Introduction
Genealogy, or to use a better term, Family History, is a fascinating hobby. I think it is best described as a never- ending jigsaw. It can be very frustrating as often information is elusive and luck is required in addition to hard work. For me Family History has to be a lot more than just finding out the names of direct ancestors. The real joy is in finding out how they lived, and what happened in their lifetimes. Effectively then Family History is social history as it applied to my ancestry and its almost unique to me, and only shared in full with my brother.
For most ordinary people it becomes difficult to trace ancestors born before 1750. This is purely because in many cases records beyond that don't exist. Civil Registration, i.e. Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates started in England in 1837, in Scotland in 1855 and in Ireland a little later. Beyond that period we rely mainly on Church Parish records. Censuses are also a great source of information and the first census to provide names of ordinary people by address was in 1841. However the information requested on that census was minimal compared to later censuses. Public access is only allowed to censuses after 100 years has passed, so now in 2008, the latest census available to the public is that of 1901. Few Highland parishes kept records of births and marriages before 1750, and it is rare in Scotland for churches to keep records of deaths. In some ways then it can be a matter of luck, depending on where your ancestors were born. For Ireland most records were destroyed and I am half Irish by blood
To give an example of how difficult it could be to trace an ancestor, consider someone in the future trying to trace my life history, and starting only with my birth certificate. It would show born 1944 in Duke St Hospital and home address Colbert St. Bridgeton, Glasgow. The first census I would appear on would be 1951 when I lived in the Gorbals of Glasgow and it would show I had a brother born 1949. The next census would show me living in Eastwood Glasgow in 1961. If someone got that far they would have had to search a lot of the Glasgow records and it would not have been easy.
Would they then have found my marriage certificate in Birmingham in 1966? Would they then think of searching Newton Heath in Manchester on the 1971 census when I would then show as married and having three children? Only on the next three censuses in 1981, 1991 and 2001 I would show as living at this address now in Failsworth.
One thing Family History does help with, certainly in my case, is tolerance. When I look at my ancestry I found that its very possible my ancestors were on opposing factions in the past. Most people have heard of the massacre of Glencoe when the Campbells slaughtered the McDonalds, well I have both Campbells and McDonalds in my ancestry. Some from Clan McIntosh fought on the side of the Jacobites at Culloden, but I don’t think any of mine, but again it was the Campbells who fought on the side of the Government. When Bonny Prince Charlie brought his army to Glasgow it was probable that my Horn, Lang and Craig ancestors from Glasgow viewed them as savage Highlanders, as in the main, the Lowlanders were on the side of the Government, and they certainly did not want a Catholic Monarchy restored. More than likely both the Langs and the Horns originated in Germany or the Netherlands. I have ancestors from London who would have thought all Scots uncouth savages. Until and including my paternal grandfathers generation all of my Argyll ancestry spoke English only as a second language and they would have viewed the rest as Sassenachs (southerners).
I have the most Scottish of names, Duncan Craig McIntosh, however by blood, if not by birth, I am probably 50% Irish, and I also have around 12.5% English blood to add to the mixture. My mothers’ ancestry reads like an Irish telephone book. Even although both my maternal grandparents were born in Scotland and also two of my maternal Great Grandparents, until my parents married my mothers ancestors all married within other Irish immigrant families. In fact for some of my cousins, and their children and grandchildren, this is still the case and they have not married outside of the Catholic Irish community until this day. Some, and maybe all, would consider themselves as Irish as they are Scottish, even although they had not been Irish born for generations.
Largely due to An Gorta Mor, (Literally the Big Hunger) or as it is more commonly known, the Potato Famine, all of my Irish ancestry had arrived in Scotland by 1850-1855. Most of my Irish ancestors were Irish Catholic but my McTear line were Irish Protestant, and maybe even Orange, until my Great Grandmother Elizabeth McTear married the Catholic Martin Hackett in Glasgow in 1877.
THE HACKETTS
We trace the Hacketts back to around between 1740-1760 to the parish of Templecarn, Pettigo in Fermanagh. This is a little town on the border of Donegal and Fermanagh in the Irish Lake District between Lough Derg and Lower Lough Erne. Templecarn or in Gaelic, Teampall an Chairn, meaning the church of the burial ground, was built on an ancient centre of paganism. It is said this area was the last stronghold of the Druids in Ireland. It is also locally associated with both St Patrick and St Davog of Glenderg. Local history claims that it was from Lough Derg that St Patrick drove all the serpents and snakes from Ireland. The analogy is clear in that the snakes and serpents represent the end of the age of the pagans and druids and the beginning of Christianity.
The book by Samuel Burdy "THE LIFE OF PHILLIP SKELTON" published in 1792 gives a good account of conditions in Pettigo in the period 1750-1759 when Skelton was a rector in the parish. He describes Pettigo as follows, "In Pettigo the greater number of the inhabitants were poor Catholics living in wretched hovels among barren rocks and heath" He goes on to describe how there were innumerable private stills that made whiskey both cheap and plentiful. This, he said, caused the people to be addicted to drunkenness and that this applied equally to both Catholic and Protestant populations. At burials in particular he said they came from all quarters of the parish where they drank gallons of strong whiskey and ended up fighting in the field next to the churchyard, and that many were killed at such meetings. Skelton said they poured whiskey down their throats like cold water and often as much as 20 gallons of whiskey were drunk at such funerals.
There were serious famines in Pettigo in 1757 and again in 1771 but even in the best of years the diet of the population consisted mainly of potatoes, oaten meal, butter and milk and even by 1840 it was rare that ordinary people had meat to eat, other than on festive occasions. The Rev. William Ingram also gave an account of the parish when he served there from 1809-29. He mentions the exceptionally good health of the population despite the basic diet and squalid conditions. He noted that there were about 280 families of Protestants and 209 families of Catholics and he said that an average of six to each family gave a population just short of 3,000 for the area. He said that whilst there were only 3 inns in the area there was in addition a considerable amount of sheebeens (illegal drinking dens). Pettigo also had two Orange Lodges both formed in 1796.
Yet another account of Pettigo was given in 1835, which describes it as a neat little village. However despite the fact that a new road from Donegal to Enniskillen now ran through the town it was still remote. It was some distance away from regular markets and the town had few roads leading to anywhere else. There were only nine annual fairs in Pettigo and three Marga mores (large market days) held on All Saints Day, Christmas and Lent. The district was described as wretchedly behind in the three great causes of national prosperity, these being: agricultural improvements, manufacture and commerce. The author also blamed absentee landlords for the poor condition of the town. However again the population is described as being healthy to an uncommon degree, so much so that a physician or even an apothecary would find it impossible to support himself by his practice.
As in virtually all of Ireland the Pettigo area was struck badly by the failure of the potato crop in the autumn of 1846 due to potato blight. This became known as the Potato Famine or in Irish as An Gorta Mor (The Great Hunger) Robert Read quotes conditions in Pettigo were better than many other parts of Ireland but also that by 1847 how an normally very healthy population fell foul of disease due to malnutrition. He describes how many died of fever and dysentery being totally unprepared for the disaster. It was in this period that the already high emigration of Irish to Great Britain and USA turned into a deluge. Our Hacketts were no exception and in the next chapters we will tell their story. Like so many from the north of Ireland they headed for Glasgow where already by 1841 16% of the population were Irish born.
Martin Hackett (1785-1869) & Catherine Reilly (abt.1802-1870)
I know only of one child of Martin Hackett and Margaret Flannigan, my 4x Great Grandparents, and he is their son and my 3xGreat Granddfather, Martin Hackett. He was born in Templecarn, Pettigo Fermanagh, Ireland, around 1785.(Even today Pettigo cannot quite make up its mind whether it is in Donegal or Fermanagh and is very much a border town and it seems the town is split between the two counties.) In all probability Martin had several brothers and sisters of whom I am unaware. From Martins' birth date I can only estimate that his parents were born between 1740-1760. Martin Hackett senior was described as a farmer on his sons death certificate in 1869,but more likely he was either a farm labourer or he worked a very small piece of land. The family was Roman Catholic and this increases the probability that they were relatively poor. It is also likely that they spoke Irish Gaelic and English was a second language to them.
My first real knowledge of my Hackett ancestry begins when Martin Hackett my 3xGreat Grandfather joined the 69th Ft at Wexford on the 19th October 1807. Why he joined at Wexford in the south east of Ireland and not in Fermanagh I don't know. I can only guess that Wexford was the main recruitment area for that regiment, and was where all Irish recruits sailed to England. Ireland had joined the UK in 1801 making it the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and because of poor conditions there many Irish joined the British Army. In fact at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 it is said that some 40% of the British Army were Irish. In those days when you joined the Army it was for life or until the Army had no further need of you. Martin then went for basic training somewhere in England and by 25th Dec 1808 he was in India at Camp Carroncordgoody. It was 15 years before he saw Ireland again and whether his parents were alive when he returned we can only guess.
The 69th Ft. is now part of the Welch Regiment. They were originally the 2nd battalion of the 14th South Lincolnshires and were raised in 1756. They became the 69th in 1758 and are nicknamed the Ups and Downs and the Agememnons. They have battle honours in St Vincent, Bourbon, Java, Waterloo and India. I don't know what battles, if any, Martin fought in but he certainly served in many parts of India and in Java.
You can see the details of Martins' Army service in the appendices but I will quickly mention here some of the places he was stationed. Martin served in Goa, Java, Hyderabad and Madras to name but some of the places. What is noticeable when you look at Martin’s Army record is the amount of time he spent at sea whilst on Army service. I was puzzled until after I did some research on his Regiment and found out that the 69th Foot were a marine regiment of soldiers, who spent a lot of time at sea in preparation for action as they went from one trouble spot to another. They were therefore a true marine regiment and, in effect, both soldiers and sailors.
He was promoted to corporal in 1815 whilst in Bellary and to store sergeant in 1821 whilst in Poonamallee. In 1820 Martin spent three months in Madras giving evidence to the Supreme Court of Judiature. I cant help but wonder what that trial was all about. What is absolutely certain is that Martin must have had both wonderful and terrible experiences whilst serving in the sub continent, and one day I hope to explore his Army career in more depth.
On 1st Feb 1823 Martin embarked for Europe to join the regimental depot. On the 1st August he joined the Albany Barracks from Chatham. He then went on furlough from the 31st August to the 31st December. It is at this point we have to speculate what happened next, as there are several possibilities. We do know that Martin returned to Portsmouth on the 25th December 1823 where he was regimental sergeant for recruitment until January 1824. We also know that from the 25th February 1824 until the 31st July 1824 that Martin was invalided at Chatham. Whether this illness was due to an accident or to some tropical disease or even some illness picked up on Furlough we just don't know.
We do know he was pensioned off from the Army on the 7th February 1824 at Portsmouth, presumably whilst still an invalid. It was on his discharge papers that we get that rarity in genealogy when we have a full physical description of him. He was described as being 5'5" tall of dark complexion, with hazel eyes and black hair. These particular genes carried on to my mother who always said she had gypsy blood in her veins. I suppose Martin today would be described as one of the Black Irish. Certainly Martin would have been described as, of at least, average height in that era as some recruitment posters of the period stated 5'2" as being the minimum height requirement to join the Army.
The real puzzle begins when we discover that Martins' first son, Francis Moira Hackett, my 2xGreat Grandfather was born at sea around 1823-24 off the coast of England. We cannot be more precise than that as no record has been found of his birth, however throughout his life Francis's age on censuses points to 1823 as being the year he was born. There are three main possibilities. The first is that young Francis was born at sea on the ship that took Martin back from India. This would have meant that Martin met Catherine Reilly whilst in India, but as it was rare for ordinary soldiers to have married abroad I tend to discount this possibility. In fact in those days soldiers could not marry without gaining permission from the regiment. The second option is that Martin met Catherine Reilly whilst he was on furlough from 31st August - 31st December 1823, and that Catherine was on a ship from Ireland to join Martin in England when the baby was born. The third possibility, and the one I favour, is that Francis was born at sea whilst both Martin and Catherine were returning to Ireland after Martin left the Army. If nothing else it would prove they were desperate not to have Francis English born.
My own guess is that he met his wife whilst on furlough and most probably, she, Catherine Reilly, my 3xGreat Grandmother was also from Fermanagh, and that Francis was born 1824. Catherine was born in Ireland around 1800, the daughter of Hugh Reilly and Margaret Haggerty, my 4x Great Grandparents. As with Martin’s parents all I really know of Hugh Reilly and Margaret Haggerty are their names. Catherine was therefore some 15 years younger than her husband Martin. It is of course possible that Martin met Catherine in India, or in Chatham and Hugh Reilly and Margaret Haggerty, her parents and my 4xGreat Grandparents were stationed there but as I said I think not.
