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Topic: Joining the Army under an assumed name (Read 466 times)
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christmassy
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 28
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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I'm hoping someone out there can help me solve a mystery.
My great grandfather was John Owen Foy (known as Owen). According to the 1911 census he was born in Glennamaddy abt 1862. There is a family history that he joined the British Army under the assumed name of Martin Smith in order to get away from his mum but she found him and bought him out. Wouldn't that have been expensive?
He lived in Warrington after leaving Ireland, his first child was born in 1890 in Warrington and he married there too in Feb 1888.
I can find two Martin Smith's in the 1881 census, one in Wellington Barracks and one in Aldershot with the 109th Regt of Foot.
There is also a Martin Smith in the 1891 census, back in Warrington, with what looks like the correct wife and children and a female lodger with his wife's maiden name. This Martin Smith is listed as coming from Williams Town.
My questions are:
Is Williams Town very close to Glennamaddy (Glannadda in census)? If so, this might be the same man.
Why would an Irish Catholic join the British Army? Was it simply a case of a decent wage?
Why would he appear to keep the assumed name after he left the Army? In 1891 his occupation is shown as labourer so he must have left by then.
There is also a family tradition that he had at least two brothers, names unknown, who went to USA. How would I start to find that out?
Finally, I've been told that not many Irish records survive. Am I going to be stuck at getting no further back than when they arrived in England?
Any tips for a novice would be very much appreciated. Thank you. 
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shanew147
RootsChat Aristocrat
Posts: 2623
- - Dublin, Ireland - -
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the closest match to Williams Town that I can see in that part of Ireland, is Williamstown, Co. Roscommon. This is quite close to Glenamaddy, Co. Galway - about 18km
link to google map : http://www.rootschat.com/links/06e8/
Shane
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Wilson : Cambridgeshire [Chatteris], Yorkshire [Leeds], Dublin & Australia [Sydney/NSW] | Fitzsimon : Bray, Co. Wicklow & South Co. Dublin
Hayes, Shepherd, Bickerdike, Render, Harper : Yorkshire | Doyle, Dillon, Cantwell, Roach, Clarke : Co. Wicklow
Cathcart, Wilson : Kings Co./Offaly, Dublin City & N. Ireland | Hodges : Bristol, Glos./Bray Co. Wicklow/Dublin City | Nevin : Cork
Sheridan : Dublin City | Kavanagh, Rooney, Clarke, Hughes, May, Monks : North Co. Dublin [Rush/Thomastown]
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christmassy
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 28
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Thank you both very much for your advice.
John Owen Foy's father is listed as John Foy, deceased, farm labourer.
Is Glenamaddy a parish do you know? Maybe I have a fighting chance of finding out more!
Re the brothers, I might start working from Foys who left about the same time as John Owen. Three young men all seeking their fortune in their early 20s sounds possible.
Could you guess where they might have left Ireland from? If John Owen ended up in Warrington then presumably he came into Liverpool. Maybe the other two decided not to stay there and caught another ship onwards to USA. I like the theory anyway!
Meantime, thank you both again. The whole 'joining the army' bit sounds more plausible now.
Cheers
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shanew147
RootsChat Aristocrat
Posts: 2623
- - Dublin, Ireland - -
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link to map of East Galway RC - parishes : http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/browse/counties/rcmaps/galwayerc.htm
Glenamaddy town is in the Civil and RC parish of Boyounagh
the Irish Family history Foundation (www.irish-roots.ie) appear to have transcripts for that parish - according to the sources page they have RC baptisms for 1838-1900, and marriages from 1838-1865. (They list to the parish as Glenamaddy/Boyounagh). It's a pay-site and they charge €5 to view each record
Shane
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Wilson : Cambridgeshire [Chatteris], Yorkshire [Leeds], Dublin & Australia [Sydney/NSW] | Fitzsimon : Bray, Co. Wicklow & South Co. Dublin
Hayes, Shepherd, Bickerdike, Render, Harper : Yorkshire | Doyle, Dillon, Cantwell, Roach, Clarke : Co. Wicklow
Cathcart, Wilson : Kings Co./Offaly, Dublin City & N. Ireland | Hodges : Bristol, Glos./Bray Co. Wicklow/Dublin City | Nevin : Cork
Sheridan : Dublin City | Kavanagh, Rooney, Clarke, Hughes, May, Monks : North Co. Dublin [Rush/Thomastown]
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christmassy
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 28
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Thanks Shane
That sounds really promising and I'll follow it up as soon as possible. I'd love to be able to trace the Foys even a little way back.
Thank you again,
Christmassy
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shanew147
RootsChat Aristocrat
Posts: 2623
- - Dublin, Ireland - -
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no problem..
if you ever get to visit the National Library in Dublin you can access the parish records on microfilm ref. P.4211
Shane
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Wilson : Cambridgeshire [Chatteris], Yorkshire [Leeds], Dublin & Australia [Sydney/NSW] | Fitzsimon : Bray, Co. Wicklow & South Co. Dublin
Hayes, Shepherd, Bickerdike, Render, Harper : Yorkshire | Doyle, Dillon, Cantwell, Roach, Clarke : Co. Wicklow
Cathcart, Wilson : Kings Co./Offaly, Dublin City & N. Ireland | Hodges : Bristol, Glos./Bray Co. Wicklow/Dublin City | Nevin : Cork
Sheridan : Dublin City | Kavanagh, Rooney, Clarke, Hughes, May, Monks : North Co. Dublin [Rush/Thomastown]
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