William Hendry (1809 - 1879) Perhaps the most likely candidate for Mary Mathieson’s partner and father of illegitimate children, William and Margaret, is the following William Henry/Hendry/Hendrie (referred to as WH in the following passage). The reasons for his selection are as follows : • William Bruce Hendrie’s Death Certificate (1890) identified his father as a coal miner. WH was a coal miner in 1841 and a fire man (mining term) in 1851. • William Bruce Hendrie’s father was a general labourer according to his marriage certificate in 1871. In 1871 WH was a labourer in a foundry. • WH lived in Titchfield St, Kilmarnock in 1851; Mary Mathieson in Wallace St, Galston. These locations are just over 5 miles apart. In 1841 Mary Mathieson was living in Back St, Kilmarnock, which is just a short walk from Titchfield St. I don’t know when Mary and her relations moved to Galston. The railway viaduct was built over part of Back Street 1843 to 1850 so this may have prompted the move. • William Hendry (WH) was born abt 1809 in Riccarton, Ayrshire. In 1834, at the age of 25, he married Mary Ann Smith who was born about 1817 in Ireland. In 1841 they were living in Crompton St, Riccarton. Riccarton is linked to Kilmarnock, being just south of the River Irvine. Crompton St which was recorded in the late 1700s no longer seems to exist. In 1841 William was a coal miner. They don’t appear to have had any children but were living together in Kilmarnock in 1851. William’s occupation is difficult to read but could be 'Fire Man'. Titchfield St, where William was living is a continuation of High/Low Glencairn St, where future wife Mary Drysdale was also living in 1851. And Titchfield St is just a short walk to Back St where Mary Mathieson had been living in 1841. By 1851 she was in Galston but I don’t know when she, her step-sister and mother Marion Bruce moved. Fireman An official who is in charge of a district in the mine. Engineman The man in the engine house who is in charge of the winding engine and takes his instructions from the banksman. From a Glossary of Mining Terms in the mid 1800’s in the book "Weep Mothers Weep", extracted by Joanne Fraser. If this man is William Henry’s father then he must have been having an affair with Mary Mathieson while he was married. It seems odd that his two illegitimate children should be christened in St. Joseph’s RC Church in 1852 and 1853.
The railway first came to Kilmarnock in 1837 when the Kilmarnock & Ayr Railway Company was formed, followed by the Glasgow & Dalry Railway Company, six years later. The numbers of goods and passengers carried rose quickly, as its popularity continued on from that of the Duke of Portland's wagon way. In 1847, the Kilmarnock & Troon wagon-way was bought from the Duke and converted for the use of passenger steam trains. Within the next 3 years, more lines were opened up with stops at Galston and Newmilns. A magnificent railway viaduct was constructed from the station, across Portland and Soulis Streets and spanning the Kilmarnock Water to join land at the bottom of what became Kay Park. It towered over the older, smaller properties.
1851 Census : William Hendrie : Titchfield St, Kilmarnock
1841 Census 1841 Census : William Hendry : Crompton St