What we do know is that Martin and Catherine returned to Ireland after Martin was discharged from the Army. We also know that in 1826 son Martin was born in Ireland, and then Margaret in 1830, Catherine in 1833, MaryAnne in 1836, Samuel in 1838 and Elinor Jane in 1840. There could have been more but those are the only children I am whom I am aware. We do know that Martin had his Army pension of 1/7 per day (about 8 pence) paid in Fermanagh from 1842-1846 until it was changed to being paid in Glasgow District 1 on 31st December 1846. Whether the family returned to Fermanagh in 1824 I don't know and neither can we be certain they ever returned to Pettigo, as I cannot trace the Army pension beyond 1842. My guess is that they did and by this time Martins parents would have either been dead or very old. It is possible that Catherine Reilly's parents were younger and therefore are more likely to have still been alive at this time. However I have no evidence at all of either set of parents leaving Ireland but it is possible the Reillys left with the Hacketts to go to Glasgow.
It must have been a considerable culture shock for the Hackett family leaving the rural squalor of Fermanagh to settle in the rapidly growing city of Glasgow, which to the Hacketts must have seemed massive. We can say that parts of Glasgow were no less squalid than Fermanagh as the Chadwick Report of 1842 had condemned Glasgow as the most insanitary town in Britain. There were Typhus epidemics (unkindly called “Irish Fever”) in Glasgow in 1832, 1837, and also in 1847, just a year after the Hacketts arrived in Glasgow, and yet again in 1851-52. There were Cholera epidemics in 1832, 1848-49, and 1853-54. The main cause of this was the overcrowding into tiny flats without sanitation. The River Clyde was not only the source of drinking water, but it was also the bathing area and the sewer. The City Fathers were moved to begin the Loch Katrine project to bring fresh drinking water to the city.
In the late 1840’s and until much later there was only one drain in Main Street Bridgeton, and that was open, and run down the middle of the street for its whole length, until the raw sewage ran into the Clyde at Rutherglen Bridge. The stench from that drain alone must have been horrendous and remember most buildings at that time, never mind the individual tenement flats, did not have toilets. It was later when tenement flats began to have shared toilets on landings, and some tenements never had inside toilets. Most never ever had baths inside. Thankfully most of these tenement buildings were demolished between the 1950’s and the 1970’s.
In 1848, a few years after the Hacketts arrived in Bridgeton, there were Bread Riots in Glasgow. - Mr. Wallace, in his interesting "History of Glasgow," gives a graphic description of these riots. When they took place it was the general opinion that the rioters were more bent on plunder than anxious to obtain the staff of life, but to a large extent they succeeded in both their aims.
Their leaders at meetings held on Glasgow Green fired their minds with dangerous ideas as to the rights of men to take what was not theirs, and the result was that the bazaar suffered much from the outbreak of these frenzied men. Wherever the rioters went the people trembled for their lives and property, and in the conflict blood was shed in Bridgeton, and Mr. Alexander, shopkeeper, died from the wounds he received. I saw a gang of the rioters when at the height of their fiendish work in the Trongate and Argyle Streets. Many windows were broken and their contents carried off. The authorities had to pay £7,000 as compensation to the sufferers from the riots. ( That is a huge amount of money by todays standards, so the damage must have been extensive and considerable)
It was also in 1842 that the rail link between Edinburgh and Glasgow opened. However at this stage trains ran very slowly and it would have taken up to 4 hours to travel between Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The population of Glasgow by 1841 was 270,000 and some 16% of these were Irish born. Already, what is now called “Paddies Market “ near the Saltmarket, was flourishing and was then called “the Irish Market” as all kinds of Irish goods were sold there. Remember this is before the worst Potato Famine years, from 1846, when the mass exodus from Ireland took place. You can imagine then that the Irish were not popular amongst the indigenous Scots and there were many complaints then similar to those made about todays immigrants to the UK.
By 1846 Martin Hackett was 61 years of age and Catherine 46 so it could not have been easy moving to a new country with a large family. It might have been made easier that son Francis was 22 and Martin 19 and thus able to earn wages. Margaret was 15, Catherine 13, MaryAnne 10, Samuel 8 and Elinor Jane only 6. The family settled in the East End of Glasgow and we know by 1851 they were living at 206, Main St. Bridgeton. We also know that by 1851 sons Francis and Martin were both married and it is possible that they had arrived in Glasgow before the rest of the family. It is also possible, and in fact I think likely, that Martin and Catherine already had other relations in Glasgow and certainly by 1851 there were a few Hackett families living in the Calton and in Bridgeton. To date however I have been unable to make any connections with other Hackett families to our own. Bridgeton was not officially part of Glasgow until 1847, when it was annexed by the City of Glasgow. We can say then that the Hacketts have been in Glasgow as long as Bridgeton has been in Glasgow.
When we think of todays drug culture and teenage violence it is hard to imagine that even the most violent towns of today were tame compared to average city living in the 19th Century. Then it really was dangerous to walk the streets, particularly at nights, as there was no street lighting until late in the 19th century. Bridgeton only had police from 1847 when it became part of Glasgow and even the more developed adjoining village of Calton had few police in those days and Calton is now virtually in the centre of Glasgow. Calton was and still is an Irish quarter and from the 1840’s a Catholic Irish quarter of Glasgow. It is certain our Hacketts spent a lot of time in Calton in those days.
There were many attempts by the authorities to civilise the population. Alcohol was seen as a main cause of much of the violence and there were many Temperance Societies trying to highlight the evils of drinking too much. Below is an advert which was posted in a Coffee Shop that was once a whisky shop in the Calton, or pub as we would call it today, It is a clever advertisement that lets the coffee shop tell its story of how it was reformed from a Dram Shop. (Notice the language is in Scots)
WONDER, A WONDER, A WONDER FOR TO SEE! A BRAW COFFEE-HOUSE WHAUR A DRAM-SHOP USED TO BE!
FREENS AN' FELLOW-CEETIZENS IN GENERAL!
AN' YOU FOKE ABOOT THE FUT-O' THE SAUTMARKET IN PARTIK'LAR! WILL YE SPEAK A WORD WI' ME?
I'm an auld WHISKY-SHOP; I'm an Interestin' relick o' anshient times, and mainners. Maybe sum o' ye dinna ken what a Whisky-Shop is. I'll tell ye. In anshient times - lang before puir Workin' Foke were sae wise or weel daein' as they are noo-a-days - the Glaiska Foke, an' partik'larly the Foke about the fut a' the SAUTMARKET, were awful fond o' WHISKY. This WHISKY was a sort o' DEEVIL'S DRINK, made out o' GOD'S gude BARLEY.
It robbit men o' their judgment; But they drank it. It robbie them o' their nait'ral affeckshun; But they drank it. It rabbit them o' independence an' self-respeck; But they drank it. It made them mean, unmanly, disgustin' wretches; But they drank it. It made them savage an' quarrelsorne; But they drank it. It cled them wi' rags; But they drank it. It made them live in low, filthy dens o' hooses; But they drank it. It sent them in scores to the Poleece Office; But they drank it. It sent them to the Jail, the Hulks, an' the Gallows; But they drank it. Bailies an' Shirrifs, Judges an' Justices, deplored its effecks; But they drank it themsel's! Ministers preach'd aboot it; But they drank it themsel's! It blottit oot God's glorious image frae men's faces an' hearts; But they drank it. It made them beggars; But they drank it. It made them paupers; But they drank it. It made them idiots; But they drank it.
This WHISKY, then, wuz selt in Shops, an 1 wuz ane a' them, - that'll let ye ken what a Whisky-Shop wuz in anshient times. TIMES ARE CHANGED NOO. Every body's a member o'the Scottish Temperance League; naebody drinks anything but Coffee; so I've ta'en up the Coffee-House line mysel'! Come and see me! Ye'll get Rowsin' Cups o' Coffee! Thumpin' Cups o' Tea! Thund'rin' Dunts a' Bread! Whangs a' Cheese! Lots o' Ham an' Eggs, Staiks, Chops, an' a' ither kinds o' Substanshials! FREENS AN' FELLOW-CEETIZENS. - I'm no the Shop I ance wuz. I've a blythe heart an' a cheery face noo. Come an' see me!
THE REFORMED DRAM SHOP, 20 JAIL SQUARE.
OBSERVE. - Nae Connexion wi' the JAIL owre the way.
Even as early as 1830, we could see the signs of the sectarianism that plagues Bridgeton to this day, as by then Main Street had already been built upon both sides with 2 and 3 storey tenements occupied by weavers, printers and other tradesmen. It boasted two separate Irish communities - "Dublin Land" near Swan's Tavern and "Wee Belfast", some two storey buildings at Ann St (later Laird St) occupied by Protestant Northern Irish weavers. This again shows that the Irish had been settling in Glasgow in significant numbers long before the Potato Famine.
On the 1851 census Martin shows as being 65 and a Chelsea Pensioner His wife Catherine shows as 51 and still at home were Margaret 21, Catherine 18, Mary Anne 15, Samuel 13 and Ellinor Jane at 11. I am not sure if Martin worked in this period but by this time Margaret, Catherine and MaryAnne and even the 13 year old Samuel, would all have been earning wages in addition to Martins' Army pension.
In 1851 we see the start of the next generation of Hacketts when granddaughter Sophie was born to son Francis and Susan Kean, but sadly the young baby died before 1855. In 1852 my Great Grandfather, Martin Hackett was born, again to Francis and Susan Kean and their 3rd child Catherine was born in 1856. Also in 1856 Martin and Mary McDade had their first child, who was also named Martin, and in the following year they had another son they named Francis.
There must have been a whooping cough epidemic in 1857 as three of this young Hackett generation died of the disease in the next twelve months. Both of son Martins young children died as did young Catherine the third child of Francis. In 1859 Patrick the fourth child of son Francis died at only five days old. It is probably too that by the end of the decade Martins' older daughters were also married and had children and maybe they lost some too. Even when we know that child mortality was much worse in the 19th Century than it is today it is hard to imagine such tragedy within one family. All of these children and many other Hacketts to follow were buried at Dalbeth, which opened soon after 1851, and perhaps young Sophie Hackett was amongst the first to be buried there. This was officially called St Peters Cemetery but to Glaswegians it is known just as Dalbeth the Catholic Cemetery.
In 1861 the family were still living at 206,Main St and Martin shows as being 74 years old on the census and his wife Catherine as 61. Still at home are his children Samuel showing as 21 years old and Jane showing as 19. Also in 1861 son Francis had yet another child whom they called Elinor Jane, but she too died the following year of bronchitus.
The last public hanging in Glasgow was in 1865. I wonder if any of the Hacketts watched that spectacle? Certainly The Gallowgate was just about a mile away from their house in Main Street and no more than a 15-minute walk from Bridgeton. This last public hanging attracted an audience of over 100,000 people. They had come to watch Dr. Pritchard swing for the murder of his wife and mother-in-law. There are still men who believe it was a miscarriage of justice.
The only Glasgow address that I have found for Martin and Catherine was 206, Main St Bridgeton and I know Martin lived there from at least 1851 until he died on 21st April 1869. For a family living in Glasgow that is indeed unusual as most seemed to flit (move house) often, as you will see in later stories. Martin died of paralysis after a four- year illness. On Martins' death certificate his age was given as 62 which is obviously wrong as this would have meant he joined the Army when he was one year old. The informant on the death certificate was his oldest son Francis who, unlike his father, had never learned to read and write.
Catherine Reilly died the following year of asthma and the address given was 61, Brown St, next door to son Francis. The informant was a Miles Kelly, son in law, so presumably one of the daughters married a Kelly. I know another daughter married a Dougan and the youngest Elinor Jane married Samuel Ferguson. I found no trace at all of son Martin Hackett after 1858.
Chronology Martin Hackett 1785-1869
1785 Martin born around this time to Martin Hackett and Margaret Flannigan From enlistment papers born Parish of Templecarn, Pettigo, Fermanagh. Description is given as 5'5" tall hazel eyes black hair and dark complexion (from army discharge papers)
1807 Joined 69th Ft. at Wexford 19th Oct.
1808 25th Dec. -24thJan 1809 Volunteer from England at Camp Carroncordgoody India
1809 At Camp Peremadon 24th Jan-24th Feb., 25th Feb -24th Mar. Camp Nargum
25th March-24th Apr at Camp Negamangullon, 25th Apr.-24th June at Wallagahbad
25th Jun- 24th July at Camp New St Thomas Mount,
1809-10 25th July- 24th June 1810 Fort St George Madras
1810 25th June- 18th Sep Camp near St Pauls, 25th Oct 24th Jan 1811 At sea HMS Mysore
1811 25th Jan -24th March Camp near Madras, 25th March -24th July at sea on board the Asia
25th July -24th Aug Wellerorden ,Isle of Java, 25th Aug -24th Sep Cornelius Isle of Java .
