The Garngad Heritage
The unpublished work

September 1997

Betty Valentine

The following of course was not submitted to Garngad Heritage in 1996 but was added while Betty was in Glasgow, Scotland with my wife and I at our address at 77 Braemar Court, Hazelden Gardens, Glasgow.   It has been added to give Betty's children, Lisa and Iain, possibly her descendants or her American friends who may read this,  some knowledge of her Scottish/Irish heritage.

The McLaughlin Line

Betty was born in the same tenement building at 33 Tharsis Street, Glasgow on the 19th December 1937.   She emigrated to the United States at the age of 22.

While out for the day with her 'doon the watter' (at the coast away from the City) she reminded me of some matters I had completely forgotten.   My father (Big Robey) used to celebrate the New Year in traditional Scottish fashion but stopped after he was severely beaten about the face one New Year.   Pop had confided in her that what he could remember was someone's boot rushing towards his face.   Betty knew quite a bit about Pop.    He also confided in her that our mother (wee Beenie) was the only woman that he has ever been with. I must have my father's blood in me.   On the same issue, I most certainly am a chip of the old block.

Betty reminded me of the time when Pop came home slightly inebriated and broke three small statues that my mother had bought.   Wee Beenie left the broken pieces on the floor and three days later, Pop rather shamefacedly swept them up.

On Election day in 1987, Pop was due to go into hospital.   He was dying of cancer although he was unaware that it was cancer.   I had arranged for an ambulance to take him in but he said he would refuse to go.  Being a police officer, I was on duty on the day of the election but my boss allowed me some time off to go up to Pop's house and ensure that he went to hospital in the ambulance.   I now feel I know why Pop was reluctant to go into hospital.   His son, Harry my brother died in hospital on 21 October 1958.    His father (Red) Harry also died in hospital.    Pop had told me that he did not want to die in hospital.   In addition, Betty reminded me that our brother Harry was not the first born in the family but the first baby, named William was the first and died almost at birth.   Wee Beenie had confided this information to Betty.   I was vaguely aware that there was someone before Harry but I never knew exactly when and I certainly was not aware of a name.    Doing some research I discovered that William McLaughlin had been born at 3.10pm on 28 December 1928 and had died 3 hours later, in the maternity hospital at 6.10pm, a brother that I never knew.

Our mother died on 26 February 1968, one month after arriving home from a visit to Betty in the United States.   It was sudden, no one in the family expected it.   If she was ill, she never revealed her condition to anyone.

Going down my father's line  Henry (Red Harry) McLaughlin my grandfather was born in Donegal in Ireland 2^nd February 1879, he came over to Scotland round about the turn of the century, met, and married my grandmother, Grace Baillie McLaughlin on 29 August 1902.   He was employed as a labourer.  Red Harry was apparently a bit of a ladies man (this information comes from an aunt, wee Lettie, who married my father's brother John) and was not living with his wife when he died on 15 December 1937 at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, two days before Betty was born.   Grace Baillie McLaughlin (Granny Gracie) was born about 1884 and was in my opinion a right harridan.   A typical 'windie hinger' (a woman who would lean with her elbows on the outside window sill of her room, with the lower sash of the window raised while she looked down on the populace below).    She had a ferocious temper.   Wee Lettie told us while Betty was here than on one occasion when her daughter Mae had been asked to go a message for Gracie, Mae had remarked that she would not go as 'Granny' gave her nothing for going messages.    Gracie apparently heard this remark to Lettie (she was probably 'windie hinging' at the time) and shouted at Mae, "Ya wee red heided bastard."  Mae had a shock of red hair as a child.   Occasionally Gracie would bellow at people passing in the street below from the top flat in her tenement for no apparent reason.    In fact, I am sure that she invented obscene language.  She  was employed as a fancy box maker when she was young.   She died on 23 September 1950.

Red Harry's father was Thomas (Old or Big Tom) McLaughlin.   I do not know too much about Old Tom other than that he was from Donegal in Ireland and a stone quarrier to trade who met, then married Elizabeth (Lizzie) McClure McLaughlin. My family were by religious beliefs, Roman Catholic but Lizzie McClure was apparently an Irish Presbyterian, whom I assume became a Catholic.    My Great Granny Lizzie was still alive when my mother, Betty and I visited Buncrana in Donegal in 1946 after the end of World War ll.   She lived in an ancient farm cottage and was alleged to be 99 years of age.   As I recall before being in the vicinity of her rocking chair along with Betty and other children who were visiting the great one, she was smoking a clay pipe and suddenly lashed out with a stick in my direction.    Betty, what a memory she has! reminded me on her visit, that when my Great Granny lashed out with her stick she shouted "Say your prayers".    I assume the comment was directed to all children present    Lizzie McClure McLaughlin apparently died in 1949 at the age of 101.  I carried out some research, writing to the National Record Office in Dublin attempting to establish the dates of (i) when Red Harry was born, (ii) when  Lizzie McClure McLaughlin  died and (iii) when Old Tom and Lizzie were married.   Dublin were unable to help with any of the three requests.

