Person:Mary Milroy (49)

MARY MILROY was born on 23 Nov 1834 at Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. She lived in Glasgow her entire life, but her parents had come north from Wigtownshire just before she was born. She appeared on the census of 1841 at Mgs Place, Bridgegate, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. She was a Clothiers Shop Girl in 1851. She appeared on the census of 1851 at 17 Jail Square, St James, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. She was a Dressmaker in 1861. She appeared on the census of 1861 at 65 Maitland Street, Barony, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

In 1862, when Mary was 28 she became pregnant with her daughter Catherine. Catherine's father Peter Sinclair didn't marry Mary until three years later, on 2 Jan 1865 at Blythswood, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Mary was 30. Their second child, son James, (named for Mary's father) was born three weeks later. Son Peter Sinclair (named for his father) was born in May 1868. Husband Peter died one year later, leaving Mary a widow with three children under the age of four. To make matters worse, Mary's mother died a month after husband Peter died, leaving her father a widower. Mary and her four children moved in with her father James. James' namesake grandson was not listed on the 1871 census and must have died sometime before then. He was at most 6 years old.

It is not known when Mary first met Charles Cunningham. Charles had come north to Glasgow from Wigtownshire, just like Mary's parents. Five months after her husband Peter's death, 37 year old Mary was pregnant with Charles' first child. Their son was born in September 1871, and was named Charles after his father.^S4 Charles and Mary did not wed. Mary continued to live with her father James Milroy.

Two years later in November 1872, daughter Agnes was born. At the time, Mary lived at 156 Holm Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. This is in central Glasgow, north of the Clyde near the main train station. She was a Seamstress. She would pass this vocation down to her daughter Agnes. Agnes listed her occupation as a sewing machinist on her wedding application. ^S5 Tragically, three year old son Charles died of measles a few months after Agnes was born, in August 1873. ^S3

Two years later, in 1875, Mary and Charles had a third child, a son, who they again named Charles. Charles the father was still not living with Mary and her children as his address when the younger Charles was born was 72 McAlpine Street. He was still living separately when he appeared on the census of 1881. He was living at 28 McAlpine and working as a Grain Weigher's Clerk in 1881. Mary and her (now) five children were still living with her father in 1871 ^S10 and 1881.^S6

Mary finally married CHARLES CUNNINGHAM, son of MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM and AGNES MCROBERT, on 6 Nov 1885 at 5 Abbotsford Place, Glasgow, at the age of 50. It was at least fourteen years after they met. Mary's children from her first marriage to Peter Sinclair were largely grown, now aged seventeen to twenty. Charles and Mary's daughter Agnes was thirteen and their son Charles was almost ten. Six years later they appeared on the census of 1891 at 142 Holm St, Blythswood, Glasgow. Charles was a Grain Weighers Clerk.

Mary died of Apoplexy on 17 Jan 1895 at 75 Finnieston Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, at age 60. The year before, Agnes had married William Black, a young shipyard worker from down the street. ^S5 Son Charles continued to live with his father at least until 1901.

Census

Mary Milroy Census

Year	Source	Image
1841	1841 Scotland Population Census: Parish: Glasgow Bridgegate
1851	1851 Scotland Population Census: Parish: Glasgow St James
1861	1861 Scotland Population Census: Parish: Glasgow Barony
1871	1871 Scotland Population Census: Parish: Glasgow St Peter
1881	1881 Scotland Population Census: Parish: Glasgow Barony