Rollin(itis)

I receive the Scotland's People newsletter periodically, and over the last couple years they've been making announcements of newly released "valuation rolls", which are records of property ownership. I haven't paid them much attention because my Scottish-Lithuanian ancestors were almost certainly not property owners. Little did I know, however, the valuation rolls also list tenants of properties!

I've only done a preliminary search so far, but I've found a few. I've turned up Vincent, William, John, and Antanas Kisielius. I'm not certain if any of them is related, but I suspect they are brothers of Kazimiras Sr. John might actually be their uncle. But detailed family information isn't provided on the rolls, so they probably won't help that much. In fact, they seem to only list the head of household.

At first, I wasn't finding anything when I searched for Raulinitis (and its variants), so I decided to have a look using the address where I know they were located for a time, 178 Rose Street. And I found what I believe to be a match. It lists a "Matthew Rollin, miner". It's got to be Motiejus, my great-great-grandfather - correct address, correct time, similar sounding Anglicized name. Again, it doesn't tell me much about the family, but knowing that they also used "Rollin" could be a real help. That means they went by Raulinitis, Rolwich, Rowland, and Rollin, all of which came from the most probable correct version, Raulinaitis.

Something rather interesting it does show, however, is the amount that it cost in rent per year. In 1915, they were paying 9 pounds 5 shillings. But by 1920 they were paying 11 pounds 5 shillings. More than 21% increase in rent in just 5 years!! Bloodly slumlords! From what I understand, people were living in absolute squalor in that area during that time, and to see how they were being squeezed of what little that had really gets me. At least the 1915 roll lists the proprietor, Mary Archibald of Lenzie, so we can know who was leeching off of those who were doing real work. I'd spit now, for dramatic effect, if weren't for the fact that you'd never know and I'd just have to clean it up in a few minutes.

1915 rent £9, 5s.

1920 rent £11, 5s.

Who is John Raulinatis?

No, not John Galt.  John Raulinatis.

Way back, on my first visit to the Register House, I came across a death record for a two month old baby by the name John Raulinatis.  Since the spelling was slightly different ("-atis" instead of "-itis"), and since I didn't recognize the other person listed on the document, Jessie Raulinatis, I put it aside.  I figured it was possible there was a family connection, but I was busy uncovering others where the connection was clear.

Recently, I was going back over some of the documents I collected, and I noticed this one again.  One thing stood out this time:  the location of his death is 178 Rose St, in Glasgow.  That's the address where the Raulinitis family, my relatives, lived; it's on the birth records of Annie, Peter, and Margaret, and the marriage record for Zose and Kazimiras.  I've also confirmed that Rose St was renamed Florence St, which shows up on several more of the records.  So we're probably related, but who were John and Jessie?

The various records were a little more clear in my mind this time around, and I recalled that the name "Jessie" had come up previously on the 1911 census.  The census shows a family of 4 at 178 Rose St. in 1911:  Matthew Rolwich, Eva Rolwich, Jessie Rolwich, and Annie Rolwich.  Since I already confirmed that "Raulinitis" became "Rolwich" (evident on the death records of Eva, Matthew, and Peter Sr.), the address is correct, and three of the names match, this had to be them.  The record also indicates that Jessie was 10 years old in 1911, exactly the right age to be Zose, my great-grandmother!  I'm now convinced that "Jessie" was actually an alternate name for her.  It may also explain why I haven't yet been able to find a birth record for Zose - she may have been born as Jessie.

If I'm right about this, it means John Raulinatis was my great-uncle!  Chute's eldest brother.  A brother that she apparently never knew about!  It's possible she never knew about him simply because he died in infancy before she was born, but there's a somewhat more sensitive explanation for it as well.  A closer look at his death record shows that no father is listed - he appears to have been illegitimate!  The birth of a child out of wedlock in that era (not to mention, in a Catholic family!) would have been a really big deal.  Given this, his brief existence was perhaps something that was never talked about later on.  Especially because Zose would have only been 16 at the time!  Maybe it's even part of the reason she stopped going by the name Jessie.

Nevertheless, it's something that I want to get to the bottom of.  On my next visit to the Register House, I'll be looking John's birth record (maybe it will list a father), Jessie's birth record (maybe I can confirm my "alternate name" theory), and a 1901 census record (which could also support my alternate name theory).