Alexander Glasgow

Biography
Alexander Glasgow was born on 22 April 1871 at 36 Graham Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow, the son of Robert Glasgow (1840–1902) and Jane Graham (1839–1891). Birth record, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQQ8-5MB) 

He was the fourth of nine children, with siblings William Glasgow, Mary Glasgow, James Graham Glasgow, Ellen Jane Glasgow, Agnes Glasgow, Emily Glasgow, Robert Glasgow, and Matilda Glasgow. 
Early Life
In the 1881 Census, aged 9, Alexander was living with his parents and siblings at 59 McKechnie Street, Barony, Glasgow. 1881 Scotland Census (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQQ8-5MB) 

By the 1891 Census, aged 19, he was recorded at 534 Gallowgate, Glasgow as a flesher’s labourer. His father Robert Glasgow was also a flesher, so it is likely that Alexander was working for, or alongside, his father in the family’s trade. 1891 Scotland Census & Valuation Roll, 534 Gallowgate, VR010200461 
Marriage and Family
On 8 July 1892, aged 21, Alexander married Mary Clarkson (1862–c.1937). They raised a large family together in Glasgow’s east end: 

* Thomas Glasgow (1890–1903) 
* Jane Graham Glasgow (1892–1976), married John Clark 
* John Clarkson Glasgow I (1894–1936), married Catherine McCue 
* Archibald Clarkson Glasgow (1898–1927) 
* Alexander Glasgow (1900–1980), married Bridget Airlie 
* Sarah Coulter Glasgow (1903–1903) 
* Mary Leckie Clarkson Glasgow (1904–1984), married David Goldstein 

Their children established the strongest and most documented branch of the family that remains in Scotland to the 20th century, with many descendants continuing to live in Glasgow and Lanarkshire. 
Work and Occupations
Alexander spent most of his working life in the meat trade: 
* 1891 – recorded as a flesher’s labourer, likely working under his father 
* 1892 – again listed as a flesher’s labourer at marriage 
* Later years – worked as a pouther (involved in curing meat) 
* By adulthood – listed as a butcher 

This shows that Alexander spent more than 30 years of his adult life in butchery-related work. It provided steadier wages than general labour, though conditions in Glasgow’s meat markets were often unhygienic and physically demanding. 
Residences
* 1881 – 59 McKechnie Street, Barony (aged 9) 
* 1891 – 534 Gallowgate, Glasgow (aged 19) 
* 1901 – 58 East Rose Street, Camlachie (aged 29) 1901 Scotland Census (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQQ8-5MB) 
* 1915 – 56 Marlborough Street, Calton (aged 43, Valuation Roll VR010201067) 

These addresses kept him rooted in the same districts where his father had raised the family. 
Historical Context
Alexander’s life (1871–1924) spanned a period of dramatic change in Glasgow: 
* The city’s population soared, and by 1901 it had over 760,000 residents, many of them of Irish descent. 
* East-end families like the Glasgows lived in crowded tenement housing, often sharing one toilet and water tap per close. History of Glasgow Tenements (https://cairnestateagency.com/history-glasgow-tenements/) 
* By the 1880s and 1890s, the city was notorious for slum conditions, which contributed to chronic health problems. 
* The meat trade itself was under scrutiny: in 1889 a Glasgow butcher was prosecuted for selling diseased meat, reflecting growing public health concerns. Agricultural History Review, “Meat Supply in 19th-Century Glasgow” (https://www.bahs.org.uk/AGHR/ARTICLES/52n2a3.pdf) 
* In his later years, Alexander witnessed the rise of Red Clydeside and working-class activism in Glasgow (1910s–1920s). As a working man in Calton, he would have lived in the heart of these movements. 
Death
Alexander died on 29 January 1924 at 56 Marlborough Street, Calton, Glasgow, aged 52. His cause of death was given as chronic bronchitis and cardiac failure. 1924 Death Record, Marlborough Street, Glasgow, VR010201067 

He was survived by his wife Mary Clarkson and their children. 
Research Notes
* His first child, Thomas (1890), was born two years before his marriage to Mary Clarkson in 1892. This could reflect an early union or a registration irregularity. 
* The repeated use of Clarkson as a middle name for his children preserves the maternal surname. 
Sources
* FamilySearch census records (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQQ8-5MB) 
* 1891 Scotland Census & Valuation Roll, Gallowgate (VR010200461) 
* 1915 Valuation Roll, Marlborough Street, Glasgow (VR010201067) 
* 1924 Death Register, Glasgow (chronic bronchitis and cardiac failure) 
* History of Glasgow Tenements (https://cairnestateagency.com/history-glasgow-tenements/) 
* Agricultural History Review, Meat Supply in 19th-Century Glasgow (https://www.bahs.org.uk/AGHR/ARTICLES/52n2a3.pdf)

== Biography ==

{{One Name Study|name=Glasgow}}

'''Alexander Glasgow''' was born on '''22 April 1871''' at '''36 Graham Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow''', the son of [[Glasgow-938|Robert Glasgow (1840–1902)]] and [[Graham-21720|Jane Graham (1839–1891)]].<ref>[https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQQ8-5MB Birth record, FamilySearch]</ref>  

He was the fourth of nine children, with siblings [[Glasgow-939|William Glasgow]], [[Glasgow-1108|Mary Glasgow]], [[Glasgow-940|James Graham Glasgow]], [[Glasgow-944|Ellen Jane Glasgow]], [[Glasgow-941|Agnes Glasgow]], [[Glasgow-945|Emily Glasgow]], [[Glasgow-942|Robert Glasgow]], and [[Glasgow-943|Matilda Glasgow]].  

