LYNESS, James ¹

   Cause of his death was bronchitis and dropsy.

   Another name for James was LYNAS, James.

  General Notes:

A 'James Lyness' was born in November 1864 whose mother was recorded as 'Helen Lyness, clipper in a muslin warehouse'. The address given was as Maitland Street, and the registration district as Milton, Glasgow. The child was termed 'illegitimate'. The reason for this appears to have been that although Helen Lyness told the parish inspector she had been 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 January 26 1865 by Helen Lyness, mother. No father's name was given.

Note: Lyness, and its variant spellings was the name of Helen's husband. Her surname when single was Brady. her relationship with her husband James had lasted from at least 1856 and was at the very least a common law marriage, accepted as a marriage in Scotland. The child she was registering was her sixth by her husband. Three of her previous five children had already died by this time, one of the two months before. James Smith registrar deserves to be remembered with shame.


According to the family's Poor Law application in June 1879 James was 16 years old, was an irondresser, and had gone to America six weeks earlier, about the start of May 1879.


In March 1881 when his mother claimed relief, James was said to be 25 years old, single, a moulder, not seen for six months.


James died on December 21 1885, three days after being removed from the Poor House by his mother. His mother, Helen, was present at his death, and notified the registrar, Alexander Dawson, at Glasgow, on 23 December 1885.


His death certificate said James was aged 30 years, and had been by occupation a journeyman Iron Dresser. He was a single man. ^{1 3 4 5 6}

  Medical Notes:

D. MacLean MD certified the cause of death.

Helen Lyness, mother of the deceased who had been present where his died, notified the registrar at Glasgow, Alexander Dawson, on 23 December 1885 and made her X mark.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Poor Law app for relief, 7 November 1885, Glasgow, Scotland. ^{7 8} James Lynas made a false claim for relief under the name of Jon Johnston. he gave a false address as well as a false name: High St instead of Brown St. This was certified by his mother.

The inspector visited him at 10.00 am on November 8 1885. He was single aged 29 and an iron moulder. He was a Roman Catholic. He had bronchitis with a disease of the heart, as stated by Dr Black. He at first stated he was the son of John Johnston, a labourer, who died in High Street 5 or 6 years earlier and of Ann Steven a cleaner about Glasgow. This was subsequently amended to his being the son of James Lynas who died in the city poorhouse in June 1880 and Helen Brady of 46 Wilton Street.

He said he had never had a brother or a sister. A note appended said he had given the false statement on 2 occasions when he came in to make a claim.

"During the last 10 years pauper has been unsettled having been in England twice - in Grahamaston and Falkirk and in High Street, Pettigrew Street etc. No settlement by residence. He seems to be very stupid or is concealing."

James appears to have applied through his brother in his true name from 4 Gibson Street, front low right, Mrs Kenovan. 'Chronic bronchitis' certified. Dr Leitch. James's mother was at 54 Maitland St.

2. Poor Law app for relief, 8 December 1885, Glasgow, Scotland. ⁸ James Lynas was admitted to the poorhouse.

3. Poor Law app for relief, 18 December 1885, Glasgow, Scotland. ⁸ James was removed from the poorhouse by his mother on 18 December 1885.