A Brummie Family Tree

Tracking down the Phelans - Kilkenny, Waterford or Tipperary?

2012-02-12T02:40:00.000-08:00

Thanks again to my mom's cousin Gaye Mulholland in Dublin whose recall of family anecdote is inching us closer to tracing the origins of our great grandfather John Whelan / Phelan.

Many of the family remember stories that John came from a place called Piltown in the south of Kilkenny. Gaye additionally remembered that he may have changed the surname from Phelan to Whelan at the time of his relocation to Dublin, probably around 1900 as this is when he appears in the 1901 census lodging as a grocer's shop keeper in Chancery Street.

In the census record John said that his place of birth was county Kilkenny though what Gaye also remembers is talk in the family that the Phelans may have originated in counties Waterford and Tipperary. Initially this information may seem to confuse things until one takes a closer look at a map of Kilkenny in relation to its neighbouring counties.

What is very interesting from this is just how close Piltown is to the borders of Kilkenny with both Tipperary and Waterford. Both counties lie literally a few miles along country lanes from Piltown. I wonder if this will aid my search for the Phelans in the 1901 census or even the Griffith's Land Valuation of the 19th century?

The search for the Whelans / Phelans in Kilkenny

2012-02-11T05:02:00.000-08:00

Another interesting record from the 1901 census of Kilkenny, is this one with a Lawrence Phelan aged 34, exactly the right age to be the man on the Mass card whom I am speculating was John Whelan's brother or cousin. Kilmacar is towards the north of the county so a long way from piltown unfortunately though it is still worth considering the possibility of a relationship.

Residents of a house 13 in Rathkyle (Kilmacar, Kilkenny)

Phelan Bridget 60 Female Head of Family Roman Catholic Co Kilkenny Farmer Read and write - Widow -

Phelan Lawrence 34 Male Son Roman Catholic Co Kilkenny Farmer Read and write - Not Married -

Giffith Margaret 14 Female Servant Roman Catholic Co Kilkenny General Servant Domestic Read and write - Not Married

Searching for the family of great grandfather John Whelan ...or Phelan?

2012-01-31T10:46:00.000-08:00

Map of Kilkenny showing the close proximity
of Fiddown to Piltown in the south west of the county

Thank you to my mom's cousin Gaye Mulholland for an interesting clue towards tracing the family of my great grandfather John Whelan who married Anne McDonnell in Dublin in 1903.

We have learnt that John came from Kilkenny - the family recall stories that he used to visit his ancestral farm in Piltown, which is in the south west corner of the county.

I have found a reference to a 28 year old John Whelan in the 1901 census, working as a grocery shop assistant in Chancery Street, just doors away from the woman he would marry two years later, Anne McDonnell. I am certain that this is the same John for whom we are searching.

However, if John had arrived in Dublin from Kilkenny around the turn of the century and retained close ties with with his family back home, one would expect to find evidence of them in the same 1901 census for Piltown. Unfortunately, a fairly extensive search of the census revealed no Whelans in Piltown and of the very few in adjacent areas none fitting the profile we might expect. Though I did spot one or two families named Phelan.

The fascinating news from Gaye is that John Whelan did, most probably change his name from Phelan to Whelan when he moved to Dublin, she wrote to me today:

"Try the surname Phelan instead of Whelan. Or maybe Feelan. I can remember hearing my mother say that the name changed when he came to Dublin".

I have therefore had another look at the Phelan families living in the area around Piltown in 1901 (there are no Feelans). A couple of additional pieces of information to aid the search are that firstly, according to John's marriage certificate his father's name was Richard and secondly, we know from a very old mass card that John had a deceased male relative of his own generation named Lawrence - not a common Christian name in Ireland.

Using these factors, the search has revealed an interesting family living at Fiddown, Kilkenny. Fiddown is very close to Piltown on the Kilkenny map. The household includes a father named Richard and a youngest son named Laurence. Unfortunately though, I do not think this is John's immediate family as both the father Richard and the son Laurence are too young to be who we might like them to have been. The Lawrence on the mass card died in 1924 aged 50 (John himself would also have been aged around 50/51 in 1924) and the father Richard should have been a good decade older than this one at Fiddown.

However, the occurrence of the Christian name Laurence in a family named Phelan living so close to Piltown still raises the question as to whether this family is related on the basis of an unusual name like Laurence / Lawrence being repeated in a family, especially perhaps if it has been passed down through generations as is a common practise.

1901 Census
Residents of a house 14 in Fiddown (Fiddown, Kilkenny)

Phelan, Richard, 40, Male, Head of Family, Roman Catholic, born Co Kilkenny, Farmer, can Read and write - Married -

Phelan, Ellen, 42, Female, Wife, Roman Catholic, born Co Kilkenny - Read and write - Married -

Phelan, Mary, 19, Female, Daughter, Roman Catholic, born Co Kilkenny - Read and write - Not Married -

Phelan, Alice, 17, Female, Daughter, Roman Catholic, born Co Kilkenny - Read and write - Not Married -

Phelan, James, 12, Male, Son, Roman Catholic, born Co Kilkenny, Scholar, Read and write - Not Married -

Phelan, Laurence, 10, Male, Son, Roman Catholic, born Co Kilkenny, Scholar, Read and write - Not Married -

Phelan, Ellie, 5, Female, Daughter, Roman Catholic, born Co Kilkenny, Scholar, Read only - Not Married -

Brennan, Mary, 45, Female - Roman Catholic, born Co Kilkenny - Read and write - Not Married -

Another Phelan household in 1901 census, this one actually in Piltown itself, is this one containing 50 year old Richard Phelan and his two sisters Elizabeth and Margaret. My main doubt about this one is that Richard states he is 'not married' as opposed to saying he is either married or widowered. The same family are to found 10 years later in the 1911 census and again Richard Phelan describes himself as 'single' as opposed to a widower and also states that he has no children. There are two nieces present in the household in 1911 but the evidence would still suggest that the 3 sibling adults are 2 spinsters and a bachelar:

1901 Census
Residents of a house 9 in Pilltown (Pilltown, Kilkenny)

Phelan, Richard, 50, Male, Head of Family, Roman Catholic, Co Kilkenny, Farmer, Read and write - Not Married -

Phelan, Elizabeth, 40, Female, Sister, Roman Catholic, Co Kilkenny, Farmer's Daughter, Read and write - Not Married -

Phelan, Margaret, 41, Female, Sister, Roman Catholic, Co Kilkenny, Retired Shop Keeper, Read and write - Not Married -

1911 census
Residents of a house 52 in Piltown Town (Piltown, Kilkenny)

Phelan, Richard, 65, Male, Head of Family, Roman Catholic, born Co Kilkenny, Farmer, Read and write - Single - - - - no children

Phelan, Margaret, 52, Female, Sister, Roman Catholic, born Co Kilkenny - Read and write - Single - - - - no children

Phelan, Elizabeth, 50, Female, Sister, Roman Catholic, born Co Kilkenny - Read and write - Single - - - - no children

Phelan, Johanna, 27, Female, Niece, Roman Catholic, Co Kilkenny, School Teacher, Read and write - Single - - - -

Phelan, Bridget, 11, Female, Niece, Roman Catholic, Co Kilkenny, Scholar, Read and write - Single

Another Phelan family to be found in Piltown in 1911 is this one:

1911 Census
Residents of a house 3 in Glenbower (Piltown, Kilkenny)

Phelan, Thomas, 80, Male, Head of Family, R Catholic, born Co Kilkenny, Farmer, Read and write both Irish and English, Married - - - -

Phelan, Bridget, 74, Female, Wife, R Catholic, Co Kilkenny - Read and write Irish and English, Married - married 57 years, 11 children, 7 surviving

Phelan, Richard, 46, Male, Son, R Catholic, Co Kilkenny, Farmer, Son, Cannot read - Single - - - -

Phelan, Patrick, 35, Male, Son, R Catholic, Co Kilkenny, Farmer, Son, Read and write - Single - - - -

Phelan, Mary, 33, Female, Daughter, R Catholic, Co Kilkenny - Read and write - Single - - - -

Phelan, Thomas James, 10, Male, Grand Son, R Catholic, born in Philadelphia, Scholar, Read and write - Single - - - -

Note the place of birth of the grand son - Philadelphia.

The same family can be traced back to the 1901 census, bearing in mind this couple had 11 children, 7 of whom survived beyond 1911 and only five shown on the census records, there is margin for John to have come from this family (and Lawrence for that matter), the father is a Thomas not a Richard although there is a Richard listed as an adult child of this couple.

Residents of a house 4 in Glenbower (Pilltown, Kilkenny)

Phelan Thomas 62 Male Head of Family Roman Catholic Co Kilkenny Farmer Read and write Irish and English Married -

Phelan Bridget 50 Female Wife Roman Catholic Co Kilkenny - Read and write Irish and English Married -

Phelan Richard 32 Male Son Roman Catholic Co Kilkenny Farmers Son Cannot read English only Not Married -

Phelan James 20 Male Son Roman Catholic Co Kilkenny Farmers Son Cannot read English only Not Married -

Phelan Mary 22 Female Daughter Roman Catholic Co Kilkenny Farmers Daughter Cannot read English only Not Married -

Phelan Lizzie 18 Female Daughter Roman Catholic Co Kilkenny Farmers Daughter Cannot read English only Not Married

The Glavin and Woodward families of Cork

2012-01-29T15:41:00.000-08:00

Cork - early 1900s

I have previously posted quotes from Jim Byrne who lives in Cork and has contacted me a number of times during recent years with information about the Glavin family of Cork who were related to the Fennellys and Cushions of Portlaois (Catherine Cushion was my great grandmother who married Denis Lawlor also of Laois - formerly Queens County in the Irish Midlands). Here is some more information from Jim Byrne detailing some more of the family history of the Glavin family:

"John James Glavin was married to Mary Cushion (nee Finally who was a sister of Kate Cushion). John James and Mary Glavin were my grandparents, they had six sons and one daughter Elizabeth who was my mother. The eldest was Patrick, then Thomas, James, William, John and Maurice.

"It was James (Jimmy) who worked in Fords, Dagenham, in the Labour relations office, H R in today’s speak. He did indeed secure jobs for many of Corks unemployed, who when they came home for their summer holidays were known as "Dagenham Yanks" as they were flush with sterling.

"Jimmy Glavin died 15-04-67. It was said that Paddy died when on the "Run" during the Civil War. John died as a result of an injury sustained whilst playing a soccer match. Thomas (Tom) went to Boston and married an American girl, they had two daughters Betty and Patty, I have tried to contact these, no success so far. Maurice (Mossie) died in 1969, he had married but had no family. William died in 1970 aged seventy years. he never married. My mother died in 1953.

"Jimmy Glavin had three children, Winnie, Ber and James (Junior) passed away about 20 years ago"

Subsequent to this information from Jim Byrne, I have found the following records of the Glavin family living in Cork in the 1911 census and the Woodward family (Julia Woodward was the older sister of Catherine Lawlor and Mary Glavin) in the 1901 census:

1911 census

Residents of a house 302 in Knockrea (Blackrock, Cork)

Glavin, James, 44, Male, Head of Family, R Catholic, Co Cork, General Labourer, Read or write - Married - - - -

Glavin, Mary, 36, Female, Wife, R Catholic, born Queens County - Read or write - Married for 9 years, 5 children born, 5 children living

Glavin, Patrick, 9, Male, Son, R Catholic, Co Cork, Scholar, Read or write - Single

Glavin, Thomas, 7, Male, Son, R Catholic, Co Cork, Scholar - - Single - - -

Glavin, James, 6, Male, Son, R Catholic, born Cork City, Scholar, - Single - - - -

Glavin, William, 4, Male, Son, R Catholic, Co Cork, Scholar - - Single - - - -

Glavin, John, 2, Male, Son, R Catholic, Co Cork - - - Single - - - -

The Glavin family above are not recorded in the 1901 census as they did not marry until 1902.

1901 census

Residents of a house 10 in Mahon (Blackrock, Cork)

Woodward, Joseph, 34, Male, Head of Family, Roman Catholic, born Co Cork , Auctioneer, Read and write English, Married-

Woodward, Julia, 30, Female, Wife, R Catholic, born Queens County, Housekeeper, Read and write English, Married -

Woodward, Minnie, 12, Female, Daughter, R Catholic, Co Cork, Scholar, Read and write English Not Married -

Woodward, Julia, 10m, Female, Daughter, R Catholic, Co Cork, Scholars, Read and write English Not Married -

Woodward, Lalla, 8, Female, Daughter, R Catholic, Co Cork, Scholars, Read and write English, Not Married -

Woodward, Thomas, 6,Male, Son, R Catholic, Co Cork, Scholars, Read and write English Not Married -

Woodward, Joseph, 3, Male, Son, R Catholic, Co Cork , Underage, Cannot read English, Not Married -

Le Flupy, Frederick Wm, 27, Male, Boarder, Church of Ireland, Co Dublin, Cashier in Brewery, Read and write - not Married -

Dowling, John, 41, Male, Boarder, Catholic, Cork, Writer, Read and write - Not Married -

1911 census

Residents of a house 26 in Mahon (Blackrock, Cork)

Woodward, Joseph, 46, Male, Head of Family, Catholic, born Cork, occupation Surtionera, Can Read and write - Widower - married 24 years, 6 children, 5 living

Woodward, Mary, 23, Female, Daughter, Catholic, Cork - Can Read and write - Single - 23 -

Wodward, Julia, 22, Female, Daughter, Catholic, Cork - Can Read and write - Single - 22 - -

Wodward, Elizabeth, 19, Female, Daughter, Catholic, Cork - Can Read and write - Single - 19 - -

Woodward, Thomas, 17, Male, Son, Catholic, Cork, Clark and Coal Merchant, Can Read and write - Single - - - -

Woodward, Joseph, 13, Male, Son, Catholic, Cork, Scholar, Can Read and write - Single - - - -

Foley, John, 32, Male, Visitor, Catholic

John Whelan in the 1901 Census

2012-01-27T14:17:00.000-08:00

A search for my great grandfather, John Whelan, in the 1901 Census of Dublin reveals an almost certain possibility living at 80.1 Chancery Street in the Inns Quay area of Dublin.

The address itself is a grocery shop just doors away from 78 Chancery Street, which was where the family of my great grandmother, Anne McDonnell resided in the same census of 1901. Anne's father John McDonnell was the blind entrepreneur who ran a basket making factory at 78 Chancery Street.

At 80.1 Chancery Street, John Whelan is listed as a 28 year old servant working for 56 year old spinster Jane Dramgoole. His trade is given as grocers shopman, alongside 24 year old James Gannon and other servants (see below for full entry).

John's place of birth is recorded as Kilkenny, which fits with family anecdote of him coming from a farming background in Piltown, Kilkenny. In the 1911 census, where John and Anne are recorded as a married couple with children at 49.3 Bolton Street, John again gives his place of birth as Kilkenny.

When John Whelan and Anne McDonnell married in Dublin in 1904, John stated his profession as a grocer and his address was Capel Street - which is literally around the corner to Chancery Street.

Residents of a house 80.1 in Chancery Street (Inns Quay, Dublin)

Dramgoole, Jane, aged 56, Female Head of Family, Roman Catholic, born in Co Louth, a Family Grocer, can Read and write - Not Married -

Gannon James 24 Male Servant Roman Catholic Co Mayo Grocers Shopman Read and write Irish and English Not Married -

Whelan John 28 Male Servant Roman Catholic Co Kilkenny Grocers Shopman Read and write - Not Married -

Coady Kate 38 Female Servant Roman Catholic Co Galway General Servant Read and write Irish and English Married -

McHugh Margaret 53 Female Sister Roman Catholic Co Louth Housekeeper Read and write - Married -

Ambrose Eliza 22 Female Visitor Roman Catholic Co Limerick Bar Maid Read and write - Not Married -

A new connection on the Flynn side

2011-12-28T14:14:00.000-08:00

It has been a few months since I posted information about the Flynn side of my father's family. The Flynns came from Galway in western Ireland in the early 1860s and settled in the Newtown area of Birmingham. My g-g-grandmother Bridget Flynn married my g-g-grandfather Thomas Finn at St Chad's Cathedral in 1870.

Bridget's mother was Mary Flynn and her father a shoemaker named Daniel Flynn. The Flynn family are recorded living at Northwood Street in the All Saints ward of Birmingham in the 1861 census. Mary Flynn was a widow, her children included:

Patrick aged 24 (born 1837)
Mary Rattigan, identified as a daughter aged 24
David Flynn aged 20 (born 1841)
Michael aged 18 (1843)
Bridget was 15 (born 1847)
Daniel aged 10 (b, 1851)
Margaret aged 9 (born 1852)
Maria Flynn aged 6 (born 1856).

A James Flynn aged 23 (born 1838) was also recorded in the 1861 census living a few streets away at Brearley Street West.

The same family, minus some of the older siblings, are recorded in the 1871 census living at Smith Street in Newtown.

One of the Flynn siblings of my g-g-grandmother Bridget, the 18 year old Michael from the 1861 census became a jewellers stamper living at Smith Street then Unett Street and marrying Selina Lane in 1870. This couple has children as follows:

William Patrick Flynn born 1871
Joseph George Worrall Flynn born 1873 married Edith Elizabeth Rooke
Mabel Louisa Maria Worrall Flynn born 1878
Theresa Maude Mary Worrall Flynn born 1879
Beatrice Alice gertrude Worrall Flynn born 1883
Marion Agnes Elsie Worrall Flynn born 1885

Another brother, Daniel the 20 year old shoe maker listed in the 1861 census may be the person listed in the 1871 census at Branston Street in 1871, with his wife Selina and children:

Edward born 1866
Daniel born 1867
James born 1869

The same family are at Northwood Street in the 1881.

Another possible brother from the original Flynn family of the 1861 census is a Patrick Flynn at Cheapside, Aston in 1881:

Patrick born 1839
Bridget (wife) born 1842
Mary A born 1866
Selina born 1867
David born 1870
Ellen born 1871
Rose born 1875
John U born 1877
Edward born 1878

The same family are recorded in the 1901 census, Ellen is referred to as Nellie and John as Joseph, there is also an Arthur born 1886.

Another researcher named Ken Flynn told me that his grandparents were named Daniel and Nellie Flynn and that they ran a sweet shop in Essington Street in Ladywood. This Daniel Flynn's father was also named Daniel. It is possible he was the son of one of Bridget's brothers, Patrick, David or Daniel.

I was recently contacted by another family tree researcher named Lisa who has some interesting potential connections with the Flynn family. Lisa first contacted to say:

"Hi Pete, I do believe these Flynns are my relatives, David Flynn being my Great-Grandfather and David Flynn junior being my Grandad named after his father. Records on Ancestry indicate a marriage in 1902 between David St Chad Flynn and Emily Louisa Cook, these were my Great-grandfather and my Great-grandmother.

"My mother was Patricia Flynn, her sister was Maureen Flynn and they were daughters of David Flynn jnr and Rose Flynn (nee. Bill). My grandad was brought up in the Aston area of Brum, I know his father (my G-Grandfather David Flynn) had brothers called Joseph and Daniel Flynn, I also know part of the Flynn family went to live in Canada (on my mother's cousin Pauline's side) and I also know that my Great-Grandfather's other son was named Joseph after his brother, he married a Nellie Flynn though I am not sure of her maiden name.

"My grandad was born on December 26th 1912 in Aston. Apparently my Great-Grandmother Emily Louisa Cook married Edward Flynn first, but we were told he died in a War, how true that is we don't know, then she went on to marry my Great-Grandfather David Flynn, I think she had 2 children with Edward which were Edward Flynn and Lena Flynn. Then she went on to have David, Joseph and quite a few other children with David St Chad Flynn."

Lisa explains that her cousin has traced the Flynn family tree and told her that David and one of his brothers Joseph Flynn came over to England as illegal immigrants - stowarways on a ship from Cork in Ireand but that the rest of the Flynn family were already here, some in Ladywood, Aston and also in Lozells where her mother Patrica was born in Gerrard Street in 1934. Her Grandad David then moved from Aston and lived with Rose in Weoley Castle.

