George Monro (1813-1876)

[JacobeaM]

Hi all,

I have another mysterious man in the family who appears to have the wanders! If the few notes I have are correct, George Monro (exact spelling although his son is given as "Monrow" on the 1881 Census) was born at an unknown place in Caithness, Scotland, married Jesse Darling (when and where also unknown, presumably Scotland). Their first known son was born in Edinburgh, but then their second known child was born in Anglesey, Wales, their third in Lancashire and the rest were born in Watford, Hertfordshire. There may be more but with the moving about, their hard to pin down. George himself then died in Luton, Bedfordshire in 1876.

For the 19th C, these places seem to be awfully far flung for an ag lab to be travelling to! I haven't access to all the Census', so does anyone have idea what sort of profession/occupation would have necessitated such journeying, and with his family in tow? I was thinking something to do with the clergy myself, but I haven't the foggiest.

Cheers all 

[jorose]

Which records do you have on which he's listed as "Ag Lab"?  He might have had a few jobs through his life and ended up as a Ag Lab.

www.familysearch.org
shows George Steele Munro b. 1843 Edinburgh who is presumably the son you're speaking of, although there is also a daughter b. 1841.
There are then three more possible children baptised in the early 1850s in London.
There's also a possible marriage for them in 1839 listed for them (in Edrom)

1871, I think they are at:
RG 10/1574 20/31
Luton, Bedfordshire
address "Nursery" (possibly connected to Bellevue House, the household above, occupied by a coal and salt merchant and his family + servants)
George Munro, 58, nurseryman, b. Scotland
Jesse, 58, b. Scotland
Agnes J, 26, milliner and dressmaker, b. Wales Angelsea
John W(?), 23, gardener, b. Lancaster Walton
Peter, 17, gardener, b. Watford
Jessie D, 14, scholar, b. Watford
Eliza N(?), 11, scholar, b. St Albans

[Eyesee]

1851
Grove Gardens, Watford
George MONRO, head mar 38, Gardener, born Scotland
Jesse MONRO, wife mar 36, Gardeners wife, born ditto
George MONRO, son 7, Scholar, born Scotland, Edinburgh
Agnes ?? MONRO, dau 6, Scholar, born Wales, Angelsey
John Wm MONRO, son 3, born Lancashire, Wootton
Samuel Well MONRO, son 2, at home, born Herts, Watford
Margaret MONRO, dau 1, born ditto
HO107/1714/324/7

1861 - indexed as MOURE
Spring Gardens, St Stephen, Hertfordshire
George MONRO, head mar 478, Market Gardener (Master), born Scotland, Berwicks'
Jessie MONRO, wife mar 47, born ditto
George MONRO, son unm 17, Under gardener, born Scotland, Edinburgh
Agnes MONRO, dau unm 16, born North Wales, Anglesea
John W MONRO, son 13, Scholar, born Lancashire, Wootton
Samuel W MONRO, son 12, Scholar, born Herts, Watford
Margaret S MONRO, dau 11, Scholar, born ditto
Pitton S MONRO, son 8, Scholar, born ditto
Jessie D MONRO, dau 4, Scholar, born ditto
Eliza M, dau 1, born Herts, St Stephens
RG9/831/93/30

Agnes Jesse MONRO birth, Mar qtr 1845, Anglesey
John William MONRO birth, Jun qtr 1847, W Derby
Samuel Wells MONRO birth, Mar qtr 1849, Watford
Margaret Steel MONRO birth, Jun qtr 1850, Watford
Peter Steel MONRO birth, Sep qtr 1853, Watford
Jessie Darling MONRO birth, Jun qtr 1856, Watford
Eliza Mary MONRO birth, Jun qtr 1860, St Albans

1871
Nursery, Luton, Bedfordshire
George MUNRO, head mar 58, Nurseryman, born Scotland
Jesse MUNRO, wife mar 58, born ditto
Agnes J MUNRO, dau unm 26, Milliner & dressmaker, born Wales, Anglesey
John W MUNRO, son unm 23, Gardener, born Lancaster, Wootton
Peter MUNRO, son unm 17, Gardener, born Herts, Watford
Jessie D MUNRO, dau 14, Scholar, born ditto
Eliza M MUNRO, dau 11, Scholar, born Herts, St Albans
RG10/1574/20/31

From IGI
George MONRO
Jessie DARLING
married 5 Jul 1839, Edrom, Berwick

Ian C

[JacobeaM]

Jorose - I haven't found George Monro listed as an ag lab anywhere, but that's the occupation had by much of my family, but he clearly wasn't one with all this cross country moving about. I'd not hade him pegged as being a gardener, since I wouldn't have thought it to be a very mobile job His son is listed as such though, if I recall correctly, on the 1901 Census, so it's clearly a family occupation. 