25th Sep - 24th Nov at sea on board the Asia
1812 25th Nov 1811 - 24th Feb 1813 Goa (at Queton)
1813-14 25th Feb 24th March Camp Kuala Lumpur, 25th March-24th July 1814 Seringabatan
1814 25th July-24th Aug Camp Serah,
1814-15 25th Aug -24th Aug 1815 Bellary promoted Corporal 28th June 1815
1815-16 25th Aug 24th Oct detached duty Hyderabad, 25th Oct 24th June 1816 Bellary
1816 25th June -24th Sep Detached duty Kurnool, 25th Sep-24th Oct Gooty,
1816-18 25th Oct 1816 -24th Sep 1818 Bangalore, 25th sep- 24th Oct Madoor
1818-20 25th Oct 1818- 24th Jan 1820 Cannanore
1820 25th Jan 24th Mar Giving evidence at a trial in Madras before Supreme Court of Judiature
1820-21 25th Mar 1820- 24th Sep 1821 Poonamallee, promoted Store Sergeant 19th July 1820
1820-22 25th Sep 1820- 24th Sep 1822 Cannanore
1822-23 25th April 1822-24th Jan 1823 Poonamallee
1823 1st Feb Embarked for Europe to join Regimental Depot
25th Feb- 24th July Sergeant on strength of Regimental Recruiting Company
1st Aug joined Albany Barracks from Chatham, Furlough 30th Aug 31st Dec.
1823-24 25th Dec. 1823- 24th Jan 1824 Sgt recruiting Company Portsmouth
1824 Son Francis Moira born at Sea off coast of England.
1824 25th Feb 21st July Invalid at Chatham
1824 Pensioned off from Army 7th Feb. at Portsmouth (From discharge papers)
1826 Son Martin Hugh born Ireland
1830 Daughter Margaret born Ireland
1833 Daughter Catherine born Ireland
1836 Daughter Mary Anne born Ireland
1838 Son Samuel born Ireland
1840 Daughter Ellinor Jane born Ireland
1842-46 Living in Fermanagh (WO 22/173 permanent pension 1/7 per day paid to 31/12/1846, when pension transferred to Glasgow district 1)
1847 Must assume family moved to Glasgow around this time (see Pension)
1851 Son Francis marries Susan Kean from Derry around this time
1851 Granddaugher Sophie Hackett born around this time to son Francis and Susan Kean
1851 census 206, Main St Bridgeton
Martin Hackett (H) @ 65 Chelsea Pensioner born Ireland
Catherine Hackett (W) @ 51 born Ireland
Margaret (?) (d) @ 21 born Ireland
Catherine (d) @ 18 cotton worker born Ireland
Mary Anne (d) @ 15 b Ireland
Samuel Hackett (s) @ 13 born Ireland
Ellinor J (d) @ 11 born Ireland
1852 Grandson Martin Hackett born to son Francis and Susan Kean
1854 Transferred to Pension District Glasgow 2 30th Sep. as per W.O. letter 28th June 1854
1856 Granddaughter Catherine Hackett born to son Francis and Susan Kean
1856 Grandson Martin born to son Martin and Mary McDade in November
1857 Grandson Francis born June son of Martin and Mary McDade
1857 Grandson Martin dies Jan of whooping cough son of Martin and MaryMcDade
1858 Grandson Francis dies of whooping cough Feb son of Martin and Mary McDade
1858 Granddaughter Catherine dies of whooping cough at 18 months daughter of son Francis and Susan Kean
1859 Grandson Patrick born and died five days later son of son Francis and Susan Kean
1861 Granddaughter Elinor Jane born to son Francis and Susan Kean
1861 census 206 Main St
Martin Hackett @ 74 b Ireland
Catherine Hackett @ 61 b Ireland
Samuel Hackett @ 21 b Ireland
Jane Hackett @ 19 b Ireland
1862 Granddaughter Elinor Jane dies of bronchitis aged 1 year child of son Francis and Susan Kean
1869 Died of paralysis 21April 8am. 206 Main St Bridgton 4 year illness (62 on death certificate.
Army record joined 69th foot at Wexford Ireland on 19thOct 1807 therefore born abt 1785. Place of birth Pettico in Parish of Templecarn in County of Fermagh. Reached rank of sergeant and served in India for 15 years. Pensioned off at Portsmouth 7th Feb 1824. Description given as 5'5", hazle eyes and black hair, with dark complexion. (see army discharge record) The 69th Ft. are now part of the Welch Regiment. They were originally the 2nd battalion of the 14th South Lincolnshires and were raised in 1756.
Francis Moira Hackett (1823-1896) & Susan Kean (abt 1825-1873)
Whenever I see the name Francis Moira Hackett I think of the Johnny Cash song "A BOY NAMED SUE" and like the man in the song our Francis Moria Hackett must have been a tough strong man. Much of his adult life he spent as a coal man and to do that job in the tenements of Glasgow you had to be fit. When I questioned my mother or my Aunt Elsie about the family history there was very little they could remember. However they both told me of their ancestor Francis Moira Hackett being born at sea, so clearly it was a story passed down in the family. They thought that the name Moira was the name of the ship on which he was born. I found that particular bit of family folklore to be untrue. At first I thought the name came from the Parish of Moira in County Down but then I realised that more likely it was in honour of Lord Moira who was Governor General of India whilst his father Martin was serving there.
By around 1850 Francis, now about 27 had married Susan Kean who was originally from Derry and the first child we know of was daughter Sophie who was born early that year. The family lived at 15,Dale St Bridgeton just off the Main St where Francis's parents lived. To give an idea of conditions they lived in a one room flat and had three lodgers Roseanne, Margaret and Theresa McAnulty aged 19,17 and 14 all Irish born and all cotton mill workers. Perhaps the McAnulty girls were relatives of Susan Kean or Francis but I have no knowledge that they were. We know Sophie died before 1855 and most likely she died when an infant. The following year their second child and my Great Grandfather, Martin Hackett, was born, and in 1854 they had daughter Roseanne. As Scottish Civil registration i.e. Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates did not start until 1855 I have no further information. If there is any information it will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in the Calton, which was the only Roman Catholic Church in the area at that time. St Mary’s in Abercromby St. opened in 1845.
By 1856 they had moved across the road to 18, Dale St. and it was there daughter Catherine was born on the 16th June and at this period Francis is described as a labourer. Later that year Susan Kean’s mother, and my 3xGreat Grandmother, Roseanne McMenemy died in Bridgeton at the age of 60, a widow. I really know very little about the Keans, at times spelt Kane, or the McMenemys. Her husband was called Manessah Kean, my 3xGreat Grandfather, and he had died earlier, but other than that I know nothing of them at all. The only bonus I suppose is that it is rare anyone has an ancestor called Manessah.
On 25th February 1958 young Catherine was to die of whooping cough the same illness that killed her cousin Martin Hackett, only two months old, in the January of the previous year. Her 8 month year old cousin had died of pneumonia on the 8th of that month. On Oct 1859 Francis and Susan had another child Patrick who only lived 5 days. By this time the family had moved to 60 Brown St and Francis was now working as a coal dealer. The period of tragedy had not ended for Francis and Susan as daughter Elinor Jane was born 1861 only to die in the December of 1862 from bronchitis. Susan Kean and Francis Moira Hackett had six children and only two survived beyond infanthood, the rest filled lairs in Dalbeth.
The 1861 census show the family as living at Brown St. Bridgeton- Francis Hackett aged 38 born at sea, Susan Hackett aged 31 born Ireland, Martin Hugh Hackett aged 9 born Glasgow, Roseanne Hackett aged 7 born Glasgow. It was interesting to see that son Martin was shown as having the middle name Hugh, presumably after his grandfather Hugh Reilly and the same name as his uncle.
Martin Hackett, the Chelsea Pensioner had been ill for four years so it would probably not have been a great shock to Francis when his father died on 21st April 1869 aged about 84. He died of paralysis in 206 Main St where he had lived, at least since 1851. The strange thing was his age given on the death certificate was 62. However it must have been more of a shock when the following year, on 24th June 1870, that Francis’s mother, Catherine Reilly died of asthma, in Brown St. She must have gone to live with Francis and his family after old Martin died. Francis reported both deaths and Catherine also showed as being 62 on the death certificate when in fact she was 69. That was young compared to her husband but still a very good age for people living in the Bridgeton area at that time. .
On the 1871 Census the family are shown as living at 59, Brown St. and show Francis Moira Hackett, married aged 48, a labourer, and born at sea, off coast of England. Susan Hackett (nee Kean) wife aged 44 born Derry, Ireland, Martin Hackett, son (my Great Grandfather) aged 17 Born Glasgow Lanark and Rosanne Hackett, daughter, aged 15 cotton mill worker Born Glasgow, Lanark. (It is interesting to note here that the information given on this census return was more than required. As neither Francis or Susan Kean could read and write, this must have been given by the person taking the census, or perhaps a friend, relative or priest. The rules only required those born in Scotland to give town of birth. English or Irish people, or indeed any not born in Scotland needed only to state country of birth. The same rules applied in England.) Luckily for me, trying to trace the history, on this particular census Francis chose to disclose that not only was he born at sea, but also that it was off the coast of England. Again it is only on this census that Susan Kean chose to state that place of birth was Derry. Whether this was the county of Derry or the town, I don’t know, and probably never will.
Around 1870 Francis’s sister Elinor Jane (Helen) had married a Samuel Ferguson and they had a daughter Margaret born around 1871-72. Husband Samuel must have died by some time around 1871-72, as Elinor Jane had a baby she named Helen born around March 1872, which may or may not have been Samuels. All I know is the baby Helen died in 21 George St Bridgeton aged 9 months of marasmus on Christmas Eve 1873. So that could not have been a good Christmas for the family. Elinor Jane was recorded as a cotton factory worker and widow of Samuel Ferguson and the baby was classified as illegitimate. Three months later on 22nd February 1874 another child of Elinors, Elizabeth died aged 1 month, again in George St. with no real cause of death given. All it said was died suddenly aged one month and again the baby was classified as illegitimate. Until I check when Samuel Ferguson died I cannot comment but it must have been a horrendous time for Elinor Jane and the rest of the family. To date I have found no further trace of Francis’s sister Elinor Jane but her surviving daughter Margaret was living at her cousin’s house, that is Martin Hackett, Francis’s son in 1891.
On 15th November 1873 Susan Kean (nee McMenemy) and my 2X Great Grandmother, died leaving Francis a widow. She died of asthma in Brown St at 7pm. Her son and my Great Grandfather, Martin Hackett, recorded the death. Her age was given as 41 but she was actually at least 48, but still very young. By this time the family were living at 27 Main St and Francis was working as a contractors’ labourer. I would imagine the funeral service was held in Sacred Hearts Catholic Church, which opened that year in Bridgeton in Old Dalmarnock Road, but its not the building that stands there today.
Francis’s daughter Roseanne gave birth to an illegitimate baby on the 16th May 1875. She called it Susan, after her mother, but the baby died the next day as an 8 month premature birth and was yet another Hackett child to fill Dalbeth Cemetary. Rosanne was about 19 then and she was never to marry.
On 13th July 1877 son Martin Hackett, 25 and living at 27 Dale St, and now a wood sawyer man, and Elizabeth McTear 21, living at 35 Dale St., a jute factory worker get married at Sacred Hearts Roman Catholic Church. No big deal you would think but this is the day after the 12th of July, Orangemans’ Day, and the McTear family was Protestant. The McTears were also Irish but they were Protestant Irish. It was of no surprise to me at all that Elizabeth McTear was represented by Rosanne Hackett, Martins’ sister, and not by one of her own family. Martin’s representative at the wedding was a Thomas O’Reilly, and who could well have been a cousin. Elizabeths’ parents were given as James McTear and Sarah Siman (but the correct name was probably Lemon or Lennon.) James McTear was described as a Waterworks Contractors Labourer and Francis Hackett as a Sewer Contractors Labourer, so the two father in laws may well have worked together. They would all have known one another by sight anyway at least as Dale St is just off the Main St in Bridgeton.
