Four children who died at Troon, May 1873 ……

Or so the inscription on a stone in Glasgow’s Western Necropolis says.

Was this a drowning? A disease epidemic?

By sourcing their death certificates, it was discovered that tragically, each of them contracted Diptheria and all died within a period of 19 days

They were the children of John Wingate, a Calico Printer in Glasgow and
Jean Langlands his wife.

In loving memory of JOHN WINGATE,

Born 8^th July 1820, died 21^st November 1891

Also four children who died at Troon, May 1873

And buried at the Cathedral, Glasgow

NORMAN, aged 3 years

NELLY FLEMING aged 5½ years

WATSON aged 19 months

And RALPH aged 4 years

His wife JEAN FLEMING LANGLANDS,

Born 3^rd November 1828, died 25^th March 1899

Their son ARTHUR WINGATE

Born 7^th September 1862, died 4^th November 1910

The stone is in Section XX, (Lair No.unknown)

Norman Wingate, age 2 years, died of Diptheria, 28^th April 1873

Nelly Fleming Wingate, age 5 years, died of Diptheria, 4^th May 1873

Watson Wingate, age 1 year, died of Diptheria, 14^th May 1873

Ralph Wingate, age 4 years, died of Diptheria, 16^th May 1873

The address listed for Norman and Nelly is ‘South Beach’, Troon’

The address listed for Watson and Ralph is ‘Sea Bank’, Troon

Perhaps the family were on holiday or they had taken the children to the
sea-side in the feint hope that cleaner-air would air their recovery.

After scouring the burial grounds at Glasgow Cathedral, no memorial for

these children has been found, but there is a possibility that they were interred

in the lair of their Grandparents John Wingate and Jean Smith.

John Wingate Senior, can be found from the 1841 & 1851 Census

where his occupation is that of ‘Clothier’

In 1841, John (Senior), his wife Jean Smith are living at Govan Villa, Govan

With sons Alexander age 20, John, age 20, James age 15, Walter age 5

and Robert age 3 and their one daughter Mary, age 9

By 1851 only John Junior, age 30 and daughter Mary, age 19
were still with their parents, living at Cessnock Park, Govan.

John Senior died 2^nd May 1852 aged 64

The Wingate Lair is located on Wall C, Lair No. 163

(This indicates that the location is on the first ‘internal’ wall and faces west,

towards the rear of Glasgow Royal Infirmary building)

In memory of JOHN WINGATE died 2^nd May 1852 aged 64

JEAN SMITH his wife died 27^th December 1874 aged 81

And their children JEAN, ANDREW & HELEN who died in infancy

ALEXANDER died 1859 aged 41

ROBERT died 1876 aged 39

JAMES died 4^th October 1888 aged 66

MARGARET his wife died 2^nd February 1894 aged 72

Jean Wingate (nee Smith), widow of John Senior can be found in the 1861 Census

age 67 living at 17 India Street, Glasgow with her two sons,

John Junior, age 40 and Walter age 25

On previous Census Returns, John Junior’s occupation had gone from ‘Clerk’ in 1841

to ‘Clothier’ in 1851 & 1861, so perhaps he had followed in his father’s footsteps.

John Wingate married Jean Fleming Langlands on 9th January 1862

in Glasgow’s Blythswood District.

Their first child, Arthur Wingate, was born in Glasgow

on 7^th September 1862 and his sister Janet Watson Wingate was also

born in Glasgow eighteen months later, on 20^th March 1865.

Their third child Jeannie J came along in 1867 but she was born in

Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire.

On the 1871 Census, the family are found living at ‘The Knowe’ Villa,

Millken Park in Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire

where John is now involved in the Calico Trade.

John Wingate, Head of Household, age 50, born c1821, Glasgow

Occupation: Partner in Warehouse/Calico Printer

Jeannie Fleming Wingate, Wife, age 40, born c1831, Ireland

Arthur Wingate, Son, age 8, born c1862, Glasgow

Janet W. Wingate, Daughter, age 6 born c1865, Glasgow

Jeanie J. Wingate, Daughter, age 4, born c1867, Kilbarchan

Nelly H. Wingate, Daughter, age 3, born c1868, Kilbarchan

Ralph Wingate, Son, age 2, born c1869, Kilbarchan

Norman Wingate, Son, age 10 months, born 1870, Kilbarchan

The deaths of their 4 children may have instigated a move back to Glasgow.

The 1881 Census shows the family living at 6 Kelvin Drive, Glasgow:

John Wingate, Head of Household, age 60, born c1821, Glasgow

Occupation: Printed Calico Merchant

Jeannie Fleming Wingate, Wife, age 51, born c1830, Londonderry, Ireland

Arthur Wingate, Son, age 18, born c1862, Glasgow

Janet W. Wingate, Daughter, age 16, born c1865, Glasgow

Jeanie J. Wingate, Daughter, age 14, born c1867, Kilbarchan

John Wingate born 8^th July 1820, died 21^st November 1891, age 71

His wife Jean Fleming Wingate (nee Langlands)

Born 3^rd November 1862, died 25^th March 1899, age 70

The following newspaper articles may refer to the above Wingate Family

And if so, tell their own story.

Edinburgh & London Gazette

Arthur Wingate, the eldest son of John Wingate and Jean Fleming Langlands

Can be found in the 1901 Census now married with his own family

and carrying on the family tradition/occupation as ‘Calico Printer’

Living at 10 Prince’s Gardens, Partick, Glasgow

Arthur Wingate, Head of Household, age 38

Annie L. Wingate, Wife, age 33

Daughters Ruth M. Wingate, age 6 Lois M. Wingate, age 3

And Son John L. Wingate age 1

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