Lisa goes on to say:

"They were definately a big famliy, I have quite a few photos of my grandad David and his brother Joseph. I was always told that my great-grandfather was a cobbler in Ireland, my mother was Patrica Flynn, daughter of Daivd Flynn, b.1912 in Aston, she married Kenneth Burgess."

Lisa explains that her cousin David has carried out research into the Flynn family history and found out some very intresting things about their great-grandad and his brother Joseph Flynn. David was a solider in the Warwickshire Regiment, 4th Battalion, he went to Africa and India and received the King's medal with clasp and the Queen's medal with clasp.

Lisa also makes some interesting observations about one of the photos on this website which was of Michael Flynn, the brother of my great-great grandmother Bridget. It seems that Michael could be Lisa's great-great-uncle, and she believes there to be a striking resemblance to her side of the family:

"He looks very much like my grandad David Flynn, my mom, me and my sisters. The thin lips. The slight dimple on the chin, we've all got it. It is uncanny. I'm the only one with auburn /red hair in the family and mom always said it was from the Flynn side of the family".

More on Lisa's family

Lisa's mom was Patrica Thelma Burgess (nee) Flynn, born on 25th Sept 1934, at 1 back Gerrard Street, Lozells.

Her father was Kenneth John Burgess, born in 1931 in South Birmingham.

Lisa's grandmother was Rose Flynn (nee. Bill), born 6/1/1912, in Hockley / Lozells.

Her grandfather was David Flynn, born on 26/12/1911 in Aston.

Lisa's aunt (her mom's sister) was Maureen Depoy (nee Flynn), born 1939, Lozells.

Her Great Uncle was Joseph Flynn, born 1912 in Aston.

Her Great Grandfather, David St Chad Flynn, was born in 1877. Lisa believes he might have originated from Cork, Ireland.

Lisa's Great Grandmother, Emily Louisa Flynn (nee Cook) was born in 1878 in Aston Manor.

Her Great Grandfather's brother was called Joseph and was possibly born in 1874.

We have already mentioned that Lisa's mom believed that her Grandfather David St Chad Flynn was a cobbler in Cork in Ireland and also spoke of the family running a sweetshop in Birmingham.

Lisa's cousin David (son of Maureen) told her:

"The two brothers Joseph and David Flynn were illegal immigrants - stowaways on a ship from Ireland to England, though on the census records it states they were general labourers, born in Birmingham".

"A brother named Edward Flynn married Emily Louisa Cook before 1900. In the 1901 census it states she is widowed with 2 children and living with her parents, who were Charles Cook and Louisa Cook".

1901 Census - Number 15 Hunters Vale, Lozells, Aston Manor

Head-Charles Cook, M, aged 50yrs, born Warwick, Helmet maker

Wife-Louisa Cook, M, aged 50yrs, born Enfield

Daughter-Phoebe cook, S, aged 23yrs, Brooch maker, born, Aston Manor

Son-Charles Cook ,S, aged 21yrs, stock maker, born Birmingham

Daughter-Emily Flynn, widowed, aged 24 yrs, Stamp maker, born Birmingham

Grandson-Edward Flynn, aged 7yrs, born Birmingham

Grand Daughter-Lena Flynn, aged 5yrs, born Birmingham.

Having lost her first husband Edward Flynn prior to 1901, Emily Flynn apparently then married his brother David St Chad Flynn in 1902 in Birmingham. Lisa believes that her Great-Grandmother Emily was then disinherited from the family Will possibly because the Cooks were quite a well to do family having made their money from being furriers and shop owners.

Lisa also said that her Grandad's brother, Joseph Flynn, born around 1912, married a Nellie, known as Aunt Nell.

On her father's side, Lisa's grandfather Albert James Burgess was born in 1897 in Aston:

Also my Nan, Rose Flynn (nee) Bill, her mother was Lillian Bill ( nee ) Meakin, so my Great-Great-father was John Benjamin Meakin, who married a Mary Ann Aston. My grandad David Flynn Jnr married Rose Bill I think in 1935 or round abouts, mom was born in 1934. They moved from Gerrard St, Lozells to the Weoley Castle area where they lived the rest of their lives".

Lisa also sent me another record from the 1901 census (above) which records a family of Flynns living at 249 Essington Street, Ladywood:

Daniel Flynn Head 34 abt 1867 Male Birmingham

Rose Flynn Wife 33 abt 1868 Female Birmingham

Daniel Flynn Son 12 abt 1889 Male Birmingham

David Flynn Son 10 abt 1891 Male Birmingham

David Flynn Brother 28 abt 1873 Male Birmingham

Joseph Flynn Brother 18 abt 1883 Male Birmingham

Stone family - Matters arising

2011-12-10T13:41:00.000-08:00

I continue, for the time being, to concentrate my research on my wife's maternal ancestors, the Stone / Stones family of County Offaly in the rural Irish Midlands.

The family tree chart I posted a few days ago continues to raise one or two questions which require further clarification. For instance, we have seen in previous posts that during the early 1880s two different men named John Stones married and raised families at Lurgan. One of them married Rose Malynn and the other married Anne Warburton.

In the 1901 census it seems that one of these men named John Stones had died leaving his wife Anne as a widow. We can say with certainty that this was Anne Warburton as her sister Teresa Warburton is also recorded in the family home.

What I was unable to say for certain was which one of the two men named John Stones was the brother of my wife's great grandfather Daniel Stones. On the first draft of the family tree I had guessed that it was John who married Rose Malynn, mainly on the basis of age calculations. It now seems however that I got this wrong.

Which ever of these Johns we confirm as the brother of Daniel and his siblings, it leaves the question of the relationship of the second John to the generation of the children of Timothy Stones and Elizabeth Cahill. My guess up to now was that he could have been their cousin, the son of a John Stones senior recorded at Lurgan in the 1850 Griffith's Valuation.

An additional question affecting this puzzle arises from verbal information which my wife's mother Kitty gave me some years ago and which I recently came across in my notes.

Sometime around 2000, Kitty told me:

"My grandfather Daniel Stone inherited a third of Lurgan when it was divided between him and two brothers by their father. The three brothers were Daniel, John and Michael.

" Michael was the grandfather of Mary Martin who still lives on the land at Lurgan. Her father was Dick Martin who must have married Michael Stone's daughter. I believe the other brother, John, married a woman named Warburton. The Warburtons were a Protestant family from the Athlone side of Moate, they have a family grave in the Church of Ireland cemetary at Ballymoor".

Kitty went on to tell me that John Stone's descendants sold their third of the land at Lurgan to her own brother Daniel (Uncle Dan) many years ago, meaning that Dan owned two thirds of the original land up until his death on 14th March 2004 whilst Mary Martin kept the remaining third.

Whilst the discovery of this anecdotal information would certainly confirm that the John Stones who married Anne Warburton was the brother of Daniel, I have not come across another brother named Michael. The census records of both 1901 and 1911 do however provide details of the household and family of another of Daniel's brothers named James Stones with his wife Rose Connaughton. On this basis, I would speculate that James was the third brother who inherited the land and that it was one of his daughters who married Dick Martin.

It is worth noting that Daniel Sone may not appear to have had a brother named Michael but he did have a son Michael (brother of Kitty's father Edward) born in 1889 and John Stones and Anne Warburton themselves also had a son named Michael (born 1891). Could one of these two cousins have also married a woman named Warburton?

The death of Timothy Stones

I have previously speculated that Timothy Stones died around 1885 because prior to that date two of his sons mentioned above were residing with their young families away from Lurgan. The evidence being that they returned to live permanently at Lurgan around 1884/1885.

A death index I came across on Ancestry would appear to support this theory as there is indeed a record for the death of a Timothy Stones, aged 75, recorded in the autumn of 1883:

Name: Timothy Stones

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1808

Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1883

Death Age: 75

Registration district: Tullamore

Death Country: Ireland

Volume: 3 Page: 447

FHL Film Number: 101592

The Stones of Lurgan - Family Tree Chart

2011-12-05T16:34:00.001-08:00

Click on the image for closer view

The family tree chart of the Stone family of Lurgan

The Stone family were recorded at Lurgan in County Offaly from at least the early 1800s.

The records from which this family tree has been put together include census records from 1901 and 1911, birth, baptism, marriage and death indexes and certificates, and also the Griffith’s Land Valuation of 1850.

In these records the spelling of the surname differs between Stones and Stone. In the 19th century it was very common for all surnames in Ireland and the UK to be mis-spelt, some surnames have up to 10 variations, often because the vast majority of the population were illiterate. It is very common that the same individual or their immediate family are named with one spelling in one record (e.g. Stone) and another spelling elsewhere (e.g. Stones).

Taking all of the research evidence into account, I have no doubt that the people in this family tree named both Stone and Stones are related to each other. I hope it does not become confusing if I use both variations.

The earliest members of the Stone family tree I have been able to trace are Timothy Stones who married Elizabeth Cahill around 1834. A search of marriage indexes for the Offaly county (formerly Kings County) does not provide a record of their marriage. My theory is that they married in Westmeath and I am confident that I will be able to locate this record soon.

There is a record of Timothy Stones as a farmer at Lurgan in the Griffiths Valuation of 1850. There is also a record of a farmer named John Stones at Lurgan. Given that Lurgan was a relatively small area of rural farmland, it seems probable that these two men may have been brothers or cousins. The name John Stones occurs as a sponsor at the baptism of one of Timothy and Elizabeth’s children around this time, again we could speculate that this was the same man named in the Griffith’s Valuation.

The Offaly Family History Centre at Tullamore have provided us with an index of baptisms from Tubber Parish Church which includes a list of 12 children of Timothy Stones and Elizabeth Cahill of Lurgan. The 12 children are shown in the green coloured boxes on the family tree chart. The list includes two daughters with the same name, Rose, one born in 1841 and one born in 1852. Research shows that it was a common practice in the 19th century that if a child died the parents would often name a subsequent sibling with the same name in their memory.

The baptism records from Tubber include the names of two sponsors for each of the 12 children being baptised. These include five male and three female sponsors with the surname Stones, who may have been siblings or cousins. In baptismal records it appears that female sponsors were recorded under their maiden names not their married names, so on this basis the women named Stones are more likely to have been sisters of Timothy rather than in-laws (wives of his brothers).

There are other surnames of interest amongst the sponsors including three people with the surname Cahill. We could also speculate that female sponsors with other surnames could have been the wives of Timothy’s brothers using their maiden names. We should not discount that some of the sponsors may have been neighbours and friends, not direct relations.

The records from the Offaly Family History Centre also provide marriage references for three of Timothy and Elizabeth’s children:

James Stones who married Rose Connaughton

Rose Stones who married Edward Grennan

Daniel Stones who married Mary Duffy

There is further evidence that another of the sons named John married Anne Warburton in about 1886, though their marriage may not have been at Tubber.

There is also a record for another John Stones of Lurgan who married Rose Malynn. This family are recorded in the 1901 and 1911 census. I am unclear at the moment as to how this family is related to that of Timothy and Elizabeth, though it would seem likely that this John was the son of the John Stones referred to above who was recorded in the Griffiths Valuation of 1850. Therefore he was probably the cousin of the family marked in the green boxes.

One of Timothy and Elizabeth’s sons was Daniel Stones who married Mary Duffy in 1880.

The Offaly Family History Centre records also provided baptismal references for the children of Daniel and some of his siblings. These families are listed in the lilac coloured boxes.

I have not been able to locate records for many of Daniel’s brothers and sisters and the Offaly centre does not have records of their marriages or subsequent families. We should consider that some may not have married such as the first Rose who probably died as a child or they may have married in another county such as Westmeath, or they may have moved further away including emigration, or may have entered a vocation such as the priesthood, or may have remained single, etc.

Various other records show us that some of these children moved away from Lurgan for periods of their young adult lives and later returned permanently. On the birth of his oldest son Edward in 1883, Daniel Stones is recorded as being a publican in Mulligar. However, we know that he returned to live at Lurgan with his wife Mary Duffy around 1885 when his next son Timothy was baptised at Tubber with the Lurgan address.

One of Daniel’s brothers also had children away from Lurgan and moved back around the same time. This could indicate that their father Timothy died around 1885 and some of his sons inherited land about this time.

There are a number of families named Stone and Stones listed in the 1901 and 1911 census records at Lurgan, including the family of Daniel Stones and Mary Duffy. The family of Edward and Rose Grennan (nee.Stones) are also recorded in the census.

The oldest son of Daniel Stone and Mary Duffy, Edward Stone, married Catherine Flannagan in 1924. Catherine’s family, the Flannagans of Raheen are also recorded in the 1901 and 1911 census.

The Family of John Stones and Anne Walberton/Warberton

2011-11-27T07:42:00.000-08:00

We have previously viewed another Stones family who were recorded living at Lurgan in the 1901 census. The head of the household was a woman named Anne Stones aged 35 and also recorded is her sister, an unmarried woman named Teresa Warburton. We can therefore work out from this that Anne Stones's maiden name was therefore Warburton.

Residents of a house 6 in Lurgan (Gorteen, King's Co.)

Stones, Anne, 35, Female, Head of Family, Roman Catholic, Born Kings Co, Farmer, Read and write - Widow -

Warburton Teresa 26 Female Sister Roman Catholic Kings Co - Read and write - Not Married -

Stones Timothy 14 Male Son Roman Catholic Kings Co - Read and write - Not Married -

Stones Mary 12 Female Daughter Roman Catholic Kings Co Scholar Read and write - Not Married -

Stones Michael 10 Male Son Roman Catholic Kings Co Scholar Read and write - Not Married -

Stones Catherine 8 Female Daughter Roman Catholic Kings Co Scholar Read and write - Not Married -

Stones Elizabeth 6 Female Daughter Roman Catholic

1911 Census

The same family are to be found again in house 6 at Lurgan in the 1911 census:

Residents of house number 6 in Lurgan (Clara, King's Co.)

Stone, Anne, 45, Female, Head of Family, Roman Catholic, born Westmeath, Farmer, Read and write - Widow

Stone Mary 22 Female Daughter Roman Catholic Kings Co Farmers Daughter Read and write - Single

Stone Michael 20 Male Son Roman Catholic Kings Co Shopman Grocer Read and write - Single

Stone Kate 17 Female Daughter Roman Catholic Kings Co Farmers Daughter Read and write - Single

Stone Elizebeth 12 Female Daughter Roman Catholic Kings Co Farmers Daughter Read and write - Single

Baptismal records from Tubber Church

Once more the baptismal indexes from Tubber Church help us to build up a picture of this family and also give an initial clue as to the relationship of the family to the Stones family we are researching:

6th February 1886 Baptism of Timothy John Stone, son of John Stone and Anne Walberton of Lurgan, sponsors Francis Walberton and Kate Stone

5th December 1887 Baptism of Mary Stones, daughter of John Stones and Anne Walberton of Lurgan, sponsors Tim Stones and Rose Walberton

1st January 1890 Baptirm of Michael Stones, son of John Stones and Anne Walberton of Lurgan, sponsors John Cahll and Kate Walberton

There is another child listed for this couple but most of the deatils fall off the bottom of the photocopied sheet in my posession. It is likely to have been Kate (Catherine) named above as the next child in line in both the 1901 and 1911 census. I can make out that the female sponsor was Theresa Walberton - the same sister of Anne named in the 1901 census.

The main question arising from this information is who was the deceased John Stones and how was he related to the other members of the Stones family at Lurgan? I have previously speculated that another John Stones of Lurgan, married to Rose Malynn, was the son of Timothy and Elizabeth, mainly on the basis that his estimated age was close to that of the baptism year of their son John Stone in 1844.

According to both of the census records above, Anne Warburton was born in 1866 and the couple's first child Timothy was born in 1886. On this basis we can speculate that John Stones who married Anne Warburton was younger than John Stones who married Rose Maylinn, so might have been a cousin to Daniel and his siblings as opposed to a brother.

The Family of John Stones and Rose Malynn

2011-11-26T14:28:00.000-08:00

I believe that this may be another brother of Daniel Stones, son of Timothy Stones and Elizabeth Cahill.

We have already noted that a John Stones, son of Timothy and Elizabeth was baptised at Tubber Church on 29 / 9 /1844 (sponsors Pat Rigny and Mary Stones). Making him one of the 12 children born to the couple.

It appears from the records below that John Stones married a woman born in Westmeath named Rose Malynn in 1883.

There are baptism records for four children in the Tubber church records whose parents are named as John Stones and Rose Malynn.

17th February 1883 John Stones of Lurgan, sponsors were James Callaghan and Mary Malinn

1889 Richard Stones of Lurgan, sponsors were edward Malynn and Anne Malynn

15th January 1893 Rose Stones of Lurgan, sponsors were John Heffernan and Mary Stones

20th May 1894 Thomas Joseph Stones of Lurgan, sponsors were Joseph Callaghan and Bridget Malynn.

1901 census

The same family are to be found living at Lurgan in the 1901 census, with the addition of a daughter Mary who I was unable to find in the baptism register of Tubber:

Residents of a house 9 in Lurgan (Gorteen, King's Co.)

Stone John 54 Male Father R C Kings Co Farmer Read and write - Married -

Stone Rose 43 Female Wife R C Westmeath - Read and write - Married -

Stone John 18 Male Son R C Kings Co - Read and write - Not Married -

Stone Mary 16 Female Daughter R C Kings Co - Read and write - Not Married -

Stone Richard 11 Male Son R C Kings Co Attending School Read and write - - -

Stone Rose 8 Female Daughter R C Kings Co Attending School - - - -

Stone Thos Joe 6 Male Son R C Kings Co Attending School - - - -

1911 Census

The family are also in the 1911 census at Lurgan:

Residents of a house 3 in Lurgan (Clara, King's Co.)

Stone John 64 Male Head of Family Roman Catholic Kings Co Farmer Read and write - Married - - - -

Stone Rose 53 Female Wife Roman Catholic Westmeath - Read and write - Married for 28 years, number of children born 6, number of children surviving 4

Stone John 26 Male Son Roman Catholic Kings Co Farmers Son Read and write - Single - - - -

Stone Richard 27 Male Son Roman Catholic Kings Co Farmers Son Read and write - Single - - - -

Stone Thomas J 17 Male Son Roman Catholic Kings Co Farmers Son Read and write - Single - - - -

The Family of James Stone and Rose Connaughton

2011-11-26T12:56:00.000-08:00

In the previous post we examined the family of Edward and Rose Grennan of Cloghatanny. Rose was the sister of Daniel Stone(s) who is my wife Theresa's great grandfather.

Rose and Daniel were two of the twelve children of Timothy Stones and Elizabeth Cahill of Lurgan in County Offaly. Another of these children was James Stones who married Rose Connaughton on 19^th April 1866.

The couple married at Tubber Church. James Stones of Lurgan was aged 26 and Rose Connaughton aged 24 from Culleen – their fathers were Timothy Stones and James Connaughton and the witnesses were James Connaughton and James Stones.

The following children of James and Rose were baptised at Tubber Church:

4th April1868 Baptism of Timothy Stones, son of James Stones and Rose Connaghton, sponsors Patrick Connaghton and Mary Stones

4th December 1870 Baptism of Mary Stones, daughter of James Stones and Rose Conaughton, sponsors Richard Stones and Elizabeth Conaughton

27th June 1876 Baptism of Anne Stones daughter of James Stones and Rose Connaghton, sponsors John Stones and Kate Connaghton

7th December 1878 Baptism of Edward Stone son of James Stone and Kate Connaghton, sponsors John Connaghton and Anne Connaghton

24th December 1881 Baptism of Rose Stones, daughter of James Stone and Rose Connaghton, sponsors Patrick Henson and Kate Stones

15th November 1884 Richard Stones, son of James Stones and Rose Connaghton, sponsors Daniel Stones and Rose Hinson

1901 Census

The family of James and Rose Stones are to be found in the 1901 census.

Residents of a house 8 in Lurgan (Gorteen, King's Co.)

