Connor and Ann McGurl

 

The earliest record of Conner McGurl goes back to the Scottish census of 1851. He lived at Old Hailes in Prestonkirk and worked as a tailor. He was born in Ireland between 1826 and 1835 and it's likely he migrated to Scotland during hard times. The Great Famine was after 1845 when Ireland’s population fell as millions fled the place. Railways in Scotland were linking all the major cities and industry were expanding. Sewing machines were being invented and Isaac Singer patented his sewing machine in 1851. In 1861 Conner was on record as a labourer. He married Ann Coil in 1853 when she was in her teens. 

The earliest record of Ann Coil goes back to her marriage to Conner McGurl in 1853. Proclamation of banns was on the 5th of June and 12th of June at the parish of Haddington. According to information provided years later they were married on the 13th of June at Potobello in Scotland.  According to census she was born in Ireland in 1834 and in 1861 was living with Connor and their 4 children. Her father was James Coil and her mother was Ann Challacher.

They had many children and some never survived. Mary was 11 weeks old when she died in May 1861. Francis was 11 years old when he died with Tuberculosis on the 27th of September 1879. His mother Ann died 6 months later on 26th of December 1879 with Pthisis after being ill for a year. Both diseases are the same.

Spelling of names varies and sometimes an x was their signature. The information would have been provided verbally with an Irish accent. McGurl, McGirl, McGhurel, and McGorel are some of the variations. First names also varied Frank became Francis and Patt became Patrick. Connor was the informant when Catherine was born and in 1879 James was the informant when his mother and brother Francis died.

In 1861 Ann, Patt, James and Mary were listed on census. In 1871 young Ann was now aged 16 and James was now 11 years old. Patrick was not listed and Mary was deceased. Catherine was born on June 26th 1862 and went on to have her own family. The 2nd child with the name Mary was born in 1865 and 19 years later she gave birth to John. Frank was born in 1868 and was listed as 2 year old Francois.  

Connor McGurl died in Haddington Scotland on the 1st of March 1894. Brights Disease of the Kidney was on the record and Andrew Burnside (son in law) was the informant. His daughter, Catherine Burnside, was 31 years old at the time. She gave birth to her son Andrew Burnside just 3 weeks later. At the time his grandchildren John McGurl (illegitimate) and Mary Anne (Molly Hood) Burnside were almost 5 year old. Margaret was younger and they all lived at Eastgate end Nungate. Elizabeth, and Catherine (Kitty Roughsedge) Burnside were born in later years.

Catherine McGhurl married Andrew Burnside on 3rd of July 1885 at Haddington. In 1891 they lived at Eastgate end Nungate and in 1901 they lived at 9 Poldrate Street Haddington. John, Mary Ann, Margaret, Andrew, Elizabeth and Catherine Burnside were all living there. John was registered as John McGhurl in 1891. In 1901 he was known as John Regan and in 1911 he was declared as John Burnside.