Suffice to say for the moment that in Glasgow and in particular in Bridgeton Catholics and Protestants did not mix well, and to inter marry was rare. As Elizabeth had, as they say in Glasgow, changed, that is she became Catholic, it would not have been so bad for them, but for the McTears, they would have viewed it as betrayal. I would not have been surprised if they had totally disowned their daughter. Certainly my grandmother told my mother that her Granny, the Protestant, Sarah Lemon, often ignored her Catholic grandchildren. However my mother also told me that her grandmother Elizabeth McTear, used to call my mother and her brother James, the little Fenians, which is strange as by then she was one herself. It is therefore difficult to say exactly what the situation was but of one thing I am certain it would have caused inter family problems, and both sides would have had to make some compromises.
Francis soon had new grandkids as son Martin and Elizabeth had a son Francis in 1878 and then another son in 1880 named James and obviously the first named after Francis and the second after James McTear.
On 11th January 1881 daughter Roseanne died of chronic bronchitis in Bell St. She was only 26 years of age and this left Martin, my great grandfather, as his only surviving child. By this time Francis was living on his own in Brown Street and son Martin was living in Bell St. close to his McTear inlaws.
In 1884 Martin and Elizabeth had twins Samuel and Patrick that brought the numbers in the new Hackett generation up to four. Francis like his father before him, at the age of 61, embarked on a new life when he married Margaret Kelly aged 44 and a spinster, in St Francis’s Roman Catholic Church in Cumberland St., Gorbals, and I can only presume he was living with her before they married as his usual address was given at 44, Lime Street in the Gorbals. Francis was working as a causewayers labourer. The witnesses were a Robert and Catherine Airy. By this time Francis had learned to write at least his name but Margaret Kelly could only sign with an X.
As yet I have no idea what happened to Margaret Kelly as I found no further trace of her, and therefore have no idea if the marriage lasted or if she died.
Heartbreak was never far away from the Hacketts and in 1886 grandson Samuel died on the 16th April aged 2 of bronchial pneumonia and less than a week later on the 22nd April his twin Martin died of Scarlatina. Its too difficult to even try to describe that situation. Certainly it must have been strange indeed when another granddaughter was born on 24th May, a month later. This was Susan my grandmother, and Granny Boyle to me.
Two more granddaughters were born in 1888 and 1890, Isabel and Sarah. By 1891 the census shows that Francis had moved in to live with his son in 12 Bell Street, Newhall, Bridgeton, and no sign of wife Margaret. However it must have been a crowded house as it shows Martin Hackett 39 coal dealer, Elizabeth Hackett 34, Francis 13, James 11, Susan 5, all scholars, Isabel 3 and Sarah 10 months. Francis Hackett 68, born at sea, British Subject and then William Thompson, boarder 24, born Glasgow, Margaret Ferguson, niece 18 born Glasgow, cotton mill worker and Jean Murphy at 22 cotton mill worker born Glasgow. All of these lived in two rooms.
In 1892 another granddaughter Agnes was born in August and she died the following year on 1st Oct aged 14 months.
1896 Francis dies 3rd Oct. of cerebral haemmorage after an illness lasting 9 days at 73 years of age and he outlived all but one of his children.
CHRONOLOGY FRANCIS MOIRA HACKETT (abt 1823-1896)
1824 Francis Moira Hackett born at sea off the English coast. .
1846 Presume Francis arrived in Glasgow with parents from Fermanagh
1851 Presume Francis married Susan Kean, born Derry, in Glasgow about this time.
1851 Daughter Sophia Hackett born.
1851 Census shows living in Bridgeton Ward 601 En 18 Pg 21 Ln 7 15, Dale St Bridgeton
Francis @ 28 (H) Mar. Labourer Born at Sea, Irish
Susan @ 26 (W) Steam Loom Weaver Born Ireland
Sophia @ 2m. (D) Born Calton Glasgow (Check age 2m or 9m?)
Rosean McAnulty (Lodger) @ 19 Steam Loom Weaver b Ireland
Margaret Jean MCAnulty (Lodger) @ 17 Worker in Cotton Mill b Ireland
Theresa McAnulty (Lodger) @ 14 " " " " " "
1852 Son Martin born.
1854 Daughter Roseanne born
1856 Daughter Catherine born 16th June. Family living at 18, Dale St.
1856 Mother in law ROSE KANE dies in Bridgeton aged 60 Francis informant.
1858 Daughter Catherine dies aged 19months of whooping cough 3am 25th Feb at 61 Brown St buried in Dalbeth
1859 Son Patrick born on 13th Oct and died on 18th Oct. By this time family living at 60, Brown St. Bridgeton and Francis is now described as a coal dealer. Son Patrick buried at Dalbeth (James Lynch undertakers)
1861 census family living at ? in Bridgeton
Francis Hackett @ 38 born at sea
Susan Hackett @ 31 born Ireland
Martin Hugh Hackett @ 9 b Glasgow
Roseanne Hackett @ 7 b Glasgow
1861 Daughter Elinor Jane born
1862 Daughter Elinor Jane dies Dec. 15th of bronchitis. Martin still described as a coal dealer and family living at 61, Brown St.
1869 Martin Hackett, father of Francis dies 21st April. aged about 80.
1870 Catherine Reilly, mother of Francis dies 24th June aged 62.
1871 Census shows family living at 59, Brown St. Calton district 85sched 61.
Francis Moira Hacket (h) mar. aged 48 labourer, born at sea, off coast of England.
Susan Hackett (wife) aged 44 born Derry, Ireland.
Martin Hackett, son aged 17 Born Glasgow Lanark
Rosanne Hackett, dau, aged 15 cotton mill worker Born Glasgow , Lanark.
1873 Susan Kean Francis's wife,dies aged 41 of asthma. Family living at 27 Main St. Bridgeton and Francis is employed as a contractors labourer.
1875 Francis's daughter Roseanne gives birth to illegitimate baby Susan Hackett on 16th May and the baby died the next day.
1877 Son Martin marries Elizabeth McTear at Sacred Hearts 13th July
1878 Grandson Francis born
1880 Grandson James born
1881 Daughter Roseanne Hackett dies 11th Jan of chronic bronchitis aged 26 address 2,Bell St
1881 Census ref. 644-1-39-5 37,Brown Street in Barony.
Francis Moira Hackett age 58 born at sea (ATS) Widow. Gen Labourer.
1884 Grandsons Martin and Samuel, twins born..
1884 Francis (61)marries Margaret Kelly (44) 4 Oct. St Francis,Gorbals address given 44 Lime St.
1886 Grandson Samuel dies 16 April aged 2 of bronchial pneuomonia
1886 Grandson Martin dies 22 April aged 2 of scarlatina.
1886 Granddaughter Susan born 21 May
1888 Granddaughter Isobel born
1890 Grandaughter Sarah born
1891 Francis living with son Martin
Census 12 Bell St Parish of Newhall (Bridgeton)
Martin Hackett (h) @ 39 coal dealer b Glasgow
Elizabeth Hackett (w) @ 34
Francis (s) scholar @ 13 b Glasgow
James (s) scholar @ 11 b Glasgow
Susan (d) scholar @ 5 b Glasgow
Isabell (d) @ 3 b Glasgow
Sarah (d) @ 10 months b. Glasgow
also Francis Hackett @ 68 Born at sea British Subject ****
also in house William Thompson (Boarder) @24 born Glasgow
Margaret Ferguson (niece) at 18 years cotton mill worker born Glasgow
Jean Murphy at 22years cotton mill worker boarder.
1892 Grandaughter Agnes born in August.
1893 Grandaughter Agnes dies Oct 1st aged 14 months
1896 Francis dies 3rd Oct. of cerebral haemmorage after an illness lasting 9 days.
MARTIN HACKETT (1852 –1915) & Elizabeth McTear (abt 1856-1923)
My Great Grandfather, Martin Hackett, was the first Hackett in my direct ancestry to be born in Scotland. It is almost certain however that he thought of himself as Irish, even although he had probably never even been in Ireland in his life. Martin was 17 when his grandfather, Martin Hackett, the soldier died in 1869 and 18 when Catherine Reilly his grandmother died. He must have known both well and heard many a story of both Ireland and India and the other places where his father Martin served. I find it so strange that these stories seemed not to have been passed on to my mothers’ generation. Maybe it was the shame of having a relative serving in the British Army. Very little was passed on at all and neither my mother nor my auntie Elsie could tell me much about the Hacketts. The story of Francis Moira Hackett being born at sea was one story they did know. Its strange but now I could tell my mother many more things about her family than she ever knew and I dare say she will have taken many family secrets to the grave that I will never find. I am sure my uncle James Boyle, my mother’s brother, would have been able to tell me much more about the family. Unfortunately he had died before I took an active interest in my Family History.
I have gone through much of Martins’ early life when I wrote about his father Francis Moira Hackett so no need to repeat it all again here in detail but I will summarise.
Martin was the only one of five brothers and sisters to live to a reasonable age. Two of his sisters and a brother had died in infancy and his other sister Rosanne died when she was only 26 years old. Many other cousins died young too so Martin was possibly the only one left to carry on the family name from his branch of the family. I know his Uncle Samuel had no children but I am not sure if his Uncle Martin had any more after two of his children died in 1858.
Martin and his wife Elizabeth McTear also lost children in infancy when twins Samuel and Martin, both aged two died in 1886 and also when they lost Agnes in 1893. I found it astonishing that the story of the deaths of the twins was not passed on to the next generation. To have two young children die within weeks of one another and then to have a new baby about five weeks later would have been enough to send most people crazy. Elizabeth and Martin must have been torn apart. That new baby was Susan Hackett or my Granny Boyle as I knew her. Maybe she was never told herself. She was born 21st May 1886 at 11 John Street Bridgeton. When Susan’s birth was registered some 3 weeks after she was born, it was registered by her father, Martin Hackett, but he gave his address as 242,Main St, Bridgeton. I am not sure if the family had moved house just after Susan was born or if she was born in the house of a friend or relative.
Sacred Heart R.C. Church in Bridgeton opened in 1873, which ironically, was the same year Glasgow Rangers the ultra Protestant football team, was founded, also in Bridgeton on the Glasgow Green. This was a Catholic Church opening in Glasgow’s Protestant heartland of Bridgeton, so I can imagine it was not popular amongst some. It was not the fine building it is now on Old Dalmarnock Road, as that was not opened until 1910.
What is very interesting is that Sacred Hearts was not, as many thought then, the first Catholic Church in Bridgeton. Back in the late 1790’s there was an influx of Catholic Highlanders, mainly McDonalds, who settled in Bridgeton to work in the cotton industry. The Highlanders only spoke Gaelic and as was said were Catholic and they all lived in close proximity to one another. This area became known as Glengarry. By 1873 the Highlanders had long dispersed into the general community but the name Glengarry stuck as an area in Bridgeton and there was, and maybe still is, a pub of that name at the corner of French Street in Bridgeton up until the 1950’s at least.
After Martin Hackett married Elizabeth McTear in Sacred Hearts in 1877,
My mother did tell me about her Orange Granny. What she could not remember was her name. I had to work it out as I researched the family tree. My Aunt Elsie also told me the story of a granny of hers who came to Saltcoats in Ayrshire from Holywood in County Down when she was two years old and that the family sold fish. Both of these stories could well fit the profile of Elizabeth McTear and I have been close to proving it but just cannot find the actual links.
1886 underground steam opens1896 electric1911 1millio90n 8n Glasgow.
1881 Census ref. 644-1-39-5 2,Bell Street, Barony.
Martin Hackett (head) 28years Coal Merchant born Glasgow
Elizabeth Hackett (Wife) 22 years born Ireland
Francis Hackett (Son) 3 years born Glasgow
James Hackett (Son) 1 year born Glasgow
John Reid (Boarder) 14 years General Servant.
1891 Census 12 Bell St Parish of Newhall (Bridgeton)
Martin Hackett (h) @ 39 coal dealer b Glasgow
Elizabeth Hackett (w) @ 34
Francis (s) scholar @ 13 b Glasgow
James (s) scholar @ 11 b Glasgow
Susan (d) scholar @ 5 b Glasgow
Isabell (d) @ 3 b Glasgow
Sarah (d) @ 10 months b. Glasgow
also Francis Hackett @ 68 Born at sea British Subject (father of Martin)
also in house William Thompson (Boarder) @24 born Glasgow
1901 family at 42,Dale St.