Stone, James, 60, Male, Head of Family, R Catholic, born Kings County, Farmer, Read and write English, Married -

Stone, Rose, 55, Female, Wife, R Catholic, King's County, Farmer's Wife, Read and write, English Married -

Stone, James, 25, Male, Son, R Catholic, King's County, Farmer's Son, Read and write English, Not Married -

Stone, Annie, 23, Female, Daughter, R Catholic, King's County, Farmer's Daughter, Read and write English, Not Married -

Stone, Edward, 21, Male, Son, R Catholic, King's County, Farmers Son, Read and write English, Not Married -

Stone, Rose, 19, Female, Daughter, R Catholic, King's County, Farmer's Daughter, Read and write English, Not Married -

Stone, Richard, 16, Male, Son, R Catholic, Kings County, Farmer's Son, Read and write English, Not Married -

It is interesting to note here the presence of an older son named James, aged 25 who is not amongst the list of children baptised at Tubber, suggesting he may have been born and baptised away from the area. We have already noted that James senior's brother Daniel also had one older son, Edward (Theresa's grandfather) who was born away from Lurgan at Mulingar in county Westmeath. This suggests that both James and Daniel lived away from Lurgan and returned to live there permanently at a similar time, somewhere around 1885. Could this be a clue to the date of the death of their father Timothy Stones?

1911 Census

The same family are still living at Lurgan in 1911, though James has died and Rose is now a widow.

Residents of a house 5 in Lurgan (Clara, King's Co.)

Stone, Rose, 71, Female, Head of Family, Roman Catholic, born Kings Co, Farmer, Read and write - Widow - - - -

Stone, Edward, 31, Male, Son, Roman Catholic, born Kings Co, Farmer, Son, Read and write - Single - - - -

Stone, Rosie, 29, Female, Daughter, Roman Catholic, Kings Co, Farmer, Daughter, Read and write - Single - - - -

Stone, Richard, 27, Male, Son, Roman Catholic, Kings Co, Farmer, Son, Read and write - Single - - - -

Stone, James, 14, Male, Grand Son, Roman Catholic

What is interesting to note here is the presence of a grand son, James aged 14 who was born in Dublin. As all the other occupants are single, we may surmise that they are his aunts and uncles and not his parents who may perhaps have been living in Dublin or elsewhere in 1911.

The family of Edward Grennan and Rose Stones

2011-11-26T11:28:00.000-08:00

We have previously found out (see post below) that Theresa's g-g-grandparents were Timothy Stones and Elizabeth Cahill of Lurgan in County Offaly.

We also discovered that Timothy and Elizabeth had an incredible 12 children, one of whom was Theresa's g-grandfather Daniel Stones born in 1846.

It seems from baptismal records from Tubber church that amongst the 12 children were 2 daughters both named Rose, one born in 1841 and one born in 1852. The most likely explanation for this is that the first daughter named Rose may have died in childhood and the second one being named in her memory.

To people in the 21st century, this may sound like an unusual thing to do but there is evidence that it was a common and acceptable practice in 18th and even 19th century communities.

Theresa's niece Emma Dwyer shared these notes about the practice:

"As for the two Roses - it wasn't that uncommon to name a new child after an older, deceased sibling. Grace Karsken's book 'The Rocks: Life in Early Sydney' is the only book I can immediately lay my hands on which goes into this (well worth a read if you can get your hands on a copy). Some historians claim the practice died out in England in the early 18th century, but actually, it didn't, and pops up in other contexts too (such as Australia). Karskens reccons that it was a way of restoring the memory of the dead child, and making something joyful and celebratory out of a tragedy."

"In the case of the Rocks in Sydney (and other inner-city areas described by contemporary social commentators as 'slums') there were other reasons for giving the same name to two children - not everyone, necessarily, got married, or had children with the people to whom they were married! And so as a way of recognising the parentage of children, the parents names were passed on more often than they are now. Judith Simpson called her three sons after their different fathers, resulting in two of her sons both being called James (and both being alive at the same time). Not that the Stones would ever get up to that kind of business..."

Whatever the story behind the two siblings who shared the name Rose Stone at baptism, it seems that one of them was to marry a local man named Edward Grennan.

On 25th November 1875, Rose Stones of Lurgan married Edward Grennan of Cloghatanney at Tubber Church. The bride's father was Timothy Stones of Lurgan and the groom's father was Edward Grennan (deceased) a farmer. The best man was James Grennan and the bridesmaid was Mary Anne Stones. The priest was Michael Callary.

If the theory that the first daughter named Rose died in childhood is correct, then this must therefore be the second daughter named Rose, born in 1852, making her 23 years old when she married.

A search of the 1901 census reveals the family of Edward and Rose Grennan living at house 2 in Cloghatanny (Tinamuck, King's Co.). They have 5 children.

Rose Grennan was aged 45 in 1901 according to the 1901 census, about 4 years younger than her projected age from baptism, which is close enough in terms of old records.

The family are recorded as follows:

Grennan, Edward, 60, Male, Head of Family, Roman Catholic, born Kings Co, Farmer, Read and write - Married -

Grennan, Rose, 45, Female, Wife, Roman Catholic, born Kings Co - Read and write - Married -

Grennan, Anne, 15, Female, Daughter, Roman Catholic, Kings Co, Scholar, Read and write - Not Married -

Grennan, John, 13, Male, Son, Roman Catholic, Kings Co, Scholar, Read and write - Not Married -

Grennan, Rose, 11, Female, Daughter, Roman Catholic, Kings Co, Scholar, Read write - Not Married -

Grennan, Teresa, 9, Female, Daughter, Roman Catholic, Kings Co, Scholar, Read and write - Not Married -

Grennan, Christina, 5, Female, Daughter, Roman Catholic

1911 Census

Rose Grennan nee. Stones can be found still residing at Cloghatanny in the 1911 Census, though by this time her husband Edward has died and she is listed as a widow. What is also of note from this census record is that she states she had had 12 children (the same number as her own mother) and 11 were alive. Thus we can speculate that the Grennans, like the Stones, were a sizeable family in the Moate area.

Residents of a house 18 in Cloghatanny (Tinamuck, King's Co.)

Grennan, Rose, 58, Female, Head of Family, Roman Catholic, born Kings Co, Farmer, Read and write - Widow - married for 35 years, 12 children born, 11 surviving

Grennan, John, 22, Male, Son, Roman Catholic, born Kings Co - Read and write - Single - - - -

Grennan, Rose Anne, 20, Female, Daughte,r Roman Catholic, Kings Co - Read and write - Single - - - -

Grennan, Christina, 15, Female, Daughter, Roman Catholic, Kings Co - Read and write - Single -

Significant Records - Stones family

2011-11-22T16:44:00.000-08:00

To try to make some order and sense out of the various record indexes sent to me at the weekend, I am going to attempt to put significant records, for instance people with the surnames Stones, Duffy, etc in the localities of Gurteen, Tobber, Moate and Lurgan into a sequential date-ordered list.

The place names in brackets may refer to the place of an event such as a birth or death, indicating a home address but may also refer to the location of a church or cemetery (so not necessarily indicating where they lived). However anything with the place name of Lurgan has a strong possibility of being an ancestor as I believe all of the Stones families at Lurgan were related to one another and there was neither a church nor cemetery at Lurgan. I am not certain that Tobber and Tubber are the same place, though I suspect they are and if so this is both a potential home address, a church and a cemetery. Gurteen (also Gorteen) I am assuming is near to the Gurteen where Kitty currently resides. Moate is a large town with plentiful housing, churches and a cemetery.

As the list below is populated I hope we can spot obvious links between named individuals and events, for instance a death record with age at death may correspond with a birth record.

12th July 1825   Death Elizabeth Duffy (Moate)

26th December 1825 Death Margaret Stones (Tobber)

28th September 1826 Death   James Stones   (Moate)

22nd January 1830 Death James Stones (Tobber)

4th September 1838 Death Richard Stones (Tobber)

21st June 1840 Death   Edward Stones (Tobber)

1850 Griffiths Land Valuation Bridget Stones (Gorteen)

1850 Griffiths Land Valuation James Stones (Tober)

1850 Griffiths Land Valuation   John Stones (Lurgan)

1850 Griffiths Land Valuation Timothy Stones (Lurgan)

22nd February 1857 Birth Edward Stone (Moate) - became Rev. Edward Romacus Stone of Carmalite Order on 24th June 1873, ordained 19th December 1881. Died Dublin on 21st July 1925

10th May 1869 Death Catherine Stones, farmer's daughter, aged 27, phthisis (Lurgan)

20th January 1874 Death Hugh Stones, farmer, bachelor, aged 30, stomach disease (Tober)

3rd September 1875  Death Edward Stones, publican, bachelor, aged 52, pneumonia (Tober)

27th May 1877 Death James Stones, Excise Officer, bachelor, aged 55, dropped dead (Tubber)

14th September 1877 Death Mary Stones, farmer's wife, aged 66, paralysis (Luragon)

17th February 1880 Death Bridget Stones, farmer's widow, aged 80, old age (Gorteen)

21st May 1880 Death Elizabeth Stones, shop keeper, widow, aged 84, old age (Tober)

7th November 1883 Death Catherine Bridget Stones, farmer's child, 3 months old, whooping cough (Tubber)

7th January 1891 Death Anne Stones, housekeeper, spinster, aged 60, cough (Tubber)

4th March 1892  Death Timothy Stones, farmer's child, 8 months, influenza (Lurgan)

19th July 1893 Death Edward Stones, farmer's son, aged 16, pneumonia (Gurteen)

3rd February 1895  Death James Stones, farmer, bachelor, aged 70, cough (Tubber)

9th June 1895 Death John Stones, farmer, widower, aged 83, cancer (Lurgan)

6th September 1896 Death Richard Stones, farmer, married , aged 45, cancer (Lurgan)

John and Mary Stones - a more likely match

2011-11-20T11:43:00.000-08:00

Having profiled a family appertaining to one John Stones and Mary Geoghegan in the post below, whose children were baptised at Tubber / Rosemount between 1828 and 1838, I now feel that my instinct about the young age of the parents was correct in excluding them from being the John and Mary of Lurgan that we are looking for.

I won't remove the information as you never know when it's relevance might be revealed.

However I have come across another family of children in the same baptismal records which seems much more likely to be the family we are are looking for. The dates fit in better with the birthdates of John and Mary of Lurgan (1811 and 1812) and there is also the occurance of a Timothy Stones, Elizabeth Cahill and John and Anne Hinson as sponsors. The baptised children of this couple John Stones and Mary Malone are as follows:

Margaret Stones baptised 1st October 1837, sponsors were Owen Malone and Margaret Stones

James Stones baptised 23rd February 1839, sponsors were John Stones and Rose Malone

Thomas Stones baptised 3rd August 1840, sponsors were Tim Stones and Judith Malone

Catherine Stones baptised 27th February 1842, sponsors were Patrick Malone and Anne Henson

Richard Stones baptised 11th February 1844, sponsors were James Stones and Elizabeth Cahill

John Stones baptised 9th March 1847, sponsors were John Hinson and Mary Stones

Mary Ann Stones baptised 6th December 1851, sponsors were James Stones and Mary Stones

A question I have about baptisms based on some of these records is, did the female sponsor use their maiden name in baptismal records? I don't know the answer to this question but I am noticing a pattern for instance Elizabeth Cahill was the wife of Timothy Stones but appears to use her maiden name here in 1844 when by my calculation she would have been married by this date. Anyone know the answer?

I noticed once when looking at similar records at the archive at St Chads Cathedral in Birmingham that many first names were converted into the Latin version presumably just for the church record.

James Stones

The name James Stones has cropped up a number of times as baptismal sponsor for children of both Timothy and John. Can we now bring James in as a brother to John and Timothy? Are there other possible siblings for this generation of the Stones and what of the other related families, the Malones, the Hinsons, the Cahills?

Our Lurgan, Tubber and Moate community begins to expand.

Was John Stones the brother of Timothy?

2011-11-20T11:17:00.000-08:00

Having established more about the family of Timothy Stones and Elizabeth Cahill, we can now start to examine other pieces of information to build up a wider picture of the Stones family in the 19th century.

The Griffiths Land Vaulation of 1850 highlights at least 24 land occupants with the surname Stones residing in the Union of Tullamore. Seven of them are in the Parish of Kilmananghan including Timothy and John Stones at Lurgan:

Bernard Stones, Raheen, 2 acres
Bridget Stones, Gorteen, 25 acres
Bridget Stones, Cloghatanny, 1 acre
Daniel Stones, Correagh, 13 acres
Daniel Stones, Ardballymore, 3 acres
James Stones, Tober, 13 acres
James Stones, Fearboy, 9 acres
James Stones, Gorteen, 1 acre
James Stones, Cloghatanny, 1 acre
John Stones, Parkwood, 1 acre
John Stones, Fearboy, 2 acres
John Stones, Parkwood, 0 acres
John Stones, Parkwood, 7 acres
John Stones, Lurgan, 15 acres
John Stones, Parkwood, 1 acre
Keiran Stones, Raheen, 1 acre
Mary Stones, Srah, 0 acres
Mary Stones, Loughaun, 6 acres
Michael Stones, Big Ballinderry, 2 acres
Peter Stones, Srah, 6 acres
Thomas Stones, Fearboy, 17 acres
Timothy Stones, Lurgan, 59 acres
William Stones, Raheen, 1 acre
William Stones, Raheen, 1 acre

The common occurance of the surname Stones in the area may or may not indicate that all of these people shared the same origins, especially the ones which occur in Kilmananghan. We can however safely assume a relationship between Timothy and John of Lurgan whom it would appear could have been brothers.

A John Stones acted as sponsor to the baptism of Timothy's daughter Rose at Tubber Church in 1841. There is also the death of a John Stones of Lurgan recorded in the death indexes having died of cancer on 9th June 1895 aged 83. John was recorded as a farmer and a widower. He would therefore have been born in 1812.

There is another death entry for Mary Stones of Luragon (mis-spelling of Lurgan?) who died on 14th September 1877 aged 66 (born 1811), Mary's cause of death was paralysis. Could this lady have been the deceased wife of John Stones above?

John and Mary's family?

The Tubber and Rosemount Catholic Baptismal index contains four baptisms of children of a John Stones and Mary Geoghegan between 1828 and 1838. If this couple were the one profiled above then Mary would have been 17 at the birth of the first child mentioned and John 16. What is additionally interesting here is that there was a Mary Geoghegan listed as a sponsor to one of Timothy's children in 1848. I am not certain how these slightly miscellaneous records relate to each other, but will list the baptised children of this couple here anyway:

Ellenor Stones was baptised on 7th June 1828, sponsors were Thomas Huse and Bridget Geoghegan

Patrick Stones was baptised on 11th February 1832, sponsors were Con Menton and Peggy Keenehan

Mary Stones was baptised on 25th June 1834, sponsors were Joseph Gaogan and Bridget Gadegan

Bridget Stones was baptised on 4th May 1838, sponsors were William Stones and Anne Geoghegan

Other deaths recorded at Lurgan in the 19th century include:

Timothy Stones who died on 4th March 1892, a farmer's child he died just 8 months old from influenza

Catherine Stones who died on 10th May 1869, a farmer's daughter and spinster aged 27 who died from phthisis

Richard Stones a farmer aged 45 who died of cancer on 6th September 1896

More information about the family of Timothy and Elizabeth Stones

2011-11-20T09:27:00.000-08:00

The new information received from the Irish Midlands Ancestry Centre at Tullamore has identified the 11 children of Timothy and Elizabeth Stones. The maiden name of Timothy's wife, Cahill, was also new information in my research.

The shield of County Offaly, once Kings County

Unfortunately they could not find a marriage record for Timothy Stones and Elzabeth Cahill, though I was advised they could have married in Westmeath not in Offaly.

The website http://www.rootsireland.ie/. may lead us to records for Westmeath, though there is a cost to view records.

The Ancestry Centre did however pinpoint three marriages which definately appear to appertain to three of the children from the family of Timothy and Elizabeth Stones. One of them we already know about, the marriage of Daniel Stones (Theresa's great grandfather) to Mary Duffy in 1880:

Daniel Stones, a farmer and a bachelor of full age from Lurgan married Mary Duffy, a 19 year old spinster of Moate on 1st May 1880 at Tubber RC Church in the district of Moate. Daniel's father was Timothy Stones a farmer and Mary's father was Andrew Duffy, a plasterer.

The bridesmaid was a Mary Duffy (a sister-in-law or cousin of the bride perhaps?) and the best man was John Cahill (her brother?) The priest at Tubber was Michael Callary.

The two additional marriages are new to my research:

James Stones, a farmer and bachelor aged 26 from Lurgan married Rose Connaughton, a 24 year old spinster and farmer's daughter from Culleen on 19th April 1866. James's father was Timothy Stones the farmer and Roses's father was James Connaughton, a farmer. Best man was James Stones and bridesmaid was Bridget Galvin. The marriage took place at Tubber Church and the priest was Michael Guilifoy.

On 25th november 1875, Rose Stones of Lurgan married Edward Grennan of Cloghatanney at tubber Church. The bride's father was Timothy Stones of lurgan and the groom's father was Edward Grennan (deceased) a farmer. The best man was James Grennan and the bridesmaid was Mary Anne Stones. The priest was Michael Callary.

Dainiel, James and Rose Stones were without doubt brothers and sister. I will attempt to find these and some of the other sons and daughters of Timothy and Elizabeth Stones in the 1901 and 1911 census records. There stands a chance that I have already located some of them in amongst the Stones families previously listed at Lurgan.

To remind ourselves, Daniel and Mary Stones were living at house number 7 at Lurgan in 1901 with 5 children including Theresa's grandfather Edward who was 18 years old.

Baptismal records of five of the children of Daniel Stones and Mary Duffy:

All five of these children were baptised at Tubber RC Church.

Timothy Stones was born on 26 / 07 / 1885 and baptised on 01 .08/ 1885 (sponsors were Michael Duffy and Mary Stones). Area - Moate.

Michael Stones was born on 27 / 11 / 1889 and baptised on 30 / 11 / 1889 (sponsors were Thomas Cuddy and Anne Duffy). Area - Moate.

Catherine Stones was born on 27 / 08 / 1892 and baptised on 03 / 09 / 1892 (sponsors were Edward stones and Elizabeth Stones). Area - Moate.

James Stones was born on 31 / 10 /1894 and baptised on 3 / 11/ 1894 (sponsors were James Stones and Kate Cody). Area - Lurgan, Moate.

Richard Stones was born on 25 / 3 / 1897 and baptised on 27 . 3. 1897 (sponsors were Joseph Duffy and Mary Coady). Area - Lurgan, Moate

Note three different spellings of the similar surname Coady, Cody and Cuddy amongst the sponsors.

Also note that the oldest child Edward (Theresa's grandfather) was not baptised at Tubber Church. We already know he was born in Mullingar (Westmeath - about 15 miles away from Moate) in 1883, two years before Timothy was born.

We may also note that the first three children on this list of baptisms were from Moate, as opposed to Lurgan, Moate. This fits in with a theory that Daniel worked as a gardener in Moate and also as a publican in Mullingar presmably before making his home back in Lurgan around 1893.

Stone family of Lurgan, County Offaly

2011-11-19T10:24:00.000-08:00

I have previously posted information about the ancestors of my wife Theresa, the Stone (also Stones) family who lived at Lurgan, near the towns of Moate and Clara in County Offaly in Ireland.

There is information here about the marriage of Theresa's grandparents, Edward Stone and Catherine Flanagan in July 1924 and also the birth of the said Edward Stone at Mullingar on 19th February 1883. There is also information about the marriage of Edward's parents, Daniel Stones of Lurgan and Mary Duffy of Moate on 1st May 1880 at Tubber.

There is information here about the Stone family recorded in various houses around Lurgan in the 1901 census. The 1901 census records 4 houses of Stone families at Lurgan and another family at Gorteen. These families include the family of Daniel and Mary Duffy at number 7.

The information here provides further insights into the origins of the Stone family at Lurgan, the family of Daniel and Mary Stone and a reference to the 1911 census.

The information here gives more detail about Daniel and Mary Stone's family at Lurgan in the 1911 census and also lists their neighbours at Lurgan.

At this link there is a photo of Edward Stone and his wife Catherine Flanagan. There is also information about their children

There is more detailed information here about the Stone family and their neighbours at Lurgan in the 1911 census.

There is information here about Kilmanaghan Cemetary near Lurgan and a post here about the history of Moate. There is also a post here containing memories and stories by local writer James J Hackett.

There is information here about the Flanagan family recorded at a place called Raheen in both the 1901 and 1911 census. Catherine Flanagan was Theresa's grandmother who married Edward Stone.

There is information here and here about the occurrence of Timothy and John Stones, who may have been brothers, both recorded at Lurgan in the 1850 Griffith's Evaluation.

Tubber Roman Catholic Church near Moate, County Offaly

New information about the Stone family

Have received some information this weekend from the Irish Midlands Ancestry Centre in Tullamore, County Offaly. It will take me some time to read through everything and interpret what I can as mainly it is made up of index lists which need deciphering to pick out direct ancestors from other people named Stone in the area.

But there is some significant new information here such as a detailed profile of the family of Timothy Stones of Lurgan and his wife Elizabeth Cahill. Timothy and Elizabeth Stones were Theresa's great great grandparents who lived on a farm at Lurgan.

Lurgan was still in the ownership of the Stone family up until a few years ago when Theresa's Uncle Dan died and the land was sold. We have made many visits there in the past twenty years, Dan was a sheep farmer who lived in a cottage on the edge of Moate but he and his sisters grew up in a small farm house on the land which in later years was used as a barn. So it is fascinating to identify people who lived at Lurgan back in the early 1800s.

The records of the family are drawn from the Tubber Roman Catholic Baptismal Records and include the following 12 children of Timothy Stones and Elizabeth Cahill:

Margaret Stones baptised 13 / 12 / 1835 (Sponsors William Heiney and Anne Milady)

James Stones baptised 04 / 12 / 1839 (Sponsors John Cahill and Mary Stones)

Rose Stones baptised 24 / 02 / 1841 (Sponsors John Stones and Mary Cahill)

Richard Stones baptised 22 / 1 / 1843 (Sponsors James Daly and Rose Cahill)

John Stones baptised 29 / 9 /1844 (Sponsors Pat Rigny and Mary Stones)

Daniel Stones baptised 20 / 9 / 1846 (Sponsors Edward Stones and Elizabeth Hinson)

Elizabeth Stones baptised 26 / 11 / 1848 (Sponsors Thomas Lowry and Mary Geoghegan)

Timothy Stones baptised 23 / 07 / 1850 (Sponsors James Hinson and Mary Anne Stones)

Rose Stones baptised 18 / 06 / 1852 (Sponsors James Stones and Margaret Hinson)

Anne Stones baptised 22 / 07 / 1854 (Sponsors Patrick Henson and Margaret Stones)

Edward Stones baptised 23 / 02 / 1857 (Sponsors Thomas Stones and Catherine Stones)

Catherine Stones baptised 27 / 07 / 1859 (Sponsors Richard stones and Mary Rigney)

The child named Daniel baptised in 1846 was Theresa's great grandfather who married Mary Duffy on 1st May 1880.

These baptismal records also give us the name of the sponsors (God parents) of each child, which may lead us to guess at the relationships between these people and the parents. For instance, Mary Cahill and Rose Cahill could have been sisters or sister-in-laws to the mother Elizabeth Cahill. The sponsors also include a Mary Stones, a Catherine Stones, a Margaret Stones and a Mary Anne Stones, so again these women could have been sisters or sisters-in-law to the father Timothy (though we should not discount other relationships such as an aunt or grandmother acting as sponsor).

The sponsors also include women named Anne Milady, Mary Rigney, Mary Geoghegan and Margaret Hinson. These women could have been married sisters of either the mother or the father. They might have included friends or neighbours acting as sponsors, though in large Catholic families (and I speak from experience) they are more likely to use relatives.

The male sponsors include men named Edward Stones, Thomas Stones, Richard Stones and James Stones - all likely to be brothers of of the father Timothy. We also have John Cahill who is likely to be a brother of the mother Elizabeth.

The male sponsors also include Pat Rigny, William Heiney, James Daly, Patrick Henson, Thomas Lowry and James Hinson. Relatives, friends or neighbours? If we assume that the surnames Henson and Hinson are different spellings of the same name, it is interesting to note that three different people named Hinson stood as sponsors to the Stones children, so a close relationship existed here between the Hinson and Stones families.

One further observation about the 12 children in this list is that there are baptisms for two children with the name Rose, one in 1841 and one in 1852, so 11 years between them. It is intriguing to wonder why there might have been two daughters named Rose in the same family. Did the older child die perhaps - though it still seems unusual to name a new baby after her deceased sister, unless there was a big significance about the name Rose, such as being a grand parent's name?

Tubber RC Church is on the main road between Clara and Moate. I have been to Mass there many times and Theresa and I knew the retiring priest Father Michael Walsh well, receiving his blessing on our marriage if my memory is correct. So it's wonderful to learn of the family's long standing relationship with Tubber Church.

Mary O'Hagan in the 1861 Census

2011-10-15T09:14:00.000-07:00

Mary O'Hagan, also known as Mary Hagan, was the older sister of my great great grandmother, Alice O'Hagan who married John Millington.

Since discovering Mary's O'Hagan's Will some years ago and learning that she was an unmarried woman who died from cancer in 1906 at her cottage in William Street in Lee Bank, having spent much of her life in domestic service as a cook, I have slowly been able to build up a picture of the O'Hagan family who most likely came from Newry in Ulster as early as the 1840s.

Alice was born in Bromsgrove in about 1846 / 1847, her father Patrick has been listed as a traveller, an agricultural labourer and a salt hawker. All of these 'occupations' painting a picture of an itinerent family arriving in the rural countryside of Worcestershire, where they most likely worked in the fields, going from farm to farm as did thousands of other Irish migrants. But then Patrick realising the opportunity of hawking the salt that was produced around Droitwich and Bromsgrove in the 19th century and heading up the canal routes into the expanding urban metropolis of Birmingham and the Black Country where they settled down and stayed.

The family are registered living at Wharf Street next to the Gas Street canal basin in the 1861 Census, but by this time Mary and her older siblings have left the family home.

There are subsequent records of a Mary O'Hagan (or Hagan) as a cook in domestic employment in later census records but this is the first time I have found a possible match in the 1861 census. Her birth place (Newry) and birth year make this seem like a likely record of this being our own Mary O'Hagan.

Address 31-32 Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham
Ward - St Mary's
Ecclesiastical district - St Philip's
John Vinrace
General Practitioner
Married to Selina E
Born abt 1834 in Ashby De La Zouch, Leicestershire, England
Head of the household

Selina E Vinrace
Married to John
Born abt 1835 London, England
Wife

John H Vinrace
aged 5
Son of above
Born abt 1856 Hill Top, Staffordshire, England

Felix C Vinrace
aged 3
Son of above
Born abt 1858 Highgate, Worcestershire, England

Edward D Vinrace
Aged 1
Son of above
Born abt 1860 Ledgborough, Gloucestershire, England

Sophia Watkins
Born abt 1843 Gloucestershire, England
Servant

Mary Hagan
Born abt 1839 Newry, Ireland
Servant

Elizah Harvey
Born abt 1843 Goodworth, Warwickshire, England
Servant

Ship records for Henry Townley?

2011-09-30T09:20:00.000-07:00

Henry Townley was my Uncle Harry's great grandfather, the father of Emily Townley who married Albert Lee, long-standing landlord of the Vesper Bell Public House on the corner of Blythe and Ledsam Streets in old Ladywood.

Henry was born in Treadworth in Gloucestershire sometime between 1833-1840. He is listed in the 1901 census as a resident at the Vesper Bell, father in law to the publican, a widower aged 61, and working as a timber yard labourer, born Treadworth, Gloucestershire 1840.

He is also listed in the 1911 census, still at the Vesper Bell, this time listed as widower and army pensioner, born in Treadworth, Gloucestershire in 1838.

Uncle Harry had a memory of his great grandfather as being a very tall man whose coffin had to be lifted through a window of the pub because they couldn't get it down stairs at the removal. We also know he served in the navy which is recognised by him being in receipt of a war pension. It seems that Henry Townley was a widower for a few decades as there is a record of him with his family, including Emily (Harry's grandmother) in the 1891 census living at 9 Bertha Buildings, Bradford Road, Birmingham:

Henry Townley, head, widower, timber merchant labourer, aged 51, born Treadworth, Gloucestershire 1840

Mary J Townley, daughter, single, aged 16, domestic servant, born 1865 Birmingham

Harry H Townley, son, single, sawyer aged 23, born Birmingham in 1868

Emily Townley, daughter, single, aged 21, domestic servant, born Birmingham 1870

Ada L Townley, daughter, single, aged 19, pin machine minder, born Birmingham 1872

The same family are recorded in Birmingham in the 1881 and 1871 census records:

1881 census living at 1, back 33 Springfield Street, Ladywood

Henry Townley, aged 41, labourer in timber yard, born in Gloucestershire 1840

Elizabeth Townley, aged 50, born Gloucestershire 1831

Mary Jane Townley, daughter, single, aged 16, warehouse girl (J), born Birmingham 1865

Harry Herbert Townley, son aged 14, warehouse boy (flab), born Birmingham 1867

Emily Townley, daughter, single, aged 11, scholar born Birmingham 1870

In the 1871 census, the same family are living at Edward Street, Court House, Birmingham but with the addition of two older siblings who were both born in Gloucestershire which suggests the move to Birmingham being between 1856 (Julia's birth) and 1864 (Mary's birth):

Henry Townley, head aged 38, born Gloucestershire 1833

Elizabeth Townley, wife, aged 38, born Gloucestershire 1833

Charles Townley, son, aged 17 born in Gloucestershire 1854

Julia Townley, daughter, aged 15 born in Gloucestershire 1856

Mary Townley, daughter aged 7, born in Warwickshire 1864

Herbert Townley, son aged 4, born Warwickshire 1867

Emily Townley, daughter aged 1, born Warwickshire 1870

The above information was previously posted on this website at this link:

http://brummiefamilytree.blogspot.com/2009/12/children-of-william-and-florence.html

I have now come across some merchant naval records for the following person (or 2 people given different birth dates):

I am not convinced that any of these three records appertain to Harry's great grandfather, Henry Townley, though there is never any harm in speculating. All three of the men were born in Gloucestershire, the first in 1828 (a decade before our own HT), the second in 1854 (a long way off HT's estimated birth year though interestingly it is the year in which his son Charles Townley was born) and the third one was born in 1841 so he would have been the right kind of age.

There is no date of voyage on the top record, the middle one was in 1881 and the third one in 1879. We have already seen that HT was registered in the census living in Birmingham, so again it is diffuclt to make an obvious case for him serving in the merchant navy in the late 1870s - early 1880s.

I may be completely wrong in searching for him in Merchant Naval records as he was listed in the census as being an army pensioner. My assumption that he was a sailor is based on the photograph of this gentleman with a group of other veteran sailors elsewhere on this website(see link above).

The search continues.

Mom and Dad's wedding - 10th May 1958 - St Peter's RC Church, Ladywood, Birmingham

2011-09-24T09:28:00.000-07:00

(Left to right): Nanny Mill (Florence Millington nee; Clayton), Grandad Mill (William Millington), Bill Millington jnr (dad's brother & best man), Patricia Lawlor (bridesmaid), Geoffrey Millington (groom), Joan Millington nee. Lawlor (bride), Betty Lawlor (bridesmaid), Grandad Lawlor (James Lawlor) and Nanny Lawlor (Elizabeth Lawlor nee Whelan)

(Left to right) Iris Millington nee Butcher (Bill's wife), Nance Bourne nee. Millington (dad's sister), Kath Robinson nee: Millington (dad's sister), Florence and William Millington (Nan and Grandad), Brian Lawlor (mom's brother) next to Pat, Bill Millington at the back, Geoffrey and Joan, Betty Lawlor, Grandad and nanny Lawlor with Dennis Lawlor (mom's brother)

Caribbean Family History Group - Solihull & Birmingham

2011-09-20T00:54:00.000-07:00

Family Miscellany

2011-09-18T14:10:00.000-07:00

Here are another couple of interesting items from the family archive which have a connection to each other. The first document is a very tattered copy of an Adjudicators remarks given to my mom Joan Lawlor at the Junior Groups Drama Festival 1951 run by Birmingham Co-operative Society Ltd. Education Department.

My mom was aged 12 in 1951. She was representing the Small Heath Pathfinders which I believe was part of the Woodcraft Folk. Her test piece was "The Little Waves of Breffny" for which she received a total of 75 marks.

The Adjudicator remarked;

"The marks earned by this competitor were consistant with a good performance. Well delivered and carefully enunciated verses made this a most delightful recital".

The next item is a presentation label inside a book which my older sister Susan won at more or less exactly the same competition 18 years later in 1969. Sue won a copy of The Silver Chair by C.S.Lewis in the Birmingham Co-operative Society Elocution Festival representing Harborne Woodrcaft Folk in the 7-8 years age group.

Somewhere in the house I have a copy of the book I won in the same competition, probably for aged 6 year olds. I think my book was The Voyage of the Dawn Treader also by C.S.Lewis. I'm pretty certain my brother Denis and second sister Kate also won their categories, plus I seem to recall my mom coaching a whole bunch of other local Harborne kids through it too.

So fair play to our mam for learnin' us all to spayke proper English..

More Family Miscellany

2011-09-18T11:59:00.000-07:00

Another dip into the Millington family archive, otherwise known as Granny's Family Circle biscuit tin, revealed yet more fascinating gems, starting with my dad's swimming certificate from January 1952, stating that he plunged in and swam one mile.

He would have been aged 15 in 1952 and was attending St Peter's R.C. School in Ladywood, Birmingham. The certificate was signed by the head teacher E.M.Clements.

In 1952 my dad was also awarded a senior Certificate of Merit in Prudence by the Birmingham Accident Prevention Council (image above). I have a feeling these days we might use the term 'road safety' and prudence might mean something slightly different.

What I love most is the more evocative language used in the 1950s, specifically the use of the terms 'plunge' on the swimming certificate and 'prudence' above'. There is almost something Enid Blytonesque in the use of language, these days the child would simply swim the mile, in 1952 it was preceded by this great enthusiastic plunge into the pool. Similarly children didn't simply observe their highway code (though I may be showing my own age with that term) back in 1952, they displayed a whole set of personal character traits described as 'prudence'.

Was the language richer and more descriptive back in 1952 or are these clues to the dominating and increasingly archaic middle class value system of the era? I have to admit I quite like the idea of plunging into pools and venturing over the zebra crossing with a display of cautious prudence.

The three items above are pages from a Motor Fuel Ration Book. I'm hoping that someone can help with this one as there is no issue date on it or registration of vehicle or owner. An internet search for fuel rationing in the UK seems to indicate that there have been at least three different periods where fuel rationing was introduced, the first period seems fairly obviously during World War 2 when books like this were distributed from 1941. There was another period of fuel rationing in force for five months in Britain following the Suez Crisis of 1956 and another period in 1973. Perhaps there were others?

I don't know at the moment if this was my dad's ration book from the 1970s or perhaps my Uncle Harry's from an earlier period.

The book contains coupons to the value of 42 'N' units and 21 'L' units for a six months period.

And finally, here is a pair of images with a very romantic connection, the first one is the invoice for my mom's wedding flowers including the brides roses costing £1-15-0, 2 posies at £1-10-0, 2 sprays at 6-0 shillings and 11 white carnations and 3 pink carnations at 17-6 shillings.

Total owed £4-8-6 !

The invioce is dated May 9th 1958 and the happy couple married the following day on Saturday 10th May 1958 at midday at St Peter's R.C. church with a reception afterwards at The Golden Eagle, Hill Street.

And there on the photograph my mom Joan is clutching her beautiful £1-15 bouquet whilst Geoff looks very smart with his 17 shilling buttonhole.

Timothy Stones in the Griffiths Valuation of Ireland

2011-09-16T11:20:00.000-07:00

Grffith's Valuation was the first full scale vaulation of property in Ireland. It was overseen by Richard Giffith and published between 1847 and 1864. It is one of the most important surviving 19th century genealogical sources for Ireland.

The valuation can be searched at no cost at the following web page:

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/

My search for Timothy Stones, my wife Theresa's great great grandfather, came up with the following record for a Timothy Stones occupying property and land at Lurgan in the Parish of Kilmananghan, King's County (Offaly):

Timothy Stones owned a house, office and land totalling 59 acres at Lurgan. He was the lessor and his land had the annual rateable value of 30 pounds and 10 shillings. His house had the rateable value of 1 pound and 10 shillings (total for land and house was 32 pounds).

A neighbour named John Stones also owned a house, office and land at Lurgan totalling 15 acres with a total rateable value of 6 pounds 10 shillings for land and house.

Other neighbours listed at Lurgan included John Henson, James Henson, Robert Low, Patrick Brazill, Michael Fox, Michael Mullins, Patrick McGuire, James Callaghan, Thomas Hankinson and Joseph Gough. Of these Robert Low was the largest land owner with 207 acres, with the 59 acres of Timothy Stones making him the second biggest land owner at lurgan.

A Place In The Sun

2011-09-05T16:24:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Michael Lavin, secretary of the National League of the Blind of Ireland Trust for sending me a copy of A Place In The Sun, a fascinating book about the history of the NLBI written by Pat Lyons.

Whilst the book makes no mention of John McDonnell by name and deals on the whole with material within the living memory of the author's contemporaries, so from about 1942 onwards, there are even so some great insights into how and why the NLB was founded in the 1890s and early 20th century, during which period John McDonnell undoubtedly helped to lay down the foundations which later board members built upon:

"The National League of the Blind was founded in Britain as a trade union for blind workers, most of whom were at the time employed in sheltered workshops. This was in 1899, although branches were established both in Dublin and Liverpool in 1898. It is worth noting that some years earlier, an organisation described as "The Union of Blind Basket-makers" was established in Britain and it too had a branch in Dublin. However, this association merged into the League when the latter was founded. The League, as a trade union, affiliated to the British Trade Union Congress in 1902"

"I think it is reasonable to surmise that the League was founded as a result of the appalling conditions which existed in the workshops and various institutions at the time. In 1886, a Royal Commission was established to examine the finances of the various homes or institutions for the blind then existing and their report revealed that for every pound subscribed towards the charitable objects for which such places were run, eighteen shillings and ten pence halfpenny was spent on administration, the balance going to the blind and visually impaired."

"The structure of the National League of the Blind was that branches were established in most major centres of population, particularly where there were places in which blind or visually impaired persons worked. Such places were generally referred to as asylums or institutions, but in keeping with the times, they were really nothing more than sweat-shops. The branches within defined geographical areas then formed themselves into district councils, and so you had the Irish, Scottish, London or Midland District Council. The Irish District Council comprised three branches - Dublin, Belfast and Cork, but the latter branch became defunct in the early 1920s and was not revived until 1944-45. "

Lyons, Pat / A Place In The Sun / Aquavarra Research Limited 1999

According to Lyons, the League was popular with blind people throughout it's early years and it's meetings were always full to capacity because it was the only organisation catering for the 'industrial blind' and the only organisation in which blind people had a direct say in their own affairs.

Amongst the most prominent institutions for blind people in Dublin were the Richmond Institution and St Joseph's Male Blind Asylum. We have already learnt from Frank Callery that John McDonnell attended St Joseph's, though it seems that both institutions ran workshops where blind people made baskets, mats, brushes and mattresses. Conditions were not good in the workshops and as recently as 1942 League members organised a strike at the Richmond "which got rid of a tyranny there being operated by the management".

St Joseph's today

St Joseph's was divided into three sections - the school, the hostel and the outdoor workers. After leaving school, young blind people graduated into the hostel where they served five years' apprenticeship, after which they were entitled to do outdoor work, called 'journey work'.

On page 11 of the book, Pat Lyons writes of Old Tommy Harte, one of the first two 'journeymen' from St Joseph's:

Basket-Making (at the School for the Indigent Blind)
28 May 1853
Engraving from Illustrated London News

"Old Tommy Harte who originally came with the blind from Glasnevin to St Joseph's Drumcondra was the first "Journneyman". He and another person obtained that status in 1898 or 1899 in order that the Institution could qualify for industrial contracts, because the places had to employ some outdoor workers as Trade Union labour. Tommy was an old man when he died suddenly on November 7th 1941."

Ibid. Lyons, Pat

I wonder if John McDonnell was the other Journeyman to whom Pat Lyons referred?

In a recent email, Frank Callery provides more insights into John McDonnell's north Dublin factory:

"John McDonnell was well located beside the fruit and fish markets off Chancery Street and the butchers market (or Ormond Market) then in Ormond Square, adjacent to Chancery Street (the footballer Johnny Giles’ family came from here) so the types of basket used by this market and the fish and fruit and veg dealers who used three-wheeled woven basket cars — similar to the woven gig which he drove — would have been the type of work undertaken. Much of this work would have been undertaken by outworkers. What is certain is that John McDonnell must have been a special person to rise above the general condition of the blind in this period."

In chapter five of A Place In The Sun, Pat Lyons included an extract from Services for the Blind in Ireland, a research report by Senator Brendan Ryan, December 1977. Ryan describes the politicisation of the blind people who formed the NLB in both Great Britain and Ireland:

"By the late eighteen-hundreds, there was a large network of blind workshops throughout the United Kingdom and questions involving conditions and salaries of blind workers began to arise. The employees of these workshops worked over forty-eight hours a week and spent up to three years acquiring skills to become craft workers, yet since their economic remuneration was so low, they still had to beg on the streets. As a result of these deplorable conditions and salaries, the National League became affiliated to the Trade Union Movement of Britain in 1902".

Ryan suggests that an early success of the League was its lobbying effort to push through parliament the Blind Persons Bill of 1902.

An email regarding Mary O'Hagan at the Royal Oak

2011-09-03T16:43:00.000-07:00

I received this interesting email from a gentleman name Mike Cooke regarding a hotel / dwelling called the Royal Oak at Bettws Y Coed in Caernarvon, Wales. In one of my posts I refer to the Royal Oak in the 1881 census where a lady named Mary O'Hagan was working as a cook.

Mary O'Hagan was the name of my great great grandmother Alice Millington nee. O'Hagan's older sister, a spinster who lived in Lee Bank in Birmingham and whom I know worked as a cook in domestic service. I do not know for certain that the lady recorded at the Royal Oak was my great great gandmother's sister, but there are no other people of that name, age and profession listed in the 1881 census in the whole of Great Britain.

Unfortunately Mike is not offering information about Mary O'Hagan but has some interesting comments about others recorded in the 1881 census at the Royal Oak.

Hello Pete,

I have just come across your book about the Millington Family and noted your interest in Mary O’Hagan and the fact that she was at The Royal Oak in 1881.

I am sorry to tell you that I know nothing about her at all, but I am related to Robert Ackrill who was a guest at the hotel.

Robert was born in Worcester and moved to Leeds about 1846. He was a printer. He later moved his business to Harrogate where he eventually became a newspaper proprietor.

Also in Harrogate was Edward Pullan. He owned the Crown Hotel there. Edward bought the Royal Oak between 1871 and 1881.

Robert’s son, John (Jack) William Ackrill, married Edwards daughter, Amy, in 1876.

If you ever go to The Royal Oak make yourself known to the owner, He will be able to show you some interesting items kept in a cabinet dating back to the time when Edward Pullen was the owner.

Best wishes,

Mike Cooke

On the trail of blind John McDonnell

2011-09-03T10:05:00.000-07:00

Following my email to the National League of the Blind Ireland (NLBI) earlier this week I did not have to wait long for a response and within 24 hours had received a reply from Michael Lavin who is Secretary to the Board of Trustees in Dublin. Michael is very kindly sending me a book about the history of NLBI called "A Place in the Sun", written by one of their former members, Mr Pat Lyons, now deceased. Michael also gave me contact details for a gentleman named Frank Callery of the National Council for the Blind who is currently writing a history of the blind in Ireland.

I would wish to thank straight away Frank Callery for his most informative emails this past few days. This includes some quite specific information relating to John McDonnell himself and also some more general information about the League of the Blind.

The League of the Blind was an organisation formed by blind people across Britain and Ireland which had local branches and published a newsletter called The Blind Advocate in the late 1890s and early 1900s. The League was very actively involved in the cut and thrust of the politics of blind services at the time. John McDonnell was chair of the Dublin branch of the League in the early 1900s and was therefore very involved in a campaign for benefits and support services from the government at Westminster to help blind people to acquire skills to become employed and to live independently, rather than scraping by in institutions or begging on the streets of Victorian and Edwardian Ireland.

There is evidence that John McDonnell, the basket manufacturer of Dublin and one-time chair of the local body of the NLB, had a national reputation in Ireland for his writing published in the Dublin press which raised questions appertaining to the employment of blind people.

John’s example was highlighted nationally to other branches of the NLB such as in Cork and Belfast with blind activists in other parts of Ireland being encouraged to follow the example of the Dublin branch in asking questions of their local politicians, especially around election times, for example prior to Irish Local Government Board Elections.

There was even a national meeting of Irish blind people chaired by John McDonnell and it is known that he entered into correspondence with John E. Redmond, a leading Irish nationalist MP and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party from 1900 to 1918, in which Redmond pledged the keen sympathy and active support of his entire party to the objects of Mr McDonnell's Irish members.

Just these briefest glimpses of John McDonnell’s involvement with the NLBI confirm the impression that our great great grandfather was indeed a man who played an active and influential role in promoting fairer conditions for blind people both locally in Dublin and across Ireland.

Frank Callery also provided the following information about John McDonnell, his close family and his wider activities:

"I do know a little about John McDonnell (1841 - ?). Poor Law Guardian, Chairman and long-time spokesman for the Dublin Branch of the NLBGB+I who attended St. Joseph’s Male Blind Asylum, Prospect Monastery, Glasnevin and Drumcondra Castle, Drumcondra, Dublin. They did not speak too highly of him because he was a thorn in their side. He was elected to the Poor Law Union in 1899 ( I think) and topped the poll and he also ran the North City Basket Factory at 78 Chancery Street with his possible relations John and Philip McDonnell also of 26 Chancery Street Dublin".

Frank sent me copies of the records of John McDonnell and his family living at 78 Chancery Street in the 1901 census and at Bolton Street in 1911. I have previously posted these records on this website from my own research, though what I haven't seen before are the records appertaining to another family of McDonnells at 23.6 Chancery Street in the 1911 Census (see above image from the 1911 Census courtesy of Frank Callery).

The family listed in this record are as follows:

McDonnell Mary
80
Female
Head of Family
Roman Catholic
Born County Meath -
Cannot read write
- Widow -

McDonnell John
36
Male
Son
Roman Catholic
Born Dublin City
Basket Maker
Write read -
Not Married -

McDonnell Philip
30 Male
Son
Roman Catholic
Born Dublin City
Basket Maker
Read write
- Not Married -

McDonnell James
28
Male
Son
Roman Catholic
Born Dublin City
Basket Maker
Read / write -
Not Married -

If this family is related to John McDonnell my guess is that the head of the family, Mary McDonnell, a widow aged 80 in 1911 (John was aged 70 in the same census at Bolton Street), might have been his sister-in-law (note she was born in County Meath whereas John was born in Dublin City). In which case her sons John, Philip and James would therefore have been blind John McDonnell's nephews. We would need more evidence to make a definite certain link but the fact they were close neighbours in Chancery Street and were all basket makers makes a strong case for a family connection.

Frank continues:

" Note the two addresses in Chancery Street, Dublin, where my own people the Callerys were living; it was a poor area of the city. Note also the Bolton Street address where I think John died — I seem to recall an obituary for him connected with this address. Many blind brush-makers and basket-makers lived in this area of the city and were either connected with the Richmond National Institute for the Industrious Blind, 41 (Sackville) Upper O’Connell Street; Michael O’Connor’s basket workshops in Stafford Street and Capel Street; McDonnell’s in Chancery Street; the Varian Brush works in Talbot Street or had a connection with St. Joseph’s Asylum and workshops for the blind, then at Drumcondra Castle".

"His son John McDonnell was a butcher and was connected with my mother’s family the Richardsons who owned many of the slaughterhouses (the lime yard) around Moore Street, Dublin. I think he or his son were involved in the founding of the Workers Union of Ireland along with the son of the famous labour leader, James Larkin. Also, going on defective memory these people may have ended up (not a pejorative term) in Blessington Street, Dublin. This information regarding the Workers Union of Ireland is anecdotal and was given to me by an old neighbour; I do know for a fact that Larkin got £300 to restart his Workers Union of Ireland from the butchers of Dublin of whom among their number were: Frank Cluskey, Dick Union and Ned and Gerald Richardson, as to John McDonnell or Paddy McDonnell being actually involved, I have not yet seen this written in stone; but given the Old John McDonnell involvement in the trade union movement in Dublin I am inclined to believe it".

"With regard to where you might search further; we are unfortunate in this country in that record keeping has not been our ace and you will find that the records for the NLB are very sparse. I have trawled through what remained of old minutes books and this was very poor and mostly lists of names and pro forma entries. However, your g g grandfather is mentioned in reports of meetings in the mansion house and The OddFellows Hall (10 Abbey Street) these are in the Freeman’s Journal and the Irish TImes, both of these are on line ( the monthly subscription seems to be the best value) http://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ "

Frank has also supplied me with other contact details which I won't publish online, appertaining to friends who used to look after the archives of the Workers Union of Ireland now called SIPTU http://www.siptu.ie/ He suggests that this contact may be able to establish the veracity of the McDonnell link with the butcher’s section of WUI.

Once again I would wish to thank Frank Callery most sincerely for all of this fascinating information which provides us with a wonderful insight into the character and works of our great great grandfather John McDonnell.

Frank Callery is the author of two historical articles about another Dublin based organisation called National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) posted on their website at the following links:

Part One The Founding of NCBI 1931

Part Two A Fledgling NCBI

National League of the Blind Ireland

2011-08-30T02:45:00.000-07:00

National League of the Blind of Ireland:

The National League of the Blind of Ireland is an information service for blind workers. It is a registered Trade Union and provides information on free legal aid and advisory services. It promotes rehabilitation training, employment, education and welfare for all blind people.

The National League of the Blind of Ireland Trust was established in 1898 and is the only blind organisation run by the blind for the blind. It is based at 21 Hill Street, Dublin 1.

A reference to the National League of the Blind Ireland can be found in Hansard (House of Commons 1918)

HC Deb 18 February 1918 vol 103 c468 468

76. Mr. BOLAND asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why the Irish branches of the National League of the Blind have not been represented on the Advisory Committee for the welfare of the blind in Ireland, seeing that this representation has been given in the case of England and of Scotland?

Mr. DUKE A representative of the Dublin Branch of the National League of the Blind has been co-opted on the Industrial Training and Workshops Sub-Committee of the Irish Advisory Committee on the Blind.

Did the NLBI have the same roots as the NLB in Britain?

There is an interesting article at the link below which discusses the history of the National League of the Blind in the UK and the ideological issues around why the League defined itself as a Union as opposed to a charity.

The article refers to the establishment of an unregistered organisation called the National League of the Blind Great Britain and Ireland in 1894:

"The group was established to promote the demands, outlined later in the manifesto above, and in 1897 they elected one of its founder members Ben Purse to become the first full time secretary (Purse, 1916a: 8). Purse was an extremely influential figure in the early years of the union formation and through his stewardship a National Conference was convened in 1897 (Purse, 1919). Following this dawn of collective activism the loose association sought and achieved registration under the Trades Unions Acts with the objective of organising the blind population throughout Great Britain and Ireland. The organized blind community was to be politicized to add weight to the union’s demands for the State to take responsibility for the employment at adequate wages of all sightless persons already trained in workshop production methods and to provide a centralized training scheme for new entrants to the workshop sector. Additionally, for those who could not be trained, adequate pensions were demanded away from poor law provision (NLB, 1899).

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Largely due to frequent outspoken criticisms published in the Leagues official journal ‘The Blind Advocate’ founded in 1898, and because of many acts of resistance adopted by the militant activists the NLB faced hostility from many existing institutions for the blind which had the unintended consequence of causing victimization of members working in existing charity workshops (Banham, 1901: 1-2). The antagonism towards charities also caused the NLB to be excluded from most national conferences discussing the welfare of the blind which often affected government policy. So the NLB had a clear choice, it could remain a hostile critic with activists attempting to change the status quo from outside the dominant circles of power, or it could take a more conciliatory line attempting to alter opinions and hence policies from within existing power structures.

A critical period for the NLB occurred circa 1910 when the league principally through the influence of purse modified its approach to their relationship with charities to a point at which cooperation became possible. This pragmatic change saw the influence of the NLB increase in political circles and gain support from some influential individuals who aided a wider recognition of the organisation as a legitimate lobbying group attempting to influence policy, achieve social change and ultimately emancipate blind people from their oppressive relationship with charity (NLB, 1914; Purse, 1919). "

Wheeler, P. F. and Salt, F. W. (2006), Disabled activism, a historically problematic relationship with charity. Paper delivered at the Disability Studies Association Conference, Lancaster University, 18-20 September 2006.

The article mainly refers to the NLB's development in the UK and there is no reference to the NLBI forming as a separate branch in Ireland from 1898. It would seem from the various old documents previously published on this website, appertaining to the political aspirations of my great great grandfather John McDonnell who stood for election as a Poor Law governor under the banner of Sinn Fein, that his association with the NLBI may well have had both political and charitable connotations. Though as a successful blind entrepreneur himself, we might surmise that his personal ideology fell on the side of the rights of the blind person as a self-actualising worker rather than a recipient of charity.

Certainly it seems that the user led National League of the Blind in both Great Britain and Ireland was a radical organisation compared to the big charitable institutions of the era such as the Royal National Institute for the Blind in London.

My email to the National League of the Blind Ireland

2011-08-30T02:02:00.000-07:00

Dear Sir or Madam

I live in Birmingham in the UK and have for many years worked for user led disability organisations in the city. Last year I wrote a book about the history of the group I currently work for, Birmingham Disability Resource Centre (BDRC).

Just like NLBI, the BDRC is run by disabled people for disabled people.

It was quite a surprise for me therefore when I was researching my family tree to learn from family in Dublin that one of my ancestors, John McDonnell, was a blind person who was very active in the National League of the Blind in Ireland. He was also a Poor Law governor and a successful business man who ran a basket making factory in Dublin in the early 20th century.

I would love to find out more about John McDonnell and his involvement with NLBI and wondered if you keep any records about directors of the charity in the early 1900s or indeed anything about the history of the organisation which might help me to understand the context of the times in which Mr McDonnell and fellow blind activists were developing self help support services in Ireland.

I would be most grateful of any advice you can give me.

Yours faithfully

Peter Millington

The Fennelly families of Kilminchy, Queen's County, Ireland in 1901 Census

2011-08-28T13:32:00.000-07:00

The Fennelly family are related to my mom's ancestors, the Lawlors, who originated from County Laois, formerly known as Queen's County which lies in the Irish Midlands.

My great grandparents on my mom's paternal side were Denis and Catherine (or Kate) Lawlor. Denis Lawlor (sometimes Lalor) married Catherine Cushion at Maryborough RC chuch in the Union of Mountmeillick in 1903.

Catherine's father was Thomas Cushion and her mother was Mary Cushion nee Fennelly. Catherine was born in 1874. Denis's parents were Michael Lawlor and Mary nee. Delany.

When Catherine Cushion married Denis Lawlor in 1903, according to the marriage certificate both of them resided at Kilminchy. However, I can not find Lawlor or Cushion families listed in the 1901 Census at Kilminchy though there are three families named Fennelly. Note here that I have previously posted details of Fennelly families at Kilminchy in the 1911 Census.

Residents of a house 14 in Kilminchy (Maryborough Rural, Queen's Co.)

Fennelly Thomas 59 Male Head of Family Roman Catholic Queens Coty Farmer Read and write - Married -

Fennelly Mary 42 Female Wife Roman Catholic Queens Co - Read and write - Married -

Fennelly Danl 21 Male Son Roman Catholic Queens Co Farmers Son Read and write - Not Married -

Fennelly Thomas 19 Male Son Roman Catholic Queens Co Farmer's Son Read and write - Not Married -

Fennelly Julia 17 Female Daughter Roman Catholic Queens Co Farmer's Daughter Read and write - Not Married -

Fennelly Denis 15 Male Son Roman Catholic Queens Co Scholar Read and write - Not Married -

Fennelly Patrick 8 Male Son Roman Catholic

Residents of a house 13 in Kilminchy (Maryborough Rural, Queen's Co.)

Fennelly Robert 43 Male Head of Family Roman Catholic Queen's Co Farmer Read and write - Married -

Fennelly Ellen 32 Female Wife Roman Catholic Queens Co - Read and write - Married -

Fennelly Anne Female Daughter Roman Catholic

Residents of a house 7 in Kilminchy (Maryborough Rural, Queen's Co.)

Fennelly Christopher 46 Male Head of Family Roman Catholic Queens Co Farm Labourer Read and write - Married -

Fennelly Fanny 38 Female Wife Roman Catholic Queens Co - Read and write - Married -

Fennelly Julia 20 Female Daughter Roman Catholic Queens Co Seamstress Read and write - Not Married -

Fennelly James 11 Male Son Roman Catholic Queens Co Scholar Read and write - Not Married -

Fennelly Bridget 8 Female Daughter Roman Catholic

Residents of a house 2 in Kilminchy (Maryborough Rural, Queen's Co.)

Delany Michael 48 Male Head of Family Roman Catholic Queen Co Farmer Read and write - Married -

Delany Mary 40 Female Wife Roman Catholic

Dwyer family in the 1901 Census

2011-08-28T12:41:00.000-07:00

The record below lists the Dwyer family of Balloughna, Wexford in the 1901 Irish Census. Andrew and Ann Dwyer, the parents in this family, are the great grandparents of my wife Theresa. Their son Andrew was her grand father, he married Bridget Mellon who is listed in the post below this one.

I encountered a few problems trying to find this family initially as they were not coming up in the index under the name Dywer or even O'Dwyer. I therefore searched under their address from the 1911 Census, which was Ballyoughna and sure enough here they are at house 8 but their surname was misspelt Dwier.

Residents of a house 8 in Ballyoughna (Ballygarrett, Wexford)

Barony of Gorey, Parish of Kiltrisk, Parliamentray divisionof north Wexford

Dwier Andrew

Male

Head of Family

Roman Catholic

Born Co Wexford

Farmer

Cannot read

- Married -

Dwier

Ann
54
Female
Wife
Roman Catholic
Born Co Wexford
Read only
- Married -

Dwier
Liza
25
Female
Daughter
Roman Catholic
Born Co Wexford
Farmers Daughter
Read and write
- Not Married -

Dwier
Edward
23
Male
Son
Roman Catholic
Born Co Wexford
Farmers Son
Read only
- Not Married -

Dwier
Andrew
20
Male
Son
Roman Catholic
Born Co Wexford
Farmers Son
Read and write
- Not Married -

Forms B1 and B2

House and Building Returns

On the house and building return the Dwier family at house number 8 has three rooms between 5 adults and has two outhouses. The walls of the house are made of perishable materials such as mud or wood, the roof is also made from perishable materials such as thatch or wood and the front of the house has four windows. These features give the house a rating of being a 2nd class house.

In Form B2 of the return, the Dwyer's 2 outhouses are listed as a fowl house and a piggery.

On the same form the neighbouring families are named in houses 1 - 14 at Ballyoughna. There are some names which are familiar to us from the notes which have been previously posted on this website, notes which were made from the memories of Theresa's mom Kitty Dwyer. These names include:

Fortune, Casey, Middleton, Jordan, Walker, Whyte, Carter, Lawler, Doyle and O'Connor.

Bridget Mellon in the 1901 Census

2011-08-28T11:43:00.000-07:00

Residents of a house 2 in Barraglan (Monamolin, Wexford)

Mellon Sarah
49
Female
Head of Family
R Catholic
Born Co Wexford
General Servant Domestic
Read and write
Widow

Mellon
Bridget
22
Female
Daughter
R Catholic
Co Wexford
Dressmaker
Read and write
Not Married

Flanagan family recorded in the 1901 and 1911 Census

2011-08-22T15:44:00.000-07:00

Kitty Dwyer's recall of the siblings of her mother, Catherine Stone, nee. Flanagan is useful in pinpointing the Flanagan family in the 1901 and 1911 census, even confirming the profession of Mary Ann the seamstress:

Residents of a house 17 in Raheen (Umma, Westmeath) in 1901:

Flanagan William 50 Male Head of Family Roman Catholic Westmeath Farmer Read and write - Married -

Flanagan Anne 48 Female Wife Roman Catholic Westmeath - Read and write - Married -

Flanagan Mary Anne 24 Female Daughter Roman Catholic Westmeath Seamstress Read and write - Not Married -

Flanagan Edward 20 Male Son Roman Catholic Westmeath Farmers Son Read and write - Not Married -

Flanagan Julia 15 Female Daughter Roman Catholic Westmeath Farmers Daughter Read and write - Not Married -

Flanagan William 13 Male Son Roman Catholic Westmeath Farmers Son Read and write - Not Married -

Flanagan Thomas 11 Male Son Roman Catholic Westmeath Scholar Read and write - Not Married -

Flanagan Kate 9 Female Daughter Roman Catholic Westmeath Scholar Read and write - Not Married -

Flanagan John 3 Male Son Roman Catholic Westmeath - Cannot read - Not Married -

The same family can be found at house 18 in Raheen (Umma, Westmeath) in 1911:

Flanagan, William aged 62 Male, Head of Family, Roman Catholic born in County W Meath, Farmer, Read and write English, Married - - - -

Flanagan Annie, 58, Female, Wife, Roman Catholic, born in Westmeath - Read English, Married - married 35 years, gave birth to 9 children of which 9 were alive

Flanagan Edward 29 Male Son Roman Catholic Westmeath Agricultural Labourer Read and write English Single - - - -

Flanagan William 23 Male Son Roman Catholic Westmeath Agricultural Labourer Read and write English Single - - - -

Flanagan Thomas 20 Male Son Roman Catholic Westmeath Agricultural Labourer Read and write English Single - - - -

Flanagan John 12 Male Son Roman Catholic Westmeath Scholar Read and write English Single - - - -

Flanagan Julia 25 Female Daughter Roman Catholic Westmeath - Read and write English Single - - - -

Flanagan Catherine 18 Female Daughter Roman Catholic Westmeath - Read and write English Single - - - -

The buildings return from the same census

The Flanagan family of Raheen, Ballymore, Westmeath

2011-08-22T15:29:00.000-07:00

Map of the parishes of Westmeath. Moate (marked in red) is in the south of the county, on the border with Offaly. The parish of Ballymore is number 3 on the map, not far to the north of Moate. Raheen is not to be confused with Rahan, an Offaly village near Tullamore.

My wife Theresa's maternal grandmother was Catherine (aka Kate) Stone, nee. Flanagan.

On her marriage certificate to Edward Stone in 1924, it is stated that Kate Flanagan was from Rehan and her father was a farmer named William Flanagan. The couple married at Ballymore in the Union of Athlone.

My mother-in-law Kitty Dwyer, nee. Stone, has previously told me that her mother Catherine had four brothers (Ned, William, Thomas and John) and four sisters (Julia, Mary Ann, Elizabeth and Margaret).

According to Kitty, Mary Ann Flanagan was a highly skilled dress maker whose reputation brought in a great deal of custom from the local gentry:

"Every year Mary Ann would receive an order from the local Church of Ireland vicar at Ballymore to stitch up fine lacy dresses for five of his daughters who would ride around the area in a horse and cart like a gaggle of geese in their fine outfits. Mary Ann married Jack Duffy. She was 91 years old when she died and her son died a few months after her".

Kitty also told me that Catherine's brother Ned died as a young man following a violent kick in the stomach from a horse. The event left a strong and lasting impression on Catherine and many years later she was recalled as being very nervous when her grandchildren were near horses in the fields around Lurgan, especially a young Michael Dwyer would would swing enthusiastically with his arms around the neck of a particular horse.

The Flanagan women are described by Kitty as being generally "floppy and floating". Catherine herself was a small and stout woman. She died on the 26th September 1981 aged 88 and is buried at Tubber cemetary with her husband Edward Stone (died 8th September 1947 aged 64) and their daughter Mary who died on 11th November 1947 aged 19.

Kitty has a Mass Card for Margaret Moran of 35 Magerton Road, Drimnagh, Dublin who died on 29th Auigust 1961 aged 78 years. This was Catherine Flanagan's sister Margaret.

Some history of Moate

2011-08-22T08:28:00.000-07:00

The following notes about the history of Moate, the closest town to Lurgan are from a local history book called The Years Between. Moate, Co. Westmeath 1956-2006 by Vera Hughes.

These notes may help to create some context to the lives of the Stone(s) family at Lurgan.

From Chapter one - Beginnings

"Moate is a pretty, little, clean-built town, of a different air from the generality of Irish villages in this part of Ireland. This may be due to the gravelly soil (the Eiscir Riada) on which it stands"

Dr Thomas Molyneux, 1709

Moate started as a collection of primitive settlements surrounded by swampy marshes, woods and bogs.

In Medieval times an area of thatched cottages developed which were clustered around O'Melaghlin's Castle on the south side of what came to be the town.

In the 12th and 13th centuries Moate was a Norman town, it's name deriving from the Norman French "motte", a moat. An artificial hill was created by the Normans with a "fosse" or defensive ditch and a raised bailey.

In 1641 Oliver Cromwell spent one night in Moate and granted the O'Melaghlin Castle and some lands to one of his soldiers, Peter Humphreys. The Deed of Sale is still at the castle.

Humphreys sold the castle to another Cromwellian soldier, Captain John Clibborn. The Clibborn dynasty shaped the industrial life of the town for the next 200 years.

John Clibborn became a Quaker in 1660 and erected a Meeting House near the castle in 1694. He also built a walled Quaker burial ground.

In 1798 the chapel in Moate was turned into a barracks for British soldiers and stabling.

An Act of Parliament dispossessed the local gentry and gave land to English planters - middlemen and farmers with names such as Homan, English, Adamson, Robinson, Jones, Matthews, Telford, Potts, Hankinson, Fetherston, Marsh, Russell, Mitchel and Mulock.

Many were Quakers who led simple, unostentatious and industrious lives. They introduced new and better farming methods, reclaimed bogs and planted trees.

The industries of the Quakers in Moate included brewing, tanning, felt making, weaving, tile and brick making and linen & woolen goods manufacture.

Moate grew as a town in the 18th and 19th centuries and became prosperous.

In the 1880s there was a decline in the industries of Moate due to rececession and the restrictions on exports which had been placed by the Act of Union. There was a decline in the Clibborn linen industry in the 19th century which saw Moate morph into a market town.

Also read a history of Plantation and Settlement in Offaly

The Stone family of Lurgan, Offaly

2011-08-22T05:45:00.000-07:00

Recently arrived back from a visit to Theresa's mom Kitty Dwyer, nee. Stone of Tubber near Moate in Ireland. Kitty (my mother-in-law) has been in Tullamore hospital for the past few weeks but happily her condition is improving.

Whilst in Tullamore I took the opportunity to go into the Irish Midlands ancestry research office at Offaly Exhibition and Research Centre and picked up a research form so that I can request a full search on the Stone family. There will be a cost but I feel it will be worth it as there is a strong likelihood of them having access to good records about the Stone family at Lurgan and possibly some of the related families such as Duffy (Theresa's great grandmother Mary Duffy from Moate) and possibly Flannagan (Theresa's grandmother was Catherine Flannagan from Rehan).

The Stone family lived on farmland at Lurgan for a number of generations. I have previously posted up records from the 1911 and 1901 census detailing Daniel and Mary Stone living with their family on the farm at Lurgan and there are also details of neighbouring houses at Lurgan, many of which contained other families with the surname Stone.

We know from anecdotal information that a large area of land at Lurgan was divided between Daniel and his two brothers, said to be named Michael and John, though there are other individuals named Stone recorded in the Census including James and Charles.

Whilst in Tubber this summer I had a brief conversation with Theresa's cousin Cormac Stone who still farms extensive areas of land in the county and might therefore be a likely person to know more about these three brothers and the division of the land by their father Timothy. But Cormac's knowledge is formed from the same anecdotal information as has been transmitted by his parents' generation (his mother was Anne Stone who was Kitty's oldest sister), so I now feel that a professional search may be the next best step as the Tullamore research centre have access to church, state, newspaper, estate and land records as well as the census data I have already explored.

What I have come across in my own records as I filled out the research form is that I have a very faint photocopy of the marriage certificate of Daniel Stones and Mary Duffy - information I don't think I have posted up on the website before now.

Daniel Stones of Lurgan, a bachelor of full age, married Mary Duffy of Moate, spinster of full age, on 1st May 1880 at Tubber.

Mary's father was Andrew Duffy - I can't fully make out his profession but it looks like Slisbrer (any suggestions as to what this might be would be gratefully received).

Daniel's father was Timothy Stones a farmer.

Witnesses were John Cahill and Mary Duffy.

Note the addition of the letter s after Stone to make it Stones. To be honest I don't think the variant spellings of surnames in the 19th century is worth pondering on as this was very common across Ireland and the UK. So I think we can use both Stone and Stones to refer to the same family.

Birth of Edward Stone

I also have a similar photocopied birth entry for Edward Stone (I got these from the public record office in Dublin many years ago).

Catherine (nee. Flanagan) and Edward Stone

with daughter Anne Stone

Edward Stone was Theresa's grandfather, he was one of the 9 children of Daniel and Mary Stone.

Edward was born on 19th February 1883 in Mullingar. His father Daniel Stone was a publican. His mother was Mary Stone nee. Duffy. The informant was Anne McTiernan who was present at the birth.

Marriage of Edward Stones and Kate Flanagan

Edward Stones and Kate Flanagan married at the church of Ballymore in the Union of Athlone on July 9th 1924. Both were of full age and single. Edward's profession was a farmer.

Edward's place of residence was Lurgan and his father was Daniel Stones, also a farmer. Kate's place of residence was Rehan and her father was William Flanagan, also a farmer.

The witnesses to their marriage were Richard Stones and Mary Duffy.

Stone families in and around Lurgan in the 1901 Census

2011-08-03T12:28:00.000-07:00

The first record is the family of my wife's great grandparents Daniel and Mary Stones (spelt today Stone). My guess is that the second family, their neighbours at house 6, is headed by the widow of Daniel's brother Michael. These two families are at the same addresses 10 years later in the 1911 census. There are also families named Stone (without the 's' at the end) at houses 7, 8 and 9 at Lurgan.

If we consider how remote the rural area of Lurgan is even today in 2011, to have families named Stone and Stones occupying 4 consecutive farm houses strongly suggests that the four families have to be related.

I have not come across the last family of Charles Stones before.

Incidentally there are many other families with the surname Stone recorded in the general area on the borders of Offaly and Westmeath in the 1911 census, about 700 individuals with the surname Stone in Ireland altogether.

Residents of a house 7 in Lurgan (Gorteen, King's Co.)

Stones Dan 53 Male Head of Family Roman Catholic Kings Co Farmer Read write - Married -

Stones Mary 40 Female Wife Roman Catholic Kings Co - Read and write - Married -

Stones Edward 18 Male Son Roman Catholic Co Westmeath Farmer's Son Read write - Not Married -

Stones Mary 13 Female Daughter Roman Catholic Co Westmeath Scholar Read and write - Not Married -

Stones Kate 8 Female Daughter Roman Catholic Co Westmeath Scholar Read and write - Not Married -

Stones James 6 Male Son Roman Catholic Co Westmeath Scholar Read and write - Not Married -

Stones Richard 4 Male Son Roman Catholic Co Westmeath Scholar Read and write - Not Married -

Residents of a house 6 in Lurgan (Gorteen, King's Co.)

Stones Anne 35 Female Head of Family Roman Catholic Kings Co Farmer Read and write - Widow -

Warburton Teresa 26 Female Sister Roman Catholic Kings Co - Read and write - Not Married -

Stones Timothy 14 Male Son Roman Catholic Kings Co - Read and write - Not Married -

Stones Mary 12 Female Daughter Roman Catholic Kings Co Scholar Read and write - Not Married -

Stones Michael 10 Male Son Roman Catholic Kings Co Scholar Read and write - Not Married -

Stones Catherine 8 Female Daughter Roman Catholic Kings Co Scholar Read and write - Not Married -

Stones Elizabeth 6 Female Daughter Roman Catholic

Residents of a house 8 in Lurgan (Gorteen, King's Co.)

Stone James 60 Male Head of Family R Catholic Kings County Farmer Read and write English Married -

Stone Rose 55 Female Wife R Catholic King's County Farmer's Wife Read and write English Married -

Stone James 25 Male Son R Catholic King's County Farmer's Son Read and write English Not Married -

Stone Annie 23 Female Daughter R Catholic King's County Farmer's Daughter Read and write English Not Married -

Stone Edward 21 Male Son R Catholic King's County Farmers Son Read and write English Not Married -

Stone Rose 19 Female Daughter R Catholic King's County Farmer's Daughter Read and write English Not Married -

Stone Richard 16 Male Son R Catholic

Residents of a house 9 in Lurgan (Gorteen, King's Co.)

Stone John 54 Male Father R C Kings Co Farmer Read and write - Married -

Stone Rose 43 Female Wife R C Westmeath - Read and write - Married -

Stone John 18 Male Son R C Kings Co - Read and write - Not Married -

Stone Mary 16 Female Daughter R C Kings Co - Read and write - Not Married -

Stone Richard 11 Male Son R C Kings Co Attending School Read and write - - -

Stone Rose 8 Female Daughter R C Kings Co Attending School - - - -

Stone Thos Joe 6 Male Son R C

Residents of a house 7 in Gorteen (Gorteen, King's Co.)

Stones Charles 67 Male Head of Family Roman Catholic Co Kings Roman Catholic Read and write - Married -

Stones Mary 60 Female Wife Roman Catholic Co Kings Roman Catholic Read and write - Married -

Stones Marianne 24 Female Daughter Roman Catholic Co Kings Roman Catholic Read and write - Not Married -

Stones Laurence 20 Male Son Roman Catholic Co Kings Roman Catholic Read and write - Not Married -

Stones John C 19 Male Son Roman Catholic Co Kings Roman Catholic Read and write - Not Married -

Stones Honora 60 Female Sister Roman Catholic

1901 Census - Moate, Westmeath

2011-08-03T11:58:00.000-07:00

Whilst searching the 1901 Census on the National Archives of Ireland website I came across this record of a small family named Stone (Stone is the maternal line of my wife's family - her mother's maiden name) living in a place named Legan in Moate.

It is likely that Legan is a different place to the ancestral farm at Lurgan which is between Moate and Clara (Moate is in Westmeath whilst Clara is in Offaly - formerly Kings County), not a mis-spelling.

What interests me most though is the presence of a teenage nephew named Timothy Stone aged 15. In the 1911 census record of the Stone family at Lurgan there was a Timothy Stone aged 26 (who was brother to my wife's grandfather Edward Stone).

Is it possible that these two spinsters, Mary and Bessie Stone, living with their 88 year old mother Elizabeth Stone, were related to Daniel Stone (my wife's great grandfather?)

Residents of a house 24 in Legan (Moate, Westmeath)

Stone Mary 60 Female Head of Family Roman Catholic King's County Shop Keeper Read and write - Not Married -

Stone Bessie 51 Female Sister Roman Catholic King's County Helper Read and write - Not Married -

Stone Elizabeth 88 Female Mother Roman Catholic Westmeath - Read and write - Widow -

Stone Timothy 15 Male Nephew Roman Catholic Westmeath Scholar Read and write - Not Married -

Cunningham Mary 65 Female Servant Roman Catholic

The family of John and Catherine McDonnell in the 1901 Census for Dublin

2011-08-03T10:49:00.000-07:00

It has been a few months since I blogged a great deal of information about the family of my great-great grandfather John McDonnell of Dublin.

Thanks to my mom's Whelan cousins in Ireland I was able to write up a great deal of information about this distinguished gentleman who was a blind factory owner in Victorian and Ewardian Dublin, becoming successful through a basket weaving business and also active in his support of the national blind charity of Ireland and a Poor Law governer.

I have previously posted up information showing 70 year old John McDonnell with his wife Catherine, their daughter Catherine Barrett and son John McDonnell all living at 49 Bolton Street, Dublin in 1911.

See the following link: http://brummiefamilytree.blogspot.com/2010/01/information-about-whelan-and-mcdonnell.html

Further research on the website of the National Archives of Ireland also show John and Catherine McDonnell in the 1901 Census, this time time living at 78 Chancery Street (Inns Quay, Dublin):

Mc Donnell Annie 18 Female Daughter R Catholic Dublin City Housekeeper Read and write - Not Married -

Mc Donnell John 60 Male Head of Family Roman Catholic Dublin City Basket Maker Cannot read - Married Blind

Mc Donnell John 13 Male Son R Catholic Dublin City Scholar Read and write - Not Married -

Mc Donnell Peter 12 Male Son R Catholic Dublin City Scholar Read and write - Not Married -

Mc Donnell Kate 49 Female Wife R Catholic Dublin City Housekeeper Read and write - Married

The 1901 Census included additional pages which recorded more features about each property, known as the house and building return. The McDonnell's property at 78 Chancery Street is listed on the following page:

Number 78 Chancery Street was a shop and house. It had no outhouses, the walls of the building were made of stone, brick or concrete, the roof was of slate, iron or tiles, the building had been 10 and 12 rooms and 7 windows at the front. When the scores for each of these features were added up the house had an overall score of 14, putting it in the category of being a 1st class house.

It was noted that only one family of 5 lived in the property and they occupied 10 rooms.

It is no big surprise that the 78 Chancery Street address in the 1901 census is the same adrdress which appears on the picture of John McDonnell's North City Basket Factory featured on the lovely sketch which survives in the Whelan family today.

What we may note from this census record is that their 18 year old daughter Annie McDonnell is my great grand mother who married John Whelan in August 1904. The home address of the McDonnells on the marriage certificate is Cloghan Sands in County Dublin and John McDonnell senior's occupation is recorded as a farmer, not a basket weaver. So we can surmise that the McDonnells made their move to the country between 1901 and 1904 though were back in Dublin city by 1911.

It should also be noted that in the 1901 census there was a 12 year old son named Peter, who is not recorded in the 1911 census even though his odler brother John was recorded.

Was Peter McDonnell the son who is thought to have caused the fire which burnt down his father's Cloghan Sands farmstead in the countryside? If so, would this explain why the McDonnells were back in the city by 1911 with no sign of poor Peter?

More research into the birth of Kathleen Mary Millington in India

2011-07-20T11:44:00.000-07:00

I have previously posted up information concerning the birth of my father's older sister, Kathleen Robinson nee. Millington in India in 1922.

I have Katheen's original birh registration certificate and her baptismal certificate. I also have an electronic copy of the Army Returns birth index for 1922 sourced from the internet.

On the surface, the information in the first two documents is straight forward and consistant with what Kathleen knew about the location of her own birth.

My grandfather William Joseph Millington was stationed in India, he was a private with the 1st Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment and my grandmother Florence was with him as an army wife.

Kathleen was born on 3rd January 1922. The details of her parents were given as above and the birth was registered on the same day. The location of the birth is given as Ahmedabad Maternity, Civil Hospital.

Kathleen's baptism took place at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Ahmedabad on 20th January 1922 . The minister was Rev. P Fernandez (RC Chaplain). Kathleen's Godmother was Sister Baptista. Parents were named as William and Florence Millington, father's profession was Private, Worcestershire and their domicile was Camp, Ahmedabad.

A new question arises though in the Army returns birth index which lists the birth of Kathleen M Millington in 1922 but lists the station as being Nasirabad as opposed to Ahmedebad. This wouldn't be too bad if the two places were close together, but Nasirabad lies in the state of Rajasthan which is many hundreds of miles to the north of Ahmedebad in the state of Gujarat.

Further to this, a search of the history of the 1st Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment shows that in 1919 the regiment left England for India and for three years was stationed in Nasirabad with no mention of Ahmedabad.

Nasirabad is even described as a cantonment town, which basically means a town established either temporarily or permanently as a military base. In 1922 the 1st Battalion moved to Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh which is further to the north east of Nasirabad and even further away from Ahmedabad.

My guess is that my grandfather's period of service with the Worcestershire Regiment probably finished in 1922 and the Millingtons returned to Birmingham. My aunty Nance (Kath's older sister) who did not travel with her parents to India recalled to me seeing her infant sister for the very first time, so this recollection would suggest that William and Florence arrived back shortly after Kathleen's birth. A three year term of service in the army would also sound most feasible.

I guess there is probably no intrigue behind the the differing registration stations on these old records, or nothing that can't be explained by a more in-depth knowledge of the movements of the 1st Battalion around northern India between 1919 and 1922. Information which I don't have at the moment. We do not know for instance if my grandfather was even present for either the birth or baptism of his daughter Kathleen. The whole reason for being in India was after all to presumably serve in conflicts, so it makes sense that wives and families might have been housed in a safe place far away from the front lines or other locations of conflict.

We might therefore surmise that Ahmedabad was a place of security and safety for army families, a huge cosmopolitan city - the home no less of Mahatma Ghandi himself, whereas the northern states of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, towards the borders of India with modern day Pakistan to the west and Nepal to the north east were clearly where the action was taking place.

Henry William Clayton's territorial army records

2011-07-16T13:55:00.001-07:00

On the 4th January 1915 my great grandfather Henry William Clayton joined the Territorial Army - 5th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment. His address was 20 Garbett Street, Ladywood, Birmingham.

Attestation of Henry William Clayton

Aged 45

89917 / 11th Batt. R Warwick

Statement of the servces of no. 4125 Clayton William Henry

From 4th January 1915 to 7th July 1915

Discharged after 184 days

Character good

Unfit for military service

Military history sheet

From 4th January 1915 to 7th July 1915

next of kin - Mary Clayton, 20 Garbett Street, Ladywood, Birmingham

Henry William Clayton's short service army records

2011-07-16T13:54:00.000-07:00

In October 1914, 3 months into the Great War, my great grandfather Henry William Clayton joined the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He gave his age as 36, whilst we know he was actually 46. Two months later he was discharged from the army on 14th December when it was discovered he had chronic rheumatism making it unlikely for him to become an efficient soldier.

But William must have been keen to help out in the war effort because in January 1915, just dyas after Christmas, he joined the territorial force, this time giving the correct age, 45 and once again being accepted as fit to serve.

But sadly William's age and physical problems were to stop him serving King and country beyond July 1915 when he was discharged again.

Short Service Attestation - 31st October 1914

Statement of the Services of No 8997

Joined 31st October 1914

Gortslade Camp - 10th November 1914

Discharged as not likely to make an efficient soldier - 14th December 1914

Military history sheet

From 31st October 1914 to 14th December 1914

45 days

Wife Mary Clayton nee Finn, 20 Garbett Street, Ladywood, Birmingham

Children listed: Florence, Annie, Thomas, Frederick

Description of William Henry Clayton

Apparent age 36 years 225 days

Height 5 feet 6.5 inches

Weight 5 feet 6.5 inches

Complexion fresh

Eyes blue

Hair brown

Tattooed both forearms

Certificate of Medical Examination considered him fit for the army on October 31st 1914

Approved for the Royal Warwickshire Regiment on 31st October 1914

Henry Clayton's short service army records continued

2011-07-16T13:51:00.001-07:00

Medical history of William Henry Clayton 8997

Examined on 31st October 1914

Declared age 36 years and 225 days

Trade - Painter Decorator

Height 5ft 6.5 inches

Chest 39.5 inches

Weight 175lbs

Physical development good pulse 75

Approved by Capt 1st Royal Warwick Regiment

Application for the discharge of a recruit as not likely to become an efficient solder

8997 Clayton, W.

cause of objection - Chronic Rheumatism

Henry William Clayton's Territorial Force documents

2011-07-16T13:47:00.000-07:00

Certificate of Medical Examination

December 30th 1914

Fit for service as a local guard in the Territorial Force

Certificate of Primary Militay Examination - 4th Jaunary 1915

Fit for service

Medical History of William Henry Clayton

Birthplace - All Saints, Birmingham

Examined 4th Janaury 1915

Declared age 45

Trade - Painter

Height 5ft 6.5 inches

Weight 168 lbs

Chest measurment 42 inches

Expansion range 3 inches

5 vaccination marks on left arm

Enlisted 4th January 1915

Regimental number 4125

Became non-effective by discharge on 7th July 1915

Certificate on account of medical unfitness for soldiers of the supernumerary territorial force companies

No 4125 of 2/5th battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

Found to suffering from rheumtasim and rendered unfit for limited military duty and discharged

Mary Ann Berks in Bagshaw's 1851 Directory of Shropshire

2011-07-15T15:44:00.000-07:00

By 1851, Pigot's directory has competition in the form of Samuel Bagshaw's History, Gazetteer and Directory of Shropshire.

Bagshaw provides a much more in-depth and detailed profile of Shropshire. The sections appertaining to Wellington alone are probably too lengthy to post up on this website, though they make an interesting read.

What is of great fascination to me is that in the trades directory section there are two very definate references to Mary Ann Berks (variously spelt Birks and Birch - see previous posts). Mary Ann was the sister of my g-g-g-grandfather William Millington, a journeyman shoe maker who settled in Lee Bank, Birmingham from the 1820s.

The first reference is in the alphabetical listing and the second is in the index of trades under 'bakers':

Click on the images to view a close-up version of each page.

Birch the Butcher of Wellington

2011-07-15T14:42:00.000-07:00

Further to the posts below containing trade information from Pigot's Directory of Shropshire 1928 which includes a listing of William Birch, a butcher of Street Lane, Wellington and a Thomas Birks, shoemaker of New Street, I can add the following information about a Millington ancestor who married a John Birch.

Mary Ann Millington was the sister of my g-g-g-grandfather William Millington. Like Mary, William was born in Wellington in about 1800 but he came to live in Birmingham and married an aston woman in 1821.

However, Mary Millington stayed put in wellington and married John Berkes (also spelt Birch) probably in 1833. The couple are recorded at 171 New Street in the 1841 census, their surname spelt as Birch not Berks. John Birch was a 27 year old shoe maker in 1841, Mary was 35, Edwin 7, Joshua 5 and Sarah 3.

10 years later Mary Ann Berks is once again listed in the census (this time for 1851) but it seems her husband may have died as she is recorded as the head of the household, a 48 year old baker. Mary Ann’s children are listed as 17 year old Edwin Berks (a baker), 16 year old Joshua (cabinet maker’s apprentice) and 13 year old Sarah. Her brother John Millington is also recorded in the house or shop at number 32 New Street, Wellington. He is recorded as a 40 year old day labourer born in Wellington.

I also have correspondance from someone named Andrea Walker of Shropshire who sent me information about the descendants of Sarah Berkes from this family. Sarah (born 1840) married William Jordan (also of Shropshire—born in 1836 to Robert and Ann Jordan). Sarah and William had 6 children: Florence (b.1859), Lora (b.1864), Amey (b.1868), Albert (b.1871), Lilly (b.1876) and Joshua (1877). Andrea’s grandfather was Albert, he married Ethel Bingham and the couple had one daughter named Kate Jordan born in Wellington in 1914. Kate married Cecil Walker and they are the parents of my correspondent Andrea, in an email in September 2006 Andrea told me:

“Sarah their daughter married William Jordan and they lived with Mary. Eventually after being a sawyer William and his son Albert were butchers in what we think was the same shop as Mary had 44 New Street later renumbered to 97. Albert my grandfather demolished the front and rebuilt it. Mother is able to remember all this. That was were my mother was born and I can remember as a child. The property as far as I know is still there but is now a funeral parlour. We moved from Wellington and now live in Stone, Staffs."

It would be interesting to make the link between John Birch of New Street and William Birch the butcher and/or Thomas Birks the shoemaker of New Street.

Wellington in the 1928 Pigot's Directory of Shropshire

2011-07-15T14:20:00.000-07:00

The following documents are from the Pigot's Directory of Shropshire for 1928. Pigot's Directory was the Yellow Pages of it's day, it was published widely throughout Britain and similar publications were also published in Ireland. The great thing about the Pigot's Directories is that they were published on a county or city basis and were further split down into towns and even villages, listing the names and addresses of all the main shop keepers and trades people in each area. So if your ancestor was a tradesman, publican, professional person, etc., it is likely that their business may have been listed in a copy of Pigot's.

The sections I have posted here are for the town of Wellington in Shropshire. In 1928 a family of my ancestors, the Millingtons, resided in New Street in Wellington. The name Millington doesn't appear in this listing but the name Birch does appear as a butcher - Birch is a name connected to the Millington family at that time so it gives me something to look into. Besides which there is lots of interesting general information here about the county of Shropshire and the town of Wellington in particular which help to create a picture of what the area was like in 1828.

Wellington in the 1928 Pigot's Directory of Shropshire

2011-07-15T13:59:00.001-07:00

Wellington in the 1928 Pigot's Directory of Shropshire

2011-07-15T13:57:00.000-07:00

Click on the images to make them larger and easier to read

Piecing together the family of Emma Clayton

2011-07-08T13:21:00.000-07:00

Further to the email I received recently from Linda Elsley (nee. Edwards) in Australia I think it will be an interesting next step to pull together the knowledge we have of the children of Emily (aka Mary Emma, just Emma or Pem) Clayton.

Emma was the older sister of my great grandfather William Clayton. My father's generation, who were born in the 1920s and 1930s recalled the elderly Aunty Pem as a 'wanderer', a woman who visited family homes around Ladywood as late as the 1940s and who was best remembered as the old dear who read people's tea leaves with substantiated accuracy.

Mary Emma Clayton

But in the late 1800s and early 1900s in seems that life was harsh for Emma and her family, she found it difficult to put food on the table for her children and one was even taken into the care of the Middlemore Homes charity and emigrated to Canada as a home child.

We also know that one of her children, though not which one at the moment went into Shustoke Industrial School in North Warwickshire. Emma married twice to our knowledge and had children with both men.

But much of our knowledge so far comes from different sources, some of them orally transmitted anecdote.

Looking back though the records on this website, this is a picture of what Emma's family probably comprised, starting with Mary Emma Clayton herself:

Mary Emma Clayton

Mary Emma Clayton was born in 1866 and married William George Jeenes in 1885. In 1896 she married William Edwards.

Walter Clayton

A boy named Walter Clayton was born to Emily Clayton of Cecil Street in 1890. One of my fellow researchers has speculated that Walter was born to our own Mary Emma Clayton outside of her relationship with William Jeenes, though as far as I know we have no further evidence to substantiate this.

Mary Emma with two of her sons
and her daughter in law

George Jeenes

George is recorded as a 2 year old in the 1891 census. His mother Emma Jeenes aged 24 is living with her parents Thomas and Emma Clayton and some of her younger brothers at New John Street.

Frederick Geenes

Frederick Geenes is recorded as a 14 year old boy in the 1901 census living at 73 Mount Street in the home of his grandparents Thomas and Emma Clayton. But his mother Emma is not recorded in the same household or George the boy mentioned above who would have been 12 in 1901. One of my father's cousins, Bill Clayton remembers that Freddy Jeenes worked in the sewers.

Samuel and Francis Clayton (?)

There are two other boys recorded at their grandparents' home in the 1901 census, Samuel Clayton aged 9 and Francis Clayton aged 3. As there was only one other adult in the household, 21 year old Francis Clayton. I don't know at this stage who these two boys belonged to, they may be sons of one of the brothers of mary Emma Clayton, or could they be additional children of Mary Emma herself?

Thomas Edwards

Thomas Edwards is recorded in the 1901 census living with his parents William and Emily Edwards at Porchester Street. Thomas is 15 years old, therefore born in 1886, one year after Emma married William Jeenes.

Jack and George Jeenes

George Howard Edwards

In 1894 Mary Emma Jeenes gave birth to George Howard Edwards at Frankfort Street. Mary's address was recorded as Unett Street. No father's name was recorded and she still had the married named Jeenes. Two years later she married William Edwards. George is aged 6 in the 1901 census - recorded in his parents home at Porchester Street. George Howard Edwards married Charlotte Madden in 1920. He was the great grandfather of Julie Brindley, a fellow genealogy researcher. It is interesting to note that George gave the name Edwards to his own first born child Elsie Agnes, but all subsequent children were named Jeenes and this surname was also taken by both George and Charlotte for the rest of their lives.

Arthur Edwards

In 1896 Emma Edwards, nee. Clayton gave birth to Arthur Edwards at Unett Street. His father listed as William Edwards. Arthur is recorded in the 1901 census at Porchester Street, aged 4. Arthur Edwards was placed in the Middlemore Homes in 1904 after being homeless and caught stealing in the markets area of Birmingham. Arthur was emigrated to Canada as a home child in 1906. He joined the Canadian army in 1915 and came to England in 1916 on his way to fight in France. He gave his parent's address at Farm Street for his pay assignment. Arthur returned to Canada in 1919 and married Daisy Bate in 1922. His sone Ralph Edwards is a fellow genealogy researcher.

John Edwards

John Edwards is recorded in the 1901 census living with his parents William and Emily Edwards at Porchester Street. He was born in 1899. John is also recorded in the 1911 census, now aged 12 (Paddington Street).

Herbert Edwards

Recorded in the 1911 census at Paddington Street, Herbert was born in 1902. Herbert Edwards was the grandfather of another fellow researcher, Linda Elsley of Australia. Herbert married Rose Gordon. Two of their sons, Dennis (Linda's dad) and Bert, emigrated to Australia in 1967.

Harry Edwards

Recorded in the 1911 census at Paddington Street, Harry was born in 1904. Another researcher, Albert Clayton in Australia recalls his onw father being a drinking pal of Harry Edwards.

Rosa Edwards

Abraham Edwards

Recorded in the 1911 census at Paddington Street, Abraham was born in 1909.

Rose Edwards

The only known daughter (at this stage) of Mary Emma Edwards was Rose (also known as Rosa). She is recorded in the 1911 census with her parents at Paddington Street, aged just 3 months old.

Mary Emma's 2nd husband - William Edwards

William Edwards of Farm Street died of TB in 1917.

The Edwards family in the 1911 Census

2011-07-06T16:41:00.000-07:00

Had an email recently from Linda Elsley (nee) Edwards in Australia who wrote:

"Just read your book THE CLAYTON FAMILY, thought you would like to know that my great grand mother was also Emma Clayton - my grand father's name was Herbert Edwards born in 1902 and died in 1947 age 45.

Herbert married Rose Gordon, they had 5 kids - 3 boys Charles, Dennis (my father) and Herbert (Bert) and 2 girls Annie and Jean. Unfortunately all deceased with the exception of uncle Bert. My father and uncle Bert emmigrated to Australia in1967 where we still live".

Linda also emailed:

"the only information I have on Herbert is that he died on the 27th March 1947 aged 45. My father was not sure of Herbert's birthday but thought it was 8th may, the only siblings I know of for Herbert was Arthur who was sent to Canada and there was Abraham - he was the youngest."

Some of this may ring bells to any of my relatives on the Clayton side of our family or those who have read earlier posts on this website outlining the sad story of aunty Pem (Emma Clayton) and her son Arthur who was emigrated as a home child to Canada by Middlemore Homes of Edgbaston.

So were Herbert and his brother Abraham related to aunty Pem, the lady who read tea leaves and older sister of my great grandfather Henry William Clayton?

Well it seems he was, as evidenced by this record from the 1911 census: 1911 census - household transcription

Address: 5 Court 6 Paddington St Birmingham

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EDWARDS, William Head Married M 45 1866 Brass Polishing Warickshire Birmingham

EDWARDS, Emma Wife Married 15 years F 45 1866 Birmingham Warwickshire

EDWARDS, John Son M 12 1899 School Birmingham Warwickshire

EDWARDS, Herbert Son M 9 1902 School Aston Warwickshire

EDWARDS, Harry Son M 7 1904 School Birmingham Warwickshire

EDWARDS, Abraham Son M 2 1909 Birmingham Warwickshire

EDWARDS, Rose Daughter F 0 (3 MONTHS) 1911 Birmingham Warwickshire

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The other interesting information in this record is that it identifies Rose Edwards, probably the young woman named Rosa whose signed photograph appears on this website.

Rest in Peace Betty Blount nee. Lawlor

2011-06-15T07:19:00.000-07:00

This morning I attended the requiem mass of my aunty Betty at St Joseph's and St Helen's Church in Kings Norton.

Betty was one of my mom Joan's two sisters, the other being Betty's twin Patricia (better known as Pat).

Betty was born Elizabeth Ann Lawlor in Small Heath, Birmingham on 16th January 1944. She was married to David Blount and the couple had four children, my cousins Alan, Jayne, Stuart and Linda.

Betty died on 3rd June 2011 and her funeral was today on 15th June 2011 followed by her cremation at Lodge Hill Cemetary in Weoley Castle.

Betty leaves behind David and a wonderful large family including grand children and great grandchildren. Our condolences to everyone in their sad loss of a lovely lady.

I have many great memories of Betty from my childhood in the 1960s when my mom used to take us on the number 12 or 22 bus from Harborne up to where the Blounts lived in Bartley Green. In those days it felt like travelling into the countryside as a lot of the land around Woodgate Valley was still green fields in the 60s. The Blounts lived opposite Sennely's Park, just down the road from Bartley Green Reservoir, so a trip to visit aunty Betty was always a great thrill as their road was surrounded by open space and the park even had a brook to bash with our cousines (brook bashing was a term used for leaping across a stream at increasingly widening points until someone had the misfortune of not quite making the opposite bank).

On a Saturday afternoon we'd all meet up at my grandparents' maisonette in Lee Bank, which was always a great focal point for the Lawlor clan. Our grandmother, nanny Lawlor, was a great Irish matriarch and mother of six children, so it was always a very busy place every weekend. My own siblings were around the same age as our cousins (Betty's kids) so we were all close friends. The only difference about Lee Bank was that the outdoor games of thrill and adventure we played in the lush green fields of Sennely's Park now transferred to the urban inner city housing estate of Lee Bank, just half a mile from Birmingham city centre.

When we became teenagers, my brother Denis and I went to the same secondary school as our male cousins Alan and Stuart Blount, so the friendships continued. All four of us were good atheletes, excelling in cross country running up the side of Frankley Beaches.

Betty herself was a solid wife to David, mother to her four children and later grandmother and great grandmother. You can gain more of an insight into the early lives of my mom Joan, her sisters Pat and Betty and their brothers Dennis, Brian and Kevin in my mom's memoirs which are earlier on this site.

Or click on this link to read Joan's Journey in an online book version:

Joan's Journey

Clayton family in the 1871 Census

2011-05-17T12:26:00.000-07:00

11 Berlin Place, Frankfort Street, Parish of St George, Birmingham, Warwickshire

Head of household - Thomas Clayton
Born: Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England
Age: 38 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1833
Gender: Male
Occupation: Blacksmith

Wife: Ammie Clayton

Age: 28
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1843
Born in Birmingham, Warwickshire

Thomas aged 9
Born in Birmingham

Amma (Emma?) aged 4
Born in Birmingham

Henry aged 2
Born in Birmingham

Samuel F, aged 1 month
Born in Birmingham

Ladywood Day By Day by Norman Bartlam

2011-05-01T04:55:00.000-07:00

Book review by Pete Millington

Ladywood Day By Day is an unusual new local history book by Norman Bartlam, whose previous books have included Britain in Old Photographs: Ladywood and it's follow up, Ladywood Lives - two excellent books packed with photographs and detailed captions.

Whilst most local history books tend either to follow a century-by-century or decade-by-decade chronological history of a specific town, community or neighbourhood, or else have chapters divided into subject headings such as schools, pubs, workplaces, shops, etc., Ladywood Day By Day is quite a unique book in presenting a day-by-day collection of events and happenings in Ladywood covering the last 200 years, with every single day of the year included rather much in the style of the It Happened On This Day In History features you more commonly hear on radio or read in a newspaper.

Only when one begins to read the book, starting naturally with 1st January and working through each day, week and month to the 31st December, does one realise the remarkable feat that the author has achieved. A feat which might have been difficult enough to accomplish comprehensively if the same approach was taken to the life and times of a whole city such as Birmingham, but to do it successfully for an inner city area known largely to outsiders for it's legacy of canalside industry and densely populated working class housing is all the more noteworthy.

Norman Bartlam's successful formula is in his mix of events and happenings of both national, citywide and local significance, so the opening of the International Convention Centre by the queen on 12th June 1991 is juxtapositioned between a newspaper report of a labourer, John Swain, fined 10 shillings on 11th June 1890 for driving a lame horse at 10 miles an hour down Ladywood Road and a school logbook note from 13th June 1902 referring to Coronation Medals coming to the school (St Mark's) from the Mint.

What is most striking throughout this fascinating journal of 'days in the life of' Ladywood past and present, is both the sheer enormity of Norman Bartlett's research into newspapers, magazines, logbooks, photographs, engravings and advertisements, but also how well he has selected, edited and set out his material. Rather than being a single narrative about Ladywood, this is literally an anthology of 365 very short stories - each one as fascinating as the ones before and after.

Any book about Ladywood is always going to be a winner as far as I am concerned. My dad was born on Garbett Street, my parents met in Ladywood and married at St Peter's RC, my uncle's family ran a pub called the Vesper Bell for generations on Ledsam Street, I first met my wife in Ladywood and we married at the Oratory church. Even as a child growing up in the 'posh end' up the road in Harborne in the 1960s, my grandparents still lived on Monument Road and I was brought up with the stories of old Ladywood conveyed to us by my parents' generation, so the wealth of references in this book to places like the Palais de Danse, Kunzles and Bulpitts pull at my heart strings even though I have no personal recollection of even seeing any of these places.

My dad often claims that Ladywooders and Lee Bankers are to Birmingham what Cockneys are to London, I'm not sure all Brummies would agree with that but I know what he means in terms of how the character of both communities and individuals were affected by living so close to a rapidly expanding and changing urban centre. Indeed, this notion of the rapidly changing environment of Ladywood is the theme of Norman Bartlett's introduction to the book, in which he compares the imagined conversations of groups of Ladywood citizens in three time divided images from the area. The point he makes is that change itself ends up being the only certainty for people in an area like Ladywood, therefore adding weight to the importance of recording local history whether through photography, the written word or other media.

A man after my own heart... and a large part of that heart being down Ladywood!

A fabulous book with both personal, local and general appeal. I know a fair bit about Birmingham history but I learnt about half a dozen things I didn't know in the first flick through this book.

A great approach to local history, insightful throughout, an entertaining read and extremely well researched.

Published by The History Press

http://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/

ISBN 978-0-7524-5971-4

Balsall Heath Through Time - new book

2011-05-01T04:51:00.000-07:00

You are warmly invited to...

The launch of ‘Balsall Heath through Time’ by Val Hart

Thursday, May 5th at 6.15

at

St Paul’s Venture, Clifton Rd, Balsall Heath.B12 8NJ

Dear Colleague,

Do come to the launch of “Balsall Heath Through Time” by Val Hart, a new book published by Amberley. It charts the development of Balsall Heath from 1945 to 2005, with many photographs of the area past & present.

There will be a short presentation about the book and some celebratory refreshments.

This will be followed at 7.30 with a talk by Anthony Collins about his great grandfather, John Bowen, Master Builder of Balsall Heath, who built the Birmingham Law Courts.

There will also be an opportunity to buy the book, priced at £14.99, at a special Launch Price of £10!

Yours,

Val Hart

BALSALL HEATH

THROUGH TIME

VAL HART

This fascinating selection of photographs traces some of the many ways in which Balsall Heath has changed and developed over the last century.

Balsall Heath is an inner city area of Birmingham, which developed rapidly in the nineteenth century. By 1939 it was densely populated but with a marked sense of community. Since then it has suffered many difficulties and challenges including: extensive bomb damage in the Second World War followed by a spiral of decline; a painful period of redevelopment under Urban Renewal; a changing population; large scale road schemes; and a tornado literally ripping through in 2005.

This book illustrates some of the major changes that have taken place since 1939. Some of our older buildings remain, some have been adapted for different uses and now there are also new schools, health centres, businesses, houses and community centres as well as green spaces. Balsall Heath today is a vibrant example of urban regeneration, for which it was recently commended by David Cameron. Thanks to faith organisations, voluntary agencies and housing associations, this is an attractive and diverse community.

Price: £14.99

ISBN: 978-1-84868-528-4

AMBERLEY PUBLISHING PLC

Cirencester Road, Chalford, Stroud
Gloucestershire, GL6 8PE

http://www.amberley-books.com/

Read our Family History documents in a brand new format

2011-05-01T03:49:00.000-07:00

I have recently discovered a very exciting piece of online software which turns PDF documents into a very user friendly and visually attractive format for reading online.

I have therefore converted 3 existing documents relating to our family tree into this format and the links are below. I highly recommend that you check them out.

Joan's Journey - my mother's autobiography

http://en.calameo.com/read/0006754676b6b4fc37eb1

The Clayton Family

http://en.calameo.com/read/000675467455b3c557522

The Millington Family

http://en.calameo.com/read/00067546798a30f882428

I produced the last two of these documents more than 5 years ago so they will benefit from some substantial updating, editing and re-designing, notably to include some of the fantastic new research and contacts that have come to light through this blog. Hopefully I will get around to this in the next few weeks or months.

As a higher priority I want to produce something similar to record the history of my mother's side of the family, the Lawlors and Whelans in Dublin, Ireland. I will also do a similar thing for my wife's Irish family roots, the Dwyers of Wexford and the Stone family of Westmeath and Offaly.

So watch this space as they say.

In the meantime, please enjoy reading the 3 documents above.

Alice Millington in the 1911 Census

2011-03-26T15:34:00.000-07:00

An interesting census record showing my g-g-grandmother Alice Millington (nee. O'Hagan) at the age of 66 living with the family of her daughter, Alice Harris. Alice's place and year of birth correspond with previous records we have for her - she was born Alice O'Hagan in Bromsgrove in 1845. By 1911 Alice is a widow.

The family are residing at 4 back 34 Sheepcote Street, Birmingham.

Alice's son-in-law, a Welsh man named Henry James Harris was aged 39. He was born in Pontypool, South Wales in 1872 and his occupation in 1872 was given as Smith Duties.

Henry's wife Alice Harris (nee. Millington) was the older sister of my great grandfather Terence Millington and also of Harry Millington profiled in the previous post. Born in Birmingham in 1879, it is noted the couple had been married for 12 years.

The couple had three children, George aged 7 (born 1904), William Joseph aged 4 (born 1907)and Annie aged 2 (born 1909).

Also to be found in the 1911 census is another daughter of Alice and John Millington, this time the oldest daughter Ann Vickers, nee. Millington.

Ann is sister to Alice Harris (above), to Harry (see post below) and to my g-grand father Terence.

Annie and her husband William James Vickers are residing at 7 St Martins Terrace, St Martins Street which was close to Five Ways in Lee Bank. Elsewhere on this website we have records of the couple living at this same address in the 1901 census, it was also the same street that my grandfather William Millington was born on in 1900. Annie Vickers also gave this as her address when she was recorded on the death certificate of her aunt, Mary O'Hagan in 1907.

According to the 1911 census, Ann and William had been married for 14 years. Both were born in Birmingham, Ann in 1874 and William in 1971. William James Vickers was a brass dresser and Ann, unusually, was a wormer.

The couple had one child according to the census, Harold Frank Vickers, born in Birmingham in 1903.

Profile - Harry Millington

2011-03-26T14:11:00.000-07:00

Terence’s youngest brother, Harry (1889-1943), fought in the Great War.
It is believed that Harry was in a regiment of smaller soldiers called the Bantams.

Harry Millington

Harry Millington was the youngest brother of my great grandfather Terence Millington. He was born in the Lee Bank area of Birmingham in 1889.

In the 1891 census the Millington family were living at 6 Court 1 House, William Street.

The father (my g-g-grandfather) John Millington is recorded as a 50 year old Jobbing Labourer, Alice was 44. William was 15 in 1891 and without an occupation, 12 year old Alice and 10 year old Terence were both ‘scholars‘, whilst the youngest Millington child, Harry was 2 years old. There is no record of their oldest child, Annie, in the 1891 census and we could therefore conclude that she may not have lived with her own immediate family.

Harry Millington married a woman named Mary Taylor on 30th May 1909 at Birmingham St Mark. Harry Millington was a 21 year old bachelor from Back 77 Nelson Street. He was a furnace man and his father recorded as John Millington, a wood turner (deceased). Mary Taylor was a 19 year old spinster from Back 77 Nelson Street and her father recorded as Joseph Taylor, a tube drawer (also deceased).

Anecdotal evidence about Harry has been related to me by my father’s cousins, Brian and Terence Millington (sons of my granddad’s brother George). There is a family photograph which shows Harry in army uniform wearing a snake belt. It is believed that Harry served in one of the Bantam Battalions during the Great War (1914 – 1918). These were apparently battalions for “vertically challenged soldiers”.

In March 2003, Terence wrote:

“I recall Dad saying that his Uncle Harry was in the Black and Tans during the Irish war of independence in 1920. These were well paid volunteers who had previously served in the 1st World War. They were not a very popular bunch of individuals according to the Irish account, which could explain why Dad used to refer to him as ‘a bit of a tartar’ ”

Birth indexes for the Registration District of Birmingham indicate that the following three children with the surname Millington were born to a mother with the maiden name of Taylor. There is a strong possibility that these three were the children of Harry and his wife Mary Taylor:

Edgar W. Millington born in 1922

Elsie M. Millington born in 1924

John Millington born in 1928

There is a record in the death index for the death of a Harry Millington in Birmingham in 1943 aged 54.

Now and Then...

2011-03-26T11:42:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of the canalside near Broad Street in the centre of Birmingham which show contrasting views of what the area looked like 30 years ago compared with more recent views of the same stretch.

The first photo above was taken by my dad Geoff Millington around 1981 and shows my sister Fiona aged about 10 or 11 gazing across the cut at the old buildings which were demolished in the late 1990s to make way for the International Convention Centre.

The buildings beyond that high wall on the opposite bank of the canal included my dad's school, St Peter's Roman Catholic. He tells us that his school yard backed onto the canal. In the distance we can see the bridge carrying Broad Street over the canal and beyond the bridge is the area still known as Gas Street Basin.

The photo above which I took in about 2006 shows what the same stretch looks like now with the edge of the Brindley Place development of new shops, offces, bars and restaurants visible on the right. The ICC is on the left hand side although it stands back from the trees. In the distance is a new footbridge and beyond that is the same bridge into Gas Street Basin and the buidlings of Broad Street which have had a face lift.

Back to the early 1980s and this time dad has stood under the Broad Street bridge to take this shot which looks in the opposite direction along Thomas Telford's 18th century canal towards Ladywood in the direction of Smethwick and the Black Country. This was a vital and at times hotly disputed canal during the industrial revolution as it allowed resources and goods to be carried from South Staffordshire, Wolverhampton and the Black Country into Birmingham and beyond into Warwickshire and Worcestershire. At one point a bar was even put across the canal at Gas Street Basin because feuding carrier companies could not agree on rights of passage.

Once again that's the lovely Fiona striking a thoughtful pose as she veritably visions the future when the dank red brick walls of old Ladywood will be replaced by the gleaming windows of the ICC. In fact, I'm wondering from this image if it was actually all her idea in the first place! She is definately pondering something.

This is another one taken by me along the same stretch of canal and looking in the same direction as my dad's photo above. I am pretty certain that the old building on the right hand side is the same building with the thin chimney on my dad's photo above - it is the pub in which President Clinton had a pie and a pint when he came to Birmingham for the G8 conference in the 1990s.

The big white building is the National Indoor Arena, if I'm not mistaken you can just see the corner of the same block of high rise flats which appears in my dad's photo, peeking out at the right hand side of the NIA complex. I think you can also make out the same footbridge in the distance on my dad's photo.

Birmingham City Centre - images

2011-03-19T14:48:00.000-07:00

A view of Victoria Square, Birmingham from the Town Hall looking up Colmore Row.

Image from a post card, circa. early 1960s?

Am I correct in suggesting that the row of fine buildings on the right hand side have completely gone? The square in the foreground has been substantially pedestrianised, I'm pretty certain that the Victoria statue has been relocated and the site is now occupied by a huge fountain-based sculpture.

The Rotunda building in Birmingham and part of Bull Ring Shopping Centre.

From a photo my dad took circa. 1980s. The Rotunda is still in situ but this section of road is now covered by a pedestriansed public square bordered by the new Bullring and Selfridges buildings.

More Miscellany From The Family Archive

2011-03-19T13:55:00.000-07:00

Contemporary Furniture For The Late 1950s / Early 60s Family In The UK

I've been having another rummage through the Millington family archive, aka mom's old biscuit tin which, by strange coincidence, was a tin of Huntley Palmers Family Circle (probably an antique item in itself!) and my latest discovery is a black & white brochure for Quality Furniture by Viking.

I can't see a date on this brochure but I have a feeling that mom and dad might have been looking at this around the time of their impending marriage in 1958 or perhaps before they moved out of the extended Millington family home in Monument Road, Ladywood and set up their very own independent home at 107 Station Road in Harborne in early 1961.

One might assume from this brochure that Viking Furniture Industries were the Ikea of their day. A Google search identifies several Viking companies around today, including furniture manufacturers and sellers, but I can't immediately identify any of them as this same company. This one was based at Sydenham Station Approach in London SE26.

On the front of the brochure Viking Furniture Industries announce that they are "proud to present this selection of contemporary craftsman-built furniture, brought to you at a fraction of normal prices".

"All items are soundly constructed in choice hardwood with finest hardwood multi-ply for long life".

Looking through the brochure certain items do seem familiar, such as a gateleg table (V 120)and the Sapele dining room suite (V 108a). If the items that my parents had at Station Road for some four or five decades were indeed from this Viking brochure, then we can definitely confirm that the company's claim of reliability and longevity was a valid one.

Remarkable value too, it should be said, with the contemporary 3-piece bedroom suite below, including wardrobe (V 100), chest (V 101) and dressing table (V 102) costing an incredible £12.14.0. But if 12 quid was beyond the budget of your average newly wed couple just starting out in their first home in 1961, then thankfully Viking were offering budget terms:

"Details of our easy payment plan will be found on an enclosed list of items".

I'm hoping the old folks have paid it off by now as we could do without being burdened with that debt in the middle of a global recession.

The language in the sales pitch is also rather outmoded these days, I don't think they'd get away with the following advert for a complete 6 piece dining room suite in silver birch, costing 25 and a half guineas:

"Here's every woman's idea of luxury (and every man's idea of economy!)"

A case of that cheeky Bert in the sales and marketing department enjoying a harmless little gender role stereotype gag with his customers there perhaps? Though no doubt Mavis in the secretarial office would have appreciated the purchase had it come her way.

Elsewhere in the brochure we have the Admiralty Type Desk (V 113) for him and the Needlework cum Coffee Table (V 107) for her:

"What a clever double-purpose cabinet! Closed - it's an attractive occasional table. Open - it's a housewife's delight, with sliding tray and container that keeps all your needlework tidily at hand".

I wonder if Doris Day ever owned the V 104 (lovely polished kidney dressing-table) for just 79/6:

"Genuine Queen Anne style in polished walnut or medium oak. Shines like a dream - looks like a million! Price includes a set of adjustable triple mirrors. Matching upholstered stool red, blue, yellow".

A yellow stool next to your polished walnut Queen Anne huh? ...very nice.

Tennal School - misc. photos

2011-03-13T11:39:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photos taken from the 100th Anniversary of Tennal Approved School book (see blog post below this one).

Tennal School - Souvenir Book of Centenary (1849-1949)

2011-02-27T13:19:00.000-08:00

Tennal School was an Approved School in Harborne, Birmingham which was first founded in 1849 as the first Free Industrial School in England in 1849.

The School was founded in a disused workshop in Lichfield Street as a Ragged School in 1846, by the Hon. and Rvd. Grantham Munton Yorke, Rector of St Philip's, Birmingham:

"in the hope that some of the helpless young urchins who infested the streets (often until they broke the law and were sent to prison) might be drawn into the fold of this Ragged School, and eventually civilized".

Following a building appeal and the lease of land from the King Edward's School Foundation, the Birmingham Free Industrial School was opened in Gem Street in 1849.

Gem Street Industrial School

In 1896 the Committee of the Industrial School purchased just over 7 acres of land at Harborne for recreational use, but as conditions at Gem Street deteriorated it was decided to build an entire new building and the school was formally re-opened as Tennal School in Harborne in 1903.

I have recently had in my possession a Souvenir Book which celebrated the Centenary of Tennal School in 1949. The book itself is now in antique condition and I have recently scanned all 118 pages plus pictures before returning it to my colleagues on the Martineau 10 campaign group which is lobbying Birmingham City Council to preserve the original Tennal School buidlings for local community use.

The scanned pages and images can be viewed in my online photo album at the following link. There is no copy right on the book. It was prepared in 1949 by G.R. Lowes who was a member of the school staff, with a Foreword by G.E.Gilbey, the Chair of the Board of Governors. There is also an acknowledgment from the author to T.W.Hutton, Editor of The Birmingham Post.

https://picasaweb.google.com/editorialgazette/MARTINEAU#

Emily Clayton, nee. Philips - back another generation

2011-01-04T16:02:00.000-08:00

I have just been dabbling on the Ancestry.co.uk website. I have been paying a membership subscription for quite a few months now and have to say it is a very good website for access to a wide range of downloadable records such as birth, marriage, death and all the UK census records. I also use Find My Past a lot on a pay as you go basis, there's not a lot between the two sites for basic users like me.

Ancestry also offers the facility to build a tree online which I have avoided doing because I have already put a fairly substantial tree onto the Genes Reunited website. But tonight I thought I'll just try out a tree on Ancestry out of casual interest and I am very encouraged by it's features, such as throwing up links to online records as well as to other people's trees who have similar ancestors, literally within seconds of entering a new ancestor.

So, as much as I was avoiding it, I may have to spend a few hours (who am I kidding?) entering my complete tree onto Ancestry, simply because of the potential to get fresh leads and contacts so instantly.

The reason I am blogging this information though is really to make a quick note of the fact I have been alerted to someone else's tree which provides useful information on both living relatives and linked ancestors. I won't identify the person until I have made contact with them, but just to say the tree owner is descended from Miriam Clayton, the daughter of Fred and Emily Clayton, nee. Phillips (Fred being my g-grand father's brother).

What is most intriguing for me in this research is the identification of Emily's parents, James Edel Phillips and Emily Barlow. James apparently born in Deritend in 1854. Regular followers of my blog may recall the recent post concerning an email from Mary Taylor who is descended from George and Emily Clayton (Emily being the daughter of Emily Wayne, nee. Philips) and my subsequent few posts which contained my tentative research into Emily's Jewish origins:

http://brummiefamilytree.blogspot.com/2010/10/email-from-mary-taylor-relation-with.html

So this is potentially a great development as well as being another one of those interesting coincidences that seem to occur in the study of genealogy. I am convinced that genealogy is at least half as much about one's intuition as it is logical detective work. Having said that, I can see myself becoming more closely acquainted with http://www.ancestry.co.uk/

Watch this space as they say.