Mrs Carroll's Lodger

Jane Duffy was born in around 1838 somewhere in Ireland to Patrick Duffy, a labourer and Margery Harkins his wife. Jane was my 3x Great Grandmother. It is thought that she was the youngest of seven children, and her siblings were James, Rose Ann, Hugh, Patrick, Edward and William.

The Duffy siblings migrated to New Kilpatrick, Dunbartonshire, Scotland shortly after 1851, and their parents were already deceased, having died in Ireland. Patrick Duffy, Junior however, went to Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 

In 1857, Jane was a witness to her sister Rose Ann's marriage to Patrick Tonner.

Jane's name, written as a witness
to her sister's marriage.

On 5 March 1858 Jane, who also went by Jean, gave birth out of wedlock. The baby girl was named Elizabeth and her father was said to be Peter White, a ship carpenter. Jane was stated to be working in a paper mill. It is unknown what happened to Elizabeth, but it is presumed that she died young.

An extract from Elizabeth White's birth certificate.

Two years later, Jane Duffy married Bernard Carroll on 6 July 1860 at St Columbkille's Roman Catholic Church, Rutherglen, Lanarkshire. Bernard was said to be aged thirty-four, whereas Jane was twenty-two. Bernard had been widowed the year previously, and had three surviving children. The youngest, Bernard Junior was only four years old. The eldest were William and Ann, who were only around eight and ten years younger than their new stepmother, Jane. 

Bernard and Jane's marriage record.

There have been a total of nine children found for the couple; Agnes, Patrick, Agnes, Margaret, Hugh and Margaret (twins), Marjory, Edward and Robert. Sadly, not many of their children lived to see adulthood.

Bernard Carroll died on 5 March 1887 at Bothwell, and was buried two days later at St Peter's Cemetery, Dalbeth, Glasgow in common ground. He had died of phthisis, or tuberculosis which had ailed him for about one year. Bernard was around fifty-six years old.

An extract from Bernard's death certificate.

In the years following Bernard's death, Jane lived with her two youngest sons and opened up their house for lodgers for some extra income. One lodger was Patrick Ferns or Fearon, an Irishman, who Jane went on to marry in August 1891. They married at St Paul's Roman Catholic Church, Shettleston.

An extract from Jane's second marriage certificate.

Jane Duffy died on 7 December 1908 at Tollcross, and was buried two days later at St Peter's Cemetery, Dalbeth. Like her first husband, Jane was buried in common ground. Jane had died of chronic bronchitis, which she had suffered from for over two years. 

An extract from Jane's death certificate.