Martin 50 coal dealer
Bella 13
Elizabeth 43
John 2
Sarah 11
Susan 14
Sarah Mc Tear (mother in law) 63
Genealogy, or to use a better term, Family History, is a fascinating hobby. I think it is best described as a never- ending jigsaw. It can be very frustrating as often information is elusive and luck is required in addition to hard work. For me Family History has to be a lot more than just finding out the names of direct ancestors. The real joy is in finding out how they lived, and what happened in their lifetimes. Effectively then Family History is social history as it applied to my ancestry and its almost unique to me, and only shared in full with my brother.
For most ordinary people it becomes difficult to trace ancestors born before 1750. This is purely because in many cases records beyond that don't exist. Civil Registration, i.e. Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates started in England in 1837, in Scotland in 1855 and in Ireland a little later. Beyond that period we rely mainly on Church Parish records. Censuses are also a great source of information and the first census to provide names of ordinary people by address was in 1841. However the information requested on that census was minimal compared to later censuses. Public access is only allowed to censuses after 100 years has passed, so now in 2008, the latest census available to the public is that of 1901. Few Highland parishes kept records of births and marriages before 1750, and it is rare in Scotland for churches to keep records of deaths. In some ways then it can be a matter of luck, depending on where your ancestors were born. For Ireland most records were destroyed and I am half Irish by blood
To give an example of how difficult it could be to trace an ancestor, consider someone in the future trying to trace my life history, and starting only with my birth certificate. It would show born 1944 in Duke St Hospital and home address Colbert St. Bridgeton, Glasgow. The first census I would appear on would be 1951 when I lived in the Gorbals of Glasgow and it would show I had a brother born 1949. The next census would show me living in Eastwood Glasgow in 1961. If someone got that far they would have had to search a lot of the Glasgow records and it would not have been easy.
Would they then have found my marriage certificate in Birmingham in 1966? Would they then think of searching Newton Heath in Manchester on the 1971 census when I would then show as married and having three children? Only on the next three censuses in 1981, 1991 and 2001 I would show as living at this address now in Failsworth.
One thing Family History does help with, certainly in my case, is tolerance. When I look at my ancestry I found that its very possible my ancestors were on opposing factions in the past. Most people have heard of the massacre of Glencoe when the Campbells slaughtered the McDonalds, well I have both Campbells and McDonalds in my ancestry. Some from Clan McIntosh fought on the side of the Jacobites at Culloden, but I don’t think any of mine, but again it was the Campbells who fought on the side of the Government. When Bonny Prince Charlie brought his army to Glasgow it was probable that my Horn, Lang and Craig ancestors from Glasgow viewed them as savage Highlanders, as in the main, the Lowlanders were on the side of the Government, and they certainly did not want a Catholic Monarchy restored. More than likely both the Langs and the Horns originated in Germany or the Netherlands. I have ancestors from London who would have thought all Scots uncouth savages. Until and including my paternal grandfathers generation all of my Argyll ancestry spoke English only as a second language and they would have viewed the rest as Sassenachs (southerners).
I have the most Scottish of names, Duncan Craig McIntosh, however by blood, if not by birth, I am probably 50% Irish, and I also have around 12.5% English blood to add to the mixture. My mothers’ ancestry reads like an Irish telephone book. Even although both my maternal grandparents were born in Scotland and also two of my maternal Great Grandparents, until my parents married my mothers ancestors all married within other Irish immigrant families. In fact for some of my cousins, and their children and grandchildren, this is still the case and they have not married outside of the Catholic Irish community until this day. Some, and maybe all, would consider themselves as Irish as they are Scottish, even although they had not been Irish born for generations.
Largely due to An Gorta Mor, (Literally the Big Hunger) or as it is more commonly known, the Potato Famine, all of my Irish ancestry had arrived in Scotland by 1850-1855. Most of my Irish ancestors were Irish Catholic but my McTear line were Irish Protestant, and maybe even Orange, until my Great Grandmother Elizabeth McTear married the Catholic Martin Hackett in Glasgow in 1877.
THE HACKETTS
We trace the Hacketts back to around between 1740-1760 to the parish of Templecarn, Pettigo in Fermanagh. This is a little town on the border of Donegal and Fermanagh in the Irish Lake District between Lough Derg and Lower Lough Erne. Templecarn or in Gaelic, Teampall an Chairn, meaning the church of the burial ground, was built on an ancient centre of paganism. It is said this area was the last stronghold of the Druids in Ireland. It is also locally associated with both St Patrick and St Davog of Glenderg. Local history claims that it was from Lough Derg that St Patrick drove all the serpents and snakes from Ireland. The analogy is clear in that the snakes and serpents represent the end of the age of the pagans and druids and the beginning of Christianity.
The book by Samuel Burdy "THE LIFE OF PHILLIP SKELTON" published in 1792 gives a good account of conditions in Pettigo in the period 1750-1759 when Skelton was a rector in the parish. He describes Pettigo as follows, "In Pettigo the greater number of the inhabitants were poor Catholics living in wretched hovels among barren rocks and heath" He goes on to describe how there were innumerable private stills that made whiskey both cheap and plentiful. This, he said, caused the people to be addicted to drunkenness and that this applied equally to both Catholic and Protestant populations. At burials in particular he said they came from all quarters of the parish where they drank gallons of strong whiskey and ended up fighting in the field next to the churchyard, and that many were killed at such meetings. Skelton said they poured whiskey down their throats like cold water and often as much as 20 gallons of whiskey were drunk at such funerals.
There were serious famines in Pettigo in 1757 and again in 1771 but even in the best of years the diet of the population consisted mainly of potatoes, oaten meal, butter and milk and even by 1840 it was rare that ordinary people had meat to eat, other than on festive occasions. The Rev. William Ingram also gave an account of the parish when he served there from 1809-29. He mentions the exceptionally good health of the population despite the basic diet and squalid conditions. He noted that there were about 280 families of Protestants and 209 families of Catholics and he said that an average of six to each family gave a population just short of 3,000 for the area. He said that whilst there were only 3 inns in the area there was in addition a considerable amount of sheebeens (illegal drinking dens). Pettigo also had two Orange Lodges both formed in 1796.
Yet another account of Pettigo was given in 1835, which describes it as a neat little village. However despite the fact that a new road from Donegal to Enniskillen now ran through the town it was still remote. It was some distance away from regular markets and the town had few roads leading to anywhere else. There were only nine annual fairs in Pettigo and three Marga mores (large market days) held on All Saints Day, Christmas and Lent. The district was described as wretchedly behind in the three great causes of national prosperity, these being: agricultural improvements, manufacture and commerce. The author also blamed absentee landlords for the poor condition of the town. However again the population is described as being healthy to an uncommon degree, so much so that a physician or even an apothecary would find it impossible to support himself by his practice.
As in virtually all of Ireland the Pettigo area was struck badly by the failure of the potato crop in the autumn of 1846 due to potato blight. This became known as the Potato Famine or in Irish as An Gorta Mor (The Great Hunger) Robert Read quotes conditions in Pettigo were better than many other parts of Ireland but also that by 1847 how an normally very healthy population fell foul of disease due to malnutrition. He describes how many died of fever and dysentery being totally unprepared for the disaster. It was in this period that the already high emigration of Irish to Great Britain and USA turned into a deluge. Our Hacketts were no exception and in the next chapters we will tell their story. Like so many from the north of Ireland they headed for Glasgow where already by 1841 16% of the population were Irish born.
Martin Hackett (1785-1869) & Catherine Reilly (abt.1802-1870)
I know only of one child of Martin Hackett and Margaret Flannigan, my 4x Great Grandparents, and he is their son and my 3xGreat Granddfather, Martin Hackett. He was born in Templecarn, Pettigo Fermanagh, Ireland, around 1785.(Even today Pettigo cannot quite make up its mind whether it is in Donegal or Fermanagh and is very much a border town and it seems the town is split between the two counties.) In all probability Martin had several brothers and sisters of whom I am unaware. From Martins' birth date I can only estimate that his parents were born between 1740-1760. Martin Hackett senior was described as a farmer on his sons death certificate in 1869,but more likely he was either a farm labourer or he worked a very small piece of land. The family was Roman Catholic and this increases the probability that they were relatively poor. It is also likely that they spoke Irish Gaelic and English was a second language to them.
My first real knowledge of my Hackett ancestry begins when Martin Hackett my 3xGreat Grandfather joined the 69th Ft at Wexford on the 19th October 1807. Why he joined at Wexford in the south east of Ireland and not in Fermanagh I don't know. I can only guess that Wexford was the main recruitment area for that regiment, and was where all Irish recruits sailed to England. Ireland had joined the UK in 1801 making it the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and because of poor conditions there many Irish joined the British Army. In fact at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 it is said that some 40% of the British Army were Irish. In those days when you joined the Army it was for life or until the Army had no further need of you. Martin then went for basic training somewhere in England and by 25th Dec 1808 he was in India at Camp Carroncordgoody. It was 15 years before he saw Ireland again and whether his parents were alive when he returned we can only guess.
The 69th Ft. is now part of the Welch Regiment. They were originally the 2nd battalion of the 14th South Lincolnshires and were raised in 1756. They became the 69th in 1758 and are nicknamed the Ups and Downs and the Agememnons. They have battle honours in St Vincent, Bourbon, Java, Waterloo and India. I don't know what battles, if any, Martin fought in but he certainly served in many parts of India and in Java.
You can see the details of Martins' Army service in the appendices but I will quickly mention here some of the places he was stationed. Martin served in Goa, Java, Hyderabad and Madras to name but some of the places. What is noticeable when you look at Martin’s Army record is the amount of time he spent at sea whilst on Army service. I was puzzled until after I did some research on his Regiment and found out that the 69th Foot were a marine regiment of soldiers, who spent a lot of time at sea in preparation for action as they went from one trouble spot to another. They were therefore a true marine regiment and, in effect, both soldiers and sailors.
He was promoted to corporal in 1815 whilst in Bellary and to store sergeant in 1821 whilst in Poonamallee. In 1820 Martin spent three months in Madras giving evidence to the Supreme Court of Judiature. I cant help but wonder what that trial was all about. What is absolutely certain is that Martin must have had both wonderful and terrible experiences whilst serving in the sub continent, and one day I hope to explore his Army career in more depth.
On 1st Feb 1823 Martin embarked for Europe to join the regimental depot. On the 1st August he joined the Albany Barracks from Chatham. He then went on furlough from the 31st August to the 31st December. It is at this point we have to speculate what happened next, as there are several possibilities. We do know that Martin returned to Portsmouth on the 25th December 1823 where he was regimental sergeant for recruitment until January 1824. We also know that from the 25th February 1824 until the 31st July 1824 that Martin was invalided at Chatham. Whether this illness was due to an accident or to some tropical disease or even some illness picked up on Furlough we just don't know.
We do know he was pensioned off from the Army on the 7th February 1824 at Portsmouth, presumably whilst still an invalid. It was on his discharge papers that we get that rarity in genealogy when we have a full physical description of him. He was described as being 5'5" tall of dark complexion, with hazel eyes and black hair. These particular genes carried on to my mother who always said she had gypsy blood in her veins. I suppose Martin today would be described as one of the Black Irish. Certainly Martin would have been described as, of at least, average height in that era as some recruitment posters of the period stated 5'2" as being the minimum height requirement to join the Army.
The real puzzle begins when we discover that Martins' first son, Francis Moira Hackett, my 2xGreat Grandfather was born at sea around 1823-24 off the coast of England. We cannot be more precise than that as no record has been found of his birth, however throughout his life Francis's age on censuses points to 1823 as being the year he was born. There are three main possibilities. The first is that young Francis was born at sea on the ship that took Martin back from India. This would have meant that Martin met Catherine Reilly whilst in India, but as it was rare for ordinary soldiers to have married abroad I tend to discount this possibility. In fact in those days soldiers could not marry without gaining permission from the regiment. The second option is that Martin met Catherine Reilly whilst he was on furlough from 31st August - 31st December 1823, and that Catherine was on a ship from Ireland to join Martin in England when the baby was born. The third possibility, and the one I favour, is that Francis was born at sea whilst both Martin and Catherine were returning to Ireland after Martin left the Army. If nothing else it would prove they were desperate not to have Francis English born.
My own guess is that he met his wife whilst on furlough and most probably, she, Catherine Reilly, my 3xGreat Grandmother was also from Fermanagh, and that Francis was born 1824. Catherine was born in Ireland around 1800, the daughter of Hugh Reilly and Margaret Haggerty, my 4x Great Grandparents. As with Martin’s parents all I really know of Hugh Reilly and Margaret Haggerty are their names. Catherine was therefore some 15 years younger than her husband Martin. It is of course possible that Martin met Catherine in India, or in Chatham and Hugh Reilly and Margaret Haggerty, her parents and my 4xGreat Grandparents were stationed there but as I said I think not.
