Crawford and Elise

William McIlhagga and Agnes McCosh's fourth child and third son was Crawford. The Broughshane Baptism Register reads: 1837 Febry 26th Crawford to Wm & Agnes McIlhaga, Ballyclochan. It is interesting to ask why they chose the name Crawford. It could have been a surname occurring in either the paternal or the maternal line, a generation or two back. I posited this theory in a blog on 23rd November 2009. Crawford, unlike his older siblings, did not marry in Ballycloughan. He must have moved from Ireland to Scotland by 1865, perhaps first staying with one of his older siblings, William, John or Jane. However, by 1865 he was living at 7 Hunter Crescent, Greenock. He had met Elizabeth Smith, daughter of Thomas Smith (b.c. 1820) Daywatchman and Jane Chestnut (b.c. 1820) born in Glasgow. Elizabeth (known as Elise) was from Port Glasgow and Crawford married her on 1st September 1865. I wonder if she was related to Thomas Smith who married Ann Jane, daughter of brother John? The Marriage Register entry includes the following:

1865 September first, Miramichi Port Glasgow. After Banns according to the forms of the Church of Scotland, Crawford McIlhagga, 25, Sugar Baker, Bachelor, 25 Cartsburn St., Greenock. Parents William McIlhagga, Farmer & Agnes McIlhagga MS McCosh; Elise Smith, Ropespinner, 22, of 11 Main St., Cartsdyke: Parents Thomas Smith, Day Watchman (dec), Jane Smith MS Chestnut (dec). Signed Peter Thomson, Minister of Crawfield Burn Free Church, Greenock and William John McWhirter, Witness; Christine Cameron, Witness; Registered Sept 4 at Port Glasgow. Wm. Smith, Registrar.

'Miramichi' seems to have been a public building owned by one of the Shipping Lines in Port Glasgow. Crawford and Elizabeth had their first three children in Greenock: Elizabeth who was born and died aged 5 hours on 22nd Nov 1865; William who was born a year later on 12th November 1866 and Thomas eighteen months later at 3pm on 6th March 1868. In 1865 Crawford and Elizabeth lived in Cartsburn Street, Greenock. In 1866 they moved to 47 Main Street and two years later to number 43. Before their next child was born there was a major move in their lives which I will deal with in a subsequent blog.