Genealogy Chat

Thanks so much Christine Isn't it amazing the amount of history you learn doing your family history! I've found all sorts in interesting things over the 2-3 years I've been doing this I hated it at school - all so dry, nothing exciting. But when you can connect to someone who's blood tied it brings it alive :-) I've been putting together a folder for my old Mum, so this little snippet will be added too. cheers, Sylvia

Hi Sylvia, I found this wee bit of history about the place for you In the 1850s and 1860s (and presumably before then) both Highlanders and Lowland migrants came into Paisley. Most single female migrants, about 75%, worked as domestic servants. Most of the remainder, and more of the Highlanders, worked in the bleachworks around Stanely reservoir. Of the four bleachers there (Foxbar, Lansdown, Blackland Mill and Nethercraigs) only Nethercraigs did not hire a substantial number of migrants. All four bleachers kept "womanhouses" where the single migrant women lived in a dormitory-like setting. The dormitories were necessary because during "throng" times at the bleachers the girls worked 14-16 hour days, and it would have been difficult for them to walk back and forth to lodgings in Paisley. Thus the womanhouses guaranteed the bleachers would have a workforce when they needed it. They also gave the migrants a place to live without having to resort to common lodging houses. After the 1860s many fewer Highlanders came to Paisley, perhaps because the Highland population was depleted by emigration, and perhaps because the migrants found better work elsewhere. Their places in the bleachworks were filled primarily by Scottish migrants from Lowland counties, primarily Lanark and Ayrshire. Young women born in Paisley continued to prefer work in the town's mills, rather than in domestic service or out at the bleachers. The young migrants were apparently coming to Paisley to establish their independence from their families. There is no evidence that substantial sums of money were returned to either Highland or Lowland families. There are, however, records of migrants in substantial debt to dressmakers, showing perhaps what they were really interested in spending their money on! Many women, especially the Highlanders, came to Paisley because they had friends or relatives there already- for example, most of the residents at the Foxbar Womanhouse in 1851 and 1861 came from Lochgilphead, Argyllshire. Lowlanders chose Paisley for proximity and because there were good jobs there for young women Christine

Hi I done a google search but can't find any thing else on the abbey regarding the laundry or who it was for. Mary

Looks as if they ran the place as a laundry doesn't it

Oh you beaut Mary Robina's my girl alright, thank you so much I'm not sure about the other family but will keep them in my files...just in case cheers, Sylvia

Dwelling: Nethercraigs Wom.Ho. Census Place: Abbey, Renfrew, Scotland Source: FHL Film 0203585 GRO Ref Volume 573 EnumDist 111 Page 4 Marr Age Sex Birthplace Margt. PATERSON U 76 F Paisley, Renfrew, Scotland Rel: Boarder (Head) Occ: Bleachfield Worker Marion MURRAY W 45 F Inchinan, Renfrew, Scotland Rel: Boarder Occ: Bleachfield Worker Julia HICKS U 43 F Ireland Rel: Boarder Occ: Laundress Maggie MC LAREN U 54 F Argyll, Scotland Rel: Boarder Occ: Bleachfield Worker Sarah WHITE U 15 F Ireland Rel: Boarder Occ: Bleachfield Worker Matilda MC MILLAN U 17 F Ireland Rel: Boarder Occ: Bleachfield Worker Jane BURT U 25 F Kilbirnie, Ayr, Scotland Rel: Boarder Occ: Bleachfield Worker Bridget GIBLON U 22 F Ireland Rel: Boarder Occ: Bleachfield Worker Anne GIBLON U 20 F Ireland Rel: Boarder Occ: Bleachfield Worker Agnes DONIGAN U 40 F Ireland Rel: Boarder Occ: Laundress Jane WILSON U 28 F Lanark, Lanark, Scotland Rel: Boarder Occ: Laundress Maggie SLAVEN U 19 F Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland Rel: Boarder Occ: Bleachfield Worker Bella FLEMINGTON U 26 F Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland Rel: Boarder Occ: Laundress Robina TOWNSEND U 23 F Kirkintilloch, Dunbarton, Scotland Rel: Boarder Occ: Bleachfield Worker Maggie DEVINA U 30 F Neilston, Renfrew, Scotland Rel: Boarder Occ: Laundress Mary KELLOCHAN U 20 F Lanark, Scotland Rel: Boarder Occ: Laundress Tina MC FARLANE U 21 F Airdrie, Lanark, Scotland Rel: Boarder Occ: Laundress Mary SHERRY U 26 F Ireland Rel: Boarder Occ: Bleachfield Worker Jane LOCHHEAD U 22 F Neilston, Renfrew, Scotland Rel: Boarder Occ: Laundress Kate CHISHOLM U 22 F Dundee, Forfar, Scotland Rel: Boarder Occ: Laundress Mary A. BONAR U 18 F Hamilton, Lanark, Scotland Rel: Boarder Occ: Bleachfield Worker Sarah MAXWELL U 16 F Hamilton, Lanark, Scotland Rel: Boarder Occ: Bleachfield Worker Mary CASSIDY U 20 F Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland Rel: Boarder Occ: Bleachfield Worker Hope this is what you are looking for. Mary Just found this Dwelling: 18 Kelvinside Avenue Census Place: Maryhill, Lanark, Scotland Source: FHL Film 0203612 GRO Ref Volume 622-1 EnumDist 8 Page 44 Marr Age Sex Birthplace Richard TOWNSEND M 33 M Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland Rel: Head Occ: Tailor Isabella TOWNSEND M 23 F Burntisland, Fife, Scotland Rel: Wife Mary Ann TOWNSEND 3 F Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland Rel: Daur Richard John TOWNSEND 7 m M Maryhill, Lanark, Scotland Rel: Son

Hi Sylvia Although I'm from Paisley I'm not sure of any Women's Hostel in the area, however, I see you're looking for a Townsend or Townsley - did you know that the surname Townsley is also common in the Campbeltown area? Rgds Caroline

Have you tried scotlandspeople? They have 1881 census-you have to pay to view. Rosalyn

Does anone know the name of the Women's hostel that was in Paisley. Renfrewshire. And also is there an 1881 census available for it please I'm looking for Robina Townsend or Townsley aged about 23 thanks a lot, Sylvia