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James and Elspeth Macdonald 1871 census and 1873 death Vyse Street and Spencer Street

R

RobertMacdonald

New Member
Many thanks to all of those that run this lovely history site. It is a gem that preserves the amazing history of Birmingham and the people who lived there.

I am trying to find out anything I can about my ancestors who lived at 121 Vyse St and 42 Spencer St in the early 1870s. Elspeth died of TB and was buried at Key Hill. James moved away at some point but I am not sure when. He was listed as a Jeweller on the 1871 census.

1760290714010.png


I found this picture of 121 on the forum. https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/attachments/vyse-street-1963-jpg.127223/

Does anyone know if this building is old enough to have been the one that stood in 1873?

Is there a good place to find out more about the area and people in the 1870s.
 
yes 121 in the photo would have been there in 1873 in fact it was most likely there a good 80 years before that...sadly all those properties in the photo have now been demolished..however at least you have a photo of it

lyn
 
MWS said:
James McDonald and Elspeth Purvis married Paisley 27 Dec 1864 Paisley?

If so there's a photo of here grave (or at least her memorial if you haven't seen it here...

Click to expand...
Yes that is the memorial for her father and mother and some other family members.

While she is named on that stone I am sure she is not buried there after finding the record for Key Hill Section O plot 255 for November days after she died . I don't suppose anyone was too keen to move bodies of people who died of TB. They were Presbyterians so Key Hill would make sense.

The marriage is listed in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on 27 December 1864. James was an agent for Birmingham and Sheffield manufacturers according to the Post Office Annual for Glasgow. I am not sure when he first arrived in Birmingham but at some point before 1864. The selling of manufactured good might explain how he met a farmer's daughter from deepest Fife.

1760295237193.png
 
Astoness said:
yes 121 in the photo would have been there in 1873 in fact it was most likely there a good 80 years before that...sadly all those properties in the photo have now been demolished..however at least you have a photo of it

lyn
Click to expand...
Thanks Lyn.

It all adds colour to family research.

I know at some point he started to sell/manufacture false teeth. I guess that would be something made by jewellers in those days.
 
A good description of the Jewellery Quarter and its development is in the book by John Cattell, Sheila Ely and Barry Jones "The Birmingham Jewellery Quarter" .
In the 1876 directory there is listed Macdonald & Co,, jewellers at 121 Vyse Street. The firm, or a jeweller James Macdonald, are not listed in the 1873 or or 1878 directories
 
mikejee said:
A good description of the Jewellery Quarter and its development is in the book by John Cattell, Sheila Ely and Barry Jones "The Birmingham Jewellery Quarter" .
In the 1876 directory there is listed Macdonald & Co,, jewellers at 121 Vyse Street. The firm, or a jeweller James Macdonald, are not listed in the 1873 or or 1878 directories
Click to expand...
Thank you that is very helpful.
 
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