“A Large Family” is the theme of week 11 in the “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” Challenge. As was the custom of the times, large families abound in our family history. My great grandparents had eleven children - nine surviving infancy; my great grandfather was one of nine; and my great great grandfather had eight daughters by his first wife, four children by his second wife and four step children.
But here I feature a striking picture passed to me by a friend who I was helping with her family history.
My
friend's grandmother was Bridget McFarlane who was known to have Irish
connections and be part of a large family of women. The certificate (found on ScotlandsPeople) of
Bridget's marriage to Thomas Spowart in Fife in 1894 provided the names of her
parents - James McFarlane, a quarryman and Ann Lauchlin.
Bridget’s age was given as 18, so born c. 1876. In the 1901 census, her birthplace was given as Bannockburn, near Stirling. These three pieces of information enabled Bridget's family to be traced in the census returns. Parents James and Ann were both born in Ireland and they had ten children in 22 years (1876-1898) - Bridget (the eldest), followed by Kate, Mary, Patrick, Annie, Ellen, Sarah, Jane, Maggie and Jemima - 22 years between the oldest and youngest.
The dark clothes and solemn expressions in this photograph indicated that the occasion was a funeral. Could
the central figure holding a bible or prayer book be Ann McFarlane, nee
Lauchlin, surrounded by her nine daughters and only son Patrick? Was the young girl carrying flowers the youngest daughter Jemima? The style of dress and the possible age of the girl could date the photograph to the early 20th century c.1910.
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The estimated date of the photograph was confirmed by tracing father James’ death online to October 6th 1912.
The estimated date of the photograph was confirmed by tracing father James’ death online to October 6th 1912.
Death certificates on ScotlandsPeople are briliant souce material as they give more information than their English equivalent - notably the names of the deceased's parents - provided of course that the informant knows these details.
So I learnt that Jame McFarlane married to Ann Laughlan, was a railway surfaceman, aged 53 when he died of bronchitis at 24 Campbell Street, Dunfermline, Fife - the informant his son Patrick McFarlane of 57 Arthur Street, Cowdenbeath, Fife. James' parents, both deceased, were named as Patrick McFarlane, a quarry labourer and Bridget McFarlane, maiden surname Phee - though I did wonder could this have been the more usual surname of McPhee? So James and Ann's eldest (and only) son and eldest daughter were named after their paternal grandparents.
The challenge of researching Irish records awaits to find out more about their ancestry. Frustratingly I have been unable to trace the whereabouts of the family in the 1911 census, just a year before the death of James McFarlane.
But the photograph above remains a potent symbol of a large family in mourning.
Adapted from a post first published in 2010
with grateful thanks to my friend for allowing me to feature this photograph.
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What an amazing family photo to be able to research. As you say, mourning clothes, the flowers, siblings and matriarch surely give one much to begin a genealogy search. Good to have several Census Records with multiple categories for information. I imagine with so many females the name changes would become quite a challenge for future research. Well done for the prompt.
ReplyDeleteNice piece of work. The photo is reminiscent of one of my Sigford photos. Old Samuel(great grandfather) had 18 children (that I know of - he was nearly 30 when he married the first sister). Of course, to be accurate, he married 3 sisters, and each of the first two sisters/wives had a child, so my great grandmother only produced 16 children.
ReplyDeleteJoan,
DeleteI just had to chuckle at "only produced 16 children". Being raised in a town where our family of 5 children seemed rather small, it almost sounds like she just wasn't providing enough! Lol
Great to find a photo of the family though the reason for gathering was sad. I've yet to see any family photos based on a funeral.
ReplyDeleteSuch a great photograph find, despite the somber occasion! I can't imagine what it would have been like for Patrick with all those sisters... chaos, surely! I share your frustration re Irish records too - I have a few brick walls in my tree due to the record loss suffered in Ireland over the years. Good luck with finding the family in the 1911 census!
ReplyDeleteThis photograph is something hard to relate to today when families are often so spread out. Think of the mess we're leaving behind for future genealogists!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post, Sue! I have discovered a 3rd-great grandfather recently that had 14 grandchildren (2 w/ 1st wife, 3 w/ 2nd wife, and 9 w/ 3rd wife). And I thought I was part of a big family of five children! Lol
ReplyDeleteThank you all for your kind comments. This was a classic case of one photograph telling a powerful story.
ReplyDelete