Some Background to Jane Downs who married Timothy Chrystal Neil

I looked at the background of Jane Downs and came across her probable parents,Thomas Downs and Mary Ann Drummond:

Marriage of Thomas Downs and Mary Ann Drummond.

[source]

Thomas Downs and Mary Ann Drummond married 28th December 1888 at 24 Abbotsford Place, Glasgow after Publication according to the Forms of the Church of Scotland. He is said to be aged 23 and an Iron Turner (Journeyman) the son of Archibald Downs, Mason (Journeyman) and Robina Downs ms Chalmers (deceased). His usual residence is 21 Commercial Road, Glasgow. It is signed by Andrew Leiper Minister of Gorbals Parish and registered 31st December 1888

Mary Ann Drummond is a 22 year old French Polisher, a spinster and the daughter of John Drummond, Ironstone Labourer and Mary Ann Drummond md Gilmour. Her usual residence 15 Commercial Road, Glasgow. The witnesses are J Drummond and Nellie Brown

Children of Thomas Downs and Mary Ann Drummond.

The situation regarding the children of this couple is quite confusing. A search in the baptismal registers finds some of the children born to Thomas Downs and Mary Ann Downs ms Drummond but others were only found in the census returns. Sometimes there is an obvious death to account for a child "disappearing" and sometimes there is no clear reason.

1891 Census for Green Street, Glasgow

We find the family at the 1891 Census living at Green Street, Glasgow:

[source]

Here we can see two children and possibly a younger brother to Thomas. the first of the children is John.

John Downs 1890

I did not find a baptismal entry for John. He is not present at the next census and I found a probable burial entry for this child

[source]

This records that John Downs died aged 9 and was buried 21 Dec 1898 at St Peter's Dalbeath Cemetery. He was Roman Catholic.

Thomas Downs 1891

There was also a Thomas Downs born in 1891 according to the census but I could find nothing more about this child.

Archibald Downs 1892

I found a baptismal entry for Archibald Downs:

[source]

James Downs 1894

There was another child, James, born in 1894. Again I could not find a bapism for him but he does appear in the 1901 Census for the family when they are living at 56 Dale Street, Glasgow as we shall see shortly.

Here we find Thomas senior and Mary but neither John (born 1890 and probably died 1898) nor Thomas (born 1891) are with the family. Instead we have three new children since the previous census was taken in 1891; James, aged 7 so born circa 1894, Jane, aged 2 so born circa 1899, and Agnes aged 0 so born 1901 (perhaps)

Although Jane is the next eldest child at this census, there were two other children born between her and James.

Thomas Downs born 1896

I found the following entry:

[source]

Thomas Downs, son of Thomas Downs and Mary Ann Downs or Drummond was born 12 March 1896 and baptised 6 Apr 1896 in the parish of St Mary of the Assumption, Calton, Glasgow. However, I qlso found a possible death HERE of a Thomas Downs in 1896 aged 6 months. I do not know if this is the saem person but there is no Thomas Downs in hte household at the 1901 Census.

Edward Downs born 1897

I also found another child born before Jane, Edward Downs

[source]

Edward was born 17 July 1897 and baptised 22 July in the parish of Sacred Heart, Glasgow, Bridgetown. Unfortunately he seems to have died 21 days after his birth because we also find this entry for him in 1897 where it says he died of "debility" His baptism gives his address as 21 (?) Dale Street

[source]

We saw two other children at the 1901 Census; Jane and Agnes

Jane Downs born 1898

We find Jane Downs at both the 1901 Census and the 1911 Census. I also found her baptism

[source]

Jane Downs was born 24 Sep 1898 and baptised 26 Sep 1898 in the parish of Sacred Heart, Glasgow, Bridgetown. Her address is given as 56 Dale Street. It is Jane, of course, who went on to Marry Timothy Chrystal Neil

Agnes Downs born 1901

I found a baptism for Agnes

[source]

Agnes Downs was born 10 Oct 1900 and baptised 25 Oct 1900 in the parish of Sacred Heart, Glasgow, Bridgetown. Her address is given as 56 Dale Street

Shortly after Agnes was born, the census was taken.

[source]

Michael Downs born 1902

I found a baptism for Michael

[source]

Michael Downs was born ??Oct 1902 and baptised 17 Oct 1902 in the parish of Sacred Heart, Glasgow, Bridgetown. One of the Sponsors was Sarah Drummond. His address is given as 53 Brown Street

Mary Downs born 1903

I found a baptism for Mary

[source]

Mary Downs was born 7 Dec 1903 and baptised 10 Oct 1904 in the parish of Sacred Heart, Glasgow, Bridgetown. Her address is given as 53 Brown Street

Sarah Downs born 1905

I found a baptism for Sarah

[source]

Sarah Downs was born 10 Sep 1905 and baptised 17 Sep 1905 in the parish of Sacred Heart, Glasgow, Bridgetown. Her address is given as 23 Hozier Street

The next time we see the Downs family is at the 1911 Census when they are living at 66 Landressy Street, Calton, Glasgow

[source]

The census return shows that Thomas and Mary had been married for 24 years, and had had 11 children only 3 of whom were still living! This means that eight of their children had died by 1911

I found one other child to this couple born after the 1911 Census:

Elizabeth Downs born 1912

I found a baptism another child, Elizabeth born 1912.

[source]

Elizabeth Downs was born 24 Mar 1912 and baptised 12 Apr 1912 in the parish of Sacred Heart, Glasgow, Bridgetown. Her address given is 60 Landressy Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow

Possible Death of Sarah D Downs

It is possible that Sarah Downs died, aged 29, in 1935. An entry in the burial registers for St. Peter's, Dalbeath, records a Sarah D Downs being buried 18 July 1935

[source]

Death of Thomas Downs

Thomas Downs died aged 76 and was buried on 19 May 1942 at St Peter's Cemetry , Dalbeath

[source]

Death of Mary Ann Downs

Mary Ann Downs died a couple of years later, aged 77 years, at 61 Rumford St, Bridgeton, Glasgow. She was buried 11 February 1944 like her husband and so many of her children at St Peter's Cemetry , Dalbeath

[source]