Francis Smyth was born on Sunday, November 4, 1883 in Cleland to Catherine Reynolds (c1858 - 1913) and Patrick Smyth, Coal Miner (c1859 - 1911). [See Section SM-6-1 for family background.]
Catherine McGhee was born on Thursday, July 15, 1886 at Kirkmuirhill, Lesmahagow to Ann Donnelly (1866 - ) and Peter McGhee, Coal Miner (1861 - ). [See Section MG3-6-1 for family background.]
The Smyth and McGhee families were both living in Omoa Square at the census of 1901.
1906 On Friday, February 2, Francis Smyth and Catherine McGhee were married at the R.C. Chapel, Cleland [St. Mary's], West Dist. of Shotts after Banns and Publication according to the Forms of the R.C. Church. The marriage was registered No.8 at Cleland on February 5.
Francis was a Bachelor, age 22, occupation Coalminer and usual residence Omoa Square, West Dist. of Shotts. His parents are recorded as Patrick Smyth, Coalminer and Catherine Smyth m.s. Reynolds.
Catherine was a Spinster, age 19, no occupation recorded and usual residence also Omoa Square, West Dist. of Shotts. Her parents are recorded as Peter McGhee, Coal Miner and Ann McGhee m.s. Donnelly.
The celebrant was Robert Paterson and the witnesses were Thomas Smyth [probably Francis's brother] and Alice Donnelly.
Patrick and Catherine had the following children (that I know of) —
Annie (1) born in 1906 at Pottery Buildings, Cleland and died in 1914. Catherine born in 1908 at Pottery Buildings, Cleland, last sighting 1911. Patrick born in 1910 at McAuley's Land, Cleland, last sighting 1911. Bridget born in 1912 at McAuley's Land, Cleland, last sighting 1912. Peter born in 1913 at 70 Omoa Road, Cleland, last sighting 1913. Annie (2) born in 1915 at McAuley's Land, Cleland, last sighting 1915. Jane born in 1917 at 66 Omoa Road, Cleland, last sighting 1917. which tallies with the 1911 census count.
1906 Annie Smith was born at 11h55m p.m. on Tuesday, May 1 at Pottery Buildings, Cleland to Catherine Smith m.s. McGhee and Francis Smith, Coalminer who married on February 2, 1906 in Shotts (West). Her birth was registered No.292 at Holytown on May 15 by Francis Smith, Father, Present.
Sadly, Annie died in 1914.
1908 Catherine Smith was born at 10h a.m. on Tuesday, April 14 at Pottery Buildings, Cleland to Catherine Smith m.s. McGhee and Francis Smith, Coal Miner who married on January [sic] 2, 1906 in Shotts West. Her birth was registered No.262 at Holytown on May 4 by Francis Smith, Father, Present.
1910 Patrick Smith was born at 6h0m a.m. on Friday, July 1 at McAuley Land, Cleland to Catherine Smith m.s. McGhee and Francis Smith, Coalminer who married on February 2, 1905 [sic] in Cleland. His birth was registered No.106 at Cleland on the same day by Francis Smith, Father, Present.
1911 April 2 The family were living living on Omoa Road (no house number recorded)
Rel. Age Mar. Occupation Status Birthplace Francis Smith Head 26 Mar Coal Miner Hewer Worker Lanark, Shotts Catherine [McGhee] Wife 24 Mar 5 - 3 - 3 do., do. Ann do. Daur 5 do., do. Catherine do. Daur 2 do., do. Patrick do. Son 1 do., do. Francis and Catherine had been married for 5 years and produced three children, all of whom were still alive.
1912 Bridget Smyth was born at 8h30m a.m. on Tuesday, August 27 at McAuley Land, Cleland to Catherine Smyth m.s. McGhee and Francis Smyth, Coal Miner who married on February 2, 1905 [sic] in the West Dist. of Shotts. Her birth was registered No.100 at Cleland on August 29 by Francis Smith, Father, Present.
1913 Peter Smyth was born at 11h0m p.m. on Friday, November 21 at 70 Omoa Road, Cleland to Catherine Smyth m.s. McGhee and Francis Smyth, Coal Miner who married on February 2, 1906 in the West Dist. of Shotts. His birth was registered No.143 at Cleland on November 26 by Francis Smith, Father, Present.
1914 Annie Smyth (Single) died at 8h30m p.m. on Tuesday, November 3 at McAuley's Land, Omoa Road, Cleland, age 8 years, of Internal Abdominal Injuries, 2½ hours, Fracture of Ribs, 2½ hours, as certified by Geo. Hugh Logan, MBChB. Her parents are recorded as Francis Smyth, Coal Miner and Catherine Smyth m.s. McGhee. Her death was registered No.83 at Cleland on the following day by Francis Smyth, Father, Present.
There is no more information in the Register of Corrected Entries for the West District of Shotts in the County of Lanark, Vol.x, Page 196.
"The following Report of result of a Precognition [Scots Law - preliminary examination of witnesses as to whether there is ground for prosecution] has been received touching the Death of Annie Smyth, Registered under No.83 in the Register Book of Deaths for the year 1914
Name, Age & Sex When & Where Died Cause of Death Annie
Smyth
8 years
FemaleOn 3rd November 1914
at 8:30 p.m. in her
residence at McAuley's
Land, Omoa Road
ClelandAbdominal
Injuries and
Fractured RibsProcurator Fiscal's Office
Hamilton 13th November 1914Certified by William Thompson,
Procurator Fiscal1 December 1914 at Cleland
Robert M. Brown, Registrarwhich is a pity, we still don't know the cause of her injuries and can only assume that they were accidental.
1915 A second Annie Smyth was born at 9h0m p.m. on Tuesday, January 19 at McAuley Land, Cleland to Catherine Smyth m.s. McGhee and Francis Smyth, Coal Miner who married on February 2, 1906 in the West Dist. of Shotts. Her birth was registered No.12 at Cleland on January 21 by Francis Smith, Father, Present.
1917 Jane Smyth was born at 8h0m a.m. on Sunday, June 3 at 66 Omoa Road, Cleland to Catherine Smyth m.s. McGhee and Francis Smyth, Coal Miner who married on February 2, 1906 in Cleland. Her birth was registered No.58 at Cleland on the following day by Francis Smyth, Father, Present.