BRADY, Helen ²

   Other names for Helen were BRADLEY, Helen,⁴ BRAIDY, Helen,⁵ GRIBBEN, Helen Brady,^{1 6} LENNIS, Ellen, LINNES, Helen, LYNAS, Eleanor,⁷ LYNAS, Helen,⁸ LYNAS, Helen Brady,⁹ LYNAS, Helen Braiddie Gribbin,⁹ LYNASS, Helen,¹⁰ LYNESS, Helen ¹¹ and McGRIBBEN, Helen.

  General Notes:

A 'James Lyness' was born in November 1864 whose mother was recorded as 'Helen Lyness, clipper in a muslin warehouse'. The address was given as Maitland Street, and the registration district as Milton, Glasgow. The child was termed 'illegitimate'. Although Helen told the parish inspector she was married at St Mary's in Abercromby Street, the application specifically mentions that there were no marriage lines seen. The birth registration information was given to the registrar, James Smith, at Glasgow, on 26 January 1865 by Helen Lyness, mother, who made her X mark. No father's name was given.


In 1881 a woman called Ellen Lennis was recorded by the census boarding, with her two teenage children, with the Watson family of four people over 13 years of age, in a dwelling with two windowed rooms at 117 Maitland Street, in the Milton district of Glasgow. Ellen was a widow and Irish born, as was Barbara Watson, the head of the household where she was boarding. Her age is slightly obscured in the entry but looks like 46 years.


Helen's married and family life seems to have had more than its fair share of difficulty and heartache. In 1885 she removed her son James, from the Poor House, and three days later she was present when he died. It was she who informed the registrar of her son's death, and made her X mark.


Her daughter Ann died in the Poorhouse in 1894. Helen was herself deceased by then. ^{4 11 12 13}

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Poor Law app for relief, 17 March 1881, Glasgow, Scotland. ¹⁴ From the details of Poor Law application claim:
Helen Braiddie Gribbin Lynas of 117 Maitland Street Cowcaddens, turnpike 3 up left,made a claim as being unfit from general debility. She was admitted to Barony, then sent 'here' in March 1881. Her age was given then as 42 and she earned, when working, 1/- per day as a cleaner.
NOTE When her husband had claimed in 1879 he gave her age as 50. The ages of her sons given here seem equally odd eg James 25, Arthur 19 so these were probably interchanged.
The rent for a 2 apartment was 10/- with 1 lodger at 2/- per week (a widow with a grown up son and daughter). The house was very poorly furnished and indecently crowded. Not satisfactory case. States they are in a slummy condition.

2. Poor Law app for relief, February 1887, Glasgow, Scotland. ¹⁵ Helen Brady Gribbin Lynas applied from 29 Brown Street, low door, for medical relief. She had been resident in her present home for 8 months. Previously she had been resident at 81 Stirling Street for 2 months. Before that at 46 Milton Lane for 2 years. Before that at Lyon Street, Garscube Road and Church Street since last one. The inspector queations this in writing with the comment 'changeability?' On February 10 1887 the medical relief was granted.

3. Poor Law app for relief, June 1888, Glasgow, Scotland. ¹⁶ On June 15 Helen Brady Lynas applied for and received a medical line from 4 Gibson Street, low, Kenovan. Arthur, Michael and Ann were following their own ways. Three days later the doctor had seen her. and they were to call for medicine. This medical line was renewed at the end of July 1888.

4. Poor Law app for relief, 1888 Aug 23-25 Admitted to poorhouse, Glasgow, Scotland. ³ Helen Brady Lynas applied from 4 Gibson Street, front low door, Mrs Kennedy. Certified 'phtisis' Dr Leitch. All family - Arthur, Michael, Ann, single, residence unknown. Helen was admitted to the poorhouse on August 25 1888.

5. Poor Law app for relief, 7 October 1888, Glasgow, Scotland. ³ Helen died in the poorhouse.

Helen had a relationship with James LINAS, son of Arthur LINAS and Catherine CURRAN, No marriage found.¹ (James LINAS was born in Ireland, baptised on 8 October 1814 in Armagh RC Parish, County Armagh, Ireland ¹⁷ and died 16 June 1880 at 9.30 am in City Poorhouse, Glasgow, Scotland ¹⁸.). The cause of his death was cardiac disease of unknown duration.

  Marriage Notes:

In the birth certificate of their son John in 1864 James Lynass, informant, told the registrar who recorded it that he and his wife were married on 16 May 1853 at Glasgow. After thorough searching , no marriage of this couple has yet been found on this or any other date.

Helen Lyness told the parish inspector in 1864, when she was registering the birth of her son James, that she was married at St Mary's in Abercromby Street. The certificate specifically mentions that there were no marriage lines seen

The Poor Law application for relief of 1879 specifically says the couple had no marriage lines. They were married 'about 27 years ago' from June 1879. ^{1 2 11}