QUIGLEY, Rebecca (DNA Link) ²

   Another name for Rebecca was QUIDLEY, Rebecca.¹

  General Notes:

Rebecca was recorded by the 1861 census living at Old Rome near Dundonald in Ayrshire. She was aged 8 years, and her birthplace was recorded as Kilwinning.

Roman Catholic Records
St Joseph's Parish Kilmarnock
Baptisms

"1868
Names of children: Rebecca
Legitimacy: legitimate
Names of Parents: Patrick Quigley & Mag^t George C. P. (this may stand for Catholic. Protestant)
Date of Birth: 15 years (most are dated, some have an age eg 11 months etc)
Name of Sponsors: Catherine Lynos
Name of Clergyman: George J. Smith
Date of Baptism: Nov 28/68"
Note: It is unusual for children in Roman Catholic families to be baptised at this age, and it is not know why this happened in Rebecca's case. The other baptisms found for the family were dated in the babyhood of the children, soon after birth. It may that a lay baptism occurred after Rebecca's birth if she was ill or no priest was available and that a baptism was entered into the records at this later date to regularise the situation when Rebecca came of potentially marriageable age, since she would be expected if marrying as a Catholic to be able to show proof of baptism. This is, however, speculation.

In 1871 the census recorded a Rebecca Quigley or Quidley living at 4-6 Bank Street Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. She was a servant in the household of John and Agnes Toll, was aged 19 years, and unmarried. Her birthplace was recorded as Irvine, Ayrshire. Her employer was a fruiterer. ^{2 4}

  Research Notes:

REBECCA'S PLACE OF BIRTH

To date we have two sources for Rebecca's place of birth: the 1861 and the 1871 census. the first recorded her birth as Kilwinning, the second as Irvine, a larger main town about three miles from the first. The first of these is the more convincing, since the information, given in differential detail for all the children, was most probably given by one or both of Rebecca's parents. The second was recorded when Rebecca was a servant and away from home, and may be a more generalised response to the enumerator's enquiries. Rebecca's father was a coal miner, and the family were more likely to be in a mining village than in a town.

It may be that if we include Doura (also known as Dourey, Dowrey and Dowrie) and make the third side of a triangle whose points are Kilwinning, Irvine, Doura, we will have solved the puzzle. The pits called Doura Nos.1&2 and owned by the Doura Coal Co., of Mountgreean, Kilwinning, were said to be situated at Irvine. Kilwinning and Irvine are in neighbouring parishes. There were also Benslie and Fergushill pits in Kilwinning parish. Irvine would be the nearest main town. For all of these pits, the newly established railway brought modern possibilities to traditional employments.


THANKS

I am immensely indebted to a descendant of Rebecca, Bill Marsh, for his willingness to share with Patrick's People the fruits of his research into his family's history.

Rebecca married William GARVEN, son of William GARVEN and Margaret MITCHELL, on 27 September 1875 in Crookedholm, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.¹ (William GARVEN was born in 1854 in Glasgow, Scotland,^{1 6 7} died on 14 November 1934 in Timaru, Canterbury, New Zealand ^{1 5} and was buried in Timaru Cemetery, New Zealand ³.)

  Marriage Notes:

The marriage took place after banns according to the forms of the Free Church of Scotland. The minister was William Reid. The witnesses were Samuel Quigley [sic] and Jane Young.

William Garven was an iron turner by occupation. He was recorded as 21 years of age and was unmarried. By way of address, he was noted as being 'of Dean Street'.

Rebecca Quidley [sic], who made her X mark, was recorded as 22 years of age and unmarried. She too was 'of Dean Street'. She worked as a domestic servant.

The marriage was registered on 28 September 1875 at Kilmarnock, Jas. S. Gregory being the registrar. ¹