Need to get to bed now
Had a long mad day...but can't get the thought out of my head of these boys' deaths
Harrowing.
I have a possible death entry for you for Bridget. Not perfect but not sure you will find the perfect entry now from what I have seen. As we know with these things, you are likely still some way from further confirmation, although I think you will likely find the details from a number of sources we have been talking about. Just needs a lot more digging around (hope you are localish
).
We had from one of the newspaper mentions, in 1911 January, William and John being admitted to the Dysart Combination Poorhouse. The reference to Fife/Dysart may be relevant. Up to now everything has been based around West Lothian.
I think this is Bridget with her family before her 1902 marriage (am I right?):
Wm Johnstone 45, Shaleminer b. Bathgate
Bridget Johnstone 45 b. Ireland
Bridget Johnstone 28 daughter, formerly domestic servant b. Airdrie, Lanarkshire
John Johnstone 25
Ann Johnstone 15
Wm Johnstone 13
Patrick Johnstone 10
Address: Holigate 123, Uphall, West LothianFrom the review of newspaper reporting, likely life for Bridget with Patrick was plainly...awful
We know Bridget died between 1907-11. Newspaper reporting indicates around 1910.
I have found this death entry. Not 100% certain but I do feel it might be relevant:
ELIZABETH Higgins, married to WILLIAM Higgins, Coal miner. Aged 26 and died on 3 October 1910 at the Holmes Lodging House, Wemyss, Fifeshire.
Her father shows as a William Johnston, a stoker at a colliery, in brackets, 'not ascertained'. No mother's name.
Cause of death, Abortion.
Person who reported death, a John Sheehan, inmate. Inmate in this sense, normally just means someone living in the same property.
Given their life, hope you can see why I think this is her death
Hope you can find other sources to be able to confirm with more certainty.
Monica
