William McClusky

   Other names for William were William McCloskie, William McLuskie and William McLusky.

  General Notes:

He was described as a "natural child" on his baptism record, which means he was illegitimate. Both parents names are recorded.

Their son William was married in a Roman Catholic Church and it is possible William and Mary were Catholics. I have not been able to locate a record of his marriage to Mary Welsh despite detailed searches of all name combinations, including in the Catholic registers in Scotland.

At the time of the 1841 Census he was recorded as McLUSKIE, living at 15 North Row in Gartsherrie, Old Monkland Parish aged 25, Occupation, Miner Ironstone. He was recorded as Scottish born but not born in the County. Living with him was his wife Mary, aged 30, recorded as not born in Scotland, but born in Ireland; son William, 5; not born in the County; son John, 2, not born in the County; and son James 8 mths, born in the County.

The only record I can find for a feasible William in the 1851 census is for William McCLUSKY living in New Dundyvan, Old Monkland, aged 32, a Broker, born Ireland. Living with him was his wife Mary, aged 42, born Ireland; children, William, 14, a scholar, John, 12 a scholar; and James 10, a scholar. All the children are recorded as born in Ireland. Living with them also was Elizabeth Forrester, 19, a house servant born in Muiravonside, Stirling. The children's names and ages are all about right and William and Mary's close, but the born in Ireland for the whole family is confusing, as is the occupation. The family composition suggests this is the right family but more work required to confirm. The Dundyvan and Gartsherrie areas of Coatbridge, Old Monkland are very close to each other.

At the time of the 1861 Census he was living at 71 Harbour St, Creetown, Kirkudbright (which is where his wife died 11 years later), was 43 years of age and a Book Canvasser. His birthplace was recorded as Penninghame, Wigtownshire. The household Head was his father in law, Richard Welsh, a pauper aged 84 years, born in Ireland. Living with him also were his wife Mary, aged 56, a Lodging House Keeper also born in Ireland; James, son aged 19, a tailor, born Coatbridge, Lanarkshire and son Joseph, aged 7, born Holytown, Lanarkshire.

I have been unable to find a record for him in the 1871 Census, but he was not living with his wife who was a Lodging House Keeper in Creetown. He was described as a "Hawker (Pauper)" on his wife's death record in 1872 so he may have been travelling. He was not deceased by this time as his wife was not described as a Widow on her death record, but he is recorded as deceased on son James' second marriage record in 1888. There is a record of the death of a William McClusky, aged 60, in Kirkcolm, Wigtown in 1879 at Scotlandspeople. However it is not he.

  Noted events in his life were:

• He resided at the time of the Census in 1841 in North Row, Old Monkland, , Lanark, Scotland.

• He resided at the time of the Census in 1861 in 71 Harbour St, Creetown, , Kirkcudbright, Scotland.

• He worked as a Miner Ironstone at the time of the Census in 1841 in Old Monkland, Coatbridge, Lanark, Scotland.

• He worked as a General Merchant on 18 Nov 1857 in Hamilton, Lanark, Scotland.

• He worked as a Book Canvasser at the time of the Census in 1861 in Creetown, , Kirkcudbright, Scotland.

• He worked as a Hawker at the time of son James' first marriage on 6 Oct 1863.

• He worked as a Hawker according to his son James' marriage certificate to Ellen Weymss.

• He worked as a Book Canvasser according to son James' Death Certificate.

William married Mary Welsh, daughter of Richard Welsh ** and Sarah Palmer **. (Mary Welsh was born about 1804-1805 in Ireland and died on 6 Jun 1872 in Harbour St, Creetown, Kirkcudbright, Scotland.). The cause of her death was Anasarca/ many months.