"...address "Nursery" (possibly connected to Bellevue House, the household above, occupied by a coal and salt merchant and his family + servants)".

Was it common for gardeners to move from big house to big house? That might explain why he ended up in such far flung places.

Eyesee - cheers for all that Census data! I noticed another child not on my list - presumably one who died young. Also somewhat refutes my notes on George's birthplace, thank you 

Cheers all  Second mystery solved today thanks to you knid folks! 

[juliett924]

I have also been researching this line.   George and his brother John both relocated to Hertfordshire, England in the 1840s.  Yes, it was typical for gardeners to relocate.  Their father was George Monro, gardener at Duns Castle.  He relocated to Dumfries, Scotland by 1837.  Feel free to contact me if you would like more information.

[rexkent]

My great great grandad,born 1813. Most of what has been posted seems to be true as far as I can tell.
He married Jessie Darling (family hearsay was that Jessie was a cousin of the renowned Grace Darling but I have not as yet verified that) at Edrom on 5.7.1835. His son,George Steele Monro was born in Scotland and moved with the family to Hertfordshire in the 1840s. He lived in St.Albans and was head gardener at St. Michael's.Then his son, my grandad, was born in 1882 in St.Albans, probably Frogmore. (The previous year another Goerge had been born, but he did not survive that first year).
He did not follow the family tradition ,but became a groom, owned his own riding stables at London Colney, took his very young family to Canada (to teach the mounties to ride!), but was separated from his wife, Violet Gould,whom he had married in 1910,soon after the end of the Great War. My mum was born Ivy Elsie Monro in January 1912, one of four children, and she bore the brunt of helping to raise her siblings. I remember visiting my grandad when I was about 10,in 1952, at St.Stephens in St.Albans. He was about 70 at the time and suffering badly from a fractured kneecap   as a result of an accident when he was leading a horse from a field . It panicked at the noise of a vehicle and bolted, but grandad evidently refused to let it go and was dragged along the road.Mum married Harry Kent in 1935 and I was born during the second world war , 7th June 1942,  and was named Rex Monro Kent. I have not done a great deal of genealogy research, but if I can help in any way,let me know.

[Skoosh]

Scotch gardeners had a great reputation in the south at one time, plant collectors ditto, being sober  knowledgeable and literate.

Bests,
Skoosh.

[Annette7]

George Monro was indeed born in Berwickshire per 1861 census - his parents George Monro and Agnes McLean married 10/6/1806 Glasgow.

George and Agnes had the following children:

Helen Stevenson bp.26/4/1807 Govan
Agnes bp.16/10/1808 Govan, Lanarkshire
then moved to Duns, Berwickshire
Mary 9/12/1810 Duns
George 24/9/1812 Duns
Christian Hay 6/5/1814 Duns
William Hay 1/2/1816 Duns
Isabella 19/2/1818 Duns
John 31/12/1819 Duns
James 18/5/1822 Duns
Robert Garstin 13/5/1825 Duns

Annette

[Skoosh]

Had a quick look at the History of the Glasgow Incorporation of Gardeners, a James Munro was admitted as a (near hand) member on the 12th Sep' 1786, meaning related to a member, will have another look in the morning.

Skoosh.

Checked the membership lists and found,

25Sep 1718, Duncan McCauslan, gardener married Mary Munroe, dau to Thomas Munroe.

7 Oct 1720, James Munroe eldest son to deceased Thomas Munroe.

4 Aug 1729, George Munro son to deceased Thomas Munro.

15 Sep 1748, George Munro son of James Munro.

 To apply to join the Trade Guilds the applicant must first become a Burgess and purchase a Ticket. Still the case.

 Hope this helps.
 Skoosh.