HAMMILL, Sarah ¹

   Cause of her death was debility from age.

   Other names for Sarah were HAMMILL, Susan, McCONNELL, Sarah,^{2 3} McCONVILLE, Sarah and McCONVILLE, Susan.

  General Notes:

In 1851 the census for Old Monkland recorded Sarah McConville living as a lodger at the house of Margaret Campbell in General Rows. Sarah was aged 80 years and a widow. Her occupation was noted as vegetable dealer. Another lodger called McConville was Martin McConville aged 25 years, though no relationship between them was noted.

In the census of 1861 for Old Monkland, Lanarkshire, Sarah McConville was recorded living at Rosehall with her daughter Ann Kinney and her family. Sarah was the mother of the head of the household, she was a widow, aged 92 years, and had been born in Ireland.

No maiden surname was recorded in Sarah's death certificate or 1864; nor were her parents' names recorded. It was noted that both were deceased. Sarah was recorded as a pauper, widow of John McConville, mason. Her age was recorded as 92 years.

In the death certificate of her son Martin in 1874, Sarah's married surname and her maiden surname were recorded as McConnell. The information was given to the registrar by a neighbour of Martin, William Kennedy, who made his X mark.

In her daughter Sarah's death certificate of 1892, both Sarah's married surname and maiden surname were noted as 'McConnell'. The informant in this case was Ann's daughter Catherine. ^{2 3 4}

  Research Notes:

AGE

It is very difficult to take every age noted in a census entry as absolutely accurate. In a pre-literate society as Ireland was to some extent in the 18th and early 19th century, people's notions of numerical and literal accuracy are different from those of a later culture. So, for people who cannot read or write and are not familiar with the conventions of, or in possession of, written records a period of 10 years from one census to another may see the same individual age by 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, or 14 years. The cumulative effect of this can be important in estimating true age, and require other forms of evidence to be taken in to account.

In the case of Sarah/Susan here, she may be 80 years of age in 1851, but if she was she can't be 92 years old in 1861, and there would be some doubt if she was even 80 years old in 1851. So discernment is needed in these situations.

NAME

Both Sarah and Susan are noted for this woman as her given name.

  Medical Notes:

Charles Adam MD certified the cause of death.

Sarah's grandson, John Kierney (or possibly Kinney), who had been present where the death occurred, was the informant of her death before James Burden registrar at Old Monkland on 2 March 1864. He made his X mark.

Sarah married John McCONVILLE, son of Ancestor McCONVILL (DNA Link) and Unknown. (John McCONVILLE was born about 1785 and died before 30 March 1851.)