Person:Matthew Black (7)

MATTHEW BLACK, son of ROBERT BLACK and MARTHA ROSS, was born in 1842 at Ireland. He is next recorded in Glasgow Scotland in 1864 when he is married at age 22. Obviously some time in-between he came to Scotland from Ireland. Although it is not known what part of Ireland his family came from, as the later family was know to be staunchly Protestant it is far more likely they were Scots-Irish or from the part of Ireland known as the Pale rather than native Gaelic catholic Irish.

The Irish potato famine occurred from 1845 to 1852 when Matthew was aged 3 to 10, so it is possible his family may have emigrated from Ireland to escape it. Both of Matthew's parents are listed as dead on his marriage record. It is not known whether they died after bringing Matthew to Glasgow, or whether he came on his own after being orphaned in Ireland. It is not known if Matthew had any brothers or sisters.

Before marriage, Matthew lived at 158 Castlebank Street in Partick, Glasgow, just a few doors down from bride-to-be Margaret Hagerty who lived at 166 Castlebank. Partick is north of the River Clyde just west of central Glasgow. Marriage banns for MATTHEW and MARGARET (MARY) HAGERTY, daughter of JOHN HAGERTY and AGNES PATERSON, were published according to the ? of the ? Church of Scotland on 22 Jan 1864 at Partick, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was 22, she was 17.

Matthew was a Dock Laborer when he was married in 1864, but by the time his son William was born 4 years later he had moved up to being a Hammerman (a blacksmith). He later became an Iron Ship Caulker. Glasgow is home to shipyards so Matthew probably worked various jobs throughout those shipyards. In the 19th century the industrial revolution saw the changeover from wooden to iron ships.

Matthew and Margaret were still living at 166 Castlebank 4 years later when their son William was born and remained there throughout at least 1881 as they were there for the 1881 census.

MATTHEW died of stomach pains, after being ill for 4 1/2 months, on 20 Aug 1889 at 77 Merkland Street, Partick, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was just 47. He left Mary a widow with seven children aged 5 to 18.

Census

Matthew Black Census

Year	Source	Image
1871	1871 Scotland Population Census: Parish Govan, Town Govan, Scotland
1881	1881 Scotland Population Census: Govan, Lanark, Scotland

Death Record

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 William Black Birth Certificate. (Birth Certificate)
   1868.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} William Black & Agnes Cunningham Marriage Certificate. (Marriage Certificate)
   1894.
3. ↑ William Black Death Certificate. (Death Certificate)
   1958.
4. ↑ Matthew and Margaret Hagerty Black Marriage Record. (Marriage Record)
   1864.
5. ↑ ^5.0 5.1 1871 Scotland Population Census: Parish Govan, Town Govan, Scotland
   1871.
6. ↑ Matthew Black Death. (Death Record)
   1889.
7. ↑ He is listed as 23 in his 1864 marriage certificate (birth 1841), 39 in the 1881 census (birth 1842) and 46 on his 1889 death certificate (birth 1843). 1842 is the best date to meet these constraints.