Dr Guthrie's Ragged Schools, Edinburgh

[John Johnston]

I would be grateful for help in finding records for Margaret Home
RICHARDSON, born 19 Mar 1844, Pencaitland, East Lothian, Scotland.

Margaret was the first child of John Richardson and Jane Law Home.
Other siblings were:
Jane Eliza Richardson, born 1845, died 10 Nov 1859
Robert Richardson, born 1847, died 24 Mar 1849
Johnstone Thompson Richardson, born 1849, died 10 Nov 1849

Her mother Jane Law Richardson (nee Home) died 30 Sep 1850, Pencaitland

1851 Census
Pencaitland Cottage, Pencaitland
John Richardson, Head, Widower, 41, Farmer, Pencaitland, East Lothian
Margaret Richardson, daur, 7, Scholar at home, Pencaitland, East Lothian
Jane Richardson, daur, 5, Scholar at home, Pencaitland, East Lothian
Elizabeth Pringle, Governess, Unm., 31, Governess, Hawick, Roxburghshire
Janet Haliday, Servant, Unm., 62, Cook, Salton, East Lothian
Helen Burnet, Servant, Unm., 20, Housemaid, Salton, East Lothian

1861 Census
20 Clarence Street, Edinburgh
Margaret Richardson, Servant, Unm., 18, Housemaid, Pencaitland, East
Lothian, in the large household of John Miller Bryden (Bell hanger and
Window Blind Maker). Includes the sister of John Miller Bryden, Helen Bryden
who is aged 41 and a Proprietor of Houses.

1871 Census
1 Cumin Place, Edinburgh
Fanny S. Richardson, Head, Unm., 59, Proprietor & Bank Stock Holder, Parish
of Pencaitland, East Lothian
Marg. H. Richardson, niece, Unm., 27, Parish of Pencaitland, East Lothian
Illegible name, servant, Unm., 25, Edinburgh, Midlothian

Margaret arrived in Dunedin, New Zealand, in the 1870's.

Margaret Richardson married William Sievwright, Lawyer, 29 Nov 1878, at St
John's Presbyterian Church, Wellington, New Zealand, and she died 19 Mar
1905, in Gisborne, New Zealand.

 In one obituary, there is mention: "As a young girl she taught in one of
the Edinburgh schools for poor little waifs and strays. Subsequently, she
trained as a nurse under Florence Nightingale, and in the hospital for women
to which she was attached she vowed to work with all her powers to right the
wrong of her outcast sisters.. Needless to say, too, that she was one of
that band of devoted women who worked without ceasing in New Zealand for the
franchise of our women."

Thanks for reading this far.

Has anyone viewed the records of Dr Guthrie's Ragged Schools in the National
Archives of Scotland? Would there be mention of teachers such as Margaret
Richardson? Are there any other Edinburgh school records which may mention
her?

Was there ever a Florence Nightingale hospital in Edinburgh? And are there
any records?

Thankyou for your help,
John Johnston

[tidybooks]

Hi John,

I have had a look at the Florence Nightingale info on the net, she never actually worked in an Edinburgh Hospital, but she trained nurses at St Thomas Hospital London, which is now part of King's College, London.

Wikipedia article suggests that "Nightingale Nurse's" (trained by Florence) were all over the UK,  and the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh was mentioned. So your Margaret may have trained under her in St Thomas Hospital, London.

Tom

[tidybooks]

Hi John,

As for "Dr Guthrie's Ragged Schools", there are records held in the 

http://www.nas.gov.uk/onlineCatalogue/ ,

some of them are closed for 100 years but as you are interested in the period prior to her arriving in NZ in 1870, so that should not be a problem. Look at the Help pages for assistance with searches etc.

Tom

[John Johnston]

Hello Tom,
Sorry for the delay in replying, We have been away from home and computer for a week.
Thankyou for your comments on the Florence Nightingale hospital(s) and on Dr Guthrie's ragged school records. Hopefully, my wife and I will visit Edinburgh some time next year and view the records ourselves.
Best Wishes,
John

[Lucky Genes]

Sorry about the delay - have only just seen this.

Margaret is - or was - my great great aunt.

Family tradition says that she studied in a Nightingale hospital but I know no more than that.

Why do you ask?

[John Johnston]

Hi,
Thanks for your reply. We are not related to Margaret Home Richardson but have a strong interest in her. Should you wish to share information please contact us directly:

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Best Wishes,
John and Jean Johnston

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[Ciffygee]

Hi John

I'm also interested in the Ragged school and am planning to visit register house soon to look at the records. I live in Edinburgh. They aren't kept on site and have to be ordered in advance. Is there anything I can look at for you while I'm there? Do you just want to know if they keep information on teachers?

[John Johnston]

Hi Ciffygee,
Thank you for your kind offer, much appreciated.
Not knowing exactly what is in the records it is difficult to be specific but there could be records or minutes of meetings that mention Margaret Home Richardson as a teacher or helper in the Ragged Schools. Here are census records again for her in Edinburgh:

1861 Census
20 Clarence Street, Edinburgh
Margaret Richardson, Servant, Unm., 18, Housemaid, Pencaitland, East
Lothian, in the large household of John Miller Bryden (Bell hanger and
Window Blind Maker). Includes the sister of John Miller Bryden, Helen Bryden
who is aged 41 and a Proprietor of Houses.

1871 Census
1 Cumin Place, Edinburgh
Fanny S. Richardson, Head, Unm., 59, Proprietor & Bank Stock Holder, Parish
of Pencaitland, East Lothian
Marg. H. Richardson, niece, Unm., 27, Parish of Pencaitland, East Lothian
Illegible name, servant, Unm., 25, Edinburgh, Midlothian

There could be mention of the Bryden family or of Margaret's aunt, Fanny (Frances) Richardson.

Best Wishes,
John

[Ciffygee]

http://www.nas.gov.uk/onlineCatalogue/

This is the link to all the records that are available on the ragged school. If it doesn't work try putting GD425 into the reference part of the search and you'll see them all.
 I'm planning to request admission records and registers but only for the boys. I'll keep an eye out for the names you mention. I can only get 12 items and I need 11 so if there's something you see in the index that looks promising send me the reference and I can get that too.
I think there may be a lot of stuff to wade through so no promises!
Regards, C