McGUNNIGAL, Mary (DNA Link) ^{3 4 5 6 7}

   Cause of her death was bronchitis.

   Other names for Mary were McGINLAY, Mary, McGINLEY, Mary, McGONIGAL, Mary,¹⁰ McGUNIGAL, Mary,^{3 11} McGUNIGILL, Mary, O DONNALL, Mary, O'DONNEL, Mary ¹ and O'DONNELL, Mary.^{4 11 12 13}

   User ID: L71.

  General Notes:

In 1871 the census for Chapelhall in the parish of Bothwell, Lanarkshire recorded Mary O'Donnell living at Biggar Road with her husband and small son, John. Mary was aged 21 years and had been born in Ireland.

In 1881, Mary O'Donald was recorded by the census living at Penman's Land, Biggar Road, in the parish of Bothwell. This was situated in what we know now as Chapelhall. Mary had been born in Ireland and was aged 31 years. She had three children of 8 years or under. She lived very near the households of her married brother, Patrick, and her parents and other brothers.

APPLICATION FOR POOR RELIEF
In 1889, after her husband's death, Mary applied to the parish of Bothwell for poor relief, a summary of the details of which follows:
An application was made by Mary McGunnigal or O'Donnell, residing at High Rows Chapelhall, aged 37 years. The date of liability for relief was 11 July 1889 and the amount 4/- a week.
Mary herself was born in Ireland; she was a Roman Catholic, a widow, and a housewife. She was 'partially disabled' (ie unable to work full time) on account of having young children, and 'partially destitute' since she had to rely on only her own earnings.
John O'Donnell, her husband, was a labourer, born in Ireland, 39 years of age, and had died at Chapelhall on the 15th instant [sic]. He was a pauper (ie had no economic means of support of himself) and on Bothwell parish roll at the time of his death.
Their children were Margaret born at Chapelhall on 12 June 1878; Mary born at Chapelhall on 27 October 1880; and John born at Chapelhall on 20 April 1884.
Mary's parents were James McGunnigal, a labourer, deceased, and Margaret Harkins residing at Chapelhall.
There followed a list of dates of subsequent proceedings:
1889 July 11 enrol at 4/- a week
1889 Sept 12 continue allowance of 4/- per week
1890 Feb 13 ditto
1890 May 8 ditto
1890 Dec 9 ditto
1891 Feb 12 ditto
1891 June 11 ditto
1891 Sep 16 remarried, last payment on 12th ultimo


The 1891 census recorded Mary O'Donnell, her two daughters and one son living in High Rows, Chapelhall, in the parish of Bothwell. Mary was a widow, aged 35 years. She had been born in Ireland. She lived next door to her mother, Margaret McGonnegal, also a widow, and her two brothers, John and Michael. Her home had one windowed room. Another part of her house seems to have housed four lodgers, and this seems to have had one windowed room, too. In 1869, a Mary McGunigal married John O'Donnel in Holytown district. So Mary O'Donnel was almost certainly the daughter of Margaret, and the children were Margaret's grandchildren. In 1891, a Mary McGunnigal married John McGinley. In the 1891 census, one of Mary's lodgers was called John McGinley and he, too, was a widower then. The census recorded that he spoke Gaelic and English.

In 1901 Mary was named as Mary McGinley, married to her second husband, John McGinley, and living at 53 Omoa Square, Cleland, according to the census of that year, but still recorded as a widow. Her age was recorded as 50 years, and her birthplace, Ireland.

An application received on 5 May 1916 by the Public Record Office of Ireland recorded Mary McGonigal's(sic)residence in 1851 along with the names of her parents:

"Full Name of Applicant: Mary McGonigal
Relation: Applicant
Father Name: James McGonigal Farmer
Mother Name: Margaret Harkin
Residence Year: 1851
Residence Place: Donegal, Ireland
Street Address: Mr John McMahon, 76 Shieldmuir St, Craigneuk, Wishaw
Parish: Clonca
Barony:Inishowen East
Townland:Ardmalin"

A note on the application is inscribed "Not found" and that "original sought". An original page from the census for Ireland in 1851 accompanied Mary's record of application. This noted a number of McGonegals(sic) living in Ardmalin townland, of which a niece of the householder, Mary, aged 4, was one:
"John McGonegal Age 36 Head not m^d
Matty McGonegal Age 32 Brother m^d 1845
Thos Toland Age 20 1st cousin
Jas Toland Age 15 1st cousin
Cath McGonegal Age 34 Sister not m^d
Mary McGonegal Age 33Sister not m^d
Betty McGonegal Age 22 Sister in law m^d 1845
Margt McGonegal Age 5 niece
Mary Or May McGonegal Age 4 niece
Patt McGonegal Age 2 nevew
Sheet 61 Ardmalin"

Whether the Mary in the 1851 census return recorded here above was the child of James McGunnigal and Margaret Harken is not clear. They are more likely to be the children of Matty McGonegal and his wife Betty who married in 1845, as given in the census return. This would be compatible with the "Not found" conclusion mentioned above. Possibly, Mary was searching for documentary proof of birth to collect a pension.

Mary's death certificate reads
"Mary McGinlay widow of 1) John O'Donnell furnaceman 2) John McGinlay stonemason died at...." and so on. Her age was recorded as 73 years. Her parents were both dead. ^{8 9 10 12 13 14}

  Medical Notes:

J. R. Welsh MB ChB certified the cause of Mary's death.

Patrick Weldon, Mary's son in law, who had been present where her death occurred, gave notice of her death before James Johnston, registrar, at Motherwell, on 1 February 1919.

  Noted events in her life were:

1. death of husband: Mary's first husband John O'Donnel died after a long illness, 14 June 1889, High Rows, Chapelhall, Holytown, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Mary married John O'DONNELL on 14 June 1869 in Chapelhall, Holytown district, Bothwell parish, Lanarkshire, Scotland.¹ (John O'DONNELL was born in 1846 in Ireland ⁸ and died on 15 June 1889 in High Rows, Chapelhall, Holytown, Lanarkshire, Scotland.). The cause of his death was pleurisy over 10 months, renal abscess and exhaustion.

  Marriage Notes:

The marriage was celebrated according to the forms and rites of the Roman Catholic Church. The priest who married the couple was Father James Milne CC, and the witnesses were John McGunigal and Mary O'Donnel.

Mary McGunigal was an unmarried woman, who was aged 19 years and employed as a paper mill worker. She was of Bellside Row, Chapelhall.

John O'Donnel was aged 23 years. He was a bachelor, and a labourer at the iron works. He, too, was of Chapelhall. Both of his parents, Neil O'Donnell, a farmer, and Margaret McLauchlan, were deceased.

The marriage was registered in Holytown on 14 June 1869, William Richard being the registrar. ¹

Mary next married John McGINLEY on 13 August 1891 in Chapelhall, Holytown district, Bothwell parish, Lanarkshire, Scotland.² (John McGINLEY was born in 1848 in Ireland ⁹.)

  Marriage Notes:

The marriage, after banns, was celebrated by Father Hubert Van Stiphout CC, according to the rites and forms of the Roman Catholic Church. The witnesses were James and Annabella Murray.

John McGinley, who made his X mark, was a journeyman mason, aged 45 years. He had been married before and was a widower. His address was given simply as 'of Chapelhall'. His father, Michael McGinley, a farmer, was still living and his mother was, Ann Carr, deceased.

Mary O'Donnell, who also made her X mark, had also been previously married, and was a widow. She too was 'of Chapelhall' and was aged 40 years. Her father was deceased and her mother still alive.

The marriage was registered at Holytown on 15 August 1891, William Mehan being the signing registrar.