=== Early Life ===  
In the '''1881 Census''', aged '''9''', Alexander was living with his parents and siblings at '''59 McKechnie Street, Barony, Glasgow'''.<ref>[https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQQ8-5MB 1881 Scotland Census]</ref>  

By the '''1891 Census''', aged '''19''', he was recorded at '''534 Gallowgate, Glasgow''' as a '''flesher’s labourer'''. His father [[Glasgow-938|Robert Glasgow]] was also a flesher, so it is likely that Alexander was working for, or alongside, his father in the family’s trade.<ref>1891 Scotland Census & Valuation Roll, 534 Gallowgate, VR010200461</ref>  

=== Marriage and Family ===  
On '''8 July 1892''', aged '''21''', Alexander married [[Clarkson-1923|Mary Clarkson (1862–c.1937)]]. They raised a large family together in Glasgow’s east end:  

* [[Glasgow-3643|Thomas Glasgow]] (1890–1903)  
* [[Glasgow-946|Jane Graham Glasgow]] (1892–1976), married John Clark  
* [[Glasgow-1020|John Clarkson Glasgow I]] (1894–1936), married Catherine McCue  
* [[Glasgow-947|Archibald Clarkson Glasgow]] (1898–1927)  
* [[Glasgow-948|Alexander Glasgow]] (1900–1980), married Bridget Airlie  
* [[Glasgow-949|Sarah Coulter Glasgow]] (1903–1903)  
* [[Glasgow-950|Mary Leckie Clarkson Glasgow]] (1904–1984), married David Goldstein  

Their children established the strongest and most documented branch of the family that remains in Scotland to the 20th century, with many descendants continuing to live in Glasgow and Lanarkshire.  

=== Work and Occupations ===  
Alexander spent most of his working life in the meat trade:  
* '''1891''' – recorded as a '''flesher’s labourer''', likely working under his father  
* '''1892''' – again listed as a '''flesher’s labourer''' at marriage  
* Later years – worked as a '''pouther''' (involved in curing meat)  
* By adulthood – listed as a '''butcher'''  

This shows that Alexander spent more than '''30 years''' of his adult life in butchery-related work. It provided steadier wages than general labour, though conditions in Glasgow’s meat markets were often unhygienic and physically demanding.  

=== Residences ===  
* '''1881''' – 59 McKechnie Street, Barony (aged 9)  
* '''1891''' – 534 Gallowgate, Glasgow (aged 19)  
* '''1901''' – 58 East Rose Street, Camlachie (aged 29)<ref>[https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQQ8-5MB 1901 Scotland Census]</ref>  
* '''1915''' – 56 Marlborough Street, Calton (aged 43, Valuation Roll VR010201067)  

These addresses kept him rooted in the same districts where his father had raised the family.  

=== Historical Context ===  
Alexander’s life ('''1871–1924''') spanned a period of dramatic change in Glasgow:  
* The city’s population soared, and by 1901 it had over '''760,000''' residents, many of them of Irish descent.  
* East-end families like the Glasgows lived in crowded '''tenement housing''', often sharing one toilet and water tap per close.<ref>[https://cairnestateagency.com/history-glasgow-tenements/ History of Glasgow Tenements]</ref>  
* By the 1880s and 1890s, the city was notorious for '''slum conditions''', which contributed to chronic health problems.  
* The meat trade itself was under scrutiny: in '''1889''' a Glasgow butcher was prosecuted for selling diseased meat, reflecting growing public health concerns.<ref>[https://www.bahs.org.uk/AGHR/ARTICLES/52n2a3.pdf Agricultural History Review, “Meat Supply in 19th-Century Glasgow”]</ref>  
* In his later years, Alexander witnessed the rise of '''Red Clydeside''' and working-class activism in Glasgow (1910s–1920s). As a working man in Calton, he would have lived in the heart of these movements.  

=== Death ===  
Alexander died on '''29 January 1924''' at '''56 Marlborough Street, Calton, Glasgow''', aged '''52'''. His cause of death was given as '''chronic bronchitis and cardiac failure'''.<ref>1924 Death Record, Marlborough Street, Glasgow, VR010201067</ref>  

He was survived by his wife [[Clarkson-1923|Mary Clarkson]] and their children.  

== Research Notes ==  
* His first child, Thomas (1890), was born two years before his marriage to Mary Clarkson in 1892. This could reflect an early union or a registration irregularity.  
* The repeated use of '''Clarkson''' as a middle name for his children preserves the maternal surname.  

== Sources ==  
<references />  

* [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQQ8-5MB FamilySearch census records]  
* 1891 Scotland Census & Valuation Roll, Gallowgate (VR010200461)  
* 1915 Valuation Roll, Marlborough Street, Glasgow (VR010201067)  
* 1924 Death Register, Glasgow (chronic bronchitis and cardiac failure)  
* [https://cairnestateagency.com/history-glasgow-tenements/ History of Glasgow Tenements]  
* [https://www.bahs.org.uk/AGHR/ARTICLES/52n2a3.pdf Agricultural History Review, Meat Supply in 19th-Century Glasgow]