Janet Conway

Parents:

• Birth*: Janet Conway was born in 1849 at Monkton, Ayrshire, Scotland, .¹
• She was the daughter of John Conway farm labourer and Jane Waugh.
• (Bride) Marriage*: Janet Conway married Samuel Meney, son of John Meney and Elizabeth Little, on 12 July 1867 at Monkton, Ayrshire, Scotland, ; 1867 marriages in the parish of Monkton in the county of Ayr; 1867 on the twelfth day of July at Monkton after banns according to the forms of the Free Church of Scotland; Samuel Meney railway porter bachelor, 27, Kilwinning, 1867 marriages in the parish of Monkton in the county of Ayr, ref 6; 1867 on the twelfth day of July at Monkton after banns according to the forms of the Free Church of Scotland; signed Samuel Meney railway porter bachelor aged 27 residence Kilwinning parents John Meney agricultural labourer and Elizabeth Meney ms Little; signed Janet Conway seamstress spinster, 19, Monkton, parents John Conway masons labourer and Jane Conway ms Waugh; signed William Pinkerton minister Free Church Kilwinning, signed William Fisher, Martha Conway witnesses; reg 1867 July 12th at Monkton James M Cowan registrar.^2,3
• (Deceased) Death*: Janet Conway died on 17 January 1890 at Byres, Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland, , 1890 deaths in the parish of Kilwinning in the county of Ayr; ref 5; Janet Meney married to Samuel Meney grocer; 1890 January seventeenth 9h 30m am Byres Kilwinning; f 41 years; parents John Conway labourer Jane Conway ms Waugh (dec); apoplexy two or three days as cert by A Milroy surgeon; Samuel Meney widower present; reg 1890 January 18th at Kilwinning Andrew Spiers registrar.⁴

• Married Name: As of 12 July 1867, her married name was Meney.³
• Announcement*: She Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 24 Jan 1890; Deaths; At Byres, Kilwinning, on the 17th inst., aged 41, Janet Conway, beloved wife of Samuel Meney. - Deeply regretted on 24 January 1890.⁵
• (Spouse) Death: Her spouse Samuel Meney died on 23 November 1904 at 6 Byres Road, Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland, ; 1904 deaths in the parish of Kilwinning in the county of Ayr; ref 143; Samuel Meney railway surfaceman married to Janet Garven, 1904 November twenty-third 5h 0m pm 6 Byres Road Kilwinning, m 67 years, parents John Meney (dec) and Elizabeth Meney ms Little (dec); cardiac failure 1 day, pleuro-pnuemonia 5 days as cert by David L Gage LRCPEd LF...Glas, Janet Meney widow present, 1904 November 25 at Kilwinning J ... assist reg.^6,7
• (Witness) Memorial Inscription: Janet Conway is commemorated on the headstone erected by Samuel Meney in February 1890 at Bridgend Lane Cemetery, Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland, . Inscription reads Erected by Samuel Meney, in loving memory of his wife, Janet Conway, who died 17th Jany 1890, aged 41 years. His father, John Meney, died 30th Jany 1880, aged 82 years. And his mother, Elizh Little, died 21st Nover 1887, aged 80 years. The above Samuel Meney, died 23rd Novr 1904, aged 67 years. His wife Janet Garven, died 27th April 1921, aged 63 years. His son Samuel John Meney, died 21st Novr 1950, aged 57 years. Beloved husband of Mary Nicol. The above Mary Porter Nicol, died 8th Feby 1954, aged 69 years.⁸
  

Census & Directory Entries

Member of Household	30 March 1851	They was listed as a member of the household of John Conway farm labourer and Jane Waugh in the 1851 census at Monkton, Ayrshire, Scotland, . Janet Conway, daughter, aged 3, at home, born Monkton, Ayrshire; John Conway, head, married, aged 48, Handloom weaver (cotton), born Ireland; Jane Conway, wife, married, aged 38, Weaver's wife, aged 38, born Ireland.1 Monkton Village [c2002]
Member of Household	7 April 1861	They was listed as a member of the household of John Conway farm labourer and Jane Waugh in the 1861 census at Monkton, Ayrshire, Scotland, . Janet Conway, daughter, aged 13, scholar, born Monkton, Ayrshire; John Conway, head, married, aged 60, Mason's Labourer, born Ireland; Jane Conway, wife, married, aged 50, Mason's Labourer's wife, born Ireland.9
Spouse	3 April 1881	She was listed in the household of Samuel Meney in the 1881 census at Byres Road, Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland, . Samuel Meney, head, Grocer, married, aged 42, born Ireland; Janet Meney, wife, Grocers Wife & Assistant, married, aged 32, born Monkton, Ayr, Scotland. Janet Meney Conway were also listed in the household.10

Notes

• (Witness) Residence: Janet Conway lived at Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland, ; Kilwinning is described in a directory published by Pigot & Co in 1837 as … an ancient and thriving little manufacturing town … 24 miles from Glasgow, 3 nw of Irvine, 4 ne of Saltcoats, the like distance s of Dalry, 10 nw of Kilmarnock and 5 from Ardrossan; situate on rising ground about 2 miles from the sea; stretching westward from the right bank of the Garnock, and approached through long ambrageous paths, skirted by beautiful fields. It consists chiefly of one street and bye-lanes, with a few rows of modern houses. The weaving and manufacture of gauzes, muslins, shawls, etc are carried on, to an important extent, for the Glasgow and Paisley markets, to which they are conveyed by the local agents. The agricultural produce of the parish is likewise considerable; and coals, which are obtained in abundance, are conveyed by a railway passing from east to west across the parish. …
  Kilwinning was the first place in Scotland where free masonry was established; it is said to have been introduced by the foreign architect who was employed in erecting the monastery here. The abbey is thought to have been built about 1140. Briefly, free masonry is accepted as having been born out of the guilds of craftsmen of the middle ages, in particular the masons. A mason often had to travel the length of the county to seek work. He had to prove his rank and ability to his prospective employer. This he did by showing that he was in possession of certain secrets that he had learnt from his guild.
  The Statistical Account written by the Rev. Archibald Blair Campbell in April 1842 describes Kilwinning in great ecclesiastical detail, but includes gems such as (describing the population of around 630 families in the town): There are three individuals deaf and dumb in the parish, two fatuous, and two blind. … There is no smuggling. Poaching is carried on to a small extent. He continues: The male inhabitants of Kilwinning are chiefly employed in weaving and mining; the females in sewing. The only individuals found necessary for keeping the peace are one of the county police and a sheriff-officer. … Formerly there were several stagecoaches, which passed through Kilwinning to Glasgow and other places, but they have all given up since the opening of the Glasgow and Ayr Railway, about two years ago, which affords the greatest facilities, both for travelling and the conveyance of goods, and farm produce.
  He is highly critical of the 27 licensed Inns or Alehouses in the parish – Their effect on the morals of the people, especially the miners and inhabitants of the town, is of the most pernicious description. In his conclusion he observes The inhabitants are, we believe, more industrious than they were towards the end of last century; but they are more extravagant both in regard to their clothing and mode of living, and it is to be feared, less contented with their circumstances. … The desire for luxuries is, in many instances, too prevalent, and a want of prudence, foresight, and economy, often appears. The inhabitants of the parish, in general, are intelligent and well informed, and many of them are exemplary in the discharge of all the duties of their station.^11,12