Helen Crawford
(1840-1928)
Helen was born on
the 30th July 1840 at Main Street Maryhill, Lanarkshire. After this
the next record found for her is on the 1851 census.
1851 Census, 11 Cathcart
Street, Govan.
This census shows that
Helen was a House servant to a Mary Yuill, a widow and formerly a grocer. It
might be that this woman had been married to Helen’s mother’s brother but more
research has to be done.
The next entry for Helen
is on the 1861 census when she appears with her mother.
1861 Census – 9 Crown Circus,
Govan. This census shows that Helen was a domestic servant in the employ of John
Yuill. Her mother is obviously visiting.
In 1862, Helen was living
at 45 Eglinton Street when she married William McCracken on the 4th
July. They remained at this address until 1867 when a child was born at
Milton. The next residence was at 30 Scotia Street in 1869 and then 18
Melville Street in 1872. The last child died at 135 Houston Street in 1873.
William McCracken died at the Kyle Union Poorhouse in Ayr at the end of 1873.
It is unknown why he should have died there but he was born in Ayr. It was
the practise of the Parish Councils at that time, to return a person to the
Parish in which they were born rather than have those persons become a burden
financially to the Parish where they were now resident. Sometimes one Parish
would allocate funds to another Parish for the upkeep of someone who had
moved. A brother signed his death certificate but did not put the name of
the wife, only that he was married. Nor was there any reference to another or
usual residence. This makes me suspect that Helen and William may have
actually separated.
The family cannot be found
on the 1881 census and the next reference to Helen was found in the Poor
Relief applications for 1907. Owing to Rheumatoid Arthritis, Helen was unable
to work. She was obviously living with her eldest daughter who was a widow and
it looks as if a son was also living with her.
Helen died from a Cerebral
Thrombosis on the 23rd August 1928 at 16 Carrickcarden Street,
Glasgow. She is buried with her daughter Mary and son James at Logie cemetery,
Stirlingshire. This was the nearest cemetery to where they lived at
Causewayhead. They are buried in Section D5, Lair 32. Helen was buried on
the 27th August 1928.
 There
are two plots between the two centre gravestones. The left one is the
plot where Helen and her daughter Mary and son James are buried. This is
Logie Cemetery, Stirlingshire. Section D5 Lair no 32.
Children of William McCracken and Helen Crawford are:
Mary Isabella Yuill McCracken was born 8th May 1863 at 45
Eglinton Street, Glasgow and died 31 January 1927, 9 Union Street,
Stirling. She married James Buchanan on 8th November 1887, 37 Lynedoch
Street, Glasgow. Mary was buried at Logie on the 2nd February 1927.
William McCracken
was born 19 February 1865, 45 Eglinton
Street, Glasgow.
Cornelia Yuill McCracken
was born 12 August 1867, 299 Garscube
Road, Glasgow and died 1 February 1954, 16 Carrickarden Street, Glasgow
and married George Hay 29 December 1893, St Jospeh's R C Church,
Glasgow.
James McCracken
was born 20 October 1869, 30 Scotia Street,
Glasgow and died 11 October 1932, Asylum, Larbert, Stirlingshire. He
married Williamina Lillie 24 June 1892, Cowcaddens Free Church, Glasgow.
James was buried at Logie on the 14th October 1932.
Helen Crawford McCracken was born 30 December 1872, 18
Melville Street, Glasgow and died 17 May 1873, 153 Houston Street,
Glasgow
Sadly this would appear to
be the end of the line for Crawford's from Helen's side of things. Mary and
James never had any children. Helen never survived and Cornelia had one son but
he died without issue. The only hope of finding any descendants from Helen is
now with the William McCracken in USA.
Further information has now been found. |