However, when Betty, my wife Anne and I visited Ireland in the first week of September 1997 we visited "Keeloges" Ag Hilly in Buncrana, the farm cottage and the scene of that meeting with the Great One in 1949.   John Martin, the owner of the farm (our second cousin - his grandmother Martha Jane and Red Harry were sister and brother) showed me the death certificate of Lizzie McClure McLaughlin.   Her death had been registered by Martha and it recorded that she died on 19 February 1949 in her name as Lizzie McLaughlin showing an age at last birthday as 85.   I know it is a woman's privilege to lie about her age but this is ridiculous.   On a count back, she would have been 15 when Red Harry our grandfather was born.   Possible I suppose, but when did she and Tom marry, if they married? 

I have no further knowledge of McLaughlin's at this stage.

Grace Bailie's parents were Robert Baillie (whom I was apparently named after) and Sahrah (or perhaps Catherine) Rush Baillie as I will explain.   Robert Baillie was born round about 1860.    He was employed as an Iron Foundry labourer and met, then married Catherine/Sahrah Rush who is on record  as being employed as a power loom weaver, on 10 November 1882.   I have no knowledge when he died.   Catherine/Sahrah Rush was illegitimate.   She was born on 20 May 1865 and died on 19 November 1900 at the age of 35.  She is shown as Catherine Rush on the record of her birth certificate, her parents shown as James Rush and Mary Lynch,  but shown as Sahrah Rush on the record of the marriage certificate of Henry McLaughlin and Grace Baillie.   It is possible that Catherine/Sahrah Rush was not educated to a very high standard as on a copy of her marriage certificate to Robert Baillie there is a small cross (x) and beside it the words her mark  but there is a beautiful signature of Catherine Rush beside that small x.   I assume someone else would have inserted the name.   Indeed, this is confirmed in the book, Tracing your Scottish Ancestry, by Kathleen B. Cory who avers, "Sometimes because of illiteracy, 'his X mark' or 'her X mark' was written beside a name indicating that the name was written by the registrar or by a witness, and was not the signature of the person concerned".   I have not discovered if Catherine/Sahrah Rush's parents ever were married but on a copy of her death certificate her mother's name is given as Mary Rush.   There is no record of her father on that copy death certificate.

Robert Baillie's  parents were John Baillie and Grace Turner Baillie (now we know whom Granny Gracie was named after).   John Baillie was employed as a Railway Company's goods checker.   I have no knowledge of when John Baillie and Grace Turner were born, married or died.   I have no further knowledge of my father's line.

The Mair Line

My mother (wee Beenie) was a Presbyterian who converted to Catholicism when she married my father.  Going down my her line, her father was John Mair a contractor's foreman who met, then married Elizabeth Glen Mair on 12 July 1901.    John Mair was born round about 1879/80 and died on 27 September 1930 of cardiac failure.   Elizabeth Glen was born also  round about 1879/80.   I have been unable to discover when she died.

John Mair's parents were Gavin Mair and Agnes Isabella Nicol Mair.   Gavin Mair was born round about 1857 and employed as a 'Carter' (drove and delivered goods by horse and cart).  Isabella Nicol was born about 1860.   They were married on 13 January 1980.  I have no information yet as when they died.    I am of the opinion that Isabella Nicol married for a second time as she was known as Isabella King in later years.   Betty did remind me of a 'Great Granny King' when she was here during her visit.

Gavin Mair's parents were William Mair and Robina Miller Mair (now we know who wee Beenie was named after).    William Mair too was a Carter to trade.   He was born in the 1820's while Robina Miller was born in 1828.   They were married on 16 July 1849.   I have no knowledge when William died but Robina Miller died on 23 May 1863.   Another death at the age of 35?

Isabella Nicol's parents were a John Nicol and Mary Campbell Nicol.   Information is scanty on when they were born, married or died.   John Nicol was apparently employed as a coal miner. 

