William McIntyre was born on 23^rd December 1883, at 32, West College Street, Glasgow.

At the time of the 1911 census, William was resident with his widowed father, John Livingston McIntyre, and three younger brothers and one younger sister in a tenement property at 57, Dorset Street, Sandyford, Glasgow. He was aged 27 and employed as an iron turner.

He married Mary Boyd on 30^th December 1912, at 216, West Regent Street, Glasgow, after publication of the banns according to the forms of the Church of Scotland. William was then an iron turner, journeyman, and was entered as a bachelor, aged 27 (actually 29).

On the birth certificates of his daughter, Elizabeth in 1914; his son Ian in 1915 and son Stanley in 1918, William was designated as an ironturner (journeyman). On the birth certificate of his son Norman in 1921 he was designated as an iron turner. On the birth certificates of sons Donald in 1924 and Edward in 1928, he was designated as a motor mechanic.

William’s son, Norman David McIntyre, recalled that William had a glass eye; the original was lost in an industrial accident during his time as a precision engineer, manufacturing binoculars. The consequent loss of earnings came as a severe financial blow and thereafter the main burden of supporting the family fell upon Norman and his brother Ian.

As ‘William Macintyre’, entry ‘No. in Order of Admission’ 9322, he was admitted to Hawkhead Mental Hospital, Glasgow, (since renamed Leverndale) on 28^th April 1936. He was stated to be a pauper (although the great majority were), male, married, aged 52. Under ‘Condition of life and previous occupation’ was entered ‘Engineer’. His ‘Previous place of abode’ was Eastern District Hospital, Glasgow. The County or Parish to which he was chargeable was Glasgow. He had been sent to Hawkhead by the authority of Sheriff Substitute D. S. Macdiarmid. His medical certificates were dated ‘28 April, 1936’ and signed by J. C. Anderson and Wm Gray. The ‘Name of Disorder (if any)’ was specified as Chronic Alcoholism and the ‘Form of Mental Disorder’ as Epileptic Insanity. He was stated to be an epileptic and the ‘Duration of Existing Attack’ was given as one month and two weeks. The ‘Number of Previous Attacks’ was entered as blank and his ‘Age on First Attack’ as 52. It appears therefore that William’s epilepsy was a short term condition and that the underlying problem was alcoholism. It is not stated whether the epilepsy was caused by excessive drinking. The unresolved question also arises whether his reliance upon alcohol was a consequence of his accident and loss of career, or if drunkenness had been a causal factor in the accident. The ‘Date of Discharge, Removal, or Death’ was entered as ‘13 May, 1938’ and he was stated to have ‘DIED’.

William McIntyre died on 13^th May 1938 at 5^h 30^m pm, at Hawkhead Mental Hospital. He was 54. His usual residence was entered at 199, Calder Street, Glasgow. He was recalled as a motor engineer. The causes of death were certified as epilepsy, cerebral haemorrhage, and hypostatic pneumonia. The informant was Ian W. McIntyre, his son, then resident at the same address.

These details are broadly confirmed by the Govan District Asylum Register of Deaths, in which William appeared as entry No. 3035. This latter source confirms his ‘Date of Last Admission’ as 28^th April 1936, so that he had been in hospital for just over two years. He was again classified as a ‘pauper’. The ‘Assigned Cause of Death’ was epilepsy; the other causes of death entered on his death certificate are not mentioned here. Under ‘Duration of Disease’, William’s condition was stated to have been ‘indefinite’. It was also indicated that the next of kin’s consent had been obtained for a Post Mortem examination.

He was recalled as a ‘Marine Engineer (deceased)’ on the 1955 marriage certificate of his son, Edward Arthur Boyd McIntyre, and again on the 1956 marriage certificate of his son, Norman David McIntyre.

He was recalled as a ‘Motor Mechanic (deceased)’ on his son Edward’s 2006 death certificate.

Brothers and Sisters

According to the 1881 census, William had at least one older brother, John, who was born on 10^th January 1879 at 29, Grace Street, Glasgow. This is probably the same J. McIntyre who was the informant on their father’s 1918 death certificate.

He also had at least one older sister, Jane Barr McIntyre, born on 18^th September 1880, at 34, Carrick Street, Glasgow.

Three younger brothers and a younger sister are also known from the 1911 census; Edward B.; Janet B.; Donald and Hugh B.

Edward Barr McIntyre was born on 28^th January 1886 at 11^h 40^m pm, at 32, West College Street, Glasgow. The informant was the child’s mother, Janet McIntyre, who signed with her ‘X’ mark. At the time of the 1911 census, Edward B. was still living in the family home at 57, Dorset Street, Sandyford, Glasgow. He was 25, single and a blacksmith.

Janet McIntyre was born 26^th January 1890 at seven in the evening, at 38, Carrick Street, Glasgow. The informant was the child’s mother, Janet McIntyre, who signed with her ‘X’ mark. Janet B., 21, was living in the family home in 1911.

Donald McIntyre was born on 28^th March 1896 at 9^h 30^m am, at 2, Anderston Quay, Glasgow. The child’s father, John Livingston McIntyre, acted as informant. Donald, 15, was an office boy for a firm of printers and living in the family home in 1911.

Hugh Barr McIntyre was born on 4^th November 1898 at 10^h 45^m am, at 2, Anderston Quay. The child’s father, John Livingston McIntyre, acted as informant. Hugh B., 12, was at school and living in the family home in 1911.