The Widow of Edward Carlin - Update

Back in April I wrote about Janet McComb or Carlin, the younger sister of my 3x great-grandmother, Jane (or Jean) McComb. Their parents were James and Ruth McComb (née Duggan), who were Irish migrants.

A link to that blog post.

In my blog post in April I detailed the sad married life of Janet. She birthed three boys who all died in early infancy, and was widowed early. With nothing left, Janet shortly followed her babies and husband to the grave, almost like she willed herself to die.

Janet's death certificate describes her as a pauper, resident in the Govan Poorhouse at the time of her death. Her death was caused by phthisis (tuberculosis).

Janet's death certificate.

Now, with thanks to my good friend (and distant cousin!) Matt Reay, I am better able to understand Janet's final days. I now know that shortly before her death, Janet applied for Poor Relief. Matt visited the Mitchell Library in Glasgow and was very kind to transcribe the application for me. It reads as follows;

____________________

Name: Janet McCoombe or Carlin.

Residence: 15 Cleland Street, low.

Application date: 13 March 1877 11.30am.

Religion: Prot. (Protestant)

Status: Widow.

Trade: Washing and cleaning.

She is listed as being wholly disabled with no earnings besides relief.

Any family living at residence? None.

Any family living elsewhere? None.

Husband: Edward Dickie Carter (Error)

Report by Assistant Inspector Robert Davie who visited the property 14 March 1877 at 1pm:

She is aged 33 years, born at Blackfaulds, Rutherglen. Prot. She is the daughter of James McCoombe, miner, and Ruth Dougan, both dead. Her husband Edward Carlin, carter, born in Thistle Street, son of Thomas Carlin, carter, dead, & Jean Turner who is living at 34 Thistle Street, died at Thistle Street five years ago.

No family.

In present house: 5 months.

34 South Wellington Street: 3yrs 6mos.

327 Crown Street: 1yr.

34 Thistle Street: 6mos.

She is a washer certified unfit from bronchitis and fit for removal. Application is made for her admission Poorhouse having no home. - Govan Combination.

The decision of the committee: 20 March 1877 - PH (Poorhouse) Requiring treatment.

Applicant died PH 7 April '77

____________________

Poor Janet. What a life. 

The Widow of Edward Carlin

In around 1843, Janet McComb was born at Rutherglen, Lanarkshire, Scotland. She was the daughter of James McComb and Ruth Duggan, my 4x great-grandparents.

On 17 July 1863, Janet married Edward Carlin, in Tradeston, Glasgow. They were a young couple, with Janet being 20, and Edward only 18-years-old. Janet was already expecting Edward's child, and early the following year she gave birth to a baby boy, who was named Edward after his father. 

In December 1865, Janet gave birth again, but this time far too soon. Janet and Edward named their second son, Thomas after Edward's father, but sadly he died when he was only eight days old. Tragedy stuck again only days later, when Edward Carlin, Jnr, passed away. He had been suffering from inflammation of the bowels for the past fourteen days.

Obviously grief-stricken, the couple did not have any further children for a couple of years, until April 1867, when Janet gave birth to their third son, Charles. He was a sickly baby, and was too weak to recover from a bout of enteritis. Sadly, Charles died when he was only a week old.

The couple did not have any more children, but this did not end their sorrow. Janet lost Edward to bronchitis in March 1870. He had been suffering from the illness for the last six weeks before his death.

Now without the income from Edward's job as a carter, Janet was left destitute. She remained close to her siblings, who did what they could for her. But her family were poor themselves, and were not able to help her financially, and so Janet entered Govan Poorhouse. 

Janet Carlin died a pauper in Govan Poorhouse on 7 April 1877. She died of phthisis, or tuberculosis, or perhaps she simply gave up on life. The whole Carlin family unit was wiped out in less than fourteen years.