Robina Miller's parents were a Gavin Miller and a Fanny Pettigrew Miller.   Gavin Miller too was a Carter.   Information is too scanty on the Millers.   Official records at Glasgow only date from 1855 and it is only by chance that I was able to trace the marriage of William Mair and Robina Miller to 16 July 1949.   It was a slim two line extract from an old parish (Church of Scotland) record which showed the names of Robina's parents.    In all probability, Robina's parents, Gavin Miller and Fanny Pettigrew Miller, if we assume they were at least 20 years older than Robina (and we should not assume anything) would have been born between 1800 and 1810.   This is the furthest that I have been able to travel back to.  There are old Church of Scotland parish records back to the 1500's.    I tried to find more information on Robina Miller but it was extremely difficult.   Who knows for the future?   There are no apparent old parish records listed for the Roman Catholic faith.  There is no further knowledge of the Mair line at this stage.

Elizabeth Glen Mair's (wee Beenie's mother) parents were James Glen and Elizabeth Shepherd Glen.   James Glen was born round about 1842.   He was employed as a coal miner.   He met, then married Elizabeth Shepherd, who was born about 1846, on 4 March 1867.  This marriage raised a firm belief that there was Catholicism in my mother's family.   The marriage of James Glen and Elizabeth Shepherd took place in the Catholic Chapel, Rutherglen (a suburb of Glasgow).    I have no knowledge when either of them died.

James Glen's parents were another James Glen and Ellen Burns Glen.   Because of the limitations of the Glasgow records I was unable to find out when they were born, married and died.   The only other information I have is that the older James Glen was employed as a banksman at a colliery (another mining connection).

Elizabeth Shepherd's parents were a Joseph Shepherd, an agricultural worker and a    Mary Currion Shepherd.   Again  because of the limitations of the Glasgow records I was unable to find out when they were born, married and died.   The Mair Line comes to halt here.

Despite the enquiries at the Irish Register of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Dublin for informtion in connection with the birth of "Red" Harry McLaughlin, the death of his mother "Lizzie" McClure McLaughlin and the marriage of Lizzie McClure and "Old" “Big” Tom McLaughlin without success,  this is as far as I have traced the McLaughlin/Valentine heritage, and all the foregoing, without exception have contributed to that wonderful place in Glasgow history that was known as 'The Garngad' for without even one of them, Betty Valentine would not be here today.

The flo chart overleaf gives a quick overview of the McLaughlin & Mair forebears

Mac Lochlainn, MacLaughlin

A Gaelic surname meaning descendent of Lochlainn, which personal name probably meant "Viking".  The sept was named for Lochlainn of whom it was said was killed by his own people in 1023.   The anglicisation is MacLaughlin.

The leading sept of the Cineál Eoghain and of the northern Uí Néill until displaced by ó Neill.  Their territory was Inishowen, the original territory of the Cineál Eoghain.  The Mac Lochlainn provided eleven Kings of the Cineál Eoghain and two HighKings of Ireland between 1061 and 1241.  In 1090 Domhnaill established himself as High King and in 1149 Muirchertagh assumed the High Kingship.  The last Mac Lochlainn King of Tír Eoghain was Domhnaill who was killed at the Battle of Cam Eirghe by the combined forces of ó Neill and ó Domhnaill.  After their defeat by ó Neill in 1241 their power fell into decline and they were displaced as lords of Inishowen by the ó Dochartaigh who were a Cineál Chonaill sept.  They are most numerous in the Inishowen peninsula of Donegal and the City of Derry.

A branch settled in Mayo in the seventeenth century.

A sept appears to have existed in Leitrim, who were the followers of ó Ruairc (O'Rourke).

In 1890, MacLaughlin was the twenty-first most numerous surname and the estimated number of bearers was 17,500, and the surname was principally found in Antrim, Donegal and Derry.   The surname McLoughlin was chiefly found in Dublin and scattered throughout Ireland

The above information is extracted from the book Trace Your Irish Ancestors, author being a Seán E. Quinn.  

In Ireland earlier this year when visiting my second cousin John Martin at "Kelloges", he produced the book and I noted Seán's home telephone number.

When I arrived home, I telephoned Seán and as soon as I mentioned Red Harry and that he was my grandfather and that I had been visiting Buncrana, Seán averred that we were cousins.   After careful explanations it would appear that we would actually be third cousins.   He has two Henry McLaughlin's in his forebears and one was a ‘Red Henry’.  I have a sneaky feeling that his Red Henry and Old Tom McLaughlin were brothers - or perhaps that is another story?

