offline stuartroxy

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Re: Gee family - English glass bottle blowers in Glasgow 1860s
« Reply #7 on: Sunday 13 September 09 18:13 BST (UK) »
Monica,

Whilst looking into the detail that you supplied, I do not think that it is such a huge leap of faith to place Alice and Isaac Ashton into the Gee family; Alice is the right age to be the Prescot born Alice Gee and, as you found out, glass work is a family business!

stuartroxy
Roxburgh/Rock/O'Rouk - Edinburgh/Glasgow/Australia
Slora/Slorach - Edinburgh/Aberdeen/Moray
Roberts/Robert - Edinburgh/Torphichen
Cochrane - Edinburgh
Johnston - Shetland/Australia
Davison - Sunderland
Curtis - Sunderland/Norfolk
Shirran - Aberdeenshire/Edinburgh
Rettie - Aberdeenshire
Leng - Sunderland
Lay - Sunderland
Rogers/Rodgers - Sunderland

Offline MonicaL

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Re: Gee family - English glass bottle blowers in Glasgow 1860s
« Reply #8 on: Sunday 13 September 09 18:58 BST (UK) »
Oh, I see what you mean....and, yes, you are right, they married in Glasgow  :) From IGI:

ISAAC ASHTON and ALICE GEE    
Marriage: 14 MAY 1860 in Milton, Glasgow

Monica
Census information Crown Copyright, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk