Despite the 1872 year of birth shown on the plaque on McGlashon House in Hunton Street, London, E1, Hugh William McGlashon was born on 10 February 1873, in Limehouse, the third of the six children of James McGlashon (1843-1901) and Ellen Maria McGlashon née Wellsteed. His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1873 in the Stepney registration district.
On 6 February 1876 both he and his younger brother, Arthur Duncan Ernest McGlashon (1875-1948), were baptised in St Peter's Church, Stepney, where the baptismal register shows the family residing at 29 St Peter's Street, Stepney, (now called Cephas Street), and their father was shown as a goods porter.
In the 1881 census he was shown as a scholar living at 7 Barnsley Street, Bethnal Green, with his parents and five siblings: David James McGlashon (1869-1932) , Mary Ellen McGlashon (b.1871), Arthur Duncan Ernest McGlashon, Emily Maud McGlashon (1876-1937) and May McGlashon (b.1880). His father was described as a railway porter.
Having attended the Wilmot Street School, Bethnal Green, on 7 April 1884 he transferred to the Hague Street School where the admissions register confusingly gives his date of birth as 10 February 1874 and the family address was confirmed as 7 Barnsley Street.
On 3 October 1897 he married Nellie Driscoll (1875-1954) in St Philip's Church, Stepney, where the marriage register describes him as a carman. They had three children, Hugh William McGlashon (1900-1981), Ellen Mary McGlashon (1901-1992) and Mary Ann McGlashon (b.1907). In the 1901 census he was shown as a labourer living at 151 Pelham Street Buildings, Mile End, with his wife who by now had changed her forename from Nellie to Ellen, and their eldest son, Hugh William McGlashon.
He described himself as a dock labourer when he completed the 1911 census, living at 160 Pelham Street Buildings, with his wife and their three children. On 28 August 1915 his son enlisted in the 2nd/8th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Post Office Rifles), service number 4396, claiming to aged 19 years and 7 months, but was discharged on 21 September 1915 when it was discovered he was only aged 15 years, his birthday having been 3 January 1900.
He was a Councillor on Stepney Borough Council, for Mile End New Town Ward 1919-1925 and 1934-1948.
The 1939 England and Wales Register confirms his date of birth as 10 February 1873 and that he was a dock labourer living at 216 Pelham Street Buildings.
He died, aged 80 years, on 11 November 1953 in the Stepney registration district. Probate records confirm that his address had been 216 Pelham Street Buildings, Woodseer Street, Whitechapel, London, E1 and that when administration of his estate was granted to his widow, Ellen McGlashon, his effects totalled £451-3s-11d.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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