Joseph Patton was born on 24 April 1878, in Carfin in the Parish of Bothwell, son of John Patton and Margaret Patton (née McRory), who had married in Stranolar, Ireland, in 1862.
Prior to Joseph, his parents John and Margaret, had their first child, Patrick, in 1867, followed by Margaret 3 years later. Before Thomas arrived in 1874, the family had moved to Scotland, and Thomas was born in Glasgow. Following Joseph in 1878, the family welcomed a daughter Mary in around 1880. The 1881 census therefore showed them as a family of 7, living in Watsonville Rows, Motherwell.
On Joseph’s birth certificate, John would appear to be listed as a carter, although at this time, Motherwell was the centre of Scotland’s steel production. The town has gone through a massive change in the preceding decades: in 1841 the town’s population was just 726. Forty years later, in 1881, the population of ‘Steelopolis’ is 12,904.
This change in population did not necessarily mean an increase in living standards. The family’s home on Watsonville Row has only one room with a window, to house the 7 members of the family.
On 25 March 1914, in evidence presented to the Royal Commission, the housing known as “Watsonville” was described as being situtated in the centre of Motherwell Burgh. The evidence went on to say:
“They are a very poor type of house, and were built over forty years ago. Water is supplied by means of stand-pipes in the street, with an open channel to carry off the dirty water. There is a meagre supply of washhouse accommodation, and grave complaints were made on this score. The streets and back courts are in a very bad condition”.
We next see Joseph at age 13, in the 1891 Census:
He is now 13, and his father John at the age of 52, is working as a general labourer. His older brothers and sister are still at home, working as steelworkers in the case of the boys. Their new home, in the district of Dalziel, appears to be larger, having 3 rooms with one or more windows. Whilst his little sister Mary is listed as a “scholar”, Joseph is neither listed as a scholar or as being employed.
A further younger sister, Catherine, who is 7 on the night of the 1891 Census, has been added to the family.
A grandchild, Francis Brown Patton, also now lives with his mother and grandparents. He is 3 years old and the illegitimate child of Joseph’s older sister Margaret (Maggie) Patton. Maggie was 17 when Francis was born, and working as a domestic servant, although the Census suggests she is no longer employed.
Between the 1891 Census and the 1901 Census, Joseph appears to have left the family home
The Ardrossan McFarlanes 