Ann Vickers is my 3rd great grandmother.
Ann was born about 1854 in Govan, Lanark, Scotland to James Vickers and Ann Thomas. She had four siblings that I know of: George, Christina, Sarah, and William. She was raised in Lanark County. By the 1871 Census she was 16 years old and working as a Paper Mill Girl.
Two years later, Ann married James Young on 9 May 1873 in Partick, Lanark, Scotland. Ann & James were blessed with eleven children. Ann died 13 December 1912 in Denniston, Glasgow, Scotland. She was buried in the Lambill Cemetery.
Researching Ann has given me a few tender and sorrowful moments. I have gathered every census for her life except for 1881 (can’t find that one). When I got to the 1901 census Ann was missing from the family. I knew she was alive because I had her death notice and death record but she wasn’t with her family. The 1911 census was the same. Where on earth was Ann? I scoured the 1911 census and found her in the Glasgow Royal Infirmary as a patient. Then there was a terrible, sinking feeling in my gut. Was Ann in the hospital from 1911 to 1913 or worse – 1901 – 1913?
I did some digging online and found the archivist for the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. I sent him an email requesting information about Ann’s stay. While I waited for his response I was very teary as my imagination ran away from me. His response was such a relief. He had a record of Ann’s stay three days before her death. He couldn’t find a record of her visit at the time of the 1911 census. He then went on to reassure me that the GRI had no long term wing at this time. Ann wouldn’t have been there longer than a few days. Such a relief!
As I continued working on her children, I discovered a census for one of her daughters in 1901. Ann was there, listed as Mrs. Young, visitor – no wonder I hadn’t found her with my usual tricks! Ann’s daughter, Janet, had just had her first baby. He was two days old and didn’t yet have a name. I imagine Ann was there to help her daughter with the sweet, new baby. Again, such a relief.
The last of my sweet moments came after studying Ann’s headstone.
It took some work to put together a transcription from this photo. I almost had it all. Then a cousin Gregg Young sent me a small original. That was much easier to read. The big discovery was a mention of two daughters, Jeanie & Maggie who died in infancy. Jeanie and Maggie were new to me. It took a few years and several inspired moments to track them down. But I found them, a story worthy of its own post.
Sadly the memorial now lies on it’s side in several pieces. I’m grateful that this photo was taken before that happened, as only half of the inscription is now visible.
I learned a lot as I researched Ann. I’m glad to have these photos. When I started researching this line I never imagined I would see a photo from this time period. Such a treasure!
Children of James Young & Ann Vickers Young:
- Ann Tommy Young, 1873-1943
- Janet Erskine Young, 1874-1942
- James Young, 1876-1945 – my 2nd great grandfather
- George Vicars Young, 1878-
- Alexander Douglas Young, 1882-1911
- Christina Vicars Young, 1884-1920
- Agnes Young, 1886-
- Mary Young, 1887-
- Robert Bennie Young, 1890-
- Jane Brown Young, 1892-1895
- Margaret Young, 1892-1892
I loved this story about Ann Vickers, I also had an ancestor in the Royal Infirmary, thanks for the tip!
Hi Shelia, glad it was helpful. If you can’t find the contact info online let me know, I may be able to dig it back up. 🙂
Wonderful research and story.
Thank you!
I am in a similar predicament. My great-grandmother was admitted to the Montana State Hospital for the Insane some time between 1920 and 1930, and though the common passed-down story is that it was a ploy used by her brother-in-law to take control of the land she owned after her husband died, I’m still waiting on proof of that. I’ve put in a research request with the Montana State Historical Society who are gathering everything they can legally send my way. The waiting is driving me insane!
Hello Jillian! Thanks for stopping by. Waiting can be so hard. I hope you get some great documents that make the wait completely worthwhile. 🙂
Such a lovely story about Ann, with more good moments discovered than bad. Although it’s sad about her tombstone. Which just proves: every tombstone photo taken by a volunteer will be useful to a relative someday.
Yes, I’m so glad that photo was taken and passed along. The one I have was taken by a distant cousin who is not related to this branch of my family. He saw the marker while looking for something else and remembered that our mutual cousin was related to Vickers, he took the photo just in case and sent it on to that cousin. 20+ years later it was passed on to me. I’m so grateful.
I love the good photo at the beginning. The gore detail on the two skirts is great.