MASON, Jane ¹

   Other names for Jane were TWEEDLIE, Jane Mason and TWEIDIE, Jane.³

  General Notes:

Jane became a widow in 1877.

APPLICATION FOR PARISH RELIEF

Jane Mason Tweedlie applied for parish relief at 11.05 am on October 3 1879 with her son Robert. The inspector's visit took place on 4 October 1879 at 1.00 pm. Jane's address was recorded as 57 Young Street front, up right. She was recorded too as born in Magherafelt, County Derry, Ireland. She was a widow aged 85 years, a housewife, and by religion a Protestant.

In recounting the details of the names and ages of her dependants, Jane stated that her husband, Charles Tweedlie, had died in July 1877. His age was given in her statement as 71 years. He had been born in Magherafelt, Ireland, the son of Daniel Tweedlie, a farmer. No mother's name was given. Both his parents were dead. Charles had worked as a scavenger.

Her own parents were William Mason, a labourer, and Elizabeth Dougall, both of whom were dead. She went on to give details of her children.

William, aged 51 years, was born in Ireland, and was married with one child. He was a slater by occupation. He was the Royal Infirmary in Glasgow with chronic bronchitis. His wife, from whom he was separated, had a spirit shop on the corner of Albion Street and Ingram Street. Either William or his wife or both, resided in Claythorn Street (the note here is unclear). An addendum in red ink beside William's name is this paragraph said simply 'dead'.

Her son Robert, aged 40 years, was born in Claybrae (Glasgow). He was a widower and had no children. He too was a slater by occupation, but since the Glasgow Fair he had been working only two days a week. He had been idle three weeks with the applicant.

Neil, aged 29, was also born in Claybrae. He was married with three children and was a mason by occupation, though idle then. His lived at 1 Havannah 1st appartment.

Settlement: Glasgow
After the inspector decided on the settlement, he went on to make some remarks in the report. There were grandsons and granddaughters with the applicant:
Daniel aged 22 years, single, a mason but idle
Neil Fulton aged 17 years, single, an apprentice slater, idle
Jane Fulton, aged 19 years, single, a weaver, idle
Isabella Fulton, aged 14 years, in Alexander's Mill, earns 5/- a week
The rent was £9 5/-. The apartment was a room and kitchen with three beds. It was a clean house. The report was signed by William Gray.

Particulars of Settlement:
In 51 Young Street entered 28/8/79 Glasgow 5 months
prior in 12 Claythorn Street " 35 years
'79 7/10 House (in red ink)
7/10/'79 circular sent to William's wife
line drawn here in red ink

Note: if Jane's youngest son Neil was 29 years old at the time of her application, or even a few years older, it is very unlikely she was as old as 85 years herself. She is more likely to have been in her 70s. Such misguessing regarding age is not unusual.

SECOND APPLICATION FOR PARISH RELIEF

Jane Mason Tweedlie applied again for parish relief at 1.15 pm on 23 April 1880 from 51 Young Street front 2 up right. She applied with her son, Robert, for outdoor relief, certified by Dr Smellie.

She was recorded as a widow of 85 years and a housewife. Her family were recorded as Robert aged 40 and a half years. He was a widower, with no children, and was a slater. He had been idle for two weeks, but when working earned 20/- a week. Neil, aged 29 and a half years, was married with three children, who worked either as a mason or a labourer. He resided at xxxxxxxxx (illegible crossed out)Street, Calton.

The applicant's grandsons and granddaughters were Daniel Tweedlie aged 22 years, single, a mason but idle, address unknown. Neil Fulton was 17 years, an apprenticed slater, who had left the applicant three weeks earlier. Jane Fulton was 19 years, a weaver, in lodgings in Havannah (Street). Isabella Fulton, 14 and a half years, worked at Alexander's Mill with her sister, Elizabeth Fulton, who was married with three children to Andrew Farmer, a plumber, and resided in Dalmarnock Road.

The applicant's rent was £9 5/- for her room and kitchen. She had no lodgers. She was offered the poorhouse, which she did not accept. The report was signed by William Gray.

The file continued:
80 19/8 Complaint from B of S sent. Notice from Barony 20 Oct 1880. Claim from Barony 22 Oct 1880 for Jane Mason Tweedley 235 Nuneaton Street 3 up unfit from bronchitis. Robert, 45, a slater, idle. Neil, 30 a mason, idle, married 2 children, James Street, Calton.
80 26/10 Admitted to Barony. Send here, 2/6.

THIRD CLAIM FOR PARISH RELIEF

This was made at 11.45 am on 25/11/81. Jane Mason Tweedley applied from 20 John Knox Street. She had a certificated abscess of the right foot. When visited, she had some of her grandchildren in her house and she was not sure if she would come into Hospital or not.
28/11/81 Sent Van for her.
not in (underlined) ⁴

  Research Notes:

CALTON

The area where Jane Mason Tweedlie lived at the time of her application for parish relief was in the east end of Glasgow and was called the Calton. It began as part of the land of the Gallowmuir, then later developed as a village outside of the Glasgow city boundary. It was feued as a weaver's village at the start of the 18th century, but many trades and occupation deveolped there too.

One of these was pottery making. A large clay bed, called 'Mount Blue', stretches from Glasgow Cross, through Claythorn and reaches as far as Parkhead. It attracted potters from the east of Scotland and from England, and 'the potteries' gave employment to many in this area. It was in this area that the famous 'Barras' market took hold in the 20th century, with its adjoining Barrowland Ballroom.

The area adjoins Glasgow Green, beside the River Clyde, famous for the many and varied activities Glaswegians enjoyed there, including golf and political protest. Many famous visitors and speakers over the centuries repaired there during a visit to Glasgow, including Jphn Wesley, Dr Samuel Johnson and James Boswell, Robert Burns, and William and Dorothy Wordsworth. It was a fashionable and varied, vibrant and crowded area to live in or to visit.

Jane married Charles TWEEDLEY, son of Daniel TWEEDLIE and Ann DOOL. (Charles TWEEDLEY was born about 1806 in Magherafelt, County Derry, Ireland ^{2 3} and died 14 July 1877 at 6.00 pm in 12 Claybrae, Glasgow, Scotland ⁵.). The cause of his death was apoplexy.