What we do know is that Martin and Catherine returned to Ireland after Martin was discharged from the Army. We also know that in 1826 son Martin was born in Ireland, and then Margaret in 1830, Catherine in 1833, MaryAnne in 1836, Samuel in 1838 and Elinor Jane in 1840. There could have been more but those are the only children I am whom I am aware. We do know that Martin had his Army pension of 1/7 per day (about 8 pence) paid in Fermanagh from 1842-1846 until it was changed to being paid in Glasgow District 1 on 31st December 1846. Whether the family returned to Fermanagh in 1824 I don't know and neither can we be certain they ever returned to Pettigo, as I cannot trace the Army pension beyond 1842. My guess is that they did and by this time Martins parents would have either been dead or very old. It is possible that Catherine Reilly's parents were younger and therefore are more likely to have still been alive at this time. However I have no evidence at all of either set of parents leaving Ireland but it is possible the Reillys left with the Hacketts to go to Glasgow.
It must have been a considerable culture shock for the Hackett family leaving the rural squalor of Fermanagh to settle in the rapidly growing city of Glasgow, which to the Hacketts must have seemed massive. We can say that parts of Glasgow were no less squalid than Fermanagh as the Chadwick Report of 1842 had condemned Glasgow as the most insanitary town in Britain. There were Typhus epidemics (unkindly called “Irish Fever”) in Glasgow in 1832, 1837, and also in 1847, just a year after the Hacketts arrived in Glasgow, and yet again in 1851-52. There were Cholera epidemics in 1832, 1848-49, and 1853-54. The main cause of this was the overcrowding into tiny flats without sanitation. The River Clyde was not only the source of drinking water, but it was also the bathing area and the sewer. The City Fathers were moved to begin the Loch Katrine project to bring fresh drinking water to the city.
In the late 1840’s and until much later there was only one drain in Main Street Bridgeton, and that was open, and run down the middle of the street for its whole length, until the raw sewage ran into the Clyde at Rutherglen Bridge. The stench from that drain alone must have been horrendous and remember most buildings at that time, never mind the individual tenement flats, did not have toilets. It was later when tenement flats began to have shared toilets on landings, and some tenements never had inside toilets. Most never ever had baths inside. Thankfully most of these tenement buildings were demolished between the 1950’s and the 1970’s.
In 1848, a few years after the Hacketts arrived in Bridgeton, there were Bread Riots in Glasgow. - Mr. Wallace, in his interesting "History of Glasgow," gives a graphic description of these riots. When they took place it was the general opinion that the rioters were more bent on plunder than anxious to obtain the staff of life, but to a large extent they succeeded in both their aims.
Their leaders at meetings held on Glasgow Green fired their minds with dangerous ideas as to the rights of men to take what was not theirs, and the result was that the bazaar suffered much from the outbreak of these frenzied men. Wherever the rioters went the people trembled for their lives and property, and in the conflict blood was shed in Bridgeton, and Mr. Alexander, shopkeeper, died from the wounds he received. I saw a gang of the rioters when at the height of their fiendish work in the Trongate and Argyle Streets. Many windows were broken and their contents carried off. The authorities had to pay £7,000 as compensation to the sufferers from the riots. ( That is a huge amount of money by todays standards, so the damage must have been extensive and considerable)
It was also in 1842 that the rail link between Edinburgh and Glasgow opened. However at this stage trains ran very slowly and it would have taken up to 4 hours to travel between Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The population of Glasgow by 1841 was 270,000 and some 16% of these were Irish born. Already, what is now called “Paddies Market “ near the Saltmarket, was flourishing and was then called “the Irish Market” as all kinds of Irish goods were sold there. Remember this is before the worst Potato Famine years, from 1846, when the mass exodus from Ireland took place. You can imagine then that the Irish were not popular amongst the indigenous Scots and there were many complaints then similar to those made about todays immigrants to the UK.
By 1846 Martin Hackett was 61 years of age and Catherine 46 so it could not have been easy moving to a new country with a large family. It might have been made easier that son Francis was 22 and Martin 19 and thus able to earn wages. Margaret was 15, Catherine 13, MaryAnne 10, Samuel 8 and Elinor Jane only 6. The family settled in the East End of Glasgow and we know by 1851 they were living at 206, Main St. Bridgeton. We also know that by 1851 sons Francis and Martin were both married and it is possible that they had arrived in Glasgow before the rest of the family. It is also possible, and in fact I think likely, that Martin and Catherine already had other relations in Glasgow and certainly by 1851 there were a few Hackett families living in the Calton and in Bridgeton. To date however I have been unable to make any connections with other Hackett families to our own. Bridgeton was not officially part of Glasgow until 1847, when it was annexed by the City of Glasgow. We can say then that the Hacketts have been in Glasgow as long as Bridgeton has been in Glasgow.
When we think of todays drug culture and teenage violence it is hard to imagine that even the most violent towns of today were tame compared to average city living in the 19th Century. Then it really was dangerous to walk the streets, particularly at nights, as there was no street lighting until late in the 19th century. Bridgeton only had police from 1847 when it became part of Glasgow and even the more developed adjoining village of Calton had few police in those days and Calton is now virtually in the centre of Glasgow. Calton was and still is an Irish quarter and from the 1840’s a Catholic Irish quarter of Glasgow. It is certain our Hacketts spent a lot of time in Calton in those days.
There were many attempts by the authorities to civilise the population. Alcohol was seen as a main cause of much of the violence and there were many Temperance Societies trying to highlight the evils of drinking too much. Below is an advert which was posted in a Coffee Shop that was once a whisky shop in the Calton, or pub as we would call it today, It is a clever advertisement that lets the coffee shop tell its story of how it was reformed from a Dram Shop. (Notice the language is in Scots)
WONDER, A WONDER, A WONDER FOR TO SEE! A BRAW COFFEE-HOUSE WHAUR A DRAM-SHOP USED TO BE!
FREENS AN' FELLOW-CEETIZENS IN GENERAL!
AN' YOU FOKE ABOOT THE FUT-O' THE SAUTMARKET IN PARTIK'LAR! WILL YE SPEAK A WORD WI' ME?
I'm an auld WHISKY-SHOP; I'm an Interestin' relick o' anshient times, and mainners. Maybe sum o' ye dinna ken what a Whisky-Shop is. I'll tell ye. In anshient times - lang before puir Workin' Foke were sae wise or weel daein' as they are noo-a-days - the Glaiska Foke, an' partik'larly the Foke about the fut a' the SAUTMARKET, were awful fond o' WHISKY. This WHISKY was a sort o' DEEVIL'S DRINK, made out o' GOD'S gude BARLEY.
It robbit men o' their judgment; But they drank it. It robbie them o' their nait'ral affeckshun; But they drank it. It rabbit them o' independence an' self-respeck; But they drank it. It made them mean, unmanly, disgustin' wretches; But they drank it. It made them savage an' quarrelsorne; But they drank it. It cled them wi' rags; But they drank it. It made them live in low, filthy dens o' hooses; But they drank it. It sent them in scores to the Poleece Office; But they drank it. It sent them to the Jail, the Hulks, an' the Gallows; But they drank it. Bailies an' Shirrifs, Judges an' Justices, deplored its effecks; But they drank it themsel's! Ministers preach'd aboot it; But they drank it themsel's! It blottit oot God's glorious image frae men's faces an' hearts; But they drank it. It made them beggars; But they drank it. It made them paupers; But they drank it. It made them idiots; But they drank it.
This WHISKY, then, wuz selt in Shops, an 1 wuz ane a' them, - that'll let ye ken what a Whisky-Shop wuz in anshient times. TIMES ARE CHANGED NOO. Every body's a member o'the Scottish Temperance League; naebody drinks anything but Coffee; so I've ta'en up the Coffee-House line mysel'! Come and see me! Ye'll get Rowsin' Cups o' Coffee! Thumpin' Cups o' Tea! Thund'rin' Dunts a' Bread! Whangs a' Cheese! Lots o' Ham an' Eggs, Staiks, Chops, an' a' ither kinds o' Substanshials! FREENS AN' FELLOW-CEETIZENS. - I'm no the Shop I ance wuz. I've a blythe heart an' a cheery face noo. Come an' see me!
THE REFORMED DRAM SHOP, 20 JAIL SQUARE.
OBSERVE. - Nae Connexion wi' the JAIL owre the way.
Even as early as 1830, we could see the signs of the sectarianism that plagues Bridgeton to this day, as by then Main Street had already been built upon both sides with 2 and 3 storey tenements occupied by weavers, printers and other tradesmen. It boasted two separate Irish communities - "Dublin Land" near Swan's Tavern and "Wee Belfast", some two storey buildings at Ann St (later Laird St) occupied by Protestant Northern Irish weavers. This again shows that the Irish had been settling in Glasgow in significant numbers long before the Potato Famine.
On the 1851 census Martin shows as being 65 and a Chelsea Pensioner His wife Catherine shows as 51 and still at home were Margaret 21, Catherine 18, Mary Anne 15, Samuel 13 and Ellinor Jane at 11. I am not sure if Martin worked in this period but by this time Margaret, Catherine and MaryAnne and even the 13 year old Samuel, would all have been earning wages in addition to Martins' Army pension.
In 1851 we see the start of the next generation of Hacketts when granddaughter Sophie was born to son Francis and Susan Kean, but sadly the young baby died before 1855. In 1852 my Great Grandfather, Martin Hackett was born, again to Francis and Susan Kean and their 3rd child Catherine was born in 1856. Also in 1856 Martin and Mary McDade had their first child, who was also named Martin, and in the following year they had another son they named Francis.
There must have been a whooping cough epidemic in 1857 as three of this young Hackett generation died of the disease in the next twelve months. Both of son Martins young children died as did young Catherine the third child of Francis. In 1859 Patrick the fourth child of son Francis died at only five days old. It is probably too that by the end of the decade Martins' older daughters were also married and had children and maybe they lost some too. Even when we know that child mortality was much worse in the 19th Century than it is today it is hard to imagine such tragedy within one family. All of these children and many other Hacketts to follow were buried at Dalbeth, which opened soon after 1851, and perhaps young Sophie Hackett was amongst the first to be buried there. This was officially called St Peters Cemetery but to Glaswegians it is known just as Dalbeth the Catholic Cemetery.
In 1861 the family were still living at 206,Main St and Martin shows as being 74 years old on the census and his wife Catherine as 61. Still at home are his children Samuel showing as 21 years old and Jane showing as 19. Also in 1861 son Francis had yet another child whom they called Elinor Jane, but she too died the following year of bronchitus.
The last public hanging in Glasgow was in 1865. I wonder if any of the Hacketts watched that spectacle? Certainly The Gallowgate was just about a mile away from their house in Main Street and no more than a 15-minute walk from Bridgeton. This last public hanging attracted an audience of over 100,000 people. They had come to watch Dr. Pritchard swing for the murder of his wife and mother-in-law. There are still men who believe it was a miscarriage of justice.
The only Glasgow address that I have found for Martin and Catherine was 206, Main St Bridgeton and I know Martin lived there from at least 1851 until he died on 21st April 1869. For a family living in Glasgow that is indeed unusual as most seemed to flit (move house) often, as you will see in later stories. Martin died of paralysis after a four- year illness. On Martins' death certificate his age was given as 62 which is obviously wrong as this would have meant he joined the Army when he was one year old. The informant on the death certificate was his oldest son Francis who, unlike his father, had never learned to read and write.
Catherine Reilly died the following year of asthma and the address given was 61, Brown St, next door to son Francis. The informant was a Miles Kelly, son in law, so presumably one of the daughters married a Kelly. I know another daughter married a Dougan and the youngest Elinor Jane married Samuel Ferguson. I found no trace at all of son Martin Hackett after 1858.
Chronology Martin Hackett 1785-1869
1785 Martin born around this time to Martin Hackett and Margaret Flannigan From enlistment papers born Parish of Templecarn, Pettigo, Fermanagh. Description is given as 5'5" tall hazel eyes black hair and dark complexion (from army discharge papers)
1807 Joined 69th Ft. at Wexford 19th Oct.
1808 25th Dec. -24thJan 1809 Volunteer from England at Camp Carroncordgoody India
1809 At Camp Peremadon 24th Jan-24th Feb., 25th Feb -24th Mar. Camp Nargum
25th March-24th Apr at Camp Negamangullon, 25th Apr.-24th June at Wallagahbad
25th Jun- 24th July at Camp New St Thomas Mount,
1809-10 25th July- 24th June 1810 Fort St George Madras
1810 25th June- 18th Sep Camp near St Pauls, 25th Oct 24th Jan 1811 At sea HMS Mysore
1811 25th Jan -24th March Camp near Madras, 25th March -24th July at sea on board the Asia
25th July -24th Aug Wellerorden ,Isle of Java, 25th Aug -24th Sep Cornelius Isle of Java .
