Michael Connolly shared this fantastic photo of the McGuigan family in Blantyre in 1900.
Incredibly their history is told on the back of the photo (how amazing if we all did that!).
Back row, left to right is Charles, James and Henry. Centre Row is Mary, Margaret and James, Margaret, John, Teresa and Peter on the front.
The narrative does say they would have taken a tramcar into Hamilton to Sharps to get this photo taken, but I cant agree with that, as tramcars would not appear in Blantyre and Hamilton until 1903 and not at Spittal or Cambuslang until 1907.
However, how wonderful to have everything else accurately recorded about this family. The entire family resided at Spittal Row, just outside Blantyre Parish. The family all worked in the pits, and even the women were brass pickers at the collieries.This family were deeply affected due to the long time they worked in the pits. One family member was blinded in an accident in Auchinraith colliery and another was paralysed, confined to a wheelchair due to his efforts at work.
What a lovely blessing is written on the back too, “They never die who live in the hearts of those they love and leave behind“.
I cant help but feel how wonderful it would be if people stopped for a second and took time to write something, no matter how briefly on the back of photographs. Its just something we don’t do very much these days and our hard drives, if they even survive or can be read in future, are going to create mass confusion for future generations.
On social media, this was a popular subject, so thanks again to the family for only sharing the photo here.
Sharing this photo and .all the details
Of ourpast family members .mary on the centre row was my mother and all my aunts and uncles .are there.
Excellent to see the photo plus the details on the reverse. Henry was my grandfather. I would love to know if there are any other photos about of the family. I only have a scant few.