This is a colourised photo of Mary Thomson, BIRTH 1831 • Prestonpans, East Lothian, Scotland, DEATH 6 JUL 1922 • Blantyre, Lanarkshire, Scotland. She is photographed at Merry’s Rows in Blantyre in 1912.
In 1853, Mary married Walter Anderson (b1828-d1900). She died at 60 Merry’s Row living with Cecilia Lindsay, her Daughter. Mary is pictured here with her grandson, Cecilia’s son Andrew Lindsay (1903 – 1919). Young Andrew lived all his short life at 60 Merry’s Row and died as a result of a mining accident at 16 years of age a very short distance away, just 7 years after this photo.
On December 24th, Christmas Eve 1919 at the Auchinraith Colliery owned by Messrs Merry & Cunningham, Andrew was struck by piece of falling coal. He died of a Cerebral haemorrhage in the ambulance room of Auchinraith colliery.
Like most of the people living in the larger houses on Merry’s Rows, they paid £6 per year rent back in 1915 during WW1. William Lindsay was head of the house, the son in law of Mary Thomson.
One can only imagine the gran, mother and father making their way to the nearby colliery to learn of their son’s tragic death.
The great picture is from around 1911 or 1912. In the background is the whitewashed , painted brick of Merry’s Rows, the large entrance door and ventilated cavity under the house. I have to admit, looking at the cat , it looks pretty terrified to be so near 2 dogs but family pets were to be included in this picture regardless!