August 2001

I believe this information needs a little updating.   First; my oldest daughter Anne married Martin McDonald on the 5^th September 1991.   They have two children; Paul Michael McDonald; born on 17^th December 1994.   Paul is now in Primary 3 at the local school, Our Lady of the Missions starting his third year on Monday 20^th October in the year 2001 despite the fact that he is not yet 7 years old.  Reports from the school are very favourable; his reading skills appear to be away ahead of most pupils.  This is no doubt from the attention given at an early stage by his Granny and Mum, the two Annes.  Paul loves his photograph to be taken, he has a very disarming smile; indeed he is a right wee poser. Eilidh MarieAnne McDonald; born was on 8^th October1998.   The name MarieAnne is a combination of Martin’s mother’s name and my own wife’s.   Eilidh is full of life, has what I would describe as a very hearty, earthy chuckle, sometimes moody but nevertheless full of beans and very energetic.  When I baby-sit, sitting on a settee at the living room window, she loves to run from one end of the through and through living/dining room jumps, takes off, twisting her body while in the air before coming to a land on my stomach.  Unlike Paul, she hates to have her photograph taken.  Paul loves to read her a story when she is in bed at night.

Anne Jnr. was made redundant when she returned to work after Eilidh was born but she is now with another Company, still an Insurance Underwriter and much happier.   I meet her occasionally when I go for an early morning paper, noticing how impeccably dressed she is in a smart business suit.   Away from work and at home, she dresses and I mean dresses down.  A bit of a chip off the old block.  Martin works in Information Technology.  His dresses well in a suit for business, smart but casual after work The McDonalds live fairly near our home.   Martin is at present studying for an extra qualification.

My third daughter Frances was the second to get married, marrying a colleague William McKissock on the      1^st September 1994.   The are both police officers.  Frances was recently promoted Acting Sergeant.   Robert William McKissock, their son was born on 26^th July 1999.   He apparently was named after me and his father but his dad avers that he was named after the two greatest Scottish heroes, Robert the Bruce and William Wallace.   They live 2½ miles from our home.   William (Willie) was recently presented with his long service medal having served 24 years with the police.   Frances at this stage is a Patrol Sergeant working shifts while, Willie works in Information Technology within the Police.  He and Martin have a great rapport when discussing computers and the problems that can arise.  Both Frances and Willie dress well while at work and look well in casual clothes after work.   Grandson Robert is a bit of a chip off the old block, normally dressed in a similar fashion as his father. If dad in denim jacket and jeans, Robert is not that far away.

Clare, No. 2 (a Practice Nurse) married Philip Birschel on the 21^st March 1998.   Their daughter, Iona Elizabeth, born on 4^th February 2000.   Philip is hospital doctor, now about to start a 5-year rotation covering three hospitals in the northeast of England.   They live in the Newcastle area.   Because of the distance away we do not see them as much as the other family members.

Julie, No. 4.   Still single, dresses impeccably whether at business or not. She is still keeping an almighty grin on my face.  (She knows why).

My sister Betty in America officially retired from her job in the University of Oregon when she reached her 60^th birthday in December 1997.   She however works part time in a local bank and in the evening, helps out at a local theatre complex.   He daughter Lisa, whose health has suffered in the past appears to be on the mend and is back staying with her mother in Eugene.   Her son Iain is working in the Computer Industry in Seattle, in Washington State.

My younger brother Tommy is still in the West end of Glasgow.   He is still unemployed.   His wife Catriona does not keep good health.   His daughter “Big” Eilidh (she is under 5 feet tall), not to be confused with Anne junior’s daughter has recently graduated from University.   His son Robert has recently started on a college course and hopes to find employment in the media when he qualifies.

What of Anne and me.   Now that we are both retired and of an age where we have our cheap, local travel card, we travel at our will.   We still travel to America to see my sister Betty every two years. Earlier on this year we spent two weeks in Tenerife in the Canary Islands, in July we went on pilgrimage and spent a week in Lourdes in the South of France were we helped to look after a very charming Italian couple, Nell (89) and Louis (86) Franchi, who incidentally were both born in Scotland.

Next month, we are heading for Ireland where the first stop will of course be Buncrana in Donegal and a visit to the Martins’ at “Keeloges”.   I hope to find a little more about my Irish forebears. 

We will go on a circular tour of Ireland finishing off our stay in the Dublin area.