25th Sep - 24th Nov at sea on board the Asia
1812 25th Nov 1811 - 24th Feb 1813 Goa (at Queton)
1813-14 25th Feb 24th March Camp Kuala Lumpur, 25th March-24th July 1814 Seringabatan
1814 25th July-24th Aug Camp Serah,
1814-15 25th Aug -24th Aug 1815 Bellary promoted Corporal 28th June 1815
1815-16 25th Aug 24th Oct detached duty Hyderabad, 25th Oct 24th June 1816 Bellary
1816 25th June -24th Sep Detached duty Kurnool, 25th Sep-24th Oct Gooty,
1816-18 25th Oct 1816 -24th Sep 1818 Bangalore, 25th sep- 24th Oct Madoor
1818-20 25th Oct 1818- 24th Jan 1820 Cannanore
1820 25th Jan 24th Mar Giving evidence at a trial in Madras before Supreme Court of Judiature
1820-21 25th Mar 1820- 24th Sep 1821 Poonamallee, promoted Store Sergeant 19th July 1820
1820-22 25th Sep 1820- 24th Sep 1822 Cannanore
1822-23 25th April 1822-24th Jan 1823 Poonamallee
1823 1st Feb Embarked for Europe to join Regimental Depot
25th Feb- 24th July Sergeant on strength of Regimental Recruiting Company
1st Aug joined Albany Barracks from Chatham, Furlough 30th Aug 31st Dec.
1823-24 25th Dec. 1823- 24th Jan 1824 Sgt recruiting Company Portsmouth
1824 Son Francis Moira born at Sea off coast of England.
1824 25th Feb 21st July Invalid at Chatham
1824 Pensioned off from Army 7th Feb. at Portsmouth (From discharge papers)
1826 Son Martin Hugh born Ireland
1830 Daughter Margaret born Ireland
1833 Daughter Catherine born Ireland
1836 Daughter Mary Anne born Ireland
1838 Son Samuel born Ireland
1840 Daughter Ellinor Jane born Ireland
1842-46 Living in Fermanagh (WO 22/173 permanent pension 1/7 per day paid to 31/12/1846, when pension transferred to Glasgow district 1)
1847 Must assume family moved to Glasgow around this time (see Pension)
1851 Son Francis marries Susan Kean from Derry around this time
1851 Granddaugher Sophie Hackett born around this time to son Francis and Susan Kean
1851 census 206, Main St Bridgeton
Martin Hackett (H) @ 65 Chelsea Pensioner born Ireland
Catherine Hackett (W) @ 51 born Ireland
Margaret (?) (d) @ 21 born Ireland
Catherine (d) @ 18 cotton worker born Ireland
Mary Anne (d) @ 15 b Ireland
Samuel Hackett (s) @ 13 born Ireland
Ellinor J (d) @ 11 born Ireland
1852 Grandson Martin Hackett born to son Francis and Susan Kean
1854 Transferred to Pension District Glasgow 2 30th Sep. as per W.O. letter 28th June 1854
1856 Granddaughter Catherine Hackett born to son Francis and Susan Kean
1856 Grandson Martin born to son Martin and Mary McDade in November
1857 Grandson Francis born June son of Martin and Mary McDade
1857 Grandson Martin dies Jan of whooping cough son of Martin and MaryMcDade
1858 Grandson Francis dies of whooping cough Feb son of Martin and Mary McDade
1858 Granddaughter Catherine dies of whooping cough at 18 months daughter of son Francis and Susan Kean
1859 Grandson Patrick born and died five days later son of son Francis and Susan Kean
1861 Granddaughter Elinor Jane born to son Francis and Susan Kean
1861 census 206 Main St
Martin Hackett @ 74 b Ireland
Catherine Hackett @ 61 b Ireland
Samuel Hackett @ 21 b Ireland
Jane Hackett @ 19 b Ireland
1862 Granddaughter Elinor Jane dies of bronchitis aged 1 year child of son Francis and Susan Kean
1869 Died of paralysis 21April 8am. 206 Main St Bridgton 4 year illness (62 on death certificate.
Army record joined 69th foot at Wexford Ireland on 19thOct 1807 therefore born abt 1785. Place of birth Pettico in Parish of Templecarn in County of Fermagh. Reached rank of sergeant and served in India for 15 years. Pensioned off at Portsmouth 7th Feb 1824. Description given as 5'5", hazle eyes and black hair, with dark complexion. (see army discharge record) The 69th Ft. are now part of the Welch Regiment. They were originally the 2nd battalion of the 14th South Lincolnshires and were raised in 1756.
Francis Moira Hackett (1823-1896) & Susan Kean (abt 1825-1873)
Whenever I see the name Francis Moira Hackett I think of the Johnny Cash song "A BOY NAMED SUE" and like the man in the song our Francis Moria Hackett must have been a tough strong man. Much of his adult life he spent as a coal man and to do that job in the tenements of Glasgow you had to be fit. When I questioned my mother or my Aunt Elsie about the family history there was very little they could remember. However they both told me of their ancestor Francis Moira Hackett being born at sea, so clearly it was a story passed down in the family. They thought that the name Moira was the name of the ship on which he was born. I found that particular bit of family folklore to be untrue. At first I thought the name came from the Parish of Moira in County Down but then I realised that more likely it was in honour of Lord Moira who was Governor General of India whilst his father Martin was serving there.
By around 1850 Francis, now about 27 had married Susan Kean who was originally from Derry and the first child we know of was daughter Sophie who was born early that year. The family lived at 15,Dale St Bridgeton just off the Main St where Francis's parents lived. To give an idea of conditions they lived in a one room flat and had three lodgers Roseanne, Margaret and Theresa McAnulty aged 19,17 and 14 all Irish born and all cotton mill workers. Perhaps the McAnulty girls were relatives of Susan Kean or Francis but I have no knowledge that they were. We know Sophie died before 1855 and most likely she died when an infant. The following year their second child and my Great Grandfather, Martin Hackett, was born, and in 1854 they had daughter Roseanne. As Scottish Civil registration i.e. Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates did not start until 1855 I have no further information. If there is any information it will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in the Calton, which was the only Roman Catholic Church in the area at that time. St Mary’s in Abercromby St. opened in 1845.
By 1856 they had moved across the road to 18, Dale St. and it was there daughter Catherine was born on the 16th June and at this period Francis is described as a labourer. Later that year Susan Kean’s mother, and my 3xGreat Grandmother, Roseanne McMenemy died in Bridgeton at the age of 60, a widow. I really know very little about the Keans, at times spelt Kane, or the McMenemys. Her husband was called Manessah Kean, my 3xGreat Grandfather, and he had died earlier, but other than that I know nothing of them at all. The only bonus I suppose is that it is rare anyone has an ancestor called Manessah.
On 25th February 1958 young Catherine was to die of whooping cough the same illness that killed her cousin Martin Hackett, only two months old, in the January of the previous year. Her 8 month year old cousin had died of pneumonia on the 8th of that month. On Oct 1859 Francis and Susan had another child Patrick who only lived 5 days. By this time the family had moved to 60 Brown St and Francis was now working as a coal dealer. The period of tragedy had not ended for Francis and Susan as daughter Elinor Jane was born 1861 only to die in the December of 1862 from bronchitis. Susan Kean and Francis Moira Hackett had six children and only two survived beyond infanthood, the rest filled lairs in Dalbeth.
The 1861 census show the family as living at Brown St. Bridgeton- Francis Hackett aged 38 born at sea, Susan Hackett aged 31 born Ireland, Martin Hugh Hackett aged 9 born Glasgow, Roseanne Hackett aged 7 born Glasgow. It was interesting to see that son Martin was shown as having the middle name Hugh, presumably after his grandfather Hugh Reilly and the same name as his uncle.
Martin Hackett, the Chelsea Pensioner had been ill for four years so it would probably not have been a great shock to Francis when his father died on 21st April 1869 aged about 84. He died of paralysis in 206 Main St where he had lived, at least since 1851. The strange thing was his age given on the death certificate was 62. However it must have been more of a shock when the following year, on 24th June 1870, that Francis’s mother, Catherine Reilly died of asthma, in Brown St. She must have gone to live with Francis and his family after old Martin died. Francis reported both deaths and Catherine also showed as being 62 on the death certificate when in fact she was 69. That was young compared to her husband but still a very good age for people living in the Bridgeton area at that time. .
On the 1871 Census the family are shown as living at 59, Brown St. and show Francis Moira Hackett, married aged 48, a labourer, and born at sea, off coast of England. Susan Hackett (nee Kean) wife aged 44 born Derry, Ireland, Martin Hackett, son (my Great Grandfather) aged 17 Born Glasgow Lanark and Rosanne Hackett, daughter, aged 15 cotton mill worker Born Glasgow, Lanark. (It is interesting to note here that the information given on this census return was more than required. As neither Francis or Susan Kean could read and write, this must have been given by the person taking the census, or perhaps a friend, relative or priest. The rules only required those born in Scotland to give town of birth. English or Irish people, or indeed any not born in Scotland needed only to state country of birth. The same rules applied in England.) Luckily for me, trying to trace the history, on this particular census Francis chose to disclose that not only was he born at sea, but also that it was off the coast of England. Again it is only on this census that Susan Kean chose to state that place of birth was Derry. Whether this was the county of Derry or the town, I don’t know, and probably never will.
Around 1870 Francis’s sister Elinor Jane (Helen) had married a Samuel Ferguson and they had a daughter Margaret born around 1871-72. Husband Samuel must have died by some time around 1871-72, as Elinor Jane had a baby she named Helen born around March 1872, which may or may not have been Samuels. All I know is the baby Helen died in 21 George St Bridgeton aged 9 months of marasmus on Christmas Eve 1873. So that could not have been a good Christmas for the family. Elinor Jane was recorded as a cotton factory worker and widow of Samuel Ferguson and the baby was classified as illegitimate. Three months later on 22nd February 1874 another child of Elinors, Elizabeth died aged 1 month, again in George St. with no real cause of death given. All it said was died suddenly aged one month and again the baby was classified as illegitimate. Until I check when Samuel Ferguson died I cannot comment but it must have been a horrendous time for Elinor Jane and the rest of the family. To date I have found no further trace of Francis’s sister Elinor Jane but her surviving daughter Margaret was living at her cousin’s house, that is Martin Hackett, Francis’s son in 1891.
On 15th November 1873 Susan Kean (nee McMenemy) and my 2X Great Grandmother, died leaving Francis a widow. She died of asthma in Brown St at 7pm. Her son and my Great Grandfather, Martin Hackett, recorded the death. Her age was given as 41 but she was actually at least 48, but still very young. By this time the family were living at 27 Main St and Francis was working as a contractors’ labourer. I would imagine the funeral service was held in Sacred Hearts Catholic Church, which opened that year in Bridgeton in Old Dalmarnock Road, but its not the building that stands there today.
Francis’s daughter Roseanne gave birth to an illegitimate baby on the 16th May 1875. She called it Susan, after her mother, but the baby died the next day as an 8 month premature birth and was yet another Hackett child to fill Dalbeth Cemetary. Rosanne was about 19 then and she was never to marry.
On 13th July 1877 son Martin Hackett, 25 and living at 27 Dale St, and now a wood sawyer man, and Elizabeth McTear 21, living at 35 Dale St., a jute factory worker get married at Sacred Hearts Roman Catholic Church. No big deal you would think but this is the day after the 12th of July, Orangemans’ Day, and the McTear family was Protestant. The McTears were also Irish but they were Protestant Irish. It was of no surprise to me at all that Elizabeth McTear was represented by Rosanne Hackett, Martins’ sister, and not by one of her own family. Martin’s representative at the wedding was a Thomas O’Reilly, and who could well have been a cousin. Elizabeths’ parents were given as James McTear and Sarah Siman (but the correct name was probably Lemon or Lennon.) James McTear was described as a Waterworks Contractors Labourer and Francis Hackett as a Sewer Contractors Labourer, so the two father in laws may well have worked together. They would all have known one another by sight anyway at least as Dale St is just off the Main St in Bridgeton.
Suffice to say for the moment that in Glasgow and in particular in Bridgeton Catholics and Protestants did not mix well, and to inter marry was rare. As Elizabeth had, as they say in Glasgow, changed, that is she became Catholic, it would not have been so bad for them, but for the McTears, they would have viewed it as betrayal. I would not have been surprised if they had totally disowned their daughter. Certainly my grandmother told my mother that her Granny, the Protestant, Sarah Lemon, often ignored her Catholic grandchildren. However my mother also told me that her grandmother Elizabeth McTear, used to call my mother and her brother James, the little Fenians, which is strange as by then she was one herself. It is therefore difficult to say exactly what the situation was but of one thing I am certain it would have caused inter family problems, and both sides would have had to make some compromises.
Francis soon had new grandkids as son Martin and Elizabeth had a son Francis in 1878 and then another son in 1880 named James and obviously the first named after Francis and the second after James McTear.
On 11th January 1881 daughter Roseanne died of chronic bronchitis in Bell St. She was only 26 years of age and this left Martin, my great grandfather, as his only surviving child. By this time Francis was living on his own in Brown Street and son Martin was living in Bell St. close to his McTear inlaws.
In 1884 Martin and Elizabeth had twins Samuel and Patrick that brought the numbers in the new Hackett generation up to four. Francis like his father before him, at the age of 61, embarked on a new life when he married Margaret Kelly aged 44 and a spinster, in St Francis’s Roman Catholic Church in Cumberland St., Gorbals, and I can only presume he was living with her before they married as his usual address was given at 44, Lime Street in the Gorbals. Francis was working as a causewayers labourer. The witnesses were a Robert and Catherine Airy. By this time Francis had learned to write at least his name but Margaret Kelly could only sign with an X.
As yet I have no idea what happened to Margaret Kelly as I found no further trace of her, and therefore have no idea if the marriage lasted or if she died.
Heartbreak was never far away from the Hacketts and in 1886 grandson Samuel died on the 16th April aged 2 of bronchial pneumonia and less than a week later on the 22nd April his twin Martin died of Scarlatina. Its too difficult to even try to describe that situation. Certainly it must have been strange indeed when another granddaughter was born on 24th May, a month later. This was Susan my grandmother, and Granny Boyle to me.
Two more granddaughters were born in 1888 and 1890, Isabel and Sarah. By 1891 the census shows that Francis had moved in to live with his son in 12 Bell Street, Newhall, Bridgeton, and no sign of wife Margaret. However it must have been a crowded house as it shows Martin Hackett 39 coal dealer, Elizabeth Hackett 34, Francis 13, James 11, Susan 5, all scholars, Isabel 3 and Sarah 10 months. Francis Hackett 68, born at sea, British Subject and then William Thompson, boarder 24, born Glasgow, Margaret Ferguson, niece 18 born Glasgow, cotton mill worker and Jean Murphy at 22 cotton mill worker born Glasgow. All of these lived in two rooms.
In 1892 another granddaughter Agnes was born in August and she died the following year on 1st Oct aged 14 months.
1896 Francis dies 3rd Oct. of cerebral haemmorage after an illness lasting 9 days at 73 years of age and he outlived all but one of his children.
CHRONOLOGY FRANCIS MOIRA HACKETT (abt 1823-1896)
1824 Francis Moira Hackett born at sea off the English coast. .
1846 Presume Francis arrived in Glasgow with parents from Fermanagh
1851 Presume Francis married Susan Kean, born Derry, in Glasgow about this time.
1851 Daughter Sophia Hackett born.
1851 Census shows living in Bridgeton Ward 601 En 18 Pg 21 Ln 7 15, Dale St Bridgeton
Francis @ 28 (H) Mar. Labourer Born at Sea, Irish
Susan @ 26 (W) Steam Loom Weaver Born Ireland
Sophia @ 2m. (D) Born Calton Glasgow (Check age 2m or 9m?)
Rosean McAnulty (Lodger) @ 19 Steam Loom Weaver b Ireland
Margaret Jean MCAnulty (Lodger) @ 17 Worker in Cotton Mill b Ireland
Theresa McAnulty (Lodger) @ 14 " " " " " "
1852 Son Martin born.
1854 Daughter Roseanne born
1856 Daughter Catherine born 16th June. Family living at 18, Dale St.
1856 Mother in law ROSE KANE dies in Bridgeton aged 60 Francis informant.
1858 Daughter Catherine dies aged 19months of whooping cough 3am 25th Feb at 61 Brown St buried in Dalbeth
1859 Son Patrick born on 13th Oct and died on 18th Oct. By this time family living at 60, Brown St. Bridgeton and Francis is now described as a coal dealer. Son Patrick buried at Dalbeth (James Lynch undertakers)
1861 census family living at ? in Bridgeton
Francis Hackett @ 38 born at sea
Susan Hackett @ 31 born Ireland
Martin Hugh Hackett @ 9 b Glasgow
Roseanne Hackett @ 7 b Glasgow
1861 Daughter Elinor Jane born
1862 Daughter Elinor Jane dies Dec. 15th of bronchitis. Martin still described as a coal dealer and family living at 61, Brown St.
1869 Martin Hackett, father of Francis dies 21st April. aged about 80.
1870 Catherine Reilly, mother of Francis dies 24th June aged 62.
1871 Census shows family living at 59, Brown St. Calton district 85sched 61.
Francis Moira Hacket (h) mar. aged 48 labourer, born at sea, off coast of England.
Susan Hackett (wife) aged 44 born Derry, Ireland.
Martin Hackett, son aged 17 Born Glasgow Lanark
Rosanne Hackett, dau, aged 15 cotton mill worker Born Glasgow , Lanark.
1873 Susan Kean Francis's wife,dies aged 41 of asthma. Family living at 27 Main St. Bridgeton and Francis is employed as a contractors labourer.
1875 Francis's daughter Roseanne gives birth to illegitimate baby Susan Hackett on 16th May and the baby died the next day.
1877 Son Martin marries Elizabeth McTear at Sacred Hearts 13th July
1878 Grandson Francis born
1880 Grandson James born
1881 Daughter Roseanne Hackett dies 11th Jan of chronic bronchitis aged 26 address 2,Bell St
1881 Census ref. 644-1-39-5 37,Brown Street in Barony.
Francis Moira Hackett age 58 born at sea (ATS) Widow. Gen Labourer.
1884 Grandsons Martin and Samuel, twins born..
1884 Francis (61)marries Margaret Kelly (44) 4 Oct. St Francis,Gorbals address given 44 Lime St.
1886 Grandson Samuel dies 16 April aged 2 of bronchial pneuomonia
1886 Grandson Martin dies 22 April aged 2 of scarlatina.
1886 Granddaughter Susan born 21 May
1888 Granddaughter Isobel born
1890 Grandaughter Sarah born
1891 Francis living with son Martin
Census 12 Bell St Parish of Newhall (Bridgeton)
Martin Hackett (h) @ 39 coal dealer b Glasgow
Elizabeth Hackett (w) @ 34
Francis (s) scholar @ 13 b Glasgow
James (s) scholar @ 11 b Glasgow
Susan (d) scholar @ 5 b Glasgow
Isabell (d) @ 3 b Glasgow
Sarah (d) @ 10 months b. Glasgow
also Francis Hackett @ 68 Born at sea British Subject ****
also in house William Thompson (Boarder) @24 born Glasgow
Margaret Ferguson (niece) at 18 years cotton mill worker born Glasgow
Jean Murphy at 22years cotton mill worker boarder.
1892 Grandaughter Agnes born in August.
1893 Grandaughter Agnes dies Oct 1st aged 14 months
1896 Francis dies 3rd Oct. of cerebral haemmorage after an illness lasting 9 days.
MARTIN HACKETT (1852 –1915) & Elizabeth McTear (abt 1856-1923)
My Great Grandfather, Martin Hackett, was the first Hackett in my direct ancestry to be born in Scotland. It is almost certain however that he thought of himself as Irish, even although he had probably never even been in Ireland in his life. Martin was 17 when his grandfather, Martin Hackett, the soldier died in 1869 and 18 when Catherine Reilly his grandmother died. He must have known both well and heard many a story of both Ireland and India and the other places where his father Martin served. I find it so strange that these stories seemed not to have been passed on to my mothers’ generation. Maybe it was the shame of having a relative serving in the British Army. Very little was passed on at all and neither my mother nor my auntie Elsie could tell me much about the Hacketts. The story of Francis Moira Hackett being born at sea was one story they did know. Its strange but now I could tell my mother many more things about her family than she ever knew and I dare say she will have taken many family secrets to the grave that I will never find. I am sure my uncle James Boyle, my mother’s brother, would have been able to tell me much more about the family. Unfortunately he had died before I took an active interest in my Family History.
I have gone through much of Martins’ early life when I wrote about his father Francis Moira Hackett so no need to repeat it all again here in detail but I will summarise.
Martin was the only one of five brothers and sisters to live to a reasonable age. Two of his sisters and a brother had died in infancy and his other sister Rosanne died when she was only 26 years old. Many other cousins died young too so Martin was possibly the only one left to carry on the family name from his branch of the family. I know his Uncle Samuel had no children but I am not sure if his Uncle Martin had any more after two of his children died in 1858.
Martin and his wife Elizabeth McTear also lost children in infancy when twins Samuel and Martin, both aged two died in 1886 and also when they lost Agnes in 1893. I found it astonishing that the story of the deaths of the twins was not passed on to the next generation. To have two young children die within weeks of one another and then to have a new baby about five weeks later would have been enough to send most people crazy. Elizabeth and Martin must have been torn apart. That new baby was Susan Hackett or my Granny Boyle as I knew her. Maybe she was never told herself. She was born 21st May 1886 at 11 John Street Bridgeton. When Susan’s birth was registered some 3 weeks after she was born, it was registered by her father, Martin Hackett, but he gave his address as 242,Main St, Bridgeton. I am not sure if the family had moved house just after Susan was born or if she was born in the house of a friend or relative.
Sacred Heart R.C. Church in Bridgeton opened in 1873, which ironically, was the same year Glasgow Rangers the ultra Protestant football team, was founded, also in Bridgeton on the Glasgow Green. This was a Catholic Church opening in Glasgow’s Protestant heartland of Bridgeton, so I can imagine it was not popular amongst some. It was not the fine building it is now on Old Dalmarnock Road, as that was not opened until 1910.
What is very interesting is that Sacred Hearts was not, as many thought then, the first Catholic Church in Bridgeton. Back in the late 1790’s there was an influx of Catholic Highlanders, mainly McDonalds, who settled in Bridgeton to work in the cotton industry. The Highlanders only spoke Gaelic and as was said were Catholic and they all lived in close proximity to one another. This area became known as Glengarry. By 1873 the Highlanders had long dispersed into the general community but the name Glengarry stuck as an area in Bridgeton and there was, and maybe still is, a pub of that name at the corner of French Street in Bridgeton up until the 1950’s at least.
After Martin Hackett married Elizabeth McTear in Sacred Hearts in 1877,
My mother did tell me about her Orange Granny. What she could not remember was her name. I had to work it out as I researched the family tree. My Aunt Elsie also told me the story of a granny of hers who came to Saltcoats in Ayrshire from Holywood in County Down when she was two years old and that the family sold fish. Both of these stories could well fit the profile of Elizabeth McTear and I have been close to proving it but just cannot find the actual links.
1886 underground steam opens1896 electric1911 1millio90n 8n Glasgow.
1881 Census ref. 644-1-39-5 2,Bell Street, Barony.
Martin Hackett (head) 28years Coal Merchant born Glasgow
Elizabeth Hackett (Wife) 22 years born Ireland
Francis Hackett (Son) 3 years born Glasgow
James Hackett (Son) 1 year born Glasgow
John Reid (Boarder) 14 years General Servant.
1891 Census 12 Bell St Parish of Newhall (Bridgeton)
Martin Hackett (h) @ 39 coal dealer b Glasgow
Elizabeth Hackett (w) @ 34
Francis (s) scholar @ 13 b Glasgow
James (s) scholar @ 11 b Glasgow
Susan (d) scholar @ 5 b Glasgow
Isabell (d) @ 3 b Glasgow
Sarah (d) @ 10 months b. Glasgow
also Francis Hackett @ 68 Born at sea British Subject (father of Martin)
also in house William Thompson (Boarder) @24 born Glasgow
1901 family at 42,Dale St.
Martin 50 coal dealer
Bella 13
Elizabeth 43
John 2
Sarah 11
Susan 14
Sarah Mc Tear (mother in law) 63
