William Henry - William Bruce Hendrie - William Bruce (1850-1890) What happened to Mary Mathieson’s son William Henry and who was his father? The first question can be answered with some certainty, the second only with conjecture. 1861 Census In 1861 Mary Mathieson’s son William Henry was still living with his grandmother Marion Bruce in Howies Square, Galston. His mother had married Alexander Crichton and the married couple were living in Orchard St, Galston. Marion Bruce is now 57 and described as a widow, hand sewer, b Kilmarnock. William appears in the Census as William Bruce, aged 11, Worker in Cutting Works, b Galston. It is interesting to note that William Howat, his wife Janet and their family which included William Bruce's future wife Grace were the next but one family in the census listing. Howies Square was low quality housing for mine workers. About 50 years later a report on housing conditions gave the following description : Report on Miners’ Housing Housing Reports The extracts on these pages come mainly from evidence submitted to the 'Royal Commission on Housing Conditions of the Industrial Population of Scotland, Rural & Urban'. Their report was published in 1918. Howie's Square - Coming still back towards Hurlford Cross, behind the front street is what is known as Howie's Square, owned by Messrs J. & R. Howie, Limited. There seems to have been eleven dwellings originally, but only four single apartments were occupied when we visited the square on 6th December 1913. Whatever these houses may have been, they are dingy enough looking now. The inside appearance confirms the impression given outside. The square is situated on the margin of the river Irvine, and in high floods the houses are inundated. There are three dry-closets, one washing-house, and an open ash-pit. This was full of all kinds of decaying vegetable matter, and was littered in front fully 12 feet. We were informed that twenty tenants, besides two shops, use this ash-pit. The rent of the single house is 1s. 3d. a week.