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Topic: What happened to my great, great grandfather? (Read 826 times)
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jamiequarton
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 9
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi everyone
Trying to solve a family mystery. Apparently my great, great grandfather went out to work one day and didn't return home.
His name was John Connelly born in Ireland in 1848. He married Margaret Stewart in 1873 at St Patrick's Church Glasgow. His occupation was coachman.
From what I can deduce, he went missing after 1878. In census for 1881 in Ardnamurchan it shows Margaret Connelly living with her 2 sons, along with her parents and another of their grandsons. My thinking on this is that John Connelly must've disappeared in Glasgow and Margaret was forced to move back to her parents.
So what happened? Did he have a terrible accident, was he abducted, did he jump on a ship bound for New York or Canada? If anyone can shed some light on this mystery, I would be very grateful!
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Nick29
RootsChat Aristocrat
Posts: 2921
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Well, ruling out the obvious would be the best start, I think. If he did die of a terrible accident, then his death would be recorded, but as a coachman, it may not have been local. Unfortunately, death records are not indexed yet, and trawling through the records by hand is going to be long and arduous, and even more so with a fairly common name. You might be better off looking at the emigration records first, because at least they are indexed 
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Best Wishes, Nick. Research interests: Field - Luton & Islington Hole - Somerset, Suffolk & Surrey Farnish, Parker, Cattermole, Last, Wasp, Church - Suffolk Lewin/Lowin/Lowen - Hertfordhire Martin - Eltham & Greenwich, Kent (London) Stead - Greenwich, London (Kent) & Maidstone Wood - Hertfordshire Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk |
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jamiequarton
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 9
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Thanks Nick! Yes, with no death certificate it seems logical that he moved on. Perhaps he went back to Ireland? Will definately check out emigration records, fingers crossed!
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jorose
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 4670
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When was the last child born, 1878?
Might be worth checking the birth certificate as that is the last sure point.
Do you know his parents? Often death records in the US/Canada/Australia will give parents' names, so that might help locate him.
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MonicaLesl
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 9201
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Another question from me 
What was Margaret's marital status showing in the 1881 entry and later censuses?
Monica
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jamiequarton
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 9
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi Jorose and Monica...thanks for your response to this posting!
Charles Connelly was the last child born in 1878 listing John Connelly as the father. Checked out John and Margarets marriage registery and John's parents were Martin Connelly and Catherine Connelly (Burke).
In the 1881 census, Margaret and her 2 sons, John and Charles, are listed as married and living with her parents in Ardnamurchan. So far, I have been unable to trace any further information regarding Margaret. All I have is the date she died 20.11.1922 in Mull. This has yet to be confirmed as I have not traced a death certificate.
I had a look at emigrant records for Ellis Island. There was a John Connelly with the same year of birth as my great great grandfather, listed as having arrived in August 1899. He was aboard the Teutonic and had his last place of residence as Colbur Ireland. Is it possible he went back to Ireland and then emigrated aged 51?
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MonicaLesl
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 9201
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This looks like Margaret and the boys 1891 entry:
Margaret Connolly 46, head, domestic servant
John Connolly 15, son
Charles Connolly 13, son
Address: Kilmory, Ardnamurchan
For 1901, Margaret shows as living alone:
Margaret Connelly, 57, washerwoman b. Ardnamurchan
Address: 3 Kilmory, Ardnamurchan
Monica
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jamiequarton
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 9
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Thank you so much Monica! 
What advice can you give to help trace what happened to John. On the face of it, it looks like he has just abandoned Margaret and the boys.
Charles was my grandfather's dad and I have a good profile of his life. However, John Jnr is also proving difficult to track down. According to family knowledge, he died in 1918. I wonder if he ended up in France WW1?
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MonicaLesl
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 9201
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Hard to know what happened to John Connolly Snr. isn't it. He could have left Scotland or remained there. Have you managed to figure out where he was born? Might help with any census searches in the UK.
Regarding John Jnr, can't easily see him as yet in 1901. There is the entry for Charles working away from home in 1901 but John Jnr. is proving more elusive like his father
Monica
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jamiequarton
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 9
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi Monica
All I know is that John Snr was born in Ireland in 1848 but where is not known. His father Martin and his mother Catherine (Burke) where Irish, but it has just occurred to me that they may have moved to Scotland too. Might be worth a trawl through the records here?
If John Jnr did end up in the Great War, where would be the best place to start looking? 
Thank you
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jamiequarton
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 9
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Oh by the way Monica.................In that 1901 census where Charles is listed as working away as a ploughman/servant, there's also a Christina MacKay who was a Dairy Maid. She was the woman Charles married. My great grandmother.
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MonicaLesl
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 9201
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I did try looking on Ancestry's military records for John Jnr (service/pension records) but couldn't easily see anything for him 
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jamiequarton
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 9
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Thanks Monica......it's a bit frustrating because I can't find a death certificate for John Jnr (just like his dad).
I'd like to be able to find out more about Martin and Catherine Connelly, but can't find a decent source 
Jamie
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MonicaLesl
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 9201
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Hi Jamie
With the Irish side for John, it can be hard to trace back particularly when you are not sure where in Ireland John was from I tried searching on Scotlands People for a death for mother Catherine with the names Burke and Connolly but no joy (nearest are two entries with a birth year of 1840 +/- 5yrs - too late to be John's mother).
There are a couple of trees on Ancestry for the family. From John and Margaret's Catholic marriage, may explain why there is nothing at all also showing regarding Ireland as official registration did not begin in Ireland until 1864. Just on the outside chance, I don't know how practical this is for you. The marriage shows at St Patrick's Chapel in Anderston. Apart from the official registration of the marriage, have you ever thought to follow up with the church's archives for the original entry of the marriage. In Roman Catholic marriage, details of where someone is born could be recorded by the church. Might be something to follow up on.
What does Charles' marriage cert to Christina McKay say about his father. Does it show him as deceased at the time of his marriage and what occupation?
Monica
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jamiequarton
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 9
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi Monica
Charles and Christina's marriage certificate shows John Connelly as 'deceased', occupation Coachman.
On John and Margaret's marriage certificate, John's occupation is Groom (so he must've got promotion  ). His father Martin is listed as deceased, occupation Coachman. Makes me wonder if they both worked for the same coach firm in Glasgow
Think that contacting St Patrick's might be a good idea, they may have a bit more information in their archives.
Many thanks for you help on this Monica, you